Prologue

The mall was alive with energy—bright lights, endless chatter, and the scent of freshly brewed coffee drifting from a nearby café. Annu and Shristi walked through the entrance, excitement buzzing between them as they planned their shopping spree.

But as they made their way inside, Annu hesitated, glancing over her shoulder. A chill ran down her spine.

"Shristi… I think someone's following us," she whispered.

Shristi scoffed, playfully nudging her. "Annu, you watch too many crime dramas. There's no one behind us."

Annu frowned, still uneasy, but let it go. Maybe she was overthinking.

For now.

---

Hours later, with their arms full of shopping bags, they made their way back to the parking lot. The once lively mall had grown eerily quiet, the sound of their footsteps echoing against the cold concrete.



Shristi was laughing at something Annu had said when—

A blur of movement. A rush of footsteps.

Before they could react, masked men emerged from the shadows, their eyes cold and predatory.

"Run!" Annu gasped, grabbing Shristi's hand.

Both bolted, bags forgotten as their instincts took over. But as they turned a corner, their escape was blocked.

A lone man stood ahead, his face obscured by a mask, running straight toward them.

Shristi's heart pounded. Another one?!

They skidded to a stop, panic freezing them in place. But just as the man reached them—

He ran past them.

BANG!

Gunfire split the silence. The masked man pulled out a gun and fired at their pursuers without hesitation. Each shot was precise, lethal.

The attackers staggered, caught off guard by the unexpected savior. The masked man wasted no time. He turned to them, voice sharp.

"Get in the car. NOW."

There was no room for argument.

---

Shristi fumbled with the car keys, her hands shaking as she and Annu scrambled inside. The masked man slid into the driver's seat just as another wave of gunmen emerged.

"Shit," he muttered before slamming his foot on the gas.

The car shot forward, tires screeching against the pavement. The attackers weren't giving up. Bullets rained down on them, shattering the rear windshield.

"What the hell is happening?!" Annu cried, gripping the door for dear life.

The stranger didn't answer, maneuvering the car like a professional, weaving through traffic with reckless precision.

Shristi's heart hammered. "Who are you?!" she demanded.

Instead of answering, he tossed her a sharp glance. "Shristi, take the wheel."

Her breath hitched. "What?! No! I can't drive in a situation like this!"

The stranger chuckled, dark amusement lacing his tone. "Did you forget how to drive after he left you?"

The words struck something deep inside her.

That voice. That phrase. That familiarity.

Something in her snapped. "I didn't forget anything," she muttered, her grip tightening on the wheel.

She didn't know who he was.

But she knew one thing.

She wasn't about to let these bastards win.

She yanked the steering wheel, swerving hard, pushing the car to its limits. The masked man wasted no time, leaning out of the window and returning fire. But then—

"Fuck. No. No. NO."

Annu turned pale. "What?!"

The man growled. "I'm out of bullets!"

Shristi stole a quick glance at him. "Then what the hell do we do now?!"

For a second, he was silent. Then, a slow, knowing smirk curled under his mask.

"Did he ever drive this car?"

Shristi's breath hitched. "Yeah… why?"

Without another word, the masked man reached under the seat and pulled out a gun. A familiar one.

Shristi's hands clenched the wheel. "How… the hell did you know that was there?!"

His smirk widened as he loaded it. "Focus on driving."

Shristi's pulse pounded in her ears. That gun belonged to someone. Someone she hadn't seen in a long time.

He turned back to their attackers, his grip steady. "Oh, you motherfuckers are gonna regret this."

And with that, the real fight began.

---

Minutes later, after an intense chase, they finally lost their pursuers. The car skidded to a stop in a deserted alley. Silence fell, save for their heavy breathing.

Shristi turned to the masked man, her body still trembling with adrenaline.

"Who the fuck are you?"

---

Who were the attackers? Why did they target Shristi and Annu? Who is this masked man? Is he here to protect them… or does he have his own dangerous agenda?

One thing is clear—this is just the beginning.

To be continued...