The Game Begins

Aarya stood frozen in the doorway long after the man had disappeared into the night, his presence still lingering in the air like a poison. The words he had spoken echoed in her mind, replaying over and over with the weight of something far more sinister than she could comprehend.

"He's already chosen you."

Her heart beat faster as she shut the door, locking it behind her. Her mind raced to make sense of everything. Who was he? Why had he come? What did he know?

But most importantly— who was "he"?

She didn't need to ask the question aloud. Deep down, she already knew the answer. There was only one person who could have orchestrated this madness, only one person whose shadow loomed over every part of her life.

Vikram.

The thought of his name sent a jolt through her, a sharp mix of anger, fear, and something darker, something deeper. She hated him. She feared him. And yet... there was an undeniable pull, an attraction that made no sense, that twisted her insides and threatened to break her.

She paced around the room, running her fingers through her hair, trying to clear the fog that had settled in her mind. She had to focus. There had to be a way out of this— she couldn't just let him control her like this. She had to fight back.

But the more she thought about it, the more she realized something that terrified her even more than the messages, the phone calls, or even the mysterious stranger at her door.

She didn't want to fight him.

Why?

Aarya stopped mid-step, a cold shiver running down her spine. She didn't want to fight him because every time she tried to convince herself that she hated him, there was another part of her that craved him. His touch. His presence. The way he had claimed every inch of her without even trying.

She remembered their first encounter, the way he had looked at her across the room, his gaze piercing through her like he already knew everything there was to know about her. She had tried to resist him then, tried to walk away, but somehow, she always found herself circling back to him.

God, what was wrong with her?

The phone on the table buzzed, breaking her thoughts. She grabbed it immediately, almost afraid to see what message would be waiting for her now.

Her hands shook as she read the notification.

It was from the same unknown number.

"You can't escape him. He will be here soon. He always comes when you think you've pushed him away."

Aarya's heart skipped a beat. The words were simple, but the meaning behind them was clear. He was coming.

Her entire body went rigid. She didn't know how he always knew where she was, how he knew what she was thinking, but it didn't matter anymore. She had no time to figure that out. She had no time to think.

He was coming.

Aarya moved quickly, her instincts taking over. She grabbed her coat, yanking it on without a second thought. She didn't know what she planned to do— run? Hide? She wasn't sure. All she knew was that the man she had tried to escape was about to make his move.

She couldn't allow it. She wouldn't let him win.

As she made her way to the door, she heard the sound of footsteps outside, slow and deliberate. A chill ran down her spine. He was here.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she rushed to the window, peeking out from behind the curtains. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw him standing across the street, his back turned toward her apartment.

Vikram.

She watched him for what felt like an eternity, but he didn't move. He just stood there, like he was waiting for something, or someone.

Aarya's grip tightened around the curtain, her mind racing. Should she stay and face him? Should she run? Was there any point in trying to escape at this stage?

No.

She couldn't run. She couldn't keep running forever. He would always find her. It was as if he knew exactly where she would be, exactly what she was doing, and exactly what she was thinking. And that thought paralyzed her.

But something inside her shifted. Maybe this was her moment. Maybe this was the time she would finally take control of the situation.

With a deep breath, she turned away from the window and marched toward the door. She had come this far. There was no turning back now.

She swung open the door with determination, her eyes locking onto Vikram's from across the street. For a split second, their gazes met, and Aarya felt her heart skip a beat.

Then, without another word, she walked out into the night, heading toward him.

Cliffhanger-

As Aarya reached the door and gripped the handle, something made her pause. That unsettling sixth sense— whispering, warning. She turned her head slowly, eyes scanning the empty street behind her. Vikram was gone. Vanished. No sound, no footsteps, no sign he had ever been there. Her breath caught. Panic surged.

She fumbled for her keys, forcing herself to unlock the door. But just as she stepped inside and pushed it shut, her phone buzzed in her coat pocket.

Another message. Same unknown number.

"You think it's over, but it's just begun. Check under your bed."

Her blood turned to ice.

Every instinct screamed at her to run, but her feet moved on their own— one slow step after another into the silent darkness of her apartment. The world outside faded. All that remained was the humming in her ears and the creak of the floor beneath her.

She reached her bedroom door, her trembling hand hovering over the knob.

And then —

A faint scrape.

From inside the room.

Someone... or something... was already there.

And Aarya had just walked straight into its trap.

To be countinue..