On the final day, day six, Samarth and Aditya reach gate number 22 exactly as planned. Snehil is not with them. He stayed back with Anaaya to escape earlier and try to reach military support from another route.
As Samarth and Aditya approach the gate, they freeze.
Vidhan is standing there alone.
Samarth steps forward immediately. "Where are the others?"
Vidhan looks at him for a moment, almost amused. "Before that," he says, "I have to admit something. I didn't expect this from you."
Samarth does not react. "I don't have time for this. Where are Purnima, Jay, and Amrit?"
Vidhan smiles slightly. "You've grown, Samarth. The same guy no one thought was important for this mission, the same guy I recommended myself, is now standing in front of me after fooling all of Eden. Honestly, I'm impressed."
Samarth's jaw tightens. "Save it. I'm not interested in talking to a traitor."
Vidhan raises an eyebrow. "A traitor?" Then he counters calmly, "Aren't you curious how I'm standing at this exact gate? The same gate you told everyone in Squad A about… except me."
That single line hits Samarth hard.
Questions flood his mind. Was there another mole in Squad A? Was someone leaking from Squad B instead? Or worse… was everyone working for Eden except him?
Vidhan notices the hesitation and cuts it short. "Don't overthink it. There is no other mole."
Samarth stares at him, unconvinced.
Vidhan continues, his tone steady. "You made one mistake. You should never have shared the full plan with Squad A, even if I wasn't there."
Samarth snaps back, "We couldn't contact the military. The radios weren't safe."
"Exactly," Vidhan replies. "And the same logic applies to your communication with Squad A."
Samarth slowly understands.
Vidhan explains it plainly. "You avoided military radio channels because Eden could tap them. But Eden was also tapping the frequency used between Squad A and Squad B. I knew that frequency. I gave it to Eden."
Samarth does not ask where the others are this time. His voice is steady, but tight. "Why?" he asks. "Why are you doing this? Why betray all of us? When did you switch sides? And what do you even gain from it?"
Vidhan looks at him with clear disappointment. "I didn't think you were this pathetic," he says. "These questions shouldn't even need answers."
Samarth does not respond.
Vidhan continues, almost bored. "It's obvious, isn't it? I'm from this region. Eden approached me from the very beginning. I've been working with them all along." He lets the words sink in. "They're giving me a position here. A real one. Something far better than risking my life every day, fighting zombies for a military that barely pays for the work it demands."
Then he adds, "The others from Squad A are locked inside my brother's house. I'll have the guards pick them up later."
Samarth clenches his fists.
"But," Vidhan says after a pause, "I do think you have potential. You can become stronger. Better." His eyes shift briefly. "So I'll let you go. You, Snehil, and that timid, irritating girl."
He notices Aditya standing quietly beside Samarth, silent since the beginning. Vidhan smirks. "Him too. All four of you can leave. Take this chance and disappear."
Aditya finally speaks, his voice flat with boredom. "This is getting tiring. You must be bored too. Why don't we stop talking and start fighting?"
Samarth steps forward as well, readying himself. "After we take you down," he says coldly, "we'll go and get the others."
That is when Vidhan's expression changes.
His calm breaks, replaced by anger. "I gave you a chance to run," he snaps. "You should've taken it."
He straightens, confidence hard in his eyes. "There's no way the two of you can beat me. You're both still too weak."
Aditya moves first, snapping a side kick toward Vidhan. Vidhan reacts instantly, dropping his leg hard and shutting the kick down before it can land. Samarth rushes in right after, but Vidhan slips through his guard and drives a punch straight into Samarth's face.
Both Samarth and Aditya step back at the same time, creating space. Samarth charges again, going in for a tackle. Vidhan braces himself to counter, but it is a feint. Samarth suddenly pulls back.
From the side, Aditya rushes in.
Vidhan shifts his stance to face him, ready to strike, but again, it is just a setup. In the same moment, Samarth spins and throws a powerful kick that lands clean on Vidhan.
For a split second, it works and then Vidhan reacts.
He grabs Samarth's leg mid-motion and yanks him off balance. At the same time, he turns and slams a punch into Aditya's gut, knocking the air out of him and breaking their momentum instantly.