Evening Shadows
The day passed in silence. Ariv sat on his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. Ever since that night, nothing felt normal. The faint burn on his back where the strange mark appeared still tingled beneath his shirt.
He checked his phone for the tenth time. Rohit hadn't replied to a single message. That wasn't like him. Probably just busy, Ariv told himself, though his chest felt heavy.
Just then, a notification popped up.
Vaishnavi: "Hey, Ariv. Can you come over? Need help with something."
Ariv blinked. Vaishnavi wasn't someone who asked for help often. If she needed him, he couldn't ignore it.
Ariv: "Sure. On my way."
He slipped on his hoodie, adjusted the small locket his mother had given him that morning, and stepped out into the fading orange light of dusk.
---
At Vaishnavi's House
Her house stood near the edge of Dharavanar, quiet and still under the evening sky. Vaishnavi greeted him at the door with a soft smile.
"Hey, thanks for coming," she said.
"No problem," Ariv replied. "What do you need help with?"
"Just fixing a shelf," she laughed nervously. "My brother ditched me."
They worked together for a while, chatting about random things. For a few minutes, it felt like a normal evening.
Until the air changed.
A chill swept through the room, raising goosebumps on Ariv's arms. The ceiling light flickered violently.
"Uh… power cut?" Vaishnavi muttered, glancing around.
The temperature dropped. Shadows stretched unnaturally along the walls, slithering like living things. A deep, guttural growl rumbled through the room.
Vaishnavi froze. "Ariv… what's happening?"
---
The Darkness
Black mist seeped from the corners, thickening until a monstrous silhouette formed. Two crescent-shaped eyes glowed like pale moons in the dark. Its limbs writhed like blades of shadow, tendrils dragging across the floor with a hiss.
Vaishnavi stumbled back, her voice breaking into a scream.
"W-What IS that?!"
Ariv stepped in front of her, heart pounding. He reached inside himself for that energy—the surge that had saved him before.
Nothing.
The locket on his chest glowed faintly, locking everything away.
No… why can't I…?!
The beast lunged. Ariv snatched up a broken wooden piece from the unfinished shelf and swung with all his strength. The blow cracked against the shadow, doing almost nothing.
Dark tendrils whipped out, smashing him across the room. Pain ripped through his body as he slammed into the wall.
"Ariv!" Vaishnavi's scream was raw, desperate.
---
The Breaking Point
The creature's tendrils coiled around Ariv, lifting him like a ragdoll. Its jaws opened wide, dripping with darkness.
Ariv struggled, teeth gritted, every muscle screaming. I can't… even protect her…
The monster hissed, ready to end him—
---
The Silent Strike
A blinding silver arc cut through the darkness.
The creature froze, its glowing eyes widening before splitting in two. Black mist erupted, swallowing the room before vanishing into nothingness.
Ariv crashed to the floor, coughing, vision spinning. Through the haze, he saw a figure standing in the shattered silence.
Tall. Cloaked in shadows. A silver spear glimmered in his hand, dripping with darkness.
The same man from before. Rudraen.
He didn't speak. Didn't even acknowledge Ariv. For a single moment, his cold gaze flicked toward him—then he was gone. Vanished like smoke.
---
Aftermath
Vaishnavi rushed to Ariv's side, her hands trembling.
"Ariv… what WAS that thing?!"
Ariv winced, trying to stand. His fingers gripped the broken wood, his mind reeling.
"I… I don't know," he whispered. "But this isn't over."
Outside, the night was quiet. Too quiet.
And somewhere beyond mortal eyes, something was watching.
The hunt had only just begun.