The night had fallen like a shroud of velvet, wrapping the mansion in its serene darkness. Soft lights flickered in the living room, laughter echoing faintly among the guests who had gathered for what was supposed to be a calm evening — a simple group gathering after days of tension. Tea cups clinked, low music hummed through the air, and the scent of roasted coffee lingered like a lullaby.Laughter and chatter filled the room in fragmented bursts,
Maya sat quietly on the far side of the room, her posture calm, her face unreadable. Her fingers traced the rim of her cup but she didn't drink. Her gaze — deep, dark, and knowing — drifted from one corner of the room to another, as if she could hear something no one else could. Her black-gloved hands rested on her lap, motionless, her breathing steady.
To anyone else, she looked simply lost in thought. But those who truly knew her — Rahi, Rani, and her brothers — recognized the tension in her stillness. The way silence gathered around her like armor.
A faint tremor passed through the chandelier above. It was subtle, barely there, but Maya's eyes flickered upward — and that was all it took for her to know.
Her gaze was fixed on the far wall where the Ghosts of Hell—silent, poised, vigilant—stood like statues, yet every nerve in the room seemed to stretch taut under their collective tension.
The conversation dimmed as if the room itself sensed her attention shifting. Maya's eyes sharpened, a sudden stillness falling over her presence.Her lips parted slightly,
"They're coming."
Her voice carried no panic, no urgency, only an unshakable calm.
The words fell into the air like ice.
The laughter died instantly. Goest of Hell — the seven figures scattered across the room, dressed in shadow-black, eyes sharp and alert — froze. stiffened. In an instant, the air around them seemed to thrum with anticipation. Rahi's hand froze mid-motion, Rani's gaze faltered, and there hands twitched toward invisible weapons.
Fahin's hand froze mid-motion, fahis's gaze faltered, and even Mahim and Mahi leaned slightly forward, sensing the weight of the words.
"You… what?" whispered Farhan.
Farhan frowned, setting down his glass. "Who's coming, Maya?"
She didn't look at him. Her gaze was fixed beyond the walls, beyond the world they could see. "The hunters. The ones who want me. They've found us."
For a second, no one breathed.
Then Fahis stood, his voice shaking slightly. "Now? Why?"
Maya—what's happening?" her mother whispered.
Maya rose slowly from her chair, black silk whispering against the marble floor. Her braid slipped over her shoulder like a shadow descending.
Her voice, when it came again, was calm — too calm.
"Goest of Hell," she said. "Stand up."
The group obeyed instantly. Their movements were synchronized, silent — trained for this moment. The air around them changed. The warmth of the lamps seemed to drain away, replaced by the electric pulse of anticipation.
Maya's eyes gleamed faintly — silver glinting under the dim light.
"You want to stay with me?" she asked quietly.
Heads nodded in quiet acknowledgment.No hesitation. No fear.The Ghosts of Hell exchanged glances, a silent agreement passing among them.
"Then.... " she whispered , "If you want to stay alive, stand with me."
The Goest of Hell looked at one another — then, one by one, nodded. "Yes, Commander," said one of them, his voice trembling.
And that one word — Commander — turned the air electric.
And the room came alive.It was barely a whisper, a single syllable, yet it rang through the room with the authority of a general on a battlefield. The Ghosts of Hell responded instantly. Each member shifted, communicating with subtle gestures, the faintest flick of a wrist, a tilt of the head. It was like a silent code passed among soldiers, unspoken, perfect, lethal. In seconds, they assumed positions, forming a tight formation directly in front of Maya.
The family and guests in the room watched in disbelief. Mahim's mouth opened and closed, words failing him, while Mahi gripped her shawl, eyes wide, trying to process the surreal scene.
Every member of Goest of Hell took their position with wordless precision. Arin, Tazir, Lira, Zayn, Rahi, Rani — they scattered, forming a defensive circle. Chairs slid, tables shifted, curtains snapped against invisible currents.
"What—how is she doing this?" whispered Naya.
Ohi's voice was hoarse. "I've never… I've never seen command like that."
Maya's fingers moved, precise and deliberate, gesturing subtly. Her commands were unspoken yet absolute. The Ghosts of Hell flowed into motion, moving as though their bodies were extensions of her will, fluid yet deadly.
"They're—" Fahim began, then stopped, stunned by the perfect synchronization.
Outside, the faint hum of approaching humans began to throb like a heartbeat.
A sudden crash echoed from outside the mansion. Dust and debris shook the walls as the enemy force breached the outer courtyard.
"Advance to the outer threshold. Mark enemy entry points."
The Ghosts of Hell tensed, and Maya's hand flicked subtly toward them. Two members vanished through the glass without shattering it — phasing through as if it were mist.
"Form… right flank. Now," Maya whispered.
And they obeyed.
The floor glowed faintly with faint geometric lines — invisible to the untrained eye, but binding like a spell.
Maya walked to the balcony of the room, her hand raised slightly. "Positions," she commanded, her voice laced with an unearthly authority.
Her tone was not loud, but the effect was instantaneous. They moved like shadows under her control. Lira sealed the doors with a coded lock. Zayn adjusted the comms. Tazir took the upper balcony, rifle aimed toward the approaching lights beyond the glass.
Mahim, Mahi, and the rest of the family stood frozen near the staircase, eyes wide, unable to comprehend what they were witnessing.
"Maya" her mother whispered.
Maya didn't turn. "Stay back," she said softly.
The air grew thicker — every breath sharp, every heartbeat a drum.
Fahis stepped forward, voice trembling. "Maya—what are you doing?"
Maya didn't turn. "Preparing for what's coming."
"Coming from where?"
"From everywhere."
Her voice was detached — neither fear nor anger. Only command."Disrupt all digital frequencies. No trace, no signal."
The lights flickered once, twice — then the room sank into a soft blue glow from Maya's eyes.
Then came the first sound — a crash, shattering glass — a grenade bursting against the outer walls. Screams echoed from the garden.
"They've breached the gate!" Rahi shouted.
Maya's eyes darkened, silver bleeding into black. "Then start," she murmured.
"Form a silent perimeter. No sound, no mistake."
They spread out instantly, sliding against the walls like liquid darkness.
Invisible energy rippled through the room. Lights flickered violently, and in that split second, Goest of Hell began their counterattack.Maya raised her right hand now. "Code Seven: Mirror Strike."
"Reflect any energy projected toward us."
From the windows, streaks of energy flashed — Zayn's sonic blast colliding with an unseen drone. Lira leapt from the balcony, landing silently beside the door, slicing through an intruder before he could aim his weapon.
"Secure all upper exits. Maintain high-ground visibility."
Maya moved like water — calm, unhurried, yet unstoppable. Every motion she made sent invisible waves through the air — bending gravity, redirecting bullets, freezing shards of metal mid-flight.
Maya's voice deepened slightly. "Code Ten: Blood Lock."
"If I fall—none of you move without command echo."
"Yes, Commander," the group answered in unison, voices low, mechanical.
Tazir shouted over the chaos, "They're using frequency shields!"
Maya closed her eyes. "Then, break the frequency," she whispered.
"Hold the perimeter," Maya commanded. "No one crosses the threshold."
Goest of Hell moved like extensions of her will. Arin ducked behind a fallen column, returning fire. Rahi tackled an attacker through the hallway. Rani, quick and fierce, disarmed another and slammed the butt of a rifle against his chest.
she murmured, "Code Eleven: Black Dawn."
"Visual cloak, full spectrum. Disappear."
One heartbeat — and the entire Goest of Hell faded. Only their faint outlines shimmered under the dim light.
The others gasped.
"Where—where did they go?" Raya cried.
"They're here," Maya said softly. "You just can't see them anymore."
"Behind you!" Fahim cried, but Maya was already moving — turning, her hand slicing through the air. The attacker froze mid-step, suspended, his body twisting unnaturally before collapsing, unconscious.
"Detect vibrations. Any hostile movement within fifty meters."
A hum answered her. The air seemed to ripple.
Mahi gasped. "She's controlling them.... like a general."
Mahim could only whisper, "No — she's commanding them." brutal. The Ghosts of Hell met them with precise, deadly efficiency. Hands moved like shadows, weapons flashing with silent elegance, bodies moving as if gravity bent around them. Each strike, block, and maneuver executed perfectly, guided by Maya's unseen hand.
"Activate internal shields."
Inside, Maya remained seated, her eyes fixed, observing every movement. She issued no sound, yet every action of the Ghosts of Hell mirrored her will. A chair toppled outside, sending a ripple of panic through the enemy ranks. One by one, they fell.
"Unbelievable," whispered Fahin, gripping the edge of the table. "How… she's—she's controlling them… like they're extensions of her mind."
"Extensions? It's more than that," Mahi said softly, covering her mouth. "It's… terrifying. But precise. Beautiful. Terrifyingly precise."
Outside, the night turned red with flashes of energy and explosions, but inside the mansion, Maya's voice was the only steady thing.
"Code Black. Formation Theta."
Instantly, Goest of Hell changed pattern — two to the front, three to the flanks, one covering the rear. Their movements were perfect — no hesitation, no disorder. They weren't merely fighting with her — they were fighting through her.
Every order she gave carried invisible threads of connection, her telepathic link binding them all. When she whispered "Left flank," they shifted before the sound even reached their ears.Maya's voice broke the silence again, calm and cutting: "Maintain formation. Cover the east wing."
And slowly — impossibly — they began to win.
Bodies fell. The enemy forces withdrew, leaving weapons behind. The air smelled of metal and smoke.
When the last of them retreated, Maya stood in the center of the ruined room — marble cracked, chandeliers shattered, curtains burning faintly at the edges.Code Thirteen: Zero Hour.
"End the threat."
And they did.
The room fell still. The humming stopped. The world seemed to exhale.
One by one, the Goest of Hell reappeared — kneeling before Maya in silence. Not a single scratch. Not a sound.
Maya closed her eyes, and for a moment, the silence returned.
Fahis's voice trembled. "You… you controlled them like—like machines." Maya shook her head slowly. "Not machines. Survivors."
Her father stepped closer. "What were those codes?"
"Commands," Maya said simply. "The ones burned into our minds in the lab. We were made to respond instantly — like weapons. I can't forget them, no matter how much I want to."
Everyone stared. Silence pressed heavy on their hearts.
Fahis
, panting, looked around. "Is it… is it over?"
Maya didn't answer immediately. She looked toward the window — where the wind still howled — then finally whispered, "Yes."
She raised her hand, and time itself seemed to pause.
The air shimmered. The broken glass began to rise — pieces floating like reversed raindrops. Cracked marble stitched itself back together. Curtains mended. Flames snuffed out as though obeying her will. Even the air grew lighter, brighter — restored to the way it had been before the attack.
In seconds, the mansion looked untouched — perfect, pristine, peaceful.
Everyone stared in disbelief.
Fahin's voice trembled. "Maya… you reversed time?"
Maya turned her gaze toward her, calm and expressionless. "It was necessary."
Fahad whispered, awe in his tone. "You brought everything back… even the air smells new."
She said nothing. She walked back to her chair, sat down, crossed her legs, and picked up her untouched cup of tea.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Her brothers exchanged glances, stunned and wordless. Rahi rubbed his eyes as though he couldn't trust them. Mahi pressed a hand to her heart, tears silently gathering. Mahim's face was pale, the weight of what he'd just witnessed sinking into him like a stone.
Finally, Rani whispered, "How… how can you act like nothing happened?"
Maya looked up, her expression unreadable. "Because nothing did."
Her voice carried the calmness of the ocean after a storm — the kind that hides what it's swallowed beneath still waters.
And as she sat there, the room returned to its illusion of peace — the ticking clock, the hum of the lights, the faint clinking of cups.
But deep within that calm, everyone knew — the war had only changed shape.
For Maya, there was no difference between peace and battle. Both were just states of control.
And that control — terrifying, absolute — belonged only to her.