Chapter 6: The Hunter in the Shadows
The night air in Mumbai was unnaturally still, heavy with the kind of silence that warned of danger.
Aanya walked beside Arjun along a quieter street near the bay. The meeting at Rathore Consultants had ended only an hour ago, and though the taste of victory still lingered on her lips, her instincts screamed that something was wrong.
[Ding!]
System Warning: Host is being targeted.
Detection Range: 200 meters.
Estimated Threats: 5.
Recommendation: Do not engage directly. Seek immediate protection.
Aanya's pulse spiked. Her eyes darted to Arjun, who walked with his usual calm, hands in his pockets as though nothing in the world could touch him.
She leaned closer, whispering, "We're being followed."
"I know," he murmured back, his tone steady, almost casual.
Her eyes widened. "You—how?"
He didn't answer, but his gaze sharpened ever so slightly. "Stay close to me."
They turned into a dimly lit alley — and that's when the shadows moved.
Five men stepped out, their faces obscured by masks, their eyes cold and predatory. One of them twirled a knife lazily between his fingers.
"Well, well," the leader drawled. "The dead queen of Malhotra Global walks again."
Aanya's breath caught. "Rajiv sent you."
The man smirked. "Our orders are simple. Deliver you alive if possible. Dead if not."
Her stomach turned cold. Rajiv isn't wasting time.
She backed up instinctively, but Arjun's arm shifted slightly, guiding her behind him.
The men laughed. "Move aside, hero. She isn't your fight."
Arjun tilted his head, his expression unreadable. "You shouldn't have come."
Something in his voice made even Aanya pause. It was low, steady… but carried a weight that silenced the alley for a moment.
The leader sneered. "Big words. Let's see if you can back them up."
He lunged forward with the knife.
What happened next stole Aanya's breath.
In the blink of an eye, Arjun stepped sideways, his movement so fluid it was almost invisible. His hand snapped out, catching the attacker's wrist mid-swing. A twist — a crack — and the knife clattered to the ground as the man screamed.
Aanya's eyes widened. He's… fast. Too fast.
The other four rushed at once.
Arjun moved like water, precise and lethal. He ducked under a punch, his elbow slamming into a ribcage with a sickening thud. Another man swung a metal rod — Arjun caught it barehanded, the metal bending slightly under his grip, before driving a kick into the attacker's chest that sent him crashing into the alley wall.
The fight was over in less than thirty seconds.
The men lay groaning on the ground, clutching broken arms, dislocated shoulders, or simply unconscious. Arjun hadn't drawn a weapon. He hadn't needed one.
Aanya stood frozen, her heart hammering wildly. This… this isn't normal martial arts. Who is he?
Arjun brushed invisible dust from his sleeve as if he had merely swatted away flies. Then he looked back at her, his expression calm.
"You're safe now."
Her lips parted. Words refused to come. She had known Arjun was different — but this… this was something else.
[Ding!]
Candidate Compatibility: Increased.
Current Trust Level: 60%.
Subtask Generated: Confront Candidate About His True Identity.
Aanya swallowed hard. "You… you're not just a waiter."
Arjun met her gaze steadily, no hint of denial. "I never said I was."
She took a shaky breath. "Then who are you?"
For a moment, silence hung between them. Then he finally said, "Someone who's been preparing for a war of his own."
Her chest tightened. "War?"
He glanced at the unconscious men. "Your uncle isn't the only one with enemies."
Before she could press further, one of the attackers coughed, dragging himself upright. "Rajiv… won't stop… he'll keep coming… until you're in the ground."
Aanya stepped forward, her eyes blazing. "Tell Rajiv this: the queen he tried to kill is alive. And she's coming for her throne."
The man's face drained of color. Arjun shoved him back down with a single push, his gaze cold.
"Let's go," Arjun said quietly.
They walked in silence for a while, the city's noise slowly replacing the echo of violence. Aanya's mind whirled.
She glanced at him. "You could have killed them."
"I didn't need to," he replied. "Fear lasts longer than death."
Her breath caught. The calm way he said it, without pride or regret, unsettled her more than the fight itself.
Finally, she whispered, "You've been protecting me, haven't you? From the start."
Arjun's lips curved faintly. "You make it sound like I've had a choice."
Something in her chest stirred, dangerous and unfamiliar. She quickly looked away. "I don't like being in anyone's debt."
"Then pay it back," he said softly. "Survive. Take back what's yours."
Her heart skipped. Why… why does he believe in me when I barely believe in myself?
That night, at the shelter, she couldn't sleep. The image of Arjun moving through those attackers replayed over and over. The precision. The strength. The calm.
And his words.
Someone preparing for a war of his own.
[Ding!]
Warning: Host's enemy has escalated. Rajiv Malhotra has placed a bounty of ₹50 lakh for Host's capture — dead or alive.
New Task Generated: Establish First Defensive Alliance.
Requirement: Secure at least one reliable ally within 48 hours.
Reward: Trust Network Skill, Influence +10.
Penalty: Rajiv's bounty hunters gain advantage.
Aanya sat up, her jaw tightening. "So it begins."
She looked out the window at the sprawling city lights. For five years she had been caged, humiliated, broken.
But tonight had shown her something crucial: she wasn't alone anymore.
She clenched her fists. "Rajiv, you wanted me dead. But I swear… I'll rise higher than you ever dreamed."
In the shadows of the room, Arjun leaned quietly against the wall, his sharp eyes watching her. He hadn't left her side since the fight.
And for the first time, she didn't mind.