The world shattered.
Darkness cracked like glass—
And reformed into something worse.
A corridor.
Endless.
Mirrors on both sides.
Hundreds of them.
Each one reflecting Aarav.
Except—
They weren't all the same.
Some smiled.
Some cried.
Some… weren't human anymore.
Aarav stood in the center.
Breathing hard.
"…So this is your game."
A voice answered—
His own.
"Not mine."
A reflection stepped out of a mirror.
Then another.
Then—
Him.
The copy.
Perfect.
Standing right in front of him.
"…It's ours."
Silence.
The two Aaravs stared at each other.
Same face.
Same voice.
Same mark.
But one thing was different.
The eyes.
Aarav's—fear, anger, determination.
The copy's—empty… and hungry.
⚔️
The copy moved first.
Fast.
Too fast.
It lunged—
Aarav blocked—
Their hands collided.
The mark burned violently.
Both of them flinched.
"…You feel that?" Aarav said through gritted teeth.
The copy smirked.
"Of course."
"…Because we're the same."
Aarav pushed it back.
"…No."
He stepped forward.
"I feel pain."
Another step.
"You feel nothing."
The copy tilted its head.
"…Pain is weakness."
"Pain is proof," Aarav snapped.
He charged.
This time—
He attacked.
A punch—
Blocked.
A kick—
Countered.
Every move—
Matched.
Perfectly.
"…This is pointless," the copy said calmly.
"You can't beat yourself."
Aarav stopped.
Breathing hard.
"…You're right."
The copy smiled.
For a second—
It thought it had won.
Then—
Aarav smiled too.
"…But I'm not trying to beat myself."
Silence.
"…I'm trying to understand you."
The copy's expression flickered.
Just slightly.
🧠
The mirrors shifted.
New reflections appeared.
Memories.
Aarav as a child.
Crying.
Alone in the darkness.
"Please… don't leave me…"
The copy pointed at it.
"That's you."
Another reflection—
Aarav screaming.
Terrified.
"HELP ME!"
"That's you."
Another—
Aarav hesitating at the door.
Afraid.
"Always afraid."
The copy stepped closer.
"You were never strong."
Aarav didn't respond.
"You survived because someone else sacrificed everything."
Silence.
"…Your father."
The words hit deep.
"You didn't save him."
Step closer.
"You ran."
Closer.
"You forgot."
Right in front of him.
"You're weak."
Silence.
Then—
Aarav spoke.
"…You're right."
The copy froze.
"…What?"
Aarav looked straight at it.
"I was afraid."
The mirrors flickered.
"I did forget."
The darkness shifted.
"I couldn't save him."
The corridor trembled.
The copy's smile faded.
"…What are you doing…?"
Aarav stepped forward.
"But I came back."
The mark on his hand began to glow.
Brighter than before.
Stronger.
"And that's something you'll never understand."
The copy stepped back.
For the first time—
Fear appeared in its eyes.
"…Stop…"
Aarav's voice deepened.
Not louder.
Stronger.
"I'm not the one who's broken."
Another step.
"You are."
The mirrors cracked.
One by one.
Shattering.
The reflections screamed as they broke.
The copy stumbled back.
"…You can't reject me!"
Aarav clenched his fist.
"I don't need to."
The mark flared.
Blinding.
"I just need to accept myself."
⚫
The light exploded.
The copy screamed—
Its body cracking apart.
"…WE ARE ONE—!"
"Not anymore."
CRACK.
The copy shattered.
Into darkness.
Into nothing.
Silence.
The corridor collapsed.
Everything faded.
🌑
Aarav stood alone.
Breathing heavily.
"…Is it over…?"
The darkness around him shifted.
But this time—
It didn't attack.
It moved…
Around him.
Like it recognized him.
Like it obeyed him.
Aarav slowly raised his hand.
The mark—
No longer burned.
It pulsed.
Calm.
Alive.
"…I can control it…"
A voice whispered.
Close.
Behind him.
"Not control."
Aarav turned slowly.
Something stood there.
Not his copy.
Not his father.
Something else.
Tall.
Endless.
Formless.
Watching him.
"Become."
Aarav's heart slowed.
"…What are you?"
Silence.
Then—
"The door."
Everything stopped.
Aarav's breath caught.
"…No…"
The entity moved closer.
"And now…"
The darkness around them pulsed.
Stronger.
Alive.
"So are you."
⚫
Outside—
The Seventh Door appeared again.
Cracks forming across its surface.
Mira stepped back.
"…What is happening…?"
The door trembled.
Like something inside—
Was changing.
Or breaking.
🌑
Inside—
Aarav stood face to face with the entity.
No fear left.
Only one question.
"…If I'm the door now…"
Silence.
"…Then what happens when I open?"
The entity smiled.
For the first time.
And the entire world went dark.
To Be Continued… 👻🔥🔥🔥