The door stood open.
Waiting.
Breathing.
Calling him back.
Aarav stared at it.
His only way out.
His only chance.
Behind him—
Mira.
The copy.
The corridor.
All watching.
All waiting.
KNOCK…
Aarav's breath caught.
The sound in his chest—
Weak now.
Fading.
He didn't have time.
"…I'm going," Aarav said, his voice low but firm.
Mira didn't move.
Didn't stop him.
"You should."
Aarav hesitated.
That answer—
It wasn't what he expected.
"…that's it?" he asked.
Mira looked at him.
Her expression calm.
But her eyes—
Still carrying something deeper.
"You think I'd beg you to stay?"
Aarav frowned.
"…you helped me."
"I guided you."
Her correction was sharp.
Precise.
"There's a difference."
Aarav's chest tightened.
"…why?"
Mira didn't answer immediately.
The corridor shifted slightly.
The doors creaked.
The whispers grew louder—
"Stay…""Don't leave…""Be one of us…"
Mira finally spoke.
"Because I remember what it felt like."
Silence.
Her voice softened slightly.
"To lose yourself."
Aarav looked at her.
Really looked this time.
And for a moment—
He saw it.
Not the system.
Not the entity.
Just her.
Trapped.
"…then come with me," Aarav said suddenly.
Mira froze.
The copy's smile widened.
"That's not how it works."
Aarav ignored it.
His eyes stayed on Mira.
"You said you found your door."
Mira didn't respond.
"So use it," Aarav pushed.
Her expression flickered.
"…it doesn't open anymore."
Aarav's breath hitched.
"…what?"
"I stayed too long."
The words came quietly.
Heavy.
Final.
"My door doesn't belong to me anymore."
The truth settled in.
Aarav clenched his fists.
"…then I'll find another way—"
"There isn't one."
This time—
The copy spoke.
Its voice calm.
Certain.
"Every system needs balance."
Aarav's eyes snapped toward it.
"…what does that mean?"
The smile grew wider.
"One leaves."
A pause.
"One stays."
The corridor trembled.
Aarav's heart dropped.
"…no…"
Mira didn't deny it.
She didn't look away.
"…it's true."
Aarav stepped back.
"No… that's not fair—"
"It's not supposed to be."
Her voice was steady now.
Resolved.
"That's the rule."
Aarav shook his head violently.
"I'm not leaving you here—"
"You don't have a choice!"
Her voice snapped.
For the first time—
Emotion broke through.
"If you don't go—"
A pause.
"You become one of them."
The walls shifted.
The hands pressed harder from inside.
The whispers turned into screams.
"STAY!""JOIN US!""DON'T LEAVE!"
Aarav covered his ears.
"STOP!"
Silence.
Instant.
His breathing shook violently.
"…there has to be another way…"
Mira stepped closer.
Her voice softer now.
"There was."
Aarav looked at her.
"…what?"
A faint smile.
Sad.
Tired.
"But I didn't take it."
Aarav's chest tightened.
"…why…?"
She didn't answer.
Instead—
She stepped back.
Away from him.
Away from the door.
The copy moved beside her.
Watching.
Waiting.
Mira looked at Aarav one last time.
And said quietly—
"Don't make the same mistake."
The knocking in Aarav's chest—
Almost gone now.
…KNOCK…
His time was ending.
The door pulsed.
The red light flickered violently.
Aarav stood frozen.
Choice in front of him.
Leave.
Or stay.
Save himself.
Or lose everything.