(Vena’s POV) My fingers refused to move.
The phone remained pressed against my ear long after the call had ended.
The screen displayed only one message.
Call Ended.
No number.
No caller ID.
Nothing.
Yet the man’s voice still echoed inside my mind.
“Be careful who walks beside you…” “…because this time…” “…the hunter entered your world before you entered his.” My heartbeat grew louder.
Hunter?
Was he talking about…
Arther?
No…
Something didn’t feel right.
If Arther wanted to harm me…
Why had he helped me every single time today?
Helping the old peon.
Returning my timetable.
Offering me water without asking questions.
None of it felt fake.
Then…
Who was the caller trying to make me fear?
“Vena?” A gentle voice interrupted my thoughts.
Ananya stood in front of me, waving her hand.
“You’re staring into space again.” I blinked.
“…Sorry.” “You’ve been saying ‘sorry’ a lot today.” She smiled softly.
“Is everything okay?” For a second…
I almost told her everything.
About the phone call.
About the strange pendant.
About the chapel.
About dying once already.
But…
How could I?
Even I could barely believe it.
“I just have a slight headache.” Ananya looked unconvinced.
“You should get some rest after reaching home.” “I will.” She smiled.
“Good.” Kabir suddenly appeared between us carrying his backpack over one shoulder.
“Attention, everyone!” Riya sighed.
“What now?” “I have made an important discovery.” “No.” “You made another problem.” Kabir ignored her.
He pointed toward Arther, who was quietly placing his notebook into his bag.
“Our new classmate…” “…has smiled exactly four times today.” Ananya laughed.
“You counted?” “Of course.” “I observe people.” Riya raised an eyebrow.
“Since when?” “Since this morning.” Arther calmly zipped his bag.
“You missed one.” Kabir froze.
“…What?” “You counted four.” “It was five.” The classroom became silent.
Kabir frowned.
“…Impossible.” Arther looked at him with the faintest smile.
“You were talking when the fifth one happened.” For three whole seconds…
Kabir simply stared at him.
Then dramatically grabbed his own head.
“I’ve been defeated…” “…by mathematics.” The entire class laughed.
Even I couldn’t stop smiling.
For a few moments…
The heaviness inside my chest became lighter.
Students gradually began leaving the laboratory.
The corridors grew busier as different departments finished their practical classes.
Ananya walked beside me.
“So…” “Same bus today?” I nodded.
“Yes.” Kabir immediately joined in.
“Perfect.” “That means I have an audience for my life advice.” Riya looked at him.
“Nobody asked.” “Great advice never waits to be requested.” Ananya chuckled.
“Go on then.” Kabir cleared his throat dramatically.
“Rule number one.” “Never trust a person who says…” “‘Just one more assignment.'” Riya answered instantly.
“Rule number two.” “Never trust Kabir when he says…” “‘I’ll return your pen tomorrow.'” Ananya burst into laughter.
Kabir looked offended.
“That happened only twice.” Riya looked at him.
“It happened yesterday.” “…Details.” The laughter echoed through the corridor.
Students walking past glanced at us before continuing on their way.
It felt…
Normal.
Peaceful.
Exactly like an ordinary college afternoon.
Yet…
A strange feeling refused to leave me.
Almost instinctively…
I looked back.
The corridor behind us was crowded.
Groups of students.
Teachers.
A janitor pushing a cleaning cart.
Nothing unusual.
Still…
It felt like someone had been watching us.
Not from nearby.
From farther away.
Patiently.
Waiting.
As we reached the main staircase, Arther suddenly stopped walking.
His eyes shifted toward the large glass windows overlooking the college entrance.
He remained silent for barely two seconds.
Then continued walking as if nothing had happened.
No one noticed.
Except me.
I slowed my pace slightly.
“…Did you see something?” He glanced at me.
His expression remained calm.
“Why do you ask?” “You stopped.” “I did.” “But…” “…it was nothing.” His answer sounded natural.
Almost convincing.
Almost.
Because his eyes…
They weren’t looking at the college gate anymore.
They were quietly scanning the reflections in the glass.
Not the people outside.
The reflections behind them.
As if…
He wasn’t checking who was in front of the building.
He was checking…
Who was following them.
I looked toward the glass again.
All I saw were dozens of students walking home.
But for one fleeting moment…
I could have sworn…
A man in a black cap turned away the instant our eyes met.
When I blinked…
He was gone.
I frowned.
Was it my imagination…
Or had the game truly begun?
I forced myself to look away from the glass.
There was no point staring.
If someone really was following us…
They certainly wouldn’t stand there waiting to be caught.
“Come on!” Kabir called from the front.
“If we miss the bus, I’m blaming all of you.” Riya folded her arms.
“The bus leaves in fifteen minutes.” “I know.” “But worrying burns calories.” Ananya laughed.
“So that’s your new diet plan?” Kabir nodded proudly.
“I call it…” “‘Mental Exercise.'” Riya looked completely unimpressed.
“Unfortunately…” “…only your mouth gets exercise.” Arther let out a quiet chuckle.
Kabir immediately pointed at him.
“There!” “He laughed again.” “I’ve decided.” “By the end of this semester…” “…I’ll make him laugh at least a hundred times.” Arther adjusted the strap of his backpack.
“I don’t think that’s something you can measure.” Kabir grinned.
“Challenge accepted.” The five of us walked out through the college gate together.
Outside…
The afternoon traffic moved steadily along the road.
Auto-rickshaws stopped one after another.
Street vendors called out to passing students.
A balloon seller stood near the signal while children tugged excitedly at their parents’ hands.
The city looked exactly as it always had.
Busy.
Loud.
Ordinary.
Yet…
My eyes searched every face without realizing it.
The man in the black cap.
The silver-eyed stranger.
The caller.
Anyone.
Everyone suddenly looked suspicious.
“Vena?” I looked up.
Arther had slowed his pace until he was walking beside me.
“You’ve looked behind yourself five times.” I blinked.
“…You counted?” “No.” “I noticed.” His answer was so simple…
It almost made me smile.
“I didn’t realize.” “You seem distracted.” I hesitated.
Should I tell him?
No.
I had only known him for one day.
It would sound ridiculous.
Someone called me from an unknown number…
A mysterious pendant becomes warm…
And I remember things from another life.
No.
I couldn’t say any of that.
“I’ve just had a long day.” He studied my expression for a brief moment.
Not judging.
Not doubting.
Just…
Observing.
Then he nodded.
“That’s understandable.” He didn’t ask another question.
For some reason…
I appreciated that.
Ahead of us…
Kabir suddenly stopped walking.
He stared at a small juice stall beside the road.
“…Friends.” His voice became unusually serious.
Everyone looked at him.
“I think…” “…nature is calling.” Riya sighed.
“You literally drank juice an hour ago.” “I know.” “But this stall has mango shake.” Ananya laughed.
“So?” “So…” “…I feel emotionally connected to it.” Before anyone could stop him…
He ran toward the stall.
The vendor looked surprised.
“One large mango shake!” Kabir announced dramatically.
“And make it legendary.” The old vendor smiled.
“I’ll do my best.” Riya shook her head.
“I give up.” Ananya smiled at me.
“Don’t worry.” “He does this almost every day.” “I can believe that.” While everyone waited…
I looked across the road.
A black SUV stood parked beneath a large gulmohar tree.
My heartbeat skipped.
The windows were dark.
Too dark to see inside.
The vehicle looked familiar.
Had I…
Seen it before?
Before I could think further…
The engine started.
The SUV slowly merged into traffic.
It didn’t speed away.
It simply…
Left.
As if it had only been waiting.
“…Strange.” I whispered.
“What is?” Arther’s voice came from beside me.
I looked toward the road again.
The SUV had already disappeared behind a line of buses.
“…Nothing.” This time…
He didn’t answer.
Instead…
His gaze lingered on the road for one extra second.
Almost as though…
He had memorized the vehicle.
Kabir returned triumphantly, holding his mango shake.
“Ladies and gentlemen…” “I regret nothing.” Riya looked at the oversized cup.
“That’s enough sugar for a week.” Kabir took a proud sip.
“Happiness has no calorie limit.” “It definitely does.” “You sound like my doctor.” “You’ve never met a doctor.” “I know.” “But I imagine they all talk like you.” Even Arther smiled.
We reached the bus stop just as a cool breeze swept through the street.
Students from different colleges waited in small groups.
Some scrolled through their phones.
Others chatted while watching the traffic.
Everything seemed perfectly ordinary.
But deep inside…
The uneasy feeling hadn’t disappeared.
I stood near the edge of the shelter.
Almost unconsciously…
My hand moved toward the pendant beneath my shirt.
Cold.
Completely cold.
Yet…
For some reason…
It felt like the silence before a storm.
Across the road…
A man wearing a black cap stood beside a newspaper stall.
His face remained hidden.
The moment I looked in his direction…
He folded the newspaper…
Turned around…
And disappeared into the crowd.
I took an involuntary step forward.
“…Wait…” “Vena.” Arther’s calm voice stopped me.
I turned.
He wasn’t looking at me.
His eyes were fixed on the crowd across the road.
His expression had changed ever so slightly.
For the first time since we met…
His calm gaze carried unmistakable caution.
He spoke quietly enough that only I could hear.
“Don’t chase someone who’s expecting you to follow.” I froze.
“…How did you know…” He looked at me.
“…Know what?” The words caught in my throat.
Had he guessed what I was thinking…
Or…
Had he been watching the same man?
Before I could ask another question…
The familiar sound of our bus echoed from the end of the road.
Its brakes hissed as it slowed to a stop in front of the crowded bus stand.
Within seconds…
Students rushed forward.
Some were trying to get seats.
Others were simply trying not to miss the bus.
“Move…
move…” “There’s space inside!” “Don’t push!” The usual chaos began.
Kabir looked at the crowd and sighed dramatically.
“I’ve fought easier battles.” Riya adjusted her bag.
“You say that every day.” “Because every day is a battle.” Ananya laughed.
“Come on.” “If we wait, we’ll have to stand the whole way.” The four of us slowly moved with the crowd.
Arther remained a few steps behind.
Not because he was slow…
But because he seemed to let everyone else board first.
I held my bag close and stepped toward the bus door.
Someone brushed against my shoulder.
I turned instinctively.
Just another student.
Or so it seemed.
The crowd continued moving.
A few more steps…
Almost there.
Suddenly— A strong shove came from behind.
Much harder than an ordinary push.
My balance disappeared.
The edge of the footpath slipped beneath my feet.
The road.
A speeding motorcycle.
Its horn blared loudly.
Everything happened in less than a second.
A firm hand grabbed my wrist.
My body stopped halfway into the road.
Another hand steadied my shoulder.
The motorcycle sped past with barely a few feet to spare.
Its wind brushed against my face.
For a moment…
Everything became silent.
I looked up.
Arther.
His grip remained steady.
Not too tight.
Not too loose.
Just enough to pull me safely back onto the footpath.
“…Careful.” His voice was calm.
Almost unbelievably calm.
My heart was still racing.
“I…” Before I could finish…
Kabir rushed over.
“Vena!” “Are you alright?” Ananya’s face had gone pale.
“You almost…” She couldn’t finish the sentence.
Riya immediately looked behind us.
“Who pushed her?” Students around us looked confused.
Some had noticed.
Most hadn’t.
The crowd was simply too large.
Everyone started talking at once.
“I didn’t see.” “Someone lost their balance.” “Maybe she slipped.” “No…” Riya shook her head.
“She didn’t slip.” Kabir frowned.
“I saw it too.” “Someone pushed her.” I slowly looked behind me.
Faces.
Only faces.
Students.
Office workers.
An elderly woman carrying vegetables.
A schoolboy with headphones.
Nothing unusual.
The person who had pushed me…
Had disappeared.
Or…
Had never intended to stay.
“Can you stand?” Arther asked quietly.
I nodded.
“…Yes.” Only then did he let go of my wrist.
A faint red mark remained where he had caught me.
Not because he had held me tightly…
But because if he had been even a second later…
I would have fallen directly into the road.
Kabir let out a long breath.
“I don’t care whose fault it was.” “Today’s adventure quota is officially full.” Riya glared at him.
“This isn’t the time for jokes.” “I know.” His smile faded.
“I was just trying to calm everyone down.” For once…
No one argued with him.
The bus conductor leaned out of the door.
“Are you getting in or not?” Passengers behind us began complaining.
“Move!” “We’re getting late.” Life…
Had already moved on.
As if nothing had happened.
I took one last look at the road.
The black-capped man was nowhere to be seen.
Neither was anyone acting suspicious.
Everything looked…
Normal.
Too normal.
We boarded the bus.
Kabir and Ananya found seats near the middle.
Riya sat beside Ananya.
I took the window seat directly behind them.
Arther remained standing near the rear exit, holding the overhead rail.
The bus slowly pulled away from the stop.
The city passed by outside the window.
Traffic signals.
Shops.
Street vendors.
Children returning from school.
Everything was ordinary.
Yet my thoughts refused to settle.
Did someone really try to push me?
Or…
Was it simply an accident?
The bus stopped at the next signal.
A flower seller walked between the vehicles.
An old man crossed the road slowly.
Then…
A black SUV rolled to a stop beside the bus.
My breathing caught.
The windows were heavily tinted.
I couldn’t see inside.
For just a moment…
The rear window lowered by a few inches.
Enough for a gloved hand to appear.
It wasn’t waving.
It wasn’t pointing.
It simply placed a small black envelope on the edge of the half-open window.
The silver wax seal shimmered under the evening sunlight.
The same seal…
I had seen before.
Before I could read anything…
The traffic light turned green.
The SUV accelerated.
The window closed.
Within seconds…
It disappeared into the moving traffic.
“…That seal…” I whispered.
Across the bus…
Arther had also seen it.
His expression remained unreadable.
But his eyes followed the SUV until it vanished completely.
Then…
Almost silently…
He closed his hand into a fist.
Only once.
As though recognizing something he had hoped never to see again.
The bus continued forward.
None of the other passengers noticed the black SUV.
None of my friends noticed Arther’s reaction.
And none of us realized…
That the person inside that vehicle…
Already knew exactly where I lived.
The bus continued moving through the evening traffic.
No one spoke for the next few minutes.
Kabir, who usually couldn’t stay quiet for more than thirty seconds, simply looked out of the window.
Even he understood…
Something had happened.
Whether it was an accident…
Or not.
After a while, he suddenly cleared his throat.
“So…” Everyone looked at him.
“I’ve reached an important conclusion.” Riya sighed.
“You recovered quickly.” “I recover because I’m brave.” “No.” “You recover because you get distracted.” Kabir ignored her.
He looked at me.
“Vena.” “Hm?” “From tomorrow…” “You walk in the middle.” I blinked.
“…What?” He pointed at Ananya and himself.
“She’ll walk on one side.” “I’ll walk on the other.” Riya folded her arms.
“And me?” “You’ll be behind us.” “So if anyone pushes Vena again…” Kabir puffed out his chest dramatically.
“…they’ll have to deal with us.” Ananya smiled warmly.
“I think that’s a good idea.” I looked at the three of them.
Just a month ago…
We barely knew each other.
Now…
They were worried about me.
The feeling was unfamiliar.
And strangely comforting.
“…Thank you.” Kabir immediately looked away.
“Don’t thank me.” “I’m only protecting my lunch group.” Riya smirked.
“Of course.” “I knew there had to be a selfish reason.” “There isn’t.” “There definitely is.” The atmosphere finally became lighter.
The bus stopped near the central market.
Several passengers got off.
Others climbed in.
Arther quietly moved aside to make space for an elderly couple.
The old woman smiled.
“Thank you, son.” He simply nodded.
“No problem.” He didn’t expect appreciation.
He just…
Did it.
Without thinking.
I found myself watching him again.
The mysterious phone call echoed inside my head.
“…the hunter entered your world before you entered his.” Hunter.
Was that really the person standing a few feet away?
The same person who had just helped an elderly couple…
The same person who had pulled me away from a speeding motorcycle…
Nothing matched.
Either…
The caller had lied.
Or…
I still didn’t understand the game being played.
The bus reached the next stop.
“This is ours!” Kabir announced as if he were making a public speech.
“Everyone, prepare for landing.” Riya looked at the passengers.
“We’re getting off a bus.” “Not a spaceship.” “Details.” Ananya laughed.
“Come on.” The four of us stood.
As I reached the door…
I instinctively looked back.
Arther was still inside.
His stop hadn’t come yet.
For a brief moment…
Our eyes met.
He gave a small nod.
Not a smile.
Not a goodbye.
Just…
A quiet acknowledgement.
Almost instinctively…
I nodded back.
The bus doors closed.
Within seconds…
It disappeared into the evening traffic.
“So…” Kabir stretched his arms while walking.
“Who’s hungry?” Riya looked at him in disbelief.
“You literally had a mango shake.” “It disappeared.” “That’s how food works.” “I need emotional support snacks.” Ananya laughed.
“You’re impossible.” “I’ve accepted that.” We walked toward the residential lane.
The setting sun painted the buildings in shades of orange and gold.
Children played cricket near the park.
A shopkeeper pulled down half of his shutter while chatting with a customer.
An ordinary evening.
Exactly the kind of evening I had always wanted.
Peaceful.
Safe.
Normal.
One by one…
Everyone reached their turns.
“My house is this way.” Ananya waved.
“See you tomorrow, Vena.” “See you.” Kabir pointed toward Riya.
“Don’t forget.” “Operation Protect Vena starts tomorrow.” Riya smiled.
“I’ll make the badge.” Kabir laughed.
“I’ll wear it proudly.” They walked away, still arguing.
Their voices gradually faded into the distance.
Soon…
I was alone.
The familiar road leading to my house stretched ahead.
I took a slow breath.
Home.
For the first time today…
I thought I could finally relax.
But as I reached the front gate…
I noticed something unusual.
The living room lights were already on.
Through the window…
I could see Nikhil standing near the sofa.
He wasn’t watching television.
He wasn’t using his phone.
He was simply…
Standing there.
Waiting.
And the moment he saw me through the window…
A slow smile appeared on his face.
Not angry.
Not mocking.
Just…
Unexpectedly calm.
For some reason…
That frightened me far more than his usual attitude ever had.
The evening breeze gently rustled the leaves of the neem tree near our house.
Normally…
Nikhil would’ve ignored me.
Or thrown a sarcastic remark the moment I stepped inside.
But today…
He was waiting.
That alone felt wrong.
I unlocked the gate.
Click.
The sound seemed unusually loud.
Taking a deep breath…
I walked toward the front door.
The moment I entered…
My adoptive mother looked up from the kitchen.
“You’re home?” “Yes, Mom.” She smiled.
“Wash your hands.” “I’ve made tea.” “Okay.” Her voice sounded exactly the same as always.
Warm.
Ordinary.
Nothing unusual.
Then why…
Was my heartbeat refusing to slow down?
Nikhil was sitting on the sofa now.
One arm rested casually over the backrest.
His phone lay face down on the table.
He looked at me for a second before speaking.
“You came late.” His tone wasn’t angry.
It was…
Almost conversational.
“The practical class ended a little late.” “Hmm.” He nodded once.
“How was college?” I froze.
That question…
Had never come from him before.
“…Fine.” “Made any new friends?” His eyes remained on me.
Watching.
Measuring every reaction.
I answered carefully.
“A few.” “That’s good.” He smiled faintly.
“You shouldn’t always stay alone.” For a brief moment…
I wondered if I had entered the wrong house.
Was this really Nikhil?
The same stepbrother who spent years mocking me?
Or…
Was he pretending?
He stood up.
“Mom.” “I’m going out for a while.” My mother looked out from the kitchen.
“Again?” “I’ll be back before dinner.” “Don’t be too late.” “I won’t.” As he walked past me…
He stopped for barely a second.
Without looking directly at me, he said quietly, “…Be careful when you cross the road next time.” My body stiffened.
How…
How did he know?
Only my classmates had seen what happened.
I slowly turned around.
“Nikhil…” He looked over his shoulder.
“What?” “…How do you know about that?” For the first time…
A tiny crack appeared in his calm expression.
Only for an instant.
Then he smiled again.
“The neighborhood is small.” “News travels fast.” Before I could ask another question…
He walked out of the house.
The front door closed behind him.
Click.
Something wasn’t right.
Not at all.
I looked through the window.
Nikhil didn’t take the usual route toward the main road.
Instead…
He walked into the narrow lane behind our house.
The lane that led toward the old warehouse district.
“…Why there?” I whispered.
“Vena.” Mom’s voice came from the dining room.
“Come have some tea before it gets cold.” I turned immediately.
“Coming.” There was no point following him now.
Not without making everyone suspicious.
I sat at the dining table.
Mom placed a cup of tea in front of me along with a plate of biscuits.
“You look tired.” “It was a long day.” She smiled gently.
“College can be exhausting.” “Especially practical classes.” I nodded.
“Yeah.” She noticed the faint red mark on my wrist.
“What happened?” Instinctively…
I covered it with my other hand.
“Oh…” “I bumped into someone while getting on the bus.” She looked concerned.
“Did it hurt?” “It’s nothing.” She reached across the table and gently patted my hand.
“Still…” “Be careful.” I smiled softly.
“I will.” For a moment…
Everything felt peaceful again.
Just a mother worrying about her daughter.
A cup of hot tea.
The familiar smell of home.
I wanted to believe…
That this ordinary life could last forever.
After finishing my tea, I went to my room.
The evening sunlight filtered through the curtains.
I closed the door quietly.
Then…
I took out my phone.
The call log still showed nothing.
No number.
No missed call.
No record.
As if…
The conversation had never happened.
I opened the notes app and slowly typed every word I could remember.
“You made a new friend today.” “Be careful who walks beside you…” “…because this time…” “…the hunter entered your world before you entered his.” I read the lines again.
And again.
Then…
One sentence suddenly stood out.
“You made a new friend today.” My fingers froze above the screen.
How…
Could the caller know that?
I had met Arther only a few hours ago.
I had never told anyone.
Which meant…
Whoever called me…
Hadn’t guessed.
They had been…
Watching.
Outside my bedroom window…
The evening sky slowly darkened.
And somewhere beyond the quiet streets…
A phone began to ring.
The caller ID displayed only one word.
MASTER.
I had sent pic of story please correct my wordings in hindi english language write the dialogs with feelings and give me curiosity ending Wed, Jul 15 at 5:35 PMImprove my word in HindiEnglish write near 2000 words continue the story from above point of you make the ending curiosity so that reader want to have curiosity to read next chapter Saturday 6:56 PMCan you tell me what is it telling me about and there hidden meaning Monday 7:02 PMIs it fraud or what to do how should I reply Tuesday 7:15 PMTell me what is it telling me Chapter 12 – The Shadow That Knows My Name Part 2B (Vena’s POV) For some reason…
That frightened me far more than his usual attitude ever had.
I stood outside the gate for a few seconds.
The evening breeze gently rustled the leaves of the neem tree near our house.
Normally…
Nikhil would’ve ignored me.
Or thrown a sarcastic remark the moment I stepped inside.
But today…
He was waiting.
That alone felt wrong.
I unlocked the gate.
Click.
The sound seemed unusually loud.
Taking a deep breath…
I walked toward the front door.
The moment I entered…
My adoptive mother looked up from the kitchen.
“You’re home?” “Yes, Mom.” She smiled.
“Wash your hands.” “I’ve made tea.” “Okay.” Her voice sounded exactly the same as always.
Warm.
Ordinary.
Nothing unusual.
Then why…
Was my heartbeat refusing to slow down?
Nikhil was sitting on the sofa now.
One arm rested casually over the backrest.
His phone lay face down on the table.
He looked at me for a second before speaking.
“You came late.” His tone wasn’t angry.
It was…
Almost conversational.
“The practical class ended a little late.” “Hmm.” He nodded once.
“How was college?” I froze.
That question…
Had never come from him before.
“…Fine.” “Made any new friends?” His eyes remained on me.
Watching.
Measuring every reaction.
I answered carefully.
“A few.” “That’s good.” He smiled faintly.
“You shouldn’t always stay alone.” For a brief moment…
I wondered if I had entered the wrong house.
Was this really Nikhil?
The same stepbrother who spent years mocking me?
Or…
Was he pretending?
He stood up.
“Mom.” “I’m going out for a while.” My mother looked out from the kitchen.
“Again?” “I’ll be back before dinner.” “Don’t be too late.” “I won’t.” As he walked past me…
He stopped for barely a second.
Without looking directly at me, he said quietly, “…Be careful when you cross the road next time.” My body stiffened.
How…
How did he know?
Only my classmates had seen what happened.
I slowly turned around.
“Nikhil…” He looked over his shoulder.
“What?” “…How do you know about that?” For the first time…
A tiny crack appeared in his calm expression.
Only for an instant.
Then he smiled again.
“The neighborhood is small.” “News travels fast.” Before I could ask another question…
He walked out of the house.
The front door closed behind him.
Click.
Something wasn’t right.
Not at all.
I looked through the window.
Nikhil didn’t take the usual route toward the main road.
Instead…
He walked into the narrow lane behind our house.
The lane that led toward the old warehouse district.
“…Why there?” I whispered.
“Vena.” Mom’s voice came from the dining room.
“Come have some tea before it gets cold.” I turned immediately.
“Coming.” There was no point following him now.
Not without making everyone suspicious.
I sat at the dining table.
Mom placed a cup of tea in front of me along with a plate of biscuits.
“You look tired.” “It was a long day.” She smiled gently.
“College can be exhausting.” “Especially practical classes.” I nodded.
“Yeah.” She noticed the faint red mark on my wrist.
“What happened?” Instinctively…
I covered it with my other hand.
“Oh…” “I bumped into someone while getting on the bus.” She looked concerned.
“Did it hurt?” “It’s nothing.” She reached across the table and gently patted my hand.
“Still…” “Be careful.” I smiled softly.
“I will.” For a moment…
Everything felt peaceful again.
Just a mother worrying about her daughter.
A cup of hot tea.
The familiar smell of home.
I wanted to believe…
That this ordinary life could last forever.
After finishing my tea, I went to my room.
The evening sunlight filtered through the curtains.
I closed the door quietly.
Then…
I took out my phone.
The call log still showed nothing.
No number.
No missed call.
No record.
As if…
The conversation had never happened.
I opened the notes app and slowly typed every word I could remember.
“You made a new friend today.” “Be careful who walks beside you…” “…because this time…” “…the hunter entered your world before you entered his.” I read the lines again.
And again.
Then…
One sentence suddenly stood out.
“You made a new friend today.” My fingers froze above the screen.
How…
Could the caller know that?
I had met Arther only a few hours ago.
I had never told anyone.
Which meant…
Whoever called me…
Hadn’t guessed.
They had been…
Watching.
Outside my bedroom window…
The evening sky slowly darkened.
And somewhere beyond the quiet streets…
A phone began to ring.
The caller ID displayed only one word.
MASTER.
(Arther’s POV) The city looked different after sunset.
The endless traffic.
The glowing streetlights.
The reflections of towering buildings on rain-soaked roads.
To everyone else…
It was just another evening.
To me…
It was another reminder that nothing in this city was as ordinary as it seemed.
I stepped out of the bus at my stop.
The crowd quickly scattered in different directions.
Some hurried home.
Others entered nearby cafés.
No one paid attention to the young college student carrying a simple black backpack.
Exactly the way I preferred it.
My phone vibrated once.
I glanced at the screen.
Unknown Number.
I answered without slowing my pace.
“…Yes.” A distorted voice came from the other side.
“Status report.” “They’ve made contact.” A brief silence followed.
“Has she remembered?” “No.” “Only fragments.” “Good.” The call ended immediately.
No goodbye.
No explanation.
I slipped the phone back into my pocket.
Five minutes later…
I entered a quiet residential apartment complex.
Nothing about it stood out.
Old buildings.
Children playing badminton.
An elderly man reading the newspaper near the entrance.
A perfectly ordinary place.
Exactly why it had been chosen.
I climbed to the fourth floor.
Unlocked the apartment.
And stepped inside.
The apartment was almost empty.
One bookshelf.
One dining table.
Two chairs.
A neatly folded coat resting over the sofa.
No family photographs.
No decorations.
No sign of the people who truly owned the place.
I placed my backpack on the table.
Then walked toward the balcony.
From here…
Almost half the city was visible beneath the evening sky.
My eyes instinctively moved toward the direction of Vena’s college.
“…Too early.” I whispered.
A soft knock echoed from behind me.
Three knocks.
A pause.
Then one final knock.
A rhythm.
Not a visitor.
A signal.
I opened the door.
A delivery boy stood outside holding a small brown envelope.
“Package for Mr.
Arther.” I accepted it.
“Thank you.” The delivery boy nodded and left without another word.
I closed the door.
The envelope had no sender’s name.
Only a silver emblem pressed into the wax.
A feather…
Surrounding a circle.
Not the same symbol Vena had seen.
Different.
Older.
I broke the seal.
Inside…
There was only one folded sheet of paper.
No greeting.
No signature.
Just a single sentence.
“The Observer has entered the city.” For the first time that day…
My expression changed.
Slightly.
The Observer…
So they had sent him.
Not good.
I folded the paper carefully.
Then burned it over a small metal tray.
Within seconds…
Nothing remained except grey ash.
My phone vibrated again.
This time…
The screen displayed only one word.
MASTER I answered.
“…Yes.” The familiar deep voice spoke calmly.
“Did you meet her?” “…Yes.” “Confirmation?” I closed my eyes briefly.
“…It’s her.” Silence.
Several long seconds passed.
Finally…
The voice spoke again.
“Then your mission remains unchanged.” “Protect the Return Bloodline…” “…without allowing her to discover who you are.” “I understand.” “One more thing.” “…Yes?” “Do not underestimate the enemy.” “If The Observer is truly here…” “…then someone has already betrayed one of the Seven Bloodlines.” The call disconnected.
I remained standing on the balcony.
The city lights stretched endlessly before me.
Someone had betrayed the Seven Bloodlines.
That meant…
The balance had already begun to collapse.
My thoughts drifted back to the laboratory.
To the moment Vena touched her pendant.
To the fear hidden behind her calm smile.
She remembered more than she realized.
And every new memory…
Would bring her closer to the truth.
I looked toward the distant skyline.
“…I’ll keep my promise.” Even if…
She never remembered why it had been made.
Far away…
Hidden inside an abandoned building…
A hooded figure watched dozens of surveillance screens.
One screen showed Vena entering her house.
Another showed Arther standing on his balcony.
The figure smiled.
Then quietly placed two photographs side by side.
Vena.
Arther.
A black marker slowly drew a circle around both faces.
Beneath the photographs…
One handwritten sentence appeared.
“Separate them…
before she remembers.” The hooded figure leaned back.
His smile widened.
Because he knew something…
Neither Vena…
Nor Arther…
Had remembered yet.
What forgotten promise connected Arther and Vena before this life?
Who was “The Observer,” and why did even Arther’s Master consider him dangerous?
Most importantly…
which one of the Seven Bloodlines had betrayed the others?
Some truths become meaningful only after the right question is asked.” Thank you for reading another chapter!
Every small detail has a purpose, even if it doesn’t seem important yet.
I’d love to know your theories—what do you think will happen next?
Don’t forget to add the novel to your library and share your thoughts.
See you in the next chapter!
Creation is hard, cheer me up!
VOTE for me!