Aditya was still sitting in class, lost in thought about what was happening to him.He couldn't understand anything at all.
Just then, the dismissal bell rang, and everyone started leaving through the gate.Aditya, Dhruv, and Swati went home together. At one turn on the road, the three of them separated and headed toward their own homes.
Aditya reached home and went straight to his room to take a nap.But when he opened his eyes after sleeping, he was shocked.
It was 2 a.m. at night.
He clearly remembered that he had fallen asleep on the left side of the bed, but now he was lying on the floor on the right side.
What shocked him even more was when he looked at his hands—they were covered in mud.
And around his neck was a diamond-shaped locket, crystal blue in color.
He quickly got up, washed his hands, and sat on the bed, staring at the locket.While looking at it, he slowly fell asleep again.
When his eyes opened, he saw the same room he had just seen in his dream.At that moment, the same unknown person appeared and sat in front of him.
His appearance was black and greyish.Then, in a deep, heavy voice, he spoke.
Unknown:"We meet again. This was bound to happen anyway…after all, I am now inside you."
Aditya:"Inside me?Who are you? I don't understand anything."
Unknown:"Who I am?You are not capable enough to know that yet.You will know when you meet him—but he will show no mercy.
And one more thing I won't come to save you every time.You will have to awaken the ULTIMATE STATE within you."
Aditya:"ULTIMATE STATE?"
Unknown:"This is not something a normal person possesses.Only a countable few have it.
Anyone who has mastered five fighting styles and have fight in past continuously for 36 hours has this power and two more things to achive this ULTIMATE STATE.
But in your case, it's different—because now that I am inside you, you already possess it."
Aditya:"But how will I use it?And what does it even do and what other two things are?"
Unknown:"That's something you'll have to discover yourself." (laughs)"And yes—power levels differ from person to person.
For now… goodbye.We'll meet again."
Aditya:"WAIT! But I still have so many—"
Suddenly, his eyes opened again.
He was back on his bed.It was 7 a.m., time to go to school.
He got ready and went to school.As soon as he was about to open his classroom door,his phone buzzed with a notification from an unknown number.
When he opened it, his breath stopped.
Someone had sent him a photo of Swati's ID card.Swati was lying unconscious in the picture.
Below it was an address, and a message:
"If you want to see her alive, come at 5 p.m."
The moment Aditya saw this, he ran toward the school gate.But the guards stopped him.
"It's already 8 o'clock. The gate will only open after school ends. You're not allowed to leave."
A teacher arrived as well, scolded Aditya, and sent him back to class.
He was extremely worried.Four periods passed, and then lunch break began—but he wasn't hungry at all.
He was sitting alone in the classroom.Even Dhruv hadn't come to school.
Suddenly, the classroom door opened.Students who were chatting fell silent instantly.
A strong hand landed on Aditya's shoulder.
Aditya looked up.
Standing there was a 6-foot-tall, muscular senior from 12th grade—
ARJUN(Leader of the White Line Syndicate)
Arjun (in a commanding voice):"Outside. Basketball room. Now."
His aura alone forced Aditya to obey.
Aditya went to the basketball room, where 15–20 people were already present, standing in front of Arjun.
Arjun:"Why is all this happening because of you idiots?An innocent girl has gotten caught in this mess."
Arjun then showed him the same photo the kidnapper had sent.
Aditya:"How do you have this? This was—"
Arjun:"He accidentally sent it to me too."
Aditya:"He? Who?"
Arjun:"Arik.Pulkit's elder brother.And my classmate."
TO BE CONTINUED…