Chapter 6: The Secret Between Us
The night had finally grown quiet again.
Too quiet.
As if everything that had just happened…
Was trying to hide itself.
Riya was still sitting on the ground, her hands trembling.
"I… I don't understand…" she whispered.
Her voice was weak, filled with fear.
Meera knelt beside her, holding her hand gently.
"It's okay… I'm here."
But even as she said that—
Her own heart was still racing.
Nothing about this felt okay.
Nothing about this was normal.
Slowly, Meera helped Riya stand up.
"We should go home," she said softly.
Riya nodded quickly.
"Yes… yes, let's go… please…"
Before leaving, Meera turned back one last time.
Arjun was still standing there.
Silent.
Lost in his own thoughts.
"…Thank you," Meera said quietly.
Arjun looked at her.
For a moment—
He didn't say anything.
Then finally—
"…Go home safely."
Meera nodded.
And this time—
She didn't argue.
She walked away with Riya.
But her mind…
Stayed behind.
With him.
That night—
Sleep didn't come easily.
Meera lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling.
The darkness of her room felt heavier than usual.
Every little sound made her alert.
Her thoughts kept repeating the same questions—
"What are those shadows…?"
"Why am I being targeted…?"
"And who is Arjun really…?"
She closed her eyes tightly.
But the memories didn't stop.
The shadow's voice.
"You've been marked…"
Her eyes opened again.
Her breath uneven.
"…Marked…" she whispered.
Slowly, she looked at her hand.
The same hand that Arjun had held yesterday.
For a moment—
Nothing happened.
Then suddenly—
A faint glow appeared.
Meera froze.
Her eyes widened in shock.
A small, dark mark slowly appeared on her wrist.
Strange.
Unfamiliar.
It wasn't painful.
But it felt… wrong.
"What is this…?"
Her voice trembled.
The mark flickered slightly.
Like it was alive.
Meera quickly pulled her hand back, panic rising inside her.
"No… no, this can't be real…"
Her heart started racing again.
Faster and faster.
Without thinking—
She grabbed her phone.
Her fingers hesitated for a second.
Then—
She typed one name.
Arjun
She stared at the screen.
Should she call him?
Text him?
What would she even say?
Before she could decide—
Her phone vibrated.
A message.
Her eyes widened.
Arjun:
"Don't panic."
Meera's breath stopped.
"How does he…?"
Another message came instantly.
Arjun:
"I know you can see it now."
Her hands started shaking.
"How do you know?!" she quickly typed back.
There was a pause.
A long one.
Then—
Her phone vibrated again.
Arjun:
"Because it's already begun."
A chill ran down her spine.
"What has begun?!"
This time—
No reply.
Silence filled the room again.
Meera stared at her phone.
Her heart pounding loudly.
The mark on her wrist glowed faintly again.
And in that moment—
She realized something terrifying.
This wasn't just danger anymore.
This was something much bigger.
Something she couldn't escape.
And now—
She was a part of it.