Chapter 9: When Silence Breaks
826 Words
The hidden passage smelled of damp concrete and old dust.
Meher could barely see where she was stepping. One hand clutched Aanya. The other traced the cold wall for balance as Kabir guided them down the narrow stairs.
Above them—
A loud crash echoed through the building.
Aanya flinched violently.
Meher’s heart slammed into her ribs.
That sound…
It came from the direction Aarav had gone.
She swallowed hard.
“Keep moving,” Kabir whispered urgently.
They reached the back exit—a rusted metal door half concealed by wild bushes outside. Kabir pushed it open slowly.
Cool night air rushed in.
For a second, Meher thought they were safe.
Then she saw the headlights.
Another vehicle.
Not at the front gate.
Behind the building.
Waiting.
Kabir cursed under his breath. “They covered both sides.”
Meher’s mind raced. “What do we do?”
Before he could answer—
Voices drifted from the darkness.
“They’re here somewhere. Check the back.”
Aanya began trembling uncontrollably.
Meher pulled her closer, hiding behind the bushes.
Kabir looked around quickly.
“There’s a drainage ditch behind that wall. We can hide there till they pass.”
Meher nodded.
They moved quietly, crouching low, helping Aanya step over broken stones and weeds.
Her breaths were uneven.
Weak.
Fear-filled.
And then—
Aanya stumbled.
Fell.
A soft cry escaped her lips.
Too loud.
A flashlight beam sliced through the darkness instantly.
“There!”
Kabir reacted first. He grabbed a loose metal rod from the ground.
“Run,” he whispered to Meher.
She tried pulling Aanya up.
But she couldn’t run.
Aanya couldn’t stand.
Footsteps rushed toward them.
Heavy.
Fast.
A man grabbed Meher’s arm violently, yanking her back.
She screamed.
Kabir swung the rod hard, hitting the man across the shoulder.
He groaned and fell sideways.
“Move!” Kabir shouted.
But before they could—
Another man appeared from the side and punched Kabir straight in the face.
He dropped instantly.
Meher’s blood turned cold.
“No!”
The man grabbed her by the hair, dragging her away from Aanya.
She fought back, scratching, kicking—
But he was stronger.
“Where’s the other one?” he barked.
She didn’t answer.
A slap landed across her face.
Her ears rang.
“WHERE IS HE?”
And then—
A voice came from the darkness.
Calm.
Deadly.
Right behind them.
“Looking for me?”
The man holding Meher froze.
Slowly turned.
And Meher’s heart leapt.
Aarav.
But not the Aarav she knew.
This one looked different.
Shirt torn.
Blood at the corner of his lip.
Eyes—
Cold enough to kill.
The man pushed Meher away and lunged at Aarav.
Big mistake.
Aarav moved fast.
Too fast.
He dodged, grabbed the man’s arm, twisted it backward with brutal force—
A sickening crack echoed.
The man screamed.
Before he could recover, Aarav punched him straight in the jaw, dropping him unconscious.
The other man tried to get up—
Kabir, still dizzy, swung the rod again and knocked him down.
Silence fell.
Broken only by heavy breathing.
Meher rushed to Aanya, checking her.
She was conscious.
But barely.
Aarav walked toward them slowly.
His gaze scanned Meher’s face.
The red mark from the slap.
His jaw tightened dangerously.
“Did he touch you?” he asked quietly.
She nodded weakly.
That was enough.
Aarav turned back and kicked the unconscious man hard in the ribs.
Rage.
Pure.
Unfiltered.
Kabir stepped in. “Aarav! We need to go. More will come.”
He exhaled sharply, controlling himself.
Then nodded.
He lifted Aanya in his arms like she weighed nothing.
“Car’s at the front. Move.”
They rushed through the side path toward the parking area.
In the distance—
Sirens.
Not police.
Different.
Private.
Meher’s stomach twisted.
Aarav placed Aanya in the backseat and turned to Meher.
“You sit with her.”
She grabbed his wrist.
“You’re hurt.”
“I’ll survive.”
“But—”
“Meher.”
His voice softened.
Just slightly.
“I need you calm.”
Her eyes filled.
She nodded.
Kabir jumped into the front passenger seat as Aarav started the car.
They sped out of the broken gate just as two more vehicles turned into the road behind them.
“They’re following us,” Kabir said.
Aarav’s eyes flicked to the mirror.
“I know.”
Meher held Aanya close in the back.
Her sister’s head rested on her lap.
For the first time in years—
She wasn’t a memory.
She was here.
Alive.
And in danger because of her.
Tears slid down Meher’s cheeks silently.
Up front, Aarav’s voice was calm.
Too calm.
“Kabir, glove compartment.”
Kabir opened it.
Inside—
A gun.
Meher’s breath caught.
“You carry that around?” Kabir asked.
“Tonight, I’m glad I did.”
The headlights behind them grew closer.
The chase had begun.
- Writer
