Harsh: The Shadow Protocol

The Blood on the Ghats

​"AAAHHHHHH!"

​A blood-curdling scream erupted from Harsh, shaking the entire hotel room. Varun and Veer bolted upright in horror. Hearing the commotion, Chandni and Divya rushed inside from their adjacent room. Harsh sat trembling violently on his bed, drenched in cold sweat, his eyes fixed on the blank wall opposite his bed.

​"Harsh! What happened, bro?" Varun grabbed his shoulders, shaking him gently.

​Chandni handed him a glass of water. Harsh took two quick gulps, his hands shaking violently. Gasping for air, he pointed a trembling finger toward the wall—where deep, muddy human footprints had been etched clearly moments ago.

​"T-There... on the wall... footprints!" Harsh’s voice quivered.

​However, as all four friends looked toward the wall—there was nothing there. The wall was pristine white and clean. The footprints had vanished as though they had never existed.

​"Harsh, there’s nothing there, man... You just had a terrible nightmare," Veer assured him gently.

​Suddenly, a sharp, searing pain shot through Harsh’s right forearm. He looked down—deep teeth puncture marks were carved into his skin, and fresh blood was oozing rapidly! "Blood!" Divya shrieked in terror, bolting out to find medical assistance.

​Rushing down the hallway, Divya collided violently with Seema. Both fell onto the floor. Divya quickly stood up, gasping, "I'm so sorry! I need a doctor, my friend is bleeding!"

​Seema smiled gently, "Wait! I am a doctor. Where is your friend?" Divya brought her to the room. Seema examined the bite wound on Harsh’s arm and immediately dialed her roommate: "Nisha, bring the emergency medical kit to Harsh's room right now!"

​Within two minutes, Nisha and Natasha arrived. Natasha sanitized the wound, wrapping a tight bandage: "The bite marks are deep, but it's nothing to worry about."

​Chandni explained that Harsh had suffered a horrifying nightmare. Natasha gazed at Harsh for a silent moment—his face wore the exact same hollow expression she had witnessed at Aniket Hospital. The medical team returned to their room. Divya and Chandni stayed in the boys' room, falling asleep on the bed. Varun and Veer slept on the floor, while Harsh sat on the sofa, searching his phone for ancient sigils until physical exhaustion claimed him.

​At 8:00 AM the following morning, Veer brought up hot tea and breakfast. As the group gathered for breakfast, Varun asked seriously: "Harsh, will you tell us what happened last night?"

​Harsh exhaled deeply, lowering his head: "I’ve been losing my mind for the past month... I keep getting terrifying nightmares. Sometimes I hear screams from the accident six years ago, and sometimes I see a dark shadow warrior in the mirror. I feel like I'm going insane."

​Harsh deliberately refrained from unbuttoning his shirt to reveal the burning violet sigil over his heart—he chose to carry the burden alone. Veer stepped in to lighten the mood: "Brother, you're overthinking due to stress. Today, we're going to explore Varanasi all day and attend the grand Ganga Aarti in the evening!"

​Simultaneously... two dangerous members of the Secret Cult arrived in Varanasi, tasked with hunting down the First Host.

​By 5:30 PM, grand preparations for the Ganga Aarti were underway at Dashashwamedh Ghat. Natasha, Nisha, and Seema arrived at the Ghats. Playfully teasing Veer, Divya ran ahead—and once again collided right into Seema!

​"Oh goodness! You again? Why are you running now?" Seema laughed. Divya apologized playfully. Varun offered his charming smile: "Ah, so you are the gorgeous doctor who saved our friend last night? I'm Varun." Seema shook his hand with a smile. Nisha asked about Harsh's health. Seema explained that Natasha went to a nearby local market to collect some medical supplies and would return within an hour. The group sat together near the steps, chatting cheerfully.

​However... deep within the dense woods on the outskirts of Varanasi, two Secret Cult operatives were traversing the thick undergrowth when the wind shifted violently. SWOOSH!

​A dark figure clad in a black hoodie and mask dropped from the high canopy, delivering a thunderous kick that sent the first operative flying 15 feet into the dirt! Realizing they were under attack, both cultists transformed into horrifying Demonic Monsters (eight-foot-tall beasts made of black bone)!

​A brutal battle erupted! The monsters lashed out with razor-sharp talons. A sweeping tail strike slammed the hooded warrior hard against a massive banyan tree—c***k! His dark jacket was shredded, leaving 2-3 fabric fragments on the ground. As the warrior began losing consciousness, one monster reached out to yank off his MASK...

​TANGGGG! TANGGGG!

​Suddenly, the deep resonance of temple bells from the Ghats echoed across the forest! At the sound of the holy chimes, the hooded warrior’s eyes snapped open, blazing with solid Violet Flames!

​CRACK-CRUMBLE! The warrior caught the monster’s descending claw mid-air, crushing the bone into fine dust, and snapped its neck instantly—SNAP! He closed the distance with the second monster, plunging his fist straight through its chest cavity and breaking its neck. Both beasts dissolved into black ash!

​Unbeknownst to the warrior, Natasha had quietly followed his trail into the woods and witnessed the entire brutal battle!

​As the warrior stood victorious, Natasha stepped out from behind the trees, her voice trembling: "You are Mahakaal, aren't you?"

​The black-hooded warrior remained completely silent. Through the eye-holes of his mask, his violet eyes blazed briefly in the dark.

​SWOOSH!

​Before Natasha could ask another question, he vanished into the surrounding shadows with blinding speed. Natasha stood staring in awe. Looking around, she found 2-3 torn fragments of his shredded jacket on the ground, picked them up, and kept them safely.

​Roughly thirty minutes later, Natasha arrived at the Ghats to join her friends for the Ganga Aarti.

​At the Ghats, the sacred Ganga Aarti commenced. Chandni called Harsh: "Hey Harsh! The Aarti has started, hurry up!" Harsh got up and arrived at the Ghats. Fifteen minutes after his arrival, Natasha joined the crowd as well.

​BAM! BAM! BAM!

​As the Ganga Aarti began... the violet mark on Harsh's chest suddenly ignited with searing heat! Harsh clutched his chest in pain.

​Across the dark waters of the river, amidst the crowd... Harsh spotted a 10-foot-tall Shadow Figure standing silently in the dark! The shadow locked its burning violet eyes onto Harsh, and a haunting voice echoed directly inside his ears:

​"Find the temple... before they do. The countdown has begun."