Hours passed by and the birthday celebration is a joy of event. Laughs, jokes and fun games kept the party with a nice flow and Vinay being finally happy as he missed this type of love since a
tragedy structed upon him seven years ago. He prefers to not reveal it to keep his walls so high and hiding vulnerability to the world.
"Alright, Vinay. I and Rishabh are going to hang out for a bit and I hope you would be with Abhimanyu ". Aarna continues
"Abhimanyu is scared of being alone in the room so be with him until he falls asleep and.... Thank you, Vinay, for being here …. with us". Aarna thanks him and holds Rishabh's hand for walking towards their hangout place.
"Yeah sure, no worries at all". Vinay responded with a sense of duty.
The door closes and Vinay is sitting beside Abhimanyu and watching him sleep peacefully. Vinay is convinced that he can get all of the happiness just by staying with the people he cares about them. A sudden realization went through his mind as he looks at the key which the couple forgot to take before leaving the house.
"Oh no, they left this house key and by the time they come, I would probably fallen asleep". The thought in his minds concerns him. He takes the keys and went outside and messaged them about the place they are currently at. To which Rishabh texted the location "H.S Super Mart". The messaged led him to go towards that super mart. Just as he is about to see that Super Mart, they are exiting the Super mart. From a distance it looked like, she is taking him to an alley. Vinay followed them and just as he entered the alley.
The blood sprayed against the brick wall as Aarna tore into Rishabh's shoulder and the scream of the victim startled the boy who just wanted to give them the keys. Vinay's eyes widen and his face turns pale as he watches Aarna tearing the flesh of the shoulder. Unable to stare at the horrifying event, Vinay gasped….
Her hungry eyes looked at him.
The face as well as lips are covered with the blood and the skin looking more greyish and somewhat pale.
Lips curled into a stretching smile and with a tilt of a head Vinay takes his steps back with hands trembling. The teeth coated with blood and pieces of flesh staining the ground.
She stops and stands up with her feet staggering
Aarna pushed away the injured body of Rishabh and in a matter of a second rushed towards Vinay with a predatory grace.
Vinay's bones shiver taking several steps behind but before he could do that, Aarna jumped on him and tried to bite him as well but Vinay's hands stopped her attack with fingers blocking her growling mouth and his second hand pushing her shoulders with all his strength.
"Aarna—stop! It's me!"
" Look at me. This isn't who you are, Aarna!". Vinay grunts as he stops her bites constantly with his hands holding her jaw.
Hearing a familiar voice, Tara exits the Super mart and rushes towards the alley. She freezes.
"Vinay?!
No No…No this can't be happening ". She panics while sneaking behind a wall.
Tara covers her mouth in horror seeing Vinay struggling to defend himself.
From her pocket a card comes out and she clings it to her chest and then her tears filled her eyes trying to build courage.
She looks at the card and then chanted a spell like a whisper.
{"Sahayata Karatu"}.
The wind begins to pick the pace within seconds.
Vinay is dodging Aarna's attack with horror filled face.
Every punch hits him with a guilt and shame.
His punches eventually slowed down and he looks at his bloody hands unable to believe what he is doing.
Suddenly two shadows form on the ground illuminated by the half-moon and Vinay's eyes wander at every direction and stopping at two figures standing on the shed.
Two warriors wearing Black Jodhpur suit with sword hanging around their waist and stance ready for the rush. One of them sees the body lying unconscious while blood making a pool on the ground.
"Yuvraj quickly, Go and rescue that man ". The man commands with a firm voice.
"Got it, Acharya ". The boy prepared himself as he responds.
With a lightning speed, the boy goes past Aarna and picks up that man and Aarna turns back to attack him but a dagger pierces through her back, opening a large wound with blood dripping down the surface.
"Don't—please!"
"Don't kill her".
Vinay's desperate plea as he saw the wound and knows what might happens next.
"What are you talking about? You summoned us to defend yourself, right?". The man questions with a stoic face.
"No, I didn't summon you …. you might have been mistaken". His voice sounded confused as he speaks.
"Well, whatever it is, the wounds on this man looks serious".
"Would be a miracle if he survives".
Yuvraj explains as he dodged Aarna's attack. He turns to face her bringing his sword to his face tightly gripping the handle.
{"Wind slash!!!!!!!!!!"}. The sword swings in the air as Yuvraj screams and a gush of winds channels through atmosphere and slashed Aarna's arm with a quick blow large amount of blood sprinkles out in the air.
"No… Please don't kill her, I beg you. Please spare her!!!". Vinay screams with desperation that stopped Yuvraj from further attacking her.
"I want you to stop attacking her and kill her …. Please I request you to…. to.".
Vinay is in loss of words as he sees the limb that is cut from the attack lying on the ground. With that the Aarna's back is slashed open and a black and red flesh alien to human anatomy came out of the body and Yuvraj tried to stop her but defends himself with sword blocking the coming needles launched by that monster's limb and with that a perfect opportunity, she escaped in the dark with her shadows disappearing.
"Ah damn it!!" The man grunts as he looks at Vinay with a disgust and continues
"I don't understand, What's your problem? Huh Why did you let that predator run away by distracting us? You stupid brat!".
"I… I wanted to… stop you…from killing her". Vinay's eyes filled with unspoken fear as he stammers.
"That woman was a predator who attacked this man for taking eternal essence as they need this for surviving". The man explains with a stoic tone.
"Eternal essence? What is eternal essence? Vinay questions as he looked into his eyes.
"Eternal essence is basically what that predator is attacking that man for". The man answers firmly.
"A predator? What are you talking about? She was normal before all of this, celebrating her son's birthday and talking normally to me and to everyone". Vinay questions as he tries to process the man's judgement.
"I don't care what she was doing and acting up, to me I saw her attacking a human and as an assassin it is my duty to eliminate predators and save civilians from them". The man dismissed Vinay as he speaks.
"How dare you….?". Vinay is about to burst but Yuvraj interferes
"Easy there, man. We are not here to break you down". He continues
"Well don't take it personal, Acharya Lokesh is very old and grumpy and he says these things when he is unable to comfort the person". Yuvraj mocks Acharya Lokesh witnessing their little rattle.
"Shut up, you idiot!". Acharya Lokesh bursts out in anger.
"Is he dead? How did this all happen? How did the things turn out so bad?". Vinay whispers as he stares at the large pool of blood after Aarna attacked Rishabh. Vinay is shivering unable to withstand as he breathes heavily. Upon seeing this discomfort, Acharya Lokesh's anger fades away and he kept a hand on Vinay's shoulder.
"Well don't worry we would not let this man to die and trust me if you have any concerns so here is the place you can visit for meeting him". Acharya Lokesh soft word tries to comfort Vinay and upon hearing this, his shoulders relaxed a bit and heavy breathing are stopped.
"Well, we are taking this person for the treatment and have a faith on us, please". Yuvraj trying to lighten the mood.
"Looking at the eternal essence being spilled over the place ...
Hey kid, you should return to your house and then if you are too much worried about him then visit this place". Acharya Lokesh briefs him as he gives the address…
Mansarovar Assassin Academy
With that the two assassin takes Rishabh's injured body and Vinay returns to house and finds the light turns on and he quickly opens the gate and he sees.
"Big bro! You are back; I was really really scared!! Where did you go actually?". Abhimanyu rushed and hugs Vinay tightly and his voice cracks as he speaks, tears rolling down his cheeks.
"It is okay, Abhimanyu. I went to give the wallet to your mom and that's why I went outside". Vinay comforting him but unable to reveal the truth.
"Where are mom and Rishabh? They said that they would return by 12 but they are not here yet". Abhimanyu questions.
"They said that they wanted to go for a honeymoon and I promised them that I would take care of you till the time they come back ". Vinay forced a smile as he responds.
"Really? I am glad. Well okay they can enjoy their honeymoon if you are here with me". Abhimanyu's voice relaxed and tensions erased as he speaks up.
Vinay looks at his blood covered hands and he has fought with the experience he got from karate classes years ago but his heart is not yet relived knowing he couldn't keep on lying to the boy who calls him big bro and respects him. He then looks at his phone and opened the gallery to look at his parents with his younger brother standing near them in photo. Abhimanyu is already sleeping after being comfortable.
"It has been seven years since you all left me …Those damn monster… are back in my life to hurt me more than when I was hurt after you all left me….". Vinay's eyes filled with tears and his voice cracked up unable to hold his emotions he continues