Silent stayed between us.
Heavy... but not uncomfortable.
I looked at him again.
You still don't answer me completely, I said.
Rudra's jaw tightened like he was fighting with something inside himself.
I told you enough, he replied.
"No" you didn't.
His eyes snapped back to mine. For a moment I thought he would walk away.
But he didn't-
Instead he stepped closer.
If I say more, things will change, he said slowly. My heart skipped.
Change how ? I whispered.
His gaze dropped to my lips for a second...
then back to my eyes.
You ask too many questions, he murmured.
I said quietly-
And you don't answer any of them.
He didn't reply immediately. For a moment he just looked at me.
Then-
He stepped even more closer. Now there was barely any space left between us.
My heartbeat got louder.
If I answer... things won't stay the same between us, he said quietly.
Then don't let them stay the same, I whispered. After hearing that something in his expressions shifted.
Dark... real....
His hand lifted slowly hovering my face but not touching. Like he was stopping himself.
"Rudra...." I said softly.
His fingers twitched slightly.
You should stay away from me, he said.
But he didn't move back.
Then why don't you let me go ? I asked.
His jaw tightened. Because I can't.
Those three words hit harder than anything.
For a second.... neither of us moved.
Then he turned my wrist gently, his thumb brushing over my hand like he was trying to convinced himself that this was real.
My heart raced.
You are going to be the reason I lose control, he murmured.
I should have stepped back, I should have said something different. But I didn't.
Instead I looked at him and whispered,
"Then stop controlling yourself."
His eyes darkened, not in anger but in something deeper.
The air between us felt heavier.
But then-
A knock. Rudra's expression turned cold again in a second. The door opened. Arin stood there. His eyes moved from Rudra... to me.
I didn't mean to interrupt, Arin said carefully.
You already did, Rudra said coldly.
The tension in the room changed instantly.
Arin stepped inside slowly.
There is something you need to see, Arin said to Rudra.
Rudra's eyes narrowed, What ?
Arin said-
They are back.
That one second. He looked at me and said-
"Stay here."
Noo, I stepped forward. But he stopped me instantly.
"If you step out of this room, I won't be able to protects you."
Silence. This time I didn't argue.
Rudra turned and walked out with Arin.
I was alone again but something felt different now, not fear something deeper.
My fingers curled slightly as if I still remembering the pressure of his hands on my wrist. Th warmth was gone but the feeling doesn't.
Outside, the footsteps faded.
Rudra and Arin were walking fast through the long corridor.
Arin spoke first, "They are back near the north side."
Rudra stopped walking for a moment. His voice become low.
"So they came back for her," he said.
Arin nodded slightly.
Rudra's expressions changed instantly.
Or in the room, I slowly moved toward the door again but something inside me told me to wait. Just then-
A loud alarm sound started in the villa.
Rudra heard it immediately. His eyes sharpened. "They are inside the area."
What do we do now ? Arin asked.
Lock everything and make sure that no one moves alone, he said.
In the room, I froze when I heard that alarm.
But I knew one thing clearly that -
Whatever was happening was not far away from me anymore.
Down the corridor, Rudra stopped. He looked ahead, eyes sharp.
They are not just inside, they are moving towards her. Go secure the east exit first, he ordered Arin.
Arin hesitated. "And you ?"
Rudra didn't even slow down, I'm going back to her... he said quickly.
Arin nodded and ran in opposite direction.
Rudra moved fast through the corridor.
And every second felt shorter now.