The word on the device didn't fade.
BEGIN.
It stayed there—steady, almost mocking.
Kavya stared at it, her mind struggling to catch up.
"What does that mean?" she asked.
Aarav didn't answer immediately.
His eyes were fixed on the screen.
But his thoughts were somewhere else.
"He's not just playing with us," Aarav said quietly.
Dev crossed his arms.
"No," he agreed.
"He's setting the rules."
Silence settled around them.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Kavya stepped back slightly.
"This doesn't make sense," she said.
Both of them looked at her.
"You said I'm the key," she continued.
"But to what?"
Aarav finally looked at her.
"I don't know yet."
"That's not good enough," she snapped.
Her voice trembled—
Not with fear.
But frustration.
"I'm tired of not knowing," she said.
"I'm tired of being pushed around like I'm just part of some plan!"
Dev watched her carefully.
"That's exactly what you are right now," he said.
Kavya turned to him sharply.
"I didn't ask for this."
"No one ever does," Dev replied.
Silence.
Kavya looked between them.
"You both knew more than you told me," she said.
Aarav didn't deny it.
Dev didn't either.
That made it worse.
"You made decisions for me," she continued.
"You kept things from me."
A pause.
"And you expect me to just trust you?"
Aarav stepped closer.
"I was trying to protect you."
Kavya shook her head immediately.
"No," she said.
Her voice softer now.
But stronger.
"You were trying to control the situation."
That hit.
Aarav didn't respond.
Because she wasn't wrong.
Dev broke the silence.
"Trust isn't the priority right now," he said.
Kavya let out a small, bitter laugh.
"Of course it's not," she replied.
"Because none of you seem to care about it."
Dev's expression didn't change.
"I care about keeping you alive," he said.
Kavya looked at him.
"And how do I know you're not lying?"
A pause.
Dev held her gaze.
"You don't."
That honesty—
It didn't help.
It just made everything more uncertain.
Kavya stepped back again.
Creating distance.
From both of them.
"Great," she said quietly.
"So I can't trust you…"
She looked at Aarav.
"…and I can't trust you either."
The words lingered.
Aarav felt them.
More than he expected.
"Kavya—" he started.
But she cut him off.
"No," she said.
Her eyes met his.
"You don't get to explain this away."
A pause.
"You told me not to trust anyone."
Her voice dropped slightly.
"And now I finally understand why."
Silence.
For a moment—
No one spoke.
Because there was nothing to say.
Kavya turned away.
Walking toward the exit slowly.
"I need space," she said.
Aarav watched her go.
His chest tightened.
Because this—
This wasn't just about the case anymore.
It was about her.
And he was losing her.
"Kavya," he called out.
She stopped.
But didn't turn.
Aarav took a step forward.
"I meant what I said," he said.
A pause.
"I'm trying to keep you alive."
Kavya closed her eyes briefly.
"And I meant what I said too," she replied.
She turned slightly.
"And I'm not something you get to control."
Their eyes met one last time.
Then—
She walked away.
Silence filled the hallway.
Dev exhaled slowly.
"You should've told her everything earlier," he said.
Aarav didn't respond.
Because he already knew that.
But knowing it now—
Didn't fix anything.
"What now?" Dev asked.
Aarav looked at the device again.
The word still there.
BEGIN.
His eyes hardened.
"Now we play," he said.
Outside—
Kavya walked alone.
The night felt colder than before.
Or maybe it was just her.
Her thoughts were a mess.
Aarav.
Raghav.
Dev.
Lies.
Half-truths.
Secrets.
Everything felt broken.
Especially trust.
She stopped walking.
Taking a deep breath.
Trying to steady herself.
But before she could—
A sound.
Footsteps.
Behind her.
Kavya turned quickly.
No one.
Silence.
Her heart started racing again.
"Not again…" she whispered.
She turned back—
And froze.
Someone stood in front of her.
Close.
Too close.
She hadn't even heard them approach.
Her breath caught.
"You really shouldn't wander alone," the voice said calmly.
Kavya stepped back instinctively.
"Who are you?" she demanded.
The person stepped slightly into the light.
Not fully visible.
But enough.
Enough for Kavya to realize one thing—
This wasn't random.
Nothing was anymore.
"You're important," the voice said.
Kavya's chest tightened.
"I've heard that already," she replied.
A pause.
Then—
The person said something that sent a chill through her entire body.
"But you still don't know why."
Kavya's fists clenched.
"Then tell me," she said.
The figure tilted their head slightly.
"No," they replied.
A pause.
"You'll figure it out."
Before she could react—
They stepped back.
Into the shadows.
And disappeared.
Kavya stood there.
Alone again.
But this time—
It felt different.
Because now—
She wasn't just confused.
She was determined.
"Fine," she whispered to herself.
"If no one's going to tell me the truth…"
Her eyes hardened.
"…I'll find it myself."