The hall reeked of liquor and lustful stares, the shadows of drunken men flickering under dim neon lights. Kiara stepped onto the stage, her heart hammering against her ribs. Every step felt like walking on fire, every glance burning her from all sides.
Yuvaan sat on a black leather sofa at the edge of the stage, his posture casual, one hand curling around a glass of whiskey. His smirk was slow, deliberate, every inch of his body radiating control.
"Start," he murmured, voice dripping with mockery.
Kiara swallowed, tears stinging her eyes, and began to move to the rhythm, her voice barely steady at first.
Thodi fursat bhi meri jaan kabhi
Baahon ko deejiye
Thodi fursat bhi meri jaan kabhi
Baahon ko deejiye
Aaj ki raat maza husn ka
Aankhon se leejiye
Aaj ki raat maza husn ka
Aankhon se leejiye
The crowd's whistles and jeers mingled with her voice, but Kiara focused on the only thought that kept her standing: her family. Every word, every motion was a shield against Kaal's cruelty.
Suddenly, a glass flew across the room, shattering at her feet. Yuvaan's eyes gleamed with dark amusement.
"Dance on it," he ordered. "Show me your love for your family."
Kiara hesitated, pain flashing in her eyes. Then she stepped on the shards, letting them cut into her skin as she continued singing, every movement precise, controlled, yet filled with raw emotion.
Jaan ki qurbaani
Le le dilbar jaani
Tabaahi pakki hai
Aag tu main paani
Mere mehboob samajhiye zara
Mauqe ki nazaakat
Mere mehboob samajhiye zara
Mauqe ki nazaakat
Naaz itna .. Meri jaan
Naaz itna bhi nahin
Khokhle vaadon pe keejiye
The audience, drunk and bewildered, began to leave one by one, realizing the depths of Kaal's cruelty. The hall emptied, leaving only Kiara's trembling figure under the spotlight and Yuvaan, cold and amused.
He clapped slowly, the sound echoing like a whip crack.
"Bravo," he said, voice low, lethal. "Do you still believe Yuvaan could never taint your honor? Do you still think love could save you?"
Kiara's knees weakened. Her chest heaved, blood dripping from her wounded feet, and the stage spun beneath her. Darkness swirled at the edges of her vision as she stumbled.
"Yuvaan…" she whispered, barely audible, before her body gave in.
He caught her effortlessly, her head resting against his chest. For a fleeting moment, the faintest flicker of concern—human Yuvaan—hovered in his eyes, quickly drowned by the shadow of Kaal.
He laid her gently on a nearby couch. The illusion of the family appeared before her, rushing to her side, their concern mirrored in her mind. But it was only a projection, a cruel reminder of what she was fighting for.
Yuvaan's figure blurred and then stormed upstairs, leaving Kiara's fragile body on the couch, torn between relief and horror.
The hall was silent now, the echoes of her song hanging in the air like a testament to her strength—and the beginning of Kaal's reign.
The Temple of the First Light rose from the mist like a sentinel of forgotten times, perched atop jagged cliffs, its spires catching the first rays of dawn. Vikram guided the jeep to the edge of the temple path, the wind whipping their faces, carrying the scent of earth and stone.
"Legend says this temple was built to safeguard the Heart Relic," Vikram began, voice low and reverent as they stepped onto the worn cobblestones. "It's not just a relic… it is the key to separating the heart of Kaal from the one who carries him. But no one can claim it without proving their worth."
Varun adjusted the strap of his weapon bag. "Worth? What kind of test are we talking about?"
Vikram looked up at the ancient gates, their carvings writhing faintly under the morning sun. "The test of the Heart. It measures not strength, but intention. Courage alone isn't enough. Fear, doubt, or selfish desire will bar the path."
Varun frowned, placing his hand on the temple gate. "So it's a mental trial as much as a physical one."
"Yes," Vikram replied. "And these trials have undone even the bravest of hunters. You will see illusions, temptations, fears… things you've never faced before."
As he spoke, the heavy temple doors creaked open on their own, revealing a dark corridor beyond. Shadows stretched across the walls, forming shapes that flickered like living beings.
"Once you enter," Vikram continued, "there's no turning back. The Relic tests the purity of your heart. If your motive is anything but saving Yuvaan, Kaal, or even the world… it will destroy you."
Varun nodded, steadying himself. "Then we step forward together. No hesitation."
They walked into the temple, the air growing colder with each step. Torches ignited along the corridor walls, revealing intricate murals of past hunters facing impossible choices, some triumphant, some consumed.
The ground beneath them shifted suddenly, and a voice, neither male nor female, resonated through the temple:
"Only the worthy may claim the Heart. Only the selfless may touch it."
Vikram gripped his dagger. "This is it. The first test begins now."
A wall of mist rose before them, and as it cleared, two illusions appeared: one of Yuvaan, bound and in agony, the other of the world engulfed in flames. Their hearts sank.
Varun spoke quietly. "They're real… and not real. We have to choose which to save first, and maybe make the right decision to pass the trial."
Vikram's eyes narrowed. "The Heart does not lie. We must remain steadfast. Only the truth of our intentions will guide us forward."
The air shimmered, and the floor beneath their feet glowed with faint golden runes. Every step felt heavier, like the weight of fate itself pressing down.
And in the distance, an eerie echo whispered, "Will you choose fear, or will you rise as the guardians of the Heart?"