Night draped itself over the outskirts of the city like a quiet spell. Vikram's SUV rolled out of the Shetty villa, its headlights slicing through the darkness.
Kiara sat in the passenger seat, her fingers lightly tapping her thigh—part nerves, part anticipation.
Beside her, Yuvaan drove with his usual ease, one hand on the wheel, the other resting near her seat as if subconsciously guarding her space.
Varun and Vikram sat in the back.
Even in the dim light, Kiara could see her father's tension—the way he leaned forward, as if his presence alone could direct the car faster toward answers.
The road ahead narrowed into the silent forest.
Vikram finally broke the hush.
"The path to the Cave of Answers… is not simple. The waterfall inside speaks only when it wishes."
Yuvaan smirked without looking away from the road.
"Good. I respect places with attitude."
Kiara elbowed him lightly, lips twitching.
"You like anything that argues back."
A softer expression crossed his face—fleeting, unguarded.
"Only when it's you."
Heat rushed to her cheeks. She turned to the window, pretending the forest was suddenly fascinating.
---
Deeper Into the Forest
The SUV continued down a narrowing dirt road. The air shifted—cooler, sharper, tinged with wet earth. Branches leaned overhead like ancient guardians.
Vikram leaned forward from the back seat.
"A little further. The paved road ends soon."
As the trees thickened, Yuvaan slowed and followed Vikram's guidance.
They finally pulled up near a forgotten trail. The moment Kiara stepped out, the forest swallowed the city's echo completely.
"Dad… you used to come here often?"
Vikram nodded, lighting a lantern.
"Many times. Some answers take years. The cave gives only what it chooses."
Varun slung a small backpack over his shoulder.
"And sometimes it gives nightmares. Just saying."
Kiara looked horrified.
"Perfect. A moody, talking waterfall with trust issues."
Yuvaan chuckled.
"Says the girl who repaired a car with divine… signal."
Kiara narrowed her eyes.
"For the last time, it wasn't divine Wi-Fi—"
"But you did pray for better connection."
"YUVAAN."
Her blush warmed the cool night air.
---
The Walk Toward the Cave
The trail narrowed into a rocky path. Each step crunched underfoot, and the forest grew darker, as if intentionally pulling them toward something hidden.
Kiara walked close to Yuvaan—closer than she realized.
He noticed immediately.
"Cold?" he asked quietly.
She kept her eyes ahead.
"…Not really."
Still, he lifted his hand, offering—not forcing.
Kiara hesitated only a heartbeat before slipping her hand into his.
Warm. Steady. A grounding anchor.
A faint spark—subtle but undeniable—passed between them.
Varun saw it. Smirked.
Vikram noticed too… but his expression softened rather than protested.
They kept walking.
---
The Cave Reveals Itself
Finally, the trees parted.
A massive stone arch rose before them—a dark, ancient mouth carved by time. Mist curled out from within, cold and luminous. And deeper inside… a sound.
Not just water.
A low hum.
A pulse.
Like the cave itself was aware of their arrival.
Kiara's fingers tightened around Yuvaan's.
He moved half a step closer, protective instinct flaring.
Vikram exhaled deeply.
"We've arrived."
Varun swallowed.
"The Cave of Answers."
Kiara stared at the mist swirling around her ankles—almost as if it recognized her.
Yuvaan's hand tightened gently around hers.
The cave waited.
Silent. Watching.
Ready to judge.
The mist thickened as they stepped closer to the cave.
A strange hum vibrated under their feet—so soft at first Kiara thought it was her imagination.
Vikram raised the lantern.
"Careful. The cave reacts to presence—"
He didn't finish.
A deafening CRACK split through the air.
The ground beneath Kiara shuddered, then split open like a living wound.
"KIARA!" Yuvaan's voice tore through the forest.
She gasped—just a sharp, startled sound—and before anyone could reach her, the earth collapsed, swallowing her into a jagged ditch.
Yuvaan dove forward, but Varun seized his arm to prevent him from falling too.
"No—NO—Kiara!" Yuvaan roared, trying to pull free.
They all stared down.
Kiara lay motionless at the bottom of the ditch, her body twisted unnaturally against the rocks.
Blood trickled from her forehead.
Her chest didn't rise.
Nothing.
The forest fell deathly silent.
Vikram's lantern slipped from his trembling hand.
Varun froze, eyes wide in horror.
Vikram dropped to his knees, fingers digging into the dirt.
Yuvaan's heart stopped.
He couldn't breathe.
Couldn't think.
Couldn't accept.
"Kiara…" he whispered, voice breaking.
Her hair lay scattered across the stone. Her skin already paling.
The stillness of death hugged her like a cold shroud.
---
Meanwhile — Kaal Vansh Realm
In the dark dimension of Kaal Vansh, the flames flickered with a sinister whisper.
Taamsi watched the scene unfold in a shimmering dark mirror—the moment Kiara's body hit the ground.
A cruel smile stretched across her face.
"Hah…" She exhaled like she was savoring sweet nectar.
"So it begins."
She stepped closer to the mirror, stroking its surface with her blackened fingertips.
"No matter how many times you try, Yuvaan…"
her voice curled like smoke,
"…you cannot change Kiara's fate."
The mirror pulsed with images—Kiara dying in different moments, different timelines. The curse looping again and again.
Taamsi's smile widened, teeth glinting like bone.
"She was the first one marked," she whispered, eyes glinting with triumph.
"The curse chose her blood before it chose yours."
She leaned back, triumphant.
"That is why—
no matter how much love you burn with…
no matter how much time you bend…
Kiara's death is inevitable."
Her laughter echoed through the abyss.
A sound sharp enough to cut hope.