The world was collapsing.
Not slowly.
Not gently.
It was tearing itself apart.
Cracks split the sky completely.
Buildings distorted.
Shadows screamed as they unraveled.
Reality—
Was ending.
Aarav stood in the center of it.
Still.
Silent.
"…If this breaks…" Meera's voice trembled,
"…you disappear."
A pause.
"…Completely."
Aarav didn't respond.
He already understood.
End the system—
And he ends with it.
Let it continue—
And he becomes something else.
"…There has to be another way," Meera said.
For the first time—
She sounded desperate.
"…There isn't," Aarav replied quietly.
The thing watched him.
Calm.
Certain.
"…You already know the outcome," it said.
"…You've seen it."
Aarav nodded slightly.
"…Yeah."
A pause.
"…I saw the perfect version."
Silence.
"…And I hated it."
The thing's expression didn't change.
"…You'll hate this more."
Aarav smiled faintly.
"…Maybe."
He looked at Meera.
Really looked at her.
"…You said I always come back."
She nodded slowly.
"…Yes."
"…Then maybe…" Aarav said softly,
"…that's the problem."
Meera froze.
"…What?"
Aarav's eyes softened.
"…I never let it end."
Silence.
The truth landed.
Heavy.
Final.
"…So this time…" Aarav continued,
"…I won't reset."
The air stopped.
The thing's smile faded.
"…You don't understand what that means."
Aarav looked at it.
"…I do."
A step forward.
"…It means this is the last loop."
The world cracked violently.
Everything beginning to collapse inward now.
Meera grabbed his arm.
"…Aarav, if you do this—"
He gently pulled away.
"…I know."
Her voice broke—
"…You'll be gone."
Aarav smiled.
Not scared.
Not broken.
Just… real.
"…At least I'll be me when it happens."
Silence.
Then—
He raised his hand again.
The world trembling around him.
His voice echoed—
Stronger than before.
"Final rule."
Everything froze.
Even the collapse.
Even the shadows.
Even time.
Aarav closed his eyes.
And spoke—
"…No more loops."
Silence.
Absolute.
Then—
Everything shattered.
Not violently.
Not painfully.
But… completely.
Light.
White.
Endless.
Then—
Nothing.
A breeze passed.
Soft.
Warm.
A street.
Normal.
Alive.
People walking.
Cars moving.
Voices everywhere.
A girl stood at a bus stop.
Black hoodie.
Sharp eyes.
Meera.
She looked around.
Confused.
"…Why do I feel like…" she whispered.
A pause.
"…I forgot something?"
Her phone buzzed.
She frowned slightly.
Picked it up.
A blank notification.
No sender.
No message.
Just—
A single line.
"Rule 1:"
Meera's breath caught.
"…Rule?"
The text flickered.
Then—
"…Live."
Silence.
A strange warmth filled her chest.
Calm.
Safe.
"…That's… new," she whispered.
She looked up.
At the normal world.
At people laughing.
At life—
Moving forward.
No shadows.
No cracks.
No doubles.
Just… real.
Meera smiled slightly.
"…I think I like this rule."
A soft breeze passed again.
For a moment—
Just a moment—
It felt like someone was there.
Watching.
Not as a threat.
But as something… gone.
Then—
Nothing.
🔥 END