The message on the board—
"YOU CAN'T PROTECT EVERYONE."
It stayed there.
Even after the teacher erased it.
Even after classes resumed.
Even after everyone tried to act normal.
Because now—
Nothing was normal.
Sarthak did not sit.
Did not speak.
Did not react.
But inside—
His mind was running faster than ever.
Target.
The sender wanted him to choose.
Riya—
Threatened directly.
Mahi—
Knows too much.
Ananya—
Still suspicious.
Or—
Someone unexpected.
Lunch break.
Sarthak stood up.
Decision made.
He walked straight to Riya.
"Stay with me."
No explanation.
No hesitation.
She looked surprised—
But nodded.
"…Okay."
Mahi noticed.
Ananya noticed.
Everyone noticed.
But Sarthak did not care.
If there was a target—
He would guard it.
Campus – Backside Path
Quiet.
Less crowded.
Safer—
Or so it seemed.
"Why are we here?" Riya asked softly.
"Because it is isolated."
"That does not sound safe…"
"It is easier to see danger in open space," Sarthak replied.
Half-truth.
A few seconds passed.
Wind moved through the trees.
Silence.
Then—
Footsteps.
Not one.
Multiple.
Sarthak's body tensed instantly.
"…Stay behind me," he said.
Riya froze.
From the side path—
Three boys appeared.
Not students from their class.
Unknown.
"…So you are Sarthak," one of them smirked.
That was enough.
Not random.
Planned.
"…Who sent you?" Sarthak asked calmly.
They laughed.
"Does it matter?"
Yes.
It mattered a lot.
But before he could respond—
They moved.
Fast.
One rushed forward—
Sarthak blocked instantly.
Second came from the side—
He dodged.
Third—
Went past him.
Straight toward—
Riya.
"…RUN!" Sarthak shouted.
But—
Too late.
Riya stumbled back.
Panic.
The boy grabbed her arm—
She screamed.
Something inside Sarthak—
Snapped.
He turned—
Faster.
Sharper.
And in one move—
He punched the attacker hard.
The grip loosened.
Riya pulled back.
But the other two—
Closed in again.
This time—
Sarthak did not hold back.
Every move—
Precise.
Controlled.
Like he had done this before.
Within seconds—
Two of them were down.
The last one hesitated.
Fear visible.
"…Who sent you?" Sarthak repeated.
Silence.
Then—
A phone rang.
Not Sarthak's.
One of the boys' phones.
All of them froze.
Slowly—
The boy picked it up.
Put it on speaker.
A distorted voice.
"Enough."
Sarthak's eyes narrowed.
Finally.
"You passed."
Silence.
"…What?" Sarthak said coldly.
A soft chuckle.
"You chose correctly."
His grip tightened.
"But…"
A pause.
"That was not the real test."
Something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
Sarthak turned—
Instinctively.
Toward Riya.
She was standing.
Safe.
For now.
Then—
A scream.
Not from Riya.
From somewhere else.
Far—
But familiar.
Mahi.
Sarthak's eyes widened.
No.
No.
He ran.
Without thinking.
Riya stood frozen.
The boys—
Gone.
Old Building – Staircase
Crowd gathering.
Whispers.
Panic.
Sarthak pushed through.
"…Move."
And then—
He saw.
Mahi.
On the floor.
Blood near her head.
Not moving.
Everything stopped.
"…No…"
His voice—
Barely came out.
He moved closer.
Dropped to his knees.
"…Mahi…?"
No response.
His hands trembled slightly.
"…Wake up…"
Nothing.
Behind him—
Students whispering.
Teachers shouting.
Someone calling for help.
But Sarthak—
He heard none of it.
Because in that moment—
Only one thing existed.
He failed.
His phone vibrated.
Slowly—
He looked at it.
"I told you."
A pause.
"You can't protect everyone."
Sarthak's eyes—
Went completely cold.
No fear.
No confusion.
Only one thing left.
Rage.
"…I will find you."
A whisper.
But deadly.
And this time—
He would not stop.
To be continued…