For a few minutes…
Neither of them spoke.
The silence between them wasn't awkward.
It was heavy.
Filled with everything that just happened.
Finally, Kabir looked at her.
"What… was that?"
Aarya slowly let go of his hand.
Her expression turned serious again.
"I told you… it's a curse."
Kabir shook his head.
"No… this is more than that."
"That thing… it said something."
Aarya looked away.
"You shouldn't listen to it."
"It said I'm marked."
Silence.
Aarya froze.
Just for a second.
But Kabir noticed.
"What does that mean?" he asked.
Aarya didn't respond immediately.
Her mind was racing.
"This wasn't supposed to happen…"
She stepped back slightly.
Creating distance again.
"You need to go home."
Kabir frowned.
"You're avoiding the question."
"Because you don't need to know."
Her voice was cold again.
But this time…
It felt forced.
Kabir stepped closer.
"I almost died today."
"I deserve to know what's happening to me."
Aarya looked at him.
And for a moment…
Her mask broke again.
She sighed softly.
"The curse…"
She paused.
Choosing her words carefully.
"…doesn't just attack randomly."
Kabir listened closely.
"It targets people who… matter."
His heartbeat slowed.
"Matter… to you?"
Aarya didn't answer.
But her silence was enough.
Kabir felt something strange in his chest.
Warm.
Confusing.
"So that's why…"
Aarya cut him off.
"Don't misunderstand."
Her voice sharpened.
"This isn't about feelings."
But her eyes said something else.
Something she refused to accept.
Kabir didn't push further.
Not now.
But one thing became clear—
This wasn't just danger anymore.
This was connection.
And it was getting stronger.
Aarya turned away.
"From now on… it won't just try to scare you."
Kabir's chest tightened.
"What do you mean?"
She looked back.
Her expression serious.
"It will try to break you."
Silence.
Cold.
Heavy silence.
Kabir nodded slowly.
"Then let it try."
Aarya stared at him.
And this time…
She didn't argue.
Because deep inside…
She knew—
This boy wasn't normal anymore.
Not after tonight.
Not after being marked.
Suspense Ending
Kabir finally reached home.
Exhausted.
Shaken.
But alive.
He dropped his bag and sat on his bed.
Everything felt unreal.
The shadow.
The voice.
The glow around Aarya.
"Marked…"
That word echoed again.
"What does it really mean…?"
He slowly rolled up his sleeve.
Just to calm himself.
Just to distract his mind.
But then—
His breath stopped.
On his wrist…
A faint black mark had appeared.
Strange.
Twisted.
Like a symbol.
That wasn't there before.
Kabir's hands started shaking.
"This… wasn't here…"
The mark suddenly pulsed.
Once.
Twice.
And a sharp pain shot through his arm.
He clenched his teeth.
Trying not to scream.
And in that moment—
A voice echoed again.
Not from outside.
But inside his head.
"Now… you're part of it…"
Kabir's eyes widened in horror.
Because this time—
There was no escape.
Not anymore.
What is this mark… and what does it mean for Kabir's fate?