The sun had set, and the courtyard was now bathed in the soft glow of streetlights. Nishant, Aria, and Kiran remained seated on the bench, their laughter and conversations continuing as darkness crept in around them.
Suddenly, a series of loud, echoing crashes shattered the peaceful atmosphere. Startled, Nishant, Aria, and Kiran turned their heads toward the source of the noise. Their eyes widened in shock as they saw a scene of chaos unfolding before them.
A group of figures dressed in dark attire emerged from the shadows, wielding strange weapons that crackled with an eerie energy. The students around them screamed and scattered, panic spreading like wildfire. Nishant's heart raced as he realized that this was not a random act of violence but a deliberate attack.
Before they could react, the attackers advanced, their intentions clear. Nishant's instincts kicked in, and he moved to shield Aria and Kiran, positioning himself between them and the advancing figures. He felt a surge of fear and adrenaline, his mind racing to make sense of the situation.
As the attackers closed in, chaos and confusion reigned. Nishant's heart pounded in his chest as he struggled to find a way to protect his friends. He looked around desperately, searching for a way out, but it was as if the world had turned into a nightmare.
Aria's voice broke through his panic, her eyes reflecting a mix of fear and determination. "Nishant, we need to get out of here!"
Kiran nodded, his face set in a determined expression. "Stick together, guys. We'll find a way."
The trio began to move, their hearts pounding in unison. But before they could take more than a few steps, a blinding flash of dark energy erupted nearby. The force of the explosion knocked them off their feet, and Nishant felt a searing pain as fragments of debris grazed his skin.
As the dust settled, Nishant struggled to his feet, his ears ringing and his vision blurred. He coughed, trying to clear his throat. "Aria? Kiran?"
He turned his gaze, his heart sinking as he saw the devastation around him. The courtyard was in ruins, smoke and debris filling the air. Aria and Kiran were nowhere to be seen.
Panic gripped Nishant's chest, and he stumbled forward, calling out their names desperately. "Aria! Kiran!"
But there was no response, only an eerie silence that seemed to echo the void left by the chaos. Nishant's mind raced, his thoughts a whirlwind of fear and despair. He couldn't lose them, not like this.
As he frantically searched through the debris, Nishant's hands brushed against something soft. He looked down and saw Aria's book lying in the dust, pages fluttering in the wind like a silent plea for help.
Tears welled up in Nishant's eyes as he clutched the book to his chest. The reality of the situation crashed down on him – he had lost friends, family, and the world he once knew. With a heavy heart, he looked up at the night sky, the stars shining down like distant witnesses to the tragedy that had unfolded.
And in that moment, the ordinary life Nishant had once known was forever shattered, replaced by a new reality filled with darkness, uncertainty, and the burning desire to uncover the truth behind the attack that had torn his world apart.