Aryan and Kiara stumbled out of the mansion, their breath heavy as they tried to steady themselves. The dagger gleamed in Aryan's hand, but it felt heavier than it should, as if the weight of the ancient power it held was pressing down on him. The guardian had let them go, but it was a warning — this journey wouldn't be easy.
They made their way to the car parked nearby, the silence between them thick with unspoken fear. Kiara glanced at Aryan, her thoughts racing. He was paler than usual, his eyes shadowed from their close encounter with the supernatural.
"We're not done yet," Aryan muttered, staring down at the dagger. "This is just the first one."
Kiara nodded, though her heart was heavy. They had barely escaped, and now they were about to face more danger, all while Aaryan lurked in the shadows, plotting his next move.
As they drove through the dark, narrow streets of Mumbai, Aryan's mind kept drifting back to the mansion, to the symbols and the guardian. There was something the guardian had tried to communicate — not with words, but through its presence, its energy. It wasn't just there to protect the dagger. There was more, something darker and older than they had realized.
"Do you think the next artifact will be guarded like that?" Kiara asked quietly, breaking the silence.
"I'm sure of it," Aryan replied, gripping the steering wheel tightly. "But we have no choice. We have to find the others before Aaryan does."
Kiara glanced out the window, her mind drifting to the villain. He had been quiet for a while, too quiet. She knew it was only a matter of time before he made his next move. He wouldn't sit back and let them collect the artifacts without a fight.
Suddenly, the car jerked as Aryan slammed on the brakes. They had almost missed the turnoff to a secluded road. It led to a small, unmarked house where they could rest for the night — a safe house recommended by the mysterious man who had given them the map.
As they approached the house, the hairs on the back of Aryan's neck stood up. Something didn't feel right. The windows of the house were dark, and the front door was slightly ajar.
"Stay here," Aryan whispered to Kiara as he pulled out a flashlight and stepped out of the car.
Kiara tensed, watching as Aryan approached the house, his steps slow and deliberate. She wanted to call out to him, tell him to be careful, but she knew he already was. Aryan never took unnecessary risks.
The silence was deafening. Aryan pushed the door open further, shining his light into the dark entryway. Everything seemed untouched, but the air was thick with the same oppressive energy they had felt in the mansion.
Kiara's heart raced as she watched Aryan disappear into the house. Seconds ticked by like hours, and then she couldn't wait any longer. She grabbed her phone and stepped out of the car, moving cautiously toward the house.
"Aryan?" she called softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
There was no answer.
Kiara's pulse quickened as she stepped into the house, her breath shallow. The dim beam of Aryan's flashlight flickered in the distance. She followed the light to a small room at the back of the house, where Aryan was standing still, staring at something on the floor.
"What is it?" she asked, stepping closer.
Aryan didn't respond immediately. When he finally spoke, his voice was hoarse. "Someone was here."
Kiara's eyes followed his gaze to the floor, where a few items were scattered — a broken picture frame, a chair tipped over. But what caught her attention was the faint, crimson stain smeared across the floor.
She knelt down, her fingers hovering above it. "Blood."
"It's fresh," Aryan muttered, his jaw tightening. "Aaryan must've gotten here first."
Kiara's heart sank. If Aaryan had been here, it meant he was close. Too close.
"We need to leave," Aryan said, pulling her to her feet. "Now."
They rushed out of the house, the sense of urgency heightening with every step. As they drove away, Aryan's mind raced. If Aaryan was tracking them, it meant he had a plan, and they were walking straight into it.
Hours passed in silence, the weight of their situation pressing down on them. It wasn't until they were far from the house that Aryan finally spoke. "We're missing something."
Kiara frowned. "What do you mean?"
"These artifacts," Aryan said, staring at the dagger on the seat beside him. "They're more than just ancient relics. There's a connection we're not seeing."
Kiara thought back to the diary they had found, the warnings of betrayal and dark forces. "Do you think it has something to do with the past?"
"I'm sure of it," Aryan said, his voice tense. "Aaryan isn't just after power. He's after something much deeper, something rooted in the history of these artifacts."
Kiara's mind raced. "But what could it be? The power these artifacts hold is already immense. What more could there be?"
Aryan's eyes darkened as he glanced at her. "That's what we need to find out. And we need to do it before Aaryan does."
As they drove through the quiet streets, Kiara's thoughts kept drifting back to the mansion, the guardian, and the symbols on the walls. There was a story hidden in the past, a story they hadn't uncovered yet.
But as they neared their next destination, a growing sense of dread filled her. Whatever secrets the artifacts held, they were dangerous. And as much as she trusted Aryan, she couldn't shake the feeling that the closer they got to the truth, the more they risked losing everything.
Aryan pulled the car over, parking near a small temple on the outskirts of the city. The next artifact was supposed to be hidden in the temple's crypt, according to the map.
"We need to be careful," Aryan warned as they approached the temple. "This place might be as dangerous as the mansion."
Kiara nodded, though the nervous energy bubbling inside her wouldn't settle. Together, they stepped into the temple, the weight of their mission hanging over them. As they descended into the crypt, the air grew colder, and the silence more oppressive.
The feeling of being watched returned, stronger than before. Aryan could sense it too. The temple's crypt felt alive, like the mansion.
And this time, they weren't sure they'd make it out unscathed.