Paritraan leaped onto a nearby rooftop, his silhouette blending into the night. He should have left by now, but something felt off.
The girl had entered her home, but the house was completely empty—no lights, no sound, nothing.
He frowned. Where is her family?
"Anahata, scan the house."
A brief hum filled his ears before Anahata replied, "No life signs inside. She's alone."
Paritraan's fingers clenched. He had saved her from the gang, but now he wasn't sure if she was truly safe.
He decided to wait.
Time Passed…
Minutes stretched into an hour. The city was quiet, but Paritraan remained on edge. Then, at exactly 4 AM, three black SUVs pulled up in front of the girl's house.
Paritraan exhaled, relieved at first. Maybe her family had finally arrived after hearing about the kidnapping. Maybe they had rushed over, desperate to see her.
But then… he saw them.
No relief. No worry.
Only cold calculation.
His instincts screamed at him.
"Anahata," he muttered. "Scan them."
A pause. Then—
"...Oh, hell no."
Paritraan's stomach dropped.
"They're carrying guns and explosives," Anahata said, Anahata's voice unusually serious. "And they're here for her."
The air around him felt thick.
His mind knew he needed a plan, knew he should wait, analyze, strike at the right moment.
But his body moved on its own.
Before Anahata could say another word, Paritraan was already diving off the rooftop, landing between the girl's home and the incoming threat.