Unseen shadows

**Episode 19: Unseen Shadows**

The forest was thick and disorienting, every rustle of the leaves sounding like a pursuer lurking just beyond sight. Armaan’s heart pounded in his chest, his breath ragged as he tried to keep up with Rudra’s swift pace. Aarav, ever steady, moved behind them, his sharp eyes scanning the area for any sign of danger. But the dense trees and shadows made it difficult to see beyond a few feet.

“Keep moving,” Rudra urged, his voice low but urgent. “We can’t stop here.”

Armaan’s legs ached, the uneven forest floor making it harder to run. His mind raced as fast as his heart. He had never imagined being caught up in something like this. How had his quiet life as a florist spiraled into running through a dark forest with dangerous men chasing him?

Suddenly, the snap of a branch echoed nearby, making all three of them freeze.

“Did you hear that?” Armaan whispered, panic creeping into his voice.

Rudra tightened his grip on Armaan’s arm, his eyes scanning their surroundings. “Stay close.”

Another sound came from behind them—a muffled voice, too far away to make out, but close enough to send a chill down Armaan’s spine.

“They’re closing in,” Aarav muttered, glancing back the way they had come.

Rudra nodded. “We need to split up. It’ll confuse them, slow them down.”

Armaan’s eyes widened in alarm. “Split up? But—”

Rudra turned to face him, his expression firm but not unkind. “It’s the only way, Armaan. We’ll meet at the old cabin, by the river. Do you remember the way?”

Armaan swallowed hard, his throat dry. The cabin… he vaguely remembered Rudra mentioning it during one of their conversations, but in the darkness, every direction looked the same. Still, he nodded.

“You’ll be fine,” Rudra said softly, his voice surprisingly reassuring. “Trust me.”

Before Armaan could say anything more, Rudra turned to Aarav, giving him a curt nod. Without another word, Aarav slipped into the shadows, moving swiftly in the opposite direction. Rudra gave Armaan’s arm one last squeeze, then followed a separate path, his figure disappearing into the trees.

Armaan was left alone, standing in the middle of the forest, the weight of the night pressing down on him. His heart raced with fear and uncertainty, but he had no choice. Taking a deep breath, he started moving, following the path Rudra had mentioned. The thick foliage scraped at his arms, and every sound around him seemed amplified in the stillness of the night.

As Armaan walked, trying to navigate his way through the maze of trees, his mind kept drifting back to the events that had led him here. Nisha’s sudden appearance, the strange tension between Rudra and Aarav, and the unspoken dangers that seemed to surround Rudra like an invisible force.

Who exactly was Nisha? And what kind of hold did she have over Rudra? The questions swirled in his mind, but now wasn’t the time for answers. Right now, all that mattered was survival.

Suddenly, a sharp rustling to his left made Armaan stop in his tracks. His breath caught in his throat as he slowly turned, his eyes wide with fear. Was it just an animal? Or was someone there?

“Armaan,” a voice whispered, soft but urgent.

Armaan spun around, his heart leaping into his throat. From the darkness, a figure emerged—it was Aarav.

Armaan let out a sigh of relief. “You scared me.”

Aarav gave a small smile, though his eyes were still sharp with focus. “Sorry. I had to make sure it was safe.”

“Where’s Rudra?” Armaan asked, glancing around.

“He’ll meet us at the cabin,” Aarav said, his tone calm but firm. “Let’s keep moving.”

Armaan nodded and followed closely behind Aarav, grateful for his presence. Though Aarav’s easygoing nature had always been a contrast to Rudra’s intensity, in this moment, he seemed just as serious and protective.

As they walked, the sound of distant voices reached their ears—Nisha’s men were still on their trail. Aarav picked up the pace, leading Armaan deeper into the forest.

“We’re close,” Aarav whispered, his eyes scanning the trees.

But just as they neared a clearing, a sudden flash of movement from behind a tree caught Armaan’s attention. He barely had time to react before a figure lunged out, grabbing him by the arm and pulling him back.

“Armaan!” Aarav shouted, turning around just in time to see one of Nisha’s men dragging Armaan away.

Panic surged through Armaan as he struggled to free himself, but the man’s grip was strong. He kicked and fought, trying to break free, but his captor held on tightly.

“Aarav!” Armaan called out, his voice laced with fear.

Aarav rushed toward them, his eyes blazing with determination. In one swift motion, he grabbed a nearby branch and swung it at the man, striking him across the back. The man let out a grunt of pain, loosening his grip just enough for Armaan to slip free.

“Run!” Aarav shouted, pushing Armaan toward the clearing.

Armaan didn’t need to be told twice. He sprinted ahead, his heart pounding in his chest, as Aarav stayed behind, fending off their attacker.

The clearing was just up ahead, and beyond it, the faint sound of rushing water could be heard—the river. Armaan’s legs burned with exhaustion, but he pushed forward, driven by the need to get to safety.

As he broke through the trees, he spotted the cabin in the distance, its silhouette barely visible in the moonlight. Relief flooded through him as he stumbled toward it, his lungs burning from the effort.

But just as he reached the door, a shadow moved in the corner of his vision. Before he could react, another figure appeared, blocking his path.

It was Nisha.

“Well, well,” she said, her voice smooth and dangerous. “Look who we have here.”

Armaan’s breath hitched as he backed away, his mind racing. He was cornered, with nowhere left to run.

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