Echoes of Anya Chapter 4: Shadows in the Tower

𝘼𝙣𝙞𝙠𝙖/ 𝘼𝙣𝙮𝙖

(Stands motionless in the darkness, her breath held captive in her throat. The creaking sound echoes again, closer this time.)

𝘼𝙣𝙞𝙠𝙖/ 𝘼𝙣𝙮𝙖

(Inner monologue) Don’t panic. Just stay quiet.

𝘼𝙣𝙞𝙠𝙖/ 𝘼𝙣𝙮𝙖

(She slowly inches towards a large, rusted gear, using it as a makeshift shield. The darkness is thick, the air heavy with the scent of dust and damp stone.)

𝘼𝙣𝙞𝙠𝙖/ 𝘼𝙣𝙮𝙖

(She strains her ears, trying to pinpoint the source of the noise. Footsteps. Slow, deliberate. They’re coming up the stairs.)

𝘼𝙣𝙞𝙠𝙖/ 𝘼𝙣𝙮𝙖

(Inner monologue) *Who is it? Veer? Or someone else?*

𝘼𝙣𝙞𝙠𝙖/ 𝘼𝙣𝙮𝙖

(She hears a faint click, followed by a sliver of light cutting through the darkness. Someone is using a flashlight.)

𝘼𝙣𝙞𝙠𝙖/ 𝘼𝙣𝙮𝙖

(She presses herself against the wall, her heart pounding against her ribs. The footsteps are getting louder, closer.)

𝘼𝙣𝙞𝙠𝙖/ 𝘼𝙣𝙮𝙖

(The flashlight beam sweeps across the room, illuminating patches of dust-covered floor and the intricate clock mechanism. It pauses, lingering on the scorch mark where the fire once burned.)

𝘼𝙣𝙞𝙠𝙖/ 𝘼𝙣𝙮𝙖

(The footsteps stop. A voice, low and gravelly, breaks the silence.)

𝙄𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙖𝙣

I know you’re here.

𝘼𝙣𝙞𝙠𝙖/ 𝘼𝙣𝙮𝙖

(Her breath catches. She recognizes the voice. It’s not Veer.)

𝙄𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙖𝙣

You shouldn’t have come back.

𝘼𝙣𝙞𝙠𝙖/ 𝘼𝙣𝙮𝙖

(She remains silent, her body tense.)

𝙄𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙖𝙣

You’re stirring up things that should have stayed buried.

𝘼𝙣𝙞𝙠𝙖/ 𝘼𝙣𝙮𝙖

(Inner monologue) *Who is this person? How do they know so much?*

𝙄𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙖𝙣

You’re looking for answers, aren’t you? Answers about Anya.

𝘼𝙣𝙞𝙠𝙖/ 𝘼𝙣𝙮𝙖

(She can’t help herself. She whispers) Who are you?

𝙄𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙖𝙣

Someone who knows the truth.

𝘼𝙣𝙞𝙠𝙖/ 𝘼𝙣𝙮𝙖

(She steps out from behind the gear, her eyes adjusting to the dim light from the flashlight. The man standing in the doorway is tall and thin, his face obscured by shadows. But his eyes, they gleam with an unsettling intensity.)

𝘼𝙣𝙞𝙠𝙖/ 𝘼𝙣𝙮𝙖

Ishaan?

𝙄𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙖𝙣

(A faint smile plays on his lips) You remember.

𝘼𝙣𝙞𝙠𝙖/ 𝘼𝙣𝙮𝙖

How do you know about Anya?

𝙄𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙖𝙣

I’ve been watching you, Anika. Watching you remember.

𝘼𝙣𝙞𝙠𝙖/ 𝘼𝙣𝙮𝙖

Watching me? Why?

𝙄𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙖𝙣

Because you’re a part of something much larger than you realize.

𝘼𝙣𝙞𝙠𝙖/ 𝘼𝙣𝙮𝙖

What are you talking about?

𝙄𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙖𝙣

The cycle, Anika. The endless cycle of lives and deaths.

𝘼𝙣𝙞𝙠𝙖/ 𝘼𝙣𝙮𝙖

(Her mind races. Reincarnation. Past lives. He knows too much.)

𝙄𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙖𝙣

You were brought back for a reason. To settle a debt.

𝘼𝙣𝙞𝙠𝙖/ 𝘼𝙣𝙮𝙖

A debt?

𝙄𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙖𝙣

Veer owes you, Anika. And you’re here to collect.

𝘼𝙣𝙞𝙠𝙖/ 𝘼𝙣𝙮𝙖

(Her voice is trembling) How do you know about Veer?

𝙄𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙖𝙣

I know everything, Anika. I’ve seen it all before.

𝘼𝙣𝙞𝙠𝙖/ 𝘼𝙣𝙮𝙖

(She takes a step towards him, her eyes filled with questions) Tell me everything.

𝙄𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙖𝙣

(He shakes his head) Not here. It’s too dangerous.

𝘼𝙣𝙞𝙠𝙖/ 𝘼𝙣𝙮𝙖

Dangerous? What do you mean?

𝙄𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙖𝙣

Veer is watching. He knows you’re close.

𝘼𝙣𝙞𝙠𝙖/ 𝘼𝙣𝙮𝙖

Then why are you telling me this?

𝙄𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙖𝙣

Because you need to know the truth. You need to understand what you’re up against.

𝙄𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙖𝙣

(He turns and walks towards the staircase) Come with me. I’ll show you.

𝘼𝙣𝙞𝙠𝙖/ 𝘼𝙣𝙮𝙖

(Hesitates for a moment, then follows him into the darkness.)