Into the Unknown (Finale of the Betrayer Arc)
[Scene: Outside the Safe Territory – Midnight]
The group moves cautiously through the ruins. Abhii is not with them. Annie had called him away for an urgent system update, leaving Dev, Shivay, Arjun, Saniya, and the warrior—Rehaan—to track down the betrayer.
The trail leads them to a corpse slumped against a rusted truck, blood smeared across the metal.
shivay
"They’re dead. But who killed them?
Arjun kneels, inspecting the wounds.
Arjun
Deep claw marks run across the chest. This wasn’t a human attack.
Dev
"Something got to them first."
saniya
"Well, at least that saves us the trouble."
Rehaan, silent as always, suddenly tenses.
the fighter
"We’re not alone."
Before anyone can react—something lunges from the darkness
A monstrous creature—twice the size of a human—crashes into Arjun, sending him flying into a wall. He coughs up blood.
The creature snarls, its deformed body twitching unnaturally. It’s fast. Too fast.
saniya
(angrily): "What the hell is that thing?!"
Rehaan moves first. His muscular frame launches forward, blade slicing into the beast’s leg. It screeches, staggering.
the fighter
(growling): "Focus on weak points!"
Shivay and Dev attack together, slashing at its legs and arms. But the creature heals instantly.
Its claws swipe toward him—deadly, precise.
Pihu throws herself in front of him.
The claws rip through her.
shivay
(screaming): "PIHU!"
She stumbles, blood spilling from her stomach. She falls against Shivay, her lips trembling as she whispers—
pihu
(weakly): "Told you… I’d always be there."
Shivay is frozen. His mind breaks.
Dev
(yelling in fury): "KILL IT!"
Rehaan roars and charges at the beast, slashing relentlessly. Arjun, bleeding heavily, rises to his feet.
Arjun
(gritting his teeth): "Let’s end this."
He and Rehaan attack together, striking as one.
The monster screams—then falls, lifeless.
He slumps to the ground, blood pooling beneath him. Rehaan kneels beside him, jaw clenched.
Arjun
(whispering, smiling weakly): "Not bad… fighting beside you."
the fighter
(quietly): "You did good."
Arjun exhales—and doesn’t breathe again.
saniya
(muttering, for the first time without arrogance): "Damn it…"
But before anyone can recover, Rehaan stumbles.
His body is covered in deep gashes, blood dripping from his wounds. He had taken more damage than anyone realized.
Dev
(panicked): "Rehaan, stay awake!"
the fighter
"Guess I won’t get to see what happens next."
He falls forward, lifeless.
Abhii rushes in, out of breath. He stops. Looks at the bodies.
Pihu. Arjun. Rehaan.
Dead.
His jaw tightens, his fists clenching.
Abhiii
(coldly, to Annie): "Why did you call me away?"
System
"You were never meant to see this."
Something is playing with them. Manipulating events.
And Abhii is done playing nice.
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