The Price of Power
The third floor is theirs. Bodies lie scattered, blood drying on the cold marble. Shivay sits on a broken chair, his eyes dark, his hands still stained from the fight.
ashi
(hesitant): “What now, Shivay? We have food, weapons… we should just stay low.”
shivay
(sharply): “Low? That’s what got us killed before. Pihu, Arjun… all because we were weak. Never again.”
Dev leans against a wall, smirking.
Dev
“You sound like Abhii.”
Shivay stiffens. Then laughs. It’s a hollow sound.
shivay
“Abhii’s hiding in his safe little kingdom. We’re out here in the real world. And in the real world? You take power, or you die.”
Ashi looks away. This isn’t the Shivay she knew. But maybe… that Shivay is already dead.
A loud crash echoes through the mall. A group of scavengers tries to break into their floor. Dev moves first, grabbing his knife—but suddenly, he’s faster than ever.
Before anyone can react, he crosses the hall in a blink, his knife slicing clean through a man’s throat.
ashi
“Dev… what the hell was that?”
Dev stares at his hands, flexing his fingers. His breathing is ragged.
Dev
(grinning): “I don’t know. But I like it.”
Shivay steps forward. One of the attackers pulls a gun, but before he can fire—Shivay lifts his hand, and the man’s entire body freezes. Suspended in the air like an invisible force is holding him.
shivay
(murmuring): “What… is this?”
A single thought enters his mind: Power. Real power. And it feels right.
A few survivors from different groups approach, cautious, scared. They saw what Shivay and Dev did. They know who holds the power now.
Survivor
“We want to join you.”
shivay
“Then earn your place.”
Ashi steps forward this time.
ashi
“No more pointless killing.”
Shivay glances at her but doesn’t argue. His rule isn’t just about fear. He will protect the weak, but he won’t tolerate the useless.
One of the survivors stumbles forward, injured. Ashi moves to help—and suddenly, her hands glow faintly. The wound begins to heal before their eyes.
Dev
(whistling): “Well, looks like we’re not normal anymore.”
Shivay says nothing. He doesn’t know where this power came from. But he knows one thing—it’s his now. And he’ll use it to build something stronger than what they lost
[Meanwhile: Abhii’s Territory – The Ghost of the Past]
Saniya follows Abhii through the half-constructed city. Everything is changing. The walls are thicker, the buildings taller, the silence heavier. But Abhii… he hasn’t changed. He’s still distant, cold.
saniya
(annoyed): “Are you even going to speak today?”
Abhii stops. His voice is quiet, but sharp.
Abhiii
“Why are you still here, Saniya?”
Saniya hesitates. She doesn’t know. She just… stayed.
saniya
(grinning): “Maybe I like annoying you.”
Abhii doesn’t respond. But for the first time, a ghost of a smirk flickers on his face before he turns away.
Shivay stands on the rooftop, looking at the city below. He doesn’t know why, but he feels watched. As if something far bigger than this mall is lurking just beyond the shadows.
Dev
(walking up beside him): “You feel it too?”
A scream echoes from below. A new fight. Another battle. This place never stops. But Shivay? He’s ready for war.
In a hidden fortress, Abhii builds in silence. Planning. Waiting.
In a lawless mall, Shivay rules with blood and fire.
Two kings. Two paths.
And soon, their roads will cross again.
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