eyes that haunt, voices that bind

> "In a world of masks and lies, sometimes it’s the voice you remember... long after the face fades away."

The dark veil of night had lifted, and dawn gently kissed the skyline when Reyaansh opened his eyes. A dull pain echoed in every limb, and blurred shapes moved around him—doctors, machines, beeping monitors, the strange scent of antiseptic.

"Mr. Singhania, can you hear me?" a doctor asked, leaning forward.

Reyaansh blinked slowly, his voice rasping, "Better... I think."

Moments later, the door swung open and Kabir Malhotra stormed in. His sharp jaw was clenched, dark brown hair a tousled mess from stress. The usually composed man looked shaken.

"Reyaansh! Damn it, you're awake!" Kabir rushed to his side. "You scared the hell out of me."

"I’m alive, aren't I?" Reyaansh muttered, trying to sit up—but a sharp pain in his abdomen forced him to wince.

"Take it easy, man. You almost died."

Reyaansh nodded slightly, then looked up, eyes sharp. “Did you find out anything? Who sent those assassins?”

Kabir frowned. “Assassins? I thought it was some mafia attack.”

“No,” Reyaansh said gravely. “They were contract killers. Zahr and Specter. But—something went wrong. They were betrayed by the one who hired them. Their own client turned on them. Someone else stabbed me.”

Kabir’s eyes widened. “What the hell…? That’s twisted. But… they brought you to the hospital?”

“Zahr did,” Reyaansh said, his voice tinged with something unplaceable—curiosity, maybe even admiration. “She paralyzed me with a drug. I couldn’t move… but I could see. Hear. She saved me.”

“Wait—what? You liked your assassin now?”

“I don’t know what I feel,” he admitted. “I didn’t see her face. She wore a hoodie, a mask... only her eyes were visible. But her voice—soft, sharp, addictive. She was beautiful... I could tell from the way she moved. Her hair… long, black. Her skin… her hands were gentle when she touched me.”

Kabir raised a brow. “So you’re falling for your assassin now?”

“No. But I can’t forget her. And there’s something else… a tattoo.” Reyaansh’s eyes narrowed. “An obsidian eye. On her back.”

Kabir froze. “What…? You mean—that tattoo? The Obsidian Eye?”

Reyaansh nodded. “Yeah. What does it mean?”

Kabir swallowed. “It belongs to the Black Lotus. That’s not just a gang—it’s a ghost organization of elite assassins. Almost mythical. People say it was destroyed years ago, but if they’re still active…”

“Then the one who hired them is powerful,” Reyaansh finished. “And dangerous.”

Kabir nodded grimly. “We need to find out more. Fast.”

---

Far away, in a dim underground basement laced with shadows and secrets, Zahr and Specter stood with their heads bowed before a man whose very silence demanded fear.

Haider.

The leader—the founder—of Black Lotus.

He sat in a worn leather chair, a scar running down his cheek like a thunderbolt frozen in time. His presence was cold steel, rough wind, unspoken death.

“You mean to say… you didn’t kill Reyaansh Singhania?” Haider’s voice rumbled like thunder just before the strike.

Zahr straightened. “No. I was going to. But our client betrayed us. His men attacked. According to our code, the moment a client acts without our knowledge, the contract breaks.”

Specter added, “We have proof—a guard confessed before dying. The betrayal was real.”

Haider leaned back, his expression unreadable. “Fine. Zahr, you may go. Specter… stay.”

Zahr turned and walked away.

Just then, the door burst open.

In strode Ayaan Rathore—Reyaansh’s business rival. Eyes burning, voice coated in venom. “So the great Haider’s assassin couldn’t even complete the job?”

Haider didn’t flinch. “You broke the terms. Your men attacked my team. The contract ended.”

“What nonsense! She failed. Admit it.”

Haider's eyes turned to steel. “The one who failed is you. The moment you interfered, you voided the deal. Take your money and leave. We are done.”

Fuming, Ayaan snatched the briefcase of cash and stormed out.

From the shadows, another voice cut the tension. “So the rules only apply when it’s not Zahr?”

Naina. Haider’s daughter. Eyes blazing, she stepped forward. “Why is she always protected? The rules say failure equals punishment.”

“She was betrayed,” Haider snapped. “This contract happened only because you begged me. Do not question what you do not understand.”

Naina clenched her fists and walked away in silence, jealousy crackling behind her eyes.

Haider exhaled deeply.

Zahr… was more than just an assassin.

But even in Black Lotus, no heart is ever safe. And no face remains unknown forever.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***