Pearl didn't move. The message echoed in her skull like a warning bell:
"Then turn around."
She felt Vansh step beside her, close enough that his shoulder brushed hers. She didn't flinch this time.
His voice was a whisper, tight and controlled:"We're not alone."
Pearl's fingers curled into fists.
Slowly, she turned.
The room behind them—the one she'd walked through to get here—was dark. Too dark. Like the shadows had thickened and begun to pulse.
Then, from the corner... movement.
A tall figure stepped forward, cloaked in black from head to toe. No face, no sound. Just presence—wrong, unnatural. Its shape seemed to blur at the edges, like it didn't fully belong in this world.
Pearl's voice was barely audible."What is that?"
Vansh didn't answer.Instead, he stepped in front of her.
Protective.
Instinctive.
"Get behind me."
"No." Her voice trembled but held firm. "We do this together."
The figure raised an arm. The lights flickered violently—then burst, one by one, showering the floor with sparks.
Pearl's phone slipped from her hand, plunging them into almost complete darkness.
She reached for Vansh—her fingers brushing his—when the figure moved.
Fast.Too fast.
A blur of black swept toward them, and Vansh shoved her back, spinning to intercept. There was a flash of silver—he had a blade. She hadn't even seen him draw it.
A clash. A horrible, inhuman shriek.
Pearl scrambled back, heart pounding. Vansh fought like he'd done this before—fluid, precise, brutal.
But the figure didn't bleed. It didn't scream in pain. It hissed, shuddered, and then began to split—multiplying.
Two. Then three.
Pearl gasped. "Vansh—"
"Run!"
"Not without you!"
The air grew colder. Her skin prickled.
The shadow-things closed in, circling. Vansh was surrounded.
Pearl's eyes darted to the desk—back to the file. One page had slipped free, marked with strange symbols. She grabbed it. Somehow… she knew it mattered.
The moment her fingers touched it, the shadows stopped.
Just for a second.
Then all three turned toward her.
Not Vansh. Her.
She heard it then. A voice, not from any mouth—inside her mind.
"Found you."
The shadows were gone. The air still buzzed with what had just happened, but for now, they were alone.
Pearl didn't waste time.
"What is the Pearl Protocol?" she demanded, arms crossed, chest tight with emotion."And don't give me the half-story this time, Vansh."
Vansh leaned against the cold wall, running a hand through his hair.
"They're a group that works in the background. Silent influence. Surveillance. Control."
"That's vague," she snapped."You sound like a Wikipedia article. What do you have to do with them?"
He didn't answer right away. His eyes flicked to the floor, then to her. Something flickered there—guilt? Fear?
"I knew your name before I ever met you."
Pearl's stomach dropped.
"So this wasn't random."
"No." A beat."They told me to stay away. That you were dangerous. That getting involved would get me burned."
Pearl stepped closer, anger rising."Then why didn't you listen?"
"Because I didn't believe them."A pause. Then quieter:"And because I wanted to know why they were so afraid of you."
Her jaw clenched."And? Did you find out?"
"No," he said. Too fast.Then, seeing her expression, added:"…not everything."
There it was.
Pearl narrowed her eyes. "You're still lying to me."
"I'm not—"
"You're leaving something out. I can see it."
Vansh looked away."It's not that simple."
"Everything about this is simple: You know something. You're choosing not to tell me. So is this still about protecting me—or protecting yourself?"
The question hit like a slap.
Vansh's shoulders tensed."You think I haven't risked everything for you?"
"I think you've told me just enough to keep me close—and just little enough to keep control."
Silence.
He stepped toward her then. Closer than he should've. Close enough she could see the storm in his eyes.
"You want the whole truth?"His voice was low now, rough."Fine. But when I tell you… you won't look at me the same."
Pearl didn't flinch.
"Then tell me anyway."
He opened his mouth—but didn't speak.
Instead, he turned and walked away, disappearing between the rows of shelves.
She didn't follow.
Not yet.
Because now, she knew one thing for sure:
Whatever Vansh was hiding... it wasn't just about her past.It was about himself.
And it was going to break them before it ever saved them.