Chapter 1: The Echoes of Fire
In the heart of a forgotten village stood an ancient peepal tree, its branches stretching like skeletal fingers toward the sky. Tied to its gnarled trunk was a young man—his body bound by coarse ropes, but his eyes blazing with defiant fire. A mob of villagers surrounded him, their voices merging into a chilling chorus: "Burn the curse! End this evil!"
Some distance away, another boy struggled against iron chains. Rudra—his eyes swollen from crying, his throat torn raw from screaming. "Stop! Don't do this! He saved your life—remember when you were dying? He risked everything to pull you back!" His voice broke, tears carving paths through the grime on his cheeks. "Please... you at least should understand!"
But the young man holding the torch stood unmoved, his eyes empty voids. He hesitated for a heartbeat—then hurled the flaming brand at the bound figure.
"Aaaahhhh!" Pratham's scream ripped through the air as flames engulfed his body.
Rudra collapsed to his knees, chains clanking. "Animals! You call yourselves humans? Those who attack the defenseless are nothing but vultures—and this society is their feeding ground!"
Through the curtain of fire, Pratham's eyes met Rudra's. A faint, sorrowful smile touched his lips. "Not in this life... we'll meet in the next." The flames consumed him, leaving only embers and memory.
Rudra's grief erupted into fury. "You burned an innocent today! Your turn will come—all of you will turn to ash!" In one swift motion, he snatched a sword from a distracted guard and drew it across his own throat.
Silence fell. Two pyres remained—one real, one waiting to be lit in some distant future.
---
🌑 PRESENT DAY
Niwan jolted awake, his chest heaving. The stench of smoke and echoes of screams still clung to his senses. His phone buzzed insistently—7:00 AM. College alarm.
He swiped it off with trembling hands just as a video call flashed on screen.
"Niwan, beta?" Trishala's face appeared, concern etching her features. "You're up? Why do you look so pale?"
"Mom... that dream again." His voice wavered.
"Oh, baby, it's nothing. Just a bad dream—it's over now. You're safe."
"But why do I keep seeing them? Those two boys... why does it feel so real?"
"Probably exam stress, beta. You overthink, that's why you see it every day. Now come on, get up and shower. Don't you have a lecture?"
Niwan sighed. "I don't really feel like college today."
"Everyone has bad dreams, Niwan. It was just a dream. Get ready or you'll be late. And have proper breakfast!"
"Okay, Mom."
As Niwan stepped under the shower spray, he tried to wash away the nightmare's residue. Dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, he was checking his phone when a meme notification popped up.
Anvi: (meme of a sleeping koala) "Oy, Sleeping Beauty! Awake or still snoring?"
Niwan: (typing) "Yeah, yeah, I'm up. You focus on yourself, missy."
Anvi: (voice message) "Oho, acting all big-brotherly! Mom said you seemed upset. Everything okay?"
Niwan: "Just that same dream. Nothing serious. You focus on your office presentation."
Anvi: "Okay then. Make sure you drink milk and eat properly. Bye!"
---
Niwan took a deep breath and headed to the mess, the dream's horror still clinging to him like cobwebs. The smell of breakfast filled the air, but his stomach churned. As he reached for a glass of milk, his fingers brushed against a cold metal spoon—
—and suddenly he wasn't holding cutlery, but the hilt of a sword, heavy and real.
He jerked back, heart pounding against his ribs.
Just then, Ruhan bounded into the mess. "Good morning, sleepy—" He froze, his cheerful grin vanishing. His hand flew to his own throat, face paling as if he'd felt a phantom blade. "Niwan... what's wrong?"
---