Anant POV — Earlier That Night
"Did someone ever tell you how hot you look with that expression?" said a woman standing next to me at the bus stop.
I was on the task to monitor a suspicious activity near this area — a lead about a creature.
"Haah," I exhaled.
"Give up. I'm not looking for some fun," I said and looked at her.
Middle-aged. Black eyes, black hair, a slim and well-maintained body.
"But I am curious. I've seen you here for like three days."
"You come around 9 pm and leave at around 2 am."
"Nobody does that except thieves or stalkers."
"Who are you?"
She kept her eyes on me.
'Is she an awakened?' I asked myself.
There were no distortions around her energy — almost as if she was going to die soon.
Still, I didn't let my guard down.
"Just someone with free time of the year," I said in the same indifferent, emotionless voice.
"And you?" I asked.
"Just curious. A handsome high schooler or maybe a college freshman standing at a bus stop for more than four hours while looking at my neighbour's window suspicious, isn't it?" she said playfully.
I glanced at my watch.
10:01 pm.
"Maybe the last day you'll see me."
"Aww, don't say that. We just met. Wanna meet my sister? You're totally her type."
"Look, ma'am, I am not—"
Suddenly, I felt a surge of spiritual power.
Where—
East.
Forest.
Approximately 1.5 km.
"Looks like the location was displayed wrong."
"What?" she asked.
But there was no one to answer her, as I was already gone.
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Divya POV — That Night
"My name's Anant. Looks like we need to talk about a few things, lady."
I have to say—
He looked freaking cool.
But my consciousness was fading.
Ah… so I really am going to die.
Well, no surprise. My arm and shoulder were missing. How was I even alive?
And then I lost consciousness.
"Haah," he said. "It's gonna be a long night."
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Divya POV — Morning
I slowly opened my eyes as sunlight hit my face.
It was comforting — almost as if I was in heaven.
The mattress below me was heavenly warm, soft, and squishy.
"So this is heaven," I muttered and tried to drift back into sleep.
"No, you're still on Earth," came a voice.
I opened my eyes and looked toward the sound.
There he was — the same man who saved me — calmly sipping coffee.
I blinked.
Again.
I realised I wasn't dead… and a stranger was in the room.
"What the fuck—" I jolted awake, clutching the blanket from neck to toe.
"Coffee or tea?" he asked.
"Aw, tea—HEY! Don't give me that crap! What are you doing in my bedroom?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Your bedroom?"
That's when I realised — my mattress at home wasn't this soft.
"Where am I?!" I screamed.
He took another sip of coffee.
Something twitched on my forehead. This bastard…
"Okay, I know I'm cute, but kidnapping is a crime. Release me now."
"I just saved your life," he said calmly — almost too calmly.
"What?"
"Don't you remember the eldritch creature trying to eat you?"
Huh?
Then it hit me.
Rishi's home.
The money.
That gruesome face.
"Yeah… you were the one who saved me."
I looked at my right arm.
It was there.
Relief flooded me.
Then I noticed the clothes on my shoulder — and realised my body was covered by an oversized white shirt.
My face turned red.
"You bastard! What did you do to me?" I yelled, pulling the blanket tighter.
"Relax. I didn't do anything," he said, placing the empty cup on the glass table beside the bed. "Your clothes were ruined, so I changed them. These are mine."
Now that I noticed, I felt no pain at all.
My arm — which was gone — was completely fine.
Panicking, I asked, "H-How did that happen? My arm… it wasn't there."
He walked toward me from the couch.
He was tall. Handsome too.
But his eyes… they looked empty.
"Congratulations," he said calmly.
"You've awakened."
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