The Introvert

Lena ran all the way home.

She didn't stop to think, didn't stop to breathe. She just ran.

By the time she reached her apartment, her lungs burned, her heart pounded, and her thoughts were a tangled mess of fear and confusion.

Who was that man?

Why did he know her name?

And worst of all—why did he say she was running out of time?

She shut the door behind her, locking it twice before pressing her back against it, trying to calm her racing heartbeat.

This wasn't supposed to happen.

She had spent her whole life avoiding attention, staying quiet, keeping her head down.

But now, it didn't matter.

She had been noticed.

And there was no undoing it.

---

Dinner Tension

"Lena, pass the dal."

Lena blinked, snapping back to reality.

Her mother was looking at her expectantly, her father barely glancing up from his phone as he scrolled through news headlines.

Lena forced a nod, sliding the bowl across the table.

Her hands were still shaking.

Her mother frowned. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Lena said quickly.

Her mother didn't look convinced. "You've been quiet."

Lena wanted to laugh. When am I not quiet?

Instead, she just muttered, "Long day."

Her father finally looked up. "School problems?"

Lena hesitated.

If she told them the truth—about The Vanished, about the man who had warned her, about how she had literally disappeared in an abandoned auditorium—they would think she was insane.

Or worse, they would try to help.

And that would put them in danger, too.

So she just nodded. "Something like that."

Her father shrugged and went back to his phone. Her mother sighed but didn't press further.

For once, Lena was grateful for their disinterest.

Because if they knew what was really happening, they wouldn't be able to sleep tonight.

Just like she wouldn't.

---

Midnight Visitors

The city was alive with noise.

Even past midnight, the distant hum of traffic, the occasional barking of stray dogs, and the distant murmur of people outside made it clear—Mumbai never truly slept.

Lena lay awake in bed, staring at the ceiling.

The Watchers.

The Vanished.

The fact that she had already been found.

She needed answers.

And there was only one person she could get them from.

She grabbed her phone, hesitating for a second before typing out a message.

Lena: We need to talk. Now.

A few seconds later, a reply came.

Ethan: Auditorium. 10 minutes.

Lena exhaled sharply, grabbed her hoodie, and slipped out of her room.

The world outside was dark, but not silent. Streetlights cast long shadows as she walked quickly, heart hammering in her chest.

She had barely reached the auditorium when she felt it again.

That unnerving sensation of being watched.

She spun around—

Nothing.

Just empty streets and the rustling of the wind.

She exhaled shakily, stepping inside.

Ethan was already there, sitting on the edge of the stage, tossing a cricket ball in the air. He caught it without looking.

"You took longer than ten minutes."

Lena crossed her arms. "I got followed."

That got his attention. "The Watchers?"

She nodded. "One of them spoke to me."

Ethan's jaw tightened. "What did he say?"

Lena hesitated. "That The Vanished are coming for me."

For a moment, Ethan was silent. Then he muttered a curse under his breath.

Lena's stomach twisted. "What does that mean?"

Ethan looked at her, his usual sarcasm gone. "It means you're in trouble."

No.

She was already in trouble.

This just made it worse.

---

An Unwanted Chase

Ethan stood, rolling his shoulders. "Alright. We have to move."

Lena blinked. "Move? Where?"

"Somewhere safer."

A chill ran through her. "You think they're coming tonight?"

Ethan's expression was grim. "If a Watcher warned you, that means they know The Vanished are close. We can't wait for them to make the first move."

Lena's throat went dry. "And if we do?"

Ethan met her gaze.

"They'll take you," he said simply.

Lena's heart stopped.

Take her?

What did that even mean?

She didn't get a chance to ask.

Because at that moment, the doors of the auditorium slammed shut.

Lena's breath caught.

A figure stepped into the dimly lit room.

And then another.

And another.

Five in total.

Their movements were too quiet, too precise.

And their eyes…

Dark. Unreadable.

Hunters.

Lena took an unsteady step back. "Are they—"

"The Vanished," Ethan confirmed.

Lena's blood ran cold.

Ethan grabbed her wrist. "Run."

She didn't need to be told twice.

They bolted.

---

A Desperate Escape

Lena's feet pounded against the ground as they ran through the empty corridors of the school.

Behind them, the footsteps of their pursuers were unnervingly silent.

Too fast.

Too close.

Ethan turned sharply, yanking Lena toward the fire escape stairs.

"Go!" he ordered.

She scrambled up the steps, her breath coming in short gasps. The metal door at the top was locked—Ethan didn't hesitate.

With one swift motion, he kicked it open.

They burst onto the rooftop, the cold night air hitting Lena like a slap.

Ethan didn't stop. He sprinted to the edge of the roof, dragging her with him.

Lena's eyes widened. "What are you—"

Then she saw it.

Another rooftop. Just a few feet away.

Ethan jumped.

Lena's stomach dropped.

She had never done anything like this before.

But behind her, the footsteps were getting closer.

She had no choice.

Sucking in a breath, she pushed off the edge—

For a single, terrifying moment, she was airborne—

Then—

She was gone.

Not falling.

Not hitting the ground.

Just vanishing.

And when she reappeared—

She was on the other side.

Ethan was staring at her.

But he wasn't shocked.

He was impressed.

Lena barely had time to process what had happened before Ethan grabbed her hand again.

"No time to celebrate," he said. "We have to keep moving."

She nodded, swallowing hard.

Because this wasn't over.

It was just beginning.

---