Sketching her Shadows

Satya, Saanvi, and Devraj bolted through the palace ruins, their breath sharp against the cold night air. The shouts behind them grew louder, footsteps pounding against the stone floors.

"They're gaining on us!" Devraj hissed, glancing back.

Satya didn't dare look. He knew they couldn't afford to get caught—not when they were so close to the truth.

"This way!" he said, pulling Saanvi toward a crumbling archway. It led to a series of narrow corridors—passageways Veer must have once walked through, unaware that centuries later, his soul would be fleeing the same place.

They turned a corner sharply, nearly stumbling over loose debris. The palace had aged with time, its walls barely holding together. One wrong step and the floor could collapse beneath them.

Then, suddenly—

A figure stepped out of the shadows ahead.

Satya skidded to a halt, nearly crashing into Saanvi. Devraj froze behind them.

The man was tall, his silhouette barely illuminated by the faint light from the moon. His face was partially covered by a cloth, but his piercing eyes were visible—calculating, cold.

"You shouldn't have come here," he said, his voice quiet but heavy with warning.

Satya clenched his fists. "Who are you?"

The man didn't answer. Instead, he took a step forward.

Instinct screamed at Satya to move. He grabbed a loose brick from the ground and hurled it at the man, forcing him to dodge. That split second was all they needed.

"Run!" Satya yelled, shoving Saanvi forward.

They dashed past the man before he could react. Behind them, the other pursuers shouted orders, their voices urgent.

"They're blocking the main exit," Devraj panted. "We need another way out!"

Saanvi's mind raced. "The old servant's passage! It connects to the outside!"

Without hesitation, they veered toward a narrow stairway leading downward. Dust and cobwebs clung to the air, the passage untouched for decades.

They squeezed through the tight space, their lungs burning. Behind them, the sound of pursuit faded slightly, but they knew the men wouldn't give up so easily.

Finally, they emerged outside—a hidden exit near the palace walls.

"We made it," Devraj gasped, hands on his knees.

But Saanvi wasn't relieved. She turned to Satya, her voice urgent. "That man… he knew we were here."

Satya nodded grimly. "Which means someone's been watching us this whole time."

Silence settled between them.

Then, Saanvi took a deep breath. "We have to go to the temple. If Meera's voice is leading us there, we can't stop now."

Satya agreed. Whoever was trying to stop them had made one thing clear—there was something at that temple worth hiding.

And they were going to find it.