Sketching her Shadows

The temple stood on the edge of the city, its silhouette barely visible in the dim moonlight. Ancient, worn, and yet still imposing, it carried the weight of centuries—of secrets buried deep within its stone walls.

Satya, Saanvi, and Devraj stood at its entrance, catching their breath after their escape from the palace. The night air was thick with tension.

"This place…" Saanvi murmured, her fingers tracing the old carvings on the temple pillars. "I've been here before."

Satya turned to her. "In your past life?"

She nodded, her eyes distant. "I don't remember everything, but… I know this place holds answers."

Devraj pulled out his flashlight, its beam cutting through the darkness. "Then we better start looking before those men find us again."

The trio stepped inside. The temple smelled of dust and old incense, its vast hall eerily silent. Faded murals covered the walls, telling stories of forgotten times.

Saanvi ran her fingers over one of the murals. Her breath hitched. "Satya, look at this."

Satya stepped closer. The mural depicted a royal court, and in the center—a young woman in regal attire. Beside her, a man stood with a sketchbook in hand.

Meera. And Veer.

Saanvi's fingers trembled as she touched the painted figures. "This… this is us."

Satya felt a chill down his spine. "Then this place must have been important to them—to us."

Devraj's voice broke the silence. "There's something behind this wall."

They turned to see him pushing against a section of stone. It shifted slightly.

Satya joined him, feeling along the edges. "A hidden chamber?"

With a final shove, the stone gave way, revealing a narrow passageway leading downward. A rush of cool air seeped out, carrying with it the scent of damp earth and something else—something old.

Saanvi hesitated. "Do we go down?"

Satya met her gaze. "We came this far. We have to."

They descended into the darkness, each step echoing against the stone walls. The tunnel was long, the air thick with the weight of history.

Then, they reached the end.

A door.

And on it—

A symbol.

The same symbol engraved on the anklet Satya had found in the palace ruins.

Saanvi's breath caught in her throat. "This… this was Meera's."

Satya's pulse quickened. The answers they had been searching for were behind this door.

But before they could open it—

A sound.

Footsteps echoing through the tunnel.

Someone was here.

And they weren't alone.