The Warning & The Revelation
The Encounter with Amit
The tournament fever had gripped the entire college, and the members of The Shield were more determined than ever. Wick, in particular, had intensified his training, pushing himself beyond his limits.
But amidst the excitement, Vaibhav's mind was clouded with worry. The vision he had seen—of The Shield breaking apart—haunted him. He kept wondering: Who could be the one to betray them?
While lost in thought, a voice snapped him back to reality.
"Hey, you're Vaibhav, right?"
Vaibhav turned to see an unfamiliar boy approaching him. He had an unreadable expression, his eyes sharp with purpose.
"Yeah, that's me. Who are you?" Vaibhav asked, his tone wary.
"Oh, my bad," the boy said, flashing a small smile. "I'm Amit. And I'm here because I want to save The Shield."
Vaibhav narrowed his eyes. "Save The Shield? From what?"
Amit stepped closer, lowering his voice. "From destruction."
A chill ran down Vaibhav's spine. He had never met Amit before, and yet he was speaking as if he knew something critical.
"And how do you know about this so-called 'destruction'?" Vaibhav questioned.
Amit sighed. "Because the cause of it… is Wick himself."
Vaibhav scoffed. "Are you insane?"
"No," Amit replied firmly. "You just don't want to see the truth. Wick is not as strong as he used to be. The recent conflicts, the battles, the betrayals… they've weakened him. He's losing his grip, Vaibhav. And a leader who hesitates is a leader who falls."
Vaibhav frowned. "Even if that's true, what do you want me to do about it?"
Amit's eyes gleamed. "You need to break the alliance with The Legacy."
Vaibhav froze. "What? That's impossible!"
"It's necessary," Amit insisted. "That alliance will cost you more than you can imagine."
Vaibhav stared at him, trying to process his words. "And why should I trust you?"
Amit smirked. "Because I'm a member of The Descent. And trust me, I know what's coming."
With that, Amit walked away, leaving Vaibhav in deep thought.
---
Vaibhav's Request to Wick
That evening, Vaibhav couldn't shake off Amit's words. After much contemplation, he decided there was only one way forward—he had to talk to Wick.
He found him near the training hall, drenched in sweat after another grueling session.
"Vikram, I need a favor."
Wick wiped his face with a towel and looked at him. "Go ahead."
Vaibhav took a deep breath. "I want The Legacy out of The Shield."
Wick barely reacted. "Okay."
Vaibhav blinked. "Wait… seriously? Did you even hear what I just said?"
Wick smirked. "I heard you loud and clear. I'm ready to do it… but on one condition."
"What condition?" Vaibhav asked hesitantly.
Wick's expression turned serious. "You have to find the traitor."
Vaibhav's heart pounded. "The traitor?"
Wick nodded. "If you can prove that you're more worthy than The Legacy, then I'll cut them off without hesitation."
Vaibhav clenched his fists. "Fine. I'll do it."
---
The Eavesdropping
That night, while wandering the campus in search of clues, Vaibhav heard hushed voices coming from a secluded alley. He hid behind a wall, straining his ears.
"How's the plan progressing?" one voice asked.
"I'd say… we'll have victory soon," another responded.
There was a pause before the second voice added, "But our only problem is Shristi."
Vaibhav's breath hitched.
"Then do whatever it takes to get rid of her," the first voice ordered coldly. "Or better… bring her to our side."
Vaibhav's mind raced. Shristi? Why was she a problem? And who were these people?
He tried to peek around the corner, but the shadows concealed their faces. Before he could risk getting caught, the conversation ended, and they dispersed.
Vaibhav stood frozen, his heart pounding. Shristi was in danger… or worse, she could be involved.
---
The Rainy Night & The Revelation
The following day, the air was thick with tension.
Wick had called for an urgent meeting of The Shield. It was already raining, but everyone arrived, clad in their raincoats.
Vaibhav stood among them, scanning the crowd. His eyes landed on Shristi. He frowned. What is she doing here?
He stepped towards her. "Why are you here?"
Shristi didn't respond. She simply stood there, her face unreadable.
Vaibhav's confusion deepened. Something was wrong.
Then, he noticed something else—Wick wasn't wearing a raincoat. He stood in the center, his black shirt soaked, his expression cold.
And Nick… was missing.
A shiver ran through Vaibhav. Something is very, very wrong.
Then Wick spoke. His voice was steady, but there was an edge to it.
"Members of The Shield… today, we have an imposter among us."
A murmur spread through the crowd. People exchanged uneasy glances.
Roy stepped forward. "Who?"
Wick's eyes locked onto one person.
"It's Shristi."
A stunned silence followed.
Jai crossed his arms, smirking. "I told you she wasn't trustworthy."
Roy turned to Wick sharply. "And you let her be involved in every preparation? That's reckless!"
Then, in a move that shocked everyone, Wick took a deep breath and said, "You're right. I take full responsibility." He looked around at the members of The Shield. "Which is why… I am stepping down as president of The Shield."
Gasps erupted from the group.
Vaibhav felt like the ground had been pulled from beneath him. This can't be happening.
He rushed to Shristi, gripping her arms. "Why did you do this?" he demanded, desperate for answers.
Shristi didn't say a word.
He turned back to Wick, ready to confront him, but in his rush, his foot slipped.
Before he could react, he was falling—
—And then he woke up.
---
The Realization
Vaibhav sat up in bed, his heart hammering against his ribs. He was drenched in sweat, his breath ragged.
Another vision. Another glimpse into the future.
But this time, something was different.
This time, he knew.
The traitor was real. And now… he knew exactly who it was.
Readers I have one request to please leave a comment.
To be continued...