I felt cold… but what kind of cold was this?
My eyelids were heavy, my thoughts clouded. Slowly, consciousness began to return.
As I opened my eyes, the world around me felt alien. Steel walls, a metallic ceiling—it was like I had woken up inside some kind of airtight chamber. No windows. No doors. Just one large crystal panel in front of me—polished like a mirror, and on the other side of it, a few figures stood watching.
Their faces were unfamiliar. Three people—one who looked like a manager, and two others in thick, astronaut-like PPE suits. White masks. Reflective goggles. On their suits, a logo marked them as part of the Foundation, each tagged with a number: 1 and 2.
They were talking—gesturing with their hands, their lips moving—but…
No sound reached me.
I tried to make sense of it all… and that's when I realized—I couldn't move. Not even an inch.
I looked down.
My arms and legs were strapped tightly to a cold metal chair. The restraints were thin but unbreakably firm, binding me in place like I was some kind of test subject.
Panic surged through me. My breath quickened.
"What is this place? Why have they brought me here?!"
I tried to scream, but only a broken gasp escaped my throat—like the voice had died before it could reach my lips.
I thrashed violently. With every jerk, the straps scraped against my skin, biting deeper. It hurt, but I didn't stop.
And that's when the three of them noticed me. Their eyes locked onto mine.
They froze. The manager tilted his head slightly, narrowing his eyes as he studied me intently. One of the scientists lowered the file he was holding, while the other pressed something—a button, hidden from view.
And then… from the ceiling, a mechanical arm descended—at the end of it, a syringe wired with tubes and needles, slowly moving toward me.
I tried to turn my head away, but it was too late. The needle pierced the back of my neck.
The pain was blinding—sharp and immediate. My eyes welled with tears, my body trembling uncontrollably as I clenched my eyes shut.
Scientist 1 adjusted a monitor directly in front of me. With a low-frequency hum, the screen flickered to life.
And there it was—something unnatural flowing through my bloodstream.
A swirling black smoke—thick, restless, alive—moving freely inside my veins.
"What is this? Contamination?" the manager asked, his voice laced with both concern and curiosity.
"Hmm…" Scientist 1 and 2 leaned closer, eyes fixed on the monitor. The data clearly showed black, smoke-like wisps swirling inside my bloodstream—but the strangest part was...
It wasn't harming me.
Scientist 2 scribbled something into a notebook, then said, "We'll need to ask Ayaan directly."
They switched on a mic.
"Ayaan, there appears to be a gaseous substance circulating inside your body. Are you experiencing any pain? Any discomfort?"
I was a bit confused at first. I glanced down.
"Well… these straps are extremely tight. They're definitely causing pain."
Their expressions shifted.
"So the gas itself isn't causing you any harm?"
I simply shook my head. "No…"
"Unusual…" Scientist 1 muttered, glancing at the manager. "Whatever this substance is, it doesn't seem to be hostile to his system. But we still need to understand what it actually is."
The manager locked eyes with me, staring deep. I stared right back, my gaze sharp, angry.
"Ensure he can't harm himself. Release him. We'll continue testing tomorrow," the manager said coldly, then turned and walked away.
I shouted, "Where is my sister?! Tell me!!"
But the manager didn't even flinch. It was as if my screams couldn't reach him—as if I was screaming into a void.
Finally, Scientist 1 spoke. "Stop shouting. She's fine. Resting in her bed."
I paused. "I want to see her!"
"Not now. You need to stay here."
I started thrashing again. The straps bit into my skin, and a thin stream of blood began to trickle from the spot where the syringe had pierced me.
Scientist 2 frowned. "If he keeps struggling like this, he'll injure himself. Release him."
With a click from a remote, the syringe withdrew. A few moments later, a small robotic unit rolled in from the corner—its mechanical arms quietly unlatching the restraints around my wrists and ankles.
The second I was free, I jolted upright, stretching my sore arms. Then I looked at the robot—and in a flare of anger, I kicked it.
But it dodged with impressive agility and rolled away, as if unfazed.
Scientist 2 smirked. "Interesting…"
And then, they both left.
I was alone now. My hands were free, but my heart felt caged. I slid down to the cold steel wall, breathing heavily. Eyes shut, mind spiraling with a single question:
'Is my sister really okay?'
For nearly two days, Ayaan had been kept in confinement. In that time, he had been bombarded with endless questions, subjected to multiple tests—but still, no answers had come. No conclusions. No relief.
He let out a deep breath and leaned his back against the cold steel wall. Isolated, restless, and silently grieving—he felt like a prisoner not just in body, but in spirit. Days had passed, yet the only thing echoing in his mind was the same haunting question:
How is my sister?
He closed his eyes, hoping that maybe—just maybe—sleep would grant him a brief escape.
But then he heard it.
"Krrru... kruuu..."
His eyes snapped open.
It sounded like a pigeon—but… wrong. Distorted. As if a man was trying to imitate a bird's call but failing miserably.
"Krruuu... kruuuu..."
He slowly lifted his head and strained his ears. The sound was coming from outside the containment chamber.
"Who's there?" he called softly, moving closer to the glass wall.
No response.
Cautiously, Ayaan rose to his feet and stepped toward the transparent barrier. His heartbeat spiked. He reached the glass and peered through—
And his eyes widened in pure shock.
A bizarre creature was staring straight at him.
Its body resembled a bird—feathers gleaming in shades of violet and pink, its wings unnaturally pale and disjointed. But the most horrifying part… was its face.
It had a human face.
Roughly the size of a rooster, it had two twisted horns protruding from its skull and long, sharp fangs jutting out from its mouth. And worst of all—
It was smiling.
A chilling, eerie grin—like something pulled from a cursed old folktale.
Ayaan's feet locked in place. His throat went dry.
The creature stepped forward slowly, its thin legs clicking softly against the floor, and then—
"Krruu... kruuu..."
That same unnatural, pigeon-like sound echoed again.
Ayaan jolted, his body recoiling instinctively as he stumbled back, pressing himself flat against the wall.
"Someone! Help!" he shouted, voice trembling with desperation. But there was no response.
The creature remained there, unmoving… its eyes peering deep into his soul, smiling—
like it had known him forever.
Then, slowly, it crept forward and began tapping its massive horn against the glass.
THONK! THONK! THONK!
With every hit, faint cracks began to bloom across the surface.
Ayaan's heart pounded violently. His legs were trembling.
"No! Stop! Please! Don't!" he cried out. But the creature only smiled wider, as if this was all some sick game.
Ayaan could barely hold himself upright—he was ready to collapse then and there. His throat burned dry, and tears streamed down his cheeks.
"I… I'm sorry! Whatever I did—whatever mistake I made—please don't kill me!" he sobbed, trembling as he clasped his hands together in desperation.
Seeing him cry, the creature suddenly stopped.
It tilted its head slightly, as if pondering something… blinking its large, eerie eyes slowly. And then, in a soft, strange voice, it said—
"Hattima Tim Tim…"
Ayaan froze.
His crying halted abruptly. "What?" he whispered, confused and breathless.
The creature was still smiling.
"Hattima Tim Tim!" it repeated, fluttering its wings with excitement.
"Hattima Tim Tim!" it chirped again, now practically gleeful—spinning once in place before turning to leave.
Just before it flew off, it glanced back at Ayaan, gave a tiny shriek—
"Hattima Tim Tim!"—and vanished into the shadows above.
Ayaan let out a shaky, panic-laced breath.
"Oh god… I'm alive," he whispered, his heart still thundering in his chest.
His legs gave in, and he collapsed to the ground, breathless and dazed.
But just as he began to recover—
Someone placed a hand on his shoulder—and Ayaan's entire body turned cold.
His mind screamed.
"AAAAAHHHH!!"
He let out a blood-curdling scream, clutched his head with both hands, and dropped straight to the floor.
"JAI HANUMAN GYAN GUN SAGAR!"
He began chanting the Hanuman Chalisa at full volume, voice trembling with panic.
"JAI KAPEES TIHU LOK UJAGAR!"
His words shook, but he didn't stop. He pressed his forehead to the cold floor.
"BHOOT PISACH NIKAT NAHI AAVE! MAHAVIR JAB NAAM SUNAVE!!"
And then—
"Are you okay?"
The voice was soft. Gentle. Almost innocent.
Ayaan's heart was still thundering in his chest as he slowly raised his head and turned around.
Standing behind him was a small girl, maybe eleven years old. She wore a white hoodie, the hood casting a slight shadow over her head. Her eyes were large, curious, and filled with childlike innocence.
For a moment, Ayaan just stared in stunned silence.
Then, hesitantly, he asked, "…W-who are you?"
The girl folded her hands behind her back, smiled, and said cheerfully,
"I'm Nyra. The assistant manager here."
Ayaan blinked. His expression froze in utter disbelief.
"Assistant manager?! You?!"
Nyra giggled. "Yup! And I came here personally just to meet you."
Ayaan was even more confused now. "Me? Why?"
She blinked those big, innocent eyes at him.
"You were crying so loudly… I thought I should come check on you. But turns out, you were just playing with little Hattima Tim Tim."
"Hattima Tim Tim?" Ayaan repeated, baffled. "That… that's what that creepy creature kept saying!"
Nyra nodded brightly. "Yep! That is his name."
"He keeps watch over every being in the fourth layer—and he's the staff's absolute favorite pet. Everyone here adores him. He's just too cute, and he considers everyone his best friend!"
Ayaan stared at her, visibly struggling to process what he was hearing.
That grotesque, twisted monster is someone's favorite pet? Seriously?
He muttered internally, "How the hell could anyone find that disturbing little beast adorable?"
"He tried to break the glass and eat me alive," Ayaan said aloud, eyes narrowed. "And you're telling me he's harmless?"
"Oh come on!" Nyra waved a hand playfully. "He wouldn't actually hurt you. He just wanted to be friends!"
Ayaan continued staring at her, skeptical and deadpan, like he was talking to a lunatic in a child's body.
Nyra leaned in, her mischievous grin turning oddly serious as she said,
"If he really wanted to eat you, you wouldn't have even realized it. He would've pounced silently and devoured you like a burger."
She made a mock biting motion.
"Nom... nom…" she added playfully, pretending to chomp the air toward Ayaan, trying to spook him.
Ayaan pointed a finger at her, deadpan.
"If you came here to scare me, you're doing an excellent job."
Nyra laughed. "No, no! I actually came to help you."
"Help?" Ayaan raised an eyebrow, clearly suspicious.
She extended her hand toward him.
"I can take you to see Anya."
Ayaan's eyes widened. That pulled him back to full alertness.
"Seriously?"
But then, doubt crept in.
"Wait a second… why would you help me?"
Nyra took a step closer. Her voice was soft now, yet filled with an oddly comforting certainty.
"You've been trapped here for days… going through test after test. And all the while, your heart's been aching for your sister. Right?"
Her words weren't accusing—they were warm. Empathetic.
"Is she okay?" Ayaan asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Nyra's expression softened.
"Unfortunately… she's slipped into a coma."
The ground vanished beneath him.
"What…?" The word came out hollow—emptied of breath and hope.
"No one knows when—or if—she'll wake up," Nyra continued gently. "But… she can still hear things. She can still feel what's around her."
"Shit…" Ayaan sank to the floor, burying his hands in his hair. Tears began to stream down his face, and when he spoke again, his voice was laced with a deep, aching grief.
Nyra lowered her head slightly, something glowing behind her eyes—not pity, but understanding.
"I can feel human emotions through their scent," she said softly.
"Right now, you're overflowing with rage… and broken from the inside. Losing your friends, seeing your sister like this—it's clinging to you like smoke, poisoning every breath you take."
Ayaan remained on the floor, curled over his knees, his face hidden in his palms. His voice was fragile—splintered and soaked in guilt.
"Whatever you say… I'll do it. Just please… please let me see her!"
He looked up at her, eyes red, pleading, drowning in tears.
For a moment, Nyra said nothing. Her face was still.
Then she let out a quiet, weary sigh—gentle, but heavy.
"Alright," she said. "Come with me."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st layer's medical room
When they reached the medical room, Ayaan saw Anya lying motionless on one of the beds.
Strange machines surrounded her, each one humming and beeping in quiet rhythm, tracking her heartbeat and vital signs. An oxygen mask covered her face.
She was alive… but unconscious.
Ayaan just stood there, staring at her. His eyes were heavy with guilt—an unspoken storm of regret swirling inside him.
Softly, he whispered, "Nyra?"
"Yes, Ayaan?" she replied, turning toward him.
"I want to talk to my sister," he said, his voice quiet and strained. "Could you… give us a moment?"
Nyra understood instantly.
"Of course, Ayaan," she replied gently, her tone calm and respectful.
And with that, she turned and quietly stepped out of the room, leaving him alone with Anya.
Ayaan was still staring at his sister. His heart felt unbearably heavy.
He remained silent for a long time before finally speaking in a low voice,
"Anya… do you remember when Dad took us to Vaishno Devi?"
A faint smile touched his lips—but it was laced with sorrow.
"You were so excited to climb the mountain. You thought we'd use ropes to scale it all the way to the top."
Ayaan gave a soft laugh.
"You'd seen that one Shinchan episode, remember? The one where he and his parents climbed a mountain using ropes? You were convinced that's how it worked in real life too.
But when we found out it was just a paved path all the way up… you were so disappointed."
He chuckled a little, but then his tone softened again. "When Dad lifted you up on his shoulders… the joy on your face, it made me believe nothing in the world could ever hurt you."
Gently, he sat down on the bench beside her. Slowly, he reached out toward her hand.
But the moment his fingers brushed hers… everything changed.
The entire room around him vanished.
The beeping machines—gone.
The oxygen mask—gone.
Even the bed beneath her—disappeared without a trace.
Ayaan looked around, startled.
He was surrounded by pitch-black darkness, thick and endless—
like he had fallen into a loop that had no exit.
Ayaan's breath quickened as he spun around, eyes darting through the inky black void.
"What the hell is happening?" he muttered, voice thick with panic.
And then—he heard it.
A voice, deep and monstrous, curling through the darkness like smoke.
"So… this one's still alive."
Ayaan whipped around—and what he saw froze the blood in his veins.
Anya was floating in mid-air, her body limp, lifeless.
But she wasn't alone.
Next to her stood a figure—no, a shadow.
A towering silhouette shaped like a wolf, made entirely of swirling black smoke. It had the same face. The same eyes. The same presence as the beast Ayaan had encountered before but this one wasn't flesh. It had no body, no weight—just the shape of dread.
It hovered close to Anya, running a ghostly hand across her face.
Ayaan's rage flared like wildfire. "Don't you touch her!" he roared, voice raw.
The creature turned, and its voice twisted into something cold, mocking, inhuman. "Don't be afraid… I won't harm her."
It locked eyes with him. "But you... you lied to me."
Ayaan blinked, confused. "Lied? What are you talking about?"
The shadow's voice darkened, venom dripping from every word.
"I asked for three sacrifices… And you only gave me two."
Ayaan was starting to understand what the creature meant.
"Cut the crap," he growled. "I never gave you any sacrifices. You stole from me. You're nothing but a lying, bloodthirsty monster."
His voice rose with each word, fury boiling in his chest.
"I never offered you anything. You took them—ripped them away—and now you stand here spewing this garbage?"
The shadow-wolf stared into Ayaan's eyes, deep and unblinking.
It was like being looked through—not at.
Like the thing was peering straight into his soul.
"But you also took something that was mine… without asking," the creature hissed.
"You stole from me too."
"Enough!" Ayaan shouted, his eyes burning red with rage.
"You're comparing a strand of hair to someone's life? You think you can say whatever the hell you want and I'll just stand here listening?"
In one swift motion, Ayaan drew a knife from his pocket and lunged at the figure, rage guiding every strike.
Each blow landed with wild force—every stab a scream of hate and grief.
But the blade passed right through the smoke, useless.
The shadow didn't even flinch.
"You think this will change anything?" the wolf's voice echoed, hollow and amused.
Ayaan wasn't listening anymore. He kept attacking—strike after strike, a storm of fury.
His blade cut through air, through smoke, through nothing.
The shadow-wolf just watched him. Its eyes locked onto Ayaan's face, unblinking.
Each swing only grew more desperate, more frenzied… more useless.
How do you wound smoke?
Finally, the creature let out a low, irritated growl.
"Fool," it muttered. And in the blink of an eye—Anya was there.
Right where the wolf had stood. Ayaan froze. His knife—mid-swing—was inches from her face.
His heart dropped as he yanked his hand back, just in time to stop himself.
But not completely.
The blade grazed her cheek—just enough to draw blood. A thin red line ran down her skin.
Ayaan staggered back, horrified. The cut was small. But another second… and it would've been fatal.
Behind him, the wolf's voice echoed—mocking and cold.
"You missed your chance, Ayaan."
He turned slowly, trembling with rage and guilt.
"That's why I'll only give you what you gave me. You'll learn… what life truly costs. What a sacrifice really means."
"I… I don't understand," Ayaan's voice trembled.
"You will," the wolf whispered. "When the time comes."
Its laughter grew louder—distorted, almost human—and then it dissolved into the dark.
Gone. Like it had never been there.
And just like that—everything snapped back.
The machines beeped steadily. The hum of the oxygen mask returned. Anya lay peacefully on the bed. Ayaan was still on the bench—hands shaking, chest heaving.
But something wasn't right. He turned to look at Anya—and his heart skipped.
There was blood on her face. A thin line, fresh, trailing from her cheek. His breath caught in his throat.
"Ayaan? Is everything alright?" Nyra's voice broke the silence as she stepped into the room.
She froze the moment she saw Anya.
"What the hell—what happened?! Why is she bleeding?"
Nyra rushed to the bed, standing between him and Anya.
Her eyes flicked to Ayaan, demanding answers.
But his face was pale, drained of all color—haunted by something she couldn't yet see.
"Nyra…" he muttered, head dropping, voice heavy with guilt.
"Yes, Ayaan?" Her voice softened, seeing his face—half afraid of what he might say next.
He explained everything that had happened with Anya. How, when he touched her, he had encountered that same old man again.
Nyra and Ayaan sat on the chair beside Anya's bed. The room felt eerily still, the weight of what was being said hanging in the air.
"So, you're saying that thing is inside you?" Nyra asked, her voice steady but laced with disbelief.
"The smoke the scientists saw inside me that day… that's him. The wolf," Ayaan replied, looking down at his hands, almost as if he could see it living within him. "He's inside me now. And he wants Anya's life."
Nyra glanced at Anya, lying still on the bed, her face frozen in a peaceful sleep, unaware of the storm unfolding around her. "But why would it want to do that? Did it say anything? Anything that might explain it?"
Ayaan's voice grew quieter, the memory of the wolf's words fresh in his mind. "It said, 'You missed your chance. So now, I'll give you the same as you gave me.' That's what it said."
Nyra's face grew grim as she absorbed his words. "So, it means... it took the lives of your two friends. But if it needed three sacrifices, and Anya survived... then it still owes you something. It gave you something in return for the lives it took."
Ayaan's mind raced, struggling to make sense of it all. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Either it's a curse, or a strange power."
Ayaan was struck by her words, a wave of shock washing over him. "Does this mean I'm not human anymore?"
Nyra looked at him seriously. "Look, I'm only speculating based on what it said. But from its words, it seems that way. However, I can't be certain. We need to figure out for ourselves what this incomplete thing really is."
"So, what do I need to do now?" Ayaan asked, his voice heavy with uncertainty.
"First, stay away from Anya for a while," Nyra said, her tone firm but gentle. Hearing this, Ayaan's expression darkened, and he looked at Anya with a mix of longing and sorrow. "Alright... and then?"
"And then, you need to go back to your containment. I'll inform the manager about everything, so we can decide what to do next."
Ayaan's voice faltered as he spoke. "So, does this mean I have to stay there for the rest of my life?" The disappointment was clear on his face.
Nyra, seeing his dejection, placed both of her hands gently on his cheeks. Her touch was warm, comforting—like the soft embrace of reassurance. Ayaan looked into her eyes, and for a moment, the world felt a little less heavy.
"Trust me, Ayaan," Nyra said softly, her words wrapped in sincerity. "I will help you, no matter what."
Ayaan's heart lightened at her words. The warmth of her trust gave him a fleeting sense of peace. A tear escaped his eye, but he smiled, shaking his head in silent acknowledgment. "Hm…" he murmured, nodding. "I trust you."
The two of them shared a smile—an unspoken promise between them, a spark of hope in the face of overwhelming darkness. That moment, brief as it was, filled Ayaan with the strength to face whatever lay ahead.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(After 3 days)
'Another day. Maybe now it's been 3 days,' Ayaan muttered to himself in his mind. His body lay flat on the cold floor, and his thoughts were submerged in a whirlpool of reflection.
'For the past 3 days, I've been here, alone. The lights are off, there's silence everywhere, and there's not a soul in sight.'
'Since Nyra left, no scientist has come by, and there hasn't been a single experiment done on me.'
'My body has probably shrunk due to a lack of proper food. It's not that I'm not being fed, but will food really end this loneliness I'm going through?'
'I've been left here to sit alone, Nyra hasn't even come to see me. It's clear now, these people are all the same—ruthless and low-life.'
Ayaan gets up and looks at his hands. "Trust me, Ayaan, I'll help you," he recalls Nyra's words.
'Where are you, Nyra?' he says aloud, his tears falling onto his hands. Ayaan starts trembling, comforting himself as he places his head in his hands and sits back down.
"Are you just going to lie here like this?" Suddenly, a voice comes, making Ayaan quickly turn his attention to the other side of the room.
"Or will you say something in your defense?" The manager speaks to Ayaan.
In front of Ayaan stand the manager, Nyra, and the two scientists.
Ayaan's eyes begin to glimmer with hope as he looks at Nyra. "You came?" he says.
"Did you miss me? Aww... Sorry, it took me some time to come," Nyra speaks through the microphone.
"You left me alone here for 3 days! I was so scared," Ayaan begins to cry.
Nyra clasps her hands together and says, "Please, please, I'm sorry... Things got so complicated that it took time to fix them. That's why you had to wait so long."
"What do you mean by that?" Ayaan asks.
"Manager sir wants to talk to you, and that too alone."
Ayaan looks towards the manager. "Talk to me?"
The manager's gaze is fixed on Ayaan. The manager enters Ayaan's containment area and sits down on the ground in front of him.
Ayaan is taken aback by this, but he still feels suspicious of the manager.
"Would you not like to sit?" the manager asks.
Hearing this, Ayaan hesitates for a moment but then sits down.
They both sat across from each other, Ayaan glaring at the manager with his eyes lowered, while the manager's gaze remained cast down.
For a while, there was silence. Neither of them spoke. Outside, the scientists and Nyra watched them.
The manager raises his eyes and looks at Ayaan. "You must know what condition your sister is in."
Ayaan, hearing this, looks away from the manager and softly says, "Yes, I know."
"After hearing your story, I've come to believe that..." The manager's gaze is serious as it meets Ayaan's. "Trusting you is still out of the question."
Ayaan, hearing this, calms down and looks away.
"The girl you just met," the manager points toward Nyra, "She's my granddaughter."
Ayaan, startled, looks at the manager. "She's your granddaughter?"
"She was sent to you so we could figure out just how dangerous you are. And when you met Anya again, you hurt her. Did you have no remorse before doing that?"
Ayaan's eyes turn red, his hands begin to shake, and his voice breaks. "What nonsense are you talking about?" Tears fall from Ayaan's eyes. "She's my sister! Why would I hurt her?" Ayaan says, his anger rising.
"You just did. You hurt her." The manager's cold words pierce Ayaan like an arrow.
He couldn't understand what to say next, after all, it was because of him that Anya was hurt. Ayaan, now beyond his patience, stands up and punches toward the manager.
But the manager catches his fist, gripping it tightly. The pain was so intense that Ayaan collapses to the ground, trying to break free.
"There's no point in doing this. Admit your mistake, it's the only right thing to do," the manager says, releasing his grip.
Ayaan rubs his hand, lowers his gaze, and begins to cry. "Yes, you're right. I was the one who caused the cut on Anya's face." Ayaan breaks down in tears.
"But I wasn't the one who put her in this condition. He killed both my friends, didn't spare my sister either, and now he's after her life."
Ayaan lowers his head to the ground, joins his hands in prayer, and begs for forgiveness. "I have nothing left to lose now. The only reason I want to live is because of my sister. If anything happens to her, I won't be able to live. I beg you with folded hands, please save her. I will do whatever you say. Just save her."
Everyone in the room is looking at Ayaan, their gazes fixed on him. The room is immersed in silence.
Nyra looks at Ayaan with worried eyes.
The manager, who was sitting across from Ayaan, looks at him very seriously.
Ayaan is sobbing, his voice breaking, still bowed down on the floor.
"I'm giving you a chance," the manager says, placing a hand on Ayaan's shoulder and helping him up.
"Your sister's well-being is our responsibility. We'll bring her back to consciousness, I promise you, she will wake up."
Hearing this, a glimmer of hope appeared in Ayaan's eyes as he began to wipe his tears.
"But in return, you will have to help us," the manager continued.
Ayaan, confused, asked, "Help with what?"
"Either you stay here forever, or you help us capture the strange creatures that exist around the world."
Ayaan's eyes widened in shock as he trembled. "What... me?" His voice cracked, "How... how will I catch them all alone?"
"You won't be alone in this. You will have three others with you, who will train you so that you are prepared for the challenges ahead."
Ayaan's mind became tangled in questions, and the words stuck in his throat.
"Nyra will lead your team and assign you the missions."
"As long as you help us, your sister will remain safe with us. But if you try anything clever and harm any team member, remember, I will not show mercy when necessary."
Hearing this, Ayaan grew even more terrified, lowered his gaze, and whispered, "Okay." He stammered and softly said, "I'll do whatever you say."
Ayaan paused and then added, "Please! Protect my sister."
In that dark, silent room, Ayaan knew that his freedom was now in someone else's hands. One wrong move from him, and his sister would bear the consequences, her life now hanging in the balance, controlled by his enemies.
-The End