Marked By Darkness

Chapter 37- Breathe

Anshi's POV...

After failing to find Ruhi at home, I went outside, my heart pounding with worry. What if something had happened to her? My mind raced as my eyes scanned the area, looking for any sign of her.

Then, my gaze fell on the road, and what I saw next left me frozen. Ruhi was standing in the middle of the road, motionless, as though she were made of stone. It was as if she were completely unaware of everything around her. I’d never seen her like this before. Panic surged within me as I called her name, but she didn’t respond. Her eyes were locked on the road ahead, unblinking.

That’s when I noticed the pendant around her neck. The same one she always wore, but tonight, it seemed even more out of place, its significance only deepening the mystery of the moment. I didn’t have time to think about it as my focus shifted to a fast-approaching car, barreling toward her at full speed.

Fear gripped me. Without thinking, I ran to her, grabbing her arm and yanking her out of the car’s path just in time. The world seemed to slow as the moment hung in the air—terror, relief, and disbelief all tangled together. My heart raced as I checked to make sure Ruhi was okay. She was shaken, but she was alive.

"Are you alright?" I asked, my voice shaking with concern.

Ruhi blinked, clearly disoriented. Her eyes were wide, a mixture of confusion and shock on her face. She struggled to respond.

"What… What am I doing here? What just happened?" she asked, her voice weak.

I gently urged her, trying to keep her calm. "You don’t need to think about it right now. Let’s go inside for a moment. And please, take off the pendant now."

Her brow furrowed in confusion. "The pendant! But why?"

"Please, don’t ask questions. Just do what I’m saying."

Reluctantly, Ruhi removed the pendant from her neck, holding it in her hand as if it were a lifeline, but she complied. I led her inside the house, my mind racing.

After five minutes…

I handed her a glass of water, hoping it might ease her mind.

"Have some water; it might help you feel a bit better," I said softly, trying to reassure her.

Ruhi, still grappling with what had just happened, spoke in a daze. "I can’t understand anything. So much has happened in such a short time."

I pressed further, needing to understand how she ended up in the middle of the road. "How did you get there? As far as I remember, after the delivery boy delivered food, I locked the door. We had dinner and watched TV upstairs. I went to my room for a few minutes to look for my laptop, saying I needed to check an email. And then, I couldn’t find you anywhere. I was really worried."

Ruhi closed her eyes, trying to piece together the fragments of her memory. "I don’t know what happened at that moment. All I remember is you were looking for your laptop after I took the TV remote to change the channel. And then everything in front of me started spinning. After that, I don’t remember anything. It’s like my memory just fades when you grabbed me so tightly."

A chill ran through me, but I pushed it aside. There was something off about all of this, and I needed answers. My focus shifted back to the pendant.

"Where did you keep that pendant of yours?" I asked, my voice casual, but my heart racing with an unspoken fear.

"Why?" she asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"I was just asking out of curiosity," I replied, trying to mask my own unease.

"It’s inside my bag. Just a minute. Why did you want me to take off the pendant when we were outside?" she asked, her voice still confused.

"In a situation like that, I thought you might feel uncomfortable, so I suggested it," I said, doing my best to stay calm.

She hesitated, looking at me suspiciously. "Is there something else? Are you hiding something from me?"

I shook my head, trying to reassure her. "No, no. Why would I hide anything from you?"

I knew there was no use in trying to explain further. Ruhi was already feeling fragile, and I didn’t want to add to her confusion. I simply repeated, "You don’t have to wear the pendant. I mean, don’t wear it."

Ruhi frowned. "But why?"

I hesitated, scrambling for an explanation. "Uh, the pendant doesn’t look good."

"But my mom gave it to me. I like wearing it," she countered, her voice soft but firm.

"Why didn’t your mom like it when you wore it back then?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Ruhi stared at me for a moment before answering. "I don’t know why she didn’t like it."

"Maybe it’s because the pendant doesn’t look good on you, and that’s why she didn’t like it," I suggested, my words carefully chosen. "There are some things that make people uncomfortable, and when they see them, they might not just dislike the thing—they might even dislike the person who has it."

Ruhi seemed to process this for a moment before speaking, her tone quieter now. "I want to go to sleep. I feel very tired."

"Sure, go and rest," I said, trying to mask my own unease. I watched her head towards her room, then I sat down, lost in thought.

I couldn’t help but think—I’m sorry, Ruhi. Maybe my words have hurt you, but I have no choice. I don’t wish you bad luck, but there’s so much you don’t know. And maybe it’s better if you never do. You’ve already got enough on your plate, and I don’t want to burden you with the truth... because the truth will change everything.

But I also knew—No matter how hard we try to hide the truth, it will come out one day. And I think it wants to come in front of you now.

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Ruhi's POV...

I couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right.
I know Anshi is lying. She is hiding something from me. Because I have never seen her behave like this before.
Yes I didn't remember anything at that time. But one thing I didn't tell her. And that thing was too confusing and horrible.
When the car was coming towards me very fast, Anshi grabbed my hand and held it seconds before I felt like someone was whispering and hissing near my ear, saying "Breathe"...