"THE FORGOTTEN ONES"

In the Name of Love and War

Vivaan had finally made up his mind after Abhinav, who was much younger than him, shared what he had discovered about the real Nikriti—how she came to be and the origins of her powers. Curious, Vivaan asked, "How did you manage to find all this out on your own?"

Abhinav replied with a somber tone, "I have many books in my library, and the story I told you comes from ancient documents. But I'm not sure if my plan will work or not. We need to be very careful about what we're going to do."

Vivaan, sensing Abhinav's doubt, spoke with a firm voice, "Never give up. That's what my wife used to tell me. She was one of the people I cared for the most. I never cried because she asked me not to. If I give up here, the day I finally meet her in the afterlife, I'll get an earful from her. And I trust you, boy."

Abhinav, still uncertain, said, "I don't know... I might be the reason for the deaths of many if I fail..."

Vivaan interrupted him, saying, "The concept you just explained is right. The books we gathered are somehow imprinted in my mind, as if I've read them before we even found them. It's strange, but I believe in what you said about Nikriti using a body to channel her powers. She's been possessing the bodies of women who desire to bring their families back to life. We can't just sit back and let them do this. So, hold your head high, Abhinav."

Vivaan's words made Abhinav feel better, giving him a renewed sense of hope.

"Well, if you'll excuse me, I have another job to do," Abhinav said as he left the tent. Outside, over 200 men were gathered, preparing for a special operation.

Vivaan needed to address them about the situation they were about to face. He stood tall and said, "You all know why you're here."

The men replied in unison, "Yes, sir, to avenge our fallen comrades!"

Vivaan nodded and continued, "That's a good answer, but it's just the statement the government has given you. Their real motives are different. They want us to find and kill the enemy. But I'm here to open your eyes before you blindly follow me and risk your lives. This hospital has become a seal for a demon. I know I might sound crazy, but trust me when I say this with all my heart and mind—there are demons from other dimensions that have been revived, and one demon, in particular, is our enemy. Our job is to stop them from gaining more power than they already have. Your task will be to create a diversion, cause confusion, and weaken it. This demon has weak points, but I can't share them here because it can deceive us. I hope I've been clear, and even if I sound insane, it's the truth. Coming back from those dungeons is something I'm not sure all of us will survive. So, only those who are ready for the real thing should step forward; the rest, I won't force you."

His words made everyone murmur among themselves. One man finally asked, "How do you know demons exist?"

Vivaan replied, "It's simple—if you've faced something, it exists; if not, it's just another theory." He added, "I'll be waiting for your decisions until evening. We have a lot to prepare for on this mission, so take your time and think carefully."

Vivaan left the group and went to another tent where his friends were. He saw everyone busy with Abhinav. "What are you all up to now?" he asked.

Shravya looked up and answered, "We're checking the blueprints of the building, but only a few of us can know this."

Sid added, "To be more precise, the power of deception is terrifying. Bringing a large number of soldiers would be like playing right into their hands."

Asha chimed in, "We've figured out some hidden pathways, but to explore them, we need more information about the building's structure. Entering the building now is a risky move, so we're not even sure if these paths exist."