The keeper of time

Chapter 8: Hidden Truths and Heartbeats

The deeper they ventured into the temple, the more the weight of the past seemed to settle on Anaya's shoulders. The musty air mixed with an unsettling quiet, broken only by their footfalls and the occasional distant echo of dripping water. The corridor was narrow, forcing them to walk in single file, with Aryan at the front, ever the commanding presence. Anaya followed, feeling the warmth of Arjun behind her, his closeness a small comfort in this strange, unnerving place.

But despite the palpable tension in the air, Anaya couldn't shake the confusing whirlwind of emotions that swirled inside her, particularly when it came to Aryan. Every time he glanced back at her, that smirk pulling at his lips, it sent an irritating pulse of heat through her. She hated that he had this effect on her—this mix of frustration and... something else. Something she didn't want to name.

In the faint light of the corridor, she studied him from behind, trying to ignore how effortlessly he moved, how his confidence felt magnetic despite how much it infuriated her. His dark hair was tousled in a way that looked both careless and deliberate, and his broad shoulders were relaxed but alert, as if he was always ready for something to go wrong. And of course, that fitted black shirt hugged his frame too well, outlining every lean muscle beneath it. She mentally cursed herself for noticing.

Aryan glanced back over his shoulder suddenly, catching her staring. "Admiring the view?" he teased, his voice low enough that only she could hear.

Anaya felt her cheeks flush instantly, a combination of embarrassment and annoyance. "I'm just waiting for you to trip over your own ego."

Aryan chuckled softly, his dark eyes glinting with amusement. "I'll make sure to catch you when I do."

She shot him a withering look but couldn't help the flicker of warmth his words stirred in her. There was something about him—this irritating, insufferable pull—that she couldn't shake. As much as she wanted to hate him, to ignore the way he made her feel, there was a part of her that was drawn to him, like a moth to a flame.

Behind her, Arjun's presence was a steady reminder of the tension that simmered between the three of them. He had been unusually quiet, and every now and then, she could sense his gaze lingering on her. It made her feel... torn. Conflicted. Arjun had always been the safe option—the one who had always been there for her, who had her back no matter what. She could count on him. And yet, now that Aryan had entered the picture, everything felt like it had been thrown off balance.

Arjun's voice, when it came, was soft but strained. "Are you okay, Anaya?" he asked, his concern evident in every word.

She turned slightly, meeting his warm, brown eyes. There was always something comforting about Arjun's presence—something grounding. But tonight, the comfort felt more like a weight, a pressure that made her stomach twist.

"Yeah," she said quietly, forcing a small smile. "I'm fine."

But she wasn't. And she could tell that Arjun knew it, too.

Aryan's POV

Walking ahead of the group, Aryan's senses were on high alert. Every step felt calculated, the weight of the temple's secrets pressing in around him. But his mind—his mind was split. Part of him was focused on the mission, on the fragment they were supposed to find and the dangers that might be lurking ahead. But the other part of him—the part that refused to stay quiet—was fixated on Anaya.

She was a puzzle. Stubborn, fierce, and undeniably sharp-tongued, but there was something else underneath all that bravado. Something vulnerable. And it was driving him crazy. He enjoyed their banter, loved the way she shot back at him without hesitation, but there was more to it than that. Every time she looked at him with those fiery eyes, every time she challenged him, he felt something stir inside him—a pull, like gravity.

He could see it, too—the way Arjun looked at her, the way he hovered protectively just behind her. Aryan didn't need to be a mind reader to know that Arjun was feeling threatened by his presence. The guy had been practically glued to Anaya's side before Aryan had shown up. And now... well, Aryan wasn't blind to the way things were shifting.

But the truth was, Aryan didn't trust easily. He had a mission, and he needed to focus on it. Anaya... she was a complication. And yet, every time she snapped back at him with that fire in her eyes, he couldn't help but feel drawn to her. He hated the idea of letting his guard down around anyone, but she was starting to slip through the cracks.

"Careful," Aryan said, breaking the silence as they approached another set of carved stone steps. "This part of the temple is more unstable."

Anaya scoffed behind him. "Don't worry, we'll try not to fall into any more death traps."

He smirked, even though she couldn't see it. "You say that like you don't want me around to save you again."

Anaya shot back immediately. "I'd rather not give you the satisfaction."

Aryan chuckled, but before he could respond, Arjun's voice cut in, cold and tense. "We should focus on getting through this. We're not here to play games."

Aryan's jaw tightened, and he glanced back at Arjun, their eyes locking for a brief moment. There was an unspoken challenge in the air, the tension between them sharp enough to cut through the thick air of the temple.

"Right," Aryan said coolly, turning his attention back to the path ahead. "Let's keep moving."

Arjun's POV

Arjun's heart was a mess of conflicting emotions. He didn't like the way Aryan looked at Anaya—like he knew something the rest of them didn't. And he hated how Anaya responded to him, how her usual sharp wit seemed to take on an edge whenever Aryan was around. It was like watching a fire flare up, unpredictable and dangerous.

He couldn't shake the feeling that something was slipping away from him. Anaya had always been his anchor, his steady point in the chaos of their adventures. And now... now it felt like Aryan was coming in, shaking up everything they had built.

He glanced at Anaya, watching the way her eyes flicked between him and Aryan, as if she was caught between two worlds. He had always been able to read her, but now... now she felt like a stranger. And it scared him.

He wanted to say something—to tell her how he felt, to remind her of what they had—but the words wouldn't come. Instead, he kept walking, the weight of unspoken things heavy on his chest.

Anaya's POV

The corridor finally opened up into a large chamber, the ceiling towering above them like the belly of some ancient beast. Torches lined the walls, casting an eerie glow over the room. In the center, there was a stone pedestal, and on it, a small, glowing fragment—their goal.

Anaya's breath caught in her throat as she took in the sight. The fragment shimmered with an otherworldly light, its soft glow reflecting off the stone walls. For a moment, all the tension, all the emotions swirling inside her, quieted. This was what they had come for. This was the key to everything.

But just as quickly as the awe settled in, the weight of reality crashed back down. The temple wasn't just going to let them take the fragment. There was always a price. Always a danger.

"Stay back," Aryan warned, stepping toward the pedestal with slow, deliberate movements. "There's something about this place..."

His voice trailed off as he reached out, his hand hovering over the fragment. Anaya's heart pounded in her chest, fear and excitement warring within her. Whatever was about to happen, it would change everything.

But just as Aryan's fingers brushed the glowing stone, the chamber began to shake violently, the ground splitting beneath them.

And in that moment, everything fell apart.