Marked By Darkness

Chapter 86- The Graveyard's Watcher

That afternoon, Ruhi quietly slipped out, not telling Ruhan where she was headed. She arrived at the cemetery, her heart heavy with emotions. At her mother's grave, she placed fresh flowers and knelt down, whispering words only her mother could understand. Tears streamed down her face as she remembered the warmth of her mother's hugs, the laughter they shared, and the little moments of comfort that now felt so distant.

Her phone suddenly buzzed, breaking the quiet. It was Ruhan. His voice was sharp and tense. "Where are you?" he demanded. Hesitating, Ruhi finally replied, "City cemetery."

"Why didn't you tell me? You could've asked me to bring you," he scolded, his frustration palpable. "Don't go anywhere, and don't cut the call. I'm coming."

Ruhi lowered the phone, the air around her shifting ominously. The sunny afternoon dimmed as if clouds had swallowed the light, and a sudden gust of wind whipped through the graveyard. A strange heaviness settled over her, and an unsettling feeling prickled her skin. Looking around, she realized the cemetery was eerily empty. She shivered, the sense of being watched growing stronger.

In the corner of the cemetery, she spotted a man-tall and shadowed. Her heart raced. He looked familiar, like the stranger who had followed her from the store weeks ago. The man placed flowers on a grave, lingered for a moment, and then walked away.

Curiosity overcame her fear, and Ruhi approached the grave. Her breath hitched when she read the inscription: Jenesis Adamson. She stared at the name, her mind reeling with questions.

Moments later, Ruhan's car pulled up. He found her standing outside the cemetery gates, her face pale and her thoughts distant. He walked to her, his protective energy palpable. "Let's go home," he said softly. Ruhi nodded, saying nothing about the grave or the man she had seen, her thoughts swirling with unease.

Next Day...

Ruhi's POV...

I sat in Ruhan's car, my hands folded in my lap, staring out the window as the city passed by. The warmth of the afternoon sun filtered through the glass, but it did nothing to ease the unease swirling in my chest. I couldn't remember the last time I'd felt truly at ease.

I had spent the past few days trying to block everything out-Hina, the curse, weight of everything that had happened. But I couldn't escape it. No matter how much I tried to focus on something else, I could feel the tension in the air every time Ruhan was around. And now, here we were, heading out with our friends, as though everything were normal.

I glanced at Ruhan, sitting beside me in the driver's seat, his eyes fixed on the road. There was something different about him these past few days. He was trying too hard, I could tell. Trying to break through the wall I had built up around myself.

He looked over at me briefly, his gaze softening when he noticed my silence. "Come on, Ruhi," he said, his voice gentle, almost like a plea. "Let's try to have some fun today, Okay?"

I forced a smile, not quite meeting his eyes. "Yeah, I'll try," I muttered, my voice small. It wasn't that I didn't want to enjoy myself. I just didn't know how. Everything felt too heavy, too complicated.

When we arrived at the café, I could feel the shift in the atmosphere, the lighthearted energy of our friends already buzzing around the table. Neil and Anshi were arguing as usual-though it wasn't really an argument, more of a playful exchange of words that only made me smile. The teasing between them was so natural, so effortless, that I couldn't help but feel a pang of something-something I couldn't quite define.

"You know, Neil, you're lucky I'm not throwing my coffee on you," Anshi said, rolling her eyes but unable to suppress her smile.

Neil leaned back in his chair, grinning like he was proud of himself. "Oh, I know you love me too much for that."