Marked By Darkness

Chapter 97- Tales and Secrets

Ruhi sat on the couch, her expression clouded with confusion and concentration as if trying to summon distant memories. Anshi and Ruhan sat silently, watching her intently. After a long pause, Ruhi spoke.

"One day, Hina and I were walking home from school together..."

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Back to the past...

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows on the pavement as Ruhi and Hina strolled down the narrow road leading to their house. Hina, as always, walked slightly ahead, her chin held high, exuding confidence.

"Ruhi!" a cheerful voice called from behind.

Ruhi turned to see Anshi running toward her, her schoolbag bouncing on her back. Ruhi stopped, a smile spreading across her face. "Anshi!"

The two girls embraced briefly before falling into an animated conversation. They stood there at the corner of the street, laughing about a joke Anshi had heard during class.

Hina turned to look at them, her expression souring. "I'll go ahead," she muttered, more to herself than to them. She didn't like Anshi much; she always felt like Ruhi's friendship with Anshi took away the time and attention she wanted from her sister.

Hina quickened her pace, her shoes tapping sharply against the pavement. As she turned into a quieter alley closer to their home, she suddenly noticed three boys loitering near a parked car. They looked up as she approached, smirking.

They were from her school-older boys, probably from the senior class. Their smirks were confident, almost mocking. Hina's heart skipped a beat, but she continued walking, her steps steady despite the unease creeping into her.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" one of them sneered, stepping forward.

Hina froze, her grip tightening on the straps of her schoolbag. "Leave me alone," she snapped, trying to sound confident.

But the boys only laughed, surrounding her. "Oh, feisty, aren't you?" another taunted.

Hina's heart raced as she tried to push past them, but they blocked her path.

"Let her go!" a sharp voice rang out.

The boys turned, startled, to see a tall figure approaching. His gaze was cold and unyielding as he strode toward them.

"Didn't you hear me?" He said, his voice low but menacing. "Let. Her. Go."

The boys hesitated, exchanging uneasy glances. Something about his presence made them think twice. With a few muttered curses, they backed off, disappearing down the alley.

Hina let out a shaky breath, her eyes wide as she took in hiss imposing figure. From her vantage, he seemed like a savior carved out of stone-tall, with a strong jawline and eyes that burned with intensity. His dark hair fell slightly over his forehead, but it was his gaze that captivated her. There was something sharp and commanding in the way he looked at the boys-a silent warning that dared them to challenge him.

Even as the boys fled, Hina couldn't tear her eyes away. The air around him seemed charged, almost electrified. His stance was confident but not overbearing, as though he carried an unshakable sense of control. He didn't need to raise his voice to make an impact; his very presence was enough.

For a moment, Hina felt small, not because of fear but because she realized she was in the presence of someone who seemed untouchable, someone who moved through life with a certainty she envied. The way he glanced at her after the danger passed-checking if she was okay-was both gentle and intense, as though she mattered in that fleeting moment.