Idhaya, a new transfer student, arrived at the prestigious Royal Crystal Academy with hopes of a fresh start. However, her journey took an unexpected turn when she encountered the infamous S5 group on her very first day. To her dismay, they immediately targeted and began bullying her.
In an attempt to intimidate Idhaya, the S5 group orchestrated a malicious act by showing her a video. The footage depicted Idhaya allegedly slapping their leader in a crowded bar, causing a scene that brought humiliation and anger to their group. Although Idhaya vehemently denied her involvement, the S5 group refused to believe her, further fueling their hostility towards her.
Overwhelmed by the relentless bullying and the weight of the false accusations, Idhaya found herself on the verge of despair. In a moment of desperation, she decided to take her own life by jumping off a bridge. However, fate intervened at the right time when a mysterious individual named Arnav appeared, saving her from the tragic fate.
The encounter with Arnav triggered a profound transformation within Idhaya. In a matter of seconds, her personality shifted, and Haya, her alter ego, emerged. Confused and unaware of the connection between Arnav and Haya, Idhaya found herself facing a stranger who seemed to hold answers about their shared history.
Arnav, knowing the secret deal that had transpired between Haya and himself, offered Idhaya a cryptic proposition. He revealed fragments of their past encounters, leaving Idhaya puzzled and intrigued. Completely unaware of the intricacies of their connection, Idhaya was left to grapple with the mystery surrounding her alter ego and the enigmatic role Arnav played in her life.
As Idhaya delves deeper into the complex web of her past and present, she must confront the S5 group's relentless bullying, the accusations against her, and the enigma of her relationship with Arnav.
Run.
The carnival is dead. No lights. No laughter. Just rusted rides and torn tents whispering in the wind. A place forgotten by time. A place that should've stayed that way.
I weave through broken stalls, my anklets betraying me with every step.
Chhan... Chhan...
"𝘉𝘦𝘬𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘳 𝘬𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘶𝘯 𝘯𝘢 𝘫𝘢𝘢𝘪𝘺𝘦..."
His voice drifts through the air. Calm. Lazy. Too relaxed.
I duck behind an abandoned game stall, pressing a hand over my mouth. The scent of rust and damp wood burns my nose.
Click.
His lighter flicks open. Shut. Open. Shut.
I peek through a gap in the stall-he's nowhere. But I know better. He's here. Somewhere. Watching.
The lights flicker. The Ferris wheel groans to life, metal screeching as it turns. My stomach drops.
No.
I spin, ready to run, but my feet freeze as I see it-cables. Thick, rusted carnival wires looping around the ground like vines. And one of them...
Tightly wrapped around my ankle.
A sharp tug-my body jerks backwards, my scream lost in the wind.
I thrash, clawing at the ground as he pulls me in. Slow. Effortless. Like I was never running at all.
"𝘈𝘢𝘱𝘬𝘰 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘪 𝘬𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘮, 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘢𝘪𝘺𝘦..."
His shadow looms over me, the glow of his lighter flickering against his smirk. "Enough, Butterfly," he murmurs. "Time to come home."
(THE BOOK HAS NOT STARTED YET! THE CHAPTERS BELOW BELONG TO MY OLD BOOK!!)