Inside the house, Lioran and Liara were having their dinner.
Dinner was simple—
fresh chapatis stacked neatly on a plate, curry steaming gently, the scent of spices rising into the air.
Lioran tore a piece of chapati, dipped it into the curry, and took a bite.
MUNCH…
His eyes widened slightly.
"Hmm," he said softly. "It's really tasty."
Liara smiled, relief flickering across her face. "I'm glad you like it."
He smiled back—but only for a second.
As his eyes drifted down to the curry, something twisted inside his chest.
The steam rising from the bowl blurred…
and for a heartbeat—
It wasn't steam anymore.
It was smoke.
Black. Thick. Suffocating.
The walls of the dining room faded—
replaced by broken concrete, blood-stained floors, and the echo of screaming metal.
KRRRRAAAASH—!!
Lioran's fingers tightened around the chapati.
His smile vanished.
Liara noticed instantly.
"Bhaiya?" she asked gently. "What happened?"
Lioran flinched.
"Oh—no, it's nothing," he replied too quickly. "I was just… thinking about something."
He forced another bite into his mouth.
MUNCH…
But the taste was gone.
Liara watched him quietly.
She didn't say anything more—but she knew.
Something was wrong.
An hour later.
On the terrace, Lioran sat with his back against the wall, knees drawn up slightly, the cool stone pressing into his shoulders. Above him, the moon hung low and full, bathing the rooftops in silver light.
WHOOSH—
A gentle breeze passed.
"It's beautiful tonight," Lioran murmured, staring at the moon. "Just like that day…"
His voice trailed off.
Because the images returned.
Uninvited.
Unstoppable.
The floating building.
The black void.
Kroor's laughter.
HA… HA… HA…
Lioran's breath hitched.
His hands rose to his head.
"No… not again…"
The images intensified.
Sharin lying still, blood pooling beneath him.
Aishwarya collapsing, her body limp.
THUD—
His chest tightened violently.
"Why…?" he whispered. "Why am I so weak…?"
Tears slid down his cheeks.
"I couldn't save them… I watched them almost die because of me…"
His shoulders shook.
"I trained… I fought… I bled…"
His voice cracked.
"So why was I still not enough?"
He pressed his forehead against his knees.
His sobs broke free.
HIC—
SOB—
Suddenly—
"Bhaiya…"
Liara's voice.
Lioran froze.
He looked up.
She stood a few steps away, her silhouette outlined by moonlight.
"What happened?" she asked softly, stepping closer.
"Stop," Lioran said sharply. "Don't come here."
Liara halted.
"I don't want you to see me like this."
She slowed, confusion and worry mixing on her face.
"Why are you crying?" she asked.
"Please," Lioran said, turning his face away. "Just… leave me alone."
"Why?" Liara asked.
His fists clenched.
"Because I deserve it," he said bitterly. "I deserve to be alone. If I stay close… something bad will happen to you all."
Her eyes widened.
"Why are you saying things like that?"
"Please—!" Lioran shouted suddenly.
"Just leave me alone!"
The sound echoed off the walls.
THUD—
Liara stopped completely.
A single tear slipped down her cheek.
She stood there trembling—
Then ran forward.
Lioran barely had time to react before she wrapped her arms around him.
RUSTLE—
He froze.
"Please don't say that," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I can't live without my bhaiya. Please don't separate yourself from me."
Lioran's breath shook.
"But I—"
"I don't know what happened to you," Liara said quickly. "And I won't force you to tell me."
She pulled back just enough to look into his eyes.
"But please don't leave me"
She placed both hands firmly on his shoulders.
"If you can't believe in anyone… then believe in me, believe in your family."
Lioran's eyes widened.
"Family love heals everything," Liara continued softly. "Physical wounds… mental wounds… emotional wounds."
Her voice trembled—but didn't break.
"It's stronger than any medicine. Stronger than any power. So please… believe in me."
Lioran felt something crack inside him.
The walls he built.
The guilt he carried.
The fear choking him.
They shattered.
He pulled her into a tight embrace.
SOB—
His body shook as he cried openly.
His cries echoed in silence.
Liara hugged him back just as tightly.
"It's okay," she whispered. "Let it all out."
They stayed like that for a long time.
The moon watched silently.
After a while, they sat side by side against the wall, shoulders touching, gazing up at the glowing moon.
The night felt calmer.
Lioran's breathing had steadied.
"…Thank you, Liara," he said quietly. "I feel better now."
She smiled faintly. "Good."
Then she tilted her head.
"Now that you've calmed down," she said casually, "tell me."
Lioran stiffened.
"…Tell you what?"
"Why were you sad?" she asked.
The words hit him harder than any battle.
His throat tightened.
His mind raced.
How can I tell her?
About monsters… about death… about losing my arm…
He stared at the moon in silence.
Liara waited patiently.
The wind blew again.
WHOOSH—
TO BE CONTINUED...