The world felt thinner.
Like reality itself was starting to tear.
Aarav stood frozen.
Between Meera.
And… himself.
His double.
But now—
Something was different.
It wasn't pretending anymore.
It wasn't smiling.
It wasn't hiding.
"…You weren't supposed to remember this early," it said calmly.
Aarav's throat felt dry.
"…Remember what?"
The thing didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
It stepped closer.
And this time—
The ground beneath it didn't make a sound.
Meera moved instantly.
Stepping between them.
"…Don't listen to it," she said sharply.
The thing sighed.
"…You still think you're helping him."
Meera's expression hardened.
"…I am."
A pause.
"…No," it said softly.
"…you're delaying him."
Aarav's heart pounded.
"…What does that mean?"
The thing looked at him.
And for the first time—
There was no hostility.
No hunger.
Just… certainty.
"…You're not the victim, Aarav."
Silence.
"…Then what am I?" he whispered.
The thing tilted its head.
"…You're the one who keeps opening the door."
Aarav's breath stopped.
"…What door?"
The world flickered.
For a split second—
Everything changed.
He wasn't outside anymore.
He was—
Somewhere else.
Dark.
Empty.
A long corridor.
Endless.
With doors.
Hundreds of them.
Each one slightly different.
Each one… familiar.
"…Do you recognize this?" the thing's voice echoed.
Aarav's chest tightened.
"…No…"
But deep down—
He did.
"You've been here before," it said.
"…Many times."
The doors began to move.
Slowly opening.
One by one.
Inside each—
A glimpse.
Aarav.
Different versions.
Screaming.
Running.
Fighting.
Failing.
"…What is this…" Aarav whispered.
"Your attempts," the thing replied.
The images sped up.
Hundreds of versions.
Hundreds of endings.
Each one ending the same way.
With him—
Disappearing.
"…No…"
"You keep trying to stop it," the thing said calmly.
"But every time…"
A pause.
"You fail."
Aarav's knees weakened.
"…Why don't I remember this?"
"Because you chose not to."
Silence.
"…What?"
The thing stepped closer.
"…You asked for the reset."
Aarav's mind went blank.
"…That's not true."
"…It is," it said softly.
"You couldn't handle remembering."
"So you made a rule."
The world trembled.
"Forget… and try again."
Aarav's breathing became unstable.
"…No… I would never—"
"You did," it said.
"…Because you thought you could win."
The corridor shook violently.
The doors slammed shut.
And suddenly—
They were back.
On the street.
Meera grabbing his arm.
"…Aarav! Stay with me!"
His vision blurred.
"…It's lying…" he whispered.
But his voice lacked conviction.
Meera shook him.
"Don't believe it!"
"…Why not?" the thing said calmly.
"…Tell him the truth."
Silence.
Meera didn't speak.
Aarav looked at her.
"…Meera…"
"…Is it lying?"
A pause.
Her eyes—
Shook.
"…No," she said quietly.
The word hit harder than anything else.
Aarav stepped back.
"…So all of this…"
"…I chose this?"
Meera nodded slowly.
"…The first time."
"…Why?"
She hesitated.
Then—
"…Because you saw something you weren't supposed to."
Aarav's heart pounded.
"…What?"
Meera looked at him.
"…The truth."
"…What truth?"
A long silence.
Then she said—
"…That they're not invading."
A pause.
"…They're replacing something that's already broken."
The world felt like it collapsed.
"…So we're just… weak?" Aarav whispered.
"…No," Meera said.
"…We're incomplete."
The thing smiled faintly.
"…Now you're getting it."
Aarav's mind raced.
"…Then what happens when they fully replace us?"
The thing stepped closer.
"…We become stable."
Silence.
"…Perfect."
Aarav's chest tightened.
"…That's not living."
"…It's better than breaking every time," it replied.
A long pause.
Then—
Aarav spoke.
Quietly.
"…So what happens if I don't reset this time?"
The thing's expression changed.
Just slightly.
"…Then this loop ends."
Meera's eyes widened.
"…Aarav—"
"…And?" he asked.
The thing looked directly at him.
"…Then one of us stays."
Silence.
Heavy.
Final.
"…And the other?" Aarav whispered.
The thing smiled.
"…Disappears for good."
🔥 END OF CHAPTER 10