Two days.
S4RKU didn't return.
But Sage couldn't forget him.
His voice.
His eyes.
The way he said "Stay away from things you don't understand."
That wasn't a warning.
It was a challenge.
And Sage had always been curious.
That night, inside her hostel room, she opened her laptop.
She typed a simple search:
Delhi business figure - S4RKU
Nothing real appeared.
Too clean.
Too controlled.
Which made it more suspicious.
She smirked slightly.
"You're hiding something..."
She followed digital trails.
Old archived articles.
Deleted finance blogs.
Encrypted networks.
She didn't realize...
The deeper she searched -
The closer she got to something dangerous.
Meanwhile.
In Delhi.
Inside a dimly lit private office.
A screen lit up.
Tracking alert.
Unauthorized access attempt.
Source: Banasthali campus IP.
S4RKU stared at the screen.
His jaw slowly tightened.
"She didn't listen."
His men shifted nervously.
"Sir... eliminate?"
Silence.
Cold.
Heavy.
He stood up.
"No."
His voice dropped lower.
"Bring her to me."
Back in her hostel room -
Her screen suddenly glitched.
Black.
Then one line appeared:
Curiosity kills, Sage.
Her breath hitched.
Her heart pounded.
The door behind her clicked.
She froze.
Slowly turned.
And there he was.
Standing inside her room.
Like a shadow that didn't belong.
"How- how did you get in?" she whispered.
He stepped forward.
Calm. Controlled. Terrifying.
"You went looking for monsters," he said quietly.
"You found one."
Her pulse raced.
Fear?
No.
Something darker.
Something thrilling.
He stopped inches away.
"You think this is a game?"
She swallowed.
"You're not what you pretend to be."
A dangerous sparkle flashed in his eyes.
"And you're not as innocent as you look."
His hand lifted slowly...
Brushed a strand of hair from her face.
Gentle.
But possessive.
"Do you know what happens to people who dig into my world?"
Her voice barely came out.
"What?"
"They disappear."
Silence filled the room.
Her heart screamed to run.
But her feet didn't move.
Instead, she whispered-
"Then why am I still here?"
That question...
That single bold question...
Did something to him.
He leaned closer.
Close enough for his breath to touch her lips.
"Because," he murmured,
"I haven't decided what to do with you yet."
And that was the moment-
Sage crossed the invisible line between curiosity...
And danger.