Six months had passed.
The city looked normal again.
No alarms.
No system voices.
No underground labs.
But Aanya Verma was not normal anymore.
She stood alone in front of a tall glass building, holding Rudra's black pendant tightly.
Her eyes were empty… but determined.
"Aanya…"
Someone called behind her.
She turned.
It was Riya Verma.
Her sister.
Smiling.
But not warmly.
Riya stepped closer.
"You still waiting for him?"
Aanya didn't answer.
Riya sighed softly.
"You're living in a fantasy."
A pause.
"He is gone."
Aanya's voice was low.
"He is not gone."
Riya tilted her head.
"Oh?"
A faint smile.
"Then prove it."
She stepped forward and placed a file in Aanya's hand.
Aanya frowned.
"What is this?"
Riya replied calmly—
"A death report."
Aanya froze.
Her fingers tightened.
"No…"
Riya leaned closer.
"But here's the interesting part…"
A pause.
"…there is no body."
Silence.
Aanya looked up sharply.
"What are you hiding?!"
Riya smiled slightly.
"I'm not hiding anything."
A pause.
"The world moved on."
"But you didn't."
Aanya's eyes turned cold.
"You're enjoying this."
Riya didn't deny it.
Instead, she whispered—
"Because Rudra Rathore is the only man who ever looked at me… and chose you."
That hit like poison.
Aanya stepped back.
"So this is about jealousy…"
Riya's smile faded.
"No."
A pause.
"It's about ownership."
Suddenly—
Aanya's pendant vibrated.
Lightly.
She froze.
"…Did you feel that?"
Riya frowned.
"Feel what?"
Aanya looked down.
The pendant was warm.
Almost alive.
A faint whisper echoed in her mind.
Not outside.
Inside.
"Aanya…"
Her breath stopped.
"…Rudra?"
Riya grabbed her wrist.
"Aanya, what are you doing?!"
Aanya pulled away.
"He's here…"
Riya shouted,
"You're hallucinating!"
But Aanya was already backing away.
Because the pendant was glowing now.
And the voice came again.
Stronger.
Clearer.
"DON'T TRUST HER."
Aanya froze.
Her eyes slowly lifted toward Riya.
Riya's expression changed instantly.
"…What did you hear?"
Aanya whispered—
"…Rudra."
Riya's face darkened.
For the first time.
And somewhere far away…
deep underground…
a system core flickered ON.
"HOST SIGNAL DETECTED: RUDRA RATHORE"
The screen cracked.
But the voice still spoke.
"Welcome back."