Priya's POV:

The cold hit me first.

Then the ache in my wrists. Burning, throbbing pain where the ropes dug into skin. My head lolled forward, heavy, spinning. I opened my eyes slowly.

It was still night. The dining room swam into focus—dark, dimly lit by the flicker of a single candle on the table. Shadows danced across the walls. The curtains were drawn. I was tied to one of my own chairs, ankles bound, arms wrenched behind me. My mouth was dry, cottony. I could taste the faint bitterness of a sedative.

Then I heard the footsteps.

Measured. Unhurried.

Neil stepped into the room.

Except—this wasn't Neil.

He wore the same face. The same build. But his posture was looser now. Relaxed, predatory. The warmth in his eyes was gone. Replaced by a cruel, glinting mockery of a smile.

"Finally awake," he said, his voice stripped of all pretense. No affection. No guilt. Just malice wrapped in velvet.

I kept my gaze locked on him, heart pounding, but my breath steady. "You drugged me."

He chuckled softly. "You catch on fast, officer."

He pulled a chair and sat down across from me, legs crossed, hands loose in his lap like we were just two old friends catching up. The candlelight threw his sharp features into even starker contrast. He leaned forward.

"My name isn't Neil," he said. "It never was."

"I know."

He paused. Surprise flickered across his face, but only briefly. "Of course you do. You always were a little too smart."

He stood up, walked behind me, his fingers brushing lightly across the back of my chair. "But you didn't figure it out in time, did you, Priya? And that's the beauty of it. You—the one who took everything from me—never even recognized me."

He stepped back into my line of sight.

"I'm Karan Ahuja."

The name hit like a gunshot, but I didn't flinch. My jaw clenched. He watched my expression, searching for a reaction, but I gave him none. Only silence.

He sneered. "Ah, still playing the stoic hero. I must admit, it almost makes me admire you."

He circled the room like a man reclaiming his territory. "Four years ago, I had an empire. Money. Power. Respect. Then came your investigation. You tore it all down."

My fists clenched behind the chair. The ropes dug in deeper.

"I was rotting in prison for two years. Two years. But power has its privileges—even behind bars. It didn't take long to buy my way out. A few corrupt officers, some silence, some favors."

He turned toward me again, grinning now. "And then came the masterpiece. New face, new name, new story. Neil Singhania. The handsome billionaire. The supportive friend. The almost-lover. You fell for it."

My stomach turned, but I kept my face blank.

"I didn't just want revenge, Priya. I wanted you to live it. I wanted you to know what it's like to have everything taken from you. Everything you love. Everyone you trust."

He sat down again, leaned in close, and whispered, "So I found Prakash."

The name tasted foul in the air.

"I saw him by chance. Taking a woman's head with him. A twisted man. But useful. Manipulable. I made him believe he was chosen—righteous. Told him he was a warrior of morality. Fed him names. Women who were cheaters."

My pulse thundered. I forced my breathing to stay even.

"He wanted to impress me. He thought I was God. And why not? I gave him purpose. You were his final gift to me."

His eyes sparkled with cruelty.

"Nila was supposed to die. But that girl's a devil. Smart. Guarded. She didn't fall for it. But Kashi..." He shrugged. "Sweet, naive Kashi. She believed him. Believed he was a constable. Believed he was bringing her to you."

My nails dug into my palms.

"But I knew," he continued, "that one day this would all come crashing down. So I planned for it. I was always going to kill Prakash. Loose ends don't suit me."

He moved toward the gas stove. Switched on one of the burners. No flame. Just the hiss.

"And when you came into that flat," he said, "you ruined the timing. So I adapted. Faked the knockout. Played the victim. Took your hand. Pulled the trigger. I couldn't let him talk."

My stomach twisted.

"You should've died tonight in your sleep. Quiet. Painless." He smiled, lighting a match. "But I wanted to watch. Just once. Watch everything go up in flames. You. This flat. Your name. Then I vanish. Let the world think Neil died trying to save you."

He held the match over his lighter.

"And then," he said, "I'll find Nila again."

I didn't scream. I didn't beg. I just glared.

That was when the shot rang out.

Karan's shoulder jerked violently as blood sprayed across the floor. The match clattered from his fingers. He howled in pain, spinning around just in time to see Arjun step into the room, gun raised.

"Knew something was wrong," Arjun said, soaked from head to toe in rainwater, his eyes like fire. "Couldn't sleep."

Karan staggered back, clutching his shoulder.

I saw it before Arjun did—the lighter still clutched in Karan's hand, shaking but ignited.

"Arjun!" I shouted.

In a flash, Arjun fired again—clean, precise. Karan screamed as two of his fingers exploded in a burst of flesh and blood. The lighter hit the floor, bouncing away harmlessly.

Arjun was already at my side, ripping through the ropes. "Are you okay?"

I nodded, throat tight. "We have to shut the gas."

He dashed to the stove and twisted the knob, killing the hiss. I took a deep breath, nausea curling at the back of my throat from the lingering fumes.

Karan lay on the floor, groaning, blood pooling around his hand.

But he was laughing.

Low at first. Then louder.

"You think you've won?" he spat, sitting up with effort. His face was pale, smeared with blood, twisted in something that looked too much like triumph.

"Kashi," he whispered.

My breath caught.

"She's alive. But not for long. If you don't find her in four hours..." He trailed off, smirking through clenched teeth.

"Where is she?" Arjun barked, stepping forward.

Karan laughed harder.

"I'll never tell you."

Then, before we could stop him, he reached into his coat, pulled a small shard of broken glass from his pocket, and in one swift motion, dragged it across his throat.

Blood gushed. His eyes widened. He gurgled, a sickening sound, then collapsed.

Arjun rushed forward, but it was too late.

I stood frozen for a second. Then I moved.

We had four hours.

Kashi was alive.

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