Vaibhav's head throbbed as he woke up, his breathing uneven. His mind felt disoriented, the remnants of the vision still lingering like a heavy fog. The voices, the warnings—they echoed in his head, urging him to move.
Hours had passed, and his stomach growled, reminding him that he hadn't eaten anything since morning. Deciding to clear his head, he stepped out into the cool night air, making his way toward the nearest food stall.
His thoughts, however, remained restless. He was so caught up in them that he failed to notice his surroundings.
Then—
An ambush.
A group of masked figures lunged out of the shadows, the metallic glint of weapons flashing under the dim streetlights. Vaibhav's breath hitched as he instinctively stepped back, his pulse skyrocketing.
And then he saw them.
The same two men from his visions—the ones who had warned him before.
But something was wrong. One of them was injured, his arm drenched in blood. The other stood protectively in front of him, holding off their attackers with practiced ease.
Vaibhav hesitated for a moment before rushing toward the uninjured one. His voice trembled. "I—I don't know what to do! The fight—The Demolition and The Shield—it's happening soon! And—"
The man cut him off, his expression deadly serious. "No matter what happens, don't let The Shield lose that fight."
Vaibhav's stomach churned. "But—"
There was no time. More enemies swarmed in, forcing the man to make a split-second decision. He turned to run, dragging his injured companion with him.
Vaibhav's voice cracked as he called out. "Wait! I don't understand!"
As the man disappeared into the night, his final words rang loud and clear:
"Find out about The Night of Shadow."
And then—
Everything blurred.
A sharp pain shot through Vaibhav's skull.
And suddenly, he was back. Back in the present.
---
A Mystery No One Knew
The moment Vaibhav regained his senses, he was already on a mission.
The Night of Shadow.
What was it? Why was it so important?
He asked around, hoping someone—anyone—could give him a clue. But every response was the same. Confusion. Uncertainty.
Even Annu, who usually knew everything about the past events of The Shield, shook her head.
"I've never heard of it," she admitted. "If something like that really happened, it must've been buried deep."
Vaibhav clenched his fists. "Then who would know?"
Annu thought for a moment before sighing. "If no one talks about it, then maybe… you need to find someone who isn't supposed to be found."
---
The Stranger on the Bridge
The night air was eerily still as Vaibhav walked across the old bridge, his mind clouded with frustration. The river below reflected the pale glow of the streetlights, shimmering with an unsettling calm.
Then, out of nowhere—
"You really wanna know about The Night of Shadow?"
The voice sent chills down Vaibhav's spine.
He turned sharply.
A man sat on the railing of the bridge, his face obscured by the darkness. His posture was relaxed, yet something about him felt… unnervingly familiar.
Vaibhav's heart pounded. "Who are you?" he demanded. "And do you really know about it? If you do, please… tell me."
The stranger chuckled, his voice carrying an eerie weight. "You're persistent. Fine, I'll tell you."
He exhaled, then began.
---
The Forgotten Battle
"It was a night unlike any other."
"The Shield was attacked—ambushed by a group of ruthless delinquents. Several members were captured, taken as hostages. It was supposed to be a simple rescue mission, led by their former leader, Eddie."
"But fate had other plans."
"That night… it rained like hell. The storm was relentless, as if the sky itself was mourning what was about to happen."
"And the worst part? Wick, Nick, Dipanshu, and Deep—they weren't even informed."
Vaibhav's eyes widened. "Wait… then who went?"
"Only the remaining members, with Eddie leading them. But they were outnumbered. Overpowered. The mission turned into a massacre."
"One by one, they fell. Until only Eddie remained, bloodied and broken."
"And then… they arrived."
Vaibhav's breath caught.
"Dipanshu's monstrous strength was unmatched that night. He tore through enemies like a beast unleashed, his rage uncontrollable."
"Nick's movements were impossible to predict. His agility was unnatural, dodging every attack as if his body were made of rubber."
"But even with their power, winning was next to impossible. The enemy's numbers were overwhelming."
"Then came Deep."
"He didn't fight with brute strength. He didn't need to. He observed, analyzed, strategized. He turned the battlefield into a chessboard, manipulating every piece to their advantage."
"And yet… despite all that…"
"It was Wick who stood last."
Vaibhav swallowed hard. "What do you mean?"
The stranger's voice dropped to a whisper.
"That night, something was different about him."
"His eyes—they were burning red. His veins—marked with crimson streaks. Was it his own blood? Or his enemies'? No one knew."
"But one thing was clear—he was pure, unrestrained wrath."
"Even their leader was no match for him. Wick ended it. Brutally."
"By the time they returned, they had won. But…"
Vaibhav's breath hitched. "But what?"
The stranger's gaze turned distant.
"Their shoes… were stained red."
"The blood wouldn't wash off."
"That night changed everything."
"Eddie stepped down as leader. But when the time came to choose a successor…"
"Wick refused to get elected himself or select Vivaan."
Vaibhav's heart pounded. "Then why did Vivek become leader?"
"Because Wick didn't want power. Not yet."
Silence hung between them.
Then, without warning, the stranger stood up.
He turned away, preparing to leave.
Vaibhav snapped out of his daze. "Wait!" He stepped forward. "Who are you?"
The man paused, glancing back over his shoulder.
He smirked.
"All the best for tonight."
And then, just like that—he vanished into the night.
---
The Truth About Wick
Vaibhav stood frozen, his mind struggling to process everything he had just learned.
For the first time, he truly understood why Wick was considered the best.
Not because of his strength.
Not because of his skills.
But because—when all else failed, he remained standing.
And tomorrow, the battlefield awaited him once again.
To be continued...