**Chapter 2: A Dream That Felt Too Real**

  Aarav stood still on the bridge, staring at his own hands.

  His mind was blank.

  “…What the hell did I just see?”

  Just a moment ago, he had clearly seen it.

  A head… rolling on the ground.

  The road cracking like something massive had smashed into it.

  But now everything looked normal. The bridge was fine. The people were walking like nothing had happened.

  “Hey.”

  A hand suddenly landed on his shoulder.

  Aarav flinched.

  His friend Rohan looked at him with a weird expression.

  “Bro… you good?”

  Another friend, Sameer, stepped closer and waved his hand in front of Aarav’s face.

  “Hello? Earth to Aarav.”

  Before Aarav could respond, his third friend Kabir suddenly punched him lightly on the arm.

  “Oi! Wake up.”

  “Abe!” Aarav grabbed his arm. “What was that for?!”

  Kabir shrugged.

  “You were staring like your soul left your body.”

  Sameer smirked.

  “Still thinking about those guys you bumped into?”

  Rohan laughed.

  “Or maybe he’s thinking about that girl from school.”

  Aarav’s face instantly twisted.

  “Shut up! Don’t remind me of that.”

  Kabir grinned. “Ohhh right, the ‘Not Interested’ incident.”

  Sameer clutched his chest dramatically.

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  “A tragic love story. Truly heartbreaking.”

  Aarav groaned.

  “I swear, if any of you mention that again, I’m pushing you off this bridge.”

  They all laughed.

  The strange vision slowly faded from Aarav’s mind as they continued walking.

  Soon the group separated near the metro station, each heading toward their homes.

  ---

  That night felt strangely normal.

  Aarav had dinner with his family.

  His mother complained about him using his phone too much.

  His father asked about school.

  Nothing unusual.

  But something still felt… off.

  Later, Aarav entered his room and dropped his bag near the desk.

  He fell backward onto his bed and stared at the ceiling.

  “Today was weird…”

  First the girl.

  Then those guys.

  And that strange vision on the bridge.

  He rubbed his face.

  “Maybe I’m just tired.”

  After a few minutes, his thoughts slowly faded.

  His eyes grew heavy.

  And eventually—

  He fell asleep.

  ---

  Darkness.

  Complete silence.

  Then—

  Aarav slowly opened his eyes.

  His vision was blurry.

  “…Huh?”

  He blinked several times.

  Shapes began to form.

  Broken buildings.

  Collapsed walls.

  Cracked streets.

  The air felt heavy… almost suffocating.

  Aarav slowly sat up.

  “…Where the hell am I?”

  His voice echoed faintly in the empty space.

  This place looked like a city.

  Or at least… what used to be a city.

  Everything around him was destroyed.

  Burned structures.

  Shattered windows.

  Pieces of concrete scattered everywhere.

  A cold wind blew through the empty streets.

  Aarav stood up slowly.

  “Did a meteor hit this place or something…?”

  He turned around, scanning the area.

  Confusion filled his face.

  Then—

  Something moved.

  A shadow.

  It shifted briefly behind one of the ruined buildings.

  Aarav froze.

  “…Hello?”

  No response.

  His heartbeat slowly increased.

  Then he noticed something above him.

  A dark shape.

  Standing on top of a half-destroyed building.

  At first… he only saw the wings.

  Huge.

  Black.

  Slowly spreading in the wind.

  Aarav squinted.

  “…What the—”

  The creature stepped forward.

  Moonlight revealed its massive body.

  Sharp claws.

  Long tail.

  Glowing eyes.

  Aarav stared at it in disbelief.

  “…what the hell is this...

  His feet slowly stepped backward.

  One step.

  Two steps.

  Then suddenly he stopped.

  “…Wait.”

  His expression changed.

  “Hold on.”

  He looked around again.

  Destroyed city.

  Giant monster.

  Dark atmosphere.

  Then realization hit him.

  “Ohhh.”

  His fear vanished instantly.

  “This is a dream.”

  He nodded confidently.

  “Yeah. Definitely a dream.”

  He cracked his neck.

  “Well… if it’s a dream…”

  A grin appeared on his face.

  “Then running away would be kinda lame.”

  The monster’s glowing eyes locked onto him.

  For a moment everything was silent.

  Then—

  The creature jumped.

  Its massive body crashed onto the street with a thunderous impact.

  The ground shook.

  Dust exploded into the air.

  Aarav blinked.

  “…Okay that landing was actually pretty cool.”

  The monster roared and charged toward him.

  Aarav immediately ran forward too.

  “Alright! Let’s see what you got!”

  The creature swung one of its claws.

  Aarav barely dodged, sliding past its side.

  “Whoa— that was close!”

  He turned quickly and rushed toward it.

  “Take this!”

  He threw a punch straight at the monster.

  His fist hit its body.

  And…

  Nothing happened.

  Absolutely nothing.

  Aarav slowly looked up at the creature.

  Then back at his fist.

  Then back at the monster again.

  “…Huh.”

  He scratched his head.

  “Okay… that’s awkward.”

  For two seconds they both just stood there.

  Then the monster moved.

  Its long tail whipped through the air.

  Before Aarav could react—

  CRASH.

  The attack slammed directly into his chest.

  Aarav was thrown across the street like a ragdoll.

  He crashed onto the broken road and rolled several times before stopping.

  Pain exploded through his body.

  “Ugh…!”

  He tried to breathe.

  It hurt.

  Everything hurt.

  The monster slowly walked toward him.

  Each step heavy.

  Each step louder.

  Aarav tried to move.

  But his body barely responded.

  Blood filled his mouth.

  His vision began to blur.

  “…This… doesn’t feel like a dream…”

  The creature stood

  right in front of him now.

  Its glowing eyes stared down at him.

  Aarav’s breathing grew weaker.

  Fear slowly crept into his chest.

  His eyelids became heavy.

  The world began fading into darkness.

  And just before his eyes completely closed—

  A voice echoed in the distance.

  Calm.

  Cold.

  “You shouldn’t be here yet.”

  Then everything went black.