"What do you want from me?" Tara's voice was raw, trembling between fury and fear.
The man before her—his eyes cold, voice too calm—tilted his head and whispered, "You know, Tara... you're just like me."
Her brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"
A shadow of a smile crept across his lips. "Your father doesn't love you. Just like mine didn't. You don't have anyone who trusts you. No friends. No place to belong."
The words sliced into her like shards of glass.
Her breath caught.
Memories flickered—her father's bitter words… the way he had called her a curse… the disbelief in Arib's eyes when she needed him most.She was breathing heavily.
The man's voice wrapped around her, cold and suffocating. "You're all alone, Tara. Always have been."
Her vision blurred as pain surged through her chest. It was like watching every miserable moment of her life unfold before her—helpless, unloved, abandoned.
"Stop it!" she shouted, her fists clenched, voice cracking. "What are you doing to me?"
"I'm showing you the truth," he said. "The people of this world don't deserve you."
"Shut up!" she screamed, but her body betrayed her.
She knew—he was manipulating her.
Yet... she couldn't push it all away.
Her feet lifted from the ground. She was weightless in his power. Her eyes—once brown—glowed blue like a frozen lake.
A whisper echoed in her mind: It's true. I don't have anyone…
Her fire sword slipped from her fingers, falling silently to the ground.
Meanwhile...
In the dense fog of the forest, Neel and Arib tread carefully, hearts pounding with urgency.
"Do you have any idea where they could be?" Neel asked, eyes scanning the trees.
Arib shook his head. "No. But I think we should shout. Tara's here—she'll hear us."
Neel hesitated. "Let's call the school guards."
"Right," Arib nodded. "Let's call our Principal too. Maybe he'll hand us our Transfer Certificates personally."
Neel gave him a look. "He's her father."
Arib's jaw tightened. "And I'm sure he knows she's missing. He just doesn't care."
Then, without warning, he cupped his hands and shouted, "TARA! TARA!!"
A voice reached her.
Faint but real.
"Tara… don't listen to him. I'm here. I love you. We all love you. Hold on!"
It was Rose.
But Tara couldn't move. Her limbs were stone, her body paralyzed by the blue force.
Far behind the man, a shimmering vision flickered into existence—a floating room wrapped in a blue veil. Girls lay unconscious inside like sleeping dolls. Rose was among them, shouting, lightning crackling at her fingertips—but it fizzled out, unable to break through the invisible walls.
The man snarled. "Ugh, that girl again."
He flung Tara down like a broken doll. She hit the ground hard, breath knocked out of her.
He turned to destroy the room—when a blade sliced through the mist.
Arib. Sword in hand, eyes burning.
The room became fully visible. With a crack of light, Rose shattered its walls. She bolted forward and fell beside Tara, shaking her gently.
"Come on, Tara, wake up!"
Meanwhile, Neel and Arib faced off with the man.
A blue glow stirred in the fog.
A figure stepped forward—tall, with crackling blue energy radiating from his fingers.
The man
"You think you can stop me?" he sneered.
Neel lunged. But a wave of rock slammed into him, tossing him aside.
Arib followed, striking clean—yet his sword froze midair. The man twisted his fingers.
"Too slow," he muttered.
A sphere of blue fire erupted from his palm—BOOM!
Arib flew back, groaning, barely conscious.
The man emerged through the smoke, calm and cruel.
"Power wins. Not bravery."
But then—Rose Her eyes blazed white, arms glowing with electric light.
"You've gone too far," she said, thunder in her voice.
He smirked. "Let's see what you've got."
She lifted her hand. A bolt of lightning shot down, striking near him. The ground trembled.
The man stumbled, cloak scorched.
She vanished in a flash—reappearing behind him. A crack echoed as her lightning punch struck his back.
He hit the dirt.
But rose again, snarling. Blue energy coiled around him like serpents.
In an instant, chains of power wrapped around Rose. She gasped and fell to her knees.
"You're strong," he admitted, panting. "But not enough."
Rose chuckled through the pain.
"You kidnapped me while I was asleep. Like a coward."
He smirked. "And yet, here you are."
Neel called out, "Watch your back!"
The man turned.
Tara was standing.
Her hair shimmered red. Her eyes—burning like twin suns.
Flames coiled around her. In her hand blazed her fire sword.
Flashback:
"Tara, can you hear me?" Rose's voice had broken through the haze.
Tara's eyes fluttered open, but no words came.
"You have to win over yourself," Rose had whispered. "That man feeds off our dark thoughts. But I believe in you. I love you. Arib loves you. And you love us. Remember the good. Remember who you are. We need you. I need you."
Tara stepped forward, fire in her breath. "Enough of your rubbish."
"You're not ready for this," Loktar hissed.
"We'll see," she replied, steady and bold.
He raised his hand. A wave of invisible force surged toward her.
She rolled aside, summoning her fire. Flames burst from her hands, lighting up the night.
They collided.
Wind howled. Stones rose. Trees bent under their power. Tara danced through the chaos—graceful, fierce, untouchable.
He tried to trap her in a storm of blue energy—but she focused. Her fire ignited.
Boom.
A wall of flame erupted from her. The fog vanished. Loktar's shield cracked—and shattered.
He fell to one knee.
Tara stood tall, fire dancing on her arms, her eyes gold and glorious.
"It's over," she said softly.
But his body disappeared into the air—like smoke in wind.
"Shit," Rose cursed.
Arib exhaled. "He was a magician…"
Tara turned to the floating girls. "What do we do with them?"
Rose stepped forward and hugged her tightly.
"You came back," she whispered.
Tara smiled faintly. "Thanks."
"You're always welcome."
Arib looked around. "Guys, I think we should call the police."
Footsteps echoed.
Guards arrived. Behind them—Principal Z.
"Take the girls to the hospital," he ordered, voice firm.
Then he looked at the four of them. "Look at our fantastic four. Meet me in my office tomorrow." His tone was mocking. "And Rose—go see your mother."
He walked away with the guards.
Neel whispered, "We're doomed."
Rose rolled her eyes. "Let's go."
Tara began walking. Arib followed quietly.
He caught up, voice softer than ever. "I'm sorry, babe."
She didn't reply. But she didn't walk away, either.