I was back in my room, the muffled voices of my parents seeping through the walls. My father was trying to console my mother, who had broken down after the announcement—the same announcement that declared our God was now dead.

My mother was born with a strong divine connection. Her heart and soul tethered was to our God in a way few could understand. The prophecy of the God’s passing had shocked her, but it wasn’t until the sun fully set that true despair took hold. She felt it then—the divine presence within her fading into nothingness.

I, too, was drowning in my own turmoil. My best friend, the person I had shared everything with, had been chosen. And now, the last one standing before the full moon rises would ascend as the new God. That meant Ayisha’s life was in danger.

I tried calling her, but her phone was switched off. The only message I received was a single line: “Switching off the phone.” I stared at the screen, gripping my phone tighter. I had no idea what was going on inside her head.

My dad, on the other hand, was wrecked by the news himself. He was trying his best to stay composed for the family. But I could see through his façade. It was like the blind leading the blind—a shattered man trying to hold together the broken pieces of those around him.

As time passed, I found myself huddled with my knees to my chest, seeking comfort in my own embrace. Sleep eluded me, my mind tangled in fear and chaos. At some point during the night, exhaustion must have won, because I was suddenly jolted awake by the chime of a text message.

It was from Ayisha.

“Let’s meet at our usual spot in the morning. 06:30.”

I glanced at the clock—5:30 AM. I typed a quick “Okay” and got up to get ready.

As I stepped into the hall, I saw my parents sitting together. My mother had cried herself to sleep in my father’s arms. Still awake, he looked up from the sofa and gave me a sad smile—a smile that carried a thousand unspoken words.

“I’ll get ready and go for a walk. It will help me take my mind off things.”

I typed the message on my phone and showed it to him. He nodded calmly.

With that silent understanding, I got dressed, grabbed my cycle, and headed out to meet Ayisha.

***

An Outsider’s View

Smitha was the first to reach their usual spot. As she waited for Ayisha, she glanced around, taking in the scenery. Everything looked lifeless, as though the world itself had lost its will to continue. Even under the dim glow of dawn, she could see that the leaves of the once-evergreen trees had turned yellow. Dry foliage littered the ground—an autumn scene straight out of a film.

A figure appeared in the distance, cycling towards her. As the figure drew closer, Smitha recognised Ayisha.

“How are you feeling?” she asked as Ayisha got off her cycle. Her friend’s eyes were swollen, the redness revealing the aftermath of a night spent crying.

Ayisha barely met her gaze before she rushed forward, wrapping her arms tightly around Smitha. The sudden embrace made Smitha stumble slightly, and then she felt Ayisha’s body tremble against hers. Heavy sobs racked her friend’s frame. Smitha could do nothing but hold her, gently rubbing her back in an attempt to soothe her.

When Ayisha finally calmed down, she pulled back slightly and wiped her face. “My mom thinks this is a curse,” she said, her voice hoarse. “You know she’s a historian, right? She uncovered something recently.” Her voice wavered as she continued. “She said there was only ever one Chosen One in the past. They were always chosen before the current God’s demise. Never this late.”

Smitha felt a knot in her stomach. “Oh no…,” the words barely left her lips. The realisation of what that meant settled like a heavy stone in her chest. If Ayisha’s mother was right, then Smitha’s own mother must have understood the implications too. She could only imagine how terrible that must have felt, when the divine connection was cut.

Ayisha nodded, as if reaffirming an undeniable truth. “She read it on an ancient stone tablet. It’s said to be an indestructible relic. A vision warned her to keep it a secret, and she did… but from that day on, she felt uneasy. Yesterday confirmed her worst fears. And Meera..,” her voice cracked. Before she could finish, fresh tears welled up in her eyes before she collapsed into sobs once more.

Smitha embraced her again, offering comfort, “Don’t worry, I am here.” She didn’t know what else to say, and she certainly didn’t want to add to Ayisha’s distress by revealing what had transpired in her own home.

Once Ayisha had composed herself, they both sat down. Their backs resting against the rough bark of a large tree, gazing at the vast pond before them. The first light of dawn began to spill over the horizon. Twilight bathed the world in hues of gold and crimson, painting the glistening leaves in shades of quiet sorrow.

The stillness of the moment was interrupted by the sound of approaching bicycles. Two more figures emerged from the distance, pedaling towards them. As they came closer, Smitha recognized Kabir and Arjun.

We saw two more figures cycling toward us. As they drew closer, we recognised them—Kabir and Arjun. Ayisha and I exchanged surprised glances, but so did the other two.

She exchanged a surprised glance with Ayisha. From the way Kabir and Arjun hesitated, it was clear they hadn’t expected to see them here either.

“I didn’t expect to see you both here,” Kabir said, forcing a cheerfulness that felt out of place. His swollen eyes, shadowed by dark circles, told a different story. But it was best to go along with the mood.

“Just needed a change of scenery,” Smitha replied.

“Hmm, same here,” Kabir muttered before settling down beside us.

Smitha’s gaze drifted to Arjun, waiting for him to say something—at least a greeting. But he remained silent, lowering himself next to Kabir, purposefully keeping his distance from her. She glanced at Ayisha, who had once again fallen into quiet contemplation, her eyes lost in the horizon.

Smitha, went back to her own world, lost deep in thoughts while gazing into the horizon. The cool wind calmed her down.

A sudden gust of wind rippled through the area, sending a chill down Smitha’s spine. The air here was rarely this strong, but then again, this was the first time she had come at this hour.

A sharp sting flared across her hand. Startled, she looked down and caught a glimpse of something moving beneath the thick layer of fallen leaves. It wasn’t unusual for insects to hide in the undergrowth, but her curiosity spiked when she spotted a streak of glistening red darting out of sight.

Just as she reached out to move the leaves aside, another sharp pain sliced across her other hand. This time, she caught sight of the culprit—a thin, crimson, leaf-like shard reflecting the dim morning light. Around her, the others shifted uncomfortably, rubbing at fresh cuts appearing on their skin.

“Let’s get out of here here,” Smitha declared, rising to her feet.

Ayisha, still dazed, was slow to react. Arjun, on the other hand, was already on high alert, leapt to his feet. Seeing Ayisha hesitate, Smitha grabbed her arm and pulled her up forcefully.

The wind intensified, picking up speed and directing itself towards them. Another sharp sting. Then another. More sharp fragments whipped through the air, slicing at their exposed skin. Smitha realized with horror that the red leaves had hardened into razor-like glass, their edges sharp enough to cut through flesh. And worse, the wind wasn’t scattering them randomly—it was pushing them directly toward the group, as if targeting them specifically.

“Ayisha, get up!” Smitha shouted, jolting her friend into motion.

There was no time to retrieve their bicycles. They ran away from the forest, away from an army of leaves with a will of their own. A will to kill.

The razor-sharp shards sliced at the quartet as they fled. Arjun ran ahead, with Ayisha and Smitha close behind. But Kabir—Kabir was falling behind.

“Ayisha, go ahead! I’ll get Kabir!” Smitha shouted.

“No! Don’t—” Ayisha’s protest was lost as Smitha sprinted back.

The wind howled louder, and Smitha had to shield her eyes with her already bleeding hands. She let out a sharp cry of pain as the shards pierced her skin like daggers. Through the chaos, she spotted Kabir—but her breath stopped. He wasn’t running. He was on the ground. A motionless figure, covered in blood.

Terror eclipsed everything. Her wounds, her pain—all of it dulled under the crushing weight of fear. She turned and ran. Ran as fast as she could. The only relief she felt was seeing Ayisha still ahead.

The three didn’t stop until they reached the housing quarters, stumbling behind the safety of the wall.

— To be continued…