Ahana’s pov :

Night was quiet.

Too quiet.

Sarah slept beside her, turned away, breathing slow. NormalAhana stared at the ceiling. She hadn’t blinked in a while.

Her mind wouldn’t stop.

Prices. Ages. Routes.

They kept coming back, again and again.

Sarah’s voice echoed from earlier.

Don’t open it again.

Ahana turned her head slightly and looked at her.

Still asleep. Unaware.

She reached for her laptop.

She didn’t browse. Didn’t search.

She already knew what was there.

She opened a notebook. Picked up a pen.

And started writing.

Not names.

Not real ones.

Codes.

Numbers that meant places.

Cities written wrong on purpose.

Her hand moved fast.

Faster than her thoughts.

Like if she slowed down, she’d stop. Or think.

Her fingers shook.She noticed.Didn’t stop.

Somewhere, something shifted.

No sound. No alert.

Nothing obvious.

Just something noticing.

Far away, a man stood near a window–

Phone against his ear.

His voice didn’t change.

“By morning, I want them delivered.”

A pause.

“If she cries, sedate her.”

Another pause.

“If she screams—cut the sound.”

His mouth curved slightly.

“They’re not children.”

“They’re inventory.”

His voice so ruthless -cold

As if pain is the only thing he can feel

On the other end, someone hesitated.

“Sir… someone is accessing the old routes.”

Silence.

Then—

“Someone?”

“Yes. A girl.”

Marco Vitale exhaled slowly.

Almost amused.

“Let her.”

He shifted, the room dark around him.

“They always come back once they look.”

In her apartment-

Ahana’s pen stopped.

Mid-word.

She stared at the page.

The word wasn’t finished.

Her chest felt heavy.

Suddenly.

Like something pressed from the inside.

She tried to take a proper breath.

It didn’t come right

The room felt wrong

Too still Sarah was still asleep.

Nothing had changed and that made it worse.

She didn’t move.Didn’t turn her head.

She just knew - She shouldn’t write anymore.

The pen rolled slightly on the paper.

She closed the notebook.

Shut the laptop.

Pulled the blanket closer.

Her heart didn’t slow.

The room went quiet again.

But somewhere, something had noticed her.

And somewhere else—

someone else noticed too.

The screen kept moving.Data flowing. Logs updating , Something was there . It shouldn’t be.

She had accessed it.

And then she exited.

Clean

Suryansh leaned back slightly.

His jaw tightened.

That wasn’t an accident.

That was control Lucas stood across from him.

“She didn’t download anything,” he said.

“No backups. Nothing saved.”

Suryansh didn’t look at him.

Smart girls don't come here by mistakes ” he said quietly.

Another alert blinked Old routes are active.

One name came instantly.

Marco vitale

Lucas spoke again.

“His network is moving.”

Suryansh’s lips curved.

Not a smile.

“as expected  Under his breath—

“Saala…fir  shuru ho gaya.”(bastard he started again)

Lucas frowned.

“Sir?” ah i don't know hindi--making a innocent face Suryansh straightened.

“you weren't supposed to -

He looked back at the screen.

Marco would notice her.

Marco would use her.

That couldn’t happen.

Not yet.

“Lucas,” he said calmly,

“The girl stays protected.”

Lucas hesitated.

“From Marco?”

A pause.

“ from everyone ” Suryansh said.

A secure line opened.

Old. Encrypted.

“This stops,” Suryansh said softly.

“Now.”

“Next time warning nahi hogi.”

“I’ll kill him.”

Silence.

Then another line connected.

A familiar voice.

Smooth. Amused.( Cold as - chocolate icecream 🤭)

“Ahana Singhania.”

Suryansh went still.

“Nice name,” Marco continued.

“Isn’t it ??

The room felt tight.

For the first time that night—

Suryansh didn’t move.

Ahana was certain she had been careful.

She had used protection—actual layers, not shortcuts. She hadn’t stayed logged in. She hadn’t saved anything digitally. No screenshots. No backups. Nothing that could trace back to her.

At least, that’s what she believed.

She sat on the edge of her bed, laptop closed, phone resting in her palm. The room was quiet,

Those girls weren’t numbers anymore.

They had faces now—

Running away wouldn’t erase them.

So she did the only thing she knew how to do when logic failed. She tried to sleep but couldn't--

She called someone smarter.

Rudra picked up on the third ring.

“Ahana?”

You ? After so many years ?” (you after so many years?)

She exhaled, some tension easing.

i know the time isn’t right  but i need your help .

He didn’t joke this time.

She hesitated for half a second, then said quietly—

its not normal -

A pause.

Stop scaring me and just say it ” Rudra said slowly.

She stared at the wall as she spoke.

“ i actually saw something which isn't just clicking my mind i mean its not new for me but its different this time "

No way !! You went there even though last time'  he  stopped midway ...okay what did you see?

He exhaled  sharply.

Their names were written like codes .. young girls their picture were on the screen like they were ready to sell .

Rudra didn’t interrupt.

and it carried , it with me ” she continued.

i have noted few things - and there's one name coming again and again .

There it was.

Rudra sighed- i'll take five minutes,  don’t disconnect , the screen was blank

When he came back his voice was different this time ,

I have actually checked emails and activity  to make sure they don’t get your name , and i noticed something.

What..? Ahana asked her papms were already sweating .

It's like someone's watching your digital trail . Not touching anything  just keeping an eye on it -

Ahana’s mind was already racing - and her thought of who it could be

Did you met someone new or old in past day ... Rudra asked still with low voice .

A memory flashed uninvited.

Black shirt.

A gun held without drama.

“i think so i saw a man in library the other day she said slowly.

“Black shirt and he had a gun .

You have always been the girl to put herself in fire right ,” Rudra muttered.

He doesn't look like a normal goon ,

“but he didn’t do anything to me ” she argued weakly.

"Just watched me "

“That’s the problem ” Rudra replied.

The ones who don’t do anything are either waiting or had already planned .

She swallowed.

“is there any current location for marco if there is give to me right now -

You know everything has its own ptice right- rudra said cautiously

Agh she growled and within 4 minutes

Five thousand dollars were in Rudra's account .

and the next moment she also received the current location of -

“if you fail no names should he visible"

“Promise,” she said quietly.

The call disconnected.

Ahana set the phone down and stared at her reflection in the dark screen.

She thought she had stayed invisible.

But fear wasn’t going to save those girls.

And for the first time, she accepted one truth—

Someone was watching her.

21st queen she will save everyone now.

☆☆☆

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