Chapter 16: The Edge of Obsession

Diya waited until the house was silent.

The moon cast silver shadows through the windows, making everything feel eerie, unreal.

Her heart hammered.

Now or never.

She crept toward the door, her breath slow, measured.

If she could make it outside, she could—

A strong arm wrapped around her waist, yanking her back.

She gasped, struggling.

A deep, dark chuckle ghosted against her ear.

"Where do you think you're going, jaan?"

ABEER.

Diya whirled around, pushing at his chest. "LET ME GO!"

Abeer didn't even flinch. His grip tightened.

"You really thought you could run?" His voice was dangerously amused.

Diya glared. "You can't keep me here!"

Abeer exhaled, like he was bored of this argument. "And yet, here you are."

Diya clenched her fists. "I don't belong to you!"

Abeer tilted his head. "No?"

His fingers brushed her throat, tracing the pulse point that betrayed her racing heart.

Diya stilled.

"You're shaking, jaan," he whispered. "Is it fear?"

She swallowed. "Yes."

Abeer smirked. "Liar."

His fingers slid lower, grazing the bare skin of her wrist, his touch feather-light.

Diya's breath hitched.

"You're burning," he murmured, his voice like smoke curling around her.

She hated how right he was.

She hated him.

But more than that—she hated herself for wanting this.

Abeer leaned in, his lips barely touching her ear.

"You can try to run, jaan," he whispered. "But we both know..."

His fingers tightened around her wrist.

"You'll come right back to me."

Diya yanked herself free, shaking.

"No," she whispered, forcing herself to step back. "Not this time."

Abeer's eyes darkened.

"Then you should run faster," he said softly.

Before I decide I won't let you go at all.

Before Diya could leave, her phone buzzed.

Unknown Number: Tara tried to warn you. Now, she's gone. And you're next.

Diya's stomach dropped.

Her hands shook as she read the message again.

Gone?

She dialed Tara's number. No answer.

A chill crept up her spine.

She looked at Abeer. "Did you do something to Tara?"

Abeer's expression didn't change. "No."

Diya wanted to believe him.

But could she?

"You knew she was missing before I did," she accused.

Abeer leaned against the door, watching her carefully. "And yet, you didn't ask me how I knew."

Diya swallowed hard.

"You're smarter than that, jaan," he said, his voice smooth, deliberate.

Diya's mind raced.

Tara had warned her.

But what if Tara wasn't just warning her about Abeer?

What if there was someone else?

Someone more dangerous.

And what if that person had taken Tara?

Her blood ran cold.

Abeer sighed. "Looks like you finally figured it out."

Diya looked up at him, shaken. "Who took her?"

Abeer's jaw tightened. "The same people who want you dead."

Diya felt lightheaded. "You're lying."

Abeer exhaled, walking toward her.

"You think this is a story?" He grabbed her wrist, pulling her toward a locked drawer in his office.

He opened it.

Diya's stomach dropped.

Inside were files. Old, yellowed documents.

And in the middle—

A photo.

Tara.

Bound. Blindfolded. Bruised.

Diya choked on air.

No. No, no, no.

Abeer's voice was low, almost gentle.

"You think you created this world, jaan?"

Diya's hands shook.

"You didn't," Abeer whispered.

She turned to him, tears burning her eyes. "What are you saying?"

Abeer lifted her chin, making her meet his gaze.

"You didn't write this story, Diya."

His grip tightened.

"You were always meant to be part of it."

Diya's heart nearly stopped.

No.

This wasn't just a book.

This was real.

And somehow—

She had been part of it long before she ever opened that Wattpad draft.