“Marked by darkness”

The forest was not silent that night.

Something moved between the trees—fast, merciless. A blur of shadow leapt from branch to branch, chasing its prey. The deer didn't stand a chance. One moment it ran, the next its terrified cry echoed before the sound was cut off in an instant. Blood dripped onto the moss, staining the soil.

From the darkness, a pair of eyes glowed—red like fire.

The creature stepped back into shadow, wiping its mouth, its sharp fangs gleaming briefly before vanishing.

The forest belonged to predators. The humans who would soon arrive had no idea.

Anaya Sharma was the kind of girl who could be sweet like sugar one moment and savage the next. At nineteen, she was still a storm in the body of a five-foot-one college student.

Cute, innocent, but with a tongue sharp enough to roast anyone-including her parents and especially her annoying little brother, whom she secretly adored.Her parents are modern-smartphone in one hand, business calls in the other-but when it comes to Anaya and Aarav, they turn into typical desi parents. They want to track every step they takes.

Her father was samll businessman, her mother has a flower shop in backyard of their house sometime anaya and aarav help her mother. They are simple yet modern middle class family, their life full of joyful and family drama and chaotic by anaya and aarav.

Only if they know their daughter life going to change forever after somedays

Anaya pov:-

“After soo much fake crying and emotionally black mail finally I’m going for first time in history alone in college camp at age of 19” uhh actually not alone my boring professor and my jungly classmates and of course my dearest dramatic best friend meher. Her life depends on only 3 things stupidness, stupidness, and stupidness, but still she is my kidney touching friend from when we were in diaper. And yaa my annoying brother who is only 13 years old had crush on my best friend like seriously. I mean he had bad choices. Uhhh ignored them it’s my story so focus on me only

Anaya is packing her suitcase, all excited about summer camp. Her parents hover around her like detectives. Her mom folds her clothes ten times, her dad checks the camp brochure as if it's a secret mafia hideout.

"Anaya, are you sure about this camp? It's far... too far," my mom asked for the tenth time this morning, holding my clothes like I was moving to Mars, not a summer camp."Mummy, it's just one week, not vanvas," Anaya rolled her eyes, shoving her jeans and crop tops into her backpack.

"Jungle is not safe!" her father added dramatically from the doorway, hands behind his back like he was giving a freedom fighter's speech."And it's not my fault college chose jungle safari 101 as camp theme. Blame my professor."Papa adjusted his glasses and frowned. "But in camps, they make you sleep in tents, na? What if a bear comes? Or worse... boys.""Seriously, Papa?

You're comparing boys to bears now?"

Before I could defend myself further, he entered.

Aarav.my annoying yet dumbest little brother

He jumped on my bed, messing up the pile of clothes I had neatly folded. "She's lying, Papa.

She packed makeup. I saw lipstick in her bag. I think she's going to find a boyfriend."I glared at him so hard I swear fire should have shot from my eyes. "Aarav

shut up before I throw

you into the camp instead of me."But no, he wasn't done. “So, Di, should I pack a ‘Missing Persons’ poster for you? Because you’ll get lost in the forest for sure.”

Anaya grabbed the nearest pillow and smacked him. “Shut up, cartoon network reject!”Arav gasped dramatically. “See, Mom! She abuses me! I’ll sue her one day!”My cheeks were burning. "This is why I wanted to go to camp-to escape this little demon!""Aarav, stop troubling your sister," Mummy scolded,Papa chuckled. "Still, I don't like this. I should call the camp director and make sure they have enough security."

I slapped my forehead. "Papa, it's not a prison camp, it's a summer camp!"

Aarav grinned, leaning against the door. "It will feel like a prison for them when Anaya starts her weird singing at midnight."

I threw a pillow at him. Missed. Ugh.

Hours later, with her bag finally zipped, Anaya’s phone rang.

Meher.

“Shopping, right now. Emergency. Camp essentials. Meet me at the mall in 30.”Anaya sighed. “Fine. But if my mom sends an army to tail me, you’re explaining.”

Before her mother could catch her and start another lecture about “beta, camp is not fashion show”, Anaya grabbed her sling bag, shouted, “Going out, Mummy!” and sprinted out the door.

The mall was chaos—kids crying, uncles yelling at salesmen, and Meher dragging Anaya store to store like a personal stylist on a sugar rush.

Meher shoved sunglasses at her. “Try these.”

Anaya put them on and pouted. “I look like FBI.”

“You look like F.A.L.T.U.,” Meher shot back.

They ended up buying matching scrunchies, packets of chips, and three unnecessary tops because SALE 50% OFF is a dangerous sign for two broke girls.

Afterwards, outside the mall, Anaya spotted an ice cream van. “Chocolate chip, double scoop. My treat!”

Meher rolled her eyes. “Your treat? With whose money? Your dad’s.”

“Shh,” Anaya said with fake sass, happily licking her cone.

That’s when the drama happened.

She dashed forward—just as a speeding car swerved out of nowhere.

For a split second, everything slowed.

She froze. The horn blared. Meher screamed.

And then—whoosh.

A gust of air. A blur of black. Strong arms yanked her back to safety with inhuman speed.

Anaya stumbled, breathless, but when she looked up—

No one was there. Just the crowd, busy, unaware.

“W-what the hell just happened?” she whispered.

Meher clutched her arm. “Girl, are you crazy?! You almost became road pizza!”

Anaya forced a laugh, still shaken. “Relax, Meher. I was… uh… testing my reflexes.”

Her friend squinted. “Well, your reflexes failed. Big time.”

Anaya’s heart thudded. She glanced around one last time.

Someone had pulled her back. Someone impossibly fast.

But who?

By the time Anaya reached home,she was laying on bed and thinking about the incident of shopping

"Ughhh," Anaya groaned, tossing her shopping bags on the bed. But then her mind went back to the moment-those strong arms, the way it felt like the wind itself had saved her. Her heart thumped faster just remembering it.

No. Stop it. He probably just runs really fast. Or... is Spider-Man's cousin. Yeah, that's it.