Chapter 1
It was a cold winter midnight. The streets were empty, wrapped in thick fog. Only the pale yellow lights flickered faintly along the lonely road. From somewhere, the faint scent of flowers mixed with the chill air.
A little girl, no more than ten, walked alone wearing a yellow sweater that barely kept her warm. Her steps were quick, nervous. Her hands trembled as she whispered, “Oh Lord Vishnu, please protect me…”
Every rustle, every shadow made her heart race faster. She imagined a ghost leaping down from the trees, ready to grab her. Fear pushed her forward she didn’t dare look back.
After walking a long way, the road ahead turned darker. A pack of stray dogs barked loudly, their eyes glowing in the dim light. For a moment, she froze. Then, gathering her courage, she thought, “Whatever happens, I must keep moving.”
She took one step, then another. The dogs started running toward her, their barking echoing in the fog. Terrified, she ran — faster, faster — until she saw the small temple near the crossroads. She rushed inside and hid behind the stone idol, her heart still pounding.
Outside, the fog swallowed everything once again.
