The world outside was falling apart.

Aarav’s breath caught in his throat as he stared out the window. The New York skyline, so familiar and comforting, was shrouded in chaos. Dark plumes of smoke spiraled into the sky, and jagged ships carved through the air like metallic serpents. Chitauri soldiers leapt from rooftops, their alien forms tearing through the streets below with terrifying precision.

He felt Ishani at his side, her breath hitching as she took in the sight. Her hand found his, squeezing tight. “Aarav, what do we do?”

His mind whirred, struggling to process. Not possible. Not here. This isn’t… “We need to move. Now.”

Behind them, Myra stirred, still nestled in her bed, clutching her stuffed giraffe. "Mommy, Daddy... what's happening?" Her voice was soft, untouched by fear. She couldn’t understand. She didn’t see the terror. Not yet.

Ishani was already moving, scooping Myra into her arms, holding her close as if her warmth alone could shield her from the nightmare outside. "We’re going on an adventure, love," she whispered, her voice a trembling melody, forcing a smile even as her eyes darted around the apartment, her every nerve frayed.

The building groaned—a deep, shuddering moan that reverberated through the walls. Dust shook loose from the ceiling, swirling in the smoky light. Aarav's senses were on fire, his heart pounding in his ears as he grabbed the emergency bag they’d kept packed for hurricane evacuations, hastily stuffing it with anything they might need. Water, flashlight, food… not enough, never enough.

"We need to get underground," he said, forcing the words out, his voice brittle. "The subway. It’s the best shot."

Ishani nodded, gripping Myra tighter. “Okay, let’s go. Let’s—”

A sound cut her off. Not a crash, not a roar, but a high-pitched whine, sharp and relentless, like a drill boring into their skulls. It was coming from below. The Chitauri were inside.

Aarav’s stomach churned as they reached the lobby, and the smell hit them—burning rubber, charred metal, something acrid and alien that clawed at their throats. The air was thick, suffocating, a noxious fog that made it hard to think, hard to breathe.

And then, there it was.

Blocking their escape, just beyond the doors—a Chitauri soldier. Its towering form was grotesque, its reptilian skin slick and glistening under the broken light fixtures. Black, soulless eyes gleamed from its misshapen head, reflecting the flickering flames outside. Its weapon pulsed in its hands, glowing with a sickly green light, humming with destructive energy.

Aarav’s mind screamed, Run. Protect them. Do something. But his body stayed frozen, his breath shallow, heart hammering against his ribs. Every option felt like a death sentence.

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No. He couldn’t let this happen.

Behind him, Ishani held Myra close, shielding her from the sight, her breath ragged and desperate. But Myra, ever curious, peeked over her mother’s shoulder, her innocent eyes locking onto the Chitauri soldier.

"Look, Mommy," she whispered, pointing with a chubby hand, her voice bright with awe. "A shiny man!"

Aarav’s blood ran cold. No.

His mind fractured—half of him wanting to grab Myra, throw her behind him, shield her from the monster staring them down. The other half calculating, assessing, searching for any possible way to fight back, to stop the inevitable.

The Chitauri soldier’s eyes flickered, locking onto them. The humming of its weapon grew louder, rising to a fever pitch.

Myra. Ishani. No.

His gaze darted to the fire extinguisher mounted on the wall—useless. The exit sign—too far. His hands clenched into fists. He could try to fight, but the thought of failing, of that alien weapon tearing through them, was too much to bear.

The Chitauri raised its blaster.

“Aarav!” Ishani's voice was strangled, her body trembling as she pressed Myra tighter against her chest. There was no time to think. Only time to act.

Aarav lunged forward, pushing Ishani and Myra back, trying to put himself between them and the creature. His heartbeat drowned out the sound of everything else, time slowing to a crawl as he saw the glow of the weapon reflecting in Myra’s wide, uncomprehending eyes.

The air crackled with heat, the ground trembling beneath their feet. He could feel the energy vibrating through his bones, the primal hum of destruction mere seconds away.

The Chitauri’s blaster flared, and the sickly green light burst from the weapon. Aarav barely had time to throw himself in front of his family, his mind racing with one last, desperate thought: Myra…

But the impact didn’t come.

The light that exploded between them was strange—blinding yet soft, a shimmering wave that bent reality itself. There was no hum, no crackling. Only an eerie, profound silence. The Chitauri blast froze in mid-air, like it had struck something unseen, and then it was gone—dispersed into a harmless flicker that vanished into the air.

Aarav stood there, panting, his arms still outstretched, heart still racing. What just happened? His mind reeled, trying to process the impossible.

And then, he saw him.

Adrian stood in the center of the lobby, his face pale, his body trembling. There was something different about him, something unnatural. His skin seemed to shimmer, faint, glowing symbols dancing across his arms like living tattoos, shifting and moving of their own accord. His breath came in shallow gasps, each one labored. He wiped at his forehead, where beads of sweat were glistening. His arm, the one extended toward them, shook violently, and a thin line of blood traced down his fingers.

The Chitauri soldier staggered back, its blaster shorting out, sparks flying from its weapon. It hissed, then turned and fled, retreating into the chaos outside. The lobby was still again—at least, for a moment.

Myra, still cradled in Ishani’s arms, reached out with a delighted giggle. "Pretty colors!" Her tiny fingers brushed at the shimmering light around Adrian, as if it were a magic trick meant for her. The symbols on Adrian's skin pulsed in time with her touch, flickering brighter for a heartbeat before they faded. Myra’s smile widened, her eyes glowing with a strange, serene calm. She wasn’t afraid. She wasn’t worried. She just… knew.

Aarav's breath caught in his throat. "How… how did you…?"

Adrian's lips twitched into a pained smile. "I’m still working on that part." He was barely standing, his legs shaking, eyes darting nervously toward the shattered entrance. "Look, I don’t have time to explain. We need to move. Now."

Aarav’s mind raced, full of questions, none of them answered. How did Adrian have powers? Why was Myra so… calm? Was it connected? Could they even trust Adrian? His gut twisted with doubt, a cold pit of uncertainty, but there wasn’t time to think. They were still in danger.

Adrian’s voice cut through his thoughts. "They’ll be back." His eyes met Aarav’s, intense, urgent. "I can’t stop them again. We need to get out of here."

Without another word, Adrian moved to the doors, pushing them open just enough to peer through the crack. Aarav could see his eyes scanning the streets, watching for any sign of the Chitauri soldiers.

"Come on." Adrian didn’t wait for a response, grabbing Aarav by the shoulder and pulling him toward the door. His hand was cold, trembling. "Stay close. We’re not safe yet."

As they stepped into the burning world outside, the acrid smell of smoke filled Aarav’s lungs. The ground trembled beneath them as a Chitauri warship passed overhead, casting a massive shadow over the street. Fires burned in the distance, and the screams of survivors echoed through the broken city.

Aarav tightened his grip on Ishani’s hand, his heart pounding. Whatever had just happened, there wasn’t time to understand it. All that mattered was keeping his family safe—

and figuring out who Adrian really was, and what role Myra played in all of this.