“What?!”
The word slipped out of Rivan’s mouth in shock.
Everyone’s attention instantly turned toward him. Rudra looked at him and spoke with a faint, painful smile.
“Yes… I know it’s hard to believe. But this is the truth.
The Kitsune Mask Girl… she sold her soul to the Smiley Mask Murderer so she could take revenge on her father.”
Aniket’s eyes widened at once. His breathing grew uneven—something Ira, standing beside him, immediately noticed.
She held Aniket’s hand, pulling his attention toward her. With innocent confusion, Ira asked, “Do we… know the Kitsune Mask Girl?”
Rudra replied calmly, “Yes. All of you know her. And not just the Kitsune Mask Girl… but the daughter of the Smiley Mask Murderer as well.”
Ira noticed Aniket and Aditya’s lowered gazes—their trembling hands. Still, in her soft, almost na?ve voice, she asked, “Tell me… between Anamika and Saniya—who is the Kitsune Mask Girl?”
Rudra answered, “Saniya.”
After a brief pause, he continued.
“Saniya was around eleven years old when she was adopted—by the Smiley Mask Murderer… or rather, Anamika’s mother.
For nearly eight years… eight long years… she assisted Anamika’s mother in every murder.
Anamika’s mother recorded every killing and forced Anamika to watch—to prove that she killed those people only because they were close to her.
Anamika began to hate herself. But she knew dying wouldn’t cure this pain. She started distancing herself from people—but it didn’t help.
They say fate always finds a way.
In the final year of school…” (Rudra glanced at Aditya.) “…you proposed to her.
She was terrified. She didn’t want you to die—no matter the cost.
Together with Saniya, she tried to save you. She wanted to save your entire family—but that wasn’t possible.
Saniya tried at least to ensure that you—and one member of your family—survived.”
Hearing this, Ira suddenly remembered that night.
How the Kitsune Mask Girl—Saniya—had given her mother a choice. Whom she wanted to save. And her mother had chosen her.
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A single tear slipped down Ira’s cheek.
Rudra continued, “That night, she saved Ira—and lied to the Smiley Mask Murderer, saying Ira was dead.
But the truth can never stay hidden forever. A week later… she found out.
She was furious. She brutally beat Saniya—but Anamika stepped forward to protect her.
According to Saniya… she lost consciousness. When she woke up, everything was silent.
The Smiley Mask Murderer’s body lay on the floor, soaked in blood. And Anamika stood there—holding a knife.
She couldn’t even speak. Saniya told the police that their house had been attacked.
Strange, isn’t it?
She told the police that the Smiley Mask Murderer had killed Anamika’s mother—and the police believed it.
Because they never knew that Anamika’s mother was the Smiley mask murderer .
I altered the hospital reports to make the lie look real. And that’s how… I became connected to Saniya.
We erased evidence, one by one—because if we hadn’t, our lives would’ve been in danger.”
“Danger?” Rivan asked.
“When Anamika’s mother—the killer—is already dead, what danger could possibly remain?”
Rudra answered, “Anamika’s mother was a well-known ascension in the underworld.
She left that life before marrying Anamika’s father—but her respect there remained. Her sudden death could raise questions.
At that time… Anamika was mentally shattered. She stayed confined inside the house.
We didn’t want to expose her to more danger. With great effort, we stabilized everything. Dr. Niharika helped us make Anamika mentally stable.
After six years, we believed we had buried our past.
Saniya then told me she would take Anamika to Aditya. Selling manga was just an excuse.
The truth was—we wanted Anamika to live a normal life. We planted the idea of writing manga in her mind.
Saniya insisted Anamika to create physical manga so she would interact with people. We chose you, Aditya, for this job—because Saniya trusted you.
She believed that only you could connect Anamika back to the outside world.”
Rudra kept speaking.
But Aditya saw only memories of Anamika.
Their childhood meeting…
Secret glances at school…
Their reunion after six years…
Her smile.
Her hesitation.
Her tears.
Her fear.
Over and over, one question echoed inside him: “What do I do now?
I can’t hate you… But loving you the same way as before…? I don’t know if I can.
Where are you right now, Anamika?”
Aniket wasn’t any better.
He had expected darkness when opening the pages of the past—but never something like this.
Taking a deep breath, he thought, “That was the past, Aniket.
A part of Saniya’s past—and she probably hates it herself. I’ll take her far away from it… forever.
But…” (He looked at Aditya.) “What will Adi do?
If I have to choose between Saniya and Adi… what happens then?”
Finally, Rudra asked, “So tell me… After knowing the truth—what is your decision?
Are we still your friends? Or will you hate us?”
He looked at Ruhi and silently wondered, “Will you hate me for hiding the truth? Will you still remain friends with Saniya and Anamika? And… will you still love me?”
Elsewhere…
In a dark forest, Anamika walked aimlessly. As if there was no ending left for her.
She wrapped her arms around herself, whispering, “I have to go far away… very far. I can’t bear to see hatred in his eyes… never.”
Aditya’s face filled her vision.
Remembering his smile, she murmured, “How will I ever look into his loving eyes—knowing his tears are because of me?
My existence killed his parents. He lost everything because he loved me.
How can I accept his love? I don’t deserve it.
I’ll disappear—from Ira… Aditya… Aniket… Ruhi… Rivan… everyone.
I’ll hide. And one day… their lives will return to normal. Filled only with happiness.”
As she walked, a shadow followed her.
Silent.
Heavy with darkness. No sound of footsteps.
Emotionless eyes fixed on Anamika.
It followed her—exactly like her reflection—eight or nine steps behind.
It was impossible to tell…
