LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 3: Shadows of the Past
Chapter 3: Shadows of the Past
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Scene 1: A Restless Night
The night in Ravi's small home was suffocatingly quiet. Denver lay on the rough wooden floor, staring at the ceiling, the dim light of the moon casting shadows across the room. His friends were scattered around him, tossing and turning. None of them could sleep.
Priyanshu (whispering): "Denver, are you awake?"
Denver (softly): "Yeah."
Sam (sitting up): "I can't stop thinking about Sandya. Her screams... I can still hear them."
Kartik (coldly): "What good is thinking about it now? She's gone."
Denver clenched his fists, guilt gnawing at him. His mind wandered to a question that had haunted him all his life: Who were my parents?
Denver (to himself): "I don't even know who they were. Were they kind? Brave? Why did they leave me?"
Before he could spiral further, the door creaked open. A figure stepped inside, his face illuminated by the faint glow of an enchanted lantern. It was Ravi.
Ravi (calmly): "You're still awake, I see. Good. There's something we need to talk about."
Denver sat up, confused.
Denver: "Who are you? You said you're my father's brother, but I've never heard of you before."
Ravi sighed and sat across from them, his face weary.
Ravi: "I'll explain everything in the morning. For now, rest. You'll need your strength."
Denver (firmly): "No. I need answers. Who are my parents? Why am I here? Why did you call me Hari?"
Ravi hesitated, then nodded.
Ravi: "Alright. I'll tell you what you need to know... in the morning."
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Scene 2: Morning Revelations
The morning light streamed through the cracks in the wooden walls. Ravi busied himself in the small kitchen, preparing a hearty meal of roasted roots and spiced broth. The smell filled the house, but Denver and his friends barely noticed, their minds still clouded by the horrors of the previous day.
Ravi (serving the food): "Eat. You'll need your strength for what's ahead."
The group ate in silence, the tension in the air palpable. Once the plates were cleared, Ravi finally spoke.
Ravi: "There are things you don't know about your world, Denver. Things your parents kept hidden from you. There are seven worlds, each connected yet separate. Magic flows through all of them, but not all worlds know of each other."
The group exchanged uneasy glances.
Priyanshu (skeptical): "Seven worlds? Are you serious?"
Sam (nodding): "We just saw monsters rip Sandya apart. I believe him."
Ravi continued, his voice steady.
Ravi: "Your parents were unique. They were the only ones who could travel freely between all seven worlds. Your father lived here, in this world, while your mother lived in yours. The orphanage where you grew up... it was built by your mother. Your father enchanted the book you found, ensuring it would come to you at the right time."
Denver (confused): "But how did you know my name? How did you know I would come?"
Ravi smiled faintly and gestured to a small device on the table. It resembled a glass orb filled with swirling lights.
Ravi: "This is a magical TV. Your father gave it to me years ago. It shows anything happening in any of the seven worlds. Through it, I've watched over you, waiting for the day you'd come here."
Denver stared at the orb, his mind racing.
Denver: "Then you must know where my parents are! Are they alive?"
Ravi's expression darkened. He looked away, his voice heavy with sorrow.
Ravi: "Your father... he's dead. He was killed 10 years ago. As for your mother, no one knows what happened to her. She disappeared the same day your father died."
The room fell silent. Denver's heart pounded in his chest.
Denver (whispering): "How? How did my father die? Who killed him?"
Ravi hesitated, his face etched with pain. Finally, he met Denver's gaze.
Ravi: "Your father... was killed by your mother."
The words hung in the air like a dagger. Denver's breath caught in his throat.
Denver (shocked): "No... that can't be true. Why would she—?"
Ravi stood, his tone firm.
Ravi: "I don't have all the answers, Denver. But I promise you, I'll tell you everything I know. For now, you need to prepare. This world is dangerous, and if you want to survive, you'll need to be stronger than you've ever been."
The chapter ends with Denver sitting in stunned silence, his friends looking on in shock. The weight of Ravi's revelation presses down on all of them as the mysteries of their journey deepen.