[The crimson sky pulsed. The static screen flickered again — a new message burned across it.]
"Form teams within 30 seconds. Touch the people you choose. Those without a team… will be punished."
[00:30]
[A loud beep. The countdown began.]
[Chaos exploded.]
People screamed, stumbled, rushed toward one another like animals caught in a fire.
In that moment, the world forgot its humanity. Survival became instinct.
[Dev quickly grabbed Aryan's hand. Tejas rushed toward them and locked arms.]
Tejas (panting): "We stay together."
Dev: "No matter what."
Aryan: "Even if we're weak… we're stronger together."
[Cut to: A man — Kaushtuv — clutching the tiny hand of his 6-year-old daughter.]
Kaushtuv (sobbing): "Please! Please someone… take us in your team!"
[He ran from person to person, eyes red, his voice cracking.]
Kaushtuv: "She's just a child! Please don't let her die—!"
[People turned their backs.]
Some hesitated — but then stepped away.
Man in crowd (whispers): "He's strong… but the kid's a liability."
Woman: "If this is about survival… I need someone who can fight."
[The little girl clung to her father's leg. Her eyes were wide — but dry. She didn't cry. She just looked… brave.]
[00:10]
Kaushtuv dropped to his knees. His chest heaved. His hands shook as he held hers tighter.
Kaushtuv (choking): "I… I can't let you go…"
[The girl looked up at him.]
Little Girl (softly): "It's okay, Papa… Make a team. Don't die."
[She smiled — not because she was brave — but because she didn't want her father to feel more pain.]
[She pulled her hand free.]
Kaushtuv: "No. No, no, please—"
[But his voice was swallowed by the timer.]
[00:03]
[Someone grabbed Kaushtuv's shoulder.]
Stranger: "Hold my hand! Quick!"
[Kaushtuv's body moved on instinct — hand outstretched — but his eyes never left his daughter.]
[00:00]
Everything froze.
For Kaushtuv, the world stopped breathing. Every sound vanished — except for one:
SHINK.
[In a blur, an invisible blade sliced through the air.]
[Her head fell. Her body crumpled. Blood soaked the earth.]
[Silence.]
[Kaushtuv screamed — a scream that tore into the bones of everyone who heard it.]
In that one moment — countless children, elderly, and those left behind… were erased.