**Episode 8: The Whisperer**
The morning after the raid, the news spread fast.
**"Abandoned building linked to illegal surveillance operation. Suspect escaped."**
No names were mentioned. No arrests made. But Ayaan knew the truth — and more importantly, he knew *someone* had tipped off the police just in time to save him.
But who?
He ruled out his father. Ziaul wouldn't risk exposure like that. Not without warning.
Elina? She had kept her distance since their fallout. She hadn't even responded to his messages.
That left only one possibility — someone who had been watching *both* of them.
A ghost in the system.
He hacked into a public CCTV feed from a nearby tea stall, recorded during the time of the police raid. Hours of static… and then something.
**A man in a gray hoodie. Face partially hidden. Standing by a payphone. Dialing. Leaving.**
Ayaan froze the frame, enhanced the image.
He didn't recognize the man — but the watch on his wrist, a rare designer piece — gave him a clue. Only one person Ayaan had seen on campus wore that exact model:
**Zohan.**
A quiet, nerdy tech student. Always in the back row. Always typing.
They'd spoken only once — over a malfunctioning printer.
Ayaan paid him a visit.
The computer lab was mostly empty. Zohan looked up from his laptop as Ayaan approached. His expression tightened. Like he'd been expecting this.
"You tipped off the police," Ayaan said, not asking — stating.
Zohan didn't deny it. Just looked around and replied softly, "I had to. I saw what was going on. You were being followed. Tracked. And she was too."
"Elina?"
Zohan nodded. "She's not who you think she is, Ayaan. Neither are her enemies."
"What do you mean?"
Zohan hesitated. Then leaned in.
"I monitor local radio frequencies for fun. Weeks ago, I picked up encrypted chatter — about a *target*. Female. Hidden identity. Code name: 'Rainbird.' That's Elina."
Ayaan's heart pounded.
"Who's after her?"
Zohan's eyes darkened. "Not just Reza Murad. There's a second group. A cleaner, more lethal one. They're not after you — *yet.* But if you get too close to Elina…"
He let the silence finish the sentence.
Ayaan stood in stunned silence.
Elina had secrets. But this… was more than he imagined.
As he left the lab, one thing became terrifyingly clear:
**Reza wasn't the only hunter in the shadows.
And Elina… might be even more dangerous than he thought.**
**To be continued…**