Kirti and Aarav moved deeper into the jungle, the sounds of the camp fading behind them as the rustling leaves and distant chirping of birds took over.
Aarav, however, looked far from serious.
A half-open packet of chips rested casually in his hand as he popped one into his mouth, crunching lazily while walking behind Kirti.
"Care to explain," he said between bites, his tone annoyingly relaxed, "why exactly we're wandering around in a jungle like lost tourists?"
Kirti didn't even look back.
"So that you can use your telekinesis to pluck fruits for us," she replied flatly. "Now stop complaining and get to work."
Aarav let out a long sigh, clearly uninterested.
But still—
He raised his hand.
For a brief second, nothing happened.
And then—
A mango snapped off from a nearby tree branch.
It hovered mid-air for a fraction of a moment before flying straight into Aarav's hand.
He caught it effortlessly.
"…There you go," he muttered.
Kirti glanced at him, unimpressed. "Took you long enough."
Aarav rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah."
He casually waved his hand again, and this time, more fruits began to fall—some dropping, others subtly pulled toward him as if guided by an invisible force.
He moved lazily, barely even trying, yet fruits kept gathering.
Kirti, on the other hand, was busy sorting what was usable and what wasn't.
Time passed.
And slowly—
The sun dipped lower.
---
By the time everyone returned to the campsite, evening had already settled in. The sky was painted in hues of orange and purple, and the air carried a cool calmness.
Every group had managed to arrange some kind of food.
Some had fruits.
Some had vegetables.
And some—
Fish.
Right then, Remo stepped forward, blowing his whistle sharply.
PHEEEEEEE!
"Excellent work," he announced, scanning the students with a satisfied nod. "All of you have done well."
A small smile appeared on his face.
"But food tastes better when shared."
He pointed toward two large pots placed near the center.
"Put all the vegetables in one pot… and fruits in the other."
Students began moving immediately.
One by one, they cut and added fruits and vegetables into the containers.
Nearby, a few students who had caught fish were sliding them onto thin iron rods, roasting them over open flames. The smell of cooked food soon filled the air.
Laughter returned.
Voices grew louder.
Within minutes, the place felt less like a survival camp…
And more like a celebration.
Soon, a campfire was lit.
Students gathered around it, sitting in a wide circle, faces glowing in the flickering firelight.
That's when Remo stepped forward again.
"Well then, students…" he said, clapping his hands once. "How about some entertainment?"
Curious murmurs spread.
"Ever heard of the parcel game?" he asked.
A few nodded.
Most didn't.
"No?" Remo smirked. "Then let me explain."
"I'll play music. A parcel will be passed to the person sitting on your right. Keep passing it until the music stops."
His tone turned playful.
"And when the music stops… whoever is holding the parcel—"
He pointed forward.
"—will have to show a talent."
A few groans.
A few excited cheers.
"And remember," Remo added, raising a finger, "you can't hold the parcel for more than ten seconds."
"Any questions?"
Silence.
"Good."
He tossed a large cloth-wrapped parcel into the circle.
And then—
The music started.
🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶
The parcel moved quickly from one hand to another. Laughter, nervousness, excitement—it all blended together.
And suddenly—
The music stopped.
A boy froze.
The parcel was in his hands.
Everyone turned toward him.
"Stand up," Remo said with a grin. "Name first… then your talent."
The boy hesitated but stood up anyway.
"My name is Kavi…" he said softly. "And my talent is… Kavita."
A few students chuckled.
Remo smiled lightly. "So, a poet who performs porm?"
Kavi nodded shyly.
And then—
He began.
His voice was calm at first, but slowly, it deepened with emotion.
> "They say before creation… there was only darkness.
Then came a sudden light… and a world was born.
I too came into this world of light—
A small child, unaware of its ways.
My world was simple—
Playing, laughing…
And falling asleep in my mother's arms.
Back then, light brought comfort…
And darkness brought fear.
But now…
This world of light slowly fills with shadows.
The darkness I once feared…
Is where I now find peace.
Loneliness… silence…
Have become my closest companions.
And somehow…
I no longer wish to leave them."
Silence followed.
Then—
Applause erupted.
Even Remo clapped, nodding appreciatively. "That was… impressive."
Kavi smiled shyly, gave a small bow, and sat down.
The music resumed.
🎶🎶🎶🎶
The parcel moved again—faster this time.
Then—
It reached Aarav.
And at that exact moment—
The music stopped.
Aarav's eyes widened slightly.
Without wasting a second, he passed the parcel to Kirti.
But it was too late.
Everyone had seen it.
Remo raised an eyebrow.
"No cheating," he said firmly. "Come on—stand up."
Aarav clicked his tongue but stood up anyway.
"Good evening, friends," he began smoothly, as if nothing had happened. "My name is Aarav."
A faint smirk appeared on his lips.
"And… I'm multi-talented."
A few laughs.
"So I'm having a hard time deciding what to show you."
He paused dramatically.
Then his eyes lit up.
"Oh—I know."
"I like writing horror stories."
The atmosphere shifted slightly.
"So… I'd like to tell you one."
His voice dropped just a little.
"A story… you've never heard before."
....
A loud voice suddenly broke through the atmosphere.
"Come on! Since when is telling a horror story considered a talent?"
A few students snickered.
Aarav tilted his head slightly, a faint smirk forming on his lips.
"But what if," he said calmly, his voice low yet sharp, "the horror story is so terrifying… that you actually feel fear?"
The laughter faded just a little.
"Wouldn't that count as talent?"
For a moment, silence lingered.
Then—
Rocky leaned forward, a challenging grin on his face.
"Oh yeah?" he said. "If your story is that scary… then try scaring me."
Aarav looked at him for a second.
Then gave a small, polite bow.
"Sure," he said smoothly. "My story will be so terrifying… you might just end up embarrassing yourself right here."
The circle burst into laughter.
But Rocky didn't.
His jaw tightened.
"Looks like you don't know who you're talking to," he said through gritted teeth.
Aarav simply shrugged.
"Nope," he replied casually. Then he glanced around at everyone. "But let's not waste time."
His expression shifted.
The smirk faded.
And his voice dropped into something darker.
"Let's begin."
The fire crackled softly as all eyes turned toward him.
"This happened… about a month ago," Aarav started. "When I was traveling to my grandmother's village…"
He paused.
"Jamnipali."
The name rolled off his tongue slowly.
"A beautiful place," he continued. "Mountains… caves… rivers… waterfalls… temples. Honestly, it looked like a tourist paradise."
His tone deepened.
"But…"
"There was something there."
"Something… people were afraid of."
A faint unease spread through the group.
Rocky scoffed. "Don't start some made-up village nonsense—"
Aarav chuckled softly, cutting him off.
"Even made-up stories," he said, "have a way of becoming real."
And then—
His eyes shifted.
Toward Kirti.
She looked… uneasy. More than that—nervous.
Aarav watched her for a second before speaking gently,
"If you want… you can put on earphones."
Kirti didn't argue.
She simply nodded, quickly putting in her earphones and playing music.
That alone—
Made a few students exchange confused glances.
Aarav turned back to the group.
And continued.
"This isn't about ghosts… or spirits," he said slowly. "It's about something else."
"Something worse."
"There's a… creature."
His voice lowered further.
"A demonic entity… that hunts people between the ages of eighteen to twenty."
The fire flickered.
"And once it marks someone…"
He raised his finger slightly.
"It doesn't stop… until that person is sacrificed."
A few students shifted uncomfortably.
"When it chooses its prey," Aarav continued, "it leaves a mark."
"A simple mark."
"A straight line."
Right then—
Unnoticed by others—
A thin line quietly carved itself into the ground beneath Rocky.
Rocky frowned.
His eyes dropped.
"What the—"
Before he could process it—
Aarav moved his finger slightly in the air.
A circle formed at the center of that invisible line.
And at the same time—
A faint circle appeared on the ground in front of Rocky.
His breath hitched.
"No way…"
Aarav's finger moved again.
Two curved shapes—
Like horns—
Completed the symbol.
And right there—
On the ground—
The same terrifying mark appeared.
Rocky's face turned pale.
His heartbeat thundered in his ears.
He slowly looked up—
And suddenly—
A monstrous figure lunged at him.
A grotesque, demonic entity—its eyes burning, its mouth twisted into something inhuman—
Right in front of him.
"AHHHHHH!"
Rocky screamed, falling backward, rolling on the ground in panic, trying to crawl away from something no one else could see.
The entire group froze.
Confusion.
Fear.
"What's happening to him?!"
Students stared at Rocky as he thrashed, screaming, as if fighting something invisible.
And then—
Aarav clapped once.
Drawing everyone's attention.
"Well," he said casually, "thank you, Rocky… for that honest reaction."
A faint smile returned to his face.
"I'll take it as a compliment."
As his voice settled—
Rocky suddenly stopped.
His breathing was heavy.
He looked around wildly.
Nothing.
No demon.
No mark.
He glanced down at the ground—
Clean.
Empty.
"…What…?"
Realization hit him.
It was all—
An illusion.
From the side, Chirag leaned closer to Arjun and whispered,
"This guy acts tough all the time… and got scared by just a story?"
Arjun let out a soft chuckle, his eyes still fixed on Aarav.
"Hmm…" he murmured.
There was something intriguing in his gaze now.
"Aarav is… interesting."
A slight smile appeared on his lips.
"What do you think?" he added quietly. "Should we befriend him?"
Soon, it was Arjun's turn.
He stood up calmly, his presence naturally drawing attention. For a moment, he glanced around… and then his eyes stopped at one person.
Rupali.
A soft smile appeared on his lips.
"I'll sing," he said.
The moment the first note left his lips, the entire atmosphere shifted. His voice was deep, emotional—each word carrying something real, something unspoken.
It wasn't just a song.
It was a confession.
Every lyric, every pause… was meant for her.
And everyone could feel it.
Some students exchanged looks, some smiled knowingly—but one person wasn't smiling.
Rocky.
His eyes burned with irritation.
Because the girl Arjun was singing for…
Was his girlfriend.
And that—
Was the root of their rivalry.
---
Meanwhile, Aarav quietly stood up in the middle of the performance.
"Bathroom," he muttered casually to no one in particular.
No one stopped him.
No one noticed him leave.
He walked away from the camp… deeper into the darkness… until the sounds of laughter and music completely disappeared.
Soon, he reached the riverside.
The calm water reflected the moonlight, the soft sound of flowing current creating an almost peaceful silence.
Aarav sat down on a large rock.
Closed his eyes.
And began meditating.
Time passed.
Minutes… maybe hours.
And then—
A faint sound.
Aarav's eyes snapped open.
Without making a noise, he slipped behind the rock, hiding himself completely.
Footsteps.
Two figures approached.
Aarav peeked from behind the rock—
And his eyes narrowed.
Arjun.
And Rupali.
The most beautiful girl in their class.
They walked toward the river, talking softly.
Rupali looked at him curiously. "Why did you never tell anyone about your singing talent?"
Arjun thought for a moment. "I guess… I never got the chance."
Rupali nodded slightly.
"You sing really well," she said gently. "You should seriously try it."
Arjun smiled faintly. "I will."
Then he hesitated.
"Actually… there's something I wanted to tell you."
By now, they had reached the riverbank.
Rupali turned toward him. "Yeah? What is it?"
Arjun took a deep breath.
Nervous… but determined.
"That song…" he said slowly, "I wrote it for you."
Silence.
"Ever since I first saw you… back in fifth grade… when you transferred to our school…"
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"You became my crush."
"I always wanted to tell you how I feel… but I never had the courage."
He paused.
"But today… somehow… I did."
With that, he turned around—
Ready to leave.
But suddenly—
Rupali grabbed his hand.
"Where are you going?" she said softly. "Won't you hear my answer?"
Arjun turned back.
Their eyes met.
"I like you too," she said.
Arjun froze.
"But… you're Rocky's girlfriend…"
Rupali let out a soft laugh.
"Yes… but I don't like him."
Arjun frowned.
"When he proposed, I said yes… just so other boys would stop bothering me."
Her voice lowered.
"It was just a deal. In public… we acted like a couple."
She looked straight into his eyes.
"But the truth is… I like you."
Aarav, hidden behind the rock, watched everything silently.
Something felt… off.
Slowly, he took out his phone.
And started recording.
Arjun, overwhelmed with happiness, pulled Rupali into a hug.
Moments later—
They kissed.
And in that exact moment—
Rupali's expression changed.
Cold.
Calculated.
She subtly shifted her position—
Turning Arjun toward the river.
And then—
She pushed him.
Hard.
Arjun didn't even understand what happened.
His body lost balance—
And the next second—
Splash!
He fell into the river.
The strong current instantly pulled him away.
"RUPALI—!"
His voice faded as he struggled against the flow.
Then—
A voice echoed from behind.
"That was hilarious."
Rupali didn't even flinch.
She turned around.
Rocky.
Standing there with a smirk.
"I've done your job," Rupali said coldly. "Now give me my payment."
Rocky chuckled.
"Sure."
He took out his phone, made a call, spoke for a few seconds… and then hung up.
"Your mom's operation," he said casually. "Successful. She's out of danger now."
Rupali's eyes trembled slightly.
Rocky tossed a key toward her.
"And this… the bungalow. As promised."
The key fell to the ground.
"You did a good job."
Then he turned away.
"And don't ever show me your face again."
With that—
He left.
Rupali slowly bent down, picked up the key…
And broke down.
Crying uncontrollably.
From behind—
A voice came.
"So…"
Rupali froze.
Aarav stepped out from the shadows.
"Are those tears because Rocky left you?" he said calmly. "Or because you just murdered Arjun?"
Rupali turned around, panic flooding her face.
"A-Aarav…?"
Aarav held up his phone.
"Honestly," he said with a faint smirk, "this whole thing felt like a drama."
He waved the phone slightly.
"So I recorded it."
Rupali's face turned pale.
"What do you want?" she asked, her voice trembling. "I'll do anything… just delete that footage."
Aarav tilted his head.
"What can you possibly offer me?"
Rupali's expression hardened slightly.
"That footage has Rocky in it too," she said. "If he finds out… you don't know what he'll do."
Aarav laughed softly.
"I'm not afraid of Rocky."
He stepped closer.
"And I can easily edit the video… so only you are seen pushing Arjun."
Rupali's composure shattered.
Tears streamed down her face.
"Please…" she begged. "Keep this between us… I'll do anything…"
Aarav's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Anything?"
Rupali stepped closer.
Slowly.
Desperately.
She leaned in—
About to kiss him—
But Aarav stepped back immediately.
"Stay away."
His voice turned cold.
"For now… you'll do exactly what I say."
He looked straight into her eyes.
"Be my obedient puppet."
"Until I decide otherwise… this footage stays with me."
He turned away, whistling casually as he walked off.
There was no hesitation in his steps.
No guilt.
He had been a villain in countless past lives.
For him—
This was nothing new.
As for Arjun…
Aarav smirked slightly.
"A protagonist doesn't die so easily," he murmured.
"They usually… find opportunities."
But then—
He stopped.
Something crossed his mind.
His expression shifted.
Slowly, he whispered something under his breath.
And from his shadow—
A dark figure emerged.
A black silhouette, floating silently.
"Keep an eye on Arjun," Aarav ordered.
The shadow nodded.
And transformed—
Into a black crow.
With a flap of its wings—
It disappeared into the night.
---
Late night.
The camp was silent.
Everyone was asleep inside their tents.
Aarav lay on his back, eyes closed.
Still.
Silent.
Then—
A hand slowly moved toward his phone.
Just as it was about to grab it—
Aarav's hand shot up.
He grabbed the wrist—
And pulled.
Rupali gasped as she stumbled forward.
Aarav opened his eyes.
Cold.
Sharp.
"You really thought I wouldn't notice?" he said quietly.
Rupali trembled.
She had come to steal the phone.
To erase the evidence.
But now—
Cornered.
Desperate.
With no options left—
She leaned forward—
And pressed her lips against his.
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
She didn't want this.
But she had no choice.
Aarav froze for a second—
Then pushed her away.
"Know your limits," he said coldly. "Or I'll release that footage tomorrow."
His eyes burned with disgust.
"I hate girls like you."
"Playing with someone's feelings… and then killing them."
His voice hardened.
"Get out."
"Or I'll scream… and let everyone know why you were in my tent."
Rupali's face turned pale.
Without another word—
She ran away.
---
Aarav sat there silently.
His fists clenched slightly.
It wasn't just anger.
It was something deeper.
Old wounds.
Cherry.
The girl he once loved…
Who had killed him.
That memory—
Still burned.
And Rupali…
Had just reopened it.
---
Meanwhile—
Rupali returned to her tent, trembling, exhausted… and eventually fell asleep.
Far away—
Arjun slowly regained consciousness.
His body ached.
His throat burned.
He coughed weakly as he opened his eyes.
He was inside a small hut.
A dim lamp flickered.
And in front of him—
A sage sat cross-legged.
Meditating.
Arjun struggled to sit up.
Looking around in confusion.
"Where… am I?" he asked weakly.