The night felt different.
Quieter.
But not peaceful.
Sarthak sat on his bed, his phone resting in his hand.
Screen dark.
Silent.
But his mind—
Was not.
"She was not alone that day."
That one line—
Had changed everything.
If it was true—
Then the past he had carried all this time…
Was incomplete.
Or worse—
A lie.
A knock on the door.
"Sarthak?"
His mother's voice.
"Dinner is ready."
"…I am not hungry."
A pause.
"You should not skip meals."
"I will eat later."
Silence.
Then—
Footsteps fading away.
Sarthak leaned back against the wall.
For years—
He had avoided this.
Avoided thinking.
Avoided remembering.
But now—
He had no choice.
A vibration.
His eyes snapped to the phone.
Unknown Number.
Again.
No hesitation this time.
He opened the message.
"Ready to play?"
His expression remained calm.
"…What do you want?" he typed.
A few seconds passed.
Then—
"Answers."
His grip tightened.
"Same as you."
Sarthak's eyes narrowed.
"…Who are you?" he typed.
Typing…
Stopped.
Typing again…
Stopped.
And then—
"Someone who knows the truth you are afraid of."
Silence.
Sarthak exhaled slowly.
"…Then tell me."
This time—
The reply came instantly.
"Come and find it."
A pause.
Then—
Another message.
"Tomorrow."
"Old science building."
"3 PM."
His heartbeat slowed.
Not fear.
Focus.
Finally—
A lead.
"…Fine," he whispered.
NEXT DAY
The college felt… normal.
Too normal.
Students laughing.
Classes running.
Life moving forward.
As if nothing had changed.
But for Sarthak—
Everything had.
"Sarthak!"
Vansh ran up to him. "Where were you last night? You disappeared like a ghost."
"I was home."
"Mentally?"
Sarthak ignored that.
"I need to go somewhere after class."
Vansh raised an eyebrow. "Secret mission?"
"…Something like that."
"Should I be worried?"
Sarthak looked at him for a second.
"…No."
That was a lie.
But this time—
It was necessary.
3:00 PM
The old science building stood at the far end of the campus.
Abandoned.
Silent.
Most students avoided it.
Rumors.
Stories.
But Sarthak—
Walked straight toward it.
Each step steady.
No hesitation.
Because this time—
He was not running.
Inside—
The air felt stale.
Dust floated in the light coming through broken windows.
Empty corridors.
Echoing footsteps.
Sarthak stopped in the center of the hallway.
"…I am here."
Silence.
No response.
Seconds passed.
Then—
Clap.
A slow clap echoed from behind.
Sarthak turned instantly.
But—
There was no one.
Only shadows.
And then—
A voice.
Distorted.
"You came."
Sarthak's eyes sharpened.
"…Show yourself."
A soft chuckle.
"Still impatient."
His fists clenched slightly.
"Enough games."
"Games?" the voice repeated.
A pause.
"This is not a game, Sarthak."
Silence.
"…Then what is it?"
The answer came slowly.
"…The truth."
A sudden sound—
A metal door slamming shut behind him.
Sarthak turned.
Locked.
His heartbeat rose slightly.
But his expression—
Stayed calm.
"…What do you want?"
Footsteps.
This time—
Closer.
From the darkness ahead.
Slow.
Measured.
And then—
A figure.
Still hidden in shadow.
"You already know," the voice said.
A pause.
"You just never had the courage to face it."
Sarthak took a step forward.
"…Say it clearly."
Silence.
Then—
The figure stopped.
Right at the edge of the light.
But still—
Not fully visible.
And then—
"You did not fail to save her."
Sarthak froze.
"…What?"
The words hit—
Harder than anything before.
"You were never meant to save her."
His breath stopped.
"…Explain."
The figure tilted its head slightly.
"…Because she was already pushed."
Silence.
Everything—
Stopped.
"…What did you just say?"
The air turned cold.
Heavy.
"…She did not jump on her own."
A pause.
"She was not alone."
Sarthak's eyes widened.
For the first time—
Real shock.
"…Who?"
His voice—
Low.
Dangerous.
The figure smiled.
Barely visible.
"…That is for you to find out."
And then—
Darkness.
The lights flickered.
And the figure—
Was gone.
Sarthak stood there.
Frozen.
Because now—
This was no longer guilt.
No longer regret.
This—
Was something else.
Something far worse.
Murder.
Sarthak's expression hardened.
"…I will find you."
Not just the messenger.
But the truth.
No matter what it takes.
To be continued…