Chapter 12 – The Cold Morning and the Unseen Presence
It was a cold and refreshing morning. Outside the orphanage, birds were flying, and their chirping echoed softly. Vaibhavi slowly opened her eyes and gently sat up on her bed. She rubbed her eyes and then took a long, calm breath. She looked around and saw that most of their friends were already awake. Her eyes moved and she saw that Vansh was still asleep.
Vaibhavi thought (It seems like everyone is already awake... but Vansh is still sleeping...maybe he is so tired.)
Vaibhavi got off her bed and slowly walked towards Yash and Ritika. Ritika's facial expression became cheerful and happy. She hugged Vaibhavi.
Ritika said in a cheerful tone: "Good morning."
Vaibhavi smiled and said in an amazed tone: "Good morning."
Yash said in a normal tone: "Well, what now?... Should we wake up Vansh?"
Vaibhavi looked at Vansh and said in a normal tone: "No... let him sleep."
Yash: "Fine then... by the way I already checked that there are some clothes for girls and boys, and separate bathrooms also... I think we should take a bath... I am still feeling negative from that Rahul case."
Vaibhavi nodded and walked with Ritika, took a towel, and went to the girls' section bathroom. Yash also took his towel and went to the boys' section bathroom.
Scene shifts to Arav and Saavi, Ayush and Sakshi.
Ayush said in a frustrated tone: "Aaaaah... it still hurts... that bastard drug still affects."
Ayush rubbed his forehead and looked at Sakshi.
Ayush tried to say in a normal tone, but his head continued to hurt: "Hey... it seems like you're not getting hurt."
Sakshi said in a normal tone, trying to sound cool: "You know... I often get headaches like this, so it is normal for me."
Arav was still holding his head. Saavi's expression became frustrated, and she was trying to control it.
Ayush looked at Arav as his senior Yash went to the bathroom.
Arav said in a normal tone: "I think we should take a bath."
Everyone looked at Yash, Vaibhavi, and Ritika. They nodded. They went to their bathrooms.
After a few minutes.
Vansh slowly opened his eyes and sat on the bed. He rubbed his eyes and looked around and found no one in the room. Vansh got off his bed and stood near the window.
Vansh thought (Well... I have only one week... and in these days I have to prove that we ran from a child labor-like place, and we have to take admission in J.W High School... Aaahh... so much work.)
Vansh turned around and walked slowly in the room. He was thinking about future plans.
Vansh thought(First, I have to find that kind of place that uses children as labor... and then also I have to make settlement in J.W High School.)
He took a long breath and exhaled in exhaustion.
He walked out of the room and into the corridor.
Yash came out from the bathroom. He had already changed his clothes in the bathroom. His hair was still wet. He walked towards his bed and dried his hair with a towel.
Yash looked around and found that Vansh was not in the room.
Yash thought(Hmm... maybe he is out of the room.)
Then Vaibhavi and Ritika also came out from the bathroom. They had also already changed their clothes. Their hair was wet.
Vaibhavi looked around the room and found Vansh was not there.
Vaibhavi said in a surprised tone: "Where is Vansh?"
Yash: "Maybe he is walking in the corridor."
Vaibhavi nodded and walked out of the room. Ritika and Yash followed her.
Ritika said in a relieved and excited tone: "Well, now at least I don't need to go to that school... and boring homework."
Vaibhavi and Yash chuckled.
Yash said in a teasing tone: "It seems your memory got lost... remember what she said, that we have to take admission in J.W High School."
Ritika made a frustrated face.
Scene shifts to that room again.
Arav and Ayush came out from the bathroom. They had also changed clothes in the bathroom.
Arav said in a relieved tone: "Aahh... now I am feeling better."
Ayush said in an agreeing tone: "Yep, same here... that damn drug effect is off now."
Saavi and Sakshi came out from the bathroom. Their clothes were slightly wet, not much.
Saavi said in a relieved and satisfied tone: "Well, now I am feeling better."
Ritika saw the room was empty; there were only Arav and Ayush.
Ritika said: "It seems that everyone is out of the room... probably to explore... we should also explore this place."
Everyone got out of the room and walked into the corridor.
Scene shifts to Vansh.
Vansh was outside the orphanage. He was on the footpath.
Vansh thought(I don't have money... still out from that orphanage... let's see if I can find that kind of place.)
Scene shifts to the orphanage.
Yash, Vaibhavi, and Ritika walked in the corridor, looking at the walls filled with many canvas paintings.
Arav, Ayush, Saavi, and Sakshi saw Yash and the others and caught up with them.
Sakshi was almost going to say something, but—
Kartik was in the corridor and approached them.
Kartik said in a normal tone: "Well, lunch is already ready, so you all can go to the cafeteria and eat."
Ritika said in a cheerful tone: "Is that so... and where is it?"
Kartik looked at the group for a second. He felt something was off, but what exactly, he didn't know yet.
Kartik said in a normal tone: "Follow me."
Kartik turned back, walked forward, and turned right. They all followed him without saying anything.
Yash thought (Why was he looking at us like that... is it because Vansh is not here?)
Kartik entered the cafeteria from the back; they all also entered. In the cafeteria, there were many children around the ages of 4 to 17 years.
Kartik said in a normal tone: "Well, here is the cafeteria... you can eat here."
Kartik walked out of the cafeteria.
In the cafeteria, many children were looking at them with mixed emotions like confusion, excitement, amazement, and dislike.
Kartik walked in the corridor, his expression thoughtful.
Kartik thought (What was off actually in that group?)
Scene shifts to the cafeteria.
Yash, Vaibhavi, Ritika, Arav, Ayush, Sakshi, and Saavi were sitting at the same table.
Ayush said in an amazed tone: "Well, this cafeteria gives the vibe of an expensive hotel."
Arav nodded in agreement.
Yash thought, (Yes, he is right... usually orphanages don't have facilities like this...)
A man around age 26 was wearing an oversized grey t-shirt and black trousers, with normal slippers. His appearance: wavy hair of eyebrow length, almond-shaped eyes—calm yet piercing. Thick, slightly arched eyebrows, naturally sharp. A straight, well-defined nose and smooth, balanced lips—neither thin nor full—resting in quiet neutrality. A sharp V-line jaw paired with a layered, wavy textured flow hairstyle, styled in controlled messy volume.
His voice was calm and light-pitched like a young male voice, but it was attractive: "Well, here is your lunch."
Four female maids placed plates and served Indian flatbread, toor dal, kadai paneer, steamed rice, and cooked moong dal.
Yash's expression changed into a slight smile, eyebrows raised in amazement, eyes wide.
Vaibhavi smiled in amazement.
Ritika gasped as she was not expecting this.
Arav's eyes widened in amazement.
Ayush: "Wow.. foo.."
Saavi and Sakshi smiled.
That man said, his voice still attractive: "Well... I hope you all will enjoy... btw my name is Siddhartha."
Everyone nodded. Siddhartha walked away from the table with a smile.
Ritika looked at Siddhartha and bit her lip. Vaibhavi smiled blankly and squeezed Ritika's cheeks.
Vaibhavi said in a teasing tone: "Hey hey hey... right now focus on food, not something else."
Ritika said in a frustrated tone, but there was no real frustration: "Yeah yeah..."
They all started eating.
Scene shifts to Kartik.
Kartik was in his room. He was sitting on royal furniture. His posture was relaxed. His eyes were closed.
Kartik thought, (Hmm... now I get it... that boy was not there.)
Kartik opened his eyes, stood up slowly, and walked out of the room.
Scene shifts to Vansh.
Vansh was returning to the orphanage.
Vansh said in frustration to himself: "Well, I didn't find anything... I searched in hospitals and restaurants... but found nothing."
Vansh entered the orphan's front ground.
Vansh thought, (That vision I got last night... that was from our second spirit case... but that was confusing and blurred.)
Vansh entered the orphanage and walked towards his room where they were staying. He entered the room and saw that no one was there. The windows and curtains were closed, and the light was off. The room was dark, but not completely.
Vansh said to himself: "Seems like everyone is out... I wonder where they are... fine."
He walked towards the switchboard and was about to turn it on when suddenly
BANG!
the door slammed shut. Vansh looked towards the door.
"Huh?"
Vansh said casually to himself: "Seems like the wind is very fast."
Before moving towards the switchboard, Vansh's mind clicked, and his heart started beating fast, sweat forming on his forehead.
(Wait a second!!... Windows are closed and this room is in a corner... so how is wind moving fast here?... that means something is off!!)
He moved towards the switchboard—and his heartbeat stopped like death.
Vansh's eyes widened, his throat dried, and he swallowed. His breath slowed. He stepped back. Near the switchboard, there was a completely black figure. That black figure was staring at Vansh with glowing gray eyes. That figure did not even blink.
Vansh didn't react. He slowly stepped back towards the door. He could feel the room temperature suddenly drop, cold like a snow land, and he felt there was no air in the room. He felt suffocation. Vansh moved his eyeballs towards the door and stepped slowly in that direction. He again looked towards the switchboard—and saw the figure start moving towards him slowly.
At this point, Vansh stopped his breath. His heart was beating extremely fast, and his body was screaming to run. Without looking back, he moved his right hand towards the door handle—but suddenly... he felt something cold.
Vansh's eyes widened in surprise. His heart was beating like it would burst out. He looked back—and found—
Near the door, there was a figure with completely gray eyes without pupils. It was staring at him.
Vansh's heart pumped violently. He screamed loudly.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahh!!!"
His vision blurred from the edges. He heard multiple sounds at once. His brain couldn't process anything. He saw a vision where a black cat was looking at him. Then he saw another black figure—different from before. That figure came behind the cat, twisted its head, and spoke in a demonic, multiple female voice:
"Come!!... play with me."
Vansh's vision completely returned—and he fell to the floor.
Chapter End