Chapter 13 – The Hidden truth.
Kartik was walking calmly.
His thoughts drifted.
(That boy was not there… that's why I felt something was off… I wonder where he is right now… and Chief already gave orders to keep an eye on him.)
Suddenly, he heard a scream coming from a room.
Kartik stopped.
He muttered to himself,
"Hhh??… Did I hear that right?... Did someone scream?... But at this time everyone is in the cafeteria… so who is it?"
He walked toward the room and noticed the door was half-closed. He pushed it open and found the room completely dark.
Kartik thought,
(This… is the newcomers' room… maybe that boy screamed.)
He stepped into the darkness. His foot hit something heavy lying on the floor.
Kartik's eyebrows tensed.
He walked toward the switchboard and turned on the lights. As he turned back, he saw a boy lying unconscious on the floor.
His expression tightened. He quickly ran toward the boy and checked his pulse.
A slight relief appeared on his face.
Kartik shook the boy's body.
"Hey boy!!... are you fine??"
There was no response.
Kartik lifted the boy onto his shoulders and walked out of the room.
The boy was Vansh.
Kartik headed toward the medical room.
He placed Vansh on the bed and looked at him.
(Ohh… I was right. It's him.)
A nurse arrived, checked Vansh's pulse, and gave him tablets.
She said in a calm and gentle tone,
"He just got unconscious because of excessive sweating. Nothing serious."
Kartik showed no emotion and simply nodded.
He glanced at Vansh, stood up, and walked out of the healthcare room.
(First they came here and lied to me… Chief told me to let them stay… and now this boy got unconscious… I still have suspicions about this newcomers' group… I wonder why they lied… but right now I have to inform his friends.)
Kartik walked toward the cafeteria.
---
A Few Minutes Earlier
Ayush said in satisfaction,
"I have to say, this food is really tasty."
Arav nodded in agreement.
They had all finished eating and stood up, heading to wash their hands.
Ayush turned on the tap, but someone pushed him aside and started washing his hands.
Ayush's eyebrows tensed with frustration as he stared at him.
The boy turned.
He had a curly medium mullet, a pencil mustache, light green eyes, full lips, a small silver piercing, and a cobra-in-fire tattoo on his neck. His shoulders were well-defined—it was clear he worked out regularly.
The boy said in an intimidating tone,
"What!!... Move away."
Ayush's jaw tightened.
Everyone watched from behind.
Ayush clenched his fist, about to punch, but Arav tapped his shoulder and Yash stepped forward.
Yash said calmly,
"Sorry… you can go."
The boy replied with frustration and intimidation,
"Of course I will… but handle your friend and don't mess with me."
He tapped Yash's shoulder and walked away with his friends.
Ayush's jaw tightened further but then relaxed.
Arav said,
"Calm down."
Ayush nodded and washed his hands.
Everyone finished and walked out of the cafeteria.
Ritika glanced one last time at Siddharth.
Vaibhavi teased,
"Ohh hoo… madam ji… take your eyes off him… he is older than you."
Ritika said in frustration,
"Whatever."
Sakshi asked,
"Why was that boy so rude?"
Saavi replied,
"I don't know… but thank God the fight didn't happen."
They all walked toward their room.
---
Arav suddenly said in confusion,
"Hhh?... I am sure I turned off the lights before leaving."
Saavi said casually,
"Maybe the maid left after cleaning."
They entered and went to their beds.
Arav suddenly remembered something.
"Hey guys… remember what that woman said? That we have to solve the second spirit case… so what about that? After all, she teleported us here because of that."
Everyone's eyes widened in realization.
Yash said,
"As I remember, she said we have to take admission in J.W High School. Then we'll get the second spirit case."
Everyone looked thoughtful.
Vaibhavi said,
"I still can't believe we are in this world."
Saavi and Sakshi nodded in agreement.
Ayush sat quietly on his bed, still in a bad mood.
---
Scene Shift – Kartik
Kartik entered the cafeteria. Most of the children had already left.
He noticed that newcomers are not here and he turned—but someone tapped his shoulder.
"Ohh… didn't want to meet your friend?"
Kartik turned and saw Siddharth.
Kartik said in surprise,
"Ohh, you came here."
Siddharth replied,
"Well, I recently heard that the Chief is out of state for personal work?"
Kartik nodded.
Siddharth whispered,
"So who's going to handle the organization?"
Kartik interrupted,
"That's already closed two months ago… I told you we can't talk about that… anyway, I'm busy. We'll talk later."
Siddharth smiled.
Kartik walked away.
(I still remember that place.) — Siddharth thought.
(That place… those students are something else… many ran away… and we both are top products.) — Kartik thought.
---
Kartik opened the room door.
Everyone looked at him.
Yash asked in surprise,
"Kartik sir… what happened?"
Kartik said calmly,
"One of your friends is in the healthcare room. You can go meet him."
Vaibhavi immediately stood up.
"Are you talking about Vansh?"
Yash and Ritika followed her.
Saavi said,
"We should also go."
They all followed.
Ayush stayed seated.
Arav walked up to him and said softly,
"Hey Ayush, let's go… they helped us a lot. As friends, we should go."
Ayush's expression softened, and he stood up.
---
Healthcare Room
They entered.
Vansh was already awake.
Vaibhavi said worriedly,
"Why is Vansh in the healthcare room??"
Kartik replied calmly,
"A few minutes ago, I heard a scream and found Vansh unconscious on the floor… so I brought him here."
Vaibhavi placed her palm on his forehead.
Kartik said,
"He's fine now… you can take him back."
He left.
---
(Right now, I can't tell them about that vision.)— Vansh thought.
Vaibhavi and Yash helped him.
They returned to their room.
Everyone was confused, surprised, and worried.
Vansh sat on his bed.
Vaibhavi asked,
"What happened??... why did you suddenly get unconscious??... where did you go before??... in the spirit realm?"
Yash gently placed his hand on her shoulder, signaling her to stop.
Vaibhavi nodded.
"Rest for now," she said softly.
They all sat together in the corner.
---
Vansh's Thoughts
Vansh closed his eyes. Vansh remember like he is again on that place .
(What evidence and vision did I get for my second case…)
(First, I saw a completely black floor… six figures… one chained… his eyes were gray…)
(Then I saw an old eight-floor building… burned walls… it must have caught fire… the atmosphere felt like autumn…)
(There were three girls and two boys… but earlier I saw six figures… so the sixth must be the one I possessed…)
(They probably came there for exploration… then on the rooftop… that horrible scene…)
(That bulky guy was possessed… maybe by a ghost… they ran…)
(So this case is about guilt… and the spirit is trapped by it…)
His heartbeat rose as if reliving everything( Daaam… I remember everything exactly.)
He opened his eyes.
No one was in the room.
He sat up in surprise.
"Seems like they went out."
He looked outside the window.
Everyone was playing football.
(They are playing without me…)
He gave a faint smile.
Suddenly—
Another vision flashed.
(The gray-eyed figure again… then another… a female… she twisted a cat's head…)
(Who is she?... the seventh person… I only saw six… so who is this seventh figure?)
---
Garden Scene
Vaibhavi, Yash, and Ritika were walking in the orphanage garden.
It was evening.
Children were playing football and basketball.
Some were chatting.
Yash asked,
"Hey Vaibhavi, why are you still worried?"
Vaibhavi replied,
"Why shouldn't I be?... Did you forget about Vansh's mental disorder?"
Yash's expression changed as he tried to remember.
Ritika looked excited to hear it.
Vaibhavi glared at Yash.
Yash smiled nervously.
"Really now?... You don't remember?... You're our childhood friend!"
Yash said awkwardly,
"Okay… sorry. Now tell me."
Ritika added eagerly,
"Yeah, tell! I can't wait!"
Vaibhavi said—
"Well, Vansh has…"
---
Chapter End.