The queue moved slower than expected.
Riya shifted her weight impatiently, glancing at the door every few seconds. Warm steam escaped each time it opened briefly, curling into the waiting area before fading into the mountain air.
"This is taking forever," she muttered.
Meera leaned against the wooden wall. "At least it's warm."
As the queue moved, they stepped inside the entrance area. A small wooden counter stood to one side. Behind it, the same middle-aged man watched them quietly.
On the shelves beside him were neatly arranged bottles—shampoo, soap, oil.
Riya picked one up. "We need to take these, right?"
The man nodded. "Take what you need."
Meera picked up a shampoo and a small bottle of oil. "How much?"
The man didn't answer.
He just looked at her.
For a second longer than necessary.
Then said, "You can go."
Riya frowned. "But—"
"Next," he called out, ignoring her.
Meera exchanged a quick glance with Riya.
"That was… weird," Riya whispered.
"Maybe it's included," Meera said casually, though she didn't sound convinced.
Before entering, Riya leaned closer.
"Okay listen," she said quietly, "we'll do this fast. And I'll knock twice when they're about to open the door."
Meera nodded. "Got it."
"Two knocks means wrap up."
"Done."
The man looked at them again.
"Fifteen minutes."
Meera stepped inside.
The door shut behind her.
The cubicle was smaller than she expected.
Wooden walls, a small stool, a bucket, and a shower pipe fixed above. Steam filled the space quickly, turning everything into a blur.
Meera placed the bottles on the shelf.
For a moment, she just stood there.
The silence inside felt… thick.
Then she shook it off and turned on the water.
Riya waited near the door, arms crossed.
Five minutes hadn't even passed.
Then suddenly—
The man stood up.
Walked to the door.
Unlocked it.
Riya frowned immediately.
"What? It's not even—"
Before he could open it fully, she stepped forward and knocked twice on the door.
**Knock. Knock.**
"Di!" she called out. "They're opening!"
Inside, Meera turned sharply.
"What—already?"
The door creaked open.
The man stood there again.
"It's not even five minutes," Meera said, clearly annoyed.
"Storage upstairs," he replied calmly. "Need something."
She stepped aside reluctantly.
He gestured behind him. "Go."
A worker entered and walked past her.
That's when Meera noticed it.
A narrow wooden staircase in the corner.
It led upward.
Into a dark attic space.
The worker climbed slowly, each step creaking loudly.
Meera found herself watching.
Listening.
Waiting.
He came back down carrying a small wooden box.
As he passed her, he paused.
Opened it.
And turned it slightly toward her.
Inside were drawings.
Strange ones.
Circles within circles. Symbols that didn't belong to anything familiar. Human-like figures twisted into unnatural shapes.
Meera frowned.
"What is this?"
But her voice felt distant.
Her eyes didn't move.
Something about those drawings held her there.
Pulled her in.
As if they meant something she couldn't yet understand.
The worker closed the box.
Just like that.
And walked out.
The door shut again.
For a few seconds, Meera didn't move.
Then she blinked.
Shook her head lightly.
"Okay… that was weird."
She picked up the shampoo bottle.
Opened it.
The texture felt thick.
Almost too smooth.
She applied it slowly.
The moment it touched her scalp, a warm sensation spread instantly.
Not just warmth.
Something deeper.
Like a slow pulse.
Her fingers moved through her hair, and for a moment she felt it—soft, heavy, almost as if it had grown fuller in seconds.
She closed her eyes.
Let the sensation stay.
Then rinsed it off.
Next, the soap.
It melted into her skin like silk.
Not like normal soap.
More like something coating her skin instead of cleaning it.
Her arms felt smoother.
Too smooth.
Like polished glass.
Her breathing slowed.
Her thoughts… softened.
Then she picked up the oil.
Hesitated.
Then applied a drop to her hairline.
A strange calm settled over her.
Like her mind was being wrapped in something warm and heavy.
Outside, Riya stood up again.
She knocked twice.
**Knock. Knock.**
"Di… time."
Inside, Meera opened her eyes slowly.
The voice felt far away.
Familiar.
But distant.
"I'm… fine," she replied.
But her voice didn't sound like hers.
The door opened.
The man stood there.
"Time."
Meera stepped out.
Her hair was dripping wet.
Her expression… blank.
Riya frowned immediately.
"You're still wet. Didn't you dry—"
She stopped.
Meera's eyes didn't look right.
"I'm fine," Meera said flatly. "I just need to sit."
Something cold settled in Riya's chest.
Behind her, a girl in the queue spoke impatiently. "Can you move?"
Riya stepped aside. "You go ahead. I'll come later."
The girl entered.
Riya turned back.
Then froze.
All the girls who had already finished…
were still there.
Sitting.
Standing.
Watching.
None of them were leaving.
Riya's grip tightened on Meera's arm as she helped her sit on a nearby chair.
"I'll get a towel."
She walked quickly to the counter.
"I need a towel."
The man looked at her calmly.
"You have to buy it."
"I don't have money," Riya snapped. "You took our phones."
He tilted his head slightly.
"Your sister bought things."
Riya blinked. "What?"
"She didn't pay."
"Then how did she buy it?"
A pause.
Then—
"You don't pay with money here."
Riya felt her stomach drop.
"You sell your soul."
For a second, the words didn't make sense.
Then they did.
And everything felt wrong.
Riya grabbed the towel from the counter.
"I'm not doing this."
The man didn't stop her.
But behind her—
All the girls turned.
At the same time.
Watching.
Riya ignored them and rushed back.
She wiped Meera's face, her arms.
"Let's go," she whispered urgently.
Meera didn't move.
"I don't feel like moving."
Her voice was heavy.
Slow.
Riya grabbed her arm.
"Di, we're leaving."
Meera suddenly pulled her closer.
Her grip tightened.
Unnaturally strong.
Riya froze.
Before she could react—
The man stepped forward and grabbed her wrist.
"You are not allowed to leave."
His grip tightened.
And in that moment—
Meera stood up.
Stepped forward.
Grabbed his arm.
And twisted.
A sharp crack echoed through the room.
The man screamed.
Riya stared in shock.
Meera's face remained blank.
Around them, the other girls began to move.
Slowly.
Closing in.
Riya didn't think.
She grabbed Meera's hand.
"Run."
They pushed through the crowd and rushed toward the door.
No one stopped them.
No one tried.
They just watched.
As the two sisters stumbled out into the cold daylight.
---
Outside, Kabir straightened immediately.
"What happened? Do you know how long—"
He stopped.
Riya's face.
Meera's silence.
Something was very wrong.
Aarav stepped forward.
"What happened?"
Riya shook her head, still in shock.
"Let's go," she said.
"Now."
And for the first time since the trip began—
fear had completely taken over.