After following the black fog for some time Aarav stood across the street, looking at a hotel building.
It rose high above other buildings. Its entrance was wide and open. The lights split out from the entrance to the street. People were going in and out. Guards with heavy muscles were protecting the entrance.
The dark fog could even be seen in this black night now.
"So, it's here."
Aarav looked at himself, tattered clothes covered in dirt, messy hair and blood stuck to clothes.
'Can I even enter there like this?'
He looked around and noticed a man stepping out of a luxurious car. Aarav followed him at a steady pace. When they reached a quieter corner he struck him. The man collapsed. Aarav took some money and exchanged the clothes.
After some time, Aarav stepped out of the corner wearing a red shirt and black pants. He adjusted his clothes and walked toward the hotel entrance. His steps were steady and confident. The guards briefly glanced at him as he blended into the crowd of people.
Inside, the air was cold. The light reflected on the marble floor, bright. The quiet conversations filled the space, making the atmosphere lively. But Aarav was feeling something unsettling there. He looked at the fog that was dark and intense now.
It drifted forward.
The fog slowly moved forward to the stairs. Aarav followed it. Aarav stepped on the stairs. The sound of his footsteps echoed there. With every step he felt like he was hallucinating or being pulled in something but everything looked normal. He knew he was following the fog but inside there was an urge to go somewhere. He did not know why or where.
Behind him, seeing him using the stairs. A man in a waiter's uniform tried to stop him but Aarav ignored him as if he couldn't hear whatever the waiter was saying.
He crossed the second floor and arrived on the third floor. When he stepped on the third a voice echoed in his mind.
Focus.
The sound pulled him out of bewilderment. 'What?'
'Where am I?'
He rubbed his hands together. "Why is it so cold here?"
He glanced around, he was on the third. A party was being held here. Everyone was drinking and dancing on loud music. The lights were splitting on him like it wanted to tell him something. The music was like telling you to let go of your worry and enjoy the moment.
Aarav looked for the black fog but it had disappeared already.
'Where did it disappear? How am I gonna find it now?'
When a man stood on the table drunk and shouted.
"Hello everyone… Today was… my friend Vikram's birthday. Happy birthday my dearest friend."
"So… everyone… should enjoy and drink to their fill."
Vikram came near him and said, "Yeah.. everyone will enjoy, don't worry and come down from the table Ajay."
Aarav looked at them, 'Rich kids. Forget it, I need to find that soul first. If the fog had disappeared here means the soul was here.'
"Is it possession of the body like in the movie?"
'No. How can it be that it was just movies? But I need to do something to find that soul in these people.'
Aarav glanced at the stairs, for a second he thought someone was standing there.
'Is someone there?'
"No. Many weird things have happened lately. It must be because of this."
Aarav looked around and checked but found nothing suspicious.
Aarav looked at the bar counter and went there.
"Hey, one drink."
The bar attendant didn't respond and stood there like a statue.
Aarav said again. "Hey."
This time the attendant responded with a smile. "I am sorry sir, I will do it now."
Aarav felt as if the attendant was the soul, but he looked at his smiling face when he gave him a drink. "Thanks for this."
The attendant replied, "Please enjoy it sir."
Aarav gulped down the drink.
For a second Aarav felt as if everything paused.
"What…"
Then…
Boom. A blast.
Flames swallowed everything. People screamed. Everything thrown, glass shattered, everything shook violently. Flames devoured everything. People didn't even get a chance to react.
Aarav's body was thrown back, devoured by flames.
Then darkness.
….
Aarav's eyes widened.
The music was back.
Bright.
Loud.
Alive.
"Hello everyone…"
Aarav's breathing stopped for a second.
"Today… was my friend Vikram's birthday…"
The same voice.
The same words.
Aarav stood there, unmoving.
No burn— intact.