Chapter 16:The Door That Should Stay Closed
A few minutes earlier, the group had nearly finished their dinner. Yash, lost in thought, seemed hesitant to speak. Vaibhavi noticed his preoccupation and gently nudged him.
Vaibhavi: "What's wrong? What's on your mind?"
Yash met her gaze, his expression curious. "By the way, who were the killer and the victim in that story?"
Ritika's eyebrows shot up with excitement. "Yes! I almost forgot about that. If you know, tell us!" She leaned forward, placing both hands on the table.
Vaibhavi didn't rush. She looked at both Yash and Ritika before replying. "Well... the killer was a famous businessman named Raya, and the victim was his girlfriend, Ritu. She actually betrayed him for another man. Together, they set fire to Raya's mansion to kill him, but he survived. That's why he's labeled a 'killer'—his skin was severely burned. The man she betrayed him for was also a businessman, and his company was performing even better than Raya's. After surviving the fire, Raya first murdered that businessman. Later, in a mall parking lot, he killed Ritu—an event Vansh and I personally witnessed."
Yash nodded slowly, while Ritika tapped her chin in thought. After a few moments, they all washed their hands and headed toward their room.
Ayush chimed in, his tone a mix of excitement and mischief: "Guys, I think we should explore this orphanage at midnight."
Arav looked at Ayush, surprised by the suggestion, but gave a slight nod. Saavi and Sakshi immediately chimed in, "Yeah, that's going to be fun!"
Yash, Vaibhavi, and Ritika were walking ahead of them and missed the conversation.
Ritika's expression turned to frustration. "Why the hell is there always a power cut here?"
Yash replied calmly, "The rain, of course."
Though the hall was plunged into darkness, there was just enough ambient light to navigate toward their room. Suddenly, a piercing scream echoed from the room where everyone was staying. Every face shifted from annoyance to sheer panic. It was Vansh. They all bolted toward the room.
Yash threw the door open. The room was dark, and Vansh was on his knees. Yash rushed to his side, finding Vansh struggling to breathe, gripped by intense panic and fear.
Yash shook him, worried. "Hey! What happened, Vansh?"
Vansh slowly stood up, looking back at the ceiling fan. His eyes widened—there was no one there. Vansh tried to compose himself, his voice shaking slightly. "Nothing."
Vaibhavi followed his gaze, seeing only empty air. She looked back at Vansh, certain that he had seen something.
Yash spoke in a lighthearted tone, hoping to diffuse the tension. "Hmm... I guess it's nothing serious. We should get some sleep."
They all climbed into their beds. Vansh lay staring at the ceiling. "Tomorrow, Yash and I have to go outside the orphanage to find that place... Please, God, help us find it.* After a few minutes of staring at the ceiling, he drifted off to sleep.
The room fell into a heavy silence, with the rain still pattering outside. Vaibhavi watched Vansh for a long time, her expression unreadable.
A few hours later, the entire orphanage was entombed in deep silence. Saavi and Sakshi suddenly sat up in bed, eyes bright with excitement. Sakshi scanned the room, noting that everyone—including Ayush and Arav—appeared to be fast asleep.
Sakshi whispered to Saavi, "Hey, I don't know, but I have a feeling they're actually sleeping."
Saavi leaned in close. "Yeah, it seems that way... but how? Ayush was the one who suggested this, and now he's out cold?"
They climbed out of bed and crept toward Ayush and Arav. Sakshi shook Ayush's shoulder, but he didn't stir. Saavi tried to wake Arav, but he remained motionless.
Saavi shook him again. Arav opened his eyes slowly, and in the dim darkness, he saw a black figure looming over him. Arav panicked and opened his mouth to scream, but Saavi quickly clamped her palm over his mouth.
Arav realized it was Saavi and tapped her hand as a signal for her to let go. Once she removed her hand, Arav sat up. "What happened?"
Saavi narrowed her eyes, stomped her foot, turned sharply, and walked toward Sakshi and Ayush. She hissed in disappointment, "Find out for yourself."
Arav groaned, gripping his blanket before tossing it aside and climbing out of bed. Meanwhile, Sakshi was still trying to rouse Ayush. Arav looked at Ayush, smiled blankly, made a fist, and landed a light punch on Ayush's abdomen.
Ayush's eyes snapped open with a gasp. "Uhh!" He clutched his stomach.
Saavi and Sakshi chuckled as they walked out of the room. Ayush glared at Arav. "Bastard... I'm not letting you get away with that easily."
Arav started toward the door. "Yeah, yeah... now come on, hurry up."
Ayush gritted his teeth, climbed out of bed, and followed Arav. They found the girls waiting. Sakshi's face glowed with anticipation. "Let's go!"
They stepped into the hallway. It was midnight, and the hall was eerily quiet, as if the building were abandoned. Arav leaned toward Ayush with a small smirk. "Well, I hope you had sweet dreams... my sleepy king."
Ayush's jaw tightened, clearly annoyed. "You asshole!" He wrapped his arm around Arav's neck, tilted him toward the floor, and struck his back with his elbow.
Arav chuckled. "Hey! Stop... Aaaah... stop it."
He tried to break free, while Sakshi and Saavi stood by, enjoying the chaos with smirks until they realized they were making too much noise. Sakshi pulled them apart, unable to suppress a soft laugh. Saavi covered her lips, trying to stifle her giggles.
"Hey, calm down both of you," Sakshi whispered. "We're in the main hall. So, where should we explore?"
Ayush didn't say anything, still glaring at Arav. Arav smirked and suggested, "Well, let's just wander and explore."
They looked into the darkened hall and then at each other, beginning to walk without making a sound. The tension between them dissipated. Ayush thought, "Why did I suggest this? I was sleeping so peacefully."
Minutes ticked by as they explored. They passed paintings, antique items, and rows of empty rooms. Yet, they couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
They stopped at a junction. To the left lay an endless, pitch-black corridor; to the right was a large metallic door adorned with warning symbols. They felt a strange pull toward both paths, but the attraction toward the metallic door was significantly stronger.
Arav asked, his voice wavering, "Where... should we go?"
Saavi whispered, "I swear, guys, I'm feeling drawn toward both directions... are you feeling it too?"
Sakshi took a step toward the right. "Yeah, same here."
Arav and Saavi looked at the metallic door, both excited and afraid. Saavi swallowed hard, biting her lip. Ayush remained silent, following Sakshi's lead. They walked toward the metallic door and stopped in front of it.
Meanwhile, in Kartik's room, Kartik was checking emails while Siddharth sat in front of the computer, scrolling through his phone. Siddharth smirked, enjoying his game, until his eyes landed on the computer monitor displaying the CCTV footage.
His smirk vanished. His expression turned serious as he leaned toward the screen with an intense gaze.
Kartik, noticing the sudden silence, stopped his work and walked over. "What happened?"
Siddharth didn't answer, his eyes locked on the monitor. Kartik followed his gaze.
Suddenly, Siddharth's smirk returned, and he leaned back, looking amused. "See, Kartik... those kids are in front of the metallic door. Isn't that interesting?"
Kartik's eyebrows furrowed. "What!" He leaned in to get a clearer view, let out an irritated groan, and turned to leave. "I'll be back soon."
Siddharth chuckled. "Good luck."
Kartik walked briskly toward the hallway. Back at the metallic door, Sakshi whispered, "It's amazing... why did they build this?" She tried to push it, but it wouldn't budge.
Ayush studied the design. "It looks like some kind of experimental lab door."
In the office, Siddharth watched the footage and smiled blankly. He whispered to himself, "I can hear you, kids... you just can't stay asleep. A wise man once said you can't suppress a child's curiosity."
At the door, Arav kept his eyes fixed on the metal. "I guess it requires some kind of key."
"Yeah," Saavi agreed.
Suddenly, the temperature dropped drastically. Arav's gaze froze , and he looked at the others, searching for a sign that they felt it too. They all shivered; Sakshi's hands began to tremble. Ayush breathed in the cold air, goosebumps erupting on his neck and arms.
In the office, Siddharth's relaxed expression faded as the footage began to glitch. He leaned forward, intense. "Huh? What's happening? These cameras are high quality."
The air feel dead .
Arav felt a presence behind him. He slowly turned around, and the others followed suit.
Saavi's voice shook. "What is...?" Her words caught in her throat.
Kartik was hurrying through the halls, whispering to himself, "Why did they go there? Do they have the key cards?"
At the door, Ayush asked, "Who is she?"
Arav stood tense, his body chilled. In front of them, a black figure—the silhouette of a girl—materialized in the darkness.
Arav's shoulders were rigid. Ayush didn't blink, entering a defensive stance. Saavi's heart hammered against her ribs, and Sakshi grabbed her hand tightly.
The figure's voice echoed through the air. "You all have to go back... and remember not to come to this hall again."
Arav's chest tightened, making it hard to breathe. Ayush felt a jolt of recognition, as if he had heard that voice somewhere before.
Sakshi swallowed, her throat dry. She leaned toward Saavi's ear. "Hey, doesn't that voice sound familiar?"
Saavi didn't answer, her gaze locked on the figure. The figure moved closer, then stopped. The air seemed to hold its breath.
Silence feel like Vacuum it self.
As it drifted nearer, it revealed itself to be Mohini in her normal form.
Ayush: "Huh?"
Arav asked, "Why is she here?"
Saavi spoke in an alert tone. "Wait... how did she get here?"
Mohini looked at them without expression. Her voice was serious. "You all must return to your rooms. You are not yet eligible to know what lies behind this door."
Before they could ask another question, Mohini vanished into the air like dissipating mist. Before they could react, Kartik stepped into the hall.
Arav flinched. "Oh, shit".
Sakshi gripped Saavi's hand tighter. "Why did he have to come now?"
Kartik walked toward them. His presence felt more dangerous than the silent hall itself. His face was stern, his voice rough. "Why are you all here?"
Arav's mind went blank, failing to produce an excuse. Saavi looked at Arav, then at Kartik. "We didn't feel sleepy, so we decided to go for a walk and ended up here."
Kartik didn't stop until he was standing directly in front of them, scanning their hands and pockets. "They don't have the cards? I guess her explanation is valid."
Kartik's brows knitted together. "Go back to your rooms."
They walked away in silence. Kartik looked back at the metallic door, then followed them at a distance. "Her explanation was plausible, but the way I observed them... it felt like they were here to explore. I need to check if my key cards are still in my room."
They reached their room, but Kartik grabbed Arav's arm to stop him. Arav gasped and turned.
Kartik's face was devoid of emotion. "Tell the others: do not go to that hall again. And one more thing—tomorrow, come to my room. I have questions."
He let go of Arav, who nodded and retreated into the room. Kartik headed upstairs to his office. Siddharth looked at him with a smirk.
"What happened?" Kartik asked.
Siddharth's smirk widened as he leaned back. "I found something interesting." He gestured to the computer screen.
Kartik watched as the footage glitched. His eyes widened in disbelief. He spun around to look at Siddharth. "How is this possible? I know these cameras are excellent quality."
Siddharth put his hands behind his head. "Well, this happened when you left your room. I saw them looking behind them, freezing like they'd seen a ghost. Then the glitch started, cleared up when you entered the hall, and started again."
Kartik looked back at the screen. "Is this a coincidence?"
The next morning, the orphanage cafeteria was buzzing with children.
Arav spoke in a doubtful tone. "I don't understand why Kartik sir wants me in his room."
Ayush smirked. "Maybe ...maybe he wants to kick your ass as punishment." He chuckled loudly. Arav glared at him.
Vaibhavi leaned toward Vansh. "I want you to tell me what happened last night in the room before we all came up."
Vansh stopped eating and looked at her. "It's nothing serious... I just got scared by the darkness."
Vaibhavi rested her chin on her palm, staring at him. "Oh, really? Vansh, I've known you since childhood. It's better if you just tell me."
Vansh rubbed his forehead with a sheepish smile. "Yeah, fine. I'll tell you later."
After a few minutes, Vansh and Yash walked out of the orphanage.
Yash looked at him. "So, what's the matter?"
Vansh said, frustrated, "We have to prove we escaped from that place where children were used as labor. How are we supposed to find it? That's why I brought you out—so we can search."
Yash nodded. "First of all, we don't know anything about this place because we're from a different world. It's going to take time."
They walked along the footpath. Vansh rolled his eyes, ignoring the posters on the walls and streetlights.
Yash asked, "By the way, do you have any money?"
Vansh pulled a 200-rupee note from his pocket. Yash's eyes widened with surprise and amusement. "Oh, you have some? I do, too." He pulled out a 500-rupee note.
Vansh groaned. "It doesn't matter. What if this money doesn't work here?"
"What if it does?" Yash said excitedly.
Vansh offered a blank smile. "Fine, let's find out."
They walked forward and spotted a restaurant, where they sat down quietly. After a few seconds, Vansh watched an elderly man pay the cashier with a similar note.
Yash nudged him. "Hey, bro, I think our money works here. Look."
Vansh nodded. A waiter approached, and they ordered *poha*. As they paid their bill, a man collided with Vansh. The man's mask slipped for a split second before he quickly covered his face and rushed out of the restaurant.
Vansh stared at him for a moment. He whispered to Yash, "Why do I feel like I've seen him somewhere?"
"Really?" Yash asked.
They walked out of the restaurant, and suddenly, it clicked. Vansh remembered the posters of the wanted person he had seen on the footpath earlier.
Vansh gasped, pointing to the man who was currently climbing into a car and speeding onto the road.
"Hey, hurry up! Fast!"
Vansh grabbed a bicycle and pedaled hard to follow the car.
"What the...?" Yash muttered, but he quickly grabbed another bicycle and followed car with Vansh.
Vansh's grip tightened on the handle.
There's no doubt now… it's him.
Chapter end