A few hours earlier, while the rest of the students at Adita High School were busy with their classes, Manash, Suraj, and Bikram were absent. Something far more important had demanded their attention.
A black XUV cruised down the road, blending into the steady stream of vehicles, each racing toward its own destination. The road was dominated by a chaotic symphony of machines—cars of different sizes and speeds, all pushing forward with mechanical determination.
Weaving through the traffic, the black XUV eventually veered onto a dusty, neglected road riddled with potholes. The once-used path had long been abandoned, its surroundings overtaken by towering trees and dense underbrush, concealing whatever lay beyond.
Then, without hesitation, the XUV took an unexpected turn—one that led not onto a road, but onto a faint, barely visible track. The subtle tyre marks suggested it had been used before, though rarely. As the vehicle left the main path and plunged into the depths of the forest, its tyres bounced unrestrainedly over the uneven terrain. But for a sturdy XUV, such a challenge was trivial—it traversed the rugged landscape effortlessly, its bolts and nuts unshaken.
Deeper into the forest, the air grew thick with an eerie stillness. Despite it being daytime, only a few slivers of sunlight managed to pierce through the dense canopy of leaves, casting faint golden streaks on the forest floor.
Then, without warning, the XUV screeched to a sudden halt. Its tyres skidded violently against the ground, kicking up fallen branches and leaves as it came to a standstill.
From the driver's seat, Satya stepped out, clad in his usual black tailored suit. His movements were calm and measured, exuding an air of quiet authority.
The front passenger door swung open next, and Manash stepped out. He wore a black t-shirt that fit snugly over his lean frame, paired with blue jeans and sneakers. But today, there was something different about him—draped around his neck was a red scarf. It was old, its edges frayed and slightly worn, yet he still kept it close, as if it held some significance.
From the backseat, the doors twisted open simultaneously, and Bikram and Suraj stepped out from either side.
Bikram was dressed in light green cargo pants, slightly loose to ensure they wouldn't restrict his powerful movements. His upper body was clad in a tight-fitting grey collared t-shirt, emphasizing his towering, muscular frame. His choice of sneakers was practical, but what stood out was the bracelet of tiny Rudraksha beads adorning his right wrist, adding an almost divine intensity to his already formidable presence.
Suraj, on the other hand, had a different style. He wore black cargo pants tucked neatly into his sturdy black boots, his attire blending into the forest surroundings yet maintaining a distinct edge. A slightly loose brown hoodie draped over his upper body, the hood resting against his back. His hands were covered in fingerless gloves, adding a rugged charm to his otherwise sleek appearance.
As they scanned their surroundings, all they saw were trees—massive and unmoving, towering over them like silent, ancient guardians. The dense foliage wrapped around them, offering no sign of what lay ahead.
Confused, Manash turned to Satya.
"Where are we?" he asked, his gaze lingering on Satya, uncertainty flickering in his eyes.
Satya turned to them and bowed slightly.
"Please forgive me, but we'll have to walk from here," he said.
Manash and his companions frowned, unsure of what to make of the situation. Their confusion deepened as Satya pulled out a sleek black phone and tapped the screen—no signal. He sighed in disappointment before reaching into his coat, rummaging through the inner pockets. A moment later, he retrieved a small compass.
Fixing his gaze intently on the needle, he slowly turned, scanning the surroundings as if searching for something specific. When the compass pointed north, he faced that direction, then turned back to the others.
"Please follow me," he said.
Without another word, he stepped forward, venturing deeper into the forest. His movements were careful, each step deliberately placed as he lifted his feet over the massive, tangled roots that sprawled across the uneven ground, tearing through the soil like ancient, gnarled tentacles. There was no way they could have driven any farther.
Manash, Bikram, and Suraj exchanged glances before following him into the dense woodland.
As they walked, Suraj occasionally stole glances at the compass in Satya's hand, making a mental note of their direction—just in case they lost their way in the depths of the forest.
"Where are we going?" Manash asked, narrowing his eyes in confusion.
"There's something you need to see," Satya replied. "We might find a lead about Raakai."
"In the middle of a forest?" Suraj questioned, his brows furrowing.
"Yes," Satya affirmed. His tone dropped slightly as he continued, "We uncovered an incident that took place here—something strange involving these very trees."
He paused for a moment before explaining, "Five young men entered this forest. Only one made it out alive. During the investigation, the survivor claimed he had seen three abandoned buildings deep within the jungle. The group decided to spend the night in one of them, but…"
Satya hesitated, taking a deep breath before continuing. "Something attacked them. He couldn't describe what it was—only that in the darkness, glowing eyes stared at them. Then, as they tried to flee, something—something unseen—dragged one of their friends away. Panicked, they ran in different directions, lost in fear. Only one of them somehow managed to make it back to the road."
Suraj frowned. "Buildings? And three of them? How is that even possible in a place like this?"
Satya glanced at him, a knowing look in his eyes. "You'll see soon enough."
But this wasn't just a story. The buildings were real—three towering, abandoned structures stood before them, hidden deep within the forest. Their minds reeled at the sight. How could something like this exist here, in a place so remote and untouched?
In front of them, surrounded by the towering giants of the forest, loomed the decaying remnants of what were once formidable buildings. Their windows and doors stood wide open, gaping like hollow eyes. The walls bore the unmistakable marks of time—cold, worn, and lifeless—while creeping vines and wild vegetation snaked their way inside, consuming what remained. A heavy, unnatural aura clung to the structures, as if they were fortresses of darkness and monstrosity.
Manash, Bikram, and Suraj stared, their eyes widening in disbelief. Not only were these buildings massive, but there were three of them—deep in a forest where no such thing should exist.
"Stay alert," Satya said, breaking their frowning silence. He reached into his coat once more, and this time, he pulled out a gun. His fingers tightened around the grip, his index finger hovering just above the trigger—ready to act at a moment's notice.
The three turned to him, noting the serious expression on his face. If Satya was preparing for trouble, then they had to be ready as well. Who—or what—could be lurking within these abandoned structures?
"Stick close to me," Satya instructed, swallowing hard.
Manash, Bikram, and Suraj nodded, falling in step behind him. As he took the first cautious steps toward the buildings, they followed, their eyes scanning the shadows, every sense on high alert.
Scaling the stairs, they reached the second floor. It was empty—silent and abandoned, with nothing but a thick layer of green vines creeping across the walls and floor.
They climbed another flight. But as they stepped onto the next floor, their breaths hitched. What they saw sent a chill through their spines.
A pile of bones.
Scattered across the floor were remnants of something horrifying—some bones still smeared with dried blood, while chunks of rotting flesh clung to them. At first, they assumed these remains belonged to animals. But then, amidst the twisted mess, they saw something unmistakable—human skulls. Rib cages. Torn intestines spilling beyond the pile.
Their eyes widened in shock.
There weren't just a few bones. There were countless. An entire mound of human remains, left to decay in the eerie silence of the abandoned building.
"What… what is this?" Suraj's voice trembled with disbelief.
Satya's brow furrowed, his widened eyes locked onto the grotesque sight. But no words came. He couldn't bring himself to answer.
Manash swallowed hard before speaking, his voice firm but tinged with hesitation.
"Suraj… let's go up. We need to find out what's really going on here."
Suraj and Bikram nodded, still dumbfounded, their eyes lingering on the gruesome scene before them. But they had no idea what awaited them next.
As they ascended to the next floor, their stomachs churned. The sight was the same—piles of bones stacked in grotesque disorder, rotting chunks of flesh scattered like discarded remnants of something unspeakable. Severed hands, mutilated limbs, twisted remains… The stench of decay was suffocating, growing stronger with each step, thick enough to make their stomachs revolt.
Satya pressed the back of his hand against his nose, gripping his gun tightly in the other. The foul air burned their senses, making their eyes water uncontrollably.
To reach the next set of stairs, they had to walk across this floor—over thousands of blood-soaked fragments, shattered bones, and decomposing flesh. Every step was careful, hesitant.
The sound of their shoes pressing against the blood-stained floor echoed through the silence, a dreadful reminder of where they were. The atmosphere was heavy, suffocating—thick with death itself.
But the next floor was even worse—far more grotesque than anything they had seen before.
Several naked bodies of men hung from thick ropes stretched across the room, their lifeless forms swaying ever so slightly. Their bellies were ripped open, intestines spilling out, yet it was worse than that—each figure's own entrails had been used to strangle them, tied around their necks like twisted nooses.
Some bodies were missing their lower halves entirely, severed from the waist down, as if something had torn them apart. Blood had dried into dark stains across the floor and walls, leaving behind an overwhelming metallic stench. It was a scene of utter brutality, a massacre beyond comprehension.
Manash, Suraj, and Bikram stood frozen, eyes widened in disbelief. A chill crawled down their spines.
But Satya… his reaction was different. His face drained of colour, his hands trembled, and his breath hitched in terror. His eyes locked onto two of the hanging corpses. Unlike the others, these two bodies struck something deep within him—something horrifyingly familiar.
Their stomachs were torn open, intestines dangling like grotesque vines. One of them was missing its jaw entirely. The other's arm had been ripped off, barely clinging to the shoulder by a fragile thread of skin.
Satya's lips parted, his voice a mere whisper. "Th-those… two…"
His breath was shaky, his words faltering.
"They're… among the four who went missing."
Manash and the others turned to him, their gazes shifting from the gruesome sight to Satya's stricken face. His lips were dry, his expression ashen with horror. But then—
A faint sound echoed.
Barely audible, just a whisper of movement.
Manash caught it. His body tensed as he instinctively turned toward the source—ahead, near the staircase leading to the next floor. But when he looked… there was nothing.
Had he imagined it? Or was something truly there, lurking just beyond the shadows?
Yes, something was watching them. Silently.
Something that lived among this carnage, thrived in the stench of decay, hidden within the shadows of death. But what?
"Hey," Manash's voice was barely above a whisper. His eyes narrowed, scanning the dimly lit corridor. "I think I heard something."
"What?" Satya got tensed.
Bikram and Suraj also turned, following Manash's gaze. Their bodies stiffened, instincts sharpening. If whatever had done this was still here, they had to be careful.
"I don't know…" Manash muttered. "I just feel like… something's watching us."
A tense silence settled over them.
"We need to check the next floor."
Everyone nodded, their movements now even more cautious. Satya tightened his grip on his gun, as ready to fire at the slightest sign of movement.
Slowly, they advanced toward the staircase. The path forced them to walk beneath the hanging corpses, their lifeless eyes staring down as if warning them of an unseen horror.
Bikram and Suraj stole uneasy glances at the bodies, their faces pale.
But Manash's mind was elsewhere, because he had seen something. Something white against the dark, bloodstained walls.
It had been just for a moment—like a fleeting glimpse of movement. When he turned his head, it had disappeared, as if it had darted back into the floor above.
But if something had run…
Why hadn't he heard a single sound? No footsteps. No rustling. Nothing. That was what truly unsettled him.
A cold shiver ran down his spine.
Manash and the others reached the stairway. Satya, moving with precision, raised his gun, pointing it toward the next floor. His hands were steady, his finger resting just above the trigger, ready to fire at the slightest movement.
Slowly, cautiously, they ascended the stairs. Step by step. The debrea groaned beneath their weight, the air thick with the stench of decay.
Satya kept his aim locked ahead, his grip tightening. If anything lunged at them, he wouldn't hesitate to shoot.
As they reached the next floor. A fresh wave of nausea hit them.
The floor was littered with human remains, much like the others, but in the center lay two bodies—both male. Their limbs had been torn off. Their heads were missing.
Their bellies had been ripped open, intestines spilling onto the floor, chunks of flesh scattered around like discarded scraps.
But one detail that stood out was, unlike the other corpses, these bodies weren't dry. Their blood seemed still fresh.
As if something—no, somethings—had been devouring them just moments ago.
They moved forward, Satya leading with his gun raised, his eyes scanning every shadowed corner. He turned his head sharply from side to side, searching, his instincts screaming that something was watching them.
The air felt heavier, thick with an oppressive presence.
Their gazes drifted back to the mutilated bodies, their stomachs twisting at the sight. The floor was smeared with scattered entrails and torn organs, the sheer brutality of the carnage making it hard to breathe.
But suddenly…