It Lives in the Woods

What are you afraid of?

Present

Preeta was sitting in the class, attending her lecture.

Her mind raced between the thoughts of Ritwik, Tapsee and him.

Preeta(in mind): Agar Redfield sach mein aa gaya hai.. Toh fir Ritwik ki jaan ko khatra hai..

Preeta opens the group chat of her old friends and starts texting.

Preeta: We need to talk

Karan: Kis baare mein?

Preeta: Aaj ki speech.. Aur yeh mat bolna ki tumhe kuch nahi pata chala..

Sameer: Kahaan aur kab milna hai?

Monisha: Shaam ko milte hain.. 6 baje.. Fountain ke paas

Srishti: Theek hai..

She kept the phone back and waited for the lecture to finish.

As the lecture ended, the professor called Rishab to his cabin which Preeta found suspicious but she jerked her thoughts and headed out.
........................................

Preeta was going towards the cafeteria when someone closed her eyes from behind and started dragging her.

When she opened her eyes, she found herself in the locker room, all alone.

Sherlyn(laughing): Enjoy Preeta

Preeta(angry): You.. Darwaaza kholo..

But, Sherlyn had already left. Preeta sighed and sat on the floor, waiting for someone.

Voice(slowly): Moree funn..

The light goes out and Preeta suddenly finds herself in the woods with Tapsee looking at her.

She spins around to see the ruins.

Preeta(shocked): Tapsee.. Tapsee chal yahaan se..

She tries to reach for Tapsee but her body remains frozen in place.

It started getting dark when Tapsee entered the house.

Preeta(shouts): Tapsee..

The door of the locker room opens and Preeta sees Rishab looking at her.

He helps her to get back to her feet.

Preeta(inhales deeply): Thanks.. Aur Rishab.. Shaam ko 6 baje milne ka plan bana hai.. Fountain ke paas..

Rishab nodded. He exactly knew what Preeta was thinking about.
................................

In The Evening,

Preeta walked towards the fountain to see Karan, Monisha and Rishab waiting.

Sameer arrived a minute later with Srishti.

Preeta(serious): Okay.. Hum sabko pata hai.. Hum yahaan kyun hai..

Srishti(scared): Mujhe nahi pata tu kis baare mein baat kar rahi hai..

Preeta: Maine tum sabke chehre dekhe the assembly mein.. Sab dare hue the.. Sabne suni thi woh aawaz..

A long heavy pause fills the air as everyone refuses to look at each other.

Srishti(trembling): Ek aur baat hai..

She holds up her phone to show the texts from Ritwik.

Rishab(shocked): Hum sabko woh texts mile the?

Preeta rubs the bruises that she had got last night and finally confesses everything about the blackout and the creature that appeared like Ritwik.

Karan(holding his head): Mr. Red is back..

Sameer(angry): Hume police ko bulaana chahiye..

Srishti: Woh log kya karenge? Redfield ko arrest?

Sameer rubs his head in frustration.

Monisha: Police se yaad aaya.. Ritwik ke parents ne uski missing complain file ki hai..

Karan(harshly): Aur tum abhi bata rahi ho?

Monisha(angry): Mujhe laga tumhe pata hoga..

Karan: Sabke Dad Commissioner nahi hote..

Monisha rolls her eyes.

Preeta(determined): Hume uski madad karni hogi.. Hum hi uski madad kar sakte hain..

Rishab: Par hum kyun?

Preeta(shouts): Kyunki humne yeh sab shuru kiya tha..

Srishti(cries): Kabhi kabhi lagta hai.. We were just a group of dumb kids.. Jinko woods mein nahi khelna chahiye tha..

She gets up.

Srishti(runs): I can't do this..

Everyone looks at her in dismay.

Kritika: Mein bhi yeh nahi kar sakti.. Ho sakta hai iske peeche koi insaan ho..

Preeta(angry): Aur agar insaan nahi hua toh? Sach mein Redfield hua toh?

Karan(angry): Redfield ne meri behen ko mere saamne maara.. Bohot hogaya.. Aur tum log.. Tum toh usse bhool bhi gaye.

Everyone leaves quietly until Karan and Preeta are left.

Preeta(sighs): Mein tumhaare saath chaloongi.. Woh bhi aaj raat ko..

Karan nods.

Preeta: Mein samaan leke aati hoon class se fir chalte hain..

Karan(confused): Par uske baad?

Preeta(determined): Uske baad.. Hum Ritwik ko bachaane jaayenge..
..................

Precap:

Hauntings

Hope y'all liked the chapter! ❤

githadasari Here you go! ✨❤

Loveee
Khushi ❤