Chapter 2 – A Mind Trapped in Darkness
Krish lay awake, staring at the ceiling, his mind trapped in the shadows of the strange incident from the previous night.
Who was that man?
How did he know Krish's name?
What did he want from him?
Was it all just a dream… or something far more
real?
The questions refused to leave his head. They circled endlessly, tightening like a knot around his thoughts.
With a deep sigh, Krish finally got out of bed and walked into the bathroom. Cold water splashed against his face as he tried to shake off the heaviness in his chest.
He went through the motions of his daily routine brushing, dressing, breathing but his mind remained stuck in the darkness of last night.
Once ready, Krish slipped into his black jacket and stepped into the living hall.
At the dining table sat his elder brother, Ricky relaxed, arrogant, and utterly unbothered.
A magazine lay open in his hands while tea and breakfast were neatly arranged in front of him.
He sipped his tea like a wealthy gentleman, eyes occasionally drifting to the newspaper headline:
"Strange incidents continue in the city… people disappearing mysteriously at night. No clues so far. Fear grips the streets."
Krish walked closer and softly greeted him.
"Good morning."
Ricky didn't even look up.
"What do you want?" he muttered, eyes still glued to the paper.
Krish hesitated for a second, then asked seriously,
"Listen, brother… do you remember what time I came home last night? Or how I came back?"
Ricky slowly folded the newspaper and placed it on the table. He looked up, his eyes sharp, suspicious almost accusatory. Rising from his chair, he stared at Krish as if examining a criminal.
"Oh?" Ricky sneered.
"So you've become a drug addict now? Roaming around all night after smoking weed, then waking up in the morning and asking me what time you came home?"
Krish's heart sank.
"Just wait," Ricky continued mockingly.
"Dad has gone out right now. Let him come back, I'll tell him all about your new achievements."
Krish immediately regretted opening his mouth.
He knew Ricky too well. His brother loved turning small things into massive problems. Ricky didn't need proof, just an excuse to lecture, humiliate, and dominate. And today, Krish had handed him that excuse himself.
Trying to recover, Krish replied calmly,
"Nothing like that. I was really tired last night. I walked a lot, came home, and fell asleep immediately. I didn't even notice the time, that's why I asked."
Before Ricky could respond, their mother entered the hall.
"What's all this noise so early in the morning?"
she asked sharply.
Ricky instantly fell silent.
Turning to Krish, his mother scolded him,
"Why didn't you eat dinner last night?"
Krish replied,
"I had fast food outside with a friend, so I wasn't hungry when I came home."
His mother wasn't convinced. She began lecturing him about staying out late, roaming at night, and irresponsible behavior. Not wanting to escalate things further, Krish quietly grabbed his keys and left the house.
Outside, the cold morning air felt strangely comforting.
Krish walked to a nearby park and sat on a bench, letting the silence wrap around him. Just then, his phone rang. Sam. Krish answered.
"Bro!" Sam said excitedly.
"How are you? I've got good news for you but you'll have to give me something in return."
Krish leaned back, his voice low.
"Everything's fine. Tell me the good news first. Then we'll talk about the price."
Sam laughed.
"I saw her."
Krish straightened slightly.
"Who?"
"Juli," Sam said.
"She was standing at the city's main bus station."
A faint smile appeared on Krish's face a rare one.
"Oh… that is good news."
They decided to meet at a nearby café.
Juli was not just a name to Krish. He had known her since high school. Back then, he had wanted to confess his feelings, to make her his girlfriend but time slipped away, and school ended before he ever found the courage.
Now, things were different.
Krish was different.
He believed he was finally ready to speak, to feel, to risk.
At the café, Sam stood outside wearing a blue jacket. The two friends greeted each other and sat at an outdoor table. Krish ordered two coffees.
"Alright," Krish said.
"So what special information do you have?"
Sam smirked.
"Wow… you're really eager to know about her, huh?"
Krish frowned.
"Stop joking. I like her. I want her. And I don't have time for nonsense, I need to focus on my career too."
Sam raised an eyebrow.
"What happened to you? Did one girl change you this much?"
Krish looked away for a moment, then spoke quietly, honestly.
"Something's off in my life, Sam. For some time now… everything feels empty. I feel lonely even when I'm not alone. I need someone who understands me. Someone who listens. Someone who can hold me together when I'm tired of this life."
He paused.
"I know Juli. She's like me. She's a good person. And I like her."
Sam sighed, then nodded.
"Okay, I get it. I can't go that deep emotionally, but here's the plan. Tomorrow morning, we'll go there like heroes. You'll talk to her start with friendship. And then… whatever happens, happens."
Krish smiled faintly.
As he went to the counter to pay, he overheard a conversation nearby.
"Did you hear?" one man whispered.
"The Deputy Mayor was attacked last night. Killed on his way home. His bodyguards too."
Another replied,
"The city's cursed. People disappearing, murders… no one knows what's happening."
Krish froze. The thoughts of Juli vanished from his mind, replaced once again by the darkness of the previous night, the strange man, the fear, the unanswered questions.
On the walk back, Krish made a firm decision.
From now on, I'll be home before nightfall.
No more going out at night.
Outside the café, as Krish and Sam said goodbye, something caught Krish's attention.
A crow sat atop a streetlight pole, staring directly at him.
"Craw… Craw…"
Krish felt a chill run down his spine. For a brief second, the world seemed… wrong. He quickly turned away and headed home.
But Krish wasn't the only one watching.
Across the street, inside a black car, sat Mr. Walia, a man in his late forties. Beside him was Mr. Ravens, a well known news anchor.
Ravens asked,
"Can you tell me now why we're sitting here?"
Mr. Walia replied calmly,
"We're watching that boy. A friend of mine told me that last night, a beggar like strange man was secretly following him… even taking his pictures."
Ravens frowned.
"Who is he? And why should we care?"
Mr. Walia's eyes narrowed as he looked ahead.
"People are disappearing. That boy might be the next target. If we keep an eye on him… we may uncover a truth the city doesn't yet know."
The car remained still.
The boy walked away.
And the shadows grew deeper.
Next Chapter…