The first day passed without incident.
No messages on mirrors.
No shadows standing at the end of hallways.
No objects moving on their own.
Nothing.
And somehow, that felt worse.
At least when something happened, they knew what they were fighting. Silence left too much room for imagination, and imagination had a way of creating horrors far worse than reality.
By the second morning, everyone had become painfully familiar with Wick's rules.
Nobody moved alone.
Nobody went near the beach after sunset.
Nobody touched the necklace.
And most importantly—
Nobody left Shristi by herself.
The rule had become so ingrained that nobody questioned it anymore.
At breakfast, the atmosphere was surprisingly normal.
Almost.
Aryan walked into the dining area looking far too energetic for someone who had slept only a few hours.
"Good morning, traumatized people!"
A pillow hit him before he could sit down.
"Go away," Varsha muttered.
"Love you too."
The group had gathered around a long table near the windows. Sunlight streamed into the room, and for a few moments it almost felt like an ordinary college trip again.
Almost.
Because every few minutes someone unconsciously checked where Shristi was.
Rule number one.
It had become second nature.
When Shristi stood up from her chair, Varsha immediately pushed hers back as well.
"Bathroom," Shristi announced.
"I'll come."
Shristi stared at her.
"You do realize I'm just going to the bathroom, right?"
Varsha shrugged.
"Rule number one."
"I hate rule number one."
"I know."
Across the table, Dipanshu pointed dramatically.
"Rule number one is the only reason Wick hasn't locked you in a vault yet."
Wick didn't even glance up from his coffee.
"Don't give me ideas."
"See?" Dipanshu said, looking around triumphantly. "I wasn't joking."
Laughter rippled through the table.
On the opposite side, Aryan leaned back in his chair.
"Personally, I think I'm doing an excellent job as Head of Security."
Nobody remembered giving him that title.
Aryan had simply declared it.
"We should fire you," Dipanshu replied.
"That's unfair."
Deep looked up from his plate.
"I agree with Dipanshu."
"Nobody appreciates my greatness."
"Correct," Wick replied without looking up from his phone.
The table erupted into laughter.
Even Shristi smiled.
For a brief moment, everything felt normal again.
Only Prishka wasn't laughing.
She sat quietly near the balcony, her attention drifting back to Shristi every few minutes.
Eventually Shristi noticed.
"Why do you keep staring at me?"
Prishka blinked.
"Making sure you're not secretly possessed."
"Comforting."
"You're welcome."
The conversation ended there.
But the feeling didn't.
Every time Prishka looked away, something inside her urged her to look back.
As though her instincts were trying to warn her about something she couldn't yet see.
---
Later that afternoon, the group headed into the city.
The marketplace was crowded and vibrant, filled with tourists, music, and rows of colorful stalls.
For a while they allowed themselves to enjoy it.
They bought souvenirs.
Argued over prices.
Tried local food.
And got lost twice because Aryan insisted he knew where he was going.
He didn't.
"How did we end up back here?" Dev asked.
Aryan looked offended.
"I am exploring alternative routes."
"You're walking in circles."
"That's just your opinion."
The laughter returned.
For a little while.
Then the voices began.
Shristi was standing beside Sonal and Kritika, examining handmade bracelets when she heard it.
A whisper.
Soft.
Almost drowned out by the noise of the crowd.
"Shristi..."
Her head snapped around.
Nobody.
Just people moving through the market.
Talking.
Shopping.
Living their lives.
She frowned.
Maybe she imagined it.
Then it came again.
Closer this time.
"Shristi..."
Her pulse quickened.
The voice sounded familiar.
Not enough to recognize.
Just enough to feel wrong.
"Angel?"
Wick appeared beside her almost immediately.
"What's wrong?"
She forced a smile.
"Nothing."
Wick studied her for a moment.
He didn't believe her.
But he let it go.
For now.
As they continued through the market, the whispers returned several more times.
Always calling her name.
Always staying just out of reach.
Never revealing themselves.
By evening, she had stopped convincing herself it was imagination.
Something was speaking to her.
The question was what.
---
That night, the group gathered in the upgraded suite the hotel had given them.
The room was large enough to function almost like a common hall, which had become useful ever since Wick's rules were established.
Deep and Dipanshu were arguing over card game rules.
Aryan was accusing everyone of cheating.
Varsha was recording everything for future blackmail.
"You cheated."
Aryan pointed dramatically at Deep.
"I literally showed you my cards."
"Exactly. Psychological warfare."
"No. That's called playing."
Meanwhile, Wick sat beside Shristi while Prishka occupied the sofa across from them.
Then suddenly—
Shristi froze.
Not visibly at first.
Just enough for Prishka to notice.
The conversation continued around them.
Nobody else realized.
"Shristi?"
Prishka called.
No response.
Wick immediately turned.
"Angel?"
Still nothing.
Because Shristi wasn't looking at them.
She was staring down the hallway.
At the far end of the corridor stood a woman.
Long dark hair.
White dress.
Water dripping from her clothes.
A puddle forming beneath her feet.
Motionless.
Watching.
The woman smiled.
Then vanished.
The lights flickered.
Shristi gasped.
And the voice returned.
Clear this time.
Close enough to feel.
"Bring it back."
Her entire body stiffened.
"Bring it back."
Again.
"Bring it back."
Again.
The glass slipped from her hand.
It shattered against the floor.
The room fell silent.
Everyone jumped.
Deep was on his feet instantly.
"What happened?"
Kritika rushed forward.
"Did you cut yourself?"
Shristi stared at the broken glass.
The voices had vanished.
As suddenly as they'd appeared.
"I'm fine," she said quietly.
Nobody looked convinced.
Especially Prishka.
---
Sleep came reluctantly that night.
Before everyone returned to their rooms, Wick stayed with Shristi until she finally calmed down.
Prishka and Varsha remained with her while the others slowly dispersed.
Eventually Wick stepped into the hallway.
Deep and Dipanshu were still awake.
Neither looked remotely tired.
"Thank God they upgraded the rooms," Wick said quietly.
Deep nodded.
"I didn't expect it either."
"We got lucky," Dipanshu added. "Especially since Shreekant, Karan, and Annu are busy with that wildlife project."
For a few moments, nobody spoke.
Then Wick looked at both of them.
"Thanks."
Dipanshu immediately frowned.
"For what?"
"For helping me handle this."
The response came instantly.
"Fuck your thank you."
Wick blinked.
Dipanshu pointed directly at him.
"We're here because we're family, not because we want a thank-you speech."
Deep nodded.
"Agreed."
For the first time that night, Wick smiled.
Then Deep folded his arms.
"Now go sleep."
"I'm fine."
"No, you're not."
Wick opened his mouth.
Dipanshu cut him off.
"Do what we said."
The conversation ended there.
Because all three knew the truth.
Wick had barely slept in days.
Someone had to force him to rest.
---
Around 2:41 AM, Wick woke suddenly.
No nightmare.
No noise.
No reason.
Just instinct.
The same instinct that had warned him before every major disaster in his life.
Something was wrong.
He checked his phone.
Nothing.
Then he noticed the door was lil open.
Deep was supposed to be there and he don't left things like that.
A moment later, Deep appeared carrying two cups of coffee.
Wick stood immediately.
"Don't."
Deep froze.
"What?"
"Open the door."
Neither of them understood why.
But both felt it.
Deep pushed the door open.
The room was freezing.
Varsha slept peacefully.
Prishka was inside the bathroom.
But Shristi's bed—
Was empty.
Wick's heart dropped.
The balcony door stood open.
And outside, barefoot and motionless, stood Shristi.
The ocean stretched endlessly beyond her.
Dark.
Silent.
Waiting.
The wind whipped through her hair.
Yet she didn't react.
Didn't blink.
Didn't move.
"Shristi."
No response.
"Angel."
Slowly, her head tilted.
Not enough to look at him.
Just enough to acknowledge he was there.
The ocean wind howled through the balcony.
Then she whispered:
"Can you hear them?"
Deep froze.
"Hear who?"
No answer.
Several seconds passed.
Then:
"The voices."
Her eyes never left the sea.
Deep had known Shristi for a time.
Yet something about the way those words left her mouth made his stomach tighten.
It sounded familiar.
But not enough.
Wick's expression hardened.
For a brief second, Wick and Deep exchanged a look.
Neither spoke.
Neither needed to.
Both of them had noticed the same thing.
The three days had barely begun.
And already the entity was growing stronger.
Together, Wick and Deep carefully guided her back inside before she could move closer to the railing.
A few moments later, Prishka rushed from the bathroom.
One look at their faces was enough.
"Don't tell me."
Wick nodded.
"It happened."
Prishka closed her eyes.
For a second, genuine fear crossed her face.
Soon Dipanshu arrived as well, having been alerted by Deep.
The discussion that followed lasted nearly an hour.
Everyone wanted to stay awake.
Everyone wanted to help.
Wick refused.
"If all of us stay awake, we'll be exhausted tomorrow."
"But—"
"I need you functional."
His gaze shifted between Deep and Dipanshu.
"I need both of you charged."
Neither liked the answer.
But neither could argue with it.
Even Aryan eventually wandered into the room insisting he would help guard the place.
Ten minutes later, he was asleep on the extra bed.
Nobody had the heart to wake him.
One by one, the others finally left.
Deep and Dipanshu returned to their shifts.
Prishka and Varsha stayed beside Shristi.
And Wick remained awake on the sofa near the balcony door.
Watching.
Waiting.
Because deep down, he knew.
The entity wasn't waiting anymore.
It had already made its first move.
To be continued…