New characters introduction
Rajan
Headlight cuts through the rain. A man steps out, water sliding off his leather jacket. His eyes scan the lake like he's greeting an old enemy.
Professor Henry
The corridor quiets when he walks in. Crisp suit, silver-rimmed glasses, eyes that see through excuses faster than light through glass.
Professor Henry doesn't chase mysteries — he dismantles them.
Chapter 2 – The Depth Below
The road wound through the outskirts like a strip of wet charcoal, lightning clawing at the horizon. Thunder cracked overhead, shaking the car's frame. Leela's knuckles were white on the steering wheel as she cut through the storm. Her headlights carved thin tunnels of light into the blackness. The clock on the dashboard flicked to 1:12 a.m.
She'd reached it.
The destination rose from the dark like a forgotten secret: a squat house crouched at the edge of a forest, its tin roof glistening with rain. Everything smelled of pine needles, moss, and wet iron. She killed the engine and stepped out, the rain kissing her face in cold needles. Her phone glowed in her palm as she dialed.
Leela: "I'm here."
Rajan: "I'm coming."
A figure materialized between the trees, rain sliding down the hood of his jacket. Rajan's headlamp blinked like a lone star.
"Come," he said, his voice roughened by the night. "Five hundred meters more. We walk."
"You go first," Leela replied. "I'll follow."
They moved in silence, the ground squelching under their boots. Trees leaned inward, their branches lacing like fingers to block the sky. Somewhere ahead, water churned softly.
When the lake revealed itself, it was like a mirror of black glass cracked by rain. Rajan stopped at the edge, flicking off his light. Leela's breath misted in the cold.
"Is everything ready?" she asked quietly.
"Yes," Rajan said. "Everything's fine. But settle my money now. I've taken a huge risk for you."
"First you give me mine," she answered. "Then I'll give you yours."
He stared at her for a moment, then sighed. "Fine. Wait."
He stripped off his jacket and, without hesitation, dove into the water. The splash rang out like a gunshot in the stillness. Leela blinked, startled. At 1:38 a.m., in this freezing lake? "He's insane," she whispered under her breath. "Freaking bold guy."
Back at Leela's house, the night had its own watcher. Arjun crouched low against the roof tiles, rain slicking his hair to his forehead. His breath came fast, a shadow of panic crossing his face. Below him, a figure stood in the dark.
"Who are you?" the man demanded. His voice was low, but edged like glass.
Arjun jumped down from the roof, landing hard. His shoes splashed into a puddle. "That's none of your business. First, you say who you are."
The man stepped closer, his face half in shadow. "I'm her brother. Vishal. I came to see her. How dare you spy through her window?"
Arjun swallowed. "I… I'm sorry. I'm her friend. I haven't seen her in two days. I was worried. I didn't know if something was wrong."
Vishal's gaze cut through him like a blade. "If you're her friend, why didn't you knock on the door?"
"I did," Arjun said quickly. "No response. Then I saw a light switching on in the bedroom, so I—"
"What did you see in that room?" Vishal's voice was sharper now.
Arjun hesitated. "I saw her. Sitting on the bed."
Vishal pushed past him and climbed onto the ledge to see for himself. In that fraction of a second, Arjun bolted. He sprinted across the yard, vaulted a low wall, and disappeared into his house. His chest heaved as he slid down behind his front door, heart hammering against his ribs. The rain blurred the world outside.
Vishal dropped back from the window, scanning the shadows for movement. Nothing. The backyard was an ocean of dark.
Under the lake's surface, Rajan's headlamp cut a cone of light through the murk. He groped along the silt until his fingers found a rope embedded in the sand. He pulled, and something heavy shifted below. A metal box, large and angular, slowly rose, bubbles streaming from its corners. Hooked on four iron anchors, it had slept on the lakebed for days.
Rajan released the locks. The box floated, slick and dripping. With a grunt, he dragged it to shore.
Rain drizzled across Leela's face as she stared at the thing. "Open it," she said.
The box looked wrong. Too big. Like a coffin. Rajan knelt, unlocking the heavy belt that sealed it.
"How long was it down there?" she asked, her voice tight.
"Two days," he replied.
Leela flicked open her phone. The screen glowed blue in the dark. "Fourteen degrees," she murmured. "Fine. But I can't take risks. We'll need an alternative plan."
Rajan straightened, wiping water from his face. "What kind of plan, madam?"
"You'll know in two days. Until my next order, don't do anything."
"Alright." He hesitated. "Want me to double-wrap it?"
"Yes. Another waterproof layer. No mistakes, Rajan."
He nodded. They turned back toward the forest path, his headlamp bouncing as he carried the box like an anchor chained to his chest. Leela walked ahead, her silhouette swallowed by trees. She reached her car first, retrieved a parcel from the back seat, and slid behind the wheel. Without a word, she drove off, taillights dissolving into the mist.
Rajan stayed. He pulled a cigar from his jacket, lit it, and watched the lake steam under the cold rain. His face was unreadable. Confusion flickered in his eyes.
At 2:48 a.m., Leela returned home. Vishal lingered outside, trying to find another way in. He peered through a window, but the figure inside — sitting in the bedroom — was turned away, face hidden. No way to enter. No angle to see.
Vishal left moments before Leela arrived. She carried the container straight to the kitchen, sliding it into the fridge with practiced hands. Unease prickled along her skin. She turned on the heater, stripped off her damp clothes, and sank into a hot bath. Steam rose around her as she closed her eyes, thoughts circling like vultures.
Morning came pale and quiet. The phone buzzed. Leela answered.
Yamini: "Hey, Lee! What happened? I tried calling you a dozen times. Why didn't you pick up?"
Leela: "I went to my native place, Yami. My grandfather passed away two days ago. I got back only last night."
Yamini: "Oh, God. I'm so sorry. Are you okay?"
Leela: "Just tired. What about you?"
Yamini: "All good here. And tomorrow — you do remember what day it is, right?"
Leela: "What day?"
Yamini: "Seriously? Tomorrow is my Haldi. You're with me the whole day, okay?"
Leela managed a faint smile. "I'll be there. I promise."
Across the street, Arjun watched from his window. He'd rehearsed telling her someone had been inside her home last night, but the words turned to ash. If he said it, she'd know how he knew. And she'd know where he lived. He couldn't risk it.
Leela dressed for class, moving slower than usual. Arjun expected her to take the car, but she stepped out on foot instead, heading toward the bus stop. Eight hundred meters ahead, the world tilted. Her head spun, the sky flickered white, and she dropped to her knees.
Arjun broke cover, running. He crouched beside her. "Leela! Hey!" He dashed to a shop, bought a bottle of water, poured some over her face, then handed it to her. She drank slowly, color returning to her cheeks.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"Can I drop you home?" he asked.
"No, I'm fine. I just skipped breakfast."
"There's a hotel nearby. Please eat first. I'll come with you."
She hesitated. "It's okay…"
"You think I'm a stalker, but I'm not," Arjun said, voice soft. "I liked you. That's why I followed you. After you eat, I'll stop."
Leela studied him for a second, then nodded. "Okay. I'll go."
"Veg or non-veg?"
"I'm vegan."
"That's sweet." He smiled faintly, ordered food, and waited. "You stay alone?"
"I do."
"What are you studying?"
"Psychology," she said.
They ate in silence. Birds called from the trees outside. Sunlight slipped through the window, touching her earrings, scattering tiny sparks of light across her cheekbones. For a moment, Arjun forgot himself.
When they finished, she rose. "See you."
"Wait—can I get your number? Or Instagram? I won't disturb you. I just… want to connect."
She gave him her Instagram handle. Then she was gone, walking into the sunlight.
At the institute, Professor Henry intercepted her. "Leela. That project I gave you — unfinished. You're coming with me today. We need to verify your theory on-site."
She nodded. After lunch, they left in his car, the map on her lap. The destination unfolded before them: a house overrun by vines, its windows blind with dust. The air around it felt too still.
"Six months possessed?" the professor muttered as they walked in. "You're wasting time. Ghosts, Leela? In this century? Two months gone on nonsense."
"I'll get you the science behind it," she said softly.
"You have two weeks," Henry snapped. "I want the paper on my desk."
She pressed a hand to her forehead. The pain came like a knife, sudden and bright.
"Leela? What's wrong?" the professor asked, alarmed.
"I don't know. My head…"
He guided her back to the car, drove straight to the hospital. The doctor — an old friend — examined her, then called Henry aside. "Look at the report," he said.
Henry scanned the paper. His hands trembled. "This… this isn't possible. It takes months of testing to get results like these."
The doctor's face was grim. "I've been in this field thirty-two years. We found traces — things we shouldn't have found. She may be in danger. I need to analyze her further."
Henry looked back at Leela, unconscious on the examination bed. Rain lashed against the window as if the storm itself were trying to break in.
End of Chapter 2