Thud… thud… thud…
The wind blew, lifting her dupatta slightly and revealing her beautiful eyes, while her hair danced with the breeze
[Wearing a white dupatta,pink kurte, white pants, blue chappal, old Sony headphones an a blue bag]
as she walked toward the bus stop, earbuds tucked in but only one playing. It had been a month and a half since college began, yet the feeling of being 'new' still lingered. The road was the same every day
the schoolkids rushing past, the endless chatter of traffic - but for her, each walk carried its own quiet rhythm
On the narrow lane ahead, a white cat sat right in her path. Its eyes held a mix of hope, sadness, and something almost ridiculous—like it was waiting for her. She slowed down, looking at the strange little guardian of the road. When she finally got close, the cat lifted its head and let out a soft, 'Meow, meow.'
She couldn't help but smile. 'Aww, what a cutie,' she said, crouching down to pat its head—pat, pat. The cat closed its eyes for a moment, accepting her touch. Then, as she stood and walked on, it turned around, still watching her with those same hopeful eyes, meow…
She stepped onto the bus, the doors closing with a hiss behind her. The familiar seat by the window was empty, so she slid in and set her bag on her lap. The bus jerked forward, joining the slow morning traffic. Outside, the city stretched awake—sunlight spilling over rooftops, leaves fluttering in the soft breeze, the roadside dotted with chai stalls and schoolchildren rushing to class. For a moment, it felt peaceful, like the world had its own rhythm.
She unlocked her phone, scrolling without much thought, when something caught her eye. A new notification appeared on the screen—one she had never seen before.
She frowned at the notification and tapped it open. It was the morning news.
'Breaking: An unknown creature attacked Saint Mercy Hospital late last night. Twenty-two patients, seven nurses, and three doctors were confirmed dead. Survivors described the attacker as resembling a panther, but with long, twisting tentacles and a body far larger than any animal they had ever seen. The victims weren't just killed—they were devoured.'
Her eyes widened as she scrolled further.
'By the time police arrived, the creature had vanished. What remained inside the hospital were only blood-soaked walls, shattered lights, and half-eaten corpses. Authorities are urging citizens to stay calm while investigations continue.
The sun was already high by the time she reached campus, its warmth doing little to erase the unease that clung to her skin. The college courtyard buzzed louder than usual, not with the normal chatter about exams or weekend plans, but with the same word whispered over and over—hospital.
She slipped through the gates, pulling her bag higher on her shoulder, and the voices reached her clearly now.
"Twenty-two patients, seven nurses, three doctors—gone. Just like that."
"No way. It's fake news, bro. Some made-up horror story."
"But they said the bodies were eaten. You think that's fake?"
Laughter rippled from a group by the fountain. "Please. Next thing you know, they'll say it had wings and shot lasers from its eyes!"
Others weren't laughing. A pair of girls leaned close, their voices barely above a breath. "My cousin's friend works near there. She said the police shut everything down. They won't even let families see the bodies."
She walked past them without slowing, but the words stuck, needling at the back of her mind. Jokes, whispers, speculation—it was everywhere. No one seemed to know the truth, but all of them wanted to believe something.
In the classroom, even before the lecture began, the buzz continued. Students at the back mocked the news, one of them waving his arms like tentacles while the others burst out laughing.
"I'm telling you," another said between laughs, "next time I get sick, I'm skipping that hospital."
The room roared.
She sat near the window, half-listening, her gaze fixed on the sunlight outside. The laughter didn't reach her. She remembered the faint sirens last night, the way the air had felt heavier than usual. A sound—like something alive moving where it shouldn't have been—still echoed in the corners of her mind.
She didn't join the conversation. She didn't laugh. She simply listened.
The chatter died the instant the door opened.
Not just the teacher stepped inside—but the principal, his assistant, and a uniformed police officer followed close behind. Every student in the room rose to their feet at once, the weight of their presence pressing the air flat.
The principal adjusted his glasses, his tone unusually heavy. "Students," he began, "as you might have already heard about the… incident yesterday, Officer Joy has some words to share with you."
All eyes shifted to the officer. His uniform was crisp, but his expression was grim, the kind that silenced even the class clowns.
"Yesterday," he said slowly, making sure each word sank in, "at Saint Mercy Hospital, an unknown creature attacked. Not only were twenty-two patients, seven nurses, and three doctors killed…" His voice dipped lower, "…but they were eaten."
The room filled with sharp intakes of breath.
He continued, "We would like to warn all of you. If any of you see this creature, you must contact us immediately at 1999. It is a special emergency line created by the government for cases like this."
A boy at the back scoffed, folding his arms. "A special number? For just one panther attack? It's not like it's gonna keep happening if you just catch it, right? And it's not even sure it was a monster."
The officer's head turned toward him slowly. His eyes carried no amusement, only a shadow of something darker. When he spoke, his voice was steady but strange, almost too calm.
"This is not the first time something like this has happened."
The words slithered into the silence, chilling the room. Whispers broke out instantly, students leaning into each other in disbelief.
"Not the first time?"
"What does he mean?"
"Are there more?"
The officer's gaze swept over the room like a blade.
"It's happening all over the world."
Shock rippled like a wave, gasps cutting the air. No one laughed now. No one even breathed too loudly.