The moment I left, the house fell into silence.
Not the normal kind.
The kind that presses against your ears… that makes you aware of every breath, every small movement. The kind that makes even the strongest minds uneasy.
Haroku was alone.
---
He sat there for a while, staring at nothing in particular. Minutes passed… maybe more.
Then suddenly—
"Wait…" he muttered, straightening up.
A realization hit him.
"My bag… it's still in the school."
He let out a long sigh, running a hand through his hair.
"Great… ab wapas jana padega."
---
The road back felt longer than before.
Darker.
Heavier.
The school stood in front of him again—but this time, it didn't feel abandoned.
It felt… aware.
---
The moment he stepped inside—
Something changed.
The walls felt closer.
The air colder.
Every corner seemed to be watching.
Haroku didn't stop.
He moved quickly, heading straight toward the old section.
In. Out.
That was the plan.
---
He reached the room.
His bag lay exactly where he had left it.
Relief.
He picked it up—
And turned.
---
That's when he heard it.
"JASON… JASON… JASON…"
His body froze.
"SIR JASON…"
The voice echoed through the empty corridors, crawling along the walls like something alive.
Haroku swallowed.
"So…" he whispered under his breath, "Jason really exists?"
---
He rushed toward the surveillance setup.
If something was happening—he needed proof.
He switched on the monitors.
Nothing.
Dead screens.
No signal.
No power.
Nothing.
---
For a moment, he just stood there.
Then his expression changed.
Serious.
Focused.
"After all…" he muttered, "I'm also a paranormal expert."
He clenched his fist slightly.
"I can't just run away."
---
He took a deep breath.
And made a decision.
He would go deeper.
---
Meanwhile…
I was already on my way back.
The road stretched quietly ahead, lit only by the dim glow of streetlights.
Everything felt normal.
Too normal.
---
Then suddenly—
I stopped.
"…Wait."
A small detail hit me.
Sharp.
Annoying.
"I forgot the house key."
I exhaled in frustration, glancing back toward the direction I came from.
I wasn't that far.
"I'll just go back and grab it."
---
When I reached the house, I pulled out my phone and called Haroku.
No response.
I tried again.
Nothing.
---
A bad feeling crept in.
Slow.
Cold.
"…Don't tell me," I muttered.
My expression hardened instantly.
"He went back to the school."
I clenched my jaw.
"That idiot…"
---
I didn't waste another second.
I ran.
---
The moment I stepped inside the school—
I heard it.
That voice.
Clearer than before.
Closer.
"JASON… JASON… JASON…"
"SIR JASON…"
I stopped.
For the first time—
I felt it.
Not fear.
But something close.
Shock.
"Who the hell is… Jason?" I whispered.
---
Then—
A hand touched my shoulder.
---
I turned instantly, ready to strike.
But stopped mid-motion.
"Bro! It's me!"
Haroku.
---
I exhaled, lowering my guard slightly.
"You're insane," I muttered.
He didn't argue.
"This place isn't safe without your papers," he said, his tone serious. "We leave. Now."
I didn't disagree.
---
We moved quickly.
Out of the corridors.
Out of the building.
Out of that suffocating presence.
---
Just as we stepped outside—
We saw the principal approaching.
"Sir," he said, a bit concerned, "have you had dinner? I can arrange food."
"No," I replied calmly, "we've already eaten."
It was easier that way.
Explaining… could wait.
---
Back at the house—
We sat in silence.
No jokes.
No casual talk.
Just tension.
---
I leaned forward slightly.
"Bro…" I said, my voice quieter now. "What do you think?"
He looked at me.
"Who is Jason?"
---
Haroku didn't answer immediately.
His expression was serious… more than I had seen in a long time.
"I think…" he began slowly, "Jason isn't just a spirit."
He paused.
Choosing his words carefully.
"He's something… stronger."
---
The room felt colder.
---
Then suddenly—
Something clicked in his mind.
I saw it in his eyes.
Recognition.
"Bro…" he said, leaning forward slightly, lowering his voice.
"Do you remember one of our old cases?"
I frowned. "Which one?"
---
"The hospital case."
My expression tightened slightly.
He continued—
"The one where we saw shadows like these."
---
Memories surfaced.
Faint.
Unclear.
But enough.
---
"After we closed that case," Haroku said slowly, "we found a note."
My eyes narrowed.
"And on that note…"
He paused.
---
"Only one word was written."
---
Jason.
---
Silence filled the room.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
---
This wasn't just another investigation anymore.
This wasn't something new.
---
This…
had already begun once before.
And now—
It had returned.