After following the black fog for a while, Aarav stood across the street, looking at a hotel building. The black fog now was darker and more visible than before. It rose high above other buildings. Its entrance was wide and open. The lights spilled from the entrance onto the street. People were going in and out. Guards with heavy muscles were protecting the entrance.
Aarav looked at himself, covered in dirt and blood, his clothes tattered, messy hair.
"Can I even enter?"
He looked around and noticed a man stepping out of a luxurious car and followed him with a steady pace. When the man reached a quiet place on the other side of the hotel building, Aarav struck him on the neck like a professional. The man collapsed. Aarav dragged him aside, took some money and exchanged his clothes.
"I'm sorry, bro, but I need it more than you."
Aarav stepped out of the corner wearing a red shirt and black pants, the clothes fit him well. He adjusted his clothes and walked toward the hotel entrance. His steps were steady and confident. The guards briefly glanced at him as he blended into the crowd of people.
Inside, the air was cold. The light reflected brightly on the marble floor. The quiet conversations filled the space, making the atmosphere lively. But Aarav felt something unsettling there. He looked at the fog, now dark and intense now.
It drifted forward.
The fog slowly drifted toward the stairs. He glanced at it and followed it to the stairs. The moment his feet touched the stairs, he felt as if he were hallucinating and being pulled by something invisible. But everything looked normal. He knew he was following the fog, but inside, there was an urge to go somewhere. He did not know why or where.
Seeing him use the stairs, a man in a waiter's uniform tried to stop him from behind, but Aarav ignored him as if he couldn't hear or see what's happening around him.
Every step he took felt like controlled by someone. The stairs were dirty and swelly like they had not been cleaned for a long enough time. He crossed the second floor and arrived on the third floor. When he stepped onto the third floor, a voice echoed in his mind.
Focus.
The sound pulled him out of bewilderment. 'What…? Where am I?'
He rubbed his hands together. "Why is it so cold here?"
He glanced around and found a sign. "Third Floor." A party was being held here. Everyone was drinking and dancing to loud music. The atmosphere looked happy and cheerful, but there was a hint of sadness in it.
Aarav looked around for black fog, but it had disappeared already. 'Where did it disappear? How am I gonna find it now?'
A drunk man stood on the table and shouted.
"Hello everyone… Today is… my friend Vikram's birthday. Happy birthday my dearest friend."
"So… everyone… should enjoy and drink to their fill."
Vikram came near him and said, "Yeah.. everyone will enjoy, don't worry and come down from the table Ajay."
Aarav looked at them, 'Rich kids. Forget it, I need to find that soul first. If the fog disappeared here, it means the soul is here.'
"Is it possession of the body like in the movie?"
'No. How can it be that it was just movies? But I need to do something to find that soul in these people.'
Aarav glanced at the stairs, for a second he thought someone was standing there.
'Is someone there?'
"No. Many weird things have happened lately. It must be because of this."
Aarav looked around and checked but found nothing suspicious.
Aarav looked at the bar counter and went there.
"Hey, one drink."
The bar attendant didn't respond and stood there like a statue.
Aarav spoke again. "Hey."
This time the attendant responded with a smile. "I am sorry sir, I will do it now."
Aarav felt as if the attendant was the soul, but he looked at his smiling face when he gave him a drink. "Thanks for this."
The attendant replied, "Please enjoy it sir."
Aarav gulped down the drink.
For a second, Aarav felt as if everything paused.
"What…"
Then…
Boom. A blast.
Flames swallowed everything. People screamed. Everything was thrown, glass shattered, everything shook violently. Flames devoured everything. People didn't even get a chance to react.
Aarav's body was thrown back, devoured by flames.
Then darkness.
….
Aarav's eyes widened.
The music was back.
Bright.
Loud.
Alive.
"Hello everyone…"
Aarav's breathing stopped for a second.
"Today… was my friend Vikram's birthday…"
The same voice.
The same words.
Aarav stood there, unmoving.
No burns—intact.