Abandoned House – Chapter 6: The Living Shadow
Rehan had convinced himself that everything was over.
That whatever they had faced in the abandoned house was nothing more than a nightmare—an unfortunate, disturbing chapter that had finally come to an end. But ever since he returned home, something felt… wrong.
It wasn't visible. It wasn't something he could explain.
But it was there.
A presence.
At first, he ignored it. He blamed exhaustion, fear, and the lingering effects of what he had experienced. But as the days passed, the feeling didn't fade—it deepened. It grew heavier, more suffocating.
It felt as though something had followed him back.
Something that refused to die.
That realization unsettled him enough to take action. There was only one person he could talk to—Ajay.
Without wasting time, Rehan set out toward the village where Ajay lived. The journey felt longer than usual, as if even the road carried an unusual silence. When he finally reached the outskirts, he spotted Ajay ahead of him.
Ajay looked different.
He was sweating heavily, his steps hurried and unsteady, his face pale with fear. He seemed as though he was running from something invisible.
"Ajay!" Rehan called out, stopping him.
Ajay froze. When he turned, shock spread across his face.
"What are you doing here? I was coming to meet you."
Rehan frowned. "What happened?"
Ajay hesitated, his breathing uneven. "Since you came back… I've been feeling something. Something strange. Like… like something is still alive."
Rehan's expression hardened. "You feel it too?"
There was a moment of silence.
Both of them understood what that meant.
This wasn't imagination anymore.
"It's not just a feeling," Ajay said, his voice trembling. "At first, I ignored it. But now… I believe it."
Rehan felt a chill run down his spine.
"Samay," Ajay suddenly said.
Rehan's eyes narrowed. "What about Samay?"
Ajay looked away, as if struggling to find the right words. "He's not well."
"What do you mean?"
Ajay took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "He's been acting strange for the past few days. But… I couldn't focus on him completely. Things in the village… they were getting worse."
Rehan listened carefully as Ajay continued.
"Animals have been dying," Ajay said quietly. "A lot of them. Every day, more and more. And last night…" His voice cracked. "Last night, a person died."
Rehan stiffened.
"The same way the animals were dying," Ajay continued. "Brutally. No one understands what's happening. People are terrified. A group has been formed—they go out every night, trying to find whatever is behind this."
The weight of the situation settled between them.
Rehan spoke slowly, "What does this have to do with Samay… and what we're feeling?"
Ajay didn't answer immediately.
Instead, his eyes filled with tears.
"I saw something," he whispered.
Rehan stepped closer. "What did you see?"
Ajay's voice broke. "Samay…"
"What about him? Speak clearly!" Rehan said, his tone firm but concerned.
Ajay struggled to continue. "He lives alone. You know that… his family is gone. I'm the only one he has. And now…" He wiped his tears. "Now I think this is all my fault."
Rehan's heart sank. "What are you saying?"
Ajay finally looked at him.
"Last night… I saw him."
There was a pause.
"I saw him kill that man."
Rehan's breath caught.
Ajay's hands trembled as he spoke. "It wasn't normal. It wasn't human. He was… out of control. Like something else had taken over him. And then… he just… returned to his room. As if nothing happened."
Rehan felt the ground beneath him shift.
"He was covered in blood," Ajay continued, his voice barely audible. "He was in pain… like he was fighting something inside him. And then he collapsed."
Rehan didn't speak.
"He doesn't remember anything in the morning," Ajay added. "He cries. He begs me to help him. He says he doesn't understand what's happening to him."
Silence fell between them again.
But this time, it was heavier.
Rehan finally spoke, his voice low and serious.
"I think I know what's happening."
Ajay looked at him, desperate. "What?"
Rehan's expression darkened. "That entity… we didn't destroy it completely."
Ajay's eyes widened.
"We destroyed its body," Rehan continued, "but not its soul. And now… it needs a new body."
The realization hit Ajay like a storm.
"And out of the three of us…" Rehan said slowly, "it chose Samay."
"Why him?" Ajay asked, almost pleading. "Why not me? Or you?"
Rehan's answer was quiet.
"Because he's the most innocent."
Ajay froze.
"A pure soul is easier to control," Rehan said. "His mind… his emotions… they're unguarded. That's why."
Ajay broke down completely.
"This is my fault," he cried. "I took him there. Because of me… he's suffering like this."
Rehan placed a hand on his shoulder.
Blame wouldn't fix this.
But action might.
"We can't change what's happened," Rehan said firmly. "But we can still save him."
Ajay looked up, tears still in his eyes.
"What do we do?"
Rehan's gaze turned toward the village.
"We fight back," he said.
But deep inside, he knew the truth.
This was only the beginning.
And whatever they were about to face next…
would be far worse than anything they had seen before.
To Be Continued…