CHAPTER XIX
The bodies of our teammates lay before us, and we sat in stunned silence, our minds numb and unable to process the horror. The same question echoed in our minds: Who was the traitor who had infiltrated our ranks, wearing the same uniform as us? Was it one of our own teammates or a mole within the army camp? How did Robin get infected? What was it about this village that made it a breeding ground for these monstrous creatures, and why were they killing everyone with such precision?
The questions swirled in my mind, but I had no answers. All I knew was that we had to get out of there, no matter what. I turned to Aliyana and said, "We need to focus on the living, not the dead. We have to think about how to escape this place."
But Haider's words cut through my resolve. "You don't understand what it's like to lose someone you've loved, Sam," he said, his voice heavy with emotion. I knew he was right; perhaps no one understood the pain of loss better than I did. I couldn't bear to respond, so I turned away and walked out of the room, leaving Haider and the others to their grief.
As I entered my room, I rummaged through my bag for some headache medication and swallowed it dry. The weight of our situation was crushing me, and I couldn't shake off the feeling of despair that had settled in my chest. I lay down on the bed, feeling the coolness of the sheets against my skin, but it did little to soothe my racing mind.
The silence in the room was oppressive, punctuated only by the sound of my own ragged breathing. I closed my eyes, trying to shut out the images of our fallen teammates, but they lingered, haunting me. I knew I had to find a way to keep moving forward, for their sake as much as mine. But for now, I just lay there, frozen in grief and uncertainty.
The minutes ticked by, and I remained lost in my thoughts, unable to shake off the feeling of hopelessness that had settled over me. I knew I had to find a way out of this nightmare, but the question was, how? And at what cost? The uncertainty was suffocating, and I felt like I was drowning in a sea of unanswered questions.
As I lay there, I couldn't help but wonder if anyone would ever find us, or if we would be trapped in this village forever, fighting for survival against an enemy that seemed almost invincible. The thought sent a shiver down my spine, and I knew I had to keep moving, no matter what. But for now, I just lay there, trapped in a world of my own darkness.
The memories came flooding back, and I was transported to a different time and place. I was lying on the bed, playing a game on Aarvi's phone, trying to distract myself from the tension that had been building up. But Mahi snatched the phone away, her eyes flashing with frustration. "Think about what to do now, Sam," she said, her voice laced with exasperation. "You've angered Mon again."
I felt a surge of anxiety and defensiveness. "So what should I do?" I asked, trying to keep my tone even. "I'm already stressed out, and you're not even letting me calm my mind."
Aarvi's suggestion sent a chill down my spine. "Why not send Sam to Mon's room and lock the door?" she said, her voice dripping with malice. I felt a wave of fear wash over me, and I knew I had to think fast.
"Rubbish!" I exclaimed, trying to sound braver than I felt. But Mahi's expression was unyielding. "Don't talk too much," she snapped. "Because of you, we have to do such bad things."
I felt a pang of hurt and resentment. "As if I'm having a lot of fun," I muttered, trying to deflect the blame. "You two cut my hair, I agreed to have short hair, but after the job, if my mum sees me like this, my life is over she definitely gave me a ticket for heaven."
Aarvi's teasing only made things worse. "Then tell Aunt to give us a couple of tickets," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. I shot back, my anger rising. "Aunt shouldn't give you slippers."
Mahi's expression turned stern. "Don't talk nonsense now," she said. "Take her to Mon's room."
As I relived this painful memory, I felt the emotions come flooding back. The fear, the anxiety, the feeling of being trapped and helpless. It was a feeling I knew all too well, and one that I couldn't shake off even now, lying on the bed in this unfamiliar room. The past and present blurred together, and I felt like I was reliving it all over again.
Mahi and Aarvi's grip was like a vice as they dragged me to Mon's room. I struggled, but they were too strong. They locked the door behind me, and I was trapped. Panic set in as I shouted, "Aarvi, open the door! Please, stop joking around, Mahi! Don't do this, I don't have the courage to talk to Mon right now." My voice trembled with fear.
Mahi's response was cold and detached. "You'll only come out after talking." I felt like I was going to collapse. What was I supposed to do now?
That's when Joya emerged from the washroom, wearing a towel. Her eyes widened in shock as she saw me, and I felt my breath catch in my throat. Joya's scream was like a knife to my heart. Aarvi and Mahi outside seemed to think it was a sign of success, but then someone behind them asked, "What worked?" The uncertainty was suffocating.
Joya's mischievous grin sent a shiver down my spine. "Why, Sam, do you want to see something?" she asked, her voice dripping with amusement. I shook my head awkwardly, but she insisted. I started banging on the door, my desperation growing. "Please open the door, Aarvi!"
Aarvi and Mahi turned around, and that's when they saw Mon standing behind them. Mon's eyes narrowed as she asked, "If you're here, then who is Sam with inside?" Aarvi quickly opened the door, and Mon's gaze fell on Joya and me. Her expression turned stern.
"What is this, Sam?" Mon asked, her voice firm but controlled. "I didn't expect you to barge into my room and force a conversation with me while your friends stand outside and lock the door." I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. How could they do this to me? I tried to explain, but Mon's anger was already simmering. I knew I was in trouble.
I tried to defend myself, my voice shaking. "Mon, listen to me, this wasn't my idea, it was Aarvi's idea." But Aarvi jumped in, her tone accusatory. "Did I say it was your idea? You were the one who told us to do this, Sam! We're just trying to help you, and on top of that, you're throwing this in our faces?"
I felt a surge of betrayal and frustration. How could Aarvi turn this around on me? Mon's anger was already boiling over, and now it was directed at me. "You and your friends are both good-for-nothings!" Mon shouted, her voice echoing through the room. "You have nothing else to do, but I have to study and prepare for the cultural program, so please get out."
I felt a stinging sensation, like I'd been slapped. Mon's words cut deep, and I knew I was being dismissed. I glanced at Aarvi and Mahi, hoping for some support, but they just looked away. I was alone, and Mon's anger was too much to bear. I quickly exited the room, feeling embarrassed, ashamed, and hurt. The door closed behind me, and I was left standing there, wondering what had just hit me.
As soon as Mon kicked me out of her room, I felt a wave of humiliation wash over me. But what hurt even more was when Mon turned to Joya and said with a smirk, "The plan worked! It's true what Sam's friends said, it's a lot of fun to annoy her." I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. They were all in on it, laughing and enjoying my misery. I quickened my pace, desperate to get away from Aarvi and Mahi's prying eyes.
As I reached my room, I swiftly entered and started to close the door, hoping to shut out the chaos. But Aarvi and Mahi were relentless, grabbing the door and holding it open. "What are you doing, Sam?" they asked in unison, their voices laced with concern. But I was beyond reason.
"Let go of the door, or you'll get hurt! Let go quickly!" I snapped, my anger and frustration boiling over. They tried to placate me, saying "But Sam, listen to us," but I was having none of it.
"Don't mess with my mind now; I will do what I have to do," I said firmly, removing their hands from the door. I slammed it shut, feeling a sense of relief wash over me.
Aarvi was on the phone with Mon, discussing the aftermath of their little prank. "Mon, it seems like we've annoyed Sam a bit too much; we should stop now," Aarvi said, her voice tinged with guilt. Mon's response was laced with amusement. "I feel the same way, but what if Sam doesn't participate in the drama?" Aarvi's reply sent a shiver down my spine, even though I couldn't hear it. "Now, to prove herself, she will do anything to participate; now, Ranav is in trouble." I had no idea what was coming, but I knew it wouldn't be good.
To be continue....