Rogue Heroes - The Awakening

Treasure Hunt - Part 3

Kimi felt a chill run down her spine, as she felt someone's hand on her shoulder. She had been up a while ago, and found all others sleeping, hence without disturbing them, she had gotten up and thought of prying around a bit. Her right foot was causing her to limp, but still she had walked ahead, looking around and trying to get a hang of her surroundings. She had just reached a turn and was looking at the dark corridor ahead, when she felt the touch. However relief washed over her face and she let out the breath that she had been holding subconsciously, when she heard the voice.

"What are you doing here all alone?" Aryan asked, in a confused tone.

"You scared me," Kimi whispered with gritted teeth, turning around to face him.

"Sorry," he replied with a shrug. Kimi just rolled her eyes at that.

"How's your foot now? Faring well?" he asked, trying to take a look at the foot.

"It hurts, but it's bearable," she replied, with a shrug.

Just then, a bat whooshed past them from the dark corridor. Kimaya got startled and embraced Aryan in her desperation. Aryan was shocked at this move of hers. He so wanted to encircle his arms around her petite frame, but restrained himself for the sake of their friendship. He didn't want to lose that also, to his low self – control. Kimaya soon realised that she had embraced Aryan in her fear and slowly separated herself from him. As she moved apart, she raised her head and for the first time was lost in his chocolate brown eyes. He too was lost in her charcoal black orbs, that held slight guilt in them. Unknowingly and subconsciously, the two of them moved closer. Both of them could feel each other's proximity and were awed and confused at the new, unknown feelings that were rising in their hearts. They didn't even realise when their hands got entwined and their faces were just a few centimetres apart from each other.

"Ahem, ahem..."

Aryan and Kimaya jolted and moved away from each other, looking anywhere and everywhere. Aryan stole a glance in the direction of the sound, to find Sachit looking at the two of them with a raised brow and a smirk.

"Very good morning," Sachit said, in a teasing tone. Aryan rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, with a light, shy smile. While Kimi gulped hard as she felt the heat rushing to her cheeks.

"Umm... u... did... did others wake up?" she asked, desperately trying to change the subject.

"No," Sachit said, the teasing look still adorning his face.

"Dare you breathe a word about this to anyone, Sachit. You will be so dead," Kimaya said, in a somewhat stern tone. Sachit just raised his hands in surrender, though he really couldn't help his smile. Kimaya just shook her head in disappointment and left from there to avoid further embarrassment.

"Got your chance, huh?" Sachit said, with a wink. Aryan just chuckled and punched Sachit lightly. With this, the two of them made their way to where the others were sleeping. All of them were up by then.

"I, Sachit and Aryan looked around a bit. There's nothing here. Only a corridor ahead, which is filled with darkness, by the way," Kimi said, before Sachit could open his mouth. He just nodded with pursued lips and kept mum.

"Well, then, that's the only way ahead, I guess," Daksh said, in a serious tone.

"Let's get going then," Bali said, and took the lead ahead with a torch in his hand. Daksh followed him, supporting Kimaya. The Rawat twins were followed by Aryan, with Yuhan right behind him with another torch. The Sethi twins were the last.

"I noticed your stupid grin, by the way," Nimit whispered in his twin's ear. Sachit just gave a knowing smile at that and continued walking ahead. Nimit just rolled his eyes, fully getting that he won't get anything out of his twin. Suddenly the two felt a movement behind them. They cautiously turned to look back, but the very next moment, two strong and bulky hands clasped their mouths and the Sethi twins were taken away. The queue ahead was entirely clueless of their disappearance. Yuhan was the next to disappear from the back, followed by Aryan as well. Only Bali, Daksh and Kimi at the front were left.