𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 || ArDi ||

37. Into The Unknown

~ AGAR TUM SATH HO ~

Draupadi was now in trouble, but she was not scared. She lifted her hand again, bringing it closer to the green gem. The closer her hand got to the gem, the brighter it glowed. And as her hand was about to touch the gem, she pulled her hand back with a cunning smirk. "I don't know who or what you are, but I will never free you from this cage." She spat her poisonous words in a low whisper.

The green gem started shaking vigorously, making Draupadi aware of the fact that she had angered the spirit.

Screams and yells started becoming audible. The sounds of women and children being crucified were as clear to Draupadi as if she was witnessing it herself.

Dark clouds covered the sky.

"Death. Blood. Kill. Death. Blood. Kill. Death. Blood. Kill." Draupadi could hear chants coming from behind of the closed door.

Deafening cries of horror rang through the place making Draupadi's ears bleed. She pressed her hands tightly to her ears in an attempt to stop the noise. "No"

An ebony bird came out of nowhere, singing a sad fantasy to her. And a large figure emerged from the darkness. Pants rang out over the sorrowful dirges of the bird. Some long toothed beast crawled out. Teeth meant for ripping, gleaming wet and dripping with blood. Its lips pulled back in whinny of excitement as it snapped his jaw at her. She flinched back. It rounded her. A new terror born in the dark. A drop of dark liquid fell down his tongue, blood was like a antidote he relished, only with a lot more screaming.

The night was dark. The dark was deep. The deep was horror and in the horror was the dark night.

Sureness and horror filled her. What terrified her were the voices.

Or she was probably hallucinating.

Hearing voices again.

In the strange surroundings, fearless she stood. The voices haunting her soul. The cries echoed from the unopened door. Louder.

Louder.

Each time Louder than before.

"No."

"No please don't."

"Don't do this."

"NOO!"

***

"No," Draupadi's voice that was supposed to come out as a loud yell, echoing in the four walls of the chamber, was instead a barely audible whisper.

Draupadi's chest was rising and falling in a rhythm. Her eyes were wide open as she woke up from her dream. She sat upright on the bed trying to catch her breath. She never had such nightmares, then why that day? She wondered.

A strange voice called out to her,

"The clouds split open above her head,
The scent of fallen leaves erased,
The floor swampy and grey,
The creatures of night awake and stare,

The spirits restless, the night young,
Colours radiate from the mate of sun,
The archetypal pneuma peeps,
The tides swirl and oceans travel,
Glistening stars hibernate,
Blood settles cold,

Deep dark voids open,
The worst nightmare echos darkness,
Crimson red reflect on waves,
The hight- The blood moon peeks open for the dead to rise."

"Krishnaa." The voice she could recognize even during her nightmares called out for her. Her frantic eyes moved around and she soon saw Arjun rushing to her side. He sat beside her and pulled her into his arms. Draupadi breathed out feeling safe, inclining further towards the source of warmth and safety.