Strangely Familiar - The Flaw in Time

Chapter 8

"Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world right in the eye." – Helen Keller

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Samraat clenched his fists as he tried to stifle the rising anger inside him. He could not comprehend why the two girls had reacted in such a way. Someone had once said 'Women are difficult to understand'. He kept walking, counting each step in his head, until he felt a sudden hand on his elbow dragging him off to one side.

Tripping on his leg caused him to stumble. He managed to balance himself throwing a questioning look at the intruder.

The person under question shushed and signaled him to look at the path rendering through the garden. Fixing his gaze in the mentioned direction, he strained his eyes under faint moonlight to capture a silhouette of someone against the tree.

Without further ado, the pair followed the person cautiously. The rustling sound of leaves defeated the sound of their worn-out shoes.

"Let me in."

They heard the faintest voice followed by something inaudible and discreetly alien - a hand movement that their respective sight couldn't identify. Blame it on the light, things around them were blurred. Much to the surprise of the two people hiding behind the tree trunk, the door opened letting the visitor in.

Tia was the first to break the silence.

"I thought you said the door only lures its victim inside."

"That's what I thought," Samraat whispered, tiptoeing over her slouched form.

The person entered inside without any hesitation with the door closing behind blocking their view.

"That was Ayaan."

"Serious accusation, Sam." Tia straightens up to match his tone.

"Who else do you think it could be?" He asked curiously.

"An outsider, maybe someone we don't know." Tia tried to negotiate, her voice faltering with every word.

"No one saw him since morning." He argued.

"He doesn't even believe in any of this." Tia raised her voice to defend her friend.

"The easiest ones to lure are those who live in doubt." Samraat explained logically, "All he has been hearing since day one is that something creepy and supernatural is happening inside the mansion. So, naturally, to prove us all wrong, he went to find the truth all by himself. It all fits."

He looked at her in anticipation hoping his explanation was conducive.

Tia bit her lips unable to find a counter logic.

"Let's say for the sake of argument that you are right. What now?"

Samraat let his sight travel to the closed gate once again, thinking deeply. If it were a game, he would have come up with an effective strike. Moreover, there are always cheat codes. He tried to think like his opponent.

"You can only defeat your opponent once you get your hands on their playbook. We need to find out everything about him. Every. Single. Thing." He spoke confidently.

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Naina was walking down the familiar stairs, one hand gripping the railing while the other rubbing her forehead in an attempt to soothe the throbbing pain. Her eyes were tired and heavy like she didn't get a wink of sleep all night. A yawn escaped her lips as she reached the last step, and sat down, her head resting against the railing.

She was feeling weary and lethargic. She pretty much felt that all the time.

The rational part of her brain forced her to go back up but she simply couldn't comply. It was already morning. Straining her eyes open, she looked around and sighed audibly.