DARKER SIDE : The Lost

Chapter 4

Rahul's heart raced as he maneuvered his bike with urgency, pushing it to its limits to reach Gokul's house. The road stretched endlessly before him, each passing second amplifying his anxiety. Fifteen minutes later, he skidded to a halt in front of Gokul's home, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

"What happened?" Rahul asked, barely managing to catch his breath as he entered Gokul's house.

The atmosphere inside was thick with tension, Gokul and his family bearing expressions of raw fear that sent shivers down Rahul's spine.

"He came," Gokul stammered, his voice trembling.

"Who?" Rahul's eyes widened in surprise.

"The very man you spoke of," Gokul replied, his voice tinged with dread. "He warned me, just as he warned you."

Rahul's curiosity surged. "What did he say?" he inquired.

Gokul's eyes darted around the room nervously as he recounted the encounter. "He told me that by guiding you, I was leading you down the wrong path, risking our families."

Rahul puzzled over this cryptic statement. "Guiding me down the wrong path? But you're simply coming with me," he remarked, perplexed.

Gokul nodded, his face etched with anxiety. "Yes, but that's what he said. And when I tried to follow him, he vanished into the nearby woods."

Dismay washed over Rahul's features. "We should still go to that village tomorrow," he insisted.

Gokul's wife interjected, her voice laced with fear. "No, he won't be going anywhere," she declared.

Rahul pleaded, desperation in his voice. "Please, I only have a few days to complete my work. Let him come with me."

But Gokul's mother voiced her own concerns, her words filled with worry. "Life is more important than a job," she asserted. "We can't risk our family's safety."

Torn between his determination and the fear that gripped those around him, Rahul felt a profound sense of helplessness. He turned away without saying a word, his heart heavy with the weight of uncertainty.

Returning home, Rahul recounted the events at Gokul's house to Dhanya. Her apprehension grew with each word she heard.

"It might be wise to halt this investigation now," she urged, her voice tinged with frustration and fear.

Rahul, however, could not entertain the thought. "I'll lose my job if I stop now," he argued.

Dhanya's concern for his safety outweighed any professional considerations. "You're not just risking your job; you're risking your life," she pleaded.

Determined and resolute, Rahul affirmed his unwavering commitment. "I'm going to that village tomorrow," he declared, his mind set like stone.

The night brought with it heated arguments between Rahul and his family, the tension in the room palpable.

As the sun dawned on a new day, Rahul gathered his belongings, ready to embark on his journey. Dhanya, filled with fear and anger, watched him with a heavy heart.

He started his bike, the engine's roar symbolizing both his determination and defiance. Without turning back to look at his family, who stared at him with a mixture of worry and disappointment, he began his journey.

En route, surrounded by the serene beauty of nature, Rahul found solace in the lush landscapes that stretched before him. However, his tranquility was short-lived.

After an hour and a half of driving, as he navigated the winding roads, the enigmatic stranger abruptly appeared in front of his bike. Startled, Rahul swerved and tumbled backward.

"What the hell, man! You almost killed me!" Rahul gasped, his voice a mixture of anger and astonishment as he recognized the stranger.

The stranger's presence was disconcerting. "What's your problem? Why are you doing this?" Rahul demanded, his frustration mounting.

"I'm trying to save you," the stranger retorted, his voice bearing an unsettling quality.

Rahul scoffed incredulously. "Save me? You almost killed me, you... you...!"

The stranger cut him off with a sense of urgency. "I warned you multiple times. You're risking your family. That demon will kill all of them!"

"Demon?" Rahul's eyes widened in shock.

"Skorious!" the stranger exclaimed.

Rahul was taken aback. "What is Skorious?" he asked, his voice trembling with trepidation.

"Skorious is immensely powerful. Humans can't resist him. You mustn't awaken him!" the stranger warned with a note of desperation.

Rahul's curiosity was piqued. "Okay, I won't go to that village, but can you tell me everything about that place? What happened there?" he implored.

The stranger hesitated for a moment before speaking cryptically. "Once an ordinary village, it fell under Skorious's control. Now, it's anything but ordinary."

Rahul probed further, his curiosity overcoming his fear. "How do you know all this?" he asked.

The stranger's enigmatic smile lingered. "You'll understand someday," he replied mysteriously.

Frustration welled up in Rahul as he grappled with the cryptic information. "You're insane," he muttered, determined to continue his mission. "I'm going ahead. No one can stop me."

"I will stop you!" the stranger yelled.

"You—" Rahul began, his voice trembling with a mix of anger and astonishment, but before he could react, the enigmatic stranger's actions transcended the bounds of the ordinary. As if obeying some arcane command, the stranger's form defied gravity, ascending skyward with a breathtaking elegance that defied the laws of nature.

The once-muted skies burst into vibrant life as the stranger's eyes ignited in an eerie azure blaze, casting an otherworldly glow upon his visage. It was a sight that defied all reason, a surreal display that sent shivers down Rahul's spine. The world around them seemed to blur and distort, as if reality itself had been momentarily unhinged.

Rahul's heart pounded in his chest as he watched in awe and trepidation, his voice silenced by the sheer impossibility of the spectacle unfolding before him. The stranger, now suspended in mid-air with his eyes ablaze like twin beacons, exuded an aura of unearthly power, leaving Rahul at a loss for words.

In that surreal moment, Rahul's world was turned upside down, and he could do nothing but stand in stunned silence, grappling with the inexplicable phenomenon unfolding before his eyes.

Terrified, Rahul tried to flee, but the stranger effortlessly flicked his fingers, and Rahul collapsed, unconscious. The stranger landed gracefully and approached Rahul, his voice tinged with regret.

"Sorry, my friend. I had no other choice," he muttered before disappearing into the unknown with Rahul in tow.