GIFTED: CURSE OF THE DARK QUEEN

ARE DESTINIES AND SHADOW MONSTERS SUPPOSED TO BE REAL?

We climbed up the stairs which led us to a dark landing, it was almost dark outside and the whole landing was covered in darkness. Vinnie switched on his flashlight and waved it around to get a clear look at our surroundings, there were a row of rooms on the left side and in front of us was a huge verandah..to our right, there was a huge grandfather clock, whose glass was shattered. "The doors of these rooms are locked...we need to break it." Aishik said, he looked around himself and picked up a steel rod and banged on a door, the lock on the door broke and no sooner did the room opened a swarm of bats flew out! Anaya shrieked in fear and jumped behind Aindrik and I couldn't help but laugh at her Anaya frowned at me "laugh all you want but that was fucking scary." I joked "Chill, those bats weren't vampires and even if they are don't you think they'll want a rare blood type and not a common A+?" Anaya rolled her eyes at me "Says the one with a negative blood group." The jokes soon lightened the atmosphere and we entered the room. The room was big, bigger than mine that's for sure, it's window grills were rusty and the wooden planks of the window was broken and hanging from a side..there was a huge master bed in the room, it was covered with dust, tattered bed sheets and a sofa was kept beside it, one of the sofa heads was broken. A armchair was near the window which looked a little better than the other furniture of this room but one of its handle's were broken, Vinnie said "Guys, I'm starving! We've been walking for hours and my legs are going to detach from my body and fall down if I don't get some food ASAP!" "Lucky you then.." Abantika replied, she kept her bag on a dressing table kept beside the door and brought out a steel Tiffin Carrier, she opened the lids and the delicious aroma coming out of the food made my stomach growl and everybody turned around and stared at me I rolled my eyes "What? Vinnie can be hungry and I can't?" but I didn't needed to explain myself because soon everyone's stomach was growling I said "well that's our cue to have some dinner." We didn't waste any more time and sat down on the ground, soon the food in the Tiffin Carrier vanished in our stomach's ..Vinnie burped and rubbed his hand on his belly "Whew! I needed that after a day like this..I mean can you believe it? A dry storm, our rickshaws' toppling and a haunted station..it seems like we are living in a horror movie." Ishika furrowed her eyebrows and said "Seriously though, What was up with that dry storm? And where did the drivers go? It seemed like they disappeared into thin air!" Shivangi groaned "Guys please! let's just talk about something else, I am getting bored now." Shivangi's eyes gleamed she asked "Guy's, want to play truth and dare?" Aindrik said "Nah..let's take it up a notch, what about spin the bottle?" Aindrik looked at Anaya with a glare and she nervously picked at her nails, I sensed the tension between them...Aindrik and Anaya dated each other back when we were in standard 9 or 10 but something happened between them and they broke up, but ever since then they have this weird tension between them which weighs over anyone present in the room they are in. I quickly stopped Aindrik "I think Truth and Dare is the safer option..." Aindrik rolled his eyes "Yeah well Safe is boring so we are playing Spin the bottle." I tried to stop him again "Let's just not...I don't like the idea." Aindrik groaned "Go and cry to your daddy about it." Something started hurting inside me, way to go Aindrik! his words has hit me where it was the most sensitive and the part I absolutely hated..I quietly got up from my seat and went outside despite Vinnie calling me back while everyone was shooting daggers from their eyes at Aindrik but right now..I can't play the sympathy game. It's been so long since I've played it, Vinnie, Abantika and Ishika ran up to me and stopped me, their concerned filled faces filled me with guilt I quickly reassured them "Guys, it's alright! I'm fine." Abantika rolled her eyes and playfully punched my shoulder, she said "I know you from childhood Adi, I can understand when you are 'ok' and when you are not so stop pretending.." "And he shouldn't have brought up your father even after knowing your situation." Ishika angrily declared, Vinnie nodded agreeing with Ishika. I can't help the cold feeling creeping inside of my heart, I told you the sunshine boy has secrets, well where do I start from..I've never met my father and according to my Mom he left after my birth for some 'important work' but never returned, whenever I used to ask my Mom that what type of a person was my dad she would always reply me with the same answer "he was a very special man". Well, definitely specialized in giving abandonment issues...all of my friends knew about this and made sure to never make me feel uncomfortable by bringing up my father but I guess Aindrik wanted to be an asshole tonight. I sighed and ran my hand through my hair "Guys, let's just go back to the room..I didn't mind anything let's just go." We went back to the room to find the other four sitting quietly on the floor, when Aindrik's eyes met mine he was going to say something but I quickly squeezed my eyes and assured him that everything was alright because I didn't had the energy to process a rehearsed apology. We quickly did our sleeping arrangements, I claimed the sofa and Vinnie shared it with me while the four girls took the bed, Aindrik took the armchair and Aishik slept on the floor..I stared at the window, the moonlight had fallen in the room making it easier to see everyone , soon the noises of the crickets and the cool breeze lulled me to sleep.