Arresting Hearts: Unexpected Bonds Of Love.

Chapter 10

Arjun's Pov:

The ringing of my phone jolted me from my sleep. Blinking groggily, I found myself sprawled across my desk in the college cabin. The seminar's dull drone still echoed in my head.

"Yes," I growled into the phone, not bothering to check the caller ID.

Rohit's voice crackled through the speaker, "Arjun? Where are you? Did you forget that we had to meet at my house?"

I glanced at my watch. 7:28 pm. Shit.

"Let it be for today. We'll continue tomorrow. It's Sunday," I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. I needed a long nap but for a police officer like me, it was a luxury.

"But why? Where are you?" he yelled out as if I had stolen something precious of his.Pulling the phone away from my ears, I closed my eyes and massaged my forehead a bit.

"In the college," I replied groggily.

"Why? What are you doing there?"

"After the seminar was done, the other professors did not let me slip out. When I was finally able to get out from their little 'kitty party' I fell asleep." , I explained in my half asleep state.

After a brief update on the case, I hung up. I closed my eyes again, my head falling back against the leather chair. I pulled my thin jacket tighter around my body, grateful for the warmth it provided. The air felt unusually cold for this time of year.

After a few minutes, I made my way to the adjoined bathroom. I opened the tap, not really looking into the mirror and splashed a handful of water on my face. As the cold fluid touched my skin washing off the last remnants of sleep, I gave out a contended sigh.

Walking out of the washroom, I grabbed my car keys from the desk and exited the cabin. As I made my way to the parking lot. The wind whipped around me, biting through my clothes.Just as I was about to slip into my vehicle, another blow of icy cold wind had me shivering.What was it with today and the unusual weather?We weren't even that close to winters,were we?

Gazing into the night sky, I sighed, wrapping my thin jacket tighter around my body. I was about to slip into my car when something caught my eye.

What was that?

I turned back to the window where I had just seen something written. Squinting to read the distant letters, I realized they were too far to decipher.

Taking a few steps closer, I focused again.

"PLEASE. HELP!"

The message was now unmistakable.

My heart raced as I dashed toward the room. My training as an ACP had taught me to never ignore a cry for help.

I sprinted towards the building, fear and determination propelling me forward. The locked door met my desperate attempts to open it, panic rising in my chest.

"Is someone in there?" I called out, my voice raw with urgency as I pounded on the unyielding wood. The silence that answered was deafening, filling me with dread.

"Is anyone there?" I tried again, my voice cracking with a mixture of desperation and the biting cold.

Nothing.

Doubt crept in when my desperate questions were answered with nothing but silence. Was this just another stupid prank? Kids these days...

Shaking my head, I turned to leave, when a very faint groan of someone reached my ears halting me in my track. My eyes widened in alertness and I turned around banging on the door desperately. "Are you in there? "