AN UNKNOWN ADVENTURE

CHAPTER 19: THE GAME BEGINS

Both pairs were standing into the entrance of cave, they could hear the evil laughs of dravilla echoing. Alishka controlled her mind, as the screams of her Aleena sister were getting louder and louder causing her to get in a panic stage, she was taking long deep breaths to maintain her mind composure. Ahaan who was all set for the mission took a deep breath, he casually glanced at Alishka and discovering her in this vulnerable state, he reached out and gently took her hand. As she felt his touch, she shared a fleeting yet meaningful eye contact with him.

Ahaan: {reassuring} Alishu! We will make it out alive!

Alishka: {shaking her head} Yes!

After that brief interaction they took out night vision cameras and stuck them in their collars, took out headlight and all the equipment and were all set to enter the cave. They both shared eye contact again.

Together: Let's do this!

They ventured into the unknown, into a realm akin to hell, bracing themselves for challenges unforeseen.

On the other hand, Adhiraj and Himanshu wore caps and night vision googles, they tightened their backpacks and were all set for the rescue. They just looked at each other and nodded. After that they kept their feet in the ice-cold water and ventured towards the waterfall, they saw a black hole behind the milk white water fall and as they stepped forward, the om bracelet around their wrists began to tighten, causing excruciating pain as if squeezing their fists relentlessly.

Himanshu: Maa ji warned us about it

Adhiraj: Cover it with your coat sleeve.

Over here as Aliksha and Ahaan were going deeper and deeper, the screams were becoming louder and louder in Alishka's mind. They were giving her a big headache; she would have lost her mind if Ahaan wasn't there by her side holding her arm and leading the way. Ahaan being deeply immersed in knowing the surrounding and leading the way being unaware about her situation. Suddenly they both heard a loud cry, from behind. They both swinged around to search what it was but found nothing.

Ahaan: I guess we need to be more careful, as all her traps have started working.

Alishka just weakly nodded, they continued their journey until they reached the place where they saw beautiful stones shinning in the dark everywhere, but the problem here was that tunnel was distributed here into two rows.

Ahaan: {deep breath} Alishka, I guess we need to part ways, each choosing a path to follow.

Alishka: {broken voice} Ahaan I can't do this alone.

Upon hearing her words, he turned towards her with a mixture of shock and disbelief written across his face. As he glanced at her, he noticed tears welling up in her eyes, her face drained of color and trembling with fear. According to him, a woman who was once fearless, joyful, and deeply passionate about her work, now appeared terrified, shattered, and haunted by fear. She gazed at him with teary eyes, her expression filled with a mixture of sadness and longing. Suddenly, she found herself once again engulfed by the chilling echoes of her sister's desperate pleas for freedom. She began experiencing panic attacks, causing her body to shake and shiver uncontrollably in fear. She teetered on the brink of falling, but he swiftly reached out and caught her by the waist, preventing her from crashing and hitting her head on the unforgiving stone below.

Ahaan: {astounded} Alishka calm down, control your breaths, plz we need you, I need you. Calm down, take some deep breaths.

Alishka although being in a state of panic still somehow was able to hear him and did as instruct after a matter of 10 mins, she was completely normal. As she returned to her normal state, he enveloped her in a tight hug, his own fear evident in his desperate need to comfort her after witnessing her distress. She clung to him, her sobs echoing the turmoil raging within her as the weight of recent events threatened to shatter her from the inside out.