TANGLED IN THE SHADOWS

Part -4

In the dead of night, Ishan, unable to sleep, noticed a shadowy figure lurking outside Hardik and Rahul's room. His heart raced with a mixture of fear and anger. How dare this entity torment his friends?

Driven by a surge of protectiveness, Ishan lunged forward, his fist connecting solidly with the figure. It let out a startled cry, and as moonlight filtered through the window, Ishan caught a glimpse of a face.

"Who... who are you?" Ishan demanded, his voice trembling slightly.

The figure stepped into the dim light, revealing himself as Shubman, Rahul's shy classmate. His eyes widened with surprise and pain from Ishan's punch.

"I-I'm Shubman," he stammered, rubbing his shoulder where Ishan had hit him. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. I was just... checking on Hardik."

Ishan's anger ebbed away, replaced by confusion. "Checking on Hardik? Why? What's going on?"

Shubman hesitated, then sighed deeply. "I've noticed something strange around him lately. He seemed so troubled after visiting that palace, and then he fainted earlier today. I brought him here to the nursery."

Ishan frowned, concern etching his features. "He fainted? That's not like him at all. And you've seen things too?"

Shubman nodded, his shyness giving way to determination. "Yes. I... I bought him a kalava bracelet, thinking it might ward off whatever is bothering him. It's a superstition, I know, but..."

Ishan's skepticism softened as he listened. "Kalava, huh? Well, I don't know about all that, but thanks for looking out for him, Shubman."

Shubman nodded earnestly, grateful for Ishan's understanding. "I just want to help. Hardik is a good guy. And Rahul... they're both my friends."

Ishan chuckled softly, the tension easing slightly. "Yeah, they are. Sometimes too much trouble, but good guys nonetheless."

Shubman smiled shyly, relieved by Ishan's lighter tone. "They really are."

As they stood together in the moonlit corridor, the atmosphere shifted from fear to a strange camaraderie. Ishan glanced at Shubman thoughtfully.

"Well, Shubman, next time you see something weird, maybe knock instead of lurking. You scared the living daylights out of me," Ishan joked, nudging Shubman playfully.

Shubman blushed deeply, a nervous laugh escaping him. "I-I'm sorry. I'll remember that."

💞💞💞

Inside their dimly lit room, Rahul sat on the edge of the bed, his eyes fixed on Hardik with deep concern. He had never seen his usually vibrant and playful boyfriend so haunted and withdrawn.

"Hardik," Rahul whispered softly, reaching out to gently touch his shoulder. "What's happening to you? Ever since we went to that palace..."

Hardik looked up, his eyes hollow with fear and confusion. "I don't know, Rahul. I keep seeing things, hearing things... It's like something followed us back."

Rahul's heart sank. He blamed himself for suggesting they visit the palace, hoping for a thrilling adventure. Now, it seemed they had brought back more than memories.

"I'm so sorry, Hardik," Rahul murmured, tears welling up in his eyes. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I should have known better."

Hardik shook his head, placing a trembling hand on Rahul's. "It's not your fault, Rahul. None of us knew... But I can't shake this feeling that we've unleashed something."

Rahul pulled Hardik into a tight embrace, his own fears mingling with guilt. "We'll get through this together, okay? I promise. We won't let anything harm you."

As they held each other, a chilling breeze swept through the room, causing the candles to flicker. Unbeknownst to them, shadows danced ominously in the corners, whispering dark secrets and feeding off the fear that permeated the air.

Suddenly, a cold presence enveloped Rahul's back. He shivered, feeling a weight on his shoulders as if unseen hands were gripping him. Hardik's eyes widened in terror as he watched Rahul's expression contort with pain.

"R-Rahul, behind you!" Hardik gasped, his voice trembling.

Rahul turned around sharply, but there was nothing there. The room fell silent, save for their rapid breaths and the distant echoes of eerie whispers.

"I don't see anything, Hardik," Rahul said softly, his voice wavering. "Are you sure?"

Hardik nodded, his heart racing. "I saw it, Rahul. I swear I saw something..."

Rahul held Hardik closer, his own fear now palpable. "We need to do something. This can't go on."

Just then, a faint sound echoed from the darkness - a mocking laugh that sent chills down their spines. It was a sound that didn't belong in their world, a sound that spoke of ancient malevolence and relentless pursuit.

"We can't stay here," Hardik whispered, his voice barely audible over the growing dread. "Whatever it is, it's getting stronger."

Rahul nodded, his resolve firming. "We'll find a way. I won't let it take you away from me".

💞💞💞

That night, Hardik and Rahul found refuge in Ishan's dorm room. Ishan, already concerned from their earlier conversation, welcomed them in without hesitation.

"Ishan, we need to stay here tonight," Rahul said, his voice edged with urgency. "Something's not right in our room."

Ishan looked at them both, noticing Hardik's pale face and trembling hands. "Of course, you can stay here. What happened?"

Rahul shook his head, struggling to find the words. "It's hard to explain. Ever since we visited that palace, things have been... off. Tonight was worse. There was something in the room with us."

Ishan's eyes widened. "Something? Like what?"

"I don't know," Rahul admitted, glancing at Hardik, who was silently staring at the floor. "But it's real, Ishan. We felt it. Heard it."

Ishan took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. "Okay, let's just get through the night. You both can sleep here. We'll figure this out together."

Rahul nodded gratefully. "Thanks, Ishan. I don't know what we would have done without you."

Ishan set up a spare mattress for them, and they all settled in for the night. The tension in the room was palpable, but the presence of a friend offered a sliver of comfort.

As the lights dimmed, Ishan tried to lighten the mood. "You know, we should start charging rent. This room is getting popular."

Rahul managed a weak chuckle. "Yeah, maybe we should. Could use the extra cash."

Hardik, lying next to Rahul, finally spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't want to go back to our room. Not after what happened."

Rahul wrapped an arm around him, pulling him close. "We won't. We'll figure something out. Maybe we can stay here for a while, right, Ishan?"

"Of course," Ishan replied firmly. "Stay as long as you need. We'll get through this together."

Hardik nodded, feeling a small measure of relief. As he drifted off to sleep, surrounded by the comforting presence of his friends, he hoped the nightmares would stay away.

But as the room grew silent and the three friends fell asleep, the shadows outside the door seemed to deepen. A faint whisper echoed through the hall, unheard by anyone.

"Leave... leave... leave..."

The darkness wasn't finished with them yet.