Where Shadows Learn To Dream

Dancing with the Dark

The day had already been a disaster. The whispers, the stares, the mocking laughter that followed her down the school corridors-each step Aanya took felt heavier than the last. Her new crewcut had turned into a symbol of ridicule. Yet she felt a bit more used to it and had some confidence blossoming after Kanishk's affirmations. But in her village, where tradition and old values were law, her haircut wasn't just a style; it was rebellion. And rebellion wasn't just scorned-it was dangerous.

As she walked out of the school gates, Aanya's eyes were glued to the ground. She had learned not to look up anymore. She just wanted to get home, to hide away from the world that seemed so hostile now.

A rusty old truck caught her eye as she made her way down the dusty path leading to her home. It was parked just outside the school, engine idling. She hadn't seen it before. The village roads were narrow and rarely traveled by outsiders, so seeing a truck like that made her uneasy. She glanced around, realizing that the street was almost deserted. Her heartbeat quickened.

Suddenly, she felt a desperate urge to call her parents, but her pockets were empty. She cursed under her breath. She'd left her phone at home. A sense of vulnerability washed over her, making her hyper-aware of her surroundings.

The truck's door creaked open, and two men stepped out. Aanya's breath caught in her throat. They looked like they belonged to another era, as if they'd stepped out of one of the dusty old stories the village elders told. One was tall and gaunt, with sunken eyes that darted around, never resting on anything for more than a second. His skin was leathery and weather-beaten, and his clothes hung off his frame like rags. The other was shorter but had a build like a boulder-solid and menacing, with a thick, knotted beard and eyes that were cold and calculating.

Their eyes locked onto her, and an icy chill shot down her spine. She tried to walk faster, but her legs felt like lead. The tall one whispered something to his partner, and they both began moving toward her, their footsteps eerily quiet.

"Hey, kid!" the stocky one called out, his voice like gravel scraping against metal. "Wait up a minute."

Aanya's heart thundered in her chest. She knew better than to stop. She picked up her pace, her footsteps quickening, but she could hear them gaining on her. Panic began to build, and her breaths came in short, ragged bursts. She didn't dare look back. Her mind raced with thoughts of what to do, where to go. She was still too far from home. She cursed her decision to take this lonely route.

Suddenly, a rough hand grabbed her arm and yanked her back. She gasped, her eyes widening in terror. The tall man had her in his grip, his fingers digging painfully into her skin.

"Gotcha," he hissed. His breath was foul, and his face was too close, his eyes wild and hungry.

Aanya tried to scream, but a hand slapped over her mouth. The stocky man appeared beside her, his face twisted into a sick grin. "Not a sound, girl," he growled. "You don't want to make this worse."

She struggled, thrashing against their hold, but they were too strong. She felt like a rag doll being tossed around. Tears blurred her vision, and her heart pounded so hard she thought it might burst. She kicked and twisted, but it only made them tighten their grip. They dragged her toward the truck, her feet scraping against the rough dirt road.

Aanya tried to bite the hand over her mouth, but it only earned her a sharp slap across the face. Pain exploded in her cheek, and her vision blurred with stars. The world spun, and for a moment, she couldn't think, couldn't breathe. They shoved her into the back of the truck, her body hitting the metal floor with a thud. The door slammed shut, plunging her into darkness.

She could hear them talking in low voices outside, but all she could think about was how stupid she'd been to take this route alone, how much she wished she had her phone. She curled up into a ball, her breaths shallow and rapid, her mind racing with a thousand fears. She had heard stories of kidnappings before, whispers of girls who were never seen again. Was this it for her? Would she vanish, too?

The truck began to move, bouncing over the rough road. The darkness was suffocating, pressing down on her like a weight. She could hear the muffled sobs of other kids around her, hidden in the shadows. There were more of them-boys and girls, all looking terrified, some trembling. She wasn't alone, but that didn't bring her any comfort. She could still feel the sting on her cheek, the lingering burn of the slap. She bit her lip to keep from crying out.

Time lost all meaning. The truck seemed to rattle on forever, every bump sending jarring pain through her bones. She didn't know where they were going, and that scared her the most. She had no control, no way to get out, and the walls felt like they were closing in. She tried to think of something-anything-that could help. Her parents, but they didn't have a clue. Maitreyee, maybe, but she wasn't around. She was utterly, terrifyingly alone.

Finally, the truck stopped. Aanya's heart lurched. She heard the men getting out, their voices louder now, filled with an eerie calm that terrified her more than their shouts. The back doors were flung open, flooding the space with harsh light. She squinted, her eyes burning, trying to make sense of what she saw.

They were in some kind of abandoned building-a godown, maybe, and it didn't feel like it was her village. She realised she very very very far from home.

The walls of the building were stained and crumbling, the floor littered with debris. The men dragged the children out, one by one, herding them like cattle. Aanya's legs trembled as she was pulled out, the sunlight blinding her. The tall one sneered down at her.

"Look at this one," he said, grabbing a handful of her short hair. "Wanted to be a boy, huh? Think you're tough?"

Aanya winced, but she didn't answer. Her scalp burned where he tugged, and she bit back a cry. She knew showing fear would only make things worse.

The stocky one leaned in close, his breath hot against her ear. "Don't worry, girl. We'll find a use for you."

Terror clawed at her throat. She could barely breathe, barely think. She needed to get out of here, but how? Being in a different village all hopes of escaping crashed. Her eyes darted around, looking for anything, just anything to help her get out, but all she saw were more kids-some crying, some staring blankly, all of them trapped just like her.

For the first time, she realized just how much her haircut had changed her life. She hadn't just been shamed; she had been marked. And now, in this dark, twisted place, she was living a nightmare far worse than any schoolyard taunt.

Aanya's heart raced, pounding against her ribs. She knew she had to be strong. But how do you stay strong when everything is ripped away, when you're surrounded by strangers in a place where no one can hear you scream?