The Mystery Girl

Chapter 24: Signs Of War

His voice lowered to a whisper.
"I actually don't want to go back."

Sahil was really eager to go back to our timeline. More than one should usually be. He had a fear of the inevitable, catastrophic time time that was coming up for us, for everyone in the Queendom.

I got up.
"I know, even I wish to go home. But we still have 6 days. You look too eager to get back."

"Hmm. Because these 6 days is the actual survival test, and I'm not even joking this time."

"What? Why? Death sentence is after 6 days, right?"

"Yes. And before that, it's going to be wartime."

"W-... wartime? A war? Between whom? The enemy kingdom in the west?"

"Yes."

"..."

I was perplexed. A random fluke of mine turned out to be true. Hundreds of questions aroused in my mind. I continued,
"I-... H-.. How do you know?"

"Remember the conversation we heard in this forest? It was between the elder Prince and the King of the enemy kingdom. Beside the Prince, stood the son of the Army Commander of the Queendom, who looked like-... never mind. They were most probably planning for a war against the Queendom. Now you can think what would happen if they seen us listening to such confidential information."

"Oh God! We would've been executed at once. But coming to think of it, the King had not died at that time. Then how did they plan for war long ago?"

"Maybe the King knew that he was going to be killed."

My breath hitched. I stopped at my place as a thought feared me to the core.
"You mean to say that the third stranger was so dangerous, that the King committed a SUICIDE? Why didn't the Prince try to stop this? Is he an enemy to his own kingdom?"

"No. Obviously a Prince would want his own kingdom someday. Then only one option stands out, that is, the King only gave a clue of it to his son. Did you see his expression when we were leaving from The Palace? It looked like he realized a reality that pointed towards the inevitable destructive disaster. He looked stressed after drinking the bitter reality, as if was stuck in his neck. He wants his lost honour back. He wants to create fear in the Queendom. He wants the throne now, at any cost. He'll fight until burns out his last drop of blood for it. He is eager..."

We were silent for some time. It was evening and the stars were shining on us like pearls in the sky. The playful wind knew the truth and seemed to shiver with it. The weeping rain had cried at such an extent that it lost it's tears. The trees looked dull, their leaves pale. Nature mourned for the lives that were going to be lost.

Between this, we walked in silence, thinking of the catastrophic tomorrow that was about to come. The calm before the storm. It became quieter and more quieter which was eating me up from within. I could foresee the death trap that was quietly waiting for me to fall in.

We reached Sheetal's house. She opened the door. She had a mix of a happy-sad expression inscribed on her face. Delight for we got to spend time again and sadness for we didn't find our tribe. She then looked at my upper right arm.
"Oh no! You got hurt!"

Sahil then slipped the turmeric in my palm secretary and his fingers gently closed my fist. My heart smiled, a hint of red hue on my cheeks as I felt his warm hands again.

His eyes seemed to say, 'give these to her, but don't take my name.' I knew why he expected me not to tell his name, Sheetal would get an idea that Sahil is worried about me.

I wanted to tease him, but I decided to play along. I gave the turmeric to her, saying
"I found it, hehe."

"Wow that's great! It's difficult to find this. I think you have great knowledge of herbs. I'll put the paste of it on your hand."

She put it in a vessel and started crushing it. I smirked at Sahil, still blinking innocently. He nodded, like he accepted his defeat. Meanwhile, Sheetal asked me,
"How did you get hurt?"

I gave a cold look to Sahil.
"I got attacked. By a... monkey."

Sheetal said and Sahil whispered in my ear at the same time,
"Monkey?!"

"Yes, monkey!"

Sheetal was not looking towards us, so I pointed out at Sahil and gave a sarcastic smile. Sahil sighed. He then whispered to my ear,
"You should write a book on 'How to insult people indirectly'."

"Hehe, I'm a pro at it."

"Hmm hmm, I knew it."

"Huh?"

"Uh-... Whatever."

While Sheetal was crushing the turmeric, I looked at the window, where I saw the parrot, standing with a note folded and fitted at his claws. It looked expressionless, as if it was forced to transport the letter. He didn't speak anything, because Sheetal might observe it. I realized it was something important.

I pointed out towards the window for Sahil to see the parrot, but he didn't understand. He just raised his eyebrows with a confused expression on his face. Usually he even understands my unspoken words, but now that I literally pointing out at the window, he couldn't understand. I sighed.

I came closer to his face, held his chin gently, my evil smirk accompanied like it was the salt in food. His eyes widened, his breath paced up. I shifted his gaze from down to the window behind him, when he realised. I told Sheetal,
"We'll be back in a while."

"Umm-... Okay, be careful for your hand."

We went out. The parrot then left the letter. I picked up the letter. It was again in English. I realised that it was the Third Stranger.

"Hey tribes!
As you remember, I had told you if you meet the Queen I would tell you the way out of the teleport. I can't push you out of the teleport, so I'll tell you a key through which you can get your way out.

'Convince Mystery Girl to your side'

Yours,
The Third Stranger."

We looked at each other in silence, eyes wide open, as if it were to pop out at any moment. Slowly and gently, my eyes closed. I lost all the energy I had, tripping down.
I had fainted.

•••••

Convince Mystery Girl? Yo what the hell?😭

I think we were better off searching the teleport instead of something like-... This!🤐

So that's all for today, folks!

And again, college life won't let me write... ✍️ Sorry for that.

Next chapter releases on Friday, until then,
Stay tuned! 😊💖