Whisper in the dark

Chapter 16

The night was unusually quiet, a heavy stillness that hung in the air as Ananya and Raghav made their way through the dimly lit hallways of the hotel. The tension between them was palpable, but it had shifted. No longer merely adversaries in pursuit of their own goals, they now found themselves sharing a common bond forged by the mystery that surrounded them—and the danger that was creeping closer.

As they turned a corner, Raghav broke the silence, his voice low. "We need to be more careful from here on out. Whoever is behind this isn't playing games anymore."

Ananya glanced up at him, her expression tense but determined. "I know. But we can't stop now. There's too much at stake."

Raghav paused for a moment, studying her face. “You’re not afraid?”

Ananya hesitated before answering. “I am. But I need answers. I need to know what really happened to Raj. I owe him that.”

Her mention of Raj, her deceased fiancé, sent a flicker of something in Raghav’s eyes. Sympathy? Understanding? He didn’t say anything more but nodded and pressed forward, their steps echoing through the hallway.

The two of them had been combing through the hotel archives for hours, following a lead they hoped would bring them closer to the truth. But now, as they approached a little-used stairwell that led to the basement, Ananya couldn’t shake the growing unease that prickled at the back of her neck.

They descended the stairs in silence, the air growing cooler and more oppressive the further they went. Raghav’s flashlight cast long shadows on the damp walls as they reached the basement level. The faint hum of the hotel’s machinery was the only sound around them.

"Are you sure about this?" Raghav asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Ananya nodded, her resolve firm. "This is where the records say the old construction plans are stored. We have to check them."

Raghav moved ahead, pushing open the door that led to a storage room. The room was dark, with rows of old, dusty filing cabinets and boxes stacked haphazardly against the walls. It was the kind of place that hadn’t seen much use in years, its contents forgotten, just like the secrets they were chasing.

As they began sifting through the files, the quiet was suddenly broken by the sound of footsteps outside the door.

Ananya froze. “Did you hear that?”

Raghav straightened up, his expression tense. "Stay here."

Before she could protest, he moved toward the door, opening it slightly to peer into the hallway. The footsteps were closer now—steady, purposeful. Then, out of nowhere, the door was flung open, slamming against the wall with a deafening bang.

A man dressed in black lunged at Raghav, his face obscured by a mask. Raghav barely had time to react, dodging the first strike but getting shoved back against the wall. The intruder’s intentions were clear—he wasn’t just there to intimidate them. He wanted to stop them, permanently.

Ananya gasped, her heart racing. She looked around frantically for anything she could use to help. Spotting a metal rod leaning against one of the shelves, she grabbed it and rushed toward the assailant.

The man had Raghav pinned against the wall, his hands around his throat. Just as Raghav’s face began to redden from the lack of air, Ananya swung the rod, striking the attacker’s shoulder with all her strength. The man grunted in pain, releasing Raghav and turning toward her.

For a moment, Ananya thought she might have the upper hand, but the man was quick, recovering and charging at her. Before he could reach her, though, Raghav tackled him from behind, sending both of them crashing to the ground.

The struggle was brief but intense. Raghav fought with a strength that belied his usually composed demeanor, managing to land a solid punch to the man’s jaw. The intruder stumbled back, clearly realizing he was outmatched, and without another word, he bolted down the hallway.

Raghav moved to follow him, but Ananya grabbed his arm. "Let him go," she said breathlessly. "It’s too dangerous."

Raghav hesitated, his chest heaving with exertion, but he nodded, watching the man disappear into the darkness.

For a moment, the two of them stood there, breathing heavily, the adrenaline still coursing through their veins. Finally, Raghav turned to Ananya, his expression a mixture of gratitude and disbelief. “You saved me back there.”

Ananya gave a weak smile. “I couldn’t just let him strangle you, could I?”

They shared a brief moment of levity before the weight of what had just happened settled over them. Someone had sent that man—someone who wanted them dead.

"We need to get out of here," Raghav said, his tone serious. "We’re not safe in this hotel anymore."

Ananya nodded, but as they gathered the documents they’d found, her gaze landed on a small, weathered envelope tucked between two ledgers. Something about it caught her attention. She pulled it out and carefully opened it.

Inside was an old, yellowed letter and a photograph—one that sent a chill down her spine.

The photograph showed the construction of the hotel in its early stages, but what shocked her was the man standing at the center of the image, overseeing the project. He was younger, but there was no mistaking his identity. It was a notorious businessman from the past, a man whose name had been linked to multiple scandals and criminal activities.

Ananya stared at the picture, her mind racing. "Raghav, look at this," she said, holding out the photo.

Raghav took it, his brow furrowing as he examined it. “Is that…?”

“Yes,” Ananya replied. “That’s Arun Malhotra. He’s been dead for over a decade, but he was involved in several illegal activities before his death. And it looks like he had a hand in building this hotel.”

Raghav’s expression darkened. "If he’s involved, then this goes deeper than we thought."

The revelation hit them both hard. Arun Malhotra had been one of the most powerful and dangerous men of his time, and his involvement in the hotel’s construction could explain the web of secrecy surrounding its history. But if Malhotra was dead, who was continuing his work? And why were they willing to kill to keep it hidden?

As they left the basement, Ananya and Raghav knew they were on the brink of uncovering something far bigger than either of them had imagined. But with each step they took, the danger grew. They were no longer just investigating a mystery—they were now the targets of a deadly conspiracy, and time was running out.