Shadows Of The Stumps

Continuation

It was nearing the dawn break, the entire academy was silent devoid of any noise. The multiple smoke blasts throughout had thrown them off guard leaving them unconscious.

When Ayan's consciousness returned, the acrid stench of burnt wiring still clung to the morning breeze. His head throbbed, and his vision swam, but the gravity of the situation struck him instantly.

"Meera..." he rasped, forcing himself upright. His hands scrambled against the cold floor, searching desperately for any sign of her.

Nearby, Arya coughed as she pushed herself to her knees, eyes watering from the smoke. "Where—" she gasped, "Where is Meera?"

Arjun staggered to his feet, wiping blood from a cut above his eyebrow. "They took her," he growled, fury burning in his eyes. "They used the blast as cover and got away."

Ayan's pulse thundered in his ears. His mind raced through the possibilities, piecing together the fragments of what had just happened. They were professionals. They came for Meera, and they succeeded.

The Colonel's voice cut through the haze. "Seal the area! No one leaves the premises!" he barked, his tone ice-cold as he coordinated efforts to track the intruders. Officers scrambled into action, radios buzzing, but the clock was already ticking.

Ayan clenched his fists, guilt clawing at him. I should have been faster.

Arya laid a hand on his shoulder, her voice steady despite the fear. "We'll get her back, Ayan. We will."

Arjun joined them, his jaw tight. "They were too organized for this to be a revenge thing.  Someone knew exactly what they were doing." His eyes flickered with determination. "They've got a plan. We just need to figure out what it is."

Ayan's gaze hardened. No plan is fool proof. He looked at Arya and Arjun, resolve anchoring him. "We need to track them down before it's too late."

Arya nodded, already in motion. "I'll start with the security cameras," she said, moving toward the control room with swift precision. "If they've left any trace, I'll find it."

Arjun cracked his knuckles. "I'll interrogate anyone who looks even remotely suspicious. Someone had to help them get in."

Ayan turned toward the Colonel. "Sir, they might try to leave the city. We need all exit routes monitored—airports, highways, everything."

The Colonel gave a sharp nod, his mind racing as fast as Ayan's. "I'll get teams on it. But listen carefully, Officer—keep your head clear. We can't afford mistakes."

Ayan felt the weight of the Colonel's words, but the pounding in his chest made one thing clear: This was personal now. They had taken Meera, and he would stop at nothing to bring her back.

Suddenly, Bakshi rushed into the room, his face pale and eyes wide with urgency. "Sir! We've got a situation!" he stammered, still shaken by the events, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

"What is it?" the Colonel demanded, his authority pulling them back from the abyss of despair.

"Abhay—the trainee—is missing too! And we found disturbing things in his room. He had pictures of Meera, like he was stalking her. He had even taken photos from her residence."

Ayan's heart dropped. "What?" he breathed, disbelief washing over him.

Arjun's eyes darkened. "That can't be a coincidence. If he was watching her—"

Ayan's voice hardened with resolve, cutting through the haze of despair. "Then we find him. We find Meera, and we bring her back."

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