The Crimson Devotion

Episode :- 2

The morning sun barely pierced through the dense foliage of Chandipur as Anurita adjusted her notebook, ready to begin her investigation in earnest. The magistrate had arranged for her to meet Suboy Dey, a local policeman already investigating the disappearances. She approached the small police outpost at the edge of the village, her sari brushing against the dusty ground.

Suboy Dey was a lean man in his mid-thirties with sharp features and a perpetually furrowed brow. His uniform was slightly crumpled, and he carried an air of no-nonsense practicality.

"Miss Mukherjee, I presume?" he greeted, standing straight and offering a firm handshake.

"Yes. Mr. Dey, I hear you’ve been handling this case. What have you found so far?" she asked, skipping pleasantries.

Dey sighed and motioned her to follow him inside the modest outpost. The walls were lined with maps of the surrounding forests, and a large table in the center held files and photographs of the missing women.

"There’s a pattern," he began, tapping a map with a pencil. "The disappearances all center around this part of the forest, near an abandoned shrine. Locals avoid the area, claiming it’s cursed."

Anurita studied the map intently, her brow furrowing. "Have you gone there?"

"Once," Suboy admitted, his voice dropping. "But it’s not just the cult I’m worried about. The terrain is dangerous—quicksand, wild animals. And then there’s... them."

"Them?"

"Whoever’s behind this," he clarified. "I didn’t see them, but I felt watched. It’s as if the forest itself is alive."

Anurita nodded, absorbing the information. "We’ll need to visit that shrine. Can you lead me there?"

Suboy hesitated, glancing out the window at the looming trees. "I can. But not without backup."

A voice interrupted from the doorway. "Well, that’s convenient because I’m coming along."

Anurita turned to see Anindya  leaning casually against the doorframe, his usual smirk in place.

"This isn’t your concern, Mr. Dutta," she said firmly.

"On the contrary, Investigator, it’s entirely my concern. You’ll need someone who knows the history of that shrine. And, let’s face it, you’re going to need more than just bravery to get through those woods," he countered, his tone infuriatingly self-assured.

Suboy raised an eyebrow but said nothing, silently observing the dynamic between the two.

There was no other option. So, the three of them agreed to go together.

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The trio set off into the forest later that afternoon, the air heavy with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves. Suboy led the way, his rifle slung over his shoulder, while Anindya trailed behind Anurita, his presence a constant irritation.

"Do you always walk this fast?" Anindya called out after a while.

"I’m here to solve a case, not enjoy a stroll," Anurita shot back without turning around.

"Noted," he replied, quickening his pace to keep up.

The path grew narrower, the canopy above blocking out most of the sunlight. Anurita couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched, and judging by Suboy’s tight grip on his rifle, she wasn’t alone in her unease.

As they approached the shrine, Anindya spoke, his voice uncharacteristically serious. "This place has a history, you know. It was once a center of worship for the Left-Hand Path followers of Kali. They believed in harnessing fear and death to attain power."