The storm raged on as the group gathered near the fireplace, trying to make sense of the terrifying events unfolding around them. Mahi, the calmest among them, suddenly stood up. His eyes were unusually intense, his face unreadable.
"Follow me" Mahi said, his voice steady but cold, as if he had made a decision no one else could understand. "I know how to get us out of here."
Despite their fear and confusion, the group trusted Mahi more than anyone else. He had always been their guiding force, the one to rely on in any crisis. Without hesitation, they began to follow him deeper into the dark, twisting hallways of the guesthouse.
Sonu was the first to feel uneasy. Something about Mahi's demeanor seemed... off. He wasn't speaking much, and his movements were unnaturally precise, almost robotic. But Sonu brushed it aside. It's Mahi bhai. He's just trying to stay calm for all of us, he told himself.
Ashwin and Jinks exchanged a quick glance. They had also noticed the change in Mahi's behavior, but neither dared to voice their doubts. If anyone could lead them out of this nightmare, it was him.
As they moved further into the guesthouse, the atmosphere grew heavier. The air seemed thicker, colder, and more suffocating. The faint sound of whispers followed them, growing louder with every step.
"This doesn't feel right" Sonu whispered to himself, glancing nervously at the shadowy walls.
It was then that he saw it. An old, cracked mirror hung crookedly on the wall, its surface dull and tarnished. Something about it drew Sonu's attention, making him stop in his tracks. He turned his flashlight toward the mirror, and his breath hitched in his throat.
The reflection showed the entire group, Jaddu, Rutu, Shivam, Deepak, Tushar, Shardul, Devon, Pathirana, Ashwin, Jinks, and even himself. But Mahi wasn't there.
Sonu's heart pounded in his chest. His palms grew clammy as he stared at the mirror, willing the reflection to change, to prove him wrong. But no matter how long he looked, the truth remained: Mahi wasn't in the mirror.
He stumbled back, bumping into Jinks, who looked at him with concern. "Sonu? What happened?"
Sonu didn't respond immediately. He grabbed Jinks by the arm and whispered, his voice shaking "Look at the mirror. Tell me what you see."
Jinks, confused but curious, stepped closer to the mirror. His face paled as he took in the reflection. The others were all there, but Mahi...their Mahi bhai...was missing.
"Sonu..." Jinks whispered, his voice trembling. "Where's Mahi?"
Sonu grabbed Jinks shoulder and hissed "Do you remember? Mahi bhai went out with the driver... but he didn't come back with the driver?"
Jinks felt a chill run down his spine. He turned to look at the figure leading the group....a figure they had trusted without question. The realization hit him like a punch to the gut. Whoever...or whatever...was with them wasn't Mahi.
"What do we do?" Sonu asked, his voice barely audible. He sounded like a terrified child.
Jinks forced himself to stay calm, though his legs felt weak beneath him. "We can't panic" he whispered. "If it's not Mahi, we don't know what it is...or what it wants. We need to figure out a way to get out of here without letting it know that we've figured it out."
Sonu nodded, though his hands were trembling. He felt like screaming, but he swallowed his fear and forced himself to move.
Meanwhile, the group followed 'Mahi' deeper into the house. The hallways became narrower, the walls lined with strange, faded paintings of faces that seemed to watch them as they passed. The whispers grew louder, almost as if they were coming from the walls themselves.
"Mahi bhai" Rutu said nervously "where exactly are we going?"
"We're almost there" 'Mahi' replied, his voice calm but devoid of its usual warmth. "Just trust me."
Jinks and Sonu exchanged another glance, their unease growing by the second. Almost where? Jinks thought.
As they rounded a corner 'Mahi' stopped abruptly in front of a heavy wooden door. It looked ancient, with strange symbols carved into its surface. "This is it" he said, placing his hand on the door. "We'll be safe here."
"No" Jinks whispered to himself. "This isn't right."
Before anyone could react, the door creaked open on its own, revealing a pitch-black room. A gust of icy wind blew out their flashlights, plunging the group into darkness.
"Mahi bhai!" Jaddu shouted, his voice echoing in the void. "What's going on?!"
But there was no answer. When the lights flickered back on 'Mahi' was gone.
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If Mahi wasn't with them the entire time, where was he?
And if this part reaches 15 votes by tonight, I'll post another update for you all!
