FRIDAY THE 15TH (Complete✅)

Chapter 10 - " Standing on memory alone"

In the mid of dense forest: 15th July Friday: 6:20 pm:

People, who know a little bit about the nature of the jungle, know that its timetable is quite different from other places. Here the Sun sets very early. Actually, the dense canopy of the forest doesn't allow penetrating the mild sunrays of late afternoon to reach its ground. Naturally, darkness comes early and the clock tells 'Night begins around 6: 30'. Needless to say, this timetable didn't change for our adventurers too. It was 6: 20 but seemed like around 8 o'clock at night. The sound of crickets (an insect) and hidden nocturnal creatures coming from the bushes and trees, the wild smell and the moist breeze made the surroundings more mystic. All the people were frisking here and there in exasperation as well as in the hope of any way out. Only Nandini was sitting inside Manik's jeep as her injured knee was paining. It was swollen and bruised. FAB 5 and Fusion 4 never faced this kind of situation before where they were feeling like a trapped mouse. Suddenly Aliya shouted,

"Hey guys, there is a faint light showing on the right side. Look."

Everybody turned towards the pointed finger of her. There was indeed a feeble blinking light visible but seemed quite far from their present place.

"How is it possible? That is the same trail where we have already gone and we didn't notice anything like this."

Aryamaan said in disbelief.

"Must be a ' will- o'-the-wisp' (Ghost light)"

Navya rolled her eyes.

"Shut up. Stop making your cock-and-bull story,"

Mukti sounded irked.

"Let me see."

Manik said and got the binoculars from the dashboard. A smile appeared on his lips when he focused it on the source of the light.

"What? What did you see?"

Cabir asked restlessly.

"It's a house, guys. Lucky we." Manik answered with a hope drenched voice.

"Then what are we waiting for? Come let's search it."

Abhimanyu said enthusiastically.

"Yeah, come get in the car."

Manik instructed. All sat in the jeeps and started in the search of the light. Their only hope for now. The headlights of the jeep were penetrating the pitch-black darkness of the jungle. Some monkeys started chattering in alarm. An owl hooted in fear. The sight was dreadful but unavoidable. Both the jeeps carefully entered the narrow trail again. Manik felt a soft grip on his bicep. Nandini grabbed him in fear and in a need of assurance. Manik placed his palm on hers.

"Don't worry. We will find something."

He whispered.

.............................

Amidst the dense forest: 15th July Friday: 6: 55 pm:

Though the light seemed not so far, their ride took quite a long to find out the source. Now they were in a place from where they could watch the house with naked eyes. However, it was still quite far to reach. Moreover, it was on the left-hand side of the trail and in the little interior. As a result, they had to turn their wheel towards the left if they wanted to reach there. Maybe that was the reason nobody couldn't locate it in the daylight. Maybe it was finely camouflaged in the dense wood. It was the light that revealed its being. But one more problem was that if they want to get there, they had to leave the jeeps and take a walk to the house.