Eternal Hunt

Revelations and Nightmares

The next day, everyone went back to college. There was a strange silence and an atmosphere of gloom in the college. It was clear to everyone by now that something terrible had happened to that boy. His entire body hadn't been found, but the pieces of flesh that were discovered confirmed that he was no longer alive.

​Shreya and Piya were both quite sad. Shreya kept thinking about who that masked man was who had grabbed her so brutally. Did he really want to kill her, or did he have some other motive? She couldn't understand anything.

​Breaking her silence, Piya said, "There is so much sadness in the college today, right..."

​"Yeah..." Shreya replied in a low voice.

​Looking at her a bit carefully, Piya asked, "By the way... what happened last night, was that some crazy ex-boyfriend of yours?"

​Shreya looked at her in surprise. "I have never had a boyfriend, Piya."

​"Really? You are still a virgin?" Piya asked, teasing her a little so that the tense atmosphere could be lightened.

​Shreya just glared at her with slight anger and nodded 'yes'.

​Just then, Kartik's call came on Piya's phone. He talked normally and asked how Shreya was doing. Shreya asked Piya through gestures, "How is Aadi?" Kartik told them that yes, Aadi was perfectly fine.

​And at that exact time, Shreya's phone screen lit up. There was a notification.

Aadi: Coffee?

​Just seeing such a short and direct message from Aadi brought a strange warmth to Shreya's face, and she started to blush. She quickly typed.

Shreya: Where?

Aadi: I'm coming to pick you up.

Shreya: Where?

​But by then, Aadi had already left to meet her. Meanwhile, Piya had noticed all of this—how badly Shreya was blushing just by looking at Aadi's text. Piya immediately started teasing Shreya, which brought a genuine smile to Shreya's face for the first time since that terrifying night.

​Aadi and Shreya were sitting at a local tea stall near the college. Amidst the steam of the hot tea, a strange spark could be felt between the two of them. They both remained silent for a while; then, breaking the silence, Aadi asked.

​Aadi: "Are you fine, Shreya?"

Shreya got a bit defensive, perhaps because of the trauma from that night.

Shreya: "What's it to you?"

Aadi gave no reaction; he just kept looking at her calmly. His silence made Shreya feel a little more normal.

Shreya: (sighing) "I mean... yes, I am fine."

Aadi: "Good. Because I need to tell you something. I have translated a part of that journal." Aadi leaned forward a bit and lowered his voice. "There are steps written in that diary on how to bring a dead man back to life... a dark resurrection ritual. I think whoever that was in the jungle, he has been brought back to life through this ritual. But he is no longer human... he is constantly killing people to survive. Probably for the last 100 years."

Shreya was left in shock. All the dots started connecting in her mind—that mansion, that strength, those claw marks.

Shreya: "Is this possible? If yes, then how will we save ourselves and the others? You even fought with him... can you finish him or catch him?"

Aadi: "No. He is too strong physically."

Shreya: "Then what should be done?"

Aadi: "Every such thing definitely has some weakness. We will have to find it."

Shreya: "Yeah, right. By when will you decode the rest of the diary?"

Aadi: "I will need more data for that."

Shreya: "Then find it!"

Aadi: (smirking slightly) "Yes, Ma'am."

Shreya laughed lightly.

Shreya: "Hey, I meant do it yourself, how could I even help with this."

Aadi: "Of course." Aadi took the last sip of his tea and, suddenly changing the topic, asked directly, "Is there anyone in your life?"

Shreya suddenly got flustered.

Shreya: "No! Not at all! Who told you? You can ask Piya!"

Aadi: "Shhh... don't rush."

Shreya: (defensively) "I never had a boyfriend in my life. That's why I live a very happy life."

Aadi: "That's cool."

Shreya thought of counter-attacking a bit.

Shreya: "And in your life?"

Aadi: "For years, I have been focusing only on myself."

Shreya: (rolling her eyes) "You can't give a straight answer to anything, can you?"

Aadi: "No."

Shreya: "So arrogant!"

Aadi smiled slightly and stood up.

Aadi: "Let's go home. I will drop you."

Shreya found his bossy tone a little irritating (but deep down, she also liked it).

Shreya: "I can go myself. I will book a cab."

Aadi: "Ok." Aadi put his hands in his pockets and stood quietly.

Shreya glared at him. She was expecting Aadi to insist.

That bastard didn't even ask again! Shreya cursed in her mind.

When Aadi really didn't say anything, Shreya admitted defeat and picked up her bag.

Shreya: "Anyway... you can drop me up to the turn right before my house."

Aadi was observing her mysteriously, noticing this cute and bratty behavior of hers. A faint smile appeared on his face.

Aadi: "Let's go."

Aadi made her sit in the car and dropped her exactly where she had asked.

After dropping Shreya off, as soon as Aadi reached his office, which was also his house, he saw on the security screen that someone had arrived. He assumed it was just one of Kartik's friends, so he didn't pay much attention and went straight inside.

Inside, Kartik was passionately kissing Piya. Piya was incredibly aroused; the intoxication and lust were clearly visible in her eyes. She kept kissing him even though Kartik had already noticed Aadi walking in. Kartik stopped Piya, thinking Aadi would scold them for doing this in the office. But Aadi didn't say a word. He went straight into the room that served as his indoor gym and began an intense three-hour workout, because he knew that his opponent was no longer human. Meanwhile, Piya just laughed mischievously at her own boldness and started kissing Kartik again.

The next day, when Piya told Shreya everything, Shreya thought to herself that the life Piya was living was the absolute peak of happiness. On the other hand, Aadi was thinking about how Kartik had found a very nice girl and was no longer lonely.

No matter how strong and focused a lion is, to rule the jungle, he also needs a queen. That was exactly what Aadi needed in his life.

Aadi went back to his decoding work, and that night, Shreya once again dreamt of Namah's terrifying grip.

The memory of Namah, who had brutally dominated her, was in a strange way making her feel an intense rush in her waking life, and she kept having recurring dreams about him night after night.