Chapter 26: The Fury of the Forgotten

The dim light from their torches flickered against the damp stone walls of the crypt, casting eerie shadows that danced like specters. Raja Vikram, Maya, Prince Arav, General Bhanu, and Rajguru stood at the entrance, their breaths shallow with anticipation and dread. The air was thick with the smell of mildew and age, a palpable reminder of the forgotten souls that lay within.

As they ventured deeper into the crypt, Vikram felt the weight of history pressing down on them. “This is it,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “This is where Rani’s body lies.”

Maya clenched Vikram’s hand, her knuckles white with anxiety. “What if she’s angry? What if she blames us for what happened?” Her eyes were wide, reflecting the flickering light.

General Bhanu squared his shoulders, his expression resolute. “We must confront her spirit. It is the only way to bring peace to this palace and to Maya.”

Rajguru nodded, leading the way to the center of the crypt, where a raised platform housed the stone coffin. Dust motes floated in the air like lost memories. “Prepare yourselves. If Rani’s spirit is still bound to this place, she may not take kindly to our intrusion.”

As they reached the coffin, Vikram hesitated, feeling a mix of sorrow and regret. He could still remember Rani’s laughter, her warmth, and the love they once shared. “I’m sorry, Rani,” he said softly, gazing at the cracked lid of the coffin. “We came to honor you.”

With a collective effort, they pushed the heavy lid aside, revealing the decayed remains of Rani Aranya. The sight sent a shudder through Vikram. Her once-beautiful face was now just a skeletal visage, draped in tattered remnants of royal finery. “She… she looks so peaceful,” Maya whispered, but her voice trembled.

Suddenly, a cold wind swept through the crypt, snuffing out their torches and plunging them into darkness. Vikram’s heart raced as he fumbled to relight his torch. “Stay close!” he called, but fear clawed at his throat.

“Who dares disturb my slumber?” a voice echoed through the crypt, reverberating off the stone walls. The tone was icy and filled with rage. It was unmistakably Rani’s voice, but twisted and malevolent.

A ghostly figure materialized before them, her translucent form swirling with anger. Rani’s eyes glowed with a fierce light, her once gentle features now contorted with fury. “You think you can just walk in here and take what is rightfully mine?” She pointed an accusing finger at Vikram.

“Maya!” Vikram shouted, pulling her close. “Stay behind me!”

Rani’s spirit floated closer, her voice like a chilling wind. “You abandoned me! You forgot me! And now you bring this—this intruder—into my home?” She glared at Maya, her expression filled with contempt.

Maya, trembling but resolute, stepped forward. “Rani, we’re here to help you! We want to give you peace!”

“Peace?” Rani’s laughter was a harsh, discordant sound that echoed through the crypt. “You think I wanted peace? I wanted your love, Vikram! I wanted you to remember me, to mourn me! Instead, you replaced me with her!”

“Stop!” Vikram shouted, his voice breaking with emotion. “It’s not like that! I loved you, Rani! I still do, but your obsession—your darkness—”

“Darkness?” Rani interrupted, her voice rising. “You call it darkness? It was love, Vikram! A love so strong that it defied death itself! I bound myself to you, and now you think you can just move on?”

Vikram took a step back, fear creeping into his heart. “I didn’t know! I thought you were at peace! But your spirit haunts this palace, and it has brought nothing but pain!”

“Pain?” Rani’s ghostly form surged forward, her face inches from Vikram’s. “You have no idea what pain is! You think marrying her will erase me? I will never let you go!”

The temperature in the crypt plummeted, and shadows swirled around them. The flickering torchlight cast grotesque shapes on the walls, making it seem as if the very stones were alive with Rani’s fury.

“Rani!” Maya called out, her voice steady despite the fear coursing through her. “You can be free! We want to help you move on! But you must let go of this anger!”

“Anger?” Rani sneered, her form twisting with rage. “You think I will let this intruder take what is mine? You will suffer for this betrayal, Maya!”

Vikram felt a surge of desperation. “No! You don’t have to do this! We can help you find peace! Please!”

Rani’s spirit recoiled, and for a moment, the rage faded from her eyes, replaced by something almost human—a flicker of sorrow. “Peace…? You think I can find peace when you have taken everything from me?”

Maya stepped forward, her voice softening. “Rani, we can honor your memory. You don’t have to be trapped in this rage. You deserve to rest.”

But Rani’s fury flared anew. “Rest? You speak of rest when you’ve stolen my love?” The crypt shook with her anger, and a wave of cold air knocked them back. Vikram stumbled but caught himself, holding Maya close.

Rajguru raised his voice, attempting to exert authority over the spirit. “Rani Aranya, we acknowledge your pain! But you must understand that your actions are harming the living! Your spirit is bound to this place, and it is suffocating those who wish to honor you!”

A low rumble echoed through the crypt as Rani’s spirit howled in anguish. “You cannot take him from me! I will not let you!”

Suddenly, the shadows intensified, swirling around Maya like a storm. She gasped as they closed in on her, the cold wrapping around her like chains. “Vikram! Help!”

“Let her go!” Vikram roared, charging forward. “Rani, please! This isn’t you!”

The spirit faltered, hesitating as if torn between her anger and the love she once had. Vikram seized the moment. “You were my queen, Rani! You were my love! But this isn’t love anymore—it’s madness!”

For a heartbeat, silence reigned in the crypt. Rani’s ghost flickered, her form wavering as the shadows began to dissolve. “Madness…” she echoed softly, almost as if she was considering his words.

Maya, still encircled by the shadows, looked at Vikram with fear in her eyes. “We can help you, Rani! Just let go!”

With a cry of fury, Rani lunged toward Vikram, her face a mask of rage. “You will regret this, Vikram! You will pay for your betrayal!”

“No!” Vikram shouted, bracing himself. “I will not let you hurt anyone else!”

But before he could react, a blinding light erupted from Rajguru, illuminating the crypt with a fierce glow. “In the name of the ancestors, I command you to find peace, Rani Aranya! You cannot continue this path of destruction!”

The light pushed against Rani’s spirit, causing her to shriek in rage. “You will all suffer for this!”

With one last cry, the shadows exploded outward, sending Vikram and Maya tumbling to the ground. As the dust settled, the light began to dim, and Rani’s form flickered one last time before vanishing into the ether.

Breathless, Vikram scrambled to his feet, pulling Maya into his arms. “Maya! Are you alright?”

“I— I think so,” she replied, shaking but alive. “But what just happened?”

Rajguru knelt, breathing heavily. “The spirit has not yet been vanquished. She is still angry, still filled with vengeance. We must prepare ourselves for her return.”

Vikram clenched his fists, determination surging through him. “Then we will not give up. We will find a way to save her and protect this palace from her wrath.”

As they gathered their bearings, the shadows lingered in the corners of the crypt, a reminder that the battle was far from over. And somewhere in the darkness, Rani’s fury still simmered, waiting for the moment to strike again.