Karan's POV:

[SATURDAY]

The school day had come to a close, leaving us standing near the old banyan tree, the sun casting long shadows across the deserted courtyard. I couldn't shake the sense of foreboding that clung to the air as I glanced at Jay.

"Are you sure about this, Jay?" I asked, my voice low, almost lost in the quietness that enveloped the school grounds.

Jay's gaze fixed on the tree bench, determination etched across his face. "We need answers, Kan. Whatever's hidden under there might give us a lead on this cult, on Arav, on everything."

I hesitated, my eyes flickering to the compartment beneath the bench. It felt like we were about to uncover something significant, something that could change the course of everything we thought we knew.

"But what if we get into bigger trouble?" I voiced my concern, the gravity of our actions settling in.

Jay smirked, a mix of mischief and bravery. "That's the risk we have to take, Kan. We're not kids playing detective; we're trying to untangle a web they've spun around us."

With a deep breath, I nodded. The decision was made, and we crouched down beside the tree bench, hands reaching for the compartment that held the mysteries we were about to confront.

The quiet whispers of the wind and the distant hum of the city formed an eerie backdrop to our clandestine investigation.

Our fingers gingerly touched the books within the innocuous box. Titles like "The Art of Concealing Murder" taunted us, and we decided to dig deeper. The pages, fragile and yellowed, held the potential to unravel the cryptic secrets embedded in our ordinary lives.

The jar, filled with pieces of paper, became the focus of our attention.

I carefully examined one, my brow furrowing in concentration. "These aren't just random names and symbols. There's a code here, Jay, a puzzle waiting to be solved."

Our exploration turned into a collaborative investigation. Each chit we picked revealed more pieces of the puzzle. We cross-referenced dates, connected names, and deciphered symbols, slowly revealing a hidden network of events.

"This jar is like a timeline, Kan. We can trace the occurrences and understand the connections. It's a record of the secrets held within the very foundations of our school," Jay explained, his voice low but charged with anticipation.

"We're onto something big, Jay," I murmured, my eyes fixed on the cryptic symbols before us. "We need to keep going, peel back the layers until we find the truth."

[SUNDAY]

As we nestled into the comfort of Jay's room, the items spread out before us like artifacts from a forbidden museum, and the weight of our discoveries began to settle. The room, adorned with posters of dynamic anime characters and bathed in the soft glow of LED lights, provided a clandestine sanctuary for our exploration.

With his parents away for the day attending to business meetings, Jay's cozy house became the backdrop for our unraveling mystery. The air in the room held a sense of anticipation, and as we gazed upon the peculiar items that had surfaced from the hidden compartment beneath the tree bench, a realization dawned—we were on the brink of uncovering secrets that had long been veiled in the shadows.

Expressions of curiosity and determination flickered across our faces as we delved deeper into the enigma laid out before us. The room, usually filled with the whimsy of anime fandom, now housed the tangible remnants of a clandestine world, and the gravity of the situation hung in the air, mingling with the excitement of the unknown.

"So, where do we begin?" I pondered, my gaze flitting from the jar of cryptic symbols to the ominous books lining the table.

"We start with the names and dates," Jay suggested, his eyes scanning the chits of paper spread out before us. "There has to be a pattern or connection that can lead us to the heart of this mystery."

With meticulous attention, we delved into the task at hand, scrutinizing each piece of information. The room held an air of suspense, and the dim glow of Jay's room lent an almost cinematic quality to our investigation.

As we went through the chits of paper cross-referencing names and deciphering symbols, a pattern began to emerge. The names were not random; they were intricately tied to specific events in the school's history.

"Look at this," Jay exclaimed, his finger pointing to a particular name. "This person vanished around the same time as the factory incident."

My eyes widened as the pieces of the puzzle started to fall into place, revealing a hidden narrative that intertwined with the school's past.

Ramesh Sampat. 12 June, 2006.

"When did Arav disappear?" I inquired, shuffling through the remaining papers.

"Same time. I remember it was May since we had summer vacations then," Jay recalled, scratching the back of his head.

"That means someone is spying on us. And they're definitely not students," I concluded, crossing my arms in thought.

"How can you be so sure it's not a student?"

"Arav was quite reclusive, but Ramesh was almost everyone's friend. I think we need to start questioning others, starting with Rahul."

"But he's our bully!" Jay protested.

"Exactly. That's why he's the first person we're going to question. Let's see what the old mutt has to say for himself," I declared.

[MONDAY]

"I swear on my life it wasn't me!" Rahul barely managed to breathe out, his voice a mixture of fear and frustration.

Out in the parking lot, Jay and I had pulled him away from the prying eyes of our fellow students, dragging him across the corridors. The gasps and shocked expressions of onlookers lingered in the air.

"Stop lying, Rahul," I stated firmly, crossing my arms in a show of skepticism.

"But, really, I have no clue about the lost students. I did hear something happened, but I didn't want to be involved in it myself," Rahul insisted, his shaky hands betraying the composure he tried to maintain.

"Your recent actions say otherwise," Jay interjected, his tone cutting through the tense atmosphere. "Pulling those pieces of evidence from my bag wasn't a joke."

"Oh, come on—"

"Why do you bully us anyway?" I demanded, narrowing my eyes and scrutinizing Rahul's every move.

"You guys deserve it," Rahul retorted, dusting imaginary dirt off his shirt with an air of nonchalance. He started to walk away, leaving Jay and me staring after him, frustration and confusion etched on our faces.

In the school parking lot, the fading sunlight cast long shadows, and the rows of parked cars stood as silent witnesses to the confrontation that unfolded in the aftermath of a lingering school day.

I squared off against Rahul, his malevolence palpable in the air. Jay stood by my side, determination etched on his face.

Rahul's sneer echoed off the alley walls. "Thought you could hide behind your little friend forever, huh?"

My fists clenched, knuckles turning white. "We're done letting you make our lives miserable, Rahul."

With a sudden burst of aggression, Rahul lunged at me, aiming for my face. I dodged just in time, but his retaliatory strike found Jay's side. I winced at the sight, my friend gritting his teeth against the pain.

The brawl erupted, a chaotic dance of punches and kicks. Jay and I moved in unison, a synchronized effort against our tormentor. The sounds of our bodies colliding filled the narrow space, a cacophony of desperation and determination.

A punch to my gut left me breathless, the air escaping my lungs. In response, Jay landed a solid hit on Rahul's jaw, momentarily staggering him.

Blood trickled from my split lip, the taste metallic against my tongue.

Despite our coordinated efforts, Rahul proved to be a formidable adversary. He fought ruthlessly, leveraging any advantage to gain the upper hand. The damp ground absorbed the impact of our falls, bearing witness to the brutality of our conflict.

Emotions fueled our determination. Years of humiliation and torment propelled us forward. We fought not just for ourselves but for every moment Rahul had made our lives unbearable.

At one point, a stray elbow struck Jay's face, causing him to stumble backward. My fury surged, and I launched myself at Rahul with renewed vigor. The brawl reached its zenith, each participant battered and bruised yet refusing to yield.

As exhaustion settled over us like a heavy cloak, the three of us separated. The alley fell silent, the only sound being the labored breaths of the battered trio.

In the aftermath, bloodied and bruised, Jay and I stood our ground. Rahul, nursing his wounds, glared at us with a mixture of hatred and grudging respect.

The distant hum of city traffic returned, a stark contrast to the visceral intensity that had unfolded in the school parking lot. The scars of our battle lingered, not just on our bodies but also in the environment that had unwittingly hosted our cathartic confrontation.

❛some legends are told,
some turn to dust,
some to gold,
but, you'll remember me.❜
— Centuries

A/N:

SARAAAAA WHAT THE HECK?!

Yeah, no, I am asking myself the same question. They dig deeper into the whole "suspicion" of the objects, especially those chits.

Now, next, they also fight with their bully, which in itself is a big progress!!! Didn't know our soft boi Karan was also a good fighter *raises brows in impression* but, seriously though, anything, just- I love how things are progressing even when I am quite a bit lost sometimes on the "moving forward" of the plot.

Looks like Arav wasn't the only one who was lost. There's someone else spying on the students too!? Damn, the plot thickens!

I am kind of proud of how far this story has come and honestly, words can't be enough to express how much grateful I am for each vote, comment and read, means a lot <3

Feel free to leave loads of suggestions, comments and feedback!!