Song of the chapter is No Return by Alanis Morissette

-65-
-Veronica D'Rosario-
-Present-

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Delmore High
26 December,  2019
2:15 am

This time it stopped on me.

"Ah! My favourite person! Finally!" Yash chuckled with excitement and Moose looked at me, confused. I had my eyes fixated on him. I could sense my whole body shivering.

" Veronica.... you're such an enigma. There's so much about you that I absolutely adore!" Yash said, moving closer to me. I kept on trying to loosen my ropes with my hands behind me. "Part of the reason, why you're my favourite among the rest of my puppets."

I could guess he meant the rest by that because his eyes roamed around over us. I breathed heavily and tried to free my hands once again , but to no avail. The ropes were too tight. It was going to be extremely difficult to get out of these.

" You have always been the curious one, you know. Always in the drive to find answers. That's what has led you to this conclusion unfortunately." Yash said, towards me. " You're so broken inside, which makes you so easier to manipulate. You know...just like I did two days ago."

" What?" Moose chimed up, looking back and forth between me and Yash. He then fixed his gaze on me. " Ronnie , what does he mean by that?"

" Aw , you didn't tell them?" Yash said in a mocking voice.

I exchanged a glance with Moose and looked down at my feet.

" Tell us what?" Siya asked, in a quivering voice.

" Oh Siya," Yash began, taking three swift steps towards her and went and stood behind her. "Two days ago when Veronica threw a fit in the parking lot of Paper Lantern, why do you think the reason was behind it?"

" What do you mean?" Moose asked, looking at Yash. "She was upset about Ahaan's death and-"

" Oh my god, Himanshu, you're so naive. It's almost adorable." Yash said, mimicking him. "The reason why Veronica threw that fit and said all those things was because I asked her to."

" What?" Moose's voice was barely audible and I could feel his gaze on me. I refused to look into his eyes.

" Veronica, what does that-....are you two working together?" Saina asked.

"Whoa there, Saina. Didn't expect you to jump to that conclusion!" Yash said, feigning shock. He then turned to me and said, "See Veronica, that's what I told you. These people are not your real friends. They didn't wait two minutes to point fingers at you. These people only care about themselves."

I gulped , swallowing the lump forming in my throat for as long as I could remember. My breaths grew shallower every minute.

" That's why I had asked you to join me." Yash declared. "You had so much potential. We could have worked wonders. I would have atleast been loyal to you, because I understand you. I understand where you come from. These people.... they'll never understand your darkness, the monster that is in you. They'll never understand you."

I focused on my breathing because that was the only thing that kept me from exploding.

" But you fucking rejected my offer! You chose these people over me! " He continued with gritted teeth. " Bet you regret it now, don't you?"

I shut my eyes closed. He was trying to get into my head. And I wasn't going to let him get under my skin.

" The reason why Veronica threw that fit the other day was because I threatened her that I would hurt Himanshu if she didn't say those words." Yash said, moving towards me again. I tried to hard to keep my composure and not look at Moose. I could feel his gaze on me. "And being hopelessly drawn to the one person that actually gives a fuck about her, she did what I said."

" Why?" Zoya asked. " Why the fuck would you threaten her to do that?"

" Because I had to break you guys up before this grand finale. The more I wanted you guys to hate each other, the more you were coming closer. And I hated that. I hated that everything was getting nice and sweet between you guys! I mean , fuck Zoya....you used to hate Saina with such passion...and I used to love watching you fight and then all of a sudden, you patched up and it became boring. The game's only fun when I control my players. And I was loosing control over you all. So I picked the best target possible." Yash finished with a perfect smile, directed towards me.

Zoya sighed an exhausted sigh. "God, you're fucking psychotic!"

Yash grinned at her. "I know, baby." He then stepped in front of my chair and lifted my chin to make me look at him. I cringed at his touch. "Now, it's time for your turn!"

He then let go of my chin and tilted his head and smiled. " And I have the perfect dare for you!" Yash said and turned towards Sanchi. "Sanchi, go bring the special thing."

Sanchi nodded happily and walked out of the room. She reappeared minutes later, with an object in her hand. As she inched closer towards the light, I realised what the object was.

" Tada!" Yash squealed , gesturing towards the gun in his hand as he took it from Sanchi. A silent shriek escaped Moose's lips. I frantically looked at Yash.

" Now we'll play a little game called Russian Roulette. I'm sure you must've heard of this game before. And if you haven't, well, let me explain how the game works." Yash began circling around our chairs. "This gun has one bullet loaded in it. Veronica has to play three rounds of it and use that gun on herself."

" You're way out of the line! You're fucking crazy, you hear me! You're crazy!" Moose yelled angrily. Yash glared at him and said, " Fine, if you care so much about her, why don't you share the dare?"

" What?" He asked.

"Share it. You both get only three turns, let's see who gets a bullet to their head first. Would you be willing to die for her, Himanshu?" Yash asked.

Moose gulped, swallowing the huge lump forming in my throat for so long and looked over towards me. I had my eyes fixated at him and I shook my head, gesturing him to not take the risk.

" Fine. " Moose stated. The immense glare I gave him was enough evidence of the fact that I hated him for doing this.

" Great then! Sanchi loosen their ropes." Yash ordered and Sanchi did as said. As soon my hands were free from the clutches of the rope, I moved them frantically to feel my hand again.

" Veronica come here, would you?" Yash extended his hand towards me and I reluctantly took three steps forward. Moose inched closer towards them too, not leaving any chance for Yash to outsmart us or do something to me.

He handed me the gun. My hands trembled as I took it from him and raised it to my head. Moose's eyes reflected immense fear. My eyes glistened as I looked at him. How much I wished he could hold me tightly in his arms right now.

I looked around for a minute. Kartik sat the closest to Yash, but his hands were tied. Saina was close to where Sanchi was standing.

I looked at Moose. He was eyeing Saina, as if trying to tell her something. Saina shifted in her seat and nodded as indistinctively as possible. She nodded slowly to not make it look like she was nodding at something or someone.

" Let me do it first." Moose yelped and took the gun from me in an instant. I looked at him, bewildered. Yash chuckled softly from behind.

" Ah! Young love! It's so sweet and so.... pathetic." Yash exclaimed, sitting in his chair. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

I looked at Moose and his eyes made me understand that he was onto something. I gave him a puzzled look but said nothing.

Moose put the gun to his head and closed his eyelids. I was shaking beyond reproach. He put his finger on the trigger and pulled it.

Nothing happened.

I breathed a sigh of relief as he opened his eyes. My eyes were gleaming with tears and I had only true fear etched on my face.

I took the gun from him and raised it to my head. I put my finger on the trigger and pulled it.

Once again, clear silence. Nothing happened.

I opened my eyes, fear etched in them and looked at Moose hesitantly. I shook my head slowly, begging him to not do it.

He then leaned in closer to me to take the gun and whispered in my ears, " Hit me."

" What?" I whispered back, confused.

"Oh come on, are you gonna do it or not?" Yash asked, with a hint of annoyance in his voice.

" Hit me now!" He gritted out.

I realised that he was planning something. So without hesitation, I hit me, my elbow making contact with my face.

He fake yelled and groaned and flew back on his back on the floor, the gun clutched in his hands.

I stood there, confused for a moment. I hadn't hit him that hard to make him fly across the floor. Everyone else looked bewilderedly at him. Moose winced in pain in the floor, covering his face. From the peripheral of my eye, I saw Saina get behind Sanchi as both Sanchi and Yash went closer to Moose. Yash leaned closer to him and kicked him with his leg, " Hey! Get up!"

" Or what?" Moose said.

"Or-" Yash began but he was cut off abruptly as Saina hit Sanchi from behind with the broken piece of debris kept behind her on the teacher's desk. Sanchi fell down to the floor unconscious. Yash turned in an instant to see what had happened and Moose seized that opportunity to stand up and aimed the gun at him.

" Or you can just shut the fuck up." Moose said and he turned and looked at him, shocked and almost impressed.

" Wow, I really underestimated you, didn't I?" Yash said, laughing.

" You fucking did!" Moose said with gritted teeth. Zoya grabbed the knife from his hand and stood behind him, holding the knife around his neck.

Saina took this opportunity and untied Kartik and Siya, while I stood in a corner, still shocked as to when Moose had figured out this plan. He gave me a nod and I nodded and helped Kartik stand up.

" Remove the trap. " Moose ordered.

" Or what?" He chuckled.

" I think we've established what the 'or' is gonna be." Zoya said, pressing the knife harder and cutting his throat slightly.

" Okay okay, fine!" Yash winced in pain. " Just let me go so I can do it."

" Do you think we're that stupid?" Moose asked.

Zoya walked him over to the trap, not letting go of him. He dismantled the trap without thinking twice.

" You're fucking gonna pay for this!" Yash threatened. Zoya pressed the knife on the wound of his neck, making him bleed and cough.

Once the trap was dismantled, I said, " Look Yash,surrender yourself. There's still time. You won't even have to go to jail. They'll treat you. You still have your whole life ahead of you. It's not too late."

He scoffed. "Shut up!"

" Fine then, have it your way." Moose aimed the gun at him and etched his fingers over the trigger hesitantly. But before he could pull the trigger, I beat him to it. I took the gun from him and shot him. I closed my eyes , the sound of the shot deafening me for a second.

With fear, I opened my eyes and released a breath that I didn't know was holding.

Yash wasn't dead. I had shot him in the arm.

" You bitch! You actually shot me!" Yash exclaimed, the fury growing in his eyes.

"Yeah.....and I'd do it again." I said, calmly, after the initial shock of the event had settled in.

" I don't think so." Yash said, smugly and I didn't think twice before shooting him in the foot , making him wince in pain.

Zoya let Yash fall on the ground as he winced and groaned in pain. Saina ran up to Zoya and hugged her tight. Siya and Kartik embraced. I looked over at Moose while he stood still in his place, looking down at Yash.

" Ronnie....are you...." He began as he looked at me.

" I'm okay." I answered , looking at him. His face was stone cold but there was a weird softness in his eyes. It was as though a big weight had been lifted off his shoulder.

"Come on, let's get outta here." Zoya said to everyone of us.

Saina was helping Siya whilst Zoya helped Kartik walk. Moose went ahead and helped Zoya in carrying Kartik.

We slowly walked towards the door but as I stepped over the threshold of the room, I stopped and looked back at Yash.

" Hang in there. The police will be here any minute. They'll take care of you in prison."

That's all I said and we all finally walked out of there, being oblivious of what the near future had in store for us.

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