⋐A NEW TYPE OF SETTLING⋑

Vikram woke in a panting sweat, his own scream still reverberating through his ears. He could've sworn he saw himself sitting on the throne. The terror still had him, and he felt extremely uneasy.

He looked around, noticing it was night. All the lights were off, and the dim glow of the moon shone through the windows. He groaned, rising fully. He still wore the dress from the night before, and his profuse sweating had coated it.

Groaning, he laid his head back, and closed eyes. Sleep didn't come though. For some reason, he felt extremely disturbed, knowing that he could be an evil person. But it wasn't only that. It was like someone had pound his skull with a hammer, and then jammed their hands into his brain. His head was spinning and yet he felt wide awake. 

The president had called them the previous day for an awarding ceremony for their bravery in the Rashtrapathi Bhavan, and it was at ten in the morning. Vikram glanced at his watch in the darkness, which read four a.m. Nirmaan and Atrap were coming too, and they were scheduled for another trip to the Mrighan Library, or so Vikram assumed. Atrap had said they would be going, and since it was the library Atrap went to daily he figured they would be going there. 

Vikram rose, thinking of turning on the lights. But he felt as though being in the dark would be better, as weird as the thought was. He was slightly anxious for his brother Nirmaan's reaction to Vikram's heroic deed. But Vikram wasn't sure which one he would call to rag about first. The Newspaper headlines or the awarding ceremony.

Vikram chuckled, walking sluggishly in the dark. He went to the kitchen, trying to get used to the darkness as he grabbed a bottle full of water and a glass. He filled the glass and drank the water, savoring the trickles that flowed down his throat. 

'Couldn't sleep either?' 

Vikram nearly jumped at the sound of Kedav's voice as he turned to see his friend standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame. He nodded and went back to finishing the water before setting the glass down, sighing. 'I don't know, It just feels like.. something's wrong.'

'You too huh?' Speculated Kedav as walked to Vikram and poured a glass of water. The leaned against the kitchen countertops, facing the windows that held the sun rising in all it's beauty. Vikram blinked a few times as light entered his vision.

'I know we should feel joy for saving the President's life, and getting awards and all, but it just feels.. -'

'Incomplete?' Finished Kedav. Vikram nodded as Kedav took a sip. What they were doing actually surprised him. A casual talk about feelings where Kedav didn't joke about everything.

Vikram didn't know exactly, but he felt incomplete was the word suited for what Kedav was feeling and not himself, though what they were feeling were relatively similar. With a small jolt he recalled the vision of him sitting atop the throne, and a sharp pain entered his mind. Vikram forced himself not to put his hand to his temples, but he couldn't stop the wince that followed after the pain. Unfortunately, Kedav noticed. Through the darkness he could make out a hint of a frown on his friend's face. But surprisingly, he didn't question the wince. He just cocked his head as though listening to something, then returned to normal.

'We better get some sleep.' Said Kedav. 'I have a feeling its going to be a tiring day tomorrow.' 

For once, Vikram agreed. But as he watched his friends' retreating figure he couldn't help but feel something had changed, and he didn't know whether it was for the better or worse.

Atrap wasn't sure how to feel about the new day. His college entrance exam had just gotten over, and it would be anxious weeks until he found out his results. But it was safe to say he was confident about his answers, and would easily sail above the passing mark.

But the old, tattered book that had showed up in their living room had begun to pique him. He had originally been so enthusiastic about checking it out in the library as a distraction for his exam results, but during the night, he couldn't get sleep. And as weird as it was, it was because he couldn't stop thinking about the book. It wasn't entirely Sanskrit, and Atrap could only read it. But he couldn't translate it.

And then there was another part of the night he would've liked to forget about. The dreams. No.. that was wrong. The visions.

It was.. terrifying. Atrap had never felt so scared in his life. But not the kind of scared when one sees their worst nightmare. The kind of scared that made him feel insignificant and weak, like he was just a useless pawn for greater means. The kind of scared that made him want to curl up into a ball in a corner and rock back and forth. He recalled the vision, the darkness..

No. Atrap told himself to block out those memories and thoughts as he woke up to the bright morning. He hadn't got actual sleep, of course. But he still felt energetic.

But as he stepped out of the room, he knew something was wrong.

Atrap glanced at the clock in their hall. It read 8:45. They were scheduled to go to the Rashtrapati Bhavan at 10:30. Atrap and Nirmaan, Vikram's brother were the only invitees on their side, to witness Kedav and Vikram's awarding. Aside from them, it would be a bunch of generals and ministers along with the Prime Minister. Atrap knew he should feel awed and honored about standing in close proximity with some of the greatest names in the world, but it didn't interest him at all. What really took his attention, was the book.

Atrap swore he saw it glow as he gazed at on the table in their hall. For a brief moment, it shined. And Atrap was filled with.. completion. 

It was as though an empty cup had been filled. As though all the answers were found. It was not everything Atrap wanted. It was everything he needed.

Atrap felt a presence. You.

Yes, me. Hello Atrap.

Atrap didn't know whether the voice in his head, whoever it was would be able to see his facial expression, but he wished it would. It was the same voice in his visions. The same voice that made him feel that terror.

That was a necessary part of the transformation, Atrap. I couldn't help but finish it. You needed it, like the others.

What others? Who are you? What do you want? And how did you get inside my head?

The voice chuckled. Slow down. Your thirst for answers envies me. But it will all come in time. Patience my friend.

Atrap recognized the man's tone to be wise, as though he knew which side was right, no matter the facts. He was about to ask him something, but the presence was gone. He sighed. First the visions, now this. What the hell was happening?

'Wow, I definitely don't wanna see that face again.' 

Atrap focused on Kedav who stood in the living room. He felt ashamed that he hadn't noticed his friend standing not six feet in front of him.

Atrap frowned. That sense of something being wrong seemed to increase, making Atrap feel uneasy.

He directed his frown at Kedav. 'What happened to you?'

Kedav looked away. To Atrap's shock, he didn't respond. Instead, his mood seem to darken. Something pulled at Atrap. You needed it, like the others.

The others..

He gasped. 'You too?'

Kedav frowned in fake confusion, which Atrap saw through instantly. Something told him his friend had been "transformed" too, but in a much more different way. 'You got a voice in your head too.' 

He only realized how stupid his words were after hearing himself say it, but it was true. Kedav didn't crack a joke out of his words, and Atrap feared Kedav's transformation had been much worse than his. The constant need to lighten the mood, crack a joke, or else tease someone was what defined Kedav. If he had lost that light...

Kedav chuckled darkly. '"Voice in my head.."' Another chuckle. Atrap narrowed his eyes. No. This definitely wasn't Kedav. 

Atrap decided that was not the time for questioning. He had to observe his friend's behavior, and then make moves. For now, things would go as planned.

Yet as he thought those words, he knew things would definitely not go as planned. 

'Where's Vikram?' Questioned Atrap. Kedav sighed and muttered something under his breath, and Atrap felt like fuming. This was intolerable. He needed to do something-anything!- to put an end to this nonsense. 

Suddenly, Atrap felt an overwhelming sense to touch the book. His gaze caught it, and what Kedav was saying faded away. There it was. That shine. He started forward, vaguely aware of Kedav faltering in his words. Another step. That golden shine maintained itself, and Atrap moved as though one wrong step could cause the shine to leave. Another step. He was now a step away from the book. The shine seemed to be saying something to him, and Atrap cocked his head, ever so slightly. Another step. And there was the book. Atrap was about to grab it, grab everything he needed. Seek all the answers, when a noise interrupted them.

Atrap jumped and turned around, and so did Kedav, who had been aptly watching him. When Atrap saw nothing that could have caused the unnatural sound, he turned, and immediately regretted having responded to the sound. The book had stopped its glow. And Atrap's overwhelming need to have it subsided, leaving him disappointed. He picked it up and flipped through it casually. 

'Oh shit.' Kedav cursed behind him. Atrap turned and scowled at him, but the other boy ignored him. He was glancing at the clock they had in the living room, and it read 9:45.

Atrap's eyes widened. The Rashtrapati Bhavan was about an hour's drive from their place, and they were fifteen minutes late. Kedav and Atrap wordlessly scrambled to get ready, and Atrap paused for a moment to wonder about Vikram. He remembered vaguely about Kedav saying he was with Nirmaan, and would be joining them at the Rashtrapathi Bhavan. 

As they got ready and began to leave the house, Atrap paused before locking the door. With a quick jolt he recalled the book lying on their table. He went in and grabbed it, then with one final sigh he walked out of the house and locked the door. 

Atrap drove them as they ventured the roads to the Rashtrapathi Bhavan. They were questioned a bit at the gated entrance, but were let in. Atrap parked their car in front of the large door, where a valet driver was to handle it. A new experience for him, valet drivers. Nevertheless, that wasn't what was on his mind as he gazed at the large gold doors, Handing their car- a grey Honda Civic- key to the valet driver.

They had reached, and- quite frankly- Atrap wished that they hadn't.