"Urvi, come inside."

I heard Mr. Rudra's voice from inside and sucked in a deep breath. So, this was it. Facing the big faces. I closed my eyes and exhaled nervously before opening them again and reaching for the doorknob.

As I entered the room, seven pairs of eyes turned directly on me. Everyone looked serious, stoic and professional. The temperature was warmer inside. I looked around and found Mr. Rudra sitting second next to the head of the table. Next to his seat there was an empty chair.

I assumed it was meant for me as I silently made it there, earnestly wishing that everyone would just stop staring at me. I felt extremely uncomfortable under everyone's curious gaze.

Mr. Rudra tilted his head motioning me to take a seat. I dragged back the chair and sat down carefully before glancing around and noticing everyone's face. Four among them were elderly, two were younger. I tried smiling at them but the youngest female glared at me that I had to avert my eyes downcast.

The old lady sitting at the head leaned forward and eyed me intensely then gazed at Mr. Rudra and asked, "Is she?"

Mr. Rudra nodded, "She is."

"Does she know?"

"Not yet."

What the hell were they talking about? What did I need to know now?

She sighed audibly then leaned back. "Very well. Ms. Urvi,"

I gulped, "Ma'am,"

"I am Maya Rudra." She then gestured to the rest of the members and introduced each of them to me. "She's Neera," She pointed to the young lady who gave me a cold stare. I hurriedly blinked and looked away. My palms were sweaty now.

"Trilok," The old man sitting on the other side of Maya. He tilted his head slightly forward. I nodded acknowledging.

"Vishal and Triveni." Both gave me a smile and I returned them with one.

Maya continued, "We're the board of directors of Rudra S&I, although one of us is not here tonight."

Oh! That meant I'm sitting on their seat. Ugh!

"Ved informed me just now that he had appointed you as his personal secretary. S&I stands for Security and Investigation as I suppose you've already figured out. We provide these services to various fields and personalities. You'll be tagged to the Investigation component for now. Tonight, we are here to discuss a disturbing and serious case which is detrimental to the community we're currently providing security to."

I nodded slowly, taking in all the information.

"I want you to note down each of the important points we'll now discuss here on the case. Am I understood?"

I nodded, "Yes, ma'am."

I placed my writing pad on the table and picked a pen that was in the pen stand placed at the center of the table as they started discussing the case.

I was still not sure, what investigation job they provide that couldn't be taken care of by police. Though I decided to keep my suspicion on hold for now and concentrate on their discussion.

Ved started, "We have a lead. However, I'm certain to disclose, he's particularly become more powerful lately. He's getting stronger and that has everything to do with the missing girls. We've filed a total of nine cases so far. The recent one was found..." He paused then looked at me. I remembered his instructions, and quickly obliged. I took a quick look at the writing pad before saying, "Behind Starcross Night Club around midnight, on the day before yesterday."

He nodded then resumed, "But the more concerning issue is, he's not only gaining his powers from the victims' ..." he cleared his throat glancing sideways at me before blurting, "fear, but I doubt he's up to something else." He paused momentarily before adding, "Something... that has to do with... diabolism."

I snapped my head at him with widening eyes and heard a few small gasps soon after.

Maya grimaced, "That's a serious threat."

"I'm afraid you are correct," Ved said, "Particularly his recent berserker attitude has put the situation in worse terms."

Triveni asked, "Do we know where he might be hiding?"

"We've got a lead, indeed," Ved declared, "However, we know not if that is a good one."

"We can't find out until we go to the hunt ourselves," Vishal pointed furiously.

Ved didn't answer.

Maya said after a small pause, "Very well. I want you to go after him tomorrow, Ved. If any clue at all we can discover, it'll help us defeat him. Now," she looked around the table, "Who else agrees with me?"

Everyone either nodded or muttered their consent and finally Ved said, "Veer has been investigating the case of rogues. He'll probably return late at night."

"Of course. You both are the best tracker we have now. I'd like you to discuss this with him as well and take him with you tomorrow," Maya said.

Neera had been too quiet until now. She suddenly suggested, "Ved, take Urvi with you. You know what you need to do."

Ved's jaws ticked listening to her suggestion. He cast an unwavering gaze at her while everyone else sat very still.

But, I was in a much worse phase. I got to do field work right on the second day of my employment! What else could anyone want from life. Right? I groaned inwardly.

Ved also wasn't satisfied with the suggestion, "She has just joined. And I'm afraid she doesn't have proper training."

Neera retaliated, "As you have already figured out, he's engaged in diabolism recently, instead of just going after victims' fear. I think she is the one who can help you in that matter."

What??? I stared at her dumbfounded. What the fuck was she implying?

"Besides, both you and Veer will be with her. I don't see any problems there. Alpha," She addressed Maya, "If you see this fit, you can give orders the right way."

Maya sighed. After a short pause she looked at Trilok and asked, "What do you think?"

"Beta has a point."

What was up with these weird nicknames? I swore, I'd have rolled my eyes if it wasn't for my current employers sitting in front of me now.

Maya nodded, "Okay. Ved, take her with you. And that's all for today." As she said so, she stood up and stormed out of the room. Others left soon after her leaving behind me and Ved.

I looked at him and noticed his eyebrows had furrowed in a severe frown. His jaws clenched.

I thought it better not to disrupt him, then he asked me to leave the room and I obliged. I didn't have much courage to question him. I had barely started my job, I wouldn't want to offend my employer.

As soon as I left the meeting room, I met Abhay standing outside waiting.

"Hi," He said with his signature smile.

"Hi."

"Let's go. I'll show you your room."

It turned out, Ved had already instructed him to escort me to my room in the pack house. Abhay led me to another flight of stairs as my room was on the second floor.

Soon after leading me to my room, he parted from me, "You take rest for now, Urvi. I will send someone to you at the time of dinner."

"Okay," I bid him goodbye thereafter as he walked away.

My allotted room had one usual bed and minimal furniture, of which I wasn't bothered a bit. I found my duffel on the bed, brought out my nightwear and changed into it. I was tired of the whole day. It was restless yet thrilling. So, I just dropped on to the bed staring at the ceiling and thought about the events of the whole day.

There was this constant annoying nagging at the corner of my mind, that I couldn't be this lucky. I had this hunch that something was definitely off.

What was it all about? I reminded myself of some of those unknown terms that I had learned today. Rouges, Alpha, Beta... and then the mention of diabolism. What were they upto? But before I could process further, my eyes draped close because of the fatigue as a much-needed slumber claimed me shortly.

I was running through the woods again. The same one I had seen sometime ago. I couldn't remember where. Around me were tall trees like Simul, Sal, Segun, Siris, Khayer, Katus and many more stood in lines like keepers and protectors. I was running really fast like earlier, however, this time I wasn't alone. Someone was behind me. But I didn't feel the urge to look back because somehow I knew they'll not harm me.

The surroundings had changed slightly, because I realized, It had been raining. I could literally smell the smell of earth after raining. I continued running until I reached the clearing, the one behind me was still with me. I kept my eyes ahead, looking at the field. The humidified air was blowing, touching my ears ever so slightly, shivering me.

And suddenly, like before, I caught the sight of the exact whirlwind of black smoke and the distinct smell of burning metal and camphor hit my nostrils. I shuddered as I felt the cold shivering sweep of wind down my spine. Suddenly the similar blood curdling appearance zoomed in before me. I stepped back when it reached for me as my back hit with something warm and soft.

The black sclera bore into my eyes and I felt an extreme pain through my chest. I struggled through the suffocation caused by the pain and then I screamed closing my eyes.

The forest was gone in a blink. I was once again awake, sitting on the bed in my new room, panting roughly. But the faint smell of burning metal and camphor still lingered on my nose. I sensed the dull pain inside my chest.

What the hell? I was sweating and thirsty and hungry and at the same time I was scared. I grabbed the water bottle I saw on the bedside table and gulped down half of it.

A sudden knock on the door made me jump with a start.

"Who's this?" I called out.

"It's Jai. I came to invite you for dinner. Are you coming?" He asked from the outside. My eyes darted to the wall clock. It struck eleven. My stomach grumbled at that exact moment, "Yes. I'm coming," I informed him then wrapped a stole around me quickly before walking over to the door and opened it.

"I'm sorry to keep you waiting," I apologized as soon we started walking through the corridor. I noticed there were many lined up doors similar to mine on this floor. I assumed they were for the employees living here.

Jai dismissed me by saying, "It's alright. I figured you might be spent for all day long events."

I nodded at his understanding, "Yes, it was a long day."

"I heard you're going to assist Ved tomorrow?"

I frowned, "Yes, that's what my job profile is I suppose. I've joined as his personal secretary."

He sighed. "I hope, you'll not drop it like the others."

I looked at him as we started descending the stairs, "What do you mean?"

"Both Ved and Veer are our best trackers. But the only problem is, they are always surrounded by danger. All the other employees that they hired as their secretary or assistant, they all had quit after the first week or so. Can't blame them though. Who would want to throw themselves amongst jeopardy willingly?"

I scowled. Probably me!

"What are they actually tracking, do you have any idea?" I asked trying to get information about the case.

He seemed to pause for a thoughtful second before saying, "Not sure. But these missing girls' cases have gotten complicated over the past one week. I think they are all linked."

"Do you mean, the culprit is the same?"

"Can't say now. Ved has a lead now. I hope they can solve it soon, before things get worse between us and ..." He trailed off.

I was about to press him to clarify when I saw Ved leaving a room. He had noticed us as well. I averted my eyes downward. He also didn't say anything when he saw us. All three of us then went to the kitchen that was on the ground floor and met with nearly twenty people around a large dining table.

I sighed. Good going Urvi! Things were going to get exciting.

And certainly it did.