Footsteps of Elroy echoes in the silent valley of snow as he rushes out of the forest. The sun has waved bye and night is dressing herself up. Gliding cold wind blends with Elroy's raspy breaths. He flashes his phone to dissipate the darkness. Few beads of sweat are trailing from his forehead and blending with his tears. Few minutes later, a hope glimmers in his eyes as he sees the one-storied wooden house where they are staying. As he nears, a frown appears when he sees the darkness that has engulfed the house. But he shrugs off his thoughts and shouts, "Bob? Bob? We need your help. Where the hell are you... ouch!" Elroy falls flat on his face tripping over something. His phone falls few feet away with the flash on.

"Shit!" He gets up and walks towards the phone. Accustomed to the darkness around, he bends down to pick his phone but before that he lets out a scream and stumbles back.

"No, it can't be. I must be hallucinating." He moves forward and picks up the phone with trembling hands. He focuses the light on his palm and his eyes widen.

"Blood?" His right hand has red patches. He hurries to the spot where he tripped and flashes the light on the ground. He sees a dead Bob lying upside down in a pool of blood. But soon he frowns and lashes out, "Bob! Get up! Is this some kind of sick joke? Bob!"

Frustrated, Elroy bends down and shakes Bob's lifeless body. A cold shiver runs down his spine as he turns Bob. Blood is still oozing out from the slit throat. He stumbles back as the phone leaves from his grip.

"No. This is not happening. No." He clutches his hair and screams his lungs out, "aaaaaa... what the fuck is happening?" His helplessness echoes in the cold wind. He kneels on the snowy ground as fresh tears drop over his tear-stained face. He mumbles in croaked voice, "Bob is dead. Ciana is lo... lost. And Iris is waiting there, all a... alone. ugh!" He fists his palms as he tries to calm himself.

"No. I can't lose hope. I have to do something. Phone. Yes. I can call her." He rushes towards dead Bob beside whom the phone is lying. He quickly picks it up and dials a number. After three beeps a ringing sound echoes through his phone.

ring! ring!

"Come on Lu. Just pick up the damn phone!"

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ring! ring!

"mmm... let me go. My phone's calling me." Luna's sharp voice is now softer. Two strong male arms are embracing her with a determination to not let her go.

"Ugh!" A husky male voice echoes in the living room as a head full of curly brown hair rests on Luna's shoulder.

ring! ring!

"Please, Sean." The man's bluish green eyes show disappointment as he says, "Fine." Sean removes his arms as Luna kisses his cheek. She gets up, smiling at the caramel skinned man. Walking up to the dining table, a smile appears as she sees the name flashing on the screen. She picks up the phone and answers the call.

"What's up old man? Enjoying holiday?" Luna says in her usual chirpy voice.

Help... help us Lu. Please do something.

Hearing Elroy's broken voice, Luna is taken aback.

"El. Is everything okay? Why are you huffing? Wait a sec, are you crying? What happened? Are the girls..."

Will you just shut up and listen? Elroy bursts out hearing Luna's panicked voice.

"Calm down El. Take a deep breath." Sean gets up from the off white couch and walks up to Luna who is now sitting on a chair as her one leg dances impatiently.

Fuck your deep breath! I don't have time. Just help us in getting out of this murderous place, please Lu.

Luna jerks up as she repeats, "Murderous place?" She looks at Sean who signals her to calm down. She thuds on the chair and says, "Tell me everything El."

Elroy gives her a repeat telecast of everything that has happened. As Elroy continues, Luna's expression changes from shock to horror. Finally she says clutching Sean's hand, "Mur... murder?" A sob echoes through the phone along with a mumbling. She takes a few deep breaths hearing the helpless cries of her strong brother.

"Calm down El. You can't sit there and cry. Do you have any idea how far this place is from the town?"

It's six to seven miles.
Elroy's tear engulfed voice answers as Luna gets lost somewhere.

"El, you also mentioned about a forest bungalow, right?"

Yes. It falls some... somewhere in between this place an... and the outskirts of the town.

"Hold on. Forest bungalow? My friend was transferred as the forest officer of this town a few months ago. I'm sure he'll be able to help us." Sean says as he brings out his phone from his pocket.

"Then just call him. Hurry!" Luna shouts as Sean placing the phone to his ear moves towards the window as he says, "David! I need help."

As David talks, Luna continues soothing Elroy whose huffing echoes through the phone.

"Calm down El. Don't panic. Stay strong. For Iris, for Cia, for your unborn child. Can you hear me? Hello! Hello!" With three beeps the phone cuts. With a grunt, she calls El again but gets disappointed as it doesn't connect.

"Damn it!" She throws the phone on the couch and walks towards Sean who finishes the conversation with a "Thank you so much David."

Sean turns around as he grabs the car's key from the table. He looks at Luna and says, "Hurry! We need to leave. David will wait for us with a chopper at the terrace of the bungalow." Leaving the room alight, they leave the house slamming the door off. 

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