"You called, Red?" Kartik's voice broke the silence as he entered the room, his hand raking through his already tousled hair in a gesture of agitation. The worry lines etched deep into his furrowed brow betrayed the inner turmoil that churned beneath the surface.

Nora's silence spoke volumes as she gazed at him, her expression inscrutable as she wrestled with the weight of her thoughts. Sensing her unease, Kartik began to nervously fidget with the fabric of his flannel shirt, the rhythmic motion giving away to his mounting anxiety.

With a resigned sigh, Nora turned back towards the window, gesturing for Kartik to join her. Side by side, they stood in silent contemplation. Kartik's confusion was palpable as he stole sideways glances at Nora, searching for answers in the depths of her troubled gaze.

The longer Kartik continued to stand there, the more his mind churned with frustration and confusion. He couldn't shake the nagging sense of unease that had settled over him since Nora had practically summoned him. Aniket's silence in response to his inquiries only served to fuel his growing irritation, prompting a derisive roll of his eyes at the thought of Nora's loyal pet.

Though Kartik harboured no genuine animosity towards Aniket, his constant presence and hovering around Nora grated on his nerves. It wasn't that he hated Aniket, per se, but the way Aniket always seemed to gravitate around Nora, his unwavering loyalty and the practical devotion to her set Kartik's teeth on edge. The fact that Nora appeared unfazed by Aniket's constant presence only added to Kartik's aggravation. It was as if she didn't notice or care about the way that guy constantly lingered around her.

"Aniket told me you were getting agitated," Nora said, cutting straight to the chase, prompting Aniket, who was eavesdropping from behind the wall, to slap his forehead. Clearly, Nora could use a lesson in subtlety or at least a little tact.

Kartik let out an audible sigh coupled with an eye roll as he muttered, "Of course he did." He then raised his voice slightly and turned to Nora, looking frustrated and defeated. "I don't know what to do at this point. I've been trying to reach out to multiple people, but no one is picking up the phone. And to make matters worse, all the institutes have suddenly closed down without any prior notice."

"I know, Kartik, I know. I don't have any more information than you do. I'm worried too," Nora replied, her voice softening as she reached out to gently rub Kartik's shoulder in a gesture of comfort. "But what I need you, in fact, every one of you, to do is try to keep calm. I know it's not easy, feeling like you're in the dark and every door is closing down, but please," she pleaded, her words filled with sincerity and concern.

Kartik sighed, feeling a sense of resignation wash over him. "I don't know, Nora. I'll try, but I don't like it," he admitted, his gaze meeting hers with a mixture of uncertainty and determination.

"Thank you," Nora said softly, offering him a grateful smile as he nodded and left.

After a moment of silence, Nora turned her attention to the wall where Aniket had been hiding. "You can come out, Ket," she called out, prompting him to emerge from his hiding spot with hesitant steps.

"How-when did you?" Aniket stammered, his words tumbling out in a jumbled rush as he struggled to form a coherent sentence, his expression a mixture of surprise and amusement.

"When you facepalmed," Nora replied with a playful grin, her eyes dancing with mischief. Aniket's attempt at stealth had been anything but subtle, and she couldn't help but find amusement in his failed attempt to remain hidden.

Aniket's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "I didn't mean to," he protested weakly, his eyes shifting to meet Nora's amused gaze.

"Uh huh," Nora replied sceptically, a teasing glint in her eyes as she regarded him with playful disbelief. It was clear to her that Aniket's eavesdropping had been anything but accidental, he had an old habit of being nosey and growing up clearly hadn't done anything to resolve it.

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As Nora lay in bed, her mind abuzz with the events of the day, she couldn't shake the feeling of unrest that gripped her tightly. Each passing moment seemed to stretch into eternity as her thoughts danced like shadows across the ceiling, replaying the day's events like a haunting film reel.

Beside her, Nella lay sound asleep, oblivious to the turmoil that consumed Nora's mind. A small sigh escaped Nora's lips as she gazed at her cousin, envy tugging at her heart. How she wished she could simply switch off her racing thoughts and succumb to the blissful embrace of Hypnos like Nella.

They had tried everything to reach out to the outside world-calls, voicemails, chats, even ringing the doorbell of their neighbours-but all their efforts had been met with silence. It was as if the world outside had suddenly vanished, leaving them stranded in a void of dubiety.

Nora's brow furrowed as she pondered on what to do next. Kartik's suggestion to venture outside had crossed her mind, but the lateness of the hour and the ominous events of the day gave her pause. With no sure knowledge of what lay beyond the confines of their home, venturing into the darkness seemed like a risk they couldn't afford to take.

And so, with a heavy heart and a mind fraught with worry, Nora had resigned herself to a sleepless night but the weight of uncertainty was pressing down upon her like a leaden blanket. She just hoped, that in the morning everything would go back to normal.

As for the 100th time in the night, Nora's restless gaze fell upon the clock-its luminous digits illuminating the darkness of her room-she couldn't help but feel a pang of frustration at the lateness of the hour. Quarter past 1 glowed ominously on the digital display, a stark reminder of the sleepless night that didn't seem to end.

They had called it a night at half past 11, each of them retreating to their designated sleeping rooms-Nora and Nella in Nora's room, Kartik and Kaira in the guest bedroom, and Aniket on the sofa bed in the hall. Yet, despite their attempts to find solace in sleep, rest remained elusive for Nora, her mind consumed by a whirlwind of anxious thoughts.

With a resigned sigh, Nora sat up in bed, the weight of exhaustion settling heavily upon her shoulders. The bottle on her bedside table taunted her with its emptiness as she grappled with the temptation to hurl it across the room.

Removing the blanket that draped over her, Nora swung her legs over the side of the bed, the cool touch of the floor beneath her feet grounding her momentarily. She reached for her slippers, their familiar warmth a comforting presence in the darkness of her room, before casting a glance towards Nella's sleeping form to ensure she remained undisturbed.

Satisfied that she still slept soundly, Nora quietly slipped out of the room, the bottle clutched tightly in her hand as she made her way to the kitchen. In the dim glow of the moonlight filtering through the windows, she moved silently, her footsteps echoing softly against the cool tile floor.

The hallway seemed to shrink in the stillness of the night, every creak and rustle echoing like a whispered secret in the darkness. Even the smallest sound felt amplified, sending shivers down Nora's spine as she moved through the quiet expanse.

As she filled the bottle in the kitchen, her gaze drifted towards the window, drawn by the faint glow of the flickering streetlights outside. The soft illumination cast an unreal glow upon the room, bathing it in a peaceful aura that belied the eerie stillness of the night.

With a sense of calm washing over her, Nora put the cap on the bottle and turned to leave, her thoughts drifting towards the comfort of her bed. But just as she moved towards the door, a sudden movement outside the window caught her eye, freezing her in place.

Her breath caught in her throat as her eyes widened in shock, an involuntary gasp escaping her lips. For a moment, time seemed to stand still as Nora staggered backwards, her grip tightening around the bottle, almost dropping it before she clutched it tightly to her chest. Outside the window, a scene unfolded that sent a chill coursing through her veins, her heart hammering in her chest as she struggled to make sense of the terrifying sight before her.

A lanky figure with twisted limbs and uncanny large eyes was roaming the streets circling a light post, his eerie manoeuvres looking as if he had difficulty in moving, he kept staggering every now and then, his mouth was open and a few crooked teeth were visible as a red liquid dripping from it coated his chin, though the most disturbing thing to Nora was the machete sticking out of his head.

She covered her mouth with trembling hands desperate to stifle any sound that threatened to escape her lips even though she knew that it was highly unlikely that he would hear her from such a distance, but the fear that gripped her inside like tight chains refrained the practicality to come to the surface.

With a quivering hand, she reached out to steady herself against the kitchen table, her heart pounding in her chest with each erratic beat. She didn't dare turn her back to the window, the fear of somehow being seen by the nightmarish figure outside was far too great to contemplate.

Summoning every ounce of courage she possessed, Nora staggered towards the living room, her movements frantic and disjointed as she haphazardly walked towards Aniket, throwing the bottle somewhere behind the sofa as she kneeled beside his head. She gave him a violent shive when he didn't wake up immediately making him twist in his place.

"Please, please, ket, wake up." She whispered hoarsely as small tears slid down her cheeks. Her entire body was shaking with the intensity of fear.

As Aniket's eyes fluttered open, he was met with the sight of his best friend, kneeling beside him, her expression a mask of distress that sent a jolt of alarm coursing through him. In an instant, any remnants of sleep were banished from his mind as he sat up, enfolding her trembling form in his arms.

"Shh," he murmured soothingly, his voice a gentle reassurance as he wiped away her tears. "What happened, baby?" he asked, his tone calm and steady as he rubbed her back in a comforting gesture.

Nora's trembling finger pointed towards the window, and Aniket followed her gaze, his brow furrowing in confusion at the empty darkness beyond. Before he could react, Nora took his hand in hers and pulled him to his feet, guiding him towards the window with urgency in her movements.

Once they reached the window, Nora pulled them both behind the curtain, their bodies concealed from any prying eyes while still affording them a clear view of the unsettling scene unfolding outside. Aniket's heart pounded in his chest as he peered through the fabric, his senses on high alert, his best friend wasn't one to panic and whatever had shaken her to this extent must have been terrifying.

She kept a finger on her lips when she saw him open his mouth about to ask a question and just gestured to keep looking.

As the nightmarish figure outside came into view, Aniket's eyes widened in horror, his breath catching in his throat as he stumbled backwards, nearly falling on top of Nora. She steadied him with a firm hand, her eyes fixed on the scene unfolding beyond the window.

Aniket swallowed hard, his gaze locked on the grotesque figure as it moved about with unsettling awkwardness. Despite the terror that gripped him, he forced himself to keep watching, his curiosity was mingled with a sense of dread that threatened to overwhelm him.

Minutes passed like an eternity, the figure's movements growing increasingly erratic before finally coming to a rest. Aniket held his breath as the man glanced around, his gaze seeming to pierce through the darkness and lock onto their hidden vantage point.

With a sudden surge of panic, Nora pulled Aniket backwards, drawing them both deeper into the shadows of the dusty curtains. They huddled together, their breaths coming in shallow gasps as they kept praying silently that the thing outside hadn't seen them.

As Nora anxiously glanced outside, willing the ghostly man to move on, she was oblivious to Aniket's intense gaze upon her. In her frantic efforts to shield them from view, she had pulled him close, their bodies pressed together in the dim light of the room.

Aniket felt the warmth emanating from Nora's trembling form, her fear palpable against his skin as he held tightly to her arms, his mind swirling with a tumult of emotions. In that fleeting moment of closeness, he couldn't help but wonder what it would be like if...

"Ket, look," Nora's voice broke through his reverie, her hand on his wrist guiding his gaze back to the unfolding scene outside. The moment had slipped away, replaced once more by the urgency of their situation. With a heavy sigh, Aniket tore his gaze away from Nora, focusing once more on the scene outside.

As Aniket's gaze shifted so did the scene outside, his heart sank at the new sight, now instead of one, several menacing figures gathered around the lamppost. The ominous array of weapons protruding from their bodies sent a chill down his spine, this was no ordinary gathering.

"Aniket, hand me your phone" she asked extending her hand towards him making him look at her in confusion as he hesitantly handed it to her.

"Why?" he asked, his voice tinged with apprehension as he watched her unlock the phone and open the video camera.

"Because mine's in my room," Nora replied matter-of-factly, her focus unwavering as she began recording the disturbing scene unfolding outside. Due to the distance, they could barely make out the sounds of the figures' yet their wild gestures and the ominous atmosphere were enough to make the situation appalling.

They stayed like that for a few minutes, with Nora recording the video with shaking hands, and Aniket rubbing her back to provide much-needed warmth and keeping her attached to reality.

Aniket looked at her with furrowed eyebrows. Despite how she seemed just moments ago, she was still somehow keeping a level head and capturing the scene outside intricately. He didn't know whether it was the adrenaline rush that was keeping them from panicking or the deep fear that one wrong movement and they were gone was restricting their full-blown meltdown; whatever it was Aniket was immensely thankful that it was working because he couldn't imagine what would happen if both of them in their anxious state had somehow made some mistake and were noticed by the strange figures outside.

"Look, they're leaving" Nora said, motioning towards the dispersing figures, his eyes glanced at the unbalanced figure of a woman who was playing with the axe that was protruding from her arm as his face twisted into a disturbed expression before he quickly looked away.

As Nora brought the recording to a halt and retreated from the window, exhaustion seemed to weigh heavily upon her shoulders, dragging her down to the floor as adrenaline finally faded, her muscles aching in exhaustion. Aniket's eyes flicked towards the clock, the clock hands reading 3 o'clock, as he let out a deep sigh. The tense events they had just witnessed were still playing in his mind, making it impossible to think of anything else, he knew that sleep would be elusive after the harrowing events they had seen.

With a quick motion, he retrieved his blanket and draped it over both of them, the warmth offering a small comfort amid this chaos. Nora looked up at him, her eyes reflecting a mix of emotions-confusion, fear, and exhaustion all mingling together in the depths of her gaze.

She didn't know what to think. She didn't even know if it was even real or just a lucid dream that kept going on. She had no idea what or how she was gonna tell the rest of the sleeping people, who lay unaware of the possible imposing danger.

She sighed and laid her head on his shoulder knowing this once this calm wore off her mind would start firing more questions and thoughts here and there and she was too tired to make sense of anything she had seen. So just here in this moment, she let her eyes, close begging for the sleep to come and take her away, providing a fleeting escape from the ongoing complexities.

The air in the room was thick with the sound of calm, laboured breathing, as two figures lay tangled together, motionless. Their unconscious minds were still reeling from the events of the day, and they clung to each other as they waited for the dawn to arrive. The darkness felt heavy, but they found comfort in the closeness of their bodies, as they subconsciously held onto each other, waiting for the light to chase away the shadows.