Subham tossed and turned in his bed, the cool night air of Durgapur offering little comfort. The day's events replayed in his mind, Yuvraj and Sourav's persuasive arguments still gnawing at his thoughts. He couldn't shake the feeling of unease as he finally drifted into a restless sleep.
He found himself standing at the entrance of an ancient, crumbling fort. The sky was an ominous shade of gray, and a cold wind howled through the deserted corridors. Subham looked around, trying to find his friends. The once confident Ankan, introverted Saheli, sensible Dipika, and rumor-spreading Nayanika were nowhere in sight.
"Guys?" Subham called out, his voice echoing eerily off the stone walls. He took a hesitant step forward, the sound of his footsteps swallowed by the oppressive silence.
Suddenly, he heard a faint cry. "Help! Subham, help!" It was Saheli's voice, trembling with fear. Subham's heart raced as he sprinted towards the sound. He found Saheli in a dimly lit chamber, her back against the wall, eyes wide with terror.
"Saheli, what's happening?" Subham asked, reaching out to her.
Before she could respond, the ground beneath her crumbled. With a scream, she fell into a dark abyss. Subham lunged forward, but it was too late. She was gone.
"No!" Subham yelled, his voice breaking. He stood frozen, his mind racing. He had to find the others. He ran through the labyrinthine corridors, his surroundings blurring in his desperation.
Next, he found Ankan. The usually confident boy was backed against a wall, trying to fend off a swarm of bats that had suddenly appeared. "Subham, get out of here!" Ankan shouted, his voice strained with effort.
Subham tried to reach him, but the bats swarmed, pushing him back. He watched in horror as the bats engulfed Ankan, their shrill screeches drowning out his friend's cries. Within moments, Ankan disappeared beneath the black cloud, leaving nothing behind.
Subham's breath came in ragged gasps. "This can't be happening," he muttered, his mind reeling. He had to find Dipika and Nayanika. He ran through the dark, twisting corridors, the ancient stones closing in on him.
He found Dipika next, her sensible demeanor replaced by sheer panic. She was trapped in a room filled with rising water. "Subham, help me!" she screamed, struggling to stay afloat.
Subham tried to reach her, but the door slammed shut in his face. He pounded on the door, screaming her name, but the water continued to rise. He heard her desperate gasps and then... silence.
Tears streamed down Subham's face as he stumbled through the fort. "Nayanika! Where are you?" he cried out, his voice breaking. He rounded a corner and saw her at the top of a steep staircase, her face twisted in fear.
"Subham, it's following me!" she shrieked, glancing over her shoulder. Subham couldn't see what she was running from, but the terror in her eyes was enough.
"Nayanika, stay there! I'm coming!" Subham yelled, racing up the stairs. But as he neared the top, she lost her footing. With a scream, she tumbled down the stone steps, her body hitting the ground with a sickening thud.
Subham fell to his knees, his heart shattered. "No, no, no," he whispered, his voice raw with grief. He was alone in the cold, dark fort, the silence deafening.
Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He spun around to see Yuvraj and Sourav, their faces twisted into mocking grins. "This is your fault, Subham," Yuvraj sneered. "You couldn't save them."
Subham shook his head, tears blurring his vision. "No, it can't be. This isn't real."
Sourav's laugh echoed through the fort. "Oh, but it is. And it's only the beginning."
Subham woke with a start, drenched in sweat and gasping for air. His heart pounded in his chest as he sat up, the remnants of the nightmare clinging to his mind. He glanced around his room, the familiar surroundings offering little comfort.
He ran a trembling hand through his hair, trying to steady his breath. The vivid images of his friends' deaths haunted him, each scene replaying in his mind. He knew it was just a dream, but the fear and guilt felt all too real.
Subham lay back down, staring at the ceiling, unable to shake the feeling of dread. The trip to Rajasthan loomed ahead, and he couldn't help but wonder if the nightmare was a warning of the dangers that awaited them.