### **Chapter 5: Whispers of the Unseen**
The sun was setting as Raghav left the café, casting long shadows over the streets. The city felt different now, as if the vibrant pulse of Mumbai had shifted into something darker, quieter. Raghav pulled his jacket tighter around himself, the cool evening air sending a shiver down his spine. The strange flyer still weighed heavily in his pocket, and the encounter at *Govind International High School* replayed in his mind like a puzzle missing its final piece.
As he walked through the winding streets back home, something felt *off*. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but the world around him seemed to move slower, the noises of the city fading into a dull hum. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up again, and that same unsettling feeling—the one he'd felt at the school—crept back in.
*You're being watched.*
The thought lodged itself in his mind, and Raghav found himself instinctively glancing over his shoulder. The streets were nearly empty now, but the sensation of someone—or *something*—following him was undeniable.
He quickened his pace, his heartbeat matching the rhythm of his hurried footsteps. But no matter how fast he walked, the feeling of being followed only intensified. His mind raced, flipping between rational explanations and the lingering echo of the voice from his coma. Was it paranoia? Or was something actually there?
Just as he turned a corner into a narrow alleyway, he saw it. A flash of movement at the edge of his vision—a dark figure, too quick and fleeting to fully comprehend. His breath hitched as he spun around, eyes scanning the area. The street behind him was deserted, only the flickering of distant streetlights casting long, dancing shadows.
"Hello?" Raghav called out, his voice breaking the eerie silence. No response. Only the soft rustle of leaves in the evening breeze.
For a moment, he stood frozen, his eyes darting around, every shadow now seeming sinister. And then, just as he was about to turn and leave the alley, he heard it. A whisper—low, barely audible, but unmistakable.
*"You shouldn't have come here."*
Raghav's heart leapt into his throat. The voice was disembodied, floating through the air like a cold breath. He spun around again, searching for the source, but there was no one there. Just empty streets.
He swallowed hard, forcing himself to breathe. "Who's there?" he demanded, his voice shaking slightly. "Show yourself!"
Silence. And then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw it again—the fleeting figure, this time much clearer. It hovered in the shadows, translucent and faintly glowing, a pale shape barely distinguishable from the darkness around it. The figure had no distinct features, just a vague human form, but its presence was unmistakable.
Raghav's pulse pounded in his ears as he took a cautious step backward, trying to process what he was seeing. A ghost. That's what it had to be. But ghosts didn't exist—at least, not in the world he knew. This wasn't some magical realm filled with monsters and supernatural forces. This was Mumbai. Normal, busy, real-world Mumbai.
*But maybe it wasn't so normal after all.*
The figure shifted slightly, and Raghav's breath caught in his throat as it seemed to glide toward him. It wasn't aggressive, but there was something undeniably eerie about it. The air around him grew colder with each passing second, the temperature dropping unnaturally fast.
*"You don't belong here,"* the ghostly figure whispered again, the words sending a shiver down Raghav's spine.
This time, Raghav couldn't hold back. He turned and bolted down the alley, his feet pounding against the pavement. He didn't look back, didn't stop until he was back on the main road, where the familiar sounds of the city brought a slight sense of normalcy. His chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath, but his mind was racing.
Ghosts. They were real.
His thoughts tumbled over each other in confusion. If ghosts existed, what else had he been missing in this world? And why was he suddenly able to see them? Was this tied to his near-death experience? Or to the voice that had led him to the high school?
Raghav's phone buzzed in his pocket, snapping him out of his panicked thoughts. It was a message from Rajat, but Raghav ignored it. He couldn't focus on studying right now—not with this new, terrifying reality unfolding in front of him.
He needed answers. Fast.
---
That night, sleep didn't come easily. Raghav tossed and turned in his bed, haunted by the image of the ghostly figure. Every creak of the house, every faint sound outside made him jump, his nerves frayed from the encounter in the alley.
Finally, unable to take it anymore, he sat up and grabbed his laptop, determined to find some explanation. He typed "ghost sightings in Mumbai" into the search bar, but the results were mostly news articles, ghost stories, and urban legends. Nothing concrete. Nothing useful.
But just as he was about to give up, one result caught his eye: *Unsolved Mystery at Govind International High School, 1997*.
Raghav's heart raced as he clicked the link. It led to a poorly designed webpage, likely run by a paranormal enthusiast, but the content was compelling. The article detailed a strange incident at the high school in 1997—the same year on the flyer he'd found earlier. According to the article, a student had mysteriously disappeared during a school event, never to be found again. Some claimed to have seen strange figures lurking around the school ever since, but the case had been dismissed by authorities as a runaway.
But that wasn't all. The website also mentioned ghost sightings in the area around the school—a chilling number of them, all tied to the same event. Those who had encountered these spirits reported feelings of being watched, whispers in the dark, and a deep sense of foreboding whenever they passed through the school grounds. Raghav leaned back in his chair, the pieces slowly falling into place. This was why the voice had sent him to the school. The incident in 1997, the strange flyer, and now the ghost he had encountered—it was all connected.
He didn't know how or why yet, but something was drawing him into this world of the supernatural.
---
The next day, he decided he couldn't wait any longer to investigate further. He had to return to *Govind International High School*. Raghav felt an undeniable pull toward the place, as if an invisible thread connected him to the mysteries hidden within its walls.
As he approached the school again, a familiar chill crept up his spine. The sun was high in the sky, but the shadows seemed longer today, darker, stretching across the campus like fingers reaching out to grab him. Students laughed and chatted, oblivious to the air of tension that hung over the school like a heavy fog.
Raghav entered through the main gates, his heart racing with anticipation. He needed to learn more about the boy who had disappeared in 1997. Perhaps there were records—yearbooks, old newspaper clippings, anything that could provide insight into what had happened.
As he made his way toward the administration building, he noticed a group of students gathered near the entrance, animatedly discussing something. Curious, he approached them, pretending to check his phone while eavesdropping.
"I heard they're having another ghost hunt at the old school building tonight," one girl said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"No way! The last one was terrifying," replied a boy with messy hair. "I still can't believe we heard that whisper. It was like someone was right behind us!"
"Right?" the girl exclaimed. "And don't forget the time someone claimed to see a figure in the window. It was so creepy!"
Raghav's pulse quickened at their conversation. Ghost hunts? They were actively investigating the very phenomenon that had terrified him. He couldn't let this opportunity slip away.
Summoning his courage, Raghav approached the group. "Hey, I couldn't help but overhear. You're going on a ghost hunt tonight?"
The students turned to him, surprise flickering across their faces. "Yeah, we do it every few weeks," the girl replied. "You interested?"
Raghav hesitated, his heart pounding at the thought of facing the unknown again. But the curiosity and desperation for answers pushed him forward. "Definitely. Can I join?"
"Sure! The more, the merrier!" the boy grinned. "We'll meet here around eight."
Raghav nodded, excitement and trepidation coursing through him. This was his chance to confront the unknown, to face the ghosts that haunted this place and, perhaps, discover the truth behind the voice that had called to him in his coma.
As he walked away from the group, a sense of resolve settled over him. Tonight would be the night he confronted his fears. Whatever awaited him at *Govind International High School*, he would be ready to face it head-on.
---