Alone, climbing the steep mountains, the eerie sounds of animals echoed through the air. It was the kind of place that would send chills down anyone's spine. But not Raghav. His determination to save Sakshi was stronger than any fear he felt. For two days, he journeyed through the rough terrain, and finally, he arrived at the entrance of the cave.
As feared, a large green monster was lurking at the entrance, seemingly guarding something important. The creature's grotesque form was hard to miss, with jagged teeth and a large wooden club gripped tightly in its clawed hands.
Raghav muttered to himself, "A green monster... It looks powerful...., but let's test this weapon. I think I might get lucky.."
He unsheathed the sword given to him by the old man. As soon as it was drawn, the sword began to glow with a golden light, illuminating the dark cave entrance. Raghav could feel the energy surging through sword.
The monster's yellow eyes locked onto Raghav, and with a deep, rumbling growl, it swung its massive club at him. "No human has ever passed through here alive! I'll enjoy feasting on you!"
But Raghav's reflexes, honed by years of sports and athletics, kept him on his toes. He dodged the beast's powerful swings with ease, waiting for the right moment to strike back.
The monster sneered. "You've made a mistake coming here, boy. I'll make you my next meal."
Raghav smirked, eyes sharp. "Sorry, but I don't plan on being eaten by something as ugly as you."
Enraged, the creature lunged forward, but in its fury, it made a critical error. Seizing the opportunity, Raghav drove the glowing sword straight through the creature's heart. The monster let out a deafening roar before collapsing to the ground.
Breathing heavily, Raghav knelt beside the fallen beast. His body was trembling, covered in blood and bruises from the fight.
"So much blood..." he muttered, gasping for air. "But I have to survive… I have to save her."
He couldn't waste any more time. Pushing forward, Raghav ventured deeper into the cave. His sword, still glowing, acted as a guiding light in the otherwise pitch-black tunnels. After what felt like hours, he finally found it—the door.
This door was different from the one that had appeared at the wedding hall. It was old, ancient even, with strange runes etched into its surface. Without a second thought, Raghav pushed the door, and to his surprise, it opened effortlessly.
Stepping through, a thick black fog enveloped him, and before he knew it, Raghav found himself standing at the entrance of the Ghost Realm.
He looked around, astonished by what he saw. The Ghost Realm wasn't the terrifying, desolate place he had imagined. Instead, it was bustling with activity. Ghosts that looked almost human wandered the streets, going about their lives. The sky was a perpetual twilight, casting a soft, eerie glow over everything.
As Raghav cautiously walked through the streets, a ghost smiled at him, waving. "You look new here. Which portal did you come through?"
Raghav forced an awkward smile and nodded, quickly moving away. His mind was racing. "Is it some kind of ghost festival?" he murmured to himself. "I hate to admit it, but this place... it's beautiful."
Suddenly, a voice came from behind. "It sure is."
Startled, Raghav spun around. A young man stood there, looking calm and collected.
"Who are you?" Raghav asked, still on edge.
The young man walked closer and whispered, "Relax, I'm human—just like you."
Raghav's tense shoulders relaxed slightly, relief washing over him. "A human? But how…?"
The man, who looked no older than Raghav, smiled sadly. "My name is Karan. I was traveling with five friends near the village of *Murkend*. We heard strange sounds, and then the black fog surrounded us. One by one, my friends disappeared. That's the last thing I remember before waking up here."
Raghav's eyes widened. "How long have you been here?"
Karan's face grew grim. "Six months. Time doesn't work the same here. It's hard to tell how much time has passed, but I've been searching for my friends ever since. I can't find them."
Raghav shook his head in disbelief. "Six months… and you've survived?"
Karan nodded. "I had no choice. Once you're here, survival is all that matters. You're not the first human to end up in this place, but it's rare to meet another."
As they walked together, Karan began explaining how he'd managed to survive in the Ghost Realm, scavenging for supplies, learning the rules of this strange world. It was clear that Karan had found some sense of hope in Raghav's company, a spark that had long been extinguished after months of isolation.
Raghav, deep in thought, suddenly asked, "Do you know anything about the Ghost Princess?"
Karan's face paled at the mention of her. "The Ghost Princess?" he echoed, his voice shaking slightly. "How do you know about her?"
Raghav recounted the events of his wedding, the door, the black fog, and how the woman had taken Sakshi. Karan listened intently, his eyes widening with every word.
"You willingly came here, knowing all of that?" Karan asked in disbelief. "You're either incredibly brave or incredibly foolish."
Raghav shrugged; his expression determined. "I didn't have a choice. I need to save her."
Karan shook his head, a grin spreading across his face. "You know, I think we're going to be great friends."
Raghav raised an eyebrow. "Why is that?"
Karan laughed softly. "Because I'm going to help you."