Anuj and Raghav stood in their dimly lit room, the air thick with an otherworldly tension. The sound of their grandmother's voice echoed through the house, a haunting call that sent shivers down Anuj's spine. "I can't go," his heart racing. Together, they leaped into the blinding light that enveloped them, plunging into a new world.
When the light faded, Raghav found himself waking up in a quaint cottage. He lay on a simple bed, and through the window, a vast expanse of mountainous grassland stretched out before him, bathed in the warm glow of the sun. As he swung his legs over the side, a scruffy dog bounded into the room, tail wagging excitedly. The creature leaped into his lap, showering him with affection.
"Come here, boy!" called an old man from the kitchen, his voice rich and inviting.
"I'm not a boy," Raghav replied, slightly annoyed, as he made his way downstairs. "I'm much too old for that."
The old man chuckled as he served a steaming bowl of stew. "Did you see a child around the height of my shoulder?" Raghav asked, his heart racing with concern.
"Nope. You're the first in years," the old man replied, a hint of curiosity in his eyes.
"Where am I?" Raghav pressed.
"In the countryside of the Kingdom of Dwarika," the man said, wiping his hands on a dish towel.
A smirk crossed Raghav's face, a flicker of recognition igniting within him. "What's happening here?"
The old man's expression darkened. "Strange things at night. Creatures have been killing my cattle, and they only eat the intestines."
Disgust washed over Raghav as they finished their meal. That night, thoughts of Anuj clouded his mind. Where could he be?
Peering out the window, he spotted a figure emerging from the edge of the forest. It was unlike anything he had ever seen: a creature resembling an angel from nursery rhymes, with large white wings and green garments, surrounded by a shimmering blue aura and glowing fireflies. It was called a Terpent.
The creature glided slowly toward the cattle farm, but as it approached, Raghav saw the old man standing defiantly between the Terpent and his livestock, shovel in hand. "I got you!" the man shouted, his voice trembling but fierce.
Fear surged through Raghav, and he rushed downstairs, instinctively positioning himself beside the old man. The Terpent's voice echoed in a melodic yet terrifying manner, and Raghav felt a strange understanding wash over him.
Suddenly, the Terpent opened its grotesque mouth, revealing sharp black and yellow teeth, and let out a blood-curdling scream. It lunged at Raghav, who instinctively grabbed the old man's shovel and hurled it with all his strength. The shovel struck the Terpent's neck, severing its head from its body.
In disbelief, Raghav stood frozen, his heart pounding. But then, the old man began to transform. His flesh melted away, revealing a towering skeleton, muscles and red fluid still clinging to its form. The creature's voice echoed chillingly. "I knew she would send you," it said, capturing Raghav in a vice-like grip.
With a mighty leap, the skeletal monster propelled itself toward the nearby active volcano, dragging Raghav into the depths of darkness
--to be continued--