The address wasn't far, just 8 kilometers away. Aryan's determination propelled him forward, his steps brisk and purposeful. As he approached Violet's home, he prepared himself for what lay ahead.
Violet's disappearance wasn't just a matter for the authorities—it felt personal. Something inside Aryan told him this was only the beginning of something far greater.
Aryan stood at Violet's parents' doorstep, his heart heavy with worry. He knocked softly, and moments later, the door opened. Rina, Violet's mother, greeted him with a glimmer of hope that quickly faded when she realized it wasn't her daughter.
Rina: "Who are you, child? Why are you here at this hour?"
Aryan tried to communicate, gesturing with his hands to explain his purpose, but his silence confused her.
Rina: "I don't understand what you're trying to say."
Aryan pointed to his eyes, then gestured inside, silently asking if he could look around the house. Though hesitant, Rina stepped aside, and Violet's father, sensing no threat, nodded in approval.
Aryan moved quickly but carefully, inspecting the rooms for any signs of Violet or clues about her disappearance. The house was quiet, devoid of anything suspicious.
After completing his search, Aryan returned to the living room, his face a mix of concern and determination. He tried again to ask questions about Violet's disappearance, but his gestures were met with more confusion.
Rina: "I wish I could help, but I don't understand what you're asking."
Realizing he needed support, Aryan pulled out his phone and texted Khusi: "Come to Violet's house now."
He knew he couldn't explain everything alone, but he was determined to piece together what had happened to Violet.
A knock echoed through the house once more. Rina, already unsettled by Aryan's visit, opened the door cautiously. Her eyes widened in fear when she saw Khusi—he looked so much like Aryan that, for a moment, Rina thought she was seeing double.
Rina: "W-What's going on? Who are you?"
Khusi smiled gently, trying to ease the tension.
Khusi: "I'm sorry to bother you, ma'am. I'm Khusi, Aryan's twin brother. He can't speak, so I came to help explain."
Rina hesitated, glancing back at Aryan, but Khusi's calm demeanor reassured her. Aryan motioned to Khusi, signaling her to ask Violet's parents for details about their daughter's disappearance.
Khusi turned to Rina and Violet's father.
Khusi: "We're here to help. Aryan was very worried when he saw the news about Violet. Can you tell us exactly what happened?"
Rina's expression softened, though the sadness.
Rina: "Our daughter... she's been missing for two days now. She went to MKK Hospital to check on a friend who had been in an accident. She left the hospital after about 20 minutes. The security footage shows her leaving, but... after that, nothing. No sign of her anywhere on the way home."
Khusi nodded, her face serious as she processed the information.
Khusi: "MKK Hospital... That's not far from here, right?"
Rina: "It isn't. Just a 15-minute walk."
Khusi glanced at Aryan, who was already deep in thought. The pieces weren't adding up. Violet's disappearance from such a short and well-traveled route felt deliberate, as though someone had planned it.
Khusi: "Thank you for telling us. We'll try to find out more. If there's anything else, please let us know."
As they left the house, Aryan and Khusi exchanged a determined glance. MKK Hospital was their next stop.
Late Night Investigation
At 3 a.m., Aryan and Khusi snuck into MKK Hospital, each on their own mission. Aryan, blending into the shadows like a spy, moved silently through the hospital corridors, checking security cameras and gathering as much information as he could. He knew he had to find anything that might explain Violet's disappearance.
Meanwhile, Khusi was at her computer, hacking into the hospital's official website and internal pages. He sifted through hospital records, looking for any signs of unusual activity—anything that could connect to Violet's case.
But suddenly, Aryan felt something strange. His vision blurred, and the ground beneath him seemed to shift. Her legs trembled, and for a moment, he felt dizzy as if the entire room was spinning. The sensation lasted only a few seconds, but it left his shaken. Shaking it off, Aryan refocused on her task and began searching the rooms and halls of the hospital, moving cautiously.
As he walked through the corridor, he spotted a few doctors in the distance. Knowing he had to remain unseen, he ducked into a nearby room, hiding behind the door to avoid being caught.
Just as he settled quietly, the doctors stepped closer to the door, talking amongst themselves.
Doctor 1: "Did you feel that? I think it's an earthquake."
Doctor 2: "Could be... but it didn't feel like a normal tremor. Something's off."
Doctor 3: "Maybe it's a sign. With all the strange things happening lately, it's hard to say what's causing this."
Aryan, heart racing, kept him breathing steady, listening closely. The doctors' words hinted that something unusual might be happening. But before he could process it further, the tremor hit again—this time stronger, as though something or someone was affecting the hospital beyond natural causes.
Meanwhile, Khusi, who had been investigating another part of the building, felt the vibrations and instinctively checked his surroundings. The earthquake, or whatever it was, had him on high alert.
Aryan sat inside the small, stuffy room, drenched in sweat from the heat and lack of ventilation. He focused on breathing deeply, trying to steady himself. The hospital, quiet until now, was suddenly filled with a violent tremor—a force so powerful that Aryan could feel it in his bones. He clenched his fists, steadying himself against the wall as the earthquake stretched on, unrelenting for a full twelve minutes.