79. The hated gang

"Lights off."

All the lights in the room went out one after another on Olivia's command. In just two, seconds the place sank in complete darkness. She sat up on her bed and brought her right hand in front of her face. After clicking a few buttons, a holographic projection showing a picture, emerged out of the point of the screen where three the hands of the clock were joined. On the surface the watch looked like any regular one but it was carefully crafted to store information in every part of it — from the wallpaper to the hardwares. And those had very specific and unique ways of access, which, if done wrong, could partially or completely damage the substance.

The picture emerging from the junction of the clock hands was none other than the one Olivia clicked at the Singha Roy residence —the village scenery.

With the image spread before her, Olivia's eyes slid over every geometric shape constituting the painting, minutely scrutinizing each line and curve. The art was no doubt very beautiful and that beauty along with the skill of the artist helped it conceal the secret information from the viewer. The painter was also very careful to not display everything directly and scattered the message all over the painting in bits and pieces.

To figure the message out, Olivia had two screens projected above her watch, one blank and another containing the painting. She rested her right hand on her knees so that the screens were at eye level. Using her left hand, she copied the distinct clusters of shapes that were used in some places of painting, on the blank screen. Then she started assembling those individual figures into something meaningful. A lot of trial and error later, she came up with three symbols that seemed somewhat sensible to her. But as she completed her last arrangement, her gaze fixated on it unblinking.

A pitcher plant with a star mark at its centre was caged within twenty-one rings running parallel to one other, forming a shield around the body.

It was not just any symbol but a logo very familiar to Olivia. When she first noticed something off about the picture, she expected to get something out of it, but not this. The very symbol that was the root of all her misery. As she turned off the watch, the look in her eyes became extremely cold, like that of a dead person. Her gaze was fixed ahead into the darkness of her room, staring nowhere while several horrifying flashes from the past visualized before her.

Clenching her jaw, she shut her eyes and took a few deep breaths. When she reopened them, the murderous feeling was replaced by her usual lazy vibe.

"Shareen, I've already taken my first step to get closer to you. Just wait. I'll chop off that dirty hand of yours soon enough." She said in a whisper like an executioner slowly creeping closer to their prey.

Just then, her eyes landed on the keychain lying on the table.

"Tsk. I need to deal with you first." She stared at one of the three mini figurines in particular.

Next day at school.

Olivia had come earlier than the rest and was lying on her Board, reading a horror novel. Since the day she taught that boy a lesson, almost everyone became a little weary of her, mostly because of her violent approach to his taunting. As such, they avoided her in fear of offending her to the point of dropping their voice to inaudible level near her. It was a good thing for Olivia though, more peace and quiet for her to enjoy. However, some people were still not deterred by that incident.

"Wow! You like reading this author's books too?" Anisha asked, taking the seat opposite Olivia.

The latter hummed without lifting her eyes off the page.

"This is a series. I've almost completed it. Which book are you on? There are eight in all." Anisha said, tracing her fingers on the cover of the book.

This time, Olivia sat up and looked at Anisha's face for a while, then said, "Spit it."

Anisha stared back at her and said in an hesitant, embarrassed tone, "Uh, I just wanted to comfort you. You see, previously those people were badmouthing you, and now that you've shown them that you can easily fight back if you want, they're treating you as if you were a dangerous, mad animal who harms people without rhyme or reason. Don't listen to them, okay? If you feel fed up of their hateful gazes you can join our group The hated gang. It's a club Mainak, Samrat, Srijan and I created where we talk about ways to clap back to the people when they go overboard with their hating on us, how to prevent them from ruining out moods and so on. But it's all up to you. I'm not pressuring you or anything."

She scratched the back of her head with a silly grin.

Olivia could feel her sincerity in extending a hand of support to someone experiencing the same things she once faced. Moreover, this also got her thinking what level of harrasment someone had to face to make a club and discuss coping methods. She made a mental note to discuss this with the other council members. They needed to come up with an effective way that would not only put an end to this kinds of harassment among once and for all but also prevent a repeat of this in the future.

"Okay. I'll join," she said.