this ( Q ) ! pt.2

Vol 5 - "An Old Ending"

Ch 2 / 4

Morning arrived.

All the students and teachers gathered in the dining hall for breakfast before heading out for the day's trip.

And finally—after what felt like forever—Shyam got to talk to Raitha again. They hadn't spoken since they arrived, but with a simple "Good morning," their conversation began.

Ritika joined them as well, and the three chatted about the beautiful scenery, the bustling shops, and all the popular attractions in the area.

But one particular topic caught Shyam's interest the most.

A certain shrine—perched high above the mountain stairs.

Seeing his curiosity, Ritika decided to elaborate.

*"Yeah, that shrine used to be really famous around here. But one night, one of the shrine staff mysteriously died. No one knows why. And then, one by one, more people started dying. Day after day.

Eventually, they abandoned the shrine. But some say… the spirits of those who died still linger there—along with the gods.

And if you visit that shrine, especially at night… you'll see them."*

Shyam's eyes gleamed with intrigue.

Meanwhile, his club members—who had been eavesdropping—immediately decided: We have to check it out.

And just like that, a night raid plan was in motion.

---

After breakfast, as the students and teachers prepared to leave for the trip, Shyam's club members—who had, at this point, become his unofficial friends—pulled him aside.

They revealed their grand plan.

"We're sneaking out to visit that shrine tonight, after everyone's asleep."

Shyam, being the sensible one, immediately refused.

"Are you guys insane? That's just asking for trouble."

But then—his so-called friends had the audacity to turn it into a challenge.

And as a man, Shyam's pride simply couldn't take the hit.

"Fine. I accept."

And with that, the plan was sealed. They agreed to meet at the hotel entrance once the night fell silent.

---

Hours passed, and before they knew it, the school trip ended in a flash—like a fallen leaf swept away by the wind.

(They say time flies when you're enjoying life, but slows to a crawl when you're struggling. — noobsuper)

Night descended.

Back at the hotel, everyone followed the same routine—bath, dinner, sleep.

Well… almost everyone.

Shyam carefully stepped out of his room, treading through the dimly lit corridor. At the entrance, his friends were already waiting for him.

But before they could even start discussing their mission, they heard footsteps approaching.

Panic.

They tried to hide—but it was too late. Two shadowy figures appeared before them.

The sight was so terrifying that one of Shyam's friends almost peed himself.

But once the figures stepped into the light… relief washed over them.

It was just Raitha and Ritika.

Or rather—unfortunately—Raitha and Ritika.

As it turned out, they had overheard the plan earlier and had decided to crash the party.

Shyam, the ever-responsible one, tried his best to stop them.

"It's dangerous. You two should stay back."

But they weren't having any of it.

"Then you stay back, Shyam. We'll go instead."

At this point, it was clear—there was no stopping them. With a defeated sigh, Shyam gave in, hoping that maybe… just maybe… the rumors were nothing but stories.

---

They stepped out into the pitch-dark night.

It was so dark that one of Shyam's friends completely disappeared into the shadows, forcing them to use flashlights.

After some time, they finally reached the top of the mountain.

And there it was.

The shrine.

Old. Abandoned. Creepy as hell.

The late hour made everything look even more unsettling, but despite their fears, they pressed forward—acting brave on the outside, but absolutely terrified on the inside.

For the boys, this was a challenge.

For the girls? A death wish.

So, naturally, Ritika and Raitha decided to wait outside while the boys ventured in.

Inside, the shrine was in ruins.

Broken statues lay scattered, the walls were cracked and crumbling—ready to collapse at any moment.

As they explored the eerie place, they suddenly heard the sound of glass shattering.

They ignored it.

"It's probably just an old window breaking," they reasoned.

But Shyam's gut told him otherwise.

"Yeah… but why now?"

He brushed the thought aside and continued on.

But then—it happened again.

Another shattering sound.

Softer this time.

More unsettling.

It sent a chill through the group.

Shyam's friends, ever the brave idiots, pushed forward.

But Shyam?

He hesitated.

Something felt off.

And so, in a split-second decision, he turned around and started heading back to Raitha and Ritika.

What he didn't know…

Was that this simple, seemingly harmless decision—would become one of the best and worst choices of his life.

To be continued…