Relocating incident

"Well, what do you think? Is this good?"

Anita, bundled up in a hat, goggles, a mask, a scarf, a big jacket, and even a sweater underneath, asked Vinash and Vinayak. The two looked at her, questioning her IQ level.

Vinash frowned. "What the hell are you thinking? Are you trying to make yourself look hot?"

Anita lowered her head, her hands fidgeting as she shyly muttered, "I wonder if Vikram thinks I'm hot too."

Vinash put a hand on his head, looking at her in disbelief.

Vinayak sighed. "Just keep it down. We're in a mall."

After finishing their shopping, they left the mall and headed for Vikram's house. Vinayak kept stealing glances at Anita, which caught her attention.

"Did you want to ask something?" she asked.

Vinayak hesitated. "No, I was just wondering... where's your mom?"

Anita's tone turned somber. "She died after giving birth to me."

Vinayak looked guilty. "Sorry."

Anita, surprised, waved her hands. "No, don't worry! I'm not sad or anything. Don't feel guilty."

Vinash, observing them, spoke up. "Well, you're not a particularly bad person. Ah—will you please delete it? You know what I mean."

Anita grabbed her phone. "Don't worry. When we get there, I'll delete it."

Vinash sighed in relief.

---

As they arrived in Vikram's neighborhood, they noticed two houses sealed off—the latest victims of a serial killer. Officers were urging the Chaudhary family to evacuate.

"Hurry up!" an officer called out. "Mr. Chaudhary, we need to take you somewhere safe. You're the next target if the killer's pattern continues!"

Anita frowned. "What's going on?"

Vinash replied, "Looks like they're relocating the people from the fifth house since they're potentially the next target."

Vinayak, hearing that, said, "They should provide them full security."

Mr. Chaudhary laughed nervously. "Hahaha, sorry, I'm just packing a few things."

His wife whispered angrily, "I told you to deposit that money, but no—"

"Shut up! Just come, and don't you dare say a word," he snapped.

The entire neighborhood watched as Vikram stepped out of his house, exchanging glances with his friends.

"What are they doing here?" he muttered, stepping forward.

At the same time, Mr. Chaudhary, his wife, and their daughter stepped out of their house.

Then, suddenly—

A feather, sharp as a spear, shot down from the sky at incredible speed, piercing straight through Mr. Chaudhary's heart. He collapsed to the ground, dead.

His wife screamed, "Rghhhhhhhh! Dear, what happened to you?!" She cradled him in her arms, trying to wake him. Tears streamed down her face as she wailed, "God, no! Please, take me ins—"

Before she could finish, another feather struck, slicing cleanly through her neck.

Vikram and his friends ran toward the scene.

Neighbors panicked, retreating into their homes.

"What just happened?!"

"Get inside! Hurry!"

The Chaudhary's six-year-old daughter stood there, sobbing. "Mummy! Papa!"

Then—

A barrage of black feathers rained down, like bullets from a machine gun, targeting the fifth house.

"Start the car! Hurry!" an officer shouted, grabbing the little girl and rushing toward a vehicle.

But they were too late. The feathers didn't just hit the house—they tore through the car, the nearby buildings, even the very walls themselves.

Vinash grabbed Anita and Vinayak, pulling them down and covering them with his body. In the process, a feather slashed his leg.

The car refused to start.

Vikram stood frozen, unable to move.

And then—

Silence.

The rain of feathers stopped.

Vikram sprinted toward the car.

"Aghhh!" Vinash groaned in pain.

Anita and Vinayak quickly checked his leg.

"Hey, are you alright?" Anita asked.

Vinayak examined the wound. "His leg is hurt—we need to get him to a hospital!"

Vikram, meanwhile, yanked at the car door, trying to open it. "Damn it! It's jammed!" He kicked it hard, then tried again.

It finally opened.

Inside, the officers had shielded the little girl with their bodies. They were barely breathing, and the girl had fainted from the shock.

Vikram clenched his jaw. He climbed into the driver's seat and started the engine, then pulled up near Vinash and the others.

"Vikram?" Vinayak called out in surprise.

"Just get in! Hurry up!" Vikram demanded.

The three scrambled into the car.

Vinash winced. "Ouch." He handed the unconscious girl to Anita. "Take her."

"Are you alright?" Anita asked.

"Yeah, just look after her," Vinash replied.

Vikram glanced at the girl. "Who is she?"

Vinayak cut him off. "Shut up and just drive! We need to get them to a hospital—they're bleeding badly! Do you have a first aid kit?"

Vikram quickly checked the dashboard and found one. He tossed it to Vinayak.

As the car sped toward the hospital, the air was thick with tension. The only thing that remained in the neighborhood was the eerie silence—and the feathers that had turned the streets into a battlefield.

Vikram drove the damaged car down the road, feathers and bullet-like holes scattered across the interior. Gripping the steering wheel tightly, he grabbed his phone and called his father, Aditya, who was still in the middle of an interrogation.

"Hello? What is it, Vikram?" Aditya asked, distracted.

"Dad, hurry up and come to City Hospital. I can't explain right now—just get there!" Vikram said urgently.

Aditya's expression changed instantly as he stood up. "What happened? Just calm down and tell me!"

"I don't have time! Just come to City Hospital!" Vikram insisted before ending the call.

Panic surged through Aditya as he rushed out of the station.

Anu, noticing his urgency, called after him, "What happened? What did Vikram say?"

Before Aditya could respond, Samradh stepped forward, blocking their path.

"Mr. and Mrs. Anant, you can't just leave in the middle of an interrogation," Samradh warned.

Aditya, his frustration boiling over, snapped, "I don't have time for this! I'm going, and you can't stop me!"

Samradh stepped closer, locking eyes with him. His voice was calm but firm. "I'm not stopping you. I'm coming with you—to keep an eye on you."

Anu exhaled in relief. "Thank you."

Without another word, the three of them rushed out.

Vikram and his friends arrived at the hospital. The two injured officers and the little girl were immediately admitted to the ICU, while Vinash, whose leg was wounded, was placed in the general ward.

Vikram sat beside Vinash's bed. "How's your leg now?" he asked.

"It's better," Vinash replied, shifting slightly.

Vinayak, still unsettled, exhaled sharply. "What the hell is going on? Is this really the work of that serial killer? Are they targeting your neighborhood?"

Vikram lowered his gaze, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. After a moment, he sighed and said, "Yes."

Anita, watching him closely, tried to lighten the mood. "Well, don't be sad. We'll figure something out."

Vinayak shook his head. "Figure something out? Didn't you see what happened? Those feathers were raining down from the sky like bullets. This is something way beyond us—something terrifying."

Vinash nodded in agreement. "He's right. We need to relocate Vikram before it's too late."

Vikram immediately cut in. "Idiot, and where exactly are you planning to take me? Didn't you see what happened when they tried to relocate the Chaudhary family?"

Before anyone could respond, Anita suddenly shouted, "Guuuuuyyyys! Just shut up and calm down!"

Vikram turned to her, frowning. "Who the hell are you, anyway?"

In response, Anita pulled off her mask, goggles, and hat.

Vikram's eyes widened in shock. "It's you..."

Before the realization could settle, a bloodcurdling scream echoed through the hospital halls.

"AGGHHHHH!"

The sharp cry sent a shiver down their spines.

Vinayak and Vikram immediately sprang into action.

"Anita, stay with Vinash!" Vinayak ordered.

Vikram was already rushing ahead. "Oi, hell no! That scream came from the ICU! Move!"

Vinayak followed, his heart pounding. "What the hell is happening now?!"

At that moment, Aditya, Anu, and Samradh entered the hospital and spotted them running.

"Vikram!" Aditya shouted, but his son didn't stop.

All of them hurried toward the ICU.

As they turned the corner, the sight before them made their blood run cold.

A nurse lay on the floor, her entire body trembling. She had been the one screaming, but now she could barely move, paralyzed by terror.

Vikram's parents and Samradh stood frozen, their voices caught in their throats.

And then—

They saw it.