Kartik Khandelwal

“W-What the hell--” I exclaimed as I looked at the body covered in a pool of blood. I suddenly looked at the head of the body and said, “A-Ayush?!”

Ms. Malhotra covered her mouth with her hand. “Just don’t tell me that this is also The Eye of Suicide’s work.”

“But it is,” I replied. “He was once threatened by one of the men. Moreover, he was working as a ghost-investigator in the team. This all was just between him and me.”

“Amazing,” She commented. “The game’s up now, Mr. Khandelwal. I hope I can help you in any way, but I’m bound by my boundaries too. All I can do now is shut down the investigation to save you and your men, or they all will be killed one by one.”

I shook my head, “No, that won’t happen, ma’am. We’re ready to give our lives on the line to save the citizens.”

“I know, but have you ever asked their opinion if they wanna die for the country or not?”

“What do you mean?”

“What I mean is that every policeman and investigator says that they’re willing to give their lives, but they’re never tested like soldiers if they can actually do it or not. They’re the same. They all are like parrots, commanded to mutter those words without even thinking twice. But, in reality, they all think that it’s nothing but a nine-to-five job so that they can feed their families. Do you understand?”

“I guess I do,” I replied as I shockingly observed the body, even though I was actually listening to her words carefully and was lost in thoughts.

“W-What happened?” Someone came in running and he was followed by several other men. “Damn,” He exclaimed when he looked at the body.

“Seal the place. And make sure media don’t come in.”

“Sure, ma’am,” The man replied as she turned and started walking back towards the stairway.

I suddenly tilted my head towards him and looked at his fingers. There was something written on the ground through his blood. My vision was blurring, so I was unable to read it, but I tried my best to focus. Suddenly, someone pushed me back as I suddenly read it--“There’re four, not three.”

The man continued pushing me through my chest, “Please, sir. Move back.” I was too shocked to realize that someone was pushing me.

That night, I was on my bed by ten, thinking about what just happened today. “The game’s up, and--” I heard Ms. Yashika’s words again as I tossed towards the left side of the bed which was connected to the wall. “The plea--” “Every policeman and investigator says that they’re willing to give their lives, but they’re never tested like soldiers if they can actually do it or not.” “But I’m bound by my boundaries too.” “They all are like parrots, commanded to mutter those words without even thinking twice. But, in reality, they all think that it’s nothing but a nine-to-five job so that they can feed their families.”

“I guess I understand, Ms. Yashika,” I murmured. “But I just can’t lose the people I have for now. T-The case is taking a bad shape, and as we investigate, all we get is rejection and dejection. I’m tired of losing, and I don’t wanna lose anyone anymore.” Suddenly, the Security Head, wearing his usual yellow uniform, came into my mind. “I never thought he’d be killed too.” He lay on the floor surrounded by the pool of blood, and I just imagined myself staring at him. “I can do nothing but stare… stare as my comrades die.”

Manuel Levi

I was running down the corridor in the night. MY footsteps made no noise; I was walking so stealthily. I stopped in front of a door and knocked on it. I looked here and there, to make sure no one is staring, and then knocked again. “Open, Kritika, for damn’s sake!”

She opened the door and found me standing in front of her. “What happened? Why’re you here at this point of time?”

“T-The news has arrived, Kritika.”

She narrowed her eyebrows. “Are you sure?” She reconfirmed.

“Yes, Kritika. The meeting was going on all day, and the judgment is finally here.”

“What did the committee decide? Was it in favor of our faction?”

“No, Kritika. It’s going as it should.”

“What do you mean?”

“They’re suspended and they’re all supposed to be in jail until further notice.”

“Now I just hope that our leader runs away safely. It all depends on him now.”

“Don’t worry. There have been discussions that he’s planning to run away this night.”

Kartik Khandelwal

“Three murders, a terrorist attack and several people’s lives in danger. This city is on the verge of destruction. I just hope that ‘the time’ comes quickly.”

Manuel Levi

“There are gonna be no more delays, Kritika. ‘The time’ is gonna come quickly.”

“I just hope it comes with truth and justice all around and nothing goes wrong.”

“Believe in him, like I do.”