In front of the house: 15th July Friday: 8:35 pm:

It was a two-storied house that looked like a deserted farmhouse or an old ranch. There was a ramshackle stable beside it. Pitch-Black darkness proved that no horses or any kind of animal were there. Although an adjacent pit was visible. Perhaps in the past horses or cows used to drink water from it. Now it was full of black water due to mosses. In the crescent moonlight, nothing was properly visible. Their mobile torches surveyed the surroundings quickly. Aryamaan focused it on the front side of the house. There were two doors side by side. But both were closed. His torchlight trailed on the wall and landed on an arch-shaped window in the upstairs. A torn curtain was hanging like it was trying to cover its seclusion. The entire ambience was increasing the silence of the lugubrious night. Suddenly Aliya whispered,

"Look, guys."

She pointed towards the upstairs window. A faint light was coming from the dilapidated house.

"There must be someone. We can get some help from there."

Aliya sounded hopeful.

"But we all should stick together for our safety."

Aryamaan became a little sceptic.

"Let's go. I can't bear this hunger anymore."

Mukti became restless.

"And what if there is some ghost inside? I don't want to die so early and definitely not want to be killed by a spook."

Navya whined.

"Shut up Navya. In fact, the ghost will be scared to meet you."

Cabir mumbled.

"Chuck it guys, let's go and see what is inside."

Abhimanyu suggested. Manik put down Nandini and made her stand on the ground and said impatiently,

"Navya, hold her, let me see. We can't stand here all night and assume such things."

Navya held Nandini's forearm but she assured Navya with eyes that she is okay. Painkillers subsided her pain. Abhimanyu said,

"I think the boys should go first. If everything is alright here and there is any kind of possibility to get help then we can call them inside." "Hmmmmm, right, let's go. But I think one boy should stay with the girls. Dhruv, you stay here. Be alert and keep trying to get the network. We will show you the light as a signal."

Manik affirmed. Dhruv nodded in positive.

"I will go with you guys. What will I do here? It will be more fun to explore inside."

Mukti insisted.

"Mukti, maybe you didn't hear properly. All the boys are going inside. So you are obviously allowed. I mean nobody considers you as a girl. Except for Abhimanyu."

Cabir said with a poker face and looked at Abhimanyu from the corner of his eye. Mukti took some time to comprehend Cabir's words and after a couple of moments rushed towards him.

"Cab...i...i...rrrr, I will break your head, moron."

However, Cabir already disappeared inside from the left side door.

"Cabir is back with a bang."

Aryamaan grinned and said. All the boys except Dhruv followed them with a smiling face.

.............................................

Inside the house: 15th July Friday: 8:45 pm:

The left side door opened to a hall. Their mobile torches illuminated some scattered dilapidated furniture. Some stuffed wild animal heads were stuck on the dull patched walls. Cobwebs were visible on the dark roof corners. The floor was covered with dust but surprisingly multiple footprints on it proved that this house is not totally deserted.

"Interesting"

Manik whispered. His mobile torch focused on the right side of the room. A wooden staircase disappeared to the upside. An old dust-covered carpet was laden on the steps.

"Let's go upstairs."

Manik said. The wooden stair was not so worn out as it was looking. Their foot sound on the wooden steps was echoing in the partially dark hall. All came upstairs. There was a lobby having some closed doors on both sides. Perhaps these were rooms. A faint light was coming from the end of the lobby.

"Guys, there must be someone. But we have to be alert. Aryamaan, you and Abhimanyu check the rooms if the doors are open. Cabir and I will check the other side of the lobby."

Manik suggested.

"And what about me? What will I do here?"

Mukti complained.

"Sing a song. You won't be scared of ghosts and we will be entertained at a time."

Cabir replied. Mukti rolled her eyes at him.

"Cabir stop it. This is not the time for such jokes. We have to search this place as soon as possible and inform the others."

Manik said annoyingly.

"Mukti, come with us."

Aryamaan said. Manik and Cabir approached the source of the light. The lobby ended in a small room. A dim light of a lantern hanging from the patched wall was illuminating it. They saw some sacks were kept here and there. There was a table in the middle. A pump stove was kept on it. Manik opened one of the sacks. There was rice in it. He opened another and found some potatoes.

"Manik look...."

Cabir yelled. Manik saw he was pointing towards a corner of the floor. He saw some dirty plates are piled over there. Food stains were visible.

"Dude, this is the kitchen of that person, whoever is staying here."

Cabir said.

"That must be the window we saw from outside."

Manik attracted Cabir's attention towards the arch-shaped window having a dirty curtain.

"Hmmmmm. Right. Now it is confirmed. Someone must be staying here."

Cabir said. "Or maybe some people."

Manik said unmindfully. Suddenly Mukti appeared at the door.

"Hey guy, I was calling both of you for a long time. Why didn't you reply? We have found something."

She looked around the room,

"Hey, it seems like a kitchen. Have you found some food?"

She tried to peep inside over Manik's shoulder but he lightly pushed her back. He didn't want to waste time over here. Manik turned and said to Cabir,

"Give Dhruv our signal from the window. I think there is no one over here. After that let's see what Mukti is talking about."

Cabir came near the window and removed the curtain. There was pitch black dark outside. He signalled from his torch and followed Manik and Mukti.

"Manik, why did you say that there might be more than one person staying over here?"

Cabir sounded curious. "Because a single person cannot eat so much food all alone. Of course except for you." Manik said and grinned.

"There were plenty of food-stained plates. And those are fresh. You saw as well and must understand all might be used today only. So easy to conclude."

Manik said and shrugged.

"Kudos Man. Why don't you become a detective? It will be a good combination. Rock music and investigation."

Cabir retorted.

"Why not, and you will be my Watson."

Manik smiled. They reached the third room on the right side of the lobby. The door was open and Aryamaan and Abhimanyu were standing inside.

....................................

Inside the house: 15th July Friday: 9: 05 pm:

All 9 people were standing inside the room they recently opened. It was a medium-sized room. No furniture was there except for a long table. Something as laboratory desks. But the astonishing part was, there were some laptops kept on it. There were some mobiles too. All were in good condition.

"What the fuck? Who stays over here? It seems like a haunted house. No electricity, no internet network. Then what are these laptops doing here? And these mobiles. Whom do they belong to?"

Aryamaan sounded worried.

"I told you guys this place is not normal. Have you seen the hall? So scary. And now these laptops and mobiles which run without electricity and the internet. Only ghosts can do it"

Navya said in pique. Her eyes showed fright.

" Oh, stop it Navya. Stop connecting all things with ghosts. There is no ghost over here. There must be some people staying here. We saw their food and kitchen. Does a ghost need food for a living?"

Cabir said in vexation.

"Or is it a hideout for doing some unlawful practices?"

Nandini said. She looked tensed.

"Unlawful practices? You mean thieves or smugglers?"

Abhimanyu sounded surprised.

"Can be. Have you both checked the chest?"

Manik asked. "Which chest?"

Abhimanyu asked. Manik pointed his finger towards a dark corner of the room. His mobile torch brightened a black iron chest. Dhruv headed to it and bent down to open it. The open chest made pop out everybody's eyes. It was full of different kinds of arms.

" Welcome Rockstars.......!"

A voice startled them.

Author's note: Oops! Who is this? Will be revealed in the next chapter.