#ananya screams into the void and the void screams back

[i-myeoni-blogs]

The Winter Solstice

A beautiful evening clouds coloured in pink and orange covered the city of Shahpur. The soft and shivering breeze flew around the city. The sound of music and constant giggling filled the voids in air. The crowded streets marked the carnival season of small town like Shahpur. The December carnival was everything a person could think of to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Among the crowd and near the food stall, four high school girls were enjoying their weekend.

“Hey, let’s go to the giant wheel please.”  Ananya requested making a pouty face.

“You don’t have to beg, dummy.” Tanusha replied with a chuckle.

Weekends are always fun with friends, at least that’s what Tanusha thought. All four of them started moving towards the giant ride. Among the four, one of the girls named Raina felt weird with each stall they crossed. Tanusha was quick to notice her discomfort and held her hand.

“What’s wrong?” Tanusha asked.

“I don’t know, I just feel a little weird. Maybe it’s the food we ate.” She spoke.

“We can go home if you want.”

“No, no. I’m fine.”

Raina reassured her as she didn’t want to kill the fun. Raina kept her face straight despite she was very sure something’s wrong. As they crossed the final stall named ‘Wonder fortune', Raina locked eyes with an old woman. The woman kept her eyes boring into them and suddenly started yelling.

“You filthy witch, you’ll burn into hell.” The woman started running towards the girls. Raina noticed her daggering gaze and held onto Tanusha's shoulder. Security was quick to hold back the woman before she could harm the girls. The woman kept screaming at them resulting a huge crowd surrounding them.

The security dragged the woman towards the exit and the woman kept fighting to freed herself from two muscular grasps. The girls were convinced that the woman was out of their reach now girls took a deep breath of relief. But after a while they heard someone screaming and turned around. The old woman was running towards them with a knife. The sight was terrifying enough to make Raina's feet glued to the ground.

“Die.” The woman shouted and jabbed the knife into the skin.

Blood started pouring from the wound and Tanusha held her stomach groaning in pain. Tanusha fell to her knees revealing a terrified Raina standing behind her. The girls started screaming and the woman raised the knife aiming for Raina.

“No…” Tanusha woke up abruptly, breathing heavily and fresh sweat beads on her face. “Nightmare.” She rubbed her face and went to the washroom.

“Hey, sleepy head.” Tanusha's brother, Shivesh said. “You look terrible.” His voice came out muffled as he shoved a piece of pancake into his mouth.

“Shut up, I had a nightmare.” She plopped down the chair.

“Again.” Tanusha's mother asked from the kitchen and she hummed in response.

“Well, you were born on the darkest day of the year.” Shivesh commented, air quoting the word ‘darkest day'.

“Mom,” Tanusha whined.

“Shivesh, stop teasing your little sister.” She pulled his cheeks and spoke.

“I’ll be home late; I’ve plans with my friends after school.” Tanusha shouted as she stepped out of the house.

“Bye… Miss Winter Solstice.” Shivesh commented earning a death glare from his mother.

Tanusha sighed loudly and went down the lane looking at the sky. The sun was covered with the clouds and there was an eerie silence around the city. The breeze was chilling just like in her dream that sent shivers down her spine. Between the crowded street Tanusha slowly made her way towards the school.

“Hey, guys.” She tossed her bag on the desk.

“Hey, did you too had a strange dream? All of us had.” Priyal said with an excited tone.

“Actually, it was a nightmare.” She took out her notebook as the teacher came inside.

The class went on like a regular day with same boring routine and lectures. All four of them kept stealing glances at each other and giggled. And just like that 7-hour passed and the school ended.

“Change of clothes.” Ananya asked.

“Check.” Priyal replied looking at her bag, and other two girls nodded.

“Phone.”

“Check.”

“Cool, we’re good to go.” All four of them squealed in happiness and went inside a public restroom to change.

“It’s weird.” Raina said.

“What is.” Replied Tanusha.

“The sun and the weather are creepy.”

“Yeah, I noticed that too.”

The four girls changed from their uniforms to casual clothing and made their way towards the centre of the city. The same weird feeling enveloped them as they entered through the main door. The place was decorated with lights the same way as Tanusha saw in her dream.

“Woah, I’m getting a déjà vu.” Ananya exclaimed looking at the surrounding.

“It’s exactly like.” Priyal opened her mouth.

“Like in our dreams.” Tanusha completed her sentence and all of them nodded.

The excitement overpowered the weird feeling within them. They were in control of the sudden adrenaline flow and break from daily boring routine. It was all fun until Raina saw a stall named ‘wonder fortune’ and panicked.

“Let’s go guys, I don’t feel right.” She said.

“Don’t be a mood kill Raina.” Priyal whined. “It’s just a coincidence.” Ananya added. Everyone nodded at Ananya's statement. She took a look around and pointed at the glass house.

“Let’s go there.” She said and dragged them along with her.

To say they were feeling agitated would be an understatement, truth was all of them were terrified. Raina gripped Tanusha's arm like a Koala. The feeling of fright took over and their racing heartbeat could be heard from distance.

“Let’s go home.” Priyal turned and tried to open the door but it didn’t open.

“The exit is other way Priyal, we have to pass through this mirror lane.” Ananya said. “Shit, even the phone isn’t working.” She added looking at her phone without signal.

Rest of them also checked their phones but to no avail. Their bodies were getting hot with the adrenaline and the layers of clothing. All four of them started to move forward hand in hand. Priyal kept chanting prayer continuously clinging onto Ananya. Tanusha held Raina’s hand in a comforting way as Raina was shaking with fear. Suddenly the power broke down and lights went off making the glass house engulfed in darkness.

It was about time one of them started shouting from fear. They held each other’s hand and stood in place shouting for their dear life. Can’t say if the walls were soundproof or what but no one came for them.

“We should move or we’ll be stuck here forever.” A mirror broke right after the words left Tanusha’s mouth. Overwhelmed by the fear all of them started running aimlessly because of the dark.

“Guys don’t run, we should stick together.” Raina cried standing on the same place like a statue.

By the time the lights came back, Raina was standing alone with her reflection. She was terrified to even move an inch and stood there motionless. She was shaking from head to toe and tears started flowing down her cheeks. Suddenly a loud screaming was heard that left goosebumps on her body.

“Priyal, was that you? Guys stop messing around.” Raina cried.

“Raina, stay where you are. I’m coming.” Ananya said. “Oh, no.”

“Ananya? What is it?”

“I…I don’t know but I found Priyal’s phone.”

“What? Priyal? Tanusha? Please respond.” Raina shouted.

“I’m…I’m here Raina, I’m fine.” Tanusha said from some distance. “I think I found the exit.” She completed.

“Where are you?” Ananya asked.

“Head towards the south, wherever the lane takes you.” Tanusha said.

Raina started moving to the south constantly calling out for her friends. Tanusha kept talking to her as she moved towards the possible exit. Raina noticed that it’s been a while since Ananya has responded and called out for her. Her voice came back without any response and she found blood puddle in some distance.

“Ananya?” she followed the trail of blood and reached the dead end.

“Tanusha? I’m stuck here.” She cried looking at broken glass pieces covered in blood.

Raina tried to push the mirrors but it didn’t move and suddenly the temperature inside elevated. Raina took out her jacket but the temperature kept increasing.

“Raina? Try pushing the mirrors.” Tanusha said. “Wait, I’m coming.” She added.

“No, don’t come. Just get some help.” Raina cried.

“Raina.” Tanusha’s screamed as the whole place was swallowed in flames. Raina realized there’s no way out and the place was on fire. The mirrors started breaking from the heat. Raina screamed on the top of her lungs until she could bear the pain of getting burnt alive. Tanusha blacked out from the smoke coming out and fell on the ground.

“Oh no, call an ambulance.” A man came running towards a girl lying on the ground unconscious. “How did this fire? Call a fire brigade.” He shouted lifting up the girl.

The man kept splashing water on her face until she gained consciousness and nurses took over after.

“Mam, are you alright.” The girl kept staring at the burning mirror house and nodded. “Can you tell me your name?” the nurse asked.

“Tanusha.” She replied.

“Okay Tanusha, we’ll inform your parents now okay.” Tanusha nodded and gave her the contact information.

Seeing her friends die in a fire left Tanusha severely traumatized. From some distance a woman was looking at her with horror. She was the same old lady from Tanusha’s dream. The woman was holding a knife on one of her hands and mumbled something inaudible. Tanusha looked at her and smiled before the ambulance door were closed. “I won’t let your sacrifice go in vain, my dear friends.” She muttered under her breath and lied down on the stretcher. The mirror house was burnt to crisp and people surrounded the place as the burnt remains were taken out.