Friday the 15th
By Sukanya Gupta
Date: January 9, 2022
Ch. 12Welcome Rockstars...


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 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. Alex 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 Alisha 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."

Alisha sounded hopeful.

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

Alex became a little sceptic.

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

Maya 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."

Natalia whined.

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

Cody mumbled.

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

Billy suggested. Micky put down Nina and made her stand on the ground and said impatiently

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

Natalia held Nina's forearm but she assured Natalia with eyes that she is okay. Painkillers subsided her pain. Billy 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. Peter, you stay here. Be alert and keep trying to get the network. We will show you the light as a signal."

Micky affirmed. Peter nodded in positive.

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

Maya insisted.

"Maya, 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 Billy."

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

"Co…d…yyyyy.., I will break your head, moron."

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

"Cody is back with a bang."

Alex grinned and said. All the boys except Peter followed them with a smiling face.

………………………………………

Inside of 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!"

Micky 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."

Micky suggested. 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. Alex, you and Billy check the rooms if the doors are open. Cody and I will check the other side of the lobby."

Micky suggested.

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

Maya complained.

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

Cody replied. Maya rolled her eyes at him.

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

Micky said annoyingly.

"Maya, come with us."

Alex said. Micky and Cody 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. Micky opened one of the sacks. There was rice in it. He opened another and found some potatoes.

"Micky look...."

Cody yelled. Micky 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.”

Cody said.

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

Micky attracted Cody's attention towards the arch-shaped window having a dirty curtain.

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

Cody said.

"Or maybe some people."

Micky said unmindfully. Suddenly Maya 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 Micky's shoulder but he lightly pushed her back. He didn't want to waste time over here. Micky turned and said to Cody,

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

Cody came near the window and removed the curtain. There was pitch black dark outside. He signalled from his torch and followed Micky and Maya.

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

Cody sounded curious.

"Because a single person cannot eat so much food all alone. Of course, except you."

Micky 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."

Micky said and shrugged.

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

Cody retorted.

"Why not? And you will be my Watson."

Micky smiled. They reached the third room on the right side of the lobby. The door was open and Alex and Billy were standing inside.

………………………………….

Inside of 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?"

Alex 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"

Natalia said in pique. Her eyes showed fright.

"Oh, stop it, Lia. 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?"

Cody said in vexation.

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

Nina said. She looked tensed.

"Unlawful practices? You mean thieves or smugglers?"

Billy sounded surprised.

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

Manik asked.

"Which chest?"

Billy inquired. Micky pointed his finger towards a dark corner of the room. His mobile torch brightened a black iron chest. Peter 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.......!"

Only then, a virile voice startled them.



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