In the house: 15th July Friday: 10:45 pm:

“Keep....her.. hands.......open.”

“But...she is...quiet smart....what if...she tries to.....escape again.”

“Then break her.....legs."

Multiple words hushed in the gloom.

"Where am I?"

Nina thought like an unclear dream. Though she tried, but couldn't open her eyes. The whispered words became clearer......a beacon in the darkness.

"Her knee is injured. She can't go far."

"That's why I could grab her so easily that her other mates couldn't realise."

"Why did you let them go, Boss? You could easily catch them."

"I couldn't take that risk because one of them had your gun in her hand. Who knows, she might know its use. At this point, I can't afford any bloodshed. But anyhow we will capture them again. They can't go far. This jungle is a labyrinth to them. "

"I am sorry, Boss. But I think we are underestimating these girls. The way they knocked me out...."

The voice sounded meek.

"That is not their smartness rather your stupidity. And this could be your last chance to compensate for the loss. Otherwise, you know me."

The voice hissed.

"Anyway, I have chloroformed her. She must sleep for a couple of hours. I am keeping her in my room. You get me the walky-talky. I need to talk to Maddy."

Nina felt two strong hands pick her up and rested her on a broad shoulder. Her numb body was swaying along with his stride. Again unconsciousness claimed her.....stealing her away from the surrounding.

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

In the jungle: 15 th July: 10:45 pm:

"I can't think further. Nina is missing. We can't find out our jeeps. How could we get out of this scary jungle? Even if we can, how could we go without Nina? What will Micky say to us?"

Natalia sounded hapless. They were standing at the place where they left their jeeps. However, there were no traces of them now.

"Relax Lia. We will find her out. Now, we have the compass and walky-talky. We can contact the boys as well as the police. I am sure we will find a way out."

Alisha tried to convince Natalia, though she herself was hell unsure.

"But how did Nina vanish like camphor? What if Tonny captured her again? We should have searched the house before coming here."

Natalia again whined.

"And what if we all got captured again? The only hope also would have left us. At least we are free now to think about searching her, to get out of this place, to seek for help."

Maya mouthed in vexation. She was also tensed like hell but Natalia's continuous nagging was irking her. Suddenly Alisha pulled Maya's forearm. The starry sky above them was trying gloomily to fade the darkness. The chirping of wild unknown insects, the smooth sound of dropping dew drops on the leaves, the petrichor and the moist breeze were creating an uncanny fear in their mind. Maya whispered,

“What?”

Alisha’s torchlight was fixed on a thing carefully camouflaged by wild climbers and leaves.

"A bike."

Alisha mumbled. Her torchlight traced on its entire frame.

"Oh my God! I don't believe this. There is actually a chance to get out of here."

Alisha almost yelled.

"Shhhhh...... don't forget, we are still very near to the house and we are not at all sure about the goons whether they have come back or not because it is definitely their bike."

Maya said with a worried tone.

"Come, let's check it."

Maya added and stepped forward. Alisha and Natalia followed her when Maya removed the scattered leaves from the seat. She touched the silencer and immediately pulled her hand back.

"It's hot. That means someone has used it very recently."

Maya murmured.

"You mean there is someone around us besides Tonny?"

Natalia's voice cracked.

"That means those goons again kidnapped Nina? Oh, God, what to do now?"

Natalia almost collapsed in fear.

"There is a huge chance of it. And we even don't know how many people came back on this bike. But in any case, we have to contact the boys as well as the police right now. And at first, we have to go away from this house. Come girls; help me to take out this thing."

Maya commanded and started to remove the leaves and twigs from the bike. Alisha gave the torch to Natalia and initiated helping Maya.

"At first, we have to take this far away from this place because the sound of the engine might be heard by the goons if they are around."

By saying this Maya folded the stand and started walking along with the bike holding it with her two hands. Alisha also held the carrier side to balance the heavy frame. Having no other option Natalia started following them but not without blabbering the words.

"I am telling you, girls, this is not the right decision to leave Nina alone. What will she do? She must be in danger that we can’t even think.”

Natalia almost cried.

"We are not leaving her, Lia. But right now, it would be wiser to utilise our freedom to free all of us from this situation. Including Nina. Now, stop worrying and check the compass. According to my idea, we have to go in the west direction for the highway. Alisha, I can manage this on my own."

Maya hinted at the bike and added,

"You try to contact either the boys or the police."

She affirmed. Alisha immediately started rolling the walky-talky knob and Natalia took out the compass.

"We have to go in this direction."

Natalia pointed to her right with the thumb while observing the compass pointer. All veered to their right and increased their speed.

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

In the house: 15th July Friday: 10:50 pm:

Harry lightly kicked the closed door and it opened with a crackling sound. It was not any different from the other rooms in size despite it was having a 4/ 6 ft bed with a comfortable mattress and a milk-white bed cover. There was a desk with a chair in a corner and a small attached bathroom. This is a private relaxing room of Harry. Relaxation by all means. A laptop was kept on the desk. Harry came near to the bed and carefully kept Nina on it. Her face was covered by her silky tresses. Harry removed the locks from her face. Her closed eyes, luscious lips, chubby pink cheeks made him stock-still for a moment. He was literary ogling her unconscious body. Within a couple of seconds, Harry's body lost all its cool and flexibility. He licked his lower lip.

"It's time to please me, sleeping- beauty."

He murmured and took off his black leather jacket. He started opening his shirt button when Tonny's voice broke his trance.

"Boss, Maddy is on the line. Something is not okay there."

Tonny said in a tensed voice from the doorstep and forwarded a walky-talky. Harry immediately turned and came out of the room.

"Lock the door."

He ordered Tonny and approached the previous room.

"Hello.....Maddy......Harry here. What's the situation? Have you got them? Over....."

Harry sounded anxious.

"Situation.... is not at all good. I can't.... explain much... now. I am coming....back. Vacant the place............ASAP. Over..."

Maddy's voice crocked.

"Vacant the place...What do you...mean? Why?"

Harry asked restlessly.

"Because it’s not...safe...Anymore."

Maddy's voice deepened.