All ten girls stood frozen in the storage room, staring at the glowing red handprint.
It pulsed lightly on the wall, like it was alive.
Swara stepped back. "This isn't normal. We should leave."
But before anyone could stop her, Anushka—curious as always—reached out and touched the handprint.
"Anushka, no!" cried Akshada, but it was too late.
The moment Anushka's fingers met the red glow, the light vanished. The entire room went pitch dark for two seconds… then the lab lights flickered back on.
Everyone was silent.
Anushka slowly turned around. Her face looked pale.
"Anu? Are you okay?" asked Apurva, placing a hand on her shoulder.
Anushka nodded, but her eyes looked distant.
"Let's get out of here," said Swarali, gently pulling her out of the storage room.
Back in the hallway, the air felt cold even though all the windows were closed.
"I feel weird," Anushka whispered.
"Like… dizzy?" Akshara asked.
"No. It's like I'm hearing something… someone whispering."
"Maybe you're just scared," said Rutuja, trying to keep calm.
But Prajwal noticed something else.
"Anu… your hand."
Everyone looked. Anushka's palm had a faint red glow—exactly where she touched the handprint.
"I didn't even press that hard," she mumbled. "It's burning now."
Srushti finally spoke. "This is not something we can joke about anymore."
"We never joked in the first place!" Akshada snapped. "This is serious."
Swara looked around. "Let's take her to the infirmary. Maybe the nurse can—"
But Anushka interrupted. "No! Don't tell anyone. Please. They'll think we're crazy."
Akshada said, "We already broke into the lab. If anyone finds out—"
"They won't," Prajwal cut in. "We'll keep this between us."
Anushka suddenly gripped Akshara's hand tightly. "Promise me… don't leave me alone tonight."
Akshara nodded instantly. "Of course."
They made it back to their dorm safely. But the night was far from peaceful.
---
Later that night…
Everyone was asleep—except for Akshara. She kept looking at Anushka, who was tossing and turning in her bed.
Suddenly, Anushka sat straight up.
"Anu?" Akshara whispered.
Anushka didn't respond. Her eyes were open… but blank.
She stood up and slowly walked to the door.
"Where are you going?" Akshara jumped up and rushed to her.
But Anushka didn't answer. She opened the door and walked out.
Akshara, now panicking, ran to wake the others. "Guys! Wake up! Anushka's sleepwalking or something!"
Within seconds, Prajwal, Swarali, Akshada, Swara, Apurva, Srushti, Rutuja, and Akshara were all up and running down the corridor.
They finally found Anushka in the courtyard, barefoot, standing still in the middle of the grass.
Her red-glowing hand was lifted in the air, pointing at… something.
"What is she doing?" whispered Rutuja.
"She's pointing at the old bell tower," said Swara.
They looked up.
For a second—just a second—they all saw her.
Niyati.
Standing near the bell, watching them.
And then… she was gone.
Anushka collapsed.
Akshada and Prajwal rushed to hold her.
"Anu? Anushka? Wake up!"
Her eyes slowly opened.
"What… what happened?" she asked weakly.
"You were possessed," Apurva said bluntly.
"Not helping!" Swarali hissed.
But they all knew now—touching that handprint had changed something inside Anushka.
And Niyati?
She wasn't done.
---