Chapter 14

Preeti quickened her pace down the street that was starting to empty out from the recent havoc. She looked behind her to check no one was on her trail. She looked at the recent message on her phone again from the unknown number. The dead girl in bed with blood seeping through the sheets...she couldnt see her face as her hair covered her up.

Her phone buzzed again. Preeti opened the video clip message with impending dread, the same room, the girl in the bed, only the blood had vanished. She helplessly watched the killer draw out a knife that glinted with the lights of the room. It was a well lit room and as the video zoomed out to reveal a hospital bed her worst suspicions were confirmed. The killer had got to Swati. He bent over her and tucked the loose strands of hair behind her ear. Then turned to the camera again pointing the knife straight forward.

Her phone rang and she picked it up instantly.

'FOR YOUR EYES ONLY..OR DO I NEED TO MAKE MYSELF CLEARER?'

Preeti kicked her foot against the nearby wall and growled in frustration.

'Dont you dare hurt her. I havent spilled anything to the police.'

'GOOD GIRL. AND IF YOU TRY THEN SHES NEXT...OR COULD IT BE NAINA OR PANDIT...OR IS SWATI TOO DISPENSIBLE? YOU KNOW A 2ND HAND SIDEKICK..' she had heard that before..on the phone with Pandit. It seemed like the stalker had been tapping into her phone conversations too.

'I told you Ive not told anyone!'

'I WANT TO TRUST YOU PREETI, SO DONT MAKE ME DO IT.'

'Why are you doing this?!!'

'ALL IN GOOD TIME PREETI. FOR NOW I JUST NEED YOU TO OBEY LIKE THE GOOD GIRL YOU ARE'

'Please dont hurt her!'

'YOUR CALL..' the phone hung up.

Preeti sprinted down the road in the direction of the hospital checking her phone now and then. Naina had texted her to say the gang were at the hospital to see Swati while her interrogation had been going on. Preeti sensed something was off. Swati Naina and Pandit the 3 people whose lives had been threatened all at the hospital at the same time the video text had been received. She needed to make sure they were all safe.

When she reached the hospital she scoured the visitor sign in book while the receptionist was occupied. She didnt recognise any names except Naina, Sameer, Munna and Pandit. And the hospital were rather tight on security which would rule out the likelihood of any stranger to enter without some form of ID in relation to the patient. She breathed a sigh of relief after checking on Swati who was in the operation room with the nurse. How had the stalker managed to slip pass so easily? It disturbed her to think that he could be here maskless, feigning a rather normal outer personality that concealed more darker secrets. And in all this time she wondered where Samar had disappeared too. If this was him she would need to be extra cautious around him incase he sensed she had figured it out. He was capable of doing anything afterall especially since Hemas murder..

Preeti tried to wheedle out information as to who had visited Swati but the receptionist had remained tight lipped mentioning patient visitor confidentiality etc. If Samar was here he would have had to convince the lady at the desk that he was related to Swati, perhaps through a different name?..As she was thinking this Naina Sameer Munna and Pandit arrived. She hugged Naina tightly who was reassuring her with the usual bland thing people say in such circumstances, everything would be fine though she knew it would only get worse hereon. Preeti caught the boys expressions from behind Naina. Munna was crestfallen and was sitting next to Swati. Sameer and Pandit were exchanging a look that Preeti couldnt quite decipher. Then Pandit caught her eye and his eyes glimmered mysteriously. He wanted to talk to her but it was impossible with the others in the room. Preeti left the room hoping he would get the message and follow her. He did exactly that following her closely on her heels.

'Preeti' he spoke softly. She turned around meeting his face that was half hidden by the shadows. She was desperate to tell him there and then everything that he had missed regarding the stalker, what his dad had told her..he would understand, he would know what to do. She needed him..she missed him..Just then Sameer reappeared and drew him away speaking to him in low tones about something or another. Pandit glanced back at Preeti his eyes furrowed concernedly. Preeti decided she needed some water. She retreated to the girls bathroom to wash her face. She had been running around a lot and needed to wake herself up especially after a heavy and confusing night. As she did she caught snippets of a conversation between 2 girls doing their makeup on the other side. Her name cropped up now and then. Preeti leaned closer to hear them.

'Preeti was never attacked. I think she made it all up.'

'Why would she lie about it?'

'For attention. The girl has some serious issues. I heard her mum abandoned the family so it might be a clue why she seems possessive. Ive seen how she got worked up when Naina was spending more time with her friends.'

'So youre saying..

 'What if she did it? What if she killed Hema?'

'Thats farfetched.'

'Is it?'

'But why would she do that?'

 'She had the hots for Pandit didnt she, they were going out, and maybe she found out about Hema then killed her in a jealous rage and now is after Swati for getting close to Pandit in the bar. She has that jealous streak in her I think. Rivalry with her sister, possesiveness over her lover and not having a mother figure in her life.

'Thats-'

'Plausible?' Preeti emerged from the other side. Do I look like someone who might shove a knife down someones throat.? Preeti snarled confronting Kamya, daring her to say more. Kamya jumped in shock and retreated back a step as she looked at Preeti whose face was livid. Preeti left the bathroom briskly swinging the door shut behind her. The stalker was getting to her head and lashing out at Kamya was not going to put her in any good light if she was being considered a suspect..The stalker was calculating his moves very well. To anyones eyes it would seem that Preeti had knifed Swati under the influence of intoxication. First Hema died, then Swati got injured. Both were linked to Pandit and Pandit was linked to herself.. she wondered if Kamya had been feeding her theories to the police. If so they had played it cool when they had questioned her. If she was being suspected though they would have held her longer surely.. Pandits dad seemed to already know about her and Pandits growing relationship which didnt help matters. Preeti went back to the hospital room to find Pandit had vanished. Sameer told her Pandit had to take an urgent call and offered to drop them all home. When Preeti asked Sameer if he had seen Samar he had shrugged his shoulders. 

'I dont keep tabs on where he goes even if hes my younger stepbrother.'

Maybe you should...thought Preeti.

Kamya entered her flat after bidding her friend goodbye. Her phone buzzed with an unknown number and she picked it up hoping it was not a telesales company again. The drawling raspy voice on the other end of the line however didnt sound at all like the usual impassive and pristine voices of telesales people.

'Hello.'

'Hello who is this?' he replied in a low guttural voice.

'Who am I speaking to?' she asked impatiently

'You still haven't told me your name.'

'You called me? How did you get my number?'

'Thats not important'

'Listen I am not interested in what youre selling at all'

'I think you would be if you had the nerve'

'Who the hell is this?!'

'My my...have some patience. Ladies first, tell me your name.'

' Why do you want to know my name?'' 'Because I want to know who I'm looking at.'

Kamya looked around frightenedly. 'What did you say?'

' I said I want to know who I'm talking to.'

'That's not what you said.'

'What do you think I said?' he asked seriously

'What do you want?'

'To play a game'

'What?'

'Thats right. Im going to ask you a few questions and you have to answer them correctly. If you get it wrong...well therell be serious consequences.'

'Get lost'

'Dont hang up, if your life is sacred to you I would stay on the line if I were you.'

'Who is this?? Munna? If this is some kind of sick joke..'

'Everyone knows Munna has a thing for Swati. Unless he's turned stone hearted to her present misfortune then Im not him.'

'What the hell dyou want?!!'

'Answers.'

'What answers?!!'

'Absolutely correct answers.

'Is purple your favourite colour?'

'What? Why would you ask me that?'

'Because that purple dress looks nice on you.'

Kamyas eyes widened in horror. 'Are you watching me?!'

''You would look good in red. Your body covered in red'

'Excuse me?'. When he was silent she added 'What dyou want?!'

'To see what your insides look like!'

'I..Im calling the cops'

'They won't get here in time.'

'Go to hell you creep!!'

'Answer my question, you a big horror fan Kamya?'

'Nn..no'

'Ahh..pity..cos one of my questions was going to be what would be your favourite way to die?'

'Whh..what?'

'Ok scratch that. Question 3, who do you want to kill more..Preeti or Swati?'

'What kind of a question is that?'

'Go on, you dont need to pretend, theyre not here.'

'Neither! Im begging you to let me go..'

'Hey, we're not finished yet. Final question. Are you ready?'

'Please... leave me alone...'

'Answer the question and I will. Which door am I at?

'What?

'There are two main doors to your house. The front door and the back patio door. If you answer correctly, you may live. Very simple.'

'Please... don't do this. I can't do this... I don't want to play this game anymore.'

'Your call.'

News of Kamyas savage murder circulated the townsfolk. She had been found with dead in her backyard, battered beyond recognition. A sight that made the cops gag on seeing it. Preeti had been called in for questioning again as she had been one of  the last people to be seen with Kamya at the hospital before Kamya had gone home. The bludgeoning questions were eating away at her. The stalker seemed to to plant evidence so it led to her. She cursed at the fact that the killer was still roaming about and yet here she was with the cops wasting time asking her pointless questions. Someone had apparently pointed fingers at her saying she was prone to sleepwalking. She guessed that was Sameers doing. He never trusted her in the 1st place. 

After the gruelling session Preeti headed to work and trying to keep her distance from Samar.  He hadnt made a move to talk to her yet which was just as well as she didnt want to let anything on incase he was the one behind it all..

As she was closing up for the evening her phone buzzed. She picked it up promptly and braced herself for the voice at the other end of the line. 

'HEY PREETI DID YOU MISS ME? 

WELL DONT WORRY I'M COMING FOR YOU!' the phone went dead.

Preeti dashed out of the cafe as quickly as she could not stopping to look behind her and bumped right into Samar. 

Samar pulled her into a tight embrace slipping his hand inside her jacket but Preeti pushed him away. 

'What are you doing?' Preeti said indignantly

'Preeti I want you to know how I feel about you'

'Get away from me Samar.'

'Why?'

'Im..Im finding it hard to trust anyone at the moment'

'I understand.' he said resignedly and backed away.

Preeti watched him leave and sighed a breath of relief.

She turned a corner and came face to face with the masked stalker at the end of a path. He cocked his head to the side as he looked at her. Preetis heart stopped. In a split of a second he charged straight for her. Preeti swivelled around sharply and ran at full speed missing him by a second as she crossed the road a police car had obstructed the way causing the masked figure to come colliding with it.

The police surrounded him while Preeti watched on. But there was something amiss. The figure had muffled screams, his hands appeared to be tied with rope and he was kneeling on the ground. As the police lifted off the mask Preeti opened her mouth in shock. It was Pandit. 

Preeti watched the scene and saw Pandits dad peel off the tape from his sons mouth and hugged his son tightly. 

Pandit was sat on the edge of the back of the ambulance looking exhausted, there were a few marks on his neck and arms and his hair was slick with sweat and exhaustion. Preeti came close to him. He looked up at her innocently. She held his face in her hands feeling his breath against her neck. He wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her closely burying his head in her neck while she felt herself melt into him.

'Pandit, I dont know what to say'

'You cant say much.' he spoke hugging her closely as his breath warmed her skin.

'Why is this happening to us?' She wasnt sure if she meant their estrangement as a couple or the fact that now her friends were dragged into the danger zone too.

' I cant tell you.' She released him again looking into his eyes.

'Pandit the stalker is ruthless. He hasnt stopped tormenting me with threats'

'And now he has started to kill as well..I assume your stalker and the killer are one and the same person'

'Yes.. Pandit I feel he knows too much about me..killing people I dont care about as a threat to kill people I do care about'

'Whom do you suspect?' he said his eyes gleaming darkly at her. She looked around her nervously and lowered her voice.

'Dont you find it odd that as soon as Samar arrived to town the murders started happening?'

Pandit mouth curled into a smug smile.

'What makes you think its him?' he challenged.

'Ssshh' she said leaning closer to him and whispered in his ear.

'Your dad told me that Samar was obsessed over a girl and has a restraining order against him.'

'I know about that.'

'What??'

'We all grew up together, Sameer Samar and I. Ive known him to be really weird from a young age. He would accuse me of doing things that he had caused. Hes especially good at hiding it. Ive been watching you closely Preeti, fearing for your safety. Thats why whenever I saw you getting close to Samar it upset me. Anything good that happens in my life Samar tries to take. You're the best thing in my life. I dont want to lose you. Ever.' 

Preeti gazed at him her eyes slowly welled up. She felt herself growing weaker under his bewitching gaze, as he drew nearer to her till his lips grazed her skin and she felt him trail his fingers up her back. The sigh that escaped from her mouth had stirred his senses as he started to kiss her softly on her neck. She had wrestled with him at first feeling the shock of the touch of his lips again on her skin but his soothing voice and touch of his hands slipping under her shirt to caress her waist compelled her that she gradually caved in to her urges too. She was sliding her arms round his shoulders pulling him closer as he kissed her neck. Sighing with need for him.  Just as it happened her inner voice struck reminding her of his betrayal. She pushed him away and walked away. But he just as quickly pursued her before seizing her by her waist. He pulled her around and tightened his arms around her pulling her body slowly into him before pressing his mouth to hers. She wanted to resist him to tell him it was hard to forgive him, but she couldnt. She wound her hands through his hair moaning into his mouth, their tongues ravishing each other in a unsatiable dormant hunger that unleashed as they found each other again before slowing down to a stop.

'I missed you.' he breathed against her mouth. She hugged him tightly feeling her skin heat up from his body warmth.

'Me too.' They kissed into the night forgetting all their troubles as if it were just him and her alone in the world.

The next morning Pandit dropped Preeti to the cafe. 

'If anything happens call me first.' 

'I will.'

'Is he working today?'

'He is'

Samar turned up just then and stared at them. Pandit threw him a look before kissing Preeti on her cheek.

He whispered into her ear

'Im going to stay to keep an eye on him. I dont want to let you out of my sight now even for one second'. She smiled inwardly at the way he was protecting her fiercely and it made her feel special to have him body-guarding her and keeping watch on her wherever she went. She was about to walk inside when just then the cops arrived. They approached Samar and handcuffed him.

'Hey! What are doing?'

'You have the right to remain silent'

'Whats going on?' Pandit asked his dad.

'We found some items of his in Kamyas house.'

'What?? You are going on that as proof that Im a murderer?! This is insane! This town is cursed and you just want a scapegoat to put rest to everyones fears!'

'Shut up son. We'll talk at the station'

As he was ushered past Preeti he looked at her imploringly. 

'I swear its not me! Im being framed Preeti!'

Preeti flinched as he tried to lunge forward.

'Im not the one you should be scared of!!!' he yelled.

Pandit looked at Samar and smirked. He wrapped an arm around Preeti who was shivering from shock.

'Everything is going to be fine now.'