The new animal was grey-brown, smaller than the first wolf. It's legs looked amazingly delicate, and she wasn't as violently striking as the first animal.
A female, something in Pia's mind whispered.
Both wolves were bristling and fighting. The whole room smelled like a zoo.
Now, I'm really going to die, Pia thought. Torn apart by two wolves. She was still clutching the picture frame, but she knew that there was no point in trying to fight both of them off at once.
Her heart was pounding so fast, and the female wolf was staring at her, her eyes were yellow-ish green, and Pia stared back, waiting for the wolf to pounce on her.
The wolf held her gaze for another minute, eyes travelling down to her birthmark. She turned her back to her, and snarled at the bigger wolf.
Protecting me, Pia realized. Stunned. It was unbelievable, but nothing was normal at this point of time for Pia. She was standing in a room with two wolves, and one of them seemed to be protecting her.
''They are going to fight.'' the cool voice whispered again. ''As soon as they do, run for the window.''
At that moment, it was all chaos. The grey wolf lunged at the black one, and the room was filled with sounds of snarls and teeth clicking together and snapping and lunging.
Pia couldn't make out what was going on in the fight. It was blurred as the wolves leaped and darted and ducked and cirled. But it was the most terrifying thing Pia had ever seen, both of the animals had gone crazy.
Suddenly, there was a yelp of pain. There was blood on the grey wolf's fur.
She's too small, Pia realized. She doesn't stand a chance against the big one.
''Help her.'' The voice whispered.
It was insane. Pia couldn't even imagine getting into the middle of that fight. But she found herself moving, and taking position behind the grey wolf. She was holding her silver picture frame high.
The black wolf backed up and stared at her.
And there they stood, all of them panting. Pia with fear, and the wolves with exertion. They were all looking at each other tensely. The black wolf on one side, his eyes shining with menace. The grey wolf on the other, blood on her fur. And Pia right behind her, holding the picture up in a shaking hand.
And then a loud noice cut through the room.
A gunshot.
The black wolf yelped and staggered back.
Pia's senses were frozen for a minute as she realized what was going on. Now with dimly aware senses, she heard his voice. ''Pia, get out of the way.''
The shout was tense, determined, and grim. It came from the opposite end of the room.
Paul was there, standing near the broken window, with a gun. His face was pale and his hand was shaking. The gun was facing the general direction of the wolves. If he fired again, he will hit either of them.
''Don't shoot.'' Pia shouted nervously.''Don't hit the grey one.''
''Hit the grey one?'' He laughed hysterically. ''I don't even know if I can hit the wall. This is the first time I'm using this, so, get out of the way.''
''No.'' Pia moved toward him, holding out her hand. ''I can shoot. Give it to me.''
''Move out of the way!''
The gun went off.
For an instant, Pia thought that she'd been shot. Then she saw blood drippling from the black wolf's neck, and he was hissing with anger and pain.
''Steel won't kill it.'' The voice snapped. ''You're only making it more angry.''
The black wolf looked at Pia with her picture frame, to Paul with his gun, to the grey wolf with her teeth. He snarled, and turned towards the window. Glass shards flew everywhere as he jumped through it.
Pia looked at the grey wolf. Amber eyes met her gaze. It was definitely a human stare.. a stare of a friend.
Then the grey wolf twisted and loped for the window. One jump, and it was gone.
From somewhere outside, there came a long howl of anger and defiance. Then it faded away.
Silence.
Pia shut her eyes. Her knees felt wobbly, but she managed to walk till the window. The moon was bright, she could see a dark shape looming around the front of her house, but she brushed it off as her imagination.
The silver picture frame fell to the floor.
''Are you hurt? Are you okay?'' Paul approached her.
''I'm alright, I think.'' She was numb, dizzy and frightened.
He blinked. ''Do you have a particular fondness for grey wolves or something?''
Pia shook her head. How could she ever explain?
''So, who was at the door?'' Pia said faintly.
''Nobody. Nobody was at the door. I wonder if wolves can ring doorbells.''
''What?''
Paul turned to look at her.
''Has it ever occurred to you-'' He blurted. ''-that you may not be paranoid after all. And something is out there to get you.''
''Very funny.'' Pia whispered.
''I mean-'' Paul paused. ''You said something's going to happen, and it did. You really knew, didn't you?''
Pia glared at him. ''Are you crazy?''
Paul blinked with shock and embarrassment. ''Well, for a second, it seemed like you've got some kind of secret locked up in your brain. Something .. extra-ordinary.''
Pia didn't say anything. She was trying to forget a lot of things at once, the new part of her that whispered strategies, the wolves with human eyes, the silver picture frame. She had no idea what all these things added up to, and she didn't want to know. She wanted to force them away from her and go back to the safe ordinary world.
Paul blinked and his voice was uncertain. ''I mean, I know it can't be true. There has to be a rational explanation. But, well, if it were true, it occurs to me that somebody might better unlock that secret, before something worse happens.''
--
''What am I even doing here?'' Misha shrugged impatiently as she looked at the girls around her in short skirts and designer tops. She looked back at her best friend. ''Remind me again, why am I here?''
''Well, you bunked the first part of college today, so-''
''I didn't bunk anything.'' Misha snapped. ''I got lost, and I had to find my way back.''
''Right.'' Ruhi blinked, she obviously didn't believe her. ''So, as I was saying, this is the Freshers Party, thrown for all of the juniors. And I had been trying to tell you about it for the whole day, but you were in such a terrific mood, that I thought I might as well give you a surprise.'' She flashed a smile.
Misha frowned. ''This is a Freshers Party? Oh, I noticed.'' She crossed her arms against her chest. ''But why am I here?''
''Well, I guess you didn't hear me properly. This party is thrown for juniors. And we are juniors. And that is why we are here. To have some funnnnn.''
''Fun?'' Misha rolled her eyes as she looked at the couples dancing on slow music. ''What fun, stare into your partner's eyes for the whole night and move left and right to the music.''
''Misha, Atleast start behaving a LITTLE lady-like now. You're in college, for god's sake. You can't just go around being a tomboy. I mean, you are Ruhi's friend. You can't ruin my chances of linking up with the hottest guys in the college like that.''
''Tracker, what's your relationship status got to do with my clothing style?''
''Nevermind. You won't get it.'' Ruhi frowned as she looked at the pair of jeans, top and the cardigan Misha was wearing. ''Atleast have some fashion sense, no? What, you don't own any skirts?''
''If you taunt me one more time-'' Misha showed her a punch.
''Fine. I'm leaving.'' She shrugged. ''Have fun, if possible.''
Misha leaned against the wall, and smiled as she saw Kabir walking towards her.
''Kabir, tum yahaan kya kar rahe ho? Isn't this party supposed to be for juniors?''
''Misha, tumhein shaayad pata nahi hai, but all the seniors threw this party. We did all the organizing job, and we have an equal part to play in this and enjoy.'' He grinned.
''Oh.'' Misha tossed him a careless look. ''Whatever, dude, I'm out of here. I was literally dragged to the party.''
''As you wish.'' Kabir turned and smiled at a girl, who was eyeing him.
''Ek aur bimbo?'' Misha shook her head and sighed.
''Apparently. But Misha, tum uski chinta mat karo, mujhe ab in bimbos mein koi interest nahi raha. You know, I think, mujhe sachmuch wala love ho gaya hai.'' He scratched his head grinning sheepishly.
''Oh My God.'' Misha yelled. ''Kabir ko love ho gaya hai? Attention everyone.'' The music stopped, she looked at everyone, and looked at Kabir, who was standing there with a silly smile on his face. ''Kabir Dobriyal ko love ho gaya hai. And, Kabir, may I ask ye unlucky, I mean, lucky ladki kaun hai ?''
''Rhea.'' He replied with a dreamy smile on his face. ''She is an exchange student, she came here from Mumbai only a few weeks ago, and she's .. she's beautiful!''
Rhea.
Raj's sister?
Misha sighed. Raj. Again. He had crossed her minds a lot of times since the morning incident now, and she'd brushed it off with a shrug and some curses. But, right now, she needed to clear her head, and the loud music that had started again was making her head hurt more.
''Kabir, I'm going outside. I'll see you around, k?''
Kabir half-nodded and turned back to his friends again. Misha controlled the strong urge to punch him, and looked around for Ruhi. Busy with some bimbos in a corner, probably. She walked outside the party. Since the party was being held in a resort near the forest, as soon as she walked out, she felt a cold blast of air hit her. She wrapped her arms around herself, and started walking. From a corner, she heard a scream.
Precap
''Rhea, are you all right?''
''I got in a fight, sir. I'm a little torn up. But I taught the other wolf a good lesson.'' She chuckled.
Abhay reached for an address book and a Gold Mont Blanc pen. ''That's not funny, Rhea. You shouldn't be fighting.''
''I know, sir, but-''
''You've really got to restrain yourself. Tell me where you are, and I'll have somebody pick you up. Get you to a doctor.''
''Sir, you're not listening to me. You do not understand me. I've found her.''
Abhay stopped writing, staring at his own fingers.
''Do you hear me, sir? I've found her. I'm sure it's her, with the birthmark and all. Her name is Pia Jaiswal.''
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