ArShi SS: The Haunted Lake CHP 5 PG 22 - Page 12

Chapter 5

Khushi stopped talking as she saw Arnav's face. It was like he was thinking something very hard and was probably not even listening to her anymore. Khushi just sighed and hoped he would not think she's crazy or something.

Arnav on the other hand was having a hard time deciding whether he should believe Khushi or not. All this was sounding so illogical. But then again, Khushi was a sensible girl and he was hundred percent sure that she wasn't trying to prank him. She wouldn't do that. She genuinely looked frightened. So, instead of straight away judging her, Arnav chose to give her idea a chance...maybe she had gotten it wrong or maybe it was just her imagination. Even though her large hazel orbs were flickering in hope of him believing her; Arnav just couldn't let the common sense in him go.

"Listen Khushi, I know you're not lying..." That put some hope in Khushi as Arnav held onto her hand tightly, however as he continued, Khushi sighed in disappointment, "but maybe you were just imagining that stuff because of what NK said. Look...I know this is all like a haunted lake and blah blah but I'm sure there's nothing like that in real...if you are still not convinced, let's go outside and check" Arnav finished.

Though, Khushi was slightly disappointed she still couldn't blame Arnav for this. Even she wouldn't believe someone telling her that there were red eyes staring at them and haunted caretakers. It didn't make sense. But she was very sure of what she saw.

However much Khushi wanted to believe Arnav, she still couldn't go out there again when she knew there was danger out there and taking Arnav with her, never! She didn't know why but she could just not bring herself to put Arnav in a life threatening danger even if that would make her look like less of a liar and crazy person.

"If you don't want to believe me, it's okay. However, we are not going out there again. Not at any cost" Khushi finished and was turned around to head back into her room when she heard the front door open. She turned around quickly only to see Arnav heading out of the front door.

She hurriedly ran behind him. What the hell was he doing?!

Khushi quickly caught up with Arnav who seemed to be walking towards the weak looking, half-broken wooden bridge.

"Arnav what are you doing?!" Khushi exclaimed, shocked at what he was doing after everything she told him.

"Chasing your ghosts away" Arnav replied with determination.

"Huh?!" Khushi replied confused at his answer.

Arnav stopped his long strides and turned towards Khushi and gently held her by the shoulders, "Look Khushi, I dunno what this is about or even if this is true...but I don't want you to feel like I am not believing you without even giving you a chance, I actually wanna see if there is something out there scaring you and if there is...well then we'll just have to face it for now" Saying that Arnav continued to walk towards the bridge at a distance.

*********************

Arnav's pace slowed down as he approached the cabin. They could still see the guest house on the other side of the lake. Khushi was beside him, fidgeting with her hand as her breaths came out in short gasps and her nervousness increased.

The light in the cabin was on. However, there was no one inside the cabin. Arnav gently pushed the door open a little and quickly grabbed a paddle from the box inside the cabin for any emergency. He went in to have an overall quick inspection of the cabin and Khushi followed him in.

"Okay...yeah Arnav lets go now" Khushi had an odd feeling about this place which was making her eager to leave this place.

"Yeah...okay. See, I told you there was nothing to be afraid of" Arnav turned around to place the paddle in the box when suddenly the cabin door banged shut. The one bulb that was hanging from the ceiling started flickering before bursting.

Khushi was taken by surprise by this and let out a shriek. Being afraid of the darkness, she hastily walked over to Arnav's side and clutched onto his arm. Arnav was too surprised to say anything but he responded to Khushi's touch and held her close; understanding her need to hold on to someone right now.

Khushi and Arnav quickly walked over to the little window on the side of the cabin but all she could see from the blurred glass was faint black lines of objects.

"What the hell is happening?!" Arnav said confused.

"See!! Arnav I told you!! There is something wrong with this place!" Khushi started pushing at the door in an attempt to open it but it just wouldn't budge.

***********************

Lavanya stretched her arms before turning to the other side of her bed. Thats weh she nticed that Khushi was missing from her bed. In confusion, Lavanya rubbed her eyes before looking again. Syrely, she still wasn't there.

Lavanya quietly got up, making sure she didn't disturb Payal and quickly checked the bathroom. Not seeing Khushi there surely confused her. They just got here and Khushi had already gone missing. That worried Lavanya. Lavanya quickly ran down the stairs and after taking a quick tour of the house, she returned back to the room. This time very worried. After debating in her mind, Lavanya decided to wake Payal up.

Payal groaned in rejection first but eventually woke up. After seeing the clear worry on Lavanya's face she quickly rubbed away the sleepiness from her face and payed full attention to what Lavanya had to say.

"Listen Payal...I can't find Khushi. I've looked all around the house but I can't find her and I'm really worried for her.." Lavanya rambled on in worry about how she could feel something was wrong and etc.

Payal however, quickly got up and called Akash and NK to inform them. This was serious. There first night in an unknown and supposedly "haunted" guesthouse and one of them goes missing. However, as Akash, NK and Shyam arrived it was confirmed that it wasn't only one; Arnav was missing too.

"You think they're in trouble?" Lavanya chewed on her nails as she paced the room in worry.

"I think we should split up and look for them" Akash suggested.

"No I think we should look together...there would be more chance of us not going missing" Payal thoughtfully.

"What are we waiting for...let's go then!!" NK said as he got up and marched towards the door followed by others.

********************

Precap: The action and probably the last part

*********************

Veggie