Chapter 21:Into the Unknown

The reunion had been a night filled with laughter and joy, but as the days passed, Subham couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled over him. It was as if a shadow loomed over their happiness, a sense of impending doom that he couldn't ignore.

One afternoon, Subham received a frantic call from one of their college friends.

"Subham, it's Sri," she said, her voice trembling with fear. "We went for a walk in the forest, and... a few of us have gone missing."

Subham's heart skipped a beat. "What? How many of you are there?"

"Five of us," Sri replied. "We were just exploring the forest, and then suddenly, they disappeared. We've been searching for hours, but there's no sign of them."

Subham felt a chill run down his spine. The forest held many secrets, and the thought of his friends being lost in its depths filled him with dread.

"I'll be right there," Subham said, his voice firm with determination.

He quickly gathered his friends and their college buddies, explaining the situation to them. There was a sense of urgency in the air as they made their way to the forest, the worry evident on their faces.

As they entered the forest, Subham couldn't shake the feeling of foreboding that hung heavy in the air. It was as if the very trees themselves whispered of danger lurking in the shadows.

"We need to split up and search for them," Subham said, his voice tense with urgency. "But be careful. This forest is unpredictable, and we don't know what we might find."

They nodded, their expressions grim as they fanned out into the forest, calling out the names of their missing friends. The dense foliage swallowed them whole, the only sound the rustle of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl.

Subham's senses were on high alert as he moved through the forest, his heart pounding in his chest. He couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, that something sinister lurked in the shadows.

Suddenly, he felt a shiver run down his spine, a sense of danger that made his blood run cold. He stopped in his tracks, his senses on high alert as he scanned the forest around him.

"Subham, what's wrong?" Saheli asked, her voice filled with concern.

"I don't know," Subham replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I have a bad feeling about this. We need to be careful."

They continued their search, the tension mounting with each passing moment. Hours seemed to stretch into eternity as they combed through the forest, their voices growing hoarse from calling out to their missing friends.

Just as hope was beginning to wane, they heard a faint cry for help in the distance. Subham's heart leaped with hope as they followed the sound, their footsteps quickening with determination.

As they rounded a bend in the path, they stumbled upon a clearing where their missing friends lay bound and gagged, their faces pale with fear.

"What happened?" Subham asked, rushing to their side.

"We were just walking, and then... something grabbed us," one of them replied, his voice trembling with fear. "It was like we were being pulled into the shadows."

Subham's mind raced as he tried to make sense of what had happened. Whatever had taken them was still out there, lurking in the darkness.

"We need to get out of here," Subham said, his voice urgent. "Now."

They quickly untied their friends and helped them to their feet, their eyes scanning the forest for any sign of danger. But as they made their way back to the safety of the village, Subham couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, that something malevolent lurked in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.