Chapter 14: Echoes of That NightFlashback
from the real world.
A crowd streamed out through the exit after watching a movie. Among them were Vansh and Vaibhavi, both around ten, holding Vansh's mother's hand.
Vansh: What do you think happens next?
Vaibhavi paused, thinking for a moment.
Vaibhavi: I don't know.
Vansh frowned, annoyed.
Vansh: Then why did you take so long?!
He lightly tapped her head and dashed into the crowd.
Vaibhavi rubbed the spot, irritated, and complained to his mother:
Vaibhavi: Aunty!!, look!!, he hit me here.
Vansh's mother smiled warmly and stroked her head. Vansh stuck out his tongue teasingly. Vaibhavi let go of her hand and chased after him, while he slipped deeper into the crowd.
Vansh's mother: Hey, both of you—don't run! Be careful!
Vansh quickly entered the underground parking lot and hid. Vaibhavi followed, but took a different path and soon realized she was lost. Vansh crouched behind a car.
Scene shift to Vaibhavi"Looks like I got lost… ugh, he hit me and ran away."
She walked through the hallway.
"If I find him… I'll hit him back."
She imagined getting her revenge.
Scene shift to Vansh .
He remained crouched.
"Where is she?... Did she get lost again, or is she messing with me?"
Vansh stood up, scanning around, but saw no one.
"Looks like… I got here first. I'm faster, after all." He smirked and wandered through the parking lot.
Then he heard a voice.
"Is someone crying?" he muttered, trying to locate it.
"Please no!!… why are you doing this?!… I'm sorry… please… no…"
A metallic sound echoed—like a rod striking something. The voice suddenly stopped.
Vansh's heartbeat quickened. His fingers tightened unconsciously, nails digging into his palm. His eyes sharpened.
"What's going on here?"
He still couldn't fully grasp it. Then Behind a car, he saw a man holding a rod… blood dripping from it. A few feet away lay a motionless woman. Vansh froze.
It felt like a heavy weight pressed against his chest. His throat dried up. His body refused to respond.
Then
"Aaaaaahh!!"
A scream.Familiar. Vansh turned sharply.
About ten feet away, Vaibhavi stood trembling. The man turned toward her—and rushed forward. Vansh immediately sprinted toward her. Vaibhavi stood frozen, fists clenched.
The man raised the rod.
Her eyes widened.
She tried to run—but slipped.
She was about to fall.
The rod was descending. Vansh's heart jolted violently. His body reacted instantly, like a surge of electricity.
The weapon came dangerously close—
—but suddenly, someone grabbed Vaibhavi's hand and pulled her away.
Vansh grabbed the man's shirt and pulled—but the man didn't budge.
The strike missed.
The man's anger flared. He looked ahead—at the woman who saved the girl. Then behind—at a child gripping his shirt.
"Thanks, Aunty."
Vansh looked up.
The man's face was severely burned, making his appearance terrifying. His hands… his entire body bore burn marks.
Distorted. Unsettling.
The man clenched his jaw and swung again.
"Beta!!"
A panicked voice echoed.
Vansh stepped back—the blow missed again.
He looked past the man.
His mother was holding Vaibhavi tightly, tears in her eyes. Vaibhavi looked pale with fear.
Then Vansh noticed—
The man's eyes.
Filled with tears.
He was about to strike again—
—but people rushed in, grabbed him, forced him down, kicked him, and took the rod away.
Vansh's mother ran to him and pulled him into a tight embrace. Her face showed fear, panic… and relief.
After a few minutesDark clouds covered the sky. The air felt heavy.
Sirens echoed as police vehicles arrived.
An officer announced through a loudspeaker:
"Citizens, please move away from the parking lot and the crime scene."
Vansh's mother held both children and guided them out.
Barriers were set up. Reporters and forensic teams arrived. Photos were taken.
A forensic officer checked the body… then slowly shook his head.
The attacker was handcuffed and taken away.
Vansh watched him.
Tears still in his eyes.
A face filled with pain.
Vansh stood still.
Those eyes…
They weren't just angry.
They were… grieving?
Thunder roared.
Rain began to pour.
People rushed inside.
The police vehicle drove away.
Vansh's mother (relieved but anxious): Are you both okay? Any injuries?
She checked them carefully, her hands trembling.
Finding nothing, she smiled softly.
Mother: Do you want to eat something?
Vaibhavi stayed silent.
Vansh remained lost in thought.
She understood—and glanced outside.
"Rain in Jaipur after so many weeks."
After a few minutesThey sat eating.
Vaibhavi whispered:
"What were you doing there? What happened? Why did he attack that woman… and us? Thank God Aunty was there… otherwise…"
Vansh replied quietly:
"I don't know… but what I saw… I'll tell you later."
She nodded.
After an hourThey reached home. Vaibhavi said goodbye and left.
Vansh went to his room.
In the living room, his mother watched the news.
News: "Today evening, in the parking lot of Mago Mall, a woman was found dead. Forensic reports suggest repeated assault, possibly driven by extreme rage. Two children were also present but survived. The suspect is now in custody."
She turned off the TV, sighing in relief.
MidnightVansh woke up, thirsty.
He walked to the kitchen, drank water, and returned.
Lying down, he stared at the ceiling… and slowly drifted to sleep.
A few hours laterSomething felt wrong.
Too quiet.
Too still.
Then—
Thud… Thud… Thud…
Drip.
Vansh opened his eyes, unmoving.
Blood hit the floor.
His breath stopped.
He looked ahead—
And froze.
His eyes widened in terror.
The man stood there.
Holding the rod.
Blood dripping.
A lifeless body nearby.
Vansh couldn't move.
His heart raced uncontrollably.
He tried to scream—
—but no sound came out.
It felt like the same scene… replaying.
Clearer.
Sharper.
The man turned—
—and everything vanished.
Vansh gasped, sitting up.
Then—
Near his bed—
The man appeared again.
Staring directly at him.
Burned face.
Wide eyes.
Rod raised.
About to strike.
"Aaaaaaaahh!!!"
Vansh shut his eyes tightly.
Seconds passed.
Nothing happened.
He slowly opened them.
No one was there.
Only his uneven breathing filled the room.
He looked around frantically.
Nothing.
The pressure on his chest eased slightly.
His body relaxed—just a little.
His mother rushed in.
Mother: What happened, son?!
He explained everything, trembling.
Mother: There's no one… maybe a nightmare… or sleep paralysis…
She checked the entire house.
Nothing.
Mother: Come… sleep with me.
Next morning
Everything seemed normal.
But after that day…
Nothing truly was.
Vansh kept reliving that moment—
Again.
And again.
Even during the day.
That face…
Over and over.
Finally, his mother took him to a doctor.
The old doctor examined him.
His hands trembled as he wrote.
He looked at Vansh…
Then at his mother.
Doctor: "Th-thats… that's impossible… that child has a mental condition of…"
Chapter End.