Chapter 2: The Forest Path
The forest path behind the Science Block was infamous among the students of KITE International School. Even those who had no patience for rumors and ghost stories admitted there was something about the place that made their skin crawl. The towering trees seemed too close together, their branches twisted and sharp, like skeletal fingers. No matter how still the air was elsewhere on campus, here it always felt heavy, as though the forest itself was watching.
Ishita stood at the entrance, her arms folded across her chest, her figure backlit by the faint glow of the campus lights. Her blazer hung neatly over her arm, and her perfectly pressed uniform made her look as calm and composed as ever. But her mind was sharp and cold, calculating every detail of what was about to happen.
The distant crunch of gravel pulled her from her thoughts. She looked up to see Aryan approaching, his steps casual, his face carrying the lazy grin she had once loved. His shirt was untucked, and his tie hung loosely around his neck, as if he couldn’t be bothered to wear it properly.
“You couldn’t pick a less creepy place to meet?” Aryan called out, his voice breaking through the dense silence of the forest. He stopped a few feet away from her, his grin widening. “What is this, some kind of prank?”
Ishita didn’t respond immediately. She studied him for a moment, letting her expression remain neutral. “Thanks for coming,” she said softly.
Aryan shoved his hands into his pockets, tilting his head as he looked at her. “You said it was important. What’s this about?”
“Let’s walk,” she said, turning toward the path.
Aryan hesitated, glancing at the narrow trail that disappeared into the dense forest. The trees seemed to lean closer together the farther it went, their branches creating jagged shadows on the dirt.
“Walk? In there?” he asked, his grin faltering slightly. “What’s the point? You can just tell me here.”
Ishita glanced over her shoulder, her lips curving into a faint smile. “What’s the matter? Scared?”
Aryan chuckled, though the sound was forced. “Scared? Of course not.”
He followed her as she stepped onto the path, his footsteps crunching softly against the dirt. The air grew colder as they walked, the faint hum of insects fading into silence. Aryan shoved his hands deeper into his pockets, glancing uneasily at the twisted branches overhead.
“So,” he said, his voice breaking the stillness. “Are you finally going to tell me what this is about?”
Ishita stopped abruptly and turned to face him. The faint light filtering through the canopy above cast uneven shadows across her face, making her expression difficult to read.
“I saw you,” she said quietly.
Aryan frowned, his grin slipping. “Saw me? Where?”
“In the Glass Room,” she replied, her voice steady. “With Sanya.”
For a moment, Aryan said nothing. Then he laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head. “Oh, that,” he said. “Come on, Ishita. That was nothing. You’re blowing this way out of proportion.”
“You kissed her,” Ishita said, her voice sharp.
Aryan’s nervous laugh cut off. He took a step back, raising his hands as if to placate her. “Okay, look,” he said. “I messed up. I shouldn’t have done that. But it didn’t mean anything, alright? You know how I am—”
“How you are?” Ishita interrupted, her tone icy. “You think that makes it better? You think that excuses it?”
Aryan scowled, his usual confidence slipping. “I said I’m sorry, alright? What more do you want? You’re acting crazy over something that wasn’t even a big deal.”
Her lips curved into a faint smile, one that didn’t reach her eyes. “Crazy?” she said softly. “You haven’t seen crazy yet.”
She reached into her pocket and pulled out the small blade she’d brought with her. The faint moonlight caught its edge, casting a glint of silver against the dark.
Aryan froze, his eyes widening. “What the hell are you doing?”
Ishita stepped closer, her movements slow and deliberate. “Do you know what your problem is, Aryan?” she asked, her voice calm but cold.
His breath hitched as he took another step back. “Okay, okay,” he said quickly, his hands raised defensively. “You’re upset. I get it. But let’s just talk about this—”
“You think you’re untouchable,” she said, cutting him off. “You think you can hurt people and walk away without consequences.”
He stumbled, his back hitting a tree. His eyes darted to the blade, then back to her. “Ishita, stop,” he said, his voice trembling. “You’re taking this too far.”
Her smile widened, though it remained cold, almost mechanical. “Too far?” she echoed. “No. This is exactly far enough.”
She lunged, the blade finding its mark with terrifying precision. Aryan let out a choked cry, clutching at his side as blood seeped through his shirt.
“Ishita—stop,” he gasped, his voice weak and trembling.
But she didn’t stop. She moved with the same precision and cold detachment she’d planned for, each strike deliberate and final. His struggles grew weaker with each moment, his breaths coming in ragged gasps until finally, they stopped altogether.
When it was over, Ishita stood over his body, her breathing steady. The forest around her was deathly silent, as though the trees themselves were holding their breath.
She grabbed his legs and began dragging him deeper into the woods, her muscles aching with the effort. The abandoned construction site loomed ahead, its skeletal framework jagged against the night sky. She dug quickly, the damp soil giving way easily beneath her hands.
By the time she finished, the grave was shallow but enough to hide him for now. She stood over it for a moment, brushing dirt from her hands. The forest was still, the silence oppressive.
As she turned to leave, a faint sound broke the quiet—a rustle of leaves, too deliberate to be the wind. She froze, her ears straining, but the noise didn’t come again.
Shaking off the unease, she started back toward the campus, her footsteps muffled against the damp earth. But as she walked, the faint rustle returned, closer this time.
She quickened her pace, her heart pounding in her chest. When she reached the edge of the forest and stepped into the faint glow of the campus lights, she finally exhaled.
Behind her, the forest stood still, dark and impenetrable.
But somewhere deep within, something moved.
