|ISHA
The gates of Royal Elites stared back at me as the car came to a halt. I ignored the way my heart was beating fast. Something about this place just didn't feel right. There was this unsettling feeling, like something — or maybe someone — was already waiting for me.
I quickly averted my gaze before it landed on my parents. My dad cleared his throat. “Don't cause any trouble on your first day, Isha.”
He still thinks I’m a kid who cries over candy. Seriously? I’ve grown up now. That version of me is already buried somewhere.
I huffed. “Dad, do I seriously look like a kid to you? I’m seventeen now. I can handle myself and clearly avoid getting into trouble.” I grabbed my bag before unlocking the car door and stepping out.
“Bye, sweetie,” my mom’s sweet voice came from inside the car, followed by my dad’s. “Take care of yourself.”
I nodded, “Bye Mom, Bye Dad.” I slammed the car door shut when my eyes fell on Anvi and Rhea. They were clearly waiting for me.
I hurried toward them, instantly wrapping Rhea in a tight hug. “So good to have you back after all these years, sha,” she whispered softly.
“Trust me, I missed you too.” I smiled before pulling away and turning to Anvi, who immediately pulled me into another hug.
“So,” she grinned mischievously, “ready to cause some trouble?”
I chuckled. “A little too much for my liking.”
Somehow, talking to them eased the anxiety clawing at my chest. No matter what happened, I knew they would stay by my side through everything.
As we pulled apart and made our way towards the giant gates of Royal Elites, something in my chest stirred the moment I stepped inside.
I shrugged it off. Maybe it's just me overthinking.
One thing about Royal Elites was, it didn't look like a place people studied in, it looked like a place people ruled from.
Glass corridors. Marble floors. Silence wrapped in expensive noise. Everything here was controlled, every step measured and every glance calculated.
Royal Elites screamed luxury, trouble, expensive scents and of course rich kids who were too full of themselves.
I walked through the gates anyway, chin slightly raised. Because if this place thrived on power — I wasn't about to walk in looking like I didn't belong.
I walked through places as if I owned them. Confidence was everything here, and if you had enough of it, you could probably slap someone and no one would dare raise a finger against you.
I was lost in my thoughts when Anvi’s voice pulled me back in. “Try not to intimidate people on your first day, ” Anvi said, her voice laced with a hint of sarcasm.
I feigned offended. “I don’t intimidate, it's just people who get uncomfortable.” I shrugged my shoulders.
Rhea snorted. “Same thing.”
I smirked faintly. The moment I entered the main corridor— it shifted. Everyone's gaze was suddenly now on me.
Eyes flickering towards me, conversations dipped slightly. No one stared long enough to be obvious — but long enough to be noticed.
“Do people here always stare,” I muttered, “or am I just interesting?” I rolled my eyes.
Anvi smirked. “Both, bitch!”
Rhea nodded. “Well, no one can keep their eyes off someone hot as hell, can they?”
I chuckled.
“Your locker’s down that way. We’ll be back in ten minutes, we just have some schoolwork to finish,” Anvi said after a beat.
I nodded once. “Try not to miss me.”
“Impossible.” They both replied in unison.
I walked off alone. The hallway stretched ahead —clean, symmetrical and of course luxurious.
Too perfect.
My gaze drifted toward the courtyard, where a crowd of girls had gathered, screaming someone’s name that I couldn’t quite make out from this far away.
Probably swooning over some weird-ass rich chick.
My steps echoed in the hallway as I took a turn. A sharp flicker hit my head. I pressed my fingers lightly to my temple.
A flash–too quick to catch. Gone before I could even hold it.
“Great,” I muttered under my breath. “We’re doing this today.”
“Lost?” a deep voice came from behind me, sending a shiver down my spine. Already a new problem? God.
I turned. And for a second—everything else faded.
He stood there like he owns the space around him.
Tall. Still. Greenish-brown eyes. Defined Jawline, and Arrogant.
His eyes locked on me. The eye contact was so direct that it made me uncomfortable.
For a moment something flickered in his eyes. Recognition. But — it quickly disappeared just the way it appeared.
I tilted my head, clearly unimpressed. “Do you usually stop random girls in the hallway, or am I just special?” I said.
His jaw shifted slightly. Good. If he thinks he owns everything, let me prove him wrong enough to never cross my path again.
He stepped closer. And for a second, something in my chest dipped. As if I’d stepped too close to an edge I hadn't seen.
I shrugged it off.
“What's your name?” He asked. His voice made my knees weak.
I let my gaze drag over him once. Slow. Deliberate.
Then I met his eyes again.
“Earn it.” I crossed my arms.
Silence.
He looked at me like I was joking. Probably too used to girls throwing attention at him without him even asking. Hmm. Interesting.
“Isha,” I finally said.
The moment my name left my lips, his jaw tightened. Like he was trying to process what I had just said. Like he was silently convincing himself I couldn’t possibly be the person he thought I was.
His lips curved — slow, dangerous.
“Nice to meet you, Oberoi. Don’t you remember me?” His voice was laced with something confusing, something dark, something I couldn’t quite name.
I froze the moment he said my surname. How? How was that even possible?
“H-how do you know my surname?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. Fear crept up my chest. Am I hallucinating? No this can't be fucking real.
“Just a guess.” He murmured. “But—don't you recognise me, huh?” He took a step closer, leaving only a slight space between us.
I forced a faint smirk. “Should I?”
He shrugged. “You did.” He leaned closer, his breath fanning over my ear, “but don't worry, I will make sure you remember everything till this year ends.”
He smirked, before stepping back.
I watched him for a second, before scoffing. “Dramatic.”
And, I walked away without waiting for his response. But — I could still feel his eyes on my back.
I reached my locker, my eyes immediately landing on the number written across it. 333.
It felt oddly familiar.
I twisted the handle and it opened instantly, It was already unlocked. I am pretty sure I hadn't opened it before.
Slowly, I pulled it open. The locker let out a sharp screech, making me jolt.
And when I looked inside the locker, it was empty except there was a note. Neat, clean, perfectly placed as if it was kept here deliberately.
I picked it up, unfolding it carefully.
The handwriting was clean. Precise. Dark.
And the words—
“Welcome back, Little Phantom. Took you long enough to find your way back to the devil.” my fingers stilled.
Little Phantom? My throat went dry as the nickname echoed in my head. It felt familiar in the worst possible way. A strange heaviness settled deep in my chest.
Folding the paper, I took a deep breath. This might be a prank, but it doesn't look like one. Am I just overthinking? Maybe or maybe not.
“Devil?” I murmured under my breath. “That's way too dramatic.” but my voice wasn't as steady as I wanted it to be.
“Isha?” A voice came from behind. I turned around, Rhea and Anvi stood there, brows slightly drawn together.
“You look like you just saw something you shouldn't have.” Anvi said, already watching me too closely.
“Close.” I replied, handing them the note. “Read.”
Rhea unfolded it, Anvi leaned in. A frown formed on both of their lips.
“That's actually not normal and is scary.” Anvi said, flatly.
“No shit, Sherlock!” I drawled, rolling my eyes.
Whereas, Rhea was just reading it again and again. Her grip tightened slightly.
Interesting.
“It was in my locker.” I said, dryly. “First time opening it.” I looked around, looking for any signs of someone.
Anvi frowned. “Okay, that's actually creepy and hot at the same damn time.”
Rhea folded the note carefully. Too carefully as if she knew something we both didn't.
“Did you see anyone?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Yeah,”I muttered, the thought of him made me roll my eyes. “Some guy. Tall, lean, and arrogant. Thinks he owns the place, and talks like he's some kind of celebrity.”
Rhea went quiet. Anvi glanced between us.
“Let’s head to class first. We’ll talk about it later in the cafeteria,” Rhea said, slipping the note into her bag.
As the three of us walked toward our class, Anvi leaned closer and whispered, “Looks like you already have a stalker.” She winked with a sheepish grin.
I rolled my eyes. “You can never be serious for once, can you, Anvi?”
───☆
The lecture finally ended, signaling that it was time for lunch. We gathered our books and stood up, Rhea and I stayed busy talking about our plans.
Then, out of nowhere, Anvi appeared beside us.
Anvi glanced at us, a smirk on her face. “Canteen,” she said suddenly, grabbing my wrist. “We’re late.”
“I’m not–”
“Oh yes, you fucking are!” Rhea cuts in.
When we reached the canteen, it was loud but not messy. Tables weren't random, they were claimed.
I could sense a few students' eyes on me as we walked past them.
My steps slowed, just slightly when my gaze landed on him. Of course he was there.
My chest dipped again. What the actual fuck is going on? I don't even know him. He's just a creep, an arrogant rich kid.
I straightened immediately, smoothing in my expression. “Persistent, aren't you?” I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. I took a step forward.
His gaze lifted, locking onto mine instantly. A faint smirk tugged at his lips.
“Took you long enough,” he murmured.
“You wrote that fucking note?” I asked, crossing my arms. If he says yes, I swear I was going to lose my mind.
Silence settled over the table.
He neither denied it nor confirmed it.
Oh, so it indeed was him.
“What do you even think of yourself, huh?” I leaned closer. “If that was your idea of being mysterious.” I added coolly, “It needs some work.”
Something flickered in his eyes. Approval. That irritated me more than anything.
“Isha.” Rhea’s voice came from behind me.
I didn't look at her, still glaring at him. “Yeah?”
“That's my brother.”
Everything paused. My mind went blank—just for a second before it all clicked back.
Of fucking course!
I let out a short laugh.
“Are you kidding me?” I looked at her.
Rhea sighed. “Why would I joke about my family? Ahaan Khurana. My brother.” She pointed at him.
“The one and only.” He smirked, before standing up. “A dramatic way to introduce me, isn't it?” His velvety deep voice did something to my stomach.
I ignored it.
“You’re related to him?” I asked slowly.
“Unfortunately.” She muttered.
I sighed , rubbing my temples. So damn confusing.
“And here I thought you'd remember family connections at least.” The voice came from behind me.
Familiar. Deep.
I turned and froze. “Vihaan?”
Vihaan Parihar. My cousin, the one whom I used to run to as a kid whenever things went wrong.
He grinned. “Missed me?” he asked as if it wasn't damn obvious.
I walked straight to him, pulling him into a quick hug. “Where the hell have you been? You didn't even come to meet me.”
“Busy.” He shrugged.
I pulled back, narrowing my eyes. “You didn't even tell me you were here.”
“Well, I just wanted to surprise you.”
I rolled my eyes. “Congratulations, I'm annoyed.”
He laughed.
We walked towards the table, talking about everything I missed. I took a seat between Rhea and Anvi when a guy — Tall, looked very much problematic, joined our table.
His gaze landed on me. Before he could speak— Rhea cuts in.
“Meet Isha,” she said, gesturing towards me. “And Isha, meet Ayaan.”
I smiled politely, extending my hand toward him. “Nice to meet you,” I said softly.
“Looks like we’ve got another member in our society,” he chuckled, shaking my hand.
From the corner of my eye, I noticed Ahaan’s jaw tighten, his gaze fixed on our joined hands.
He’s an idiot, Isha. Ignore him.
───☆
I made my way out of the classroom as the final lecture ended, signaling it was finally time to go home.
I glanced down at my watch.
4:34.
My eyes wandered around the hallway as I waited for Anvi and Rhea to show up. Those two could never arrive on time.
After waiting more than ten minutes for them, they finally showed up with Ayaan and Vihaan beside them.
No sign of Ahaan.
And honestly, the moment I realized he wasn’t there, I felt strangely relieved.
“Where the fuck were you guys?” I asked, leaning against the wall beside me. “I’ve been waiting here for, like, fifteen freaking minutes.” I sighed dramatically.
Rhea rolled her eyes. “The teacher stopped us. He wanted us to sort out a few assignments.”
I nodded dismissively. “Whatever.”
“Guys, we’re leaving,” Vihaan said, pointing toward Ayaan. “We’ve got some stuff to take care of.”
I raised an eyebrow. “What stuff?”
“Has anyone ever told you how annoying you are?” he asked with a smirk, crossing his arms.
“Never,” I replied smoothly. “Because I’m everything except annoying. Nah.”
Rhea and Anvi agreed with me. A faint smirk tugged at my lips.
“Anyways, see you guys tomorrow.” Vihaan said.
Ayaan just waved at us as they both made their way towards the parking lot.
Anvi and Rhea exchanged a glance before identical smirks spread across their faces.
I looked between the two of them suspiciously.
“What’s going on, huh?” I asked, taking a step closer.
“Okay, so,” Anvi began with a grin, “we’re planning to go to the woods behind the school.”
She paused before pointing a finger at me dramatically.
“But don’t tell anyone about it. Not even Vihaan, got it?”
“For God’s sake, I’m not going with you guys.” I pointed at them accusingly. “You two are definitely going to get me detention.”
“You are coming with us, Isha,” Rhea said with a wink. “And relax, you’re not going to get detention.”
“Anvi will pick you up at six,” she added casually. “Be ready.”
I rolled my eyes dismissively. “Fuck you guys.”
“I mean, I’d love to,” Anvi replied with a smug smirk.
“See?” I pointed at her dramatically before looking at Rhea. “This is exactly why I avoid hanging out with you two. One of you is insane, and the other encourages it.”
Rhea gasped in fake offense. “Excuse me? I’m the responsible one here.”
Anvi snorted. “Responsible? Last week you almost killed a man”
“That was a mistake,” Rhea defended herself immediately.
I stared at both of them for a second before shaking my head. “Yeah, no. I’m definitely not going to the woods with you psychopaths.”
“You say that now,” Anvi said, stepping backward with a grin, “but you’ll still be ready by six.”
“I won’t.”
“You will.”
“I literally won’t.”
Rhea laughed softly before looping an arm around Anvi’s shoulder. “Stop arguing. We already know she’s coming.”
I opened my mouth to protest again, but they were already walking away like the conversation was over.
“Bye, Isha!” Anvi called out dramatically. “Don’t ditch us!”
“You guys are unbelievable,” I muttered under my breath, though a small smile tugged at my lips anyway.
Shifting my bag higher onto my shoulder, I turned around and started making my way toward the main gate, the fading noise of the hallway echoing behind me.
I saw a black Mercedes-Benz already waiting for me near the gate. Oh, so my dad has sent the driver instead to pick me up from the school.
A bitter feeling settled in my chest. He couldn't even show up once to pick me up from school.
But maybe that was better, at least I don't have to see his face, because all I see is a murderer.
A fucking murderer.
The driver quickly stepped out of the car and opened the door for me.
I let out a quiet sigh. “I can do it myself,” I said before adding more softly, “You don’t have to do this for me.”
He nodded as he stepped aside.
I slid into the back seat, shutting the door a little harder than necessary.
The moment the silence surrounded me, I released a slow breath, my fingers instantly pressing against my temples.
───☆
After reaching home, the mansion felt unusually quiet. No sign of my parents. No voices. No footsteps.
Just the staff moving around silently.
I barely spared anyone a glance as I headed straight upstairs to my room.
The moment I stepped inside, I tossed my bag onto the couch before walking toward the bathroom. My mind still felt heavy from everything that had happened today — the note, Ahaan, that stupid nickname.
Little Phantom.
The words wouldn’t leave my head.
I stepped under the warm shower, letting the water run down my skin as I closed my eyes. For a few minutes, I just stood there silently, trying to clear my thoughts.
It didn’t work.
Ahaan’s expression kept flashing in my mind. The way his jaw tightened when I said my name. The way he looked at me like he already knew me.
Like he remembered something I didn’t.
After finishing my shower, I wrapped a towel around myself and walked back into my room, water droplets still sliding down my arms.
My eyes drifted toward the clock.
5:17 PM.
Right. The woods.
I groaned softly before opening my closet. If Anvi and Rhea thought I was dressing up for some creepy trip into the woods, they were insane.
Still, after staring at my clothes for almost five minutes, I ended up pulling out an oversized black hoodie and a pair of dark blue jeans. Comfortable. Simple. Easy to move in.
I quickly changed before drying my hair with a towel, leaving it slightly damp. Then I slipped on my rings, sprayed a little perfume, and grabbed my phone from the bed.
Another glance at the clock.
5:52 PM.
Perfect.
Which probably meant Anvi was already outside, honking like a maniac.
I quickly slipped into my shoes as I headed downstairs. Only for a staff member to call me from behind.
“Where are you going, Isha?” Her voice was laced with confusion and sweetness.
I turned around, smiling politely. “Going out with my friends. I will probably be late. If Mom and Dad arrive early, tell them I will be back till 9.” I said quickly.
She nodded, before softly adding,“Take care .”
I smiled before heading out of the mansion as I made my way towards the main gate.
There she was, leaning against the car door while scrolling aimlessly through her phone. Anvi was dressed in an oversized T-shirt paired with black jeans, looking far too relaxed for someone dragging me into the woods at night.
She looked up the moment she heard the gate open, her gaze drifting over my clothes before settling on my face.
“There you are,” she smirked. “I honestly thought you were going to ditch us.”
I rolled my eyes as I walked toward her. “I wish I could. But clearly, I’m not planning to die yet.”
She chuckled.
I slid into the front seat, adjusting myself comfortably before pulling the seatbelt across my chest.
The inside of the car smelled faintly like vanilla and coffee.
Anvi got in a second later, tossing her phone onto the dashboard before starting the engine. Soft music immediately filled the silence.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
The sky outside had already started turning darker, the orange glow of sunset slowly fading into deep blue.
“This is such a bad idea,” I muttered, resting my head against the window.
Anvi snorted quietly. “That’s exactly what makes it fun.”
I turned to look at her. “You genuinely scare me sometimes.”
“Only sometimes?” she gasped dramatically before pulling the car out onto the road.
I shook my head, fighting back a smile.
The streets were crowded with evening traffic, headlights glowing beneath the dimming sky. Anvi drove with one hand lazily resting on the steering wheel while the other tapped against the music playing in the background.
“So,” she suddenly said, glancing at me for a second, “what’s going on between you and Ahaan?”
I frowned immediately. “Nothing.”
“Mhm.”
“There is literally nothing going on.”
“Sure.”
I groaned. “Anvi.”
She laughed under her breath. “Relax, I’m joking. But he was staring at you like he wanted to either kill someone or marry you.”
“It was my first time meeting him, Anvi. And what the fuck is wrong with you?”
“A lot of things,” she answered casually.
A few minutes later, the car slowed in front of a large house surrounded by tall gates.
“Finally,” Anvi muttered, honking once.
The front door opened after five minutes, and Rhea stepped out.
Rhea walked toward the car with a small smirk on her face. She was wearing loose shorts paired with an oversized T-shirt, looking like she had put zero effort into getting ready.
She opened the back door and slid into the seat before shutting it behind her.
“Took you long enough,” Anvi said immediately, pulling the car back onto the road.
Rhea scoffed from the backseat. “Unlike some people, I actually informed my family before disappearing into the woods at night.”
I twisted slightly in my seat to look at her. “See? Even she knows how suspicious this sounds.”
“Oh my God,” Anvi groaned dramatically. “You both are acting like we’re entering a horror movie.”
“Because we fucking are!” I sighed, rolling my eyes.
Anvi started driving again, casually turning on the radio. Soft music filled the car, blending with the low hum of the engine and the noise of the city outside.
For a while, the three of us sat there quietly as the streetlights blurred past the windows. The closer we got to the woods, the more uneasy I started to feel.
Something just doesn't feel right. I shrugged it off.
I broke the silence first, “This is a terrible idea, what if there's someone? Bunch of maniacs? We are surely going to die today.” I said, dramatically.
“Relax, Sha. Nothing’s gonna happen to us.” Anvi said, her voice steady with a hint of softness.
───☆
“This place looks haunted,” I muttered as we stepped out of the car.
Cold air brushed against my skin immediately.
Tall trees surrounded us from every direction while dry leaves crunched beneath our shoes.
It was already getting dark now. I glanced down at my watch.
6:55.
Yeah, we are seriously going to die.
Anvi switched on her flashlight excitedly.
“You guys are so dramatic.”
“People literally get murdered in places like this,” I replied.
Rhea snorted softly. “You say that like you wouldn’t stab the murderer back.”
Fair point.
We walked deeper into the woods slowly, branches snapping softly beneath our feet while Anvi continued leading us like she had a death wish.
“You do realize,” I said flatly, “if we die tonight, I’m haunting both of you first.”
“You’re so negative.”
“No, I’m intelligent.”
As a child, I had always wanted to explore the woods. Something about them had always fascinated me, igniting a strange curiosity every time we drove past them.
But my grandmother never allowed me anywhere near this place. Honestly, I was barely allowed to leave the mansion without bodyguards trailing behind me, so the woods had remained nothing more than a distant fantasy.
Until now.
The wind rustled through the trees as we made our way deeper into the forest, dry leaves crunching beneath our shoes. The further we walked, the quieter everything became.
Too quiet.
And now we were standing in the middle of the woods with nothing but our phones.
Fuck it.
A sudden sound made me freeze.
Voices.
Somewhere nearby.
“Stop—” I whispered sharply.
Rhea and Anvi immediately halted mid-step.
The voices became clearer now, low and distant, echoing through the woods.
My eyes widened slightly. “Can you hear that?” I asked quietly.
Both of them nodded.
Carefully, we started moving toward the sound, making sure not to step on dry branches or leaves. The deeper we went, the louder the voices became.
A cold shiver crawled down my spine, and I instinctively wrapped my arms around myself.
“Maybe we should leave,” Rhea whispered nervously.
For once, Anvi agreed instantly.
I swallowed hard before stepping forward carefully, pushing aside a few branches blocking my view.
My breathing nearly stopped when I saw the person.
I froze.
Black SUVs were parked nearby, their headlights cutting through the darkness of the woods.
Several men stood around him in complete silence.
And in the middle of them—
It was him.
My blood ran cold instantly. A sharp wave of dread settled deep in my stomach as my eyes locked onto his figure through the darkness.
Write a comment ...