Chapter 8
Location: Isolated house in the jungle
Time: Night – 9:00 PM
A thick darkness blankets the surroundings. The air is heavy with dampness and fear. The walls of the house stand silent, as if hiding an untold secret within them.
Raj has screamed himself hoarse. His breath now comes in broken gasps. His body is restrained. The silence of the house deepens even further.
---
[Inside – Living Room – Night]
Around an old wooden table, Rohan, Rose, and Sonam are seated.
In a corner, Romi mutters to herself, confusion flickering in her eyes.
Romi (softly, to herself):
"Should I ask Joy for help…?
Or should I just let Raj die like this…?"
Her voice sounds fractured, on the verge of breaking.
Beside the table, Rose’s condition is worsening. Red blotches have spread across her arms. She scratches at them in restless discomfort.
Rohan (startled):
"Rose… are you alright? You don’t look good at all."
Rose (weak, trembling voice):
"No… it itches terribly… these marks are spreading."
(Her eyes glisten)
"Maybe… I’m starting to feel the same pain… the same curse Raj is going through."
Her gaze drifts toward Raj, tied and drenched in sweat, barely conscious.
Rose (serious, almost accusing):
"But… that dog bit you too, didn’t it? On your leg.
Why aren’t you itching?"
Rohan (lowering his head, quietly):
"No… just pain. A little blood too. But… no itching."
The unease in the room thickens. Fear coils tighter.
---
Rohan (exhaling, tired):
"And now… hunger too. That old man isn’t bringing food anymore.
Guess we’ll have to starve tonight."
Sonam (restless):
"I’m scared of the police too. If we stay here longer, things could go very wrong.
And Sonal… she still hasn’t come back. God knows what happened to her."
Rohan (with quiet firmness):
"You’re right… but for now, we just have to get through this night.
Tomorrow morning, no matter what, we’ll leave."
Sonam (slowly standing up):
"Alright… I’ll get something to eat."
---
[Table – Moments Later]
Sonam takes out some old sandwiches wrapped in plastic from her bag and places them on the table.
Rose (looking at them with suspicion):
"Wait… aren’t these the same ones Sonal brought yesterday?"
Sonam:
"Yes… but they’re still edible."
Rohan (snatching one quickly):
"Doesn’t matter… when you’re starving, taste doesn’t matter."
He begins eating hastily.
Rohan (mouth half-full):
"Come on… you both should eat too."
Rose (shaking her head):
"No… I’m not hungry."
Rohan (turning to Sonam):
"Then you eat, Sonam."
Sonam (lowering her eyes):
"No… I can’t. I’m only worried about Sonal.
I’m going to find her."
---
Rohan (stopping her):
"Wait… I’ll come with you.
Just give me a moment. I need to wash up first… this dog’s blood has dried sticky all over me.
Then we’ll go together."
Sonam (softly):
"Alright…"
Rose remains silent, her tear-filled eyes lowered, her trembling hands resting on her lap.
The silence of the room grows heavier, deeper.
Darkness engulfed everything outside. The air was damp, carrying with it a heaviness that deepened the sense of dread. The house now seemed cursed, wrapped in an invisible spell. The infection that had begun with Raj was slowly, relentlessly consuming everyone.
---
[Inside – Bathroom – Same Time]
Rohan was bathing, water streaming down his shoulders, dripping onto the floor. Suddenly his hands froze.
Rohan (alarmed, muttering):
"Why… why am I itching…?"
He began to rub his arms furiously, but soon his breath hitched. His eyes widened in terror. Red blotches had appeared on his wet skin, just like the ones spreading across Raj’s body.
Panic erupted inside him. He slammed his palm against the wall. The water from the faucet kept flowing, but within him, fear exploded like a storm.
---
[Inside – Room – Same Time]
Rose sat in front of the bound Raj. The room reeked of sweat and sickness. Darkness pressed heavily on them. Raj’s condition had worsened—he was clawing at his own body with his nails, desperately seeking escape from the torment.
Raj (pleading, broken voice):
"Rose… I can’t take this anymore… please… kill me…"
Tears rolled down Rose’s cheeks. Her own palms were itching uncontrollably.
Rose (sobbing):
"I’m losing myself too… Raj…"
Her voice trembled with the same fear burning in Raj’s eyes—fear of slowly fading into nothingness.
---
[Inside – House – Moments Later]
Silence now pierced the walls. Unease had crept into every corner. Fear spread like a sickness within the house.
---
[Living Room – Some Time Later]
Suddenly, Rohan stormed out of the bathroom, his steps fast, his eyes wild with terror and rage.
Rohan (shouting):
"What the hell is happening to us!?"
Sonam, seated at the table, jumped to her feet.
Sonam (startled):
"Rohan… what happened? Are you alright?"
Romi rushed forward, trying to calm him.
Romi (confused, worried):
"What’s wrong with you all of a sudden?"
Rose too stepped out of the room, her face pale, drenched in sweat.
Rose (trembling voice):
"What… did you find Sonal? Or… what’s going on here?"
Rohan’s breathing grew ragged. He thrust his shaking hands forward.
Rohan (furious, terrified):
"I’m itching! Do you understand? This is all… because of that dog!"
The color drained from Rose’s face.
Rose (shuddering):
"What!? You too…? That means… this disease is really spreading among us."
Rohan snatched a sandwich from the table and shoved it toward Sonam.
Rohan (commanding):
"Here. Eat this."
Sonam recoiled, fear widening her eyes.
Sonam (shaking, whispering):
"No… I can’t eat that."
Rohan (roaring):
"I said EAT IT!"
Romi (intervening, furious):
"Rohan! Are you insane? Why are you forcing her?"
Rohan’s eyes were bloodshot. He screamed—
Rohan:
"Because this is the truth! Raj ate this same sandwich Sonal gave him in the car… and that’s when it all started!"
Rose’s face turned ghostly pale. Her voice shook.
Rose:
"Yes… last night Sonam gave me the same sandwich… and after that, the itching began.
If I’d eaten the one from the car, I’d have gone mad like Raj by now."
The atmosphere turned suffocating.
Romi (angry, stunned):
"Why did you do this, Sonam?"
Tears spilled down Sonam’s face.
Sonam (pleading):
"No… I didn’t do anything… I swear I didn’t…"
But Rohan howled—
Rohan:
"Lies! This is all you and Sonal’s plan. You want us dead… so you can escape!"
Sonam stumbled back, terrified.
Sonam:
"No! I don’t even know where Sonal is… I swear on my life!"
Rose lunged forward, gripping Sonam’s arm in fury.
Rose (growling):
"I’ve known you since college… you’re lying! You don’t have any allergy!"
Sonam screamed, struggling to break free.
Rohan tried to shove the sandwich into her mouth by force.
Sonam (screaming):
"No! Don’t! Let me go!!"
Her cries ripped through the night, echoing against the jungle walls, shaking the house with their terror.
---
[Outside – Joy’s House – Night]
Moments later, Romi and Mohan staggered to Joy’s shack. A broken bell dangled at the door.
Romi pressed it, but no sound came. Mohan banged hard on the wooden door.
It creaked open. Joy stood there—eyes half-asleep, a bandage wrapped around his arm.
Joy (irritated):
"What now!?"
Romi fell to her knees, pleading.
Romi:
"Raj is dying… please, Joy… help us…"
Joy exhaled coldly.
Joy:
"I told you before… he’s facing his fate."
Rohan stepped forward, his voice trembling.
Rohan:
"No, Joy… he’s beyond control now. We need a doctor… we don’t even have a phone. You’re the only one who can help."
Joy hesitated, then went inside, returning with an old rotary phone. He shoved it into Mohan’s hands.
Mohan quickly dialed the driver.
Driver (voice trembling over the phone):
"Don’t leave the house! The police have your photos now. Your identities are being broadcast on TV."
Rohan’s hands shook.
Rohan:
"We don’t care! Raj is infected… and it’s spreading. Rose… and maybe even I’m falling into it. We need a real doctor… now!"
A pause. Silence. Then the driver’s hushed reply—
Driver:
"Alright… I’ll see what I can do."
The line went dead. Fear etched deeper into Mohan’s face.
---
[Outside – Jungle Path – Moments Later]
Joy and Romi set out toward the nearby tribal village. Their only guide was a small flashlight. Darkness pressed heavily, trees whispering ominously as the wind moved through them.
---
[Jungle’s Edge – Later]
Romi suddenly froze.
Romi (softly):
"Joy… is that… is that your uncle? What is he doing here at this hour?"
Joy squinted, his brow furrowed.
Joy (confused):
"Maybe… he came to see the dog’s grave. He’s been restless ever since."
Romi:
"Let’s talk to him."
They chased after the old man, but Joy’s uncle disappeared into the thick darkness of the woods.
---
[Inside the Jungle – Night]
The flashlight suddenly caught something on the ground.
Joy (whispering):
"Wait… what’s that?"
Romi’s hands shook as she angled the beam. Blood smeared the soil. Human footprints—drenched in crimson—vanished deeper into the forest.
Romi (voice trembling):
"Joy… whose blood is this?"
Joy stood frozen, breath heavy.
Suddenly, from deep within the forest, an animal’s scream ripped through the silence—agonized, haunting.
The torch trembled in Romi’s hands.
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To Be Continued…
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by pooja kumari
