TALES

OF
NINE
COMPILATION OF STORIES
WRITTEN BY STUDENTS OF
NINE EDUCATION

PRESENTED BY THE LITERATURE CLUB OF NINE EDUCATION KTP

 Tales Of Nine
Dear Reader,

As we draw the curtains on the pages of "Tales of Nine",

you will experience the hearts of youth as the symphony
of genre unfolds, where horror's chilling whispers meet
romance's warmth, thrillers dance with science, and
fiction tales are told, and just like that in the minds of the
young, creativity takes its course.

Embark on an extraordinary adventure through the magic

of storytelling. Join us as we celebrate imagination and
explore realms crafted from dreams. Let these tales ignite
your imagination and accompany you on a wondrous
journey.

Enjoy the ride!

Warmly,

The Students of Nine Education

 Contents
1. A Hero’s Legacy 1

2. In the Dark 5

3. Kailash - The Mythological Adventure 8

4. Marble Love Beyond Borders 11

5. Someone in Her 16

6. The Abandoned House 21

7. The Chase 24

8. The Day Light of Shadow 27

9. The Elite 34

10. Rebirth: The Story of a Warrior 37

11. The Phone Call 40

12. Thea 44

13. 1962 52

14. Fool Story 58

15. Last Hope 63

16. The Witch in the Winter - 1 & 2 74

 Tale-1
A HERO’S LEGACY

It was a typical day in the bustling fruit market. Shoppers were busy
picking out fresh fruits and vegetables, and the atmosphere was
filled with the usual sounds of chatter and activity.

Among the crowd were some newly married couples, a father and
his young son who was around 10 to 12 years old. The boy was
excitedly pointing at various fruits, asking his father, "Dad, please
buy me that.

Please buy me this." Everything seemed normal and polite until

suddenly, without warning, a deafening explosion rocked the market
with a thunderous "BOOOOOM." The blast engulfed the area in
darkness.

The bomb had been planted in such a way that it caused devastating
destruction, injuring people within a 200-meter radius. Tragically,
the newlywed couples lost their lives, and in the chaos, the father
was gravely injured, losing his right leg, while the young boy lost his
life. This horrifying event unfolded in the year 2020.

Now, let's step back in time

to the year 2000. Meet Rohit
Kushub, who was just
around 13 years old at the
time. Rohit had a burning
passion to join the NDA
and become a soldier.

1
 A Hero’s Legacy

However, his life took a tragic turn when his parents passed away in a
car accident. From that moment, he found shelter under his aunt's care.
But he wasn't alone. Rohit had a younger sister named Alia, and his best
friend, Shyam, meant the world to him.

For Rohit, the bond he shared with Alia and Shyam was a lifeline. As
they grew up, Rohit and Shyam both pursued their dream of joining the
NDA to serve their nation. Over time, their dedication paid off, and they
were both accepted into the prestigious NDA. Life was looking up for
them.

During this period, a heartwarming twist occurred as Shyam and Alia fell
in love with each other. They decided to get married, and Rohit couldn't
have been happier for them. Their lives seemed to be on the perfect
path, and three years flew by.

Now, fast forward to the year 2022. Rohit and Shyam both excelled in
the Indian Army, serving their nation with pride. But here's where the
story takes a dark turn.

The blast in 2020 had been orchestrated by terrorists from Pakistan.

Their motive was vengeance. A year before the blast, Indian soldiers had
ventured into Pakistan on a mission to capture the leader of the same
terrorist group responsible for the attack. This leader had committed
numerous crimes against India, making him a top target. Unfortunately,
during this mission, a soldier named Major Kranthi had to make a split-
second decision to protect his life, resulting in the death of the terrorist
leader. This action fueled the terrorists' thirst for revenge.

2
 A Hero’s Legacy
They first targeted the fruit market, causing a tragic blast that
claimed innocent lives. Unsatisfied with the devastation caused, the
terrorists hatched another sinister plan – to hijack the Akshardham
Temple. The Indian Army did not know this plan, but somehow
they got wind of an impending terrorist attack.

Three days later, the terrorists stormed the temple, taking more than
150 hostages. The situation inside was dire, with over 20 hostages
losing their lives to the ruthless terrorists. The Indian Army swiftly
responded, sending Force One and the NSG (National Security
Guard) to the scene. Among the brave soldiers were Rohit and
Shyam, who were part of the NSG.

While Force One's mission was to protect the city from any
potential threats and gather intelligence on terrorist activities, the
NSG's objective was to enter the temple, rescue the hostages, and
eliminate the terrorists. Rohit, leading his team, entered the temple,
aware of the perilous task ahead. They analyzed the situation
carefully, discovering that all the hostages were held together in a
single room, guarded by five heavily armed terrorists.

The team's coordination and unity were their strengths, but the
battle was fierce. Four soldiers lost their lives, yet they uttered their
last words with pride, proclaiming "Jai Hind."

As the mission unfolded, Shyam and another soldier entered a

room, only to be met by a terrorist who held a fellow soldier at
gunpoint. Shyam, in a heart-pounding moment, pretended to
comply with the terrorist's demands.

3
 A Hero’s Legacy
Suddenly, he seized the opportunity and managed to disarm and
neutralize the terrorists. However, another terrorist appeared and
tragically gunned down Shyam and the other soldier. Shyam
succumbed to his injuries at the hands of the terrorists. The news of
Shyam's fate reached Rohit, who rushed to the scene. He saw
Shyam, tense and unsure of how to break the news to Alia. The loss
was unbearable, but Rohit hid his grief, his heart heavy with sorrow.
He knew he had to carry on with the mission.

With unwavering determination, Rohit and his team rescued the

hostages and neutralized the remaining terrorists, completing their
mission. The hostages were safe, but the weight of losing Shyam
was a burden that Rohit and Alia would carry with them forever.

As they emerged from the temple, their faces etched with grief and
determination, the nation mourned its fallen heroes. The Indian flag
flew high over the Akshardham Temple, symbolizing both victory
and sacrifice. The memory of Shyam and the brave soldiers who
gave their lives would forever inspire generations to serve their
country with honour and bravery, as the story of Rohit, Shyam, and
Alia echoed through time.

4
 Tale-2
IN THE DARK

Amaya whispered a voice beside me startling me back to reality.

Looking up from my screen, I saw the librarian, hinting that it was
time to close the library. I was surprised to see that it was already
10:30 at night. A sigh of regret left my lips as I thanked Ms.Hugo
for allowing me to stay to work on my book after library hours.

She smiled and patted my back as I saved the document and packed
my things to leave the library. After I helped her in closing the
library, we said our goodnights and parted our ways.

As I started walking towards my home which was two blocks away

from the library, my phone tinged with a text from my roommate
saying that she would not be home tonight as she had to work
overtime again. I sighed and texted her back reminding her not to
forget having dinner. “Guess I am having dinner alone again
tonight,” I mumbled to myself as I resumed walking.

A sound from the adjacent alley caused me to freeze. I turned

towards the alley and watched closely as a cat emerged from behind
a box and relief washed over me.

Unable to stop my love for cats, I moved

towards it and squatted down to pet it.
Behind the cat, I caught sight of
something shimmering, and upon closer
inspection, I saw that it was a knife– its
blade covered in blood. When I saw the
knife, I stumbled back startled.
5
 In the Dark
I felt an unsettling gaze on me, but when I turned around, there was
nothing but stillness. Still feeling uneasy, I got back up and started
walking back towards my home. I sensed a presence following me
as I kept walking, so I turned around to find a tall, lean figure in a
hoodie.

I couldn’t see the person’s face clearly because they were wearing a
mask. ”Do you want something from me?” I inquired, cursing in
my head as my voice was unsteady. The dark, hooded eyes
continued to stare at me. A chill ran down my spine as the person
remained standing there before walking away without saying a word.
The eerie feeling in my gut broke my stance and I began to hastily
walk towards my house, which was now only a block away.

As I approached my house I noticed the same person I had seen

before standing across from a house— MY house. I felt blood drain
from my face and my breaths getting shallow as I froze in the same
spot. The person didn’t notice me. At Least that’s what I thought
until the figure started moving towards me.

As my flight mode kicked in, I dashed towards my door and started

to ring the doorbell. “No one’s going to get that for you,” I heard a
cold, toneless voice speak behind me. The realisation that my
roommate wasn’t homemade made my blood run cold. This
person– this man has been following apparently. He knew I was
alone. I felt myself hyperventilating. As I turned around, I made an
effort to remain composed but he was now standing only a few feet
away from me, making me shudder in panic.

6
 In the Dark
“What do you want from me?” I asked with a quaver in my voice
and panic written all over my face. “You’ve seen something that
nobody should have seen,” he said in the same emotionless tone as
previously, before a spooky grin spread across his face. That was the
last thing I heard before everything went dark.

7
 Tale-3
KAILASH-THE MYTHOLOGICAL ADVENTURE

Once upon a time, in a house in Hyderabad, lived three people:

Virat, the father, Kaira, the mother, and Skanda, their young son.
One stormy night, heavy rain and thunderstorms rattled the area.
Skanda, frightened by the thunder, rushed to his parents' room and
knocked on the door. Virat opened the door and comforted him,
asking why he was so scared. Skanda replied that he couldn't sleep
because of the thunder. Virat reassured him and decided to share a
captivating story of his adventures and how he met Kaira.

As Skanda sat on his father's lap, Kaira joined them, and Virat
began his tale. He described his deep love for adventure, starting
with a journey to Mansarovar and Mount Kailash at the age of 25.
There, he experienced a unique and mystical atmosphere that
inspired him to continue his travels to Somnath Temple in Gujarat.
Along the way, he visited Varanasi, a holy place with distinct
practices, where he received a blessing from Agora Baba that
strengthened his resolve to explore the unknown. Two days later,
Virat reached Somnath Temple, where a mesmerizing dance
performance was taking place. He was captivated by a girl in a
beautiful red traditional dress, adorned with a sparkling bindi,
golden jhumkas, and a radiant smile.

That girl turned out to be Kaira,

Skanda's future mother. Virat
struck up a conversation with her
near a pillar that marked the
southernmost point of the Earth.
However, his exhaustion led him to
seek solace by the sea.
8
 Kailash the Mythological Adventure
As he relaxed, the clear night suddenly turned stormy, forcing him
to return to the temple. During his hasty return, he stumbled upon
an ancient book named "Sarva Raksha Samhitha" that had washed
ashore. A girl was running away from the approaching storm, and
Virat didn't pay much attention then.

The following day, driven by curiosity, Virat revisited the temple

and met the girl who had lost the book in the rain. He assured her
that he had kept it safe and, after examining it throughout the night,
discovered that it dated back to the 9th century. They called Neel,
the temple priest, and Rishi, a nearby doctor with a keen interest in
mythological history.

Together, they formed a team and decided to embark on a treasure

hunt detailed in the ancient book, promising riches beyond
imagination and purity beyond contemporary gold.

The book pointed to a location at 66 1/2 degrees latitude in the

South Pole, which intrigued Virat. It also revealed the existence of a
sacred idol of Lord Shiva The Kailash, established by Sugriva during
the Treta Yuga, capable of curing incurable diseases, including
cancer and dementia, with its holy water.

With their resolve solidified, the team set sail on a ship named
"Shambhala." Virat confessed his love to Kaira and proposed
marriage before they began their journey. After 11 days at sea, a
violent storm and cyclone threatened their lives. Miraculously, the
priest's skillful navigation led them to Antarctica, a breathtaking
continent covered in ice with dangerously low oxygen levels.

9
 Kailash the Mythological Adventure

As Virat fainted due to the extreme conditions, Rishi lost his first
aid kit, and Neel discovered a mysterious locket buried in the snow.
When Neel opened it, they all collapsed, struggling to breathe. Virat,
placing his faith in Lord Shiva, left his companions behind.
However, a divine intervention saved him. He heard voices urging
him to wake up, and he attributed it to the blessings of Agoras in
Varanasi.

Virat, now filled with unknown energy, followed the voices and
found the locket back in his hands. It guided him to a hidden door
covered in snow, which slowly opened, revealing a cave. Holy water
fell on the idol of Shiva, and a cow named "Nandi" sat beside it. A
bright light enveloped Virat, and the holy water infused him with
incredible powers.

When he regained consciousness, his companions were awake,

except for Neel, the priest. They sought the blessings of Lord Shiva,
completed their adventure, and while coming back, Neel woke up
and prepared to sail back home with his crew members. During the
return journey, Virat stumbled upon a map in the book that hadn't
been there before. It revealed the location of Nalanda University in
Bihar.

Their eyes were fixed on the university, and another book with the
same map caught their attention the University saying WAY TO
KAILASH. It hinted at a unique vehicle in a 3 km radius that could
take them on an extraordinary journey. They think they have found
Kailash, and the actual story starts now!! Their destiny is far beyond
their thinking.
10
 Tale-4
MARBLE LOVE BEYOND BORDERS
In the bustling heart of Delhi, where ancient history meets modern
chaos, a charming tale of love, laughter, and unexpected
connections was about to unfold.

Eesha, a vivacious NRI girl from Australia, found herself amidst the
vibrant streets of India's capital city. Her university project on the
majestic Taj Mahal had led her across oceans to a land where
colours, scents, and sounds collided in a sensory symphony. With
her notebooks and camera in hand, she embarked on a journey to
capture the essence of the iconic monument.

Meanwhile, in the bustling midst of Delhi, Kabir, an enterprising

young man with an infectious enthusiasm for life, was on a quest of
his own. Despite being born into wealth, he had chosen to step
away from his family's business empire to chase his dream of
starting a tourist group. He wanted to provide travellers with an
authentic, personalized experience of India, beyond the typical
tourist traps. Aarav, Kabir's close friend and a fellow adventurer,
was his partner in this endeavour. Aarav's warm smile and easygoing
nature made him a favourite among the tourists who joined their
excursions. Little did Eesha know that her path was about to cross
with these two dynamic individuals in a series of serendipitous
events.

On the day of her arrival,

Eesha found herself standing
in front of a quaint hotel in
the heart of the city.

11
 Marble Love Beyond Borders
As the sun set, casting a warm golden glow over the bustling streets,
Eesha checked into room 1203. She was tired but excited, eager to
embark on her project in this enchanting land.

Meanwhile, Aarav had just finished discussing plans with Kabir in

room 1303. They were engrossed in brainstorming ways to make
their tours even more memorable when he heard the door clack.
Not expecting anyone, Aarav confused, opened the door to find a
baffled Eesha standing there.

"Uh, hi?" Eesha stammered, realizing her mistake as soon as the

door opened. "I think I got the wrong room. Sorry about that."

Aarav chuckled, his warm eyes crinkling at the corners. "No

worries. Happens all the time. Just be glad you didn't catch me in
the middle of a Bollywood dance rehearsal."

Despite her embarrassment, Eesha couldn't help but smile. "Well,

that would've been quite the introduction."

As the days passed, Eesha's project progressed smoothly. She

visited the Taj Mahal, capturing its beauty from every angle, and
absorbed the rich history of the place. Aarav's and Kabir's paths
continued to cross hers during her excursions, and conversations
flowed as effortlessly as the river of stories that had shaped this
land.

One evening, under the starlit Delhi sky, Aarav invited Eesha to
join one of their tours. As they strolled through the bustling
markets of Chandni Chowk, laughter and banter flowed freely.
12
 Marble Love Beyond Borders

The synergy between them was undeniable, their shared interests

creating a bridge between their two worlds.

However, love, as it often does, introduces a twist to the tale. Kabir,

who had been silently observing the unfolding connection, realized
his own feelings for Eesha. As much as he valued their friendship,
he couldn't deny the ache in his heart as he saw her and Aarav
together.

A moment of truth came during a moonlit visit to a hidden

courtyard, where the group watched a traditional dance
performance. Amidst the rhythmic beats and graceful movements,
Kabir found the courage to share his feelings with Eesha, his voice
carrying a mix of vulnerability and hope.

Eesha was taken aback, torn between the two remarkable men who
had entered her life. Her heart was entwined with the experiences
and moments she had shared with both Aarav and Kabir.

In the end, it was a moment of honesty that untangled the

complexities. Eesha sat by the window of her hotel room,
overlooking the city that had become a backdrop to her journey of
self-discovery. Aarav knocked softly on the door, and as she let him
in, they shared their thoughts and emotions openly.

"I've come to realize that love isn't always about choosing one
person over the other," Eesha said softly. "It's about understanding
ourselves, our desires, and what truly makes us happy."

13
 Marble Love Beyond Borders
Aarav nodded; his eyes gentle. "I couldn't agree more. And
whatever your heart tells you, I'll respect and support your
decision."

The story that began as a quirky rom-com had transformed into a

poignant drama of self-discovery and heartfelt connections. As
Eesha's journey in India came to an end, her heart was full of
memories, friendships, and a deeper understanding of love.

As she boarded the plane back to Australia, Eesha carried with her
not only the photographs of the Taj Mahal but also the imprints of
Delhi's streets and the echoes of laughter shared under starlit skies.
Life had taught her that sometimes, the most unexpected journeys
led to the most cherished destinations of the heart.

Weeks turned into months, and Eesha settled back into her life in
Australia. Her memories of Delhi and the moments she shared with
Aarav and Kabir remained etched in her heart. She
continued to work on her project, weaving her experiences and
newfound perspectives into her studies.

In Delhi, Kabir's tourist group thrived, offering travellers unique

glimpses into the city's rich history and vibrant culture. Aarav
remained his loyal partner, and together, they created memories that
would last a lifetime. And in the midst of it all, they both continued
to remember the spirited Australian girl who had brought a
whirlwind of change to their lives.

As fate would have it, a year later, Eesha found herself back in
Delhi.

14
 Marble Love Beyond Borders

This time, it was not for a university project, but rather to reconnect
with the friends she had made and the memories that had left an
indelible mark. She reached out to Aarav and Kabir, and they
welcomed her with open arms as if no time had passed at all.

The reunion was filled with laughter, stories, and shared moments
of nostalgia. They revisited the places they had explored together,
each step rekindling the emotions they had once felt. As Eesha
walked through the vibrant streets of Delhi once again, she realized
that the bonds formed during her previous visit had only deepened
with time.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of the city, in the shadow of the
magnificent Taj Mahal, Eesha, Aarav, and Kabir found themselves
in a moment of quiet reflection. The monument stood as a
testament to the enduring power of love, and it reminded them that
love was not confined to romantic relationships alone—it
encompassed the love between friends, the love for new
experiences, and the love for life itself.

As the sun set over the horizon, casting a warm glow over the city,
Eesha felt a profound sense of gratitude. Gratitude for the journey
that had brought her to Delhi, for the connections she had forged,
and for the lessons she had learned along the way. As she stood
there, surrounded by the beauty and chaos of India, she knew that
her heart had found its most cherished destination—a place where
love and friendship intertwined in a story that was uniquely hers.

15
 Tale-5
SOMEONE IN HER

It was late in the morning. The alarm had been ringing for maybe an
hour, but Laura wasn't up. She was solely lying on the couch and
was in a state of trance. Her room was in a bizarre condition. It felt
as if a strong wind blew up that place just a while ago.

All that could be spotted in the room were - a couple of drinks,

leftover food, clothes all over the place, and a television that had
been running all night. It was hellish to see her in such a condition.
Because this wasn't the case when she was young. All one could say
about her back then was that - she was the sweetest, most
confident, bold and loving kid who could effortlessly steal the show.
But everything flipped upside down once after she entered college.

She was stupidly amazing at everything she did. But sadly, she had
not realised that- she was hated for being perfect. All that could be
spotted around her was tons of jealousy.

The worst part was that Laura was now the victim of jealousy. She
was bullied, she got pranked, and she was embarrassed about
everything that had been happening to her. Each time she was
pushed back, she stood up fiercely. But at last, everyone's taunts and
zero support made her give up on herself. She even forgot who she
was back in time.

16
 Someone in Her
Since then, All she had been doing was to convince herself that she
was good for nothing. And now, here she is all convinced. She
reached her office late as usual. And gets her extra workload for the
delay because that's what happens to a call centre worker.

Swoosh! The day goes like eating, working, sleeping, overthinking

while asleep and repeating.

Being just 25 and having this level of dissatisfaction wasn't easy.

The day was done, and she was off to bed again as usual. But that
night completely changed her life. Something unexpected was
gonna happen. It all started with that doorbell.

As a girl in her 20s, she began internet surfing until she felt sleepy.
All of a sudden, the doorbell started ringing. She felt anxious
because the bell ringing that late was quite odd. She went
downstairs and
peeped into the peephole. It was the FedEx guy leaving the package
on the doorstep. It was untypical to get a package delivered at 11
pm.

Yet Laura opened her door and picked up the package. Surprisingly
it got no tracking ID but a small yellow note that said,

"With a love for Laura"

Laura curiously went to cut open the box and found a feathery
dream catcher in it alongside an old-looking paper. Not what she
expected.

17
 Someone in Her

That letter went as - DEAR ELDER LAURA,

I know you will be upset because Momma is not here. So I'm

writing this letter to make you feel happy. Pappa said, "Momma got
some work far away in the stars, so she had to leave immediately
sweety".

I was pretty angry and even cried a lot which made Pappa sad. I
couldn't see Pappa sad so I promised him that I would stay with
him forever and wouldn't go with the stars as Momma did.

Please do not cry or be sad.

Pinkie promise?

Laura burst into tears and was bewildered. The intensity of her
feelings had no words to describe. She became a stone long ago, but
now it felt that some part of her heart grew green. Long-lost
memories returned and the hope of a new beginning became
stronger.

With this nostalgia, questions in her mind became unstoppable. She

finally fell asleep with a simple smile.

18
 Someone in Her
As they said, 'Let the magic begin'- Then started the magic of the
dream catcher. Oh god, it was the most heavenly thing ever! It
started creating a golden-purple swirl inside the room and spread
across the room. Nothing was visible for a while. And boom!

Right after that, the best memories of Laura began playing around
the room in a loop. That naivety was so simple and was hitting hard.
Isn't life a page where everything goes on and you feel happy about
it as, at the end of the day, learning is what happens?

After going through all the memories, then came the day when she
wrote that letter. It was hard to see her younger self in such pain.
That innocent face with massive pain inside was the worst combo
one could ever look at. But that little girl stood up for herself and
her future out there!

Then Laura realised that she wasn't just sabotaging herself but also
the hope of a little kid, who was dreaming big. She woke up the
next morning with excitement like never before. Surprisingly there
was no box in her whole house. She went on with life struggling yet
happy and with peace.

The next morning, the morning after that, and even the other
mornings' were tough for her because change takes time. And the
time spent never goes in vain. Just a reminder ever had a question
Who is narrating this story to you?

Never mind I'm someone who is always in your "HOPE". Well

then, awake the hope in yourself. The next story is yours!

19
 Someone in Her
She woke up the next morning with excitement like never before.
Surprisingly there was no box in her whole house. She went on with
life struggling yet happy and with peace.

The next morning, the morning after that, and even the other
mornings' were tough for her because change takes time. And the
time spent never goes in vain. Just a reminder ever had a question
Who is narrating this story to you?

Never mind I'm someone who is always in your "HOPE". Well

then, awake the hope in yourself. The next story is yours!

20
 Tale-6
THE ABANDONED HOUSE
When I was about 16, I lived in a small town. We had an abandoned
house in my neighbourhood. It was huge, almost big enough to call
it a mansion, but it had been empty for a while. One day, on the
first day of summer vacation, I suggested investigating the inside of
that house.

All of my friends agreed. A few days later, around 7:30 PM, we

sneaked into the house. The house had been badly burnt inside,
which we thought was the reason why it was abandoned.

Everything was kind of cool but old and rustic. We started to check
both the upstairs and downstairs of the house, including the
basement. Just at that moment, I saw something darting across the
room. I started getting nervous, but then I thought to myself it
might be a squirrel or a raccoon and brushed away my doubts.

Then I went to the second floor, and my friends followed me. I

opened the door, and there was a... human-sized teddy bear sitting
in the desk chair, facing us. We were spooked for a moment, but it
didn't stop us from exploring further.

21
 The Abandoned House
We went to the third floor, and while we were searching around and
taking some stuff, someone told us to look up. When we looked
toward the wall, we could see the writing that said, "GET OUT."
However, we all laughed, talked about how brave we were, and then
turned around to head back downstairs.

All of a sudden, one of my friends, Jay, whispered that he saw

something moving behind me. I turned around with my flashlight,
but nothing was there. Feeling weird, we went down to the second
floor again. When we looked into the second-floor room, I swear to
God, the teddy bear was gone. Everybody in the house said nothing
at all. We all agreed that we should leave the house as soon as
possible.

There was a door connected to the kitchen, so we approached the

kitchen. But just at that moment, one of my friends gasped.
Everybody slowly turned around, and the teddy bear was there. It
was sitting at the dinner table, looking towards us. When we raised
our heads upwards, we could see the writing on the walls, "Get
out." Getting caught or not, I wanted to leave. I wanted to be out of
there.

I ran out of the kitchen, but I couldn't take one step further. There
was a man who was standing there. He was blocking our way
through the door, holding a knife. He seemed like he was almost in
his mid-40s. We just stood there, staring at him.

Without saying anything or screaming, the man was blocking our

way and took a step forward, staring at us with a big, wide smile.

22
 The Abandoned House
Then, one of my fearless friends found an old hockey stick from
one of the rooms and stepped in front of me. He shouted at him
not to come any closer. The man didn't say anything. He took a
couple of steps back and slowly crawled into a big hole behind a
seatchair in the corner of the room.

We couldn't believe what we had just seen. Without any hesitation,

we ran for our lives after he disappeared. As soon as we managed to
get out, everyone started to run away in a hurry. As I was following
them, I turned around and saw it:

The man stood in the window and waved to us, smiling peacefully,
like nothing had ever happened. When we finally reached a safe
place far away from that house, we all just stood there, thinking that
it was the most horrible nightmare we had ever experienced. After
that night, I never snuck into houses, especially any abandoned
houses.

23
 Tale-7
THE CHASE
It's the early 1920s. Jennifer chased a smart girl with brown eyes and
dark hair who always wanted to become a lawyer. Jennifer Chase
returned to her family estate in India from London after completing
her studies as a barrister. She was greeted by her anxious mother
and her elder brother, James Chase. As her father had been missing
for several days, Jennifer was determined and concerned to
investigate the circumstances of his disappearance. She began
questioning family, friends, and acquaintances, but after three
days, there were no clues or whereabouts of her father.

Jennifer began searching for any clues in her father's bedroom and
study room but found nothing. Later that evening, while looking for
some registers and files in the home library, she noticed a shelf that
moved. She opened it to reveal a hidden room with shelves and a
locker in the corner. Among the documents on the shelves were
records of properties, purchases, and the family factory. What
caught her eye was a suspicious corner of the locker.

Unable to find the keys, she informed her mother and asked them
to search for them. After searching the entire house, Jennifer
suspected the keys might be in her father's office. She took the
driver and rushed towards her father's office.

On her way, she encountered a crowd blocking the path. She saw a
young lady being forced to move forward and inquired about the
situation. The driver explained that the lady was being taken to
perform Sati.

24
 The Chase
Jennifer intervened, arguing that they couldn't take someone's
life in the name of religious customs. She spoke to the women
present, convincing them not to support this practice. However, the
lady's father-in-law refused to accept her, so Jennifer decided to take
the widow, Kamala, and her daughter home.

After a dark day, Jennifer decided to return home with Kamala and
her child. That evening, Jennifer went through the files in the secret
room. Many files contained information about factory purchases,
lands, properties, and worker details. Two files, in particular, caught
her attention. They listed the names of around 30 to 35 resigned
workers without reason. Jennifer asked her brother about their
resignation, but he claimed ignorance as he had been in Chennai.

The next morning, while on her way to the office, Jennifer

questioned the driver about her father and the resigned workers.
The driver seemed anxious and uninformed. Jennifer's mother
asked Kamala to buy groceries from the market in town. On her
way, Kamala noticed men following her. She tried to escape, but
they caught her, and she fell unconscious.

Jennifer returned home after a shower and noticed that Kamala

hadn't returned. Worried, she asked about Kamala's whereabouts
but received no answer. She decided to go to the police station to
file a missing person report. There, she noticed other missing
persons' files and saw a common pattern among them. Jennifer left
the station and found a key hidden in her cupboard. She used it to
unlock the locker in the secret room, discovering more files related
to resigned workers.

25
 The Chase
The files contained flight tickets, foreign currency, and an address.
Jennifer decided to investigate further.

While following her brother, she overheard a conversation about a

man's escape and realized it might involve her father. Her brother
ordered men to find and kill the man. Jennifer decided to leave
discreetly but was chased by someone. She managed to escape and
offered help to a bruised man who revealed her brother's
involvement in human trafficking.

She rushed to the police station, where her brother and the men
were arrested. Her brother, unable to face the humiliation,
committed suicide. Jennifer took on the responsibility of her
family and the factory. She worked with the police to track down
the missing workers and decided to support their families.

A week later, Jennifer received news that Kamala's body had been
found near the lake, stabbed by unknown assailants. Jennifer was
heartbroken. As she returned home, exhausted, the phone rang. A
voice on the other end whispered urgently, "Help, please save me,
Jennie!"

26
 Tale-8
THE DAYLIGHT OF SHADOW
The rain was pouring down, making the gloomy night even darker.
There was darkness everywhere in the whole city. The only light one
could see was sparks of lightning. The rumbling of thunder and the
inclement weather had left the roads empty.

Suddenly, a beam of light was travelling from a long distance and

was becoming brighter and brighter as it came closer. It stopped on
an overbridge, underneath which the rain-fed the stream was
gushing out. In the flash of lightning, one could see a man in a
white coat getting out of the bright light. The light focused on an
uprooted tree blocking the whole road.

The white-coated man, with all his might, tried to clear the tree
from the road. Amidst the roaring thunder, there was a sudden thud
heard by the white-coated man. He looked hither and thither but
could find nothing. His aching arms and the turbulent weather
conditions made him make a quick move from the place without
any second thought.

The next morning, the phone was ringing continuously from

Inspector Sriram but was not picked up. So Inspector Sriram
reached his friend’s house to see the door open and the man
having a sound sleep on the couch lying in the hall with the white
coat on.

27
 The Day light of Shadow
Inspector Sriram woke up scientist Arnav saying, "Do you know
what commotion is happening in your research centre? Get up...we
need to go to the office immediately."

In a short while, the duo reached the research centre. The chief of
the centre, Dr Rajesh, asked what kept you so long to reach the
office, followed by another voice asking where you were last night.
This voice was of the State chief police Mr. Narayan. Scientist
Arnav didn’t utter a word as he was bewildered. He didn’t know
what was happening until his co-employee scientist Surya’s entry.

Scientist Surya always envies the work of scientist Arnav. There was
antagonism between them. Surya said he was the one to leave the
office last, so the only possibility is that he must have broken the
lab. Is there any proof for it? asked Arnav. Surya said the body
which he had been researching for a long time is also missing. On
hearing this, Arnav became silent.

By then, a security guard appeared and told that Arnav Sir had left
the office before the vandalism. After hearing this, the police left
the office saying they would investigate the matter. Scientist Arnav
rushed to his car to find out whether the body was there in his car.
Seeing worried Arnav, Inspector Sriram also ran behind him to
comfort Arnav.

Inspector Sriram took him to the canteen. Sriram consoled Arnav

asking why he was taking it seriously. It happens every time with
you and Surya. He doesn’t allow you to do any work peacefully. He
is always jealous of you.

28
 The Day light of Shadow
Arnav immediately said that’s not the matter at all. These petty
issues created by Surya and his friend Mr. Narayan are not my
consideration at all.

They create such problems to divert me from my work. I don’t

bother whatever they are up to. Then what’s making you worried
asked Sriram. Yesterday I felt warmth in the body I was testing for
so long. You know very well that I promised my mother to bring
back my twin brother alive.

Day and night I have been working on his body and finally, I could
find some changes in the body last week. I knew Mr. Surya would
create some problems and would not allow me to complete my
target so I planned to shift the body from the lab to my house.

Yesterday I had to stop at the bridge while returning home where I

heard a strong thud. I was damn tired that I fell asleep after
reaching home. So what are you coming to say he came alive and
jumped from the bridge, asked Sriram. Or someone must have
shifted him from my car which could also be a possibility. I cannot
come to any conclusion, said Arnav. He then asked Sriram to help
him to find the body to which Sriram agreed right away.

A few months passed on. Late in the night, Arnav got a call from
Dr. Rajesh asking him to come to the zoo as early as possible.
Surya, Narayan, and Sriram were already there at the venue when
Arnav reached. Some doctors were treating the injured animals.

29
 The Day light of Shadow
Dr Rajesh asked Surya and Arnav to work as a team to find out
what happened to the animals in the zoo. He also added that all the
animals behaved weirdly all of a sudden and were hurting
themselves yesterday night.

Mr Narayan and Sriram said that all the animals were fine till the
zookeeper fed them at night.

They also added that we were surprised to see the CCTV footage
showing the animals wandering here and there very fast and hitting
themselves in the iron cage. Mr Narayan showed them a pink jelly-
like substance sticking to the paws of all the animals and even to the
shoes of the zookeeper.

When enquired, the zookeeper said, "I could remember everything

up to feed the animals with food. It was like I suddenly became
conscious to see the animals injured. I couldn’t remember or recall
what happened in the meantime."

After hearing this, Arnav and Surya collected the sample of the pink
jelly and left it to the lab. Though the duo had friction between
them, they worked together to find out what the pink jelly was.

After a few days on a sunny morning, Mr. Narayan called Surya and
said, "I am at present at the horse betting place. I happened to see
Arnav betting on a horse and he was pretty sure that his horse
would win. He kept on repeating “The horse which I have selected
will win”. When it didn’t win he left the place angrily pushing all the
chairs down. When I went to approach him he behaved as if he
didn’t know who I was.
30
 The Day light of Shadow
Surya was shocked to hear this. He said, "Arnav is with me here in
the lab and we both are working together. You must have seen
somebody else like Arnav." When Arnav heard Surya saying this to
Narayan, there were several questions in his mind. He wanted to
discuss this with Sriram, but as they were busy working on the pink
jelly, he calmed down and continued. They found out that the pink
jelly was active for a few minutes, that too only at night. It cannot
withstand the sun. Further, they were working to destroy it.

Surya said, "Arnav, let's go home as it is very late. Anyhow we have

almost completed the work. We need to test whether our antidote
works on pink jelly and kills it. Let’s do it tomorrow," and they left.

Somehow this finding leaked out of the lab and it was on all
television news that pink jelly works at night and not in the day.
After a few hours, when Arnav gained consciousness, he could see
himself trapped in a dark room. Suddenly he heard a voice saying,
"Welcome to my lab, my dear brother."

Hearing his brother Pranav’s voice, Arnav felt happy. "You are
alive, You are alive. Where were you? Why didn’t you come and
meet me?" "Stop questioning," said Pranav. "Why should I meet
you so that you will earn fame saying that I have brought the dead
man alive? It is all because of you I attempted suicide. I will try to
do something but it will end up giving you fame. Now you want to
earn fame for recreating me. Is it? I don’t want that to happen.

Even now I invented this pink jelly but you are getting famous for
finding that it works only at night and not in the day.

31
 The Day light of Shadow

I didn’t want to meet you at all but this news on TV made me bring
you here. If you are out, then my plans will not be executed. So stay
here with me and see what I am going to do."

Arnav asked, "What are you up to?" Pranav said, "Do you want to
hear my plan then listen. This is my pink jelly.

Once people step on it they will come under my control. As you

drove the car from your house to my lab to be trapped, I know it
works only for a few minutes, but that is enough for me to achieve
my goal. I came to know that it doesn’t work on the day when I
betted on the horse which was not able to perform even though it
stepped on the jelly. So I am going to spread the jelly on roads on
New Year’s Eve. All the people will be out on the evening having
fun to welcome New Year not knowing that they are never going to
open their eyes forever. Why do you want to kill innocent people?
Are you mad?"

"Yes, I am mad," said Pranav. "Why should I suicide and die? These
were the people who gave you fame. They should only die. If you
cause any trouble in achieving my mission then you shall also die.
Now you quietly see how I am going to accomplish my mission."

It was New year’s eve. Pranav was very happy to see his success.
Unfortunately, nothing happened as he thought. His great
invention, pink jelly, didn’t work. Pranav’s anger was at its peak. He
was not able to understand how his plan didn’t work. He was
breaking everything that came his way. He couldn’t control his
anger.
32
 The Day light of Shadow
By then Dr. Rajesh, Mr. Narayan, Sriram, and Surya entered the
room. Seeing them, Pranav was shocked. He knew that his brother
Arnav must have done something. All thanks to the smartwatch
Arnav was wearing.

33
 Tale 9
THE ELITE
Detective Sarah Williams had been chasing a shadow crime
organisation for the past 3 years investigating their gruesome
murders tirelessly to no avail, that is until Victor Russo’s case. The
victim, a wealthy art collector named Victor Russo, lay dead in a
country mansion that Victor inherited from his father, surrounded
by priceless paintings and Arti crafts. His throat had been slashed,
and his life had ebbed away onto the exquisite Persian rug with him
pointing at his latest purchase.

As Sarah examined the scene, she couldn't help but feel a sense of
unease. The mansion was locked from the inside, and there were no
signs of forced entry. Only his driver and maidservant were present
at the time of the murder however they were outside the house. It
was as though the killer had vanished into thin air.

The key to the mystery lay in the art itself. Victor had recently
acquired a controversial painting by a nameless identity known only
as "The Raven." The painting depicted a raven watching a broken
man bound to chains from a window ledge . Rumours swirled that
the painting was cursed, and Sarah couldn't help but wonder if it
held the key to Victor's death.

34
 The Elite
She began interviewing his family members, Victor’s son Angelo
Russo lived abroad and had a comfortable life with a steady income,
Victor’s wife Margaret Russo had been an influential speaker for
quite some time now, Victor’s second son Peter Russo worked as a
lawyer.

As Sarah delved deeper into the case, she slowly uncovered a web
of secrets, rivalries, and betrayals. All three of them are jealous of
Victor’s wealth and popularity. She wondered if this was a
treacherous hate crime involving all of the victor's so-called loved
ones. Sara was perplexed and couldn’t figure out as to why the
organisation would go after Victor.

Sarah's investigation led her to a circle of eccentric artists, collectors,

and art dealers, all of whom had been connected to the cursed
painting.

One thing was clear: everyone who possessed the painting seemed
to meet a tragic end. One rainy night, Sarah found herself standing
in front of the painting, alone in a dimly lit gallery. Its eerie presence
seemed to seep into her soul. She couldn't tear her eyes away from
the haunting image. It was as though the answer was knocking on
her door she just couldn’t let it in.

The breakthrough came when Sarah uncovered a hidden

compartment in the mansion’s attic, behind the very painting that
was the primary agent of Victor’s demise. It was empty, however
bits of pieces of paper were everywhere. The killer could have
hastily cleared all the evidence, thought Sarah.

35
 The Elite
Sarah traced a string of unsolved murders leading to murder of
Victor Russo . Each murder was meticulously planned and executed
by a different member of the elite, all driven by jealousy, greed, or
desire to protect their secrets.

As Sarah closed in on the culprits, the body count rose. The killers
grew desperate to keep their secrets hidden, and they would stop at
nothing to silence the detective who was so close to uncovering the
truth.

In a final, harrowing confrontation, Sarah found the culprit, it was

the maid-servant who was a pawn in the hands of the organisation
and hid under the shadows of Victor Russo as a simple maidservant
to draw little to no suspicion on her.

Victor had discovered her secret compartment while installing the

painting, fear of being caught made her cleverly kill Victor while
making it seem like she was not present at the time of the murder.

In the courtroom, the devastated Margaret Russo clasps her hands

tightly as the judge pronounces the maid-servant guilty.

Sarah spent 5 more years bringing down the organisation to a state

of complete devastation losing all its power and influence. The
legacy of the great detective Sara Williams continues.

36
 Tale-10
REBIRTH: THE STORY OF A WARRIOR
Mihira is a simple Indian-born girl. She shares everything with her
mom. But one day while she was on her way home from school she
was harassed by a man. This made her take a wild decision to
commit suicide and her entire life was flipped upside down. Luckily,
she was saved by her mom [Esha] and she didn’t take her last
breath.

THE NEXT MORNING

In the ICU, Esha was waiting for her daughter to gain

consciousness. Mihira wasn’t expecting herself to be in the hospital
but was shocked to see her mom in tears. Esha then gently
embraced her to try and console her. Mihira didn’t want to confess
the truth to her mom but she just broke down. Once Esha had
heard her daughter out, she began to tell her a few stories.

She told her that once, there lived a beautiful girl in a small village
and many people fell for her. On one peaceful day, a boy proposed
to her but as she rejected him, he couldn’t bear the rejection and
burnt her face with acid. From then on, people’s response to her
changed.

37
 Rebirth: The Story of a Warrior
The society said many things about her face. Many accused her
dressing style of being the cause of her situation. But she never gave
up on her life and continued working on her passion and lived as an
independent woman.

After listening to the stories, Mihira had a lot of thoughts in her

head. She then focused on what her mom was saying. Esha then
told her that there once lived a young girl who was an atheist who
was very passionate about painting. On a stormy night when she
was almost about to complete her graphite, a group of 13 drunk
boys kidnapped her. She was raped continuously for 5 hours by 13
men. When she opened her eyes, she found herself in the hospital
and realized she was paralyzed.

Doctors and her parents lost hope that she’d survive but her will to
live and show the world her talent made her feel alive. She spent
years bedridden but she started to recover slowly and continued her
passion for painting in a wheelchair. She spent the rest of her life in
a wheelchair still being very passionate about who she is.

Once Esha ended the story, she found Mihira in tears and regretted
her foolish suicide attempt. In this case, Esha did not directly
console her daughter but she told her stories that made her realize
the importance of bravery.

Mihira then asked, “Mom, who are these girls in your stories?”.
Esha then replied, “It’s me.”. Mihira was confused. Esha then told
her that their family had been experiencing these events for
generations. Many people tend to not believe in reincarnation but in
real life, she was able to see her past life.
38
 Rebirth: The Story of a Warrior
Esha also told her that every person surely takes many births in the
world to approach God. Though reincarnation is complicated, it
gives you a complete sense of life.

Everyone has a reason for birth and this will surely be fulfilled by
us, if not in this life, then in the next one. Esha then warned her
about the events as it was expected to occur to every girl in their
family by their ancestors.

Mihira then understood the importance of life and decided that

she’d grow up to be an independent woman. She felt so proud to be
the daughter of such a brave woman who always stood on her legs
despite facing so many struggles. She hugged her mom tight and
thanked her for helping her realize her foolishness.

39
 Tale-11
THE PHONE CALL
Aubriella was a simple girl. She studied at a decent university,
received decent grades, and had a decent social life.

One day, she was at a party with her friends, having fun, dancing,
drinking, and enjoying themselves. They started playing truth or
dare. It was all good until she was dared to dial her number. It was
lame, yes, but that's what games with friends are supposed to be
like, is what Aubriella thought before dialling her number.

It was all good until someone picked up the call. "Hey darling, did
you finally decide to call me?" is what the voice on the call spoke.
The voice was creepy, computerized, and sent chills down the
spines of every one of Aubriella's friends. Aubriella immediately
hung up the call. She could hear her heartbeat over the loud music
of the club.

Aubriella was scared but shook it off, saying, "I probably must have
dialled the wrong number," just so that her friends wouldn't get
worried. However, Aubriella couldn't get that thing out of her mind.

Alex noticed this; he was Aubriella's boyfriend. So, Alex excused

himself and Aubriella from the party. He consoled Aubriella and
assured her he would be there for her at all times. He then dropped
her off at home.

40
 The Phone Call

After reaching home, Aubriella quickly changed and went to bed.

But before she could nod off, she received a message from her own
number. She was terrified but still managed to check the content of
the message.

It read, "Are you done playing the damsel in distress with your petty
little boyfriend?" She read the message but couldn't reply. Then, she
received another message. This one read, "Reply to my messages,
Goddamn it!" She finally managed to type, "I will call
the cops." She sent it.

This time, another message came, and it said, "You wouldn't, do

you know why? Because I have a person tailing each person you
love. The moment you call the cops, every single one of them will
be dead." Aubriella didn't believe him until he sent pictures of the
current position of every single family member of Aubriella. "Ah! I
won't harm them, unless you refuse to listen to me, of course." "I
won't call the cops," said Aubriella.

A week went by, and Aubriella still didn't stop receiving the texts
and calls. So, she decided that she needed to tell someone, and she
didn't want to tell her family or friends. So, she decided to tell her
favourite teacher, Ms. Scarlett. Ms. Scarlett was astonished but still
maintained her calm and contacted the cops.

After a few hours, Ms. Scarlett called Aubriella and told her that the
cops would look into it. But after that, there was nothing. So,
Aubriella decided to stand up for herself. She asked the
stalker to stop doing this and reveal themselves.

41
 The Phone Call

The stalker was amused and asked her to come to an address. She
then went there. She found a bulletin board with all of her
information pinned. She even found her pictures. She started to run
away. Unfortunately, someone grabbed her wrist and locked her
down to a chair. Aubriella started shouting against the cloth over
her mouth. The stalker appeared before her. She asked who
it was. The stalker then removed their mask.

It was a woman, her best friend, Charlotte. Aubriella started crying

and asked Charlotte why she did all of this. "Why? You ask? You
would never know why.

You had everything you wanted: good grades, good looks, good
parents, and most of all, a good boyfriend. I, on the other hand, had
nothing. Everybody liked you. It was always you. You were the
main character in the story. I wanted to take everything away from
you.

Right then, he came into the picture." A loud bang and a shout,
"Aubriella!" It was Alex, her boyfriend. "Are you okay?" he asked.
"I came to your place to hang out but noticed you were not there.
Then I saw your laptop. I read your texts because you have been
acting weird lately, and... I came here."

"Stop lying, Alex. I knew it was you all along, but I suspected
somebody else was also in this. I mailed the cops long ago. The
cops tracked you down, but you were there with me the first day I
received these messages, and Charlotte wasn't.

42
 The Phone Call

I already was suspicious about you guys. My suspicions are proven

right," Aubriella said with teary eyes. Cops surrounded Alex. Alex
dropped the gun and surrendered. He was sentenced to 6 years
in jail for murder and kidnap. Aubriella went to meet him after a
few months to find out why he did all this.

Alex refused to tell her but finally told her, "I wanted revenge. Your
father killed my brother. I wanted him to experience the same pain,
so I tracked you down and got into the same college as you,
pretending to date you. I planned on killing you without arousing
suspicion.

That is why I planned all this stalker thing. Which miserably failed,
but don't worry. " The cops dragged him back into prison. Aubriella
said, "Goodbye, Alex."

43
 Tale-12
THEA
Timeline: 1559

It was one fine morning in Petrova's castle. Everything was fine

until our very own Felicia Petrova brought a dear boy, namely,
Travis Herculez, in front of her parents and expressed her wish to
marry him.

Travis Herculez, was a man of dignity. He was always well-dressed

and was a handsome man. But the only thing that was the problem
was it that he was someone lower in status than Felicia. He was just
an accountant and an assistant of her father. He works in their
castle. “You cannot marry him, Felicia.”, spoke her mother. “But,
mother, I love him and I wish to marry him. Father, please say
something!”, exclaimed Felicia. “I’m afraid that your mother is right,
daughter. You cannot marry a mere accountant. That would
disgrace our royal family," ordered her father. She couldn’t do
anything. Felicia was helpless. And when the night came, she snuck
out of the castle to meet Travis.

When they both met, Felicia sensed something unusual around her.
She sensed danger. Immediately, she used her powers to detect the
dark aura around her. She was not ready for what was coming. Her
vision had shown that Travis was someone unique, too. He was
someone who could control nature. Travis was completely unaware
of his power and what he could do.

44
 Thea

Felicia decided to keep it a secret and went straight home after

spending time with him. That night, she was rather lost in the
thoughts about what would happen if Travis got to know about his
superpowers. That didn’t change the fact that she was still in love
with him. She wanted to spend her whole life with him. The next
day, she went to her parents and told them that she wanted to talk
to them in private. They went out into the forest near the castle.
After reaching deep into the forest, Felicia tried to get control over
her parents’ minds to get them to accept her wish to marry
Travis.

Suddenly, thunder roared. It was just as if nature was trying to stop

Felicia from doing so. Then, an old woman appeared in front of her
and warned her to stop. She didn’t listen to the old woman and was
trying to accomplish her mission. The old woman got furious and
said, “You didn’t listen to me. You went against the laws of nature
and tried to manipulate your own parents. I, hereby, declare that
your psychic powers shall be taken away and be skipped a
generation of your bloodline. This is not my curse. It’s the curse of
Mother Nature.” and vanished into thin air. Felicia was beyond
shocked. Her parents asked her why they were in the forest.

They didn’t remember what had just happened. They returned

home. Felicia had been upset all day and had refused to meet
anyone. There was a surprise awaiting her. The next day, she woke
up with the loud drums playing outside the castle. She wondered
what all the fuss was about. She asked one of the workers and she
replied, “Your Highness, Prince Andrew Meadows is here to ally
with our kingdom.” Felicia was shocked. She went off to the court
and confronted her parents about this alliance.
45
 Thea

“He is a nice man and a person with a lot of wealth, Felicia. You
need to marry him.” spoke to her father with a stern face. Felicia
insisted that she would talk to Prince Andrew himself in private.
Andrew and Felicia had walked out of the court and took a short
walk in the garden of the castle. “I love someone else and I wish to
spend my life with him. Please take back your alliance,” said Felicia
and walked away from Andrew. Andrew was furious. He later found
that she loved Travis.

That night, Andrew snuck into Travis’ home and stabbed him to
death. The next day, when Felicia heard the news, she had never
been this miserable. Through her secret workers, she found out that
it was Andrew who killed Travis. Andrew had brought trouble upon
himself. He and his next generations were cursed and to lift that
curse they had to kill another Herculez.

Later, Felicia was married to someone else and Andrew was also
married off to someone else. Somehow, Travis’ bloodline
continued. That still remains a mystery.

46
 Thea

Timeline: 1628

Introducing you, Thea Parker. The princess of the Parker Kingdom

and the only daughter of Leon Parker and Margrett Kim. She is as
lovable as flowers and pretty skies. She has only one best friend.
He’s someone who has been with her for like two years. She met
him at a royal party organised for all the rich people in the country.
He is none other than Felix James Herculez. The adored son of
Late Adam Hercules and Helen Walker, a powerful woman in the
country. He was known for his abstractive and attractive personality
and his gentlemanly nature. Thea and Felix have been close ever
since the party. They meet every weekend and
talk about their week the whole day.

It was Thea’s 19th birthday. It was celebrated with such enthusiasm

just like they had won a war against a kingdom. She partied hard like
it was the last day she’d get to live. That night, when she was about
to go to bed, she was startled by a woman in her mirror. It was
none other than the old lady that cursed Felicia. “Happiest birthday,
my dear Thea. I don’t have much time so let me be quick. Your
grandmother, Felicia, was a supernatural being. The powers skipped
your mother and have been passed on to you.

Please use them carefully and put them to good use. Have a good
night.” she spoke hurriedly and disappeared. Thea was processing
what just happened. She couldn’t sleep that night. She was thinking
about what to do about her abilities. She decided to meet Felix the
next day and tell him about this.

47
 Thea

The next day, Thea met Felix near a river in their kingdom. Thea
told him all about the previous night. At first, he didn’t believe her
but he realised that she wasn’t pulling his leg and all of this was real.
He was beyond shocked. Thea wasn’t any less in shock. After some
time, Felix insisted on dropping her home. As soon as Thea had
entered the castle with Felix, she suddenly had a vision. She saw her
grandma, who was just learning to control her powers. Felix was
right there. He has asked her, “What’s wrong, Thea?” She informs
him about the vision she just had. They both decide to look for old
family records for any more information to dig into.

Thea finds her grandmother’s journal, in which Felicia had

mentioned the powers of Travis and him being completely unaware
of it. In the journal, she finds a picture of Felicia with a man. Out of
much curiosity and stubbornness, she insists on knowing about the
man. Felix and Thea roam around the kingdom seeking the identity
of the man. An old goldsmith who had been known for making the
most magnificent jewels around the world had helped them. He
identified the man as Travis Herculez.

Felix was astonished that the man had the same last name as him.
Later upon checking his ancestor’s names, he had realised that it
was his grandfather. Sun was setting. They both decided to head
home and meet tomorrow. Felix had reached home and was about
to go into the kitchen but he overhears his mother’s conversation
with his sisters.

“Grandfather’s old bungalow is really worn out, mother.” Says Lexi.

“We are getting it renovated next week so that we can spend our
holidays over there,” says Helen.
48
 Thea

Felix had been curious about this and decided to inform Thea about
the bungalow the next day. Simultaneously, Thea had a vision about
an old and really worn-out bungalow and her grandmother and
Travis sitting and talking out in the garden. She decides to tell Felix
the next day.

The next day, as soon as possible, Felix rushes to Thea and tells her
about the old bungalow. Thea informs him about the vision she had
the previous night. They both head out and reach the bungalow.
Thea confirms it was the same one in her vision. They both enter
and start searching for anything to know about their grandparents.
After searching for hours, they found a box labelled “PARKER
FAMILY” Thea and Felix had opened the box and found an old
journal, which again, belonged to Felicia. They got to know how to
control Thea’s psychic abilities and how to put them to good use.
What they didn’t know was it that there was something more
dangerous coming their way.

It was him. The one and only grandson of Andrew Meadows,

Christian Meadows. He had been following the Parker and the
Herculez family since Thea had found out about her psychic
powers. Christian had to kill someone from the Herculez bloodline,
to say specifically, Felix. He had wanted to use Thea and her powers
to get to Felix. Slowly, gradually, he had entered into Thea’s life as a
bodyguard of hers. He was just waiting for an opportunity. That day
came. Christian had kidnapped Thea and had somehow
manipulated Thea. Felix was furious when he got to know about the
kidnapping of Thea.

49
 Thea

Felix didn’t see Thea as a mere friend. He loved her. To that point
he’d die for her. Felix had no idea that the feelings were
reciprocated by Thea. She was planning to tell her feelings to him
once this whole thing was solved but unfortunately, things didn’t go
as planned.

Felix reached the place where Christian had kept Thea, the love of
his life, hostage. Christian was charming rather than a manipulative
man. He had somehow managed to convince Thea to control
Felix’s mind. He made her make Felix stab himself to death. The
moment Felix had breathed his last, Christian’s curse broke and his
powers were back.

He had something evil going on in his brain. He had preserved the

body of his grandfather, Andrew Meadows, for over 35 years just to
bring him back using his own powers. Christian had left Thea to cry
upon Felix’s a dead body and had gone to summon a few witches
and wizards to resurrect his grandfather.

In the meantime, Thea, who had read Felicia’s journal and knew
that she had the powers to bring back the dead, had then started to
perform a few sdigns using her hands and had chanted a few lines.
Lo and behold, Felix had opened his eyes. There was something
strange about those eyes. It's like he was a supernatural being just
like Thea. She could feel the aura of friendship between two
supernatural beings. She then remembered that Felix’s grandfather
was a person who could control nature but he was unaware.

50
 Thea

While she was processing the whole thing, Felix sat up and
was looking deeply into her eyes. Thea got back to her senses when
Felix held her hands and started to speak with much effort. “Thea, I
need to tell you something. I love you. Not now, I fell the first time
I saw you. I want to spend my whole life with you. So, Thea Parker,
will you be my girlfriend?”

Thea was beyond happy. She screamed, “YES!” Felix was happy
that his feelings were not one-sided. They heard sounds coming
from outside. Christian was back but this time he was with his
grandfather, Andrew. Thea and Felix had gotten alert and had been
ready to fight them both. With much difficulty, they both were able
to defeat Christian and Andrew.

Unfortunately, as Felix’s powers were newly triggered, he couldn’t

take the pressure and collapsed on the ground.

Thea had been worried and had tried her best to save Felix. Sadly,
Mother Nature was not on her side this time. “I love you, Thea
Parker,” said Felix as his soul left his body. Thea couldn’t believe
that the only person she loved the most was no more on this earth.
And that was how Thea Parker had done everything but in the end,
she couldn’t save her loved one.

“IF YOU ARE BRAVE ENOUGH TO SAY

GOODBYE, LIFE GREETS YOU WITH A NEW HELLO!”

51
 Tale-13
1962
Mr. Frederick is a typical man who has a crazy obsession with
antique pieces. Maybe that's why he always gets himself and his
family into trouble. Their whole house is filled with vases and
historical antique pieces that he collected worldwide.

The Frederick family consists of Mr. Frederick, Mrs. Frederick, and

their 2 sons Noah and Josh. Noah is 10 years old and is the younger
one, meanwhile, Josh is elder, about 14 to 15 years old. After having
their breakfast, the kids sat in the hall, reading a book. Suddenly
Mr. Frederick screams. Frightened by his yelling; Mrs.Frederick
comes and asks him what had happened. He tells her that he just
found the location of an antique mirror while reading an article.
Mrs. Frederick gets suspicious about this mirror because nobody
had yet tried to fetch it. So, she reads the article which made Mr.
Frederick so excited and finds out that the place where it has been
kept is ‘’haunted’’. So, Mrs. Federick immediately turns to Mr.
Federick and asks him if he knows about this, to which Mr.
Federick nods.

Mrs. Federick kept trying to convince her husband not to go, but
Mr. Federick wasn’t even planning to let this golden opportunity go
to waste. So instead Mrs. Frederick asked if they could accompany
him so they could not be worried about his whereabouts.

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 1962

Somehow, the whole family was now off to a “haunted” place in

search of an antique mirror. The perfect weekend holiday. On their
way, Mrs. Frederick was driving and Mr. Federick was going all
over the article for the 7th time that day, trying to figure out the
heads and tails of its location.

Just as they entered the forest way, they all felt this weird aura all
over the place. They kept going and suddenly the car was stopped
by Mrs. Federick because her husband screaming like a mad man,
that they have reached the place. They all got out of the vehicle and
were surprised to see a grandeur hotel named “Hotel Dells” since
the article didn’t mention this. But somehow it seemed like a very
old hotel built in the 1900s, but it was still looking very beautiful
carrying a historical vibe with all the trees and overgrown gardens
surrounding it.

Just as they entered they realized that it was maintained in a good

condition as the hotel was sparkling clean and a sense of aroma
filled their hearts. It had a huge hall with a small reception at the
corner. Everything inside was made from aesthetic regal wood. Mr.
Frederick went to the reception and saw that no one was there, so
he rang the bell at the table.

A young lady, maybe in her 30s entered with a beautiful smile and a
peculiar atmosphere around her. Mr. Frederick asked her if there
were any rooms to stay in for a couple of days. The lady replied
with a smile and allotted a room for their stay. Mr. Frederick
thanked her took the keys, and entered their stay in the book
(register).
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 1962

The young lady introduced herself as ‘Anna’, the hotel's owner.

After their formalities, the family rushed to their rooms to get some
sleep since the night had already fallen.

It was exactly 2:01 AM when Mr. Frederick heard continuous

knocking on their door so he went to see what the ruckus was all
about. As he opened the door, Lady Anna was eerily standing there
and she kept asking Mr. Frederick, “Why did you come here?!
What is your purpose?” She kept repeating that question with a
weird expression and a frightening look in her eyes. Mrs. Frederick
soon woke up and was a little confused about what was happening
there. Mr. Frederick answered Anna’s weird question by telling her
the reason why they were there, for the antique mirror. After
listening to his plea, Anna left without uttering a single word which
was outright creepy to the couple.

Mrs. Frederick kept saying that it was very suspicious of Anna to

come here at this hour just to ask that question. Mr. Frederick
calmed her down and told her to sleep. The next day, they woke up
and went out in search of the so-called antique piece and acted as if
everything was normal. Wandering about the vines and roots, they
felt nothing except scary vibes of forest. They went back to the
hotel disappointed, and after getting freshened up they went to the
dining hall to have their supper but their 10-year-old son Noah
didn’t go.

He dawdled into the room beside the dining room instead which
was full of antiques, just like a museum.

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 1962

He kept exploring the room completing fascinated, But suddenly

stopped in front of a skeptical object which was covered by red silk
cloth. He stood there for a minute. Curiosity took over him and he
decided to take the cloth off the mysterious object which then
turned out to be an “antique mirror”. That is when he saw
something that was truly spine-chilling. He saw Lady Anna’s
reflection, hanging herself to the ceiling of the hotel, with a rope
clung to her neck in the mirror. He quickly turned around, but there
was nothing. When he looked back into the mirror the lady was still
hanging off the ceiling.

Noah freaked out and started crying at such a horror sight, crying
out “Mom!!”.Creepily enough, lady Anna entered the room and the
unusual thing about her was that her nails suddenly grew like
animal claws. Her face was bent in a way a human could never
possibly bend, her legs are opposite to the direction she faced and
her eye sockets were empty! Completely devoid of eyes.

In simple words, she looked like a corpse walking. Noah was no

longer in his consciousness and the lady kept walking towards
Noah and was about to kill him with her claws ready to impale his
neck. That is when Josh entered with a terrified face, and to save
his brother he started throwing everything he found there onto lady
Anna. But it was too late for Anna had already killed the little boy
with her claws burried into his neck.

55
 1962

Josh shouted with all his voice and was in terrific shock about what
just happened but he kept throwing things around him onto Anna.
But Anna was little to none unaltered; instead, a vase Josh threw
had broken the “antique mirror" behind her.

That is when Mr. Frederick and Mrs. Frederick had come running.
Mr.Frederick told his wife to take Josh and run out of this haunted
place. Mrs. Frederick hesitated, especially after seeing her dead but
still did what her husband told. Mr. Federick then took out a pistol
from his pocket and started shooting in the direction of the lady but
the bullets seemed to faze right through her. Unaffected by his
measly attempts, she began to run towards him.

The bullets in the pistol had run out. Mr.Frederick was out of
ammo, he panicked and had fell to the ground where the broken
pieces of the mirror had fallen previously. The lady was just about
to dig her claws into his neck when Mr. Frederick stabbed her with
the broken piece of the mirror, and then what Mr. Federick saw
frightened him to the core. The lady had just vanished into thin air.

That’s when Mr. Federick woke up to what seemed to be a

nightmare. He was in his car beside his wife and kids. Upon seeing
Noah unharmed he leapt in air and hugged his son tightly.
Apparently, Mr.Federick fell asleep as soon as they entered the
forest way. With such a bad predicament, Mr.Federick abandoned
his quest for his “treasure” and they head back home.

56
 1962

He learns an important lesson that his family is true cause for his
happiness and doesn’t have to do with any antique scrap metal.
Indulging in our foolish desires may bring us nothing but pain and
regret. “Don't be in a fool's paradise, beta!”

57
 Tale-14
FOOL STORY

This story starts with a group of four friends sitting on the school grounds
and talking about how horrible they were in that day's class. One of their
classmates came running and reminded them that
they should be in the library in 5 minutes.

The Whole class assembles in the library to read and these four are
searching for some random book. One of them spots an interesting article
in a magazine and shows it to the others. The title says "Way to
Intelligence". Being the dumbest people in the class, they get attracted to
the title and start reading the article.

The article is about a "magical pickle", which after eating, boosts your
brain and makes you crazy intelligent! It also says that this pickle was eaten
by Tenali Ramakrishna, a popular figure for being
intelligent and witty. This pickle had been hidden in the forbidden city of
'Dholakpur', For many decades by a saintly monk. These friends were
excited after reading and were desperate to eat the pickle and become
smarter.

58
 Fool Story

The Next few weeks they were planning to go in search of the

magical pickle which was hidden according to the article, at
'Dolakhpur'. They planned to go there in the summer holidays to
take the pickle and they informed their parents that they were going
on a trip with friends. The day comes when they all decide to meet
in a park and go to the place on a bus. One of the friends still didn't
show up so the other friend calls him up and enquires why he was
late. He says "I am bringing my "Kow'' with me, it can help search,
just wait, I will be there in 5 minutes!" and the call ends there. The
three friends get confused at the crazy Dumbo who is going to be
bringing a cow with him and laugh. 5 minutes later he appears with
the cute white fluffy creature and introduces it as his "pet dog"
which was named "Kow”, These three laugh straight for 10 minutes
and feel pity for the amount of dumbness his brain contains! They
all get onto the bus with their Kow and reach 'Dolakhpur'.

From the place where they got off the bus, they should be walking
inside a forest and found a cave that has a secret underground
room, and the magical pickle is hidden in there.

The four friends walk in the forest for more than an hour and still
couldn't find anything. They decide to stop at a place and take a
rest. They all have some snacks and refreshments. After licking the
bowl full of food, the Kow which is a dog, suddenly starts running
into the woods.

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 Fool Story

The friends, hoping their dog has found the cave, keep running
behind it. After a few minutes of running, they realize that the dog
has found an amazing and comfortable place to pee!

They all get disappointed about the dog being more foolish than
them and continue their journey. The friends have the best time of
their life and enjoy the journey by having funny and nonsense talks.
The sky slowly turns dark, which slightly makes them scared since
they are walking in a forest.

They warn each other to stay alert of the surroundings and stay
close. As they were walking, they heard some creepy noise coming
from the bushes. They stopped for a while and waited for the noise
to stop, but it didn't! One of them started crying out of fear and
made his friends panic! Then they felt something was approaching
them. The closer it was approaching, the more they were
trembling... This continued for almost 15 minutes. And it felt like 15
hours for them with suspense and fear! Finally, their suspense and
fear came to an end. They saw a small creature approaching them,
and it was none other than our "Kow" the so-called dog!

They continue with their walk and finally reach the cave which they
were searching for the whole day since they were tired and it's
nighttime, they decide to take a rest and continue their search for
the pickle, in the morning.

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 Fool Story

The next day arrives and they all wake up to see their dog licking a
shiny crystal. They all wondered where the crystal came from and
started to look around. They found out that the same kind of
crystals appeared in a line inside the cave, leading to a huge door
underground. They collect all five crystals and stand in front of the
door that was meant to be occupied by a single crystal out of five.

The friends start wondering which crystal opened the door to the
magical pickle. They looked around and noticed their Kow, licking
the wall beside the door. They noticed something written on the
wall and it aided that they only had three chances to put the right
crystal in the door. This made the friends even more nervous and
started to think that if they don't put the right crystal, they would
never get access to the pickle and never grow intelligent. They tell
each other not to lose hope and try putting the crystals in the door.
After two failures, they finally put the right crystal in the door. They
get all excited and hug each other in happiness.

But as the door opened and they went into the room, they could
find nothing in there! They looked around and searched for the
pickle for a long time but still couldn't find anything. They get
disappointed and decide to go back to their homes.

On the Bus, one of the friends suddenly takes out the magazine
again to have a glance. He reads the article again thoroughly and
realizes that they read only half of the article! they also realize that
the article was an imaginary story written by a 6-year-old kid for a
magazine. He tells his friends the same thing & they all yell at each
other for ignoring such an important thing.
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 Fool Story

After an hour of argument, one of the friends says, if there was no

such thing as a pickle that makes you intelligent, "Why the hell was
there a hidden cave in the forest in the first place"?

This ends the story with a "MYSTERY"!

62
 Tale-15
LAST HOPE
On October 21st, the peaceful alleys of Indianapolis witnessed a rather
strange event. People have gone missing all over the city. There has been a
total media blackout. There was no pattern in these kidnappings except
for the fact that they were all journalists. The asher family was one of the
few families who were a victim of this ghastly event.

Almost a month later, Levi Asher, an 18-year-old brunette with dark

piercing eyes who has had an interest in solving crosswords from “The
Indiana Times” ever since he was a child. He has the potential
to be the next big thing in the world of journalism. The kid has been
through a lot, especially the passing of his father, Adam Asher, a senior
journalist, which has been impactful on him and his family.

Lately, he has started to notice some unusual patterns in the answers to

the crossword puzzle in a weekly magazine. Some of the words were
hinting at the memories he had with his father. He glanced at the word
“Tiltscape” which he and his father created during one of those baking
competitors. Recently, he saw a series of words that said “ROMSON-
STREET”.

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 Last Hope

That was the name of the area where his father’s workplace was
located. Levi, being an observant lad by nature, noticed that all these
peculiar words were somehow connected to his father.

He decides to take the matter into his own hands, musters some
courage, and decides to venture into the street. There, he stumbles
upon a shady-looking man, around 30, whom he instantly
recognizes as his father’s subordinate.

He was Mark Robinson, a workaholic, an optimistic person, and his

father's most trusted. A brief moment of silence ensues as both of
them verify each other’s identities. “Levi!! Long time no see! What
are you doing here?”, questions Mark. “I...I just missed dad”,
confesses Levi. “I know that look on your face, Now tell me what’s
going on”, questioned Mark.

Levi explains the events that led him to visit the place. Mark was
taken aback. After a brief pause, he admits that he also had been
receiving similar messages. They decide to sit at a nearby café to
decode the messages. They left no stone unturned but all their
efforts went into vain, which left them with the only option of
approaching Hazel Grace, the smartest person they knew.

She lives just two blocks away from their current location. She is an
18-year-old Tech genius, a clever and strong-willed lady with
beautiful long black hair and sun-kissed skin with round nerdy
glasses. They walked up to her house and were just about to knock
on the door when it opened from the other side.

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 Last Hope

“Hey! Levi!! What a pleasant surprise” exclaims Hazel. “Hi! We

need your help. Quick” rushes Levi “Sure! But what am I going to
profit?” bargains Hazel “You will, but let us in” argues Levi “Okay,
Okay, you win,” says Hazel and lets them enter.“By the way, I am
Robinson and we have been receiving these shady messages and we
feel that they are connected to Mr. Adam” “Now, that’s mysterious,
let me take a look,” says Hazel, intrigued. “So tell me everything I
am supposed to know” she continues Levi gives a brief of
everything they have been through and this spikes up quite a bit of
interest in Hazel. Hazel turns to Mark and asks him for his take on
the matter and when Mark starts telling his version of
the story, Hazel cuts him off. “When was the last time you saw
him?” she questioned Mark. “A month ago, when he was enquiring
about a drug case.... and he had been acting strange back then”.

“Do you have any more details?” inquires Hazel “Nope.... He didn’t
tell me anything about it except that he was going to visit an old
friend. And that was the last time I saw him” he replies. “Any idea
who that friend is?” she questions again, Mark replies with an
unfortunate “NO”. After a short moment of silence, Levi finally
speaks up.

“Let me show you some of the clues that we found,” he says, as he

shows Hazel the words that he and Mark found, Hazel sets her eyes
on another peculiar combination of letters. The words “titan”,
“the”, and “west” were scattered around in the grid.

65
 Last Hope

“Titan?... West... Titan of the West!!!” she exclaims and frantically

checks her desk, and pulls out a Forbes magazine with the same
phrase on its cover “Look!! He is the one ... Henry Harrison, The
richest man in America, The young owner of Harrison Industries,
we might get some answers now,” she says.

Robinson instantly recognizes him. “How can such a big shot be

involved in such a drama?” The trio thinks for some time. Hazel
speaks up “I have been tracking his movements for days. His last
location was on the outskirts of the city”.

“What are you?? A stalker?” says Levi. “No! Why would I–” Hazel
flusters. Robinson barges into the conversation “What could he
probably have been doing in such an isolated place?” he asks.
“There is only one way to find out!” exclaims Levi “I will go get us
some walkie-talkies,” says Levi “I will go get my car,” says Robinson
while leaving “Great .. Let’s do this!! Oh, Father! I will find you, no
matter what it takes”, says Levi determined.

They follow the coordinates set up by Hazel and end up in the

middle of nowhere. “I got a bad feeling about this,” says Hazel.
“This place is giving me the creeps”, shudders Mark. “We worked
so hard to get here...and we get this....an abandoned wasteland?”,
exclaims Levi.

He stops his sentence midway as he gazes at the tracks of another

vehicle ..... not theirs. “Let's see where these tracks lead us,” tells
Levi.

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 Last Hope

The tracks lead them to a manhole. They decide to investigate this.

Hazel stays on the surface while the guys get down the manhole,
only to discover darkness.

Levi turns on his flashlight, and to his surprise, they unveil a

gargantuan warehouse. They decide to barge in but they soon
discover that it is secured by a digital lock.

“Hazel... How about some help here?” requests Levi Hazel being
the hacker she is, overwrites the code in the digital lock and the lock
cracks open. As soon as they enter the warehouse, they try to take
in the view, which instantly fills their tongues with
distaste. As they venture down the hallway, they promptly run into a
wall.

“It’s a dead end” exclaims Robinson “What! How can it be?! I am

detecting heat signatures from up ahead,” says Hazel puzzled.
“There must be an opening somewhere” states Levi, while they
scout for a way out. Hazel opens up to say “Do you guys think
someone like Henry Harrison could do this, I mean he is a good
guy, isn’t he?”. To which Levi responds by saying “I hope not! But
this is the only lead we have”.

“People are not as they seem, Hazel....Aha! I think I found it,” says
Mark with a cheerful look, as he pushes in a slightly lopsided brick.
Just then, the wall ahead opens up to reveal a well-lit room. They
soon reasoned that the secret room was a prison by spotting many
prison cells but with no prisoners.

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 Last Hope
Soon after, they spot a cell with a beaten-up man, held in shackles.
Levi asks, “Hey there Mister Are you okay?”, feeling pity for his
condition. The man instantly recognizes the voice and jumps up in
excitement. The man turns out to be none other than Adam Asher,
Levi’s father. The man who went missing weeks ago.

“Dad!” shouts Levi, shedding a tear. They cannot believe their eyes.
Why and what on Earth was the famed journalist doing in an
underground abandoned warehouse, in such a brutal condition?!
Mark makes quick work of the lock and opens the cell to free Mr.
Adam. “He is too weak to even stand” Marks calls out.

“Let’s head out of here Dad, I will never let you out of my sight
ever again,” says Levi tearing up, firmly gripping his father. “Levi ...
there is something I need to tell you ... hear me out,” Adam says
weakly “... about the person who started this all ...” he stated.

“Almost two months ago, while I was working in my office, I

received peculiar cases of missing journalists around the city. I was
quite intrigued, so I set out to find more evidence. As I inquired
more into this, I found out that Henry Harrison, the world’s most
successful man, rightly named “Titan of the West” has been
engaged in drug dealing and trafficking. This news was so shocking
that I had to confront him and so I did, right up to his face. I saw
all that greed and hunger in his eyes. His evil desires kept growing
stronger, the more he spoke. He furiously confessed about the drug
dealing cases and admitted that he killed the other journalists in the
city, so that this secret of his would never come out, and that I too
was going to perish like the others, as I got in his way.

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 Last Hope

I had been secretly recording every word he said up to then and if

he were to harm me, I would turn him up to the police with those
recordings as evidence. I even revealed the fact that I had other
means of evidence, out of despair. I was overwhelmed by
materialism. He destroyed my recordings but he did not kill me,
instead, he has been torturing me for the other pieces of evidence
ever since. But you know your old man *cough cough *....... he
doesn’t give up so easily”, Adam explained to Levi.

Hazel, listening over the comms “I can't believe how cruel of a

monster he is”. “But we thought that he was supposed to be the
good guy.” exclaims Mark. “Don’t worry, I swear to end this once
and for all”, says Levi Hellbent. “Aw, sorry to interrupt but that was
touching”, comes out a voice from behind the shadows; out of
nowhere. “It's Henry Harrison spying on you guys like a coward”,
Hazel speaks up.

Showing his dreaded face, Henry bellows in agony –“Oh! You must
have quite the guts, huh!? After all, you are the son of a journalist”
he points at Levi “Ah! Adam my old friend, I see you, are reunited
again!”, says Henry, “I have been waiting for you Levi!”, he screams
in a fit of rage “I will kill you and that pathetic little group of yours”
he yells maniacally.

“Wait, how did you know –“ Levi gets interrupted by Henry,

creating an ominous atmosphere as he cackles like a madman.
“Dad, we have to get out, or we won’t make it out of here alive”
Levi cries out, as they prepare to dash to the entrance.

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 Last Hope
But Henry is too quick, to let them escape, he loads his gun, and
shoots at Levi

“No!” cries out Adam and in an action of last resort, he jumps to

protect his son. But, he gets caught in the line of fire and gets shot
instead “Dad!” yells Levi as he helplessly watches his father on the
ground, bleeding profusely.

“Oh! What an interesting turn of events. This is turning out to be

much more intriguing than I thought it will”, Henry chuckles “You
monster! How could you do this? … Dad! … No … I Can’t ….
Can’t lose you again,” Levi sobs. “It's okay kiddo *coughs*, I will
always be with you,” says Adam in a comforting voice. Holding
onto his dear life, he whispers something to Levi, kisses him
goodbye, and gives up. “No!! , Dad!” Levi cries out loud.
In the paroxysm of anger, Levi subliminally tackles Henry and
knocks the gun out of his hands. Mark secures the gun which fell
during the skirmish and the duo bolts towards the exit. While Henry
still recovers from the attack Mark tries to console Levi, but Levi
was in such grief that he doesn’t respond to Mark’s words.

As the entrance comes into sight, they spot the guards of the
warehouse coming towards this sacrifice worth it for me, Now go
kid! You have a job to finish”, says Mark as he obstructs the guards
from reaching Levi.

Levi, devastated, couldn’t help but sob at the thoughts of losing his
father, and then Mark too. He slowly gets to the surface, to find
Hazel looking at him, feeling sorry.

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 Last Hope

Hazel gets the car and after some time, Levi also gets into the car,
after some more time he finally decides to speak up. “79 Charlecot
street” he yells “What?” says Hazonfusion, “Dad…..he told me
that I was his only hope, his last hope,” he said, shedding a tear.

“I’m sorry for the loss,” says Hazel, offering her condolences. They
reach the location where Mr.Asher had told Levi. They park the car
by a tree, on an abandoned street. They slowly walk around the
house, to the backyard, where they spot an old attic. Levi kicks the
door open, trying to let out some of his anger, “This room seems
like it hasn’t been used for ages,” says Hazel. “That makes it the
perfect place to hide something” replies Levi.

“Why are we searching this room again?” she questions.

“Evidence,” says Levi Firmly. They search the attic thoroughly and
after some time they find a hard drive in a table drawer.

Delighted, they rushed back towards their car, but their merriment
was short-lived as they were greeted by Henry sitting on the hood
of their car comfortably. “How kind of you to bring the evidence
right back to me”, he says laughing wickedly. “Now, you will atone
for the sins you have committed”, says Levi as he runs with the
evidence, Henry, exasperated, follows him.

He gradually catches up to Levi and knocks him down with a blow.

In the process, the hard disk slips out of Levi’s hands and breaks.
Henry lets out a wicked smile “Pathetic, Is that all you got? I
expected a fight from you, the son of the so-called famed journalist”
– says Henry as he sighs in relief.
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 Last Hope

“Why are you doing this? What are your intentions?” questions
Levi. “Your puny father and the other journalists were just
hindrances in my schemes, now that I have got rid of them, I can
peacefully get back to my business without any interruptions. Levi
laughs at the insolent look on Henry’s face “My best guess is that
you have gone insane, laughing like that after losing everything that
you had, Your dad and your friend are gone, and now nothing is
stopping me from conquering the world!! Nevertheless, now that
the truth about me is revealed. I have to get rid of every single one
of you” yells Henry.

“Who do you take me for? People around me give me hope. They

give me a reason to fight. My father was a great journalist and he
has always been a hero to me. One thing that I have learned from
him is that Journalists Don’t collect evidence, they generate their
evidence. You have destroyed the evidence my father collected, but
don't you forget that I am his son” says Levi heroically revealing his
mini collar voice recorder. Recording every word that Henry said, as
his evidence.

The expression on Henry’s face turns from exhilaration to disarray!

Deceived by the same trick twice Henry gets infuriated “Why you
little ….!” he cries out furiously and angrily rushes at Levi and
misses him.

A moment later, he feels his movement cease and before he even

realizes it, he is handcuffed by the police. Levi notices Hazel in the
police car, waving at him as she hops out and fills him in.

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 Last Hope

The genius Hazel does it. She called the cops when Henry was busy
chasing his prey. Everything had gone according to their plan.
After a few days, Levi is seen standing before a tombstone with the
name “Adam Asher” engraved on it. He takes a much-needed
breather. Mark comes towards Levi to offer his heartfelt
condolences and proceeds to say “You did good kiddo! I’m sure
that he would’ve been proud of you.”

Levi just hums then stutters “Wait? How did you – how did you get
out of that hellhole…We all thought you died” To which Mark
replies “Let’s not tell that here”. “I should say nothing”, he winks.
As the two keep walking further, Levi, still recovering from the
tantrums he has been through, learns the true essence of life.

“Hope is the essence of life. Many of us could not even live a life of
peace without having hope deep inside our hearts. Life is
unpredictable, hard, and quite notorious at times. Things go out of
hand and beyond our control many times. Hope helps us keep the
fight on and improves our chances of improving our lives. The
essence of hope is always very sweet. It’s an inspiration to live life
the best way we can. So make your hope strong. Hope will give you
the courage and inspiration to stick to your dream as long as you
breathe. If you have a strong aspiration, faith, and hope, nothing
can bring you down.”

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 Tale-16
THE WITCH IN WINTER PART 1
On a fine winter day, the people of Reading came to a statement
and quickly approached their King, Louis Greenslade.

A dejected voice conveyed the problems of the citizens,“Your

Highness, many people in the city are dying of an unkown cause.
We got to know that the unknown “Black Shadow '' is murdering
innocent citizens late at night, covered in a huge black blanket. We
are finding it highly impossible to see his face. We all came here to
ask you to find out the unknown criminal and do justice to the
fallen”.

“This is a concerning thing indeed! My precious, don’t worry. None

of you must not step out of your houses. I give my word, that the
murderer will be caught. Until then, be cautious”, the prince
expressed in sympathy. Having faith in their king, the people left for
their houses and followed his orders.

The next day King Greenslade called for the famous detective Mr.
Weaver to resolve this heart-wrenching mystery.

The King explained the problem briefly and ordered him to find out
the criminal in a couple of days. Otherwise, he would be thrown
into the dungeons. It was an order. Weaver heartfully accepted the
King’s words .

The next morning, the King reminded Weaver about his mission
and how he must succeed at any cost. Weaver, though a bit
frightened for his life, was determined to track down the murderer.

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In the late evening, Weaver started his journey of investigation from

Lancashire. Given Weaver’s past history with such cases, he
disguised himself as a commoner, and the chances of someone
recognizing him were close to none.

The night was closing in and Mr. Weaver couldn't even find a clue
about the killer. A hungry Weaver then had his supper at a
restaurant.

Weaver was extremely tired and wanted to sleep. He was wandering

the city in search of a lodge. “Is there an affordable lodge nearby
mate?”, he asked weakly, a stranger on the streets. “Try the
Candlewood” the potter answered, pointing his finger down the
lane. Weaver picked up his bag and quickly moved towards the lane.

A black to navy gradient was the backdrop for the full moon. The
night sky was so clear that the moon cast its glowing yellow light
onto the city. The air was deadly cold and the wind was like a flat
blade of ice on his cheeks. He observed that the buildings were tall
and in faded dark colors on either side of the road, all identical. All
of a sudden Weaver caught a big shining board which held the big
black eye. The eye was glaring at Weaver, attracting him to enter the
building in front of him. Another board outside the building read
“Bed and breakfast”. He also found a few purple chrysanthemums
in a little garden just beside the house.

The house is filled with bright white and smooth walls. The window
was open and the smooth, green long curtains were hanging on
either side of the window.
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 The Witch in Winter Part 1

Weaver stepped towards the window, he looked inside. There was a

bright fire burning in the hearth, two large sofas facing each other,
and a low little table between them. There was also a little
dachshund resting on the carpet in front of the hearth, his nose
tucked into his belly, and there was a baby grand piano, also there
was a large parrot inside a huge cage. It seemed like a good place to
him. Billy never stayed before on a housing board. He thought
about leaving but the place was forbidding him. Finally, he decided
to stay the night there, as he too was pretty tired.

He pressed the bell. He hadn’t even had time to take his finger from
the bell-button – when the door swung open and a woman was
standing there. Normally you ring the bell and you have two
minutes or at least a half-minute’s wait before the door opens. But
this dame was like a jack-in-the-box. He pressed the bell – and out
she popped! It made him jump.“I know you would have come my
dear, please, please come in.”, the lady introduces herself as the
landlady of the housing board.

Weaver felt a strange aura creeping near him. The moment she saw
him, she gave him a warm welcoming smile. She stepped aside,
holding the door wide open, and he walked into the house. The
compulsion or more accurately, the desire to follow after her into
that house was extraordinarily strong. “I saw the notice in the
window,” he said, holding himself back.“Yes, I know”, she said
ominously.

“I was wondering about a room”, Weaver asks. “It's all ready for
you, my dear,” she said.
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She had a round pink face and very gentle blue eyes. She seemed
familiar. “I was on my way to the Candlewood,” he told her. “But
the notice in your window just happened to catch my eye”. "My
dear boy" “ she said, "Why don't you come in, out of the cold?”
"How much do you charge?" “Fifteen or sixteen pence a night,
including breakfast”. It was fantastically cheap. It was less than half
of what he had been willing to pay.

"If that is too much", she added, "then perhaps I can reduce it just a
tiny bit. Do you desire an egg for breakfast? Eggs are expensive at
the moment. It would be three pence less without the eggs".

"Fifteen or sixteen pence is fine" he answered. “I would very much

like to stay here”. “I knew you would. Do come in”.

Weaver took off his hat and stepped over the threshold. “Just hang
it there,” she said. There were no other hats or coats in the hall.
There were no umbrellas, no walking sticks, nothing.

“We have it all to ourselves,” she said, smiling at him over her
shoulder as she led the way upstairs. “This woman is slightly dotty”,
he told himself. “I thought you’d be simply swamped with
applicants”, he said politely. “Oh! I am my dear, of course I am. But
the trouble is that I’m just a teensy weensy bit choosy and particular
– if you see what I mean” “Ah! yes!”, replied Weaver, though he
had no clue what the woman was blabbering about. “But I’m always
ready.

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“But I’m always ready. My dear, it is such a pleasure when I open

the door and I see someone standing there who is just exactly
right”. She was halfway through, on the stairs as she paused with
one hand on the stair rail, turning her head and smiling down at
him with pale lips. “I like you, young man” she added, and her blue
eyes traveled slowly down the length of his body.

She took him to his room on the second floor. “This is your room.
I do hope you’ll like it.” She took him into a small but charming
front bedroom, switching on the light as she went in. She starts
questioning Mr. Weaver eerily, to which he awkwardly responds.
“And what about supper, my dear? Did you manage to get anything
to eat before you come here?” “I’m not hungry, thank you”, he said
skeptically.

“Very well, but before you go to bed, would you be kind enough to
pop into the sitting room on the ground floor and sign the book?
Everyone has to do that because it’s the ‘law of the land’ and we
don’t want to go breaking any laws at this stage in the proceedings,
do we?” she said and went quickly. So, a few minutes later, after
unpacking his suitcase and washing his hands, he trotted downstairs
to the ground floor and entered the living room.

The landlady wasn’t there, but the fire was glowing in the hearth,
and a little dachshund was still sleeping in front of it. The room
was wonderfully warm and cozy. He found the guest book lying
open on the piano, so he took out his pen and wrote down his
name and address. Surprisingly, he was the first entry in the book,
which creeped him out.
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“You are such a charming young man” a voice behind him

answered and he turned and saw the landlady coming into the
room with a large silver tea tray in her hands.

“I knew you were interesting,” she said, setting the tea tray down on
the low table in front of the sofa. “Your tea is ready,” she said. He
sat on the sofa infront of the landlady, who was eyeing him down.
“From how many years have you been running this business?”,
Weaver enquires hoping to get some answers. She slightly turned
her eyes up and said “From 9 years” “But you haven't got any
guests till now?” he asked.

“No my dear, only you” she answered strangely. Weaver, now

totally uncomfortable with her actions and deliverance, started
sipping his tea. The tea tasted fishy, faintly of bitter almonds.

When he quickly glanced at the kitchen, he saw a weird-looking

bottle and quickly realized that the tea had been poisoned. A
suspicious Mr.Weaver remained calm, then started acting as if he
was drinking the tea. He knew that the woman was observing him
from top to bottom with cunning eyes from the sharp edge of the
cup, releasing that Weaver knew what she was planning.

All of a sudden, the landlady stopped drinking her tea and slowly
moved towards the steps. As she was climbing the steps, the light
suddenly went off. And when his landlady reached the 4th floor. A
terrified Weaver took his bag and ran out of the housing board. It
was a perfect escape, else, who knew what the mad woman had in
her mind.
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And retreated to a nearby forest. He was surprised, for there were

no forests, near the housing board earlier that day.
He kept moving forward with a torch in his hand. The air was
bitterly cold and huge black clouds met each other. It was going to
rain soon.

The forest was pitch dark. There was no sign of life, yet he never
stopped walking. He felt that his presence was needed elsewhere.
After some time, he heard some creepy noises behind his back; he
turned back and found nothing. He continued walking, thinking it
to be hunch and nothing else. The same noisewas heard again, and
he turned back again only to find darkness!! He was a bit frightened
but mustered some courage to move forward. Suddenly he felt a
cold soft hand touch his shoulder.

He suddenly turned back. But, there was no one. Just then, as he

feared, it started raining heavily accompanied with thunderstorms
and he took a run for it and found an old dusted mansion. He
briskly ran near the door, fully wet. Weaver entered the mansion
fully mesmorized by its condition, though it looked a little crappy
from the outside. The lights were blinking, but the house looked
very clean and tidy.

Weaver wandered the house in search of any clue regarding the

masked murderer. The rain suddenly stopped.But Weaver wanted to
explore the mansion so he went upstairs and noticed a huge
cupboard. Curious, he opened the cupboard and found various
kinds of outfits.

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Drenched in muddy water, Weaver changed his outfit. While leaving

the house, he found a big wall-sized painting of a woman standing
alongside King Greenslade. Weaver was shocked to see the painting
and figured, that the woman to be King Greenslade’s wife.

He moved towards the painting and noticed scratches on one side,

which completely peeled off the brown paint. Intrigued, Weaver
slightly touched the painting. The painting also moved slightly
revealing what’s been hidden on the back, It seemed to be a
wooden board coated with a scented essence. He then realizes that
it is a secret door stashed behind a painting. He removed the
painting and as he predicted, it was a huge wooden door! Hiding in
plain sight.

He opened the door to find the corpse of a woman hanging in front

of him. Mr. Weaver was horrified and tried to calm himself. The
whole face of the woman was bruised. He figured that the painting
was just a gimmick to hide the woman’s corpse and that the
scratches were probably caused by whosoever has killed her.
He observed her, she had the same dress as the woman beside
Prince Greenslade in the painting. He noticed that she had been
holding a paper in her hand.

Feeling it to be important, Weaver took that paper. It was a map of

the forest he was stuck in. He took the map and decided escape the
creepy forest for it was already evening and he was sick of the
ominous tickles he has been getting.

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He resumed his journey and followed wherever the map took him.
A while later, he heard a scream. “You! You cheated me. I thought
you were on my side, you selfish witch!” A male voice came out.
“No, I didn’t cheat you!”, accompanied by a female voice.

Weaver seemed to recognize those voices, he soon caught upto the

voices. “Why? Why did you save Weaver? I was the landlady. I
planned to kill him at the housing board. You rascal, how dare you?
And you promised me that you wouldn’t cheat!” “Ah! Ahh!! Ahhh!!!
Don’t kill me... Don’t, please”, the female voice begged for help. He
recognized the voice to be “The Scarlett Witch”, Protector of the
forest, and The Runaway Mage of England.

Weaver moved closer to them and watched the scene while hiding
behind a tree. He noticed that a giant man in a big black blanket
stabbing the witch in her neck.

At that moment, he remembers a key detail given by the citizens of

Reading. The ‘giant man’ here was covered in a big black cloak, just
as the people described their masked murderer. Weaver might be
onto something. He waited for the perfect opportunity to strike.

But, the face of the man was not visible. Chance favours Weaver, as
quickly throws a large net from his bag onto the man. Finally, after
days of wandering about, Weaver caught the killer. But, he couldn’t
save the witch, she was stabbed to death.

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Weaver offers his condolences as he feels sorry for the woman, for
she was a mighty one.

After interrogating his captive for a while, Weaver finds out that he
is none other than the Black Shadow, the man who has been
ruthlessly killing innocents in the city. Enraged, Mr. Weaver took
the murderer to the city the very next morning to let the
administration inflict a suitable punishment.

Upon gathering everyone in the centre of the city, he took off

Blackshadow’s mask. But to their surprise, the killer was King
Greenslade himself!!

—TO BE CONTINUED–

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 Tale-16
THE WITCH IN WINTER PART 2
The crowd, taken aback, didn’t trust Weaver, that their beloved
King was the heinous criminal. Weaver, still recovering from the
utter shock, forced the King to confess the truth. The King
shameful for his action kneels before his people and confesses that
he was The Black Shadow. “My precious, I’m the one who
committed these atrocities, I have cheated all of you! I am extremely
sorry! I regret my decisions, Please do forgive me”, the King cried
in a feeling of deep sorrow as if his tears were running like a
waterfall. The citizens of the famed city were having none of
it....They trusted their King to bring order and justice after the tragic
passing of his father, they had faith in him.

But in the end, it was the King himself, who betrayed England and
its royal lineage. A fury ensues throughout the city as the people run
rampant, throwing rocks or whatever their hands can pick up, at
Greenslade. They demanded justice.

Weaver tried his level best to calm the people and said, “I know the
people of the United Kingdom are in deepest grief and peaks of
anger. There must be a solution for all the mess your former King
caused. Don't worry, Please return to your houses, while I figure a
way out of this”. The people, hesitant at first, still mad at
Greenslade, slowly return to their homes.

Now only two remained, Weaver and the forbidden King were
there in the palace. Weaver enraged at Greenslade dragged the King
into the hall bitterly and tied him to a chair, facing him.

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Weaver started, “The so-called “Great Highness of Reading”, tell

me why were you killing the citizens and why did you hunt down
the witch? Tell me; otherwise, you will face brutal oppression, and
the people won’t leave you, they will kill you!”

“Have mercy, Please don’t kill me!” The Prince cried out in agony
“I will tell you everything, the whole truth, but please leave me” he
said, coughing blood. “Good, carry on” exclaims the proud
detective, offering the beaten-up man some water.

Greenslade had water and took a long breath. “This goes back to a
long time ago. I was forced to marry my wife, Rose Winslet. She
was a greedy brat and used me as her pet. I hated her.”

Suddenly Weaver interrupts by saying “A lil’ birdie told me, that you
have a younger brother? Am I right?”

“Yes, I did, his name was Peter Grindelwald, I hated him too, he
was a sly little rat, and as he gained more popularity among my
people I was afraid that he may take my kingdom from me. And as
a matter of fact, a day came when he almost dethroned me....With
the people in his favor, I got scared, this kingdom belongs to me
and only me ”. Greenslade screamed in pain.

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“One fine day....probably my luckiest day ever, on the battlefield,

facing the dreaded Persians, I betrayed my brother....Pushed him
down a cliff. I watched him die, falling to his doom....into to a huge
canyon, I was finally at peace” said Greenslade.

Weaver, noticing Greenslade’s greed and lust for power, was

stunned by his words, and he only nodded his head as if he said
“Ok”.

“With my brother out of the picture, I could finally catch some

breath, but as soon as the weekly administration of the kingdom
resumed, Rose got on my nerves again, I was feeling left out,
although I was at peace, not my mind. My heart wanted more. One
day my father, King William III, came into my dream and said that
if I kill my wife and at least one person in every house in the city I
will be getting more power, money, and control over the United
Kingdom and that I will become the Emperor of this damned
world. I thought it was just a silly dream, just like all the others I
was getting from the last month.”

Just then, Weaver realized that Greenslade’s lust for the throne and
more power made him crazy and see things. King William III was a
heartful man and died of old age, he wouldn't say anything of such
sort regarding hunting down innocent people. He figured that, after
King William’s death, there was a shift of power to Greenslade and
this greed for more control over power made him a monster.

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 The Witch in Winter Part 2

Greenslade continues, “But the next day I went to the forest to

hunt some animals, and all of a sudden my father appeared in front
of me. Thinking it was those silly dreams again, I tried to snap out
of it, But I couldn't....It felt too real. Just then the mirage of my
father started talking “My dear son, in order to gain more power,
hunt down your people and your wife and become more powerful.
Move to the edge of the forest, and you will find a witch named
Scarlett Luesby, a powerful witch and my most trusted ally, you can
find anything and everything at her disposal about getting more
power, but please be careful, for you must abide by her sayings else
you will get damned by her dreaded curse, so please.....be careful”,
He said and disappeared. This time it was a little different.

The look in my father’s eyes gave me a motive. Thinking it was a

blessing from God, I now was determined to get more powerful.
So, I traveled days and nights in search of the forbidden witch.
After days of struggle, I finally found Scarlett in a cottage, near the
edge of a forest alongside her forbidden lake. By the time I reached
her cottage, she was chanting her mantras by the lake, creating an
ominous atmosphere. I waited until she was done. After some time
she came near me and welcomed me into her cozy cottage. I
approached her and said what my father had told me.

She said that the visions I have been getting were real and that she
would have helped me but it could be too dangerous because by
messing with destiny one can face serious circumstances. But her
words never reached my dumb brain. She rejected my proposal but
my lust for power kept growing stronger. I just wanted to get
stronger and stronger.
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Neglecting Scarlett’s advice and blindly following my dead father’s

words, I took my wife with me to our guest house in the forest. I
brutally stabbed her and hid her there in the back of our wall
painting. After completing business with Rose I went after the
people of my own kingdom, tried to terrorize them, haunt them by
donning the name BlackShadow.

This shocking news reached Scarlett. She started to save each one
that I targeted to kill. I missed many opportunities to kill many
civilians, all because of Scarlett Luesby’s mystic powers. This
enraged my anger even more. But just in the nick of time, I got to
know from one of my servants that Scarlett can only use her powers
in the winter. So, I waited.....waited till the summer arrived, tied her
up locked her in a cage, and left her to be tortured by my soldiers.

Thinking that I could finally execute my evil schemes, I started

killing the civilians with no mercy. The greed for power took over
me and I started to massacre everyone ruthlessly. By the time winter
arrived again, I was almost caught by the locals of the city. The very
next day, all the civilians demanded justice and had enough of
running away from the masked marauder. But little did the innocent
ones know that I was the one behind the cape of the murderer all
along. In order to save myself I called you upon my court, The
great detective Mr. Billy Weaver, to act as a pawn in my
masterpiece.

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 The Witch in Winter Part 2

While you were busy decoding the mysterious cases of the murders
and translating your meaningless “clues”, I was following you the
entire time and when I got to know that you entered Lancashire,
The capital of Themyscira I purposefully disguised myself as the
landlady tried to get rid of you by mixing that poison in your tea.
But as cheeky as a rodent, you escaped out of my sight.

Just then I was informed that the Witch regained her powers and
escaped. I was infuriated with my bad luck so I set out to kill the
damned Witch once and for all and gain all her power for myself.
Though I was able to kill her, you caught me off guard by reaching
out to her first. Neither did I gain any power nor have I done justice
to my people. I was so caught up in lust, power and control over
the world that I forgot what it was to be a true ruler” " the prince
explained in sorrow.

Weaver thought for a few seconds and burst out laughing at the
selfish look on Greenslade’s face. He started saying “You see, I am
no Billy Weaver, I am Peter Grindelwald, brother!”, Revealing his
true identity Mr.Weaver removes his disguise and to Greenslade’s
astonishment it really was his brother Peter Grindelwald.
“But...How can it be? I thought you fell off that cliff?”, stutters
Greenslade.

Peter interrupts him by saying, “I was ten steps ahead of you

brother! When you threw off that cliff, Scarlett, who just happened
to pass by along the canyon, rescued me. I was very grateful to her
and told everything, about the war we were fighting and how my
own brother betrayed me.
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She simply smiled and said that destiny could not be changed and
justice shall happen to all those who cross paths with the devil. She
advised me to stay hidden and never enter the kingdom until fate
called upon my name. So from that day forth, I stayed in her cottage
honing my skills to perfection. And the day you met Scarlett, she
cast a spell in your bloodstream so that she could hear every
thought that your nasty brain could think of. So when she listened
to the conversation of bringing Detective Billy Weaver into court,
she informed me of this conundrum. She said that now was the
time to seek vengeance and defeat the evil forces once and for all.
So the next day I visited the real Mr. Billy Weaver and asked for his
approval on this matter, Upon his approval I disguised myself as the
Detective and entered your court. With our combined forces we
were easily able to detect your poison trap, with Scarlett, cautioning
me of the potential danger and turning off the lights in the mansion
so that I could escape and come to her aid in the forest. Oh! And
the Scarlett you thought you had killed was a decoy and the real
Scarlett was always alongside me using her powers to make herself
invisible.”

Just then Scarlett Witch pops out of thin air revealing herself to
Greenslade who still can’t believe that he got tricked by his younger
brother. “Admit you defeat Greenslade! As I said, Scarlett cast a
spell on ya....She can make you say the truth forcefully; even though
you don't want to. Making you admit the sins you have committed
is enough for me to win back the trust of the citizens of Reading.
Evil desires never win against the light of hope. Give up
Greenslade! Admit your defeat, you’ve achieved nothing by killing
innocent souls.
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 The Witch in Winter Part 2

Can't you see that your greed for power is killing you too.“, says eter
triumphantly and a bit concerned for his brother though he has
done treacherous things to him and the citizens of Reading. “I am
so very sorry......I didn’t realize.....”, Greenslade stutters.

Realising his follies and how greed for power corrupted and warped
his mind, Greenslade confessed to the courtiers and to his people.
“I am the Black Shadow”, he says without restraint, “And I am
deeply repentant for the heinous things I have done.”

Upon listening to the confession, the courtiers and the civilians alike
were desperately seeking revenge. Everyone then agreed to banish
Greenslade to the dungeons for the rest of his life as his
punishment, for the sins he committed. Greenslade accepted his
fate happily, this was quite tearful for Peter but he subdued his
emotions after Scalett calmed him down.

With Greenslade in the dungeons and Good winning over the

Wicked, the civilians celebrated the day with newly sprung colours
of freedom and happily welcomed Peter Grindelwald as their King
and welcomed Scarlett Luesby as the Royal Mage of Reading once
again. Together, they ruled the city of Reading for many
generations.

Good and evil are two common dichotomies. Wicked, immoral or

sinful behaviour is considered to be evil while selfless, gentle, and
compassionate behaviour is considered to be good.

-
91
THE END
Note from the Literature Club:

We, the students of Nine Education, stand on the threshold of bidding adieu
to this anthology which was a labour of love, a collaboration woven from
the threads of our ideas, and experiences. We want to take a moment to
express our deepest gratitude to each one of you who made this incredible
journey possible. The opportunity to create this book, fueled by our
collective passion for literature, has been nothing short of a dream come
true.

Your unwavering support, encouragement, and belief in our abilities have

been the driving force behind the pages of this anthology. With each story,
we aimed to transcend the ordinary, explore the extraordinary, and share a
piece of imagination of our students with all of you.

As the ink dries on the final pages we hope that you find solace, wonder,
and endless fascination within these pages, just as our students did while
penning them down.
Note from the faculty of Nine Education KTP:

We are delighted to extend our heartfelt gratitude and admiration for the
outstanding work produced by our talented cohort of 16-year-old students.
With their pens wielded like wands and their imaginations boundless, they
have crafted enthralling stories that push the boundaries of the known and
venture into realms of unexplored creativity.

Within the pages of our anthology, the voices of these students resound
boldly and uninhibited, fashioning worlds where the unfamiliar becomes
newly discovered. Each narrative serves as a testament to the potency of
imagination and the infinite potential inherent in our students.

As faculty, we take great pride in our student's accomplishments and in the

collective effort that has given rise to this compendium of stories. The
commitment, ingenuity, and fervor exhibited by our students not only
signify their personal growth but also underscore the solidarity of our
educational community.

These stories, born from the dreams of our students, will forever be
cherished as evidence of the transformative influence of education and the
vast opportunities awaiting each budding intellect within Nine Education
KTP.

We extend our gratitude for your involvement in this inspiring voyage, and
here's to numerous more literary escapades in the times ahead.
 In the "Tales of Nine," creativity
takes its course, and you the
reader shall dance with the diverse
genres and voices that unfold
within.

This anthology is not just a

collection of stories; it's an
invitation to experience the magic
of storytelling, to be inspired, and
to carry the essence of these tales
into the realms of your
imagination.

Thank you for joining us on this

adventure. May the magic of these
stories linger, spark conversations,
and continue to ignite the flames
of creativity within you.