Today, I came to truly understand what fear is. If this is a dream, then it's a terrible one. But if it's reality, then it's a horrifying nightmare—one that I wouldn’t wish upon anyone.
Shreya, her eyes wide with terror, looked at me, and it seemed as though her eyes might pop out of their sockets at any moment. With a trembling voice, she asked, "Ruhi didi, tell me that we're dreaming and this isn't real, right?"
I swallowed hard, trying to keep my own fear in check, and replied, "Shreya, like you, I hope this is just a dream and not our reality."
We stared at each other, both filled with fear and sorrow. Then, we heard the sound of footsteps approaching. I quickly grabbed Shreya's hand, and we sneaked closer to the source of the sound. From our hiding spot, we saw people walking by, laughing and heading towards their homes.
Shreya whispered, "Why are these women wearing gowns? And the men, too—they’re all dressed like they're from the Royal Family of England."
I nodded, gulping hard. Everything about this place felt off. If we revealed ourselves, we'd undoubtedly stand out in the most alarming way. Shreya tightened her grip on my arm, pulling me further back into the shadows, and whispered, "This has to be a prank, Ruhi didi. There's no way we're in another world."
I squeezed her hands gently, trying to calm her down. "If this is a prank, no one would go to such lengths to create an entire world just for us."
Tears welled up in Shreya's eyes, and I could feel my own vision blurring with moisture. She quickly pulled her hands from mine and wiped her tears away. Then, with a sudden realization, she exclaimed, "The phone, Ruhi didi! We have our phones! We can try calling someone!"
Her words sparked a glimmer of hope within me. "Yes! I was so scared that I didn’t even think about our phones."
With shaky hands, we both pulled out our phones, desperately hoping for a signal. But the screens displayed the dreaded words: *No Network.* Despite this, we continued to wander, searching for even the faintest connection, unaware of where we were heading.
As I stared at my phone in frustration, Shreya suddenly hugged me tightly and pulled me behind a pillar. "Ruhi didi, look around. This place is... strange. It looks like we're inside a building."

I carefully peeked around the pillar. It was indeed a stunning place, almost dreamlike in its beauty, yet the fear of being lost in this unknown world overshadowed any appreciation I might have had. Shreya clung to me as we heard footsteps again. Our breathing was loud, ragged, and we both struggled to stay calm.
A deep, authoritative voice echoed through the space. "Hello? Who's there?"
In any other situation, the voice might have been appealing—rich, deep, the kind that could make a girl’s heart skip a beat. But all I felt was pure fear. Shreya and I squeezed our eyes shut, hoping to remain hidden.
The voice called out again, closer this time. "Whoever you are, come out now. I know someone is here."
Just then, we heard another set of footsteps, accompanied by the sharp click of heels. A different voice, this one smoother but equally commanding, said, "Rag! What are you doing here? Go to your room and rest."
Shreya's wide eyes met mine, her fear mirroring my own. I gestured for her to stay quiet. The first man, presumably Rag, responded, "Lu, I heard something—a woman’s voice. She’s not alone. We need to check."
Panic surged through me again as I realized we might be caught. The men started searching the area, and we barely had time to react. When the men’s backs were turned, we bolted, but before we could escape, someone grabbed my wrist.
In one swift motion, I was yanked backward and shoved against a broad chest. The scent of mint filled my senses, and I could feel the hard muscles beneath the fabric. I heard Shreya's muffled cries, as though someone had covered her mouth.
I clenched my fists and shut my eyes tightly, too terrified to move. The man holding me pulled me away from himself slightly, but he still didn’t say a word. The silence was deafening until I heard another man’s voice, the one named Lu.
"Rag!" Lu called out.
I kept my eyes tightly shut, too afraid to see who held me. I could still hear Shreya struggling nearby. Then, the man holding me leaned in close and whispered softly, "Open your eyes."
I shook my head, refusing to comply. But then he leaned even closer, his breath warm against my ear as he whispered, "I have a gun, and it will take only one minute to blow your skull off."
My eyes snapped open in shock. Standing before me was the man called Rag, and he was breathtakingly handsome. His broad shoulders, sharp jawline, and piercing blue eyes made him look like he had stepped out of a magazine. But it wasn’t just his appearance that struck me—it was the strange, intense connection I felt when our eyes met. It was as if an electric current ran through my body, making me momentarily forget the terrifying situation we were in.
His eyes held mine, and I could tell he felt it too, whatever *it* was. I took a few shaky steps backward, trying to regain my composure, and stammered, "Please let us go... or help us. We don’t know where we are, and we’re scared."
Rag didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he glanced over at Lu, who was still holding Shreya, her struggles becoming more frantic. I tried to pull Shreya away from him, but Lu’s grip was firm.
"Please," I begged, "we’re begging you to either let us go or help us. We have no idea where we are."
I held Shreya’s hand tightly, and Rag exchanged another look with Lu. Just as I attempted to run, Rag grabbed me again, this time pulling me behind a pillar to hide.
Shreya’s hand slipped out of mine as Lu dragged her away. I was about to scream at Rag when he clamped a hand over my mouth. My eyes locked with his again, and I felt that same jolt of electricity.
"Shh," he whispered urgently. "Someone’s coming. Don’t speak or scream, or we won’t be able to help you."
I nodded, and he slowly removed his hand from my mouth. We could hear the sound of footsteps—guards, perhaps—talking among themselves as they approached. Rag pressed himself against me to keep me hidden, his breath hot against my face. For a moment, as he gazed into my eyes, I forgot where I was and what kind of danger we were in.
When the footsteps finally receded, Rag stepped back and took a deep breath. He gripped my wrist firmly and said, "Come with me to the library before anyone else finds you."
I hesitated, unsure whether to trust him, but I had no choice. I glanced over at Shreya, who was still held by Lu. Then Rag spoke again, his tone more urgent.
"Lu, we’ll help them. Take the other girl to the library quickly, before someone else shows up."
Shreya and I exchanged a glance filled with uncertainty and fear. She nodded slightly, and whispered, "We should go with them, Ruhi didi. We don’t have any other option... this is all too strange."
I gulped, nodding in agreement. Rag was still holding my wrist as he led me towards the library. I followed him, still unsure of what lay ahead, but knowing that whatever it was, it was better than being caught by the unknown dangers lurking in this place.
---

As I walked down the dimly lit hallway, lost in my thoughts after a long day, the eerie silence was suddenly broken by faint whispers. The sound of a woman's voice—desperate and fearful—echoed through the quiet corridors, making my heart race.
I followed the whispers, each step fueled by a growing sense of urgency.
Just then, Lu, my best friend, approached with his usual commanding presence. His voice cut through the tension, "Rag! What are you doing here? Go to your room and rest."
I told him about whispers. Finally find them. Two girls or women's.
Without thinking, I reached out and pulled one of the girls into my embrace. Her body was tense and trembling, and I could feel her fear seeping into me.
The scent of her fear mixed with the mint on my breath as I leaned in close, my voice barely a whisper, "Open your eyes."
She refused. I threatened her.
Her hesitation was palpable, but she eventually met my gaze. The moment our eyes locked, it felt as though the world around us had stopped. Her eyes were wide, shimmering with an intensity that spoke volumes—a blend of terror and something unnameable that tugged at my heartstrings.
It was an electric jolt, an immediate and profound connection that left me breathless.
Her voice, barely more than a whisper, broke the spell, "Please let us go... or help us. We don’t know where we are."
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