Helean's words hung heavy in the cold air.
The golden aura around Rudra flickered as he narrowed his eyes.
"That still doesn't justify what you did."
Rudra said, voice calm but stern.
"Taking innocent lives—even in death, it's a sin. You said you died in the church. Then why is your spirit bound here? Why haunt this mansion?"
For a moment, silence reigned.
"____"
Then, her laughter returned—
Softer this time, hollow with sorrow.
Haha~
"Because I chose to come back here,"
She said.
"This was the place I called home. My memories… my pain… they all remained tied to this estate. I watched it get sold, misused, and polluted by darkness. The ones who came here for greed or for cruelty—I dealt with them. But not all who died were by my hands…"
She paused.
Her crimson eyes dimmed.
"Some were taken by him."
She said, her voice cracking as a shiver passed through her ghostly form.
"John."
Rudra's eyes widened in shock.
Behind him, Amirtha's face tensed with disbelief, and Junoo muttered,
"But… wasn't he the one who killed you?"
Helean slowly nodded.
Nod~
"Yes. The day of my wedding. He killed my father, my mother… and me. But it didn't end there. After my death, he returned… again and again. Wearing different faces, different names. Using this place. Drawing dark things here. Every time I thought I'd be free, his shadow returned."
Her body trembled as she whispered,
"Even after his death of old age."
The three of them stood silent, the gravity of her words settling in.
Junoo whispered,
"What… is he?"
Rudra's gaze hardened as he turned toward the darkened corridor.
"That,"
He said,
"That's what we're going to find out."
Amirtha absorbed the weight of Helean's words, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
"____"
"Then tell me, Helean… when does he show up? If you haunt this place on the new moon… when does John's spirit return?"
Helean's crimson eyes gleamed faintly through the mist.
Her voice, now calm but layered with an undertone of loathing, answered:
"He comes on the full moon… when the world is bathed in silver, not shadow. The opposite of when I move. It's like we're cursed to dance on opposite sides of the same coin. We never see each other. Only feel the ruin left behind."
Junoo's breath caught, the implication clear.
Rudra clenched his fist slightly.
"So in seven nights… we meet him."
Helean nodded slowly.
Nod~
"Yes. And if you truly want answers, if you want to help me find peace… then you must be ready when the moon is full. He's not like me. He's... worse."
The air thickened again as the wind howled faintly through the windows.
Amirtha exhaled deeply.
"Then we've got seven days to prepare."
As their conversation drew to a close, a sudden stillness settled in the corridor.
The wind that had once howled fiercely now grew quiet, and the lingering chill in the air began to fade.
Helean, standing with a sombre expression, looked at each of them one last time.
Her red eyes dimmed slightly, losing some of their eerie glow.
A faint shimmer began to ripple across her ghostly form—
first at the edges of her veil, then travelling down her bridal gown.
"She's fading,"
Junoo whispered, watching in awe.
Helean gave a small, bittersweet smile.
"We'll talk again… when the time comes."
And then, like mist caught in the morning light, her form slowly turned translucent—
wavering in place—
before dissolving completely into the air, leaving behind only a faint scent of jasmine and the soft jingle of her anklets echoing into silence.
The corridor stood still once more, as if nothing had happened—
Yet something heavy and ancient had stirred.
Amirtha finally spoke
. "She's not gone. Just… resting."
Rudra nodded silently.
Nod~
"____"
Since the matter regarding Helean has been put on hold, all three of them decided to take a day off and retire to their homes.
Rudra shut the door gently behind him, the quiet click echoing in the silence of his dimly lit room.
Click~
He loosened his shoulders and walked over to the mirror mounted above the wooden dresser.
The night outside was pitch black, the new moon offering no light.
The reflection staring back at him, eyes serious.
He took a deep breath, then softly called out,
"Helean."
No response.
Just the sound of the ceiling fan creaking slowly.
"____"
His gaze sharpened.
He took a step closer to the mirror, his voice firmer this time.
"Helean."
The air grew still.
Then suddenly, a faint, surprised voice seemed to ripple from nowhere—
and everywhere.
"How… how did you know I was here?"
The mirror flickered, a faint shimmer moving across its surface like water disturbed by a breeze.
Rudra's lips curved into a knowing smirk.
Smirk~
"I didn't. I guessed. But your surprise just gave it away. So why lie?"
A pause.
Then, with a sound like a sigh caught between dimensions, Helean's voice whispered again with a pout adorning her face.
Since she was not in her scary spirit form.
Sigh~
"You're clever… That makes you dangerous."
Rudra's expression remained unreadable.
"Dangerous only to those who deserve it. You're not hiding in the mirror out of malice, are you?"
There was a silence, and then the faintest echo of anklets chiming—
soft, distant.
Whistle~
"No. Just curiosity. And maybe… a little loneliness."
"____"
Hearing her words, Rudra fell silent.
He turned away from the mirror, and standing near the corner of the room now was Helean—
her translucent figure dressed in the same tattered bridal gown, yet her expression was different.
The crimson glow in her eyes had dimmed.
No longer did she seem like a vengeful spirit.
In that moment, she looked like a lonely, helpless girl—
frozen in time, caught between life and death.
Rudra studied her quietly for a few moments before speaking.
"You said you'd disappear after the new moon. Why lie?"
Helean looked down, her fingers nervously brushing the frayed hem of her gown.
The soft clink of her anklets echoed faintly.
"…Because,"
She said with a sigh,
"I didn't want you—or Amirtha, or Junoo—to worry about me still being around. I thought… if you knew I'd still be lingering after the new moon, you might get uncomfortable. Maybe even fear me."
Her voice trembled ever so slightly at the end, the weight of her centuries-old isolation creeping into her tone.
She looked up again, eyes meeting his.
"I didn't want to be misunderstood by someone whom I could finally speak without fearing. That's all."
Rudra's expression softened, though he didn't say anything immediately.
He could sense the sincerity in her voice—
This wasn't the same ghost who screamed threats and shattered windows.
This was someone lost… still clinging to fragments of her stolen life.
After a pause, he asked quietly,
"Do you… I mean, only you were present now, or even John's spirit is present here?"
Hearing Rudra's gentle question, Helean immediately shook her head, her translucent veil swaying with the motion.
"No,"
She said firmly, her voice suddenly sharper, more alert.
"I can't stay here when the full moon rises."
Rudra frowned.
"Why?"
Her expression darkened, a flicker of old fear returning to her eyes.
"Because that's when he comes."
"John?"
She nodded slowly.
Nod~
"His spirit doesn't linger here like mine. It comes from outside… like something chained and only let loose when the moon is full. Every time, he searches this house, room by room, hallway by hallway—like he's looking for something. And every time he gets closer."
Rudra's eyes narrowed.
"Looking for what?"
Helean's voice dropped to a whisper, as though afraid the walls themselves might hear.
"Don't know but if he finds me."
A silence fell between them—
tense, heavy, and cold.
"____"
Her gaze flicked to the window, where the moonlight was faint, just a sliver now.
"I vanish before then. I can't let him find me again."
"What happens if he does?"
Rudra asked quietly.
Her answer came without hesitation:
"I die again."
After spending some quiet time speaking with Helean, Rudra stretched, rubbing his neck and letting out a yawn.
Yawn~
"I'm going to sleep,"
He said softly, offering a small nod toward the ghostly girl still lingering in the room.
Nod~
Helean's face immediately turned into a pout.
"You humans and your sleep… always escaping when things get interesting."
But Rudra was already pulling the blanket over himself, turning away with a faint smirk.
Smirk~
"Goodnight, Helean."
Left behind in the dim room, the ghost bride hovered for a moment longer, arms folded as she grumbled to herself.
"Lucky mortal… I can't sleep."
With an indignant whisper, she vanished, fading through the wall with a swirl of white mist.
The Next Morning...
The sun rose over Ooty, bathing the highlands in golden light.
The workers, who had been on a short holiday, returned to their duties around The Highland Leaf – Restaurant & Inn.
The sound of chatter, cooking, and clinking utensils returned to life across the building.
Inside, Rudra sat relaxed in the lounge area, eyes fixed on the television.
India and England were mid-match in a heated cricket game, the tension in the air rising as the crowd on-screen roared with every shot.
Just as Sachin hit a boundary, Rudra's phone buzzed.
BUZZ.
He glanced at the screen:
Guru Arvind Calling.
Rudra answered, voice casual.
"Yes, Guruji?"
Guru Arvind's warm, ever-calm voice came through the line.
"Rudra, I'm on my way to visit you. I should reach Ooty in about half an hour."
Rudra sat up straighter, surprised.
"That's sudden. Everything okay?"
The old man chuckled.
Chuckle~
"Everything's fine. I just thought it was time I checked in on you personally—and I'm bringing a surprise."
"____"
"A surprise?"
Rudra repeated, a mix of curiosity and concern creeping into his voice.
"You'll see soon. Be ready,"
Arvind said cheerfully, before ending the call.
Rudra leaned back, phone still in hand, eyes drifting toward the entrance.
"Now what sort of surprise is he talking about…"
After ending the call with Guru Arvind, Rudra wasted no time.
He found Amirtha and Junoo seated in the common area, going through the morning planner.
"Guru Arvind is on his way here."
Rudra said, a mix of surprise and respect in his tone.
"He'll be here in about twenty minutes. And… he said he's bringing a surprise."
Both women exchanged glances.
"Guruji himself? That is a surprise,"
Amirtha said, standing up straight.
Junoo blinked.
"A surprise, huh? Let's hope it's not another cult after Brahmastra."
Twenty Minutes Later...
The low rumble of an approaching engine broke the stillness of the morning air, followed by the honk of a horn.
Horn~ Horn~
A sleek black SUV pulled up in front of The Highland Leaf – Restaurant & Inn.
The vehicle door opened, and out stepped Guru Arvind, his white kurta fluttering slightly in the breeze.
His calm eyes scanned the building warmly.
To everyone's delight, stepping out behind him were Shiva, Ravi, and Sandeep.
Amirtha's eyes lit up, and a big smile broke across her face as Shiva rushed forward to embrace her.
"Ma!"(Mom!)
Shiva said with a grin, hugging her tightly.
Amirtha held him close, brushing his hair affectionately.
"You've grown a little, haven't you?"
Ravi and Sandeep, meanwhile, went straight for Rudra, both speaking at once.
"Rudra! Guess who's been surviving jungle duty?"
Ravi grinned.
"Or more like escaping homework duty from that grumpy old sector chief,"
Sandeep added with a laugh.
Rudra chuckled and playfully pulled both of them into a half-hug.
Chuckle~
"You two never change."
But the next surprise made Rudra blink.
A small blur of motion leapt from the open car door.
"Hammy?"
The tiny squirrel, fur glossy and tail twitching with excitement, landed squarely on Rudra's shoulder.
She immediately began chittering away in fast-paced squeaks and gestures, her little paws patting his cheek, clearly scolding him for leaving without her.
"Okay, okay, I didn't know you were that attached,"
Rudra said with a sheepish smile.
Although no one else could understand her words, the others could tell from Hammy's antics and puffed cheeks that she was both thrilled and pouting.
Junoo blinked in amazement.
"She really likes you, doesn't she?"
Guru Arvind approached with a knowing smile.
"When we were preparing to come here, this little cutie jumped into our luggage and refused to leave. She even sneaked into the car and hid until halfway through the trip."
"She's got some serious attachment issues."
Sandeep joked.
Hammy turned and glared at him, chittering something that clearly wasn't polite.
Which others couldn't understand except Rudra.
Hahaha~
Hahaha~
Everyone laughed.
Guru Arvind placed a gentle hand on Rudra's shoulder.
"Looks like your little ally from the test wasn't ready to say goodbye."
Rudra, smiling softly, gently patted Hammy on the head.
"Welcome back, partner."
As the warm reunion continued, the group settled into the inn's lounge area with cups of tea and snacks laid out.
Between the casual jokes and updates from each of their sectors, Rudra eventually steered the conversation into serious territory.
"There's something you all need to know,"
Rudra began, his voice calm but firm.
Everyone went quiet, their attention sharpening.
He explained everything —
from the rumours about the haunting, the eerie deaths that had taken place, and the chilling night when he, Amirtha, and Junoo encountered the spirit.
He spoke of the strange happenings, the spectral bride, and the looming threat that was tied to the coming full moon.
When he finished, the room was silent.
"____"
"____"
"____"
Guru Arvind leaned back slightly, his eyes narrowed in thought.
"So… the ghost was real,"
He said slowly, absorbing its weight.
Shiva frowned.
Frown~
"You're serious? A real spirit?"
Ravi looked unsettled.
"And people actually died in that hotel before?"
Sandeep was silent, his arms crossed, processing everything.
Rudra nodded.
Nod~
"I've confirmed it. The deaths weren't coincidences. Most of the victims had disturbing marks or were involved in questionable behaviour. It wasn't just random."
Guru Arvind rested his hand on his chin, lost in thought.
"Normally, the Brāhmansh don't deal with this kind of supernatural incident. We leave that to specific ritualists or elemental handlers trained to protect Astra's."
"But,"
He added, looking Rudra straight in the eye,
"Since this is your assigned post and your home for now, I'll speak with someone in our allied circle—someone who's familiar with binding or neutralising hostile spirits. Especially if this 'John' spirit appears on a full moon night."
Rudra gave a respectful nod.
Nod~
"Thanks, Guruji."
But he did not mention Helean's continued presence.
He could still recall the way she had looked the previous night—
less like a vengeful ghost and more like a girl suspended in grief, fear, and confusion.
He remembered her honesty, her pain… and her desire not to scare them by overstaying.
So he kept her secret, for now.
**********************************************************************************************************************************************************
(Author's POV)
(A/N):
Thanks for reading the chapter!
Please give a review!!! And power stone!!!
Which will motivate me more?