Into The Shadows by Aayush Borulkar (smart ebook reader txt) 📗

place was haunted because of the murder,” explained Abhimanyu. “So two years after the incident, I came to Bardez to get rid of the bodies once and for all. I experimented with sulphuric acid on a dead cat in the garden, and it worked. Hence, I threw the keychain in that pit to get rid of it. I had kept it with myself for two years, as a memoir of all the dreadful things I had committed that night,” Abhimanyu sighed. “Then I went into the jungle one night and dissolved all the three bodies with sulphuric acid,” he said.

“That is one hell of a story now. You are one professional criminal,” said Erika. “But now it’s time to put a seal on it,” she continued getting up from her chair.

“I will get the paperwork and transportation ready by tomorrow to take the six of them back to Panaji,” said Avinash as he turned to leave.

But Abhimanyu had other plans. He was not going to give in so easily. He was clenching his fists slowly, tighter with every passing minute, and then suddenly he jumped out of the couch and pulled Richa by the shoulder firmly.

“I am not done yet!” he screamed, pointing a gun to her head as she cried out in pain.

Chapter 20

“I won’t be done so easily!” yelled Abhimanyu holding Richa by her shoulder and pointing a gun to her head.

Everybody backed away from Abhimanyu. Erika and Avinash took out their guns at once, aiming straight at Abhimanyu. The two constables came running inside on hearing the commotion.

“This is insane!!! Are you out of your senses?” yelled Vibha.

“That’s Richa. Our Richa!” exclaimed Kaajal.

“Oh, no-no-no. I am not falling for these little cries anymore,” said Abhimanyu. “You two officers, drop your guns and your car keys on the floor and slide them towards me. Do it now!!”

The officers hesitated for a moment but realized that they had no other choice but to give in.

“Alright, here you go,” said Erika as both of them slid their guns towards Abhimanyu. He kicked the guns away under the couch.

“Now everybody, hands in the air where I can see them! I am going to go upstairs, get my car keys and money, and get as far away from here as possible with her,” said Abhimanyu, as he pressed the gun to Richa’s head. Richa had started sobbing.

Everybody gave way to Abhimanyu as he climbed up the stairs. Richa fell while climbing, but Abhimanyu picked her up roughly and continued walking up. Everybody followed him upstairs. He entered his room and tried to find the keys and the money with his left hand. Till then, both the officers, Nishant, and Ishaan had also reached the room. Erika stealthily turned to close and lock the door.

“Heyy!! Back off !!” shouted Abhimanyu pointing the gun at them.

“Abhimanyu, there is no escape now. Even if you run away, how far could you possibly go? We will hunt you down eventually,” said Erika walking towards him cautiously.

‘Heyy, back off!! I will shoot her!” threatened Abhimanyu taking his steps backward.

“Nobody needs to be killed here. You are checkmate buddy” joined in Avinash as Nishant and Ishaan watched all this from the corner of the room.

“No, I am not! You will see that when I drive out of here with her,” said Abhimanyu, slowly moving backwards towards the window as the two officers approached him. “I have done all of this to save my friends. We were the victims that night, and I just wanted to clean up everything up,’ he added.

The officers were trying all they could to put sense into Abhimanyu while slowly walking towards him. Richa was screaming in fear. Abhimanyu was yelling his lungs out and flashing his gun towards the officers. And in all this ruckus, Richa suddenly bit Abhimaanyu’s right forearm really hard. This made Abhimanyu lose the weapon. He even let Richa loose as he cried out in pain. Richa turned towards him and in a fit of anger and fright, pushed him hard with both her hands. He lost his balance and crashed out of the window and kept on falling till he smashed onto the car parked below.

Everyone in the room ran towards the window and leaned out in disbelief.

“Holy shit!” exclaimed Ishaan as he saw a disfigured Abhimanyu on the top of a shattered SUV.

Richa could not believe what she had done, and the whole villa reverberated with her shrill scream.

They all scrambled back to the entrance of the house. Kaajal and Vibha were already standing there and turned in shock as they heard footsteps behind them. Abhimanyu’s disfigured body was lying on the top of the shattered SUV.

“How did this even happen?!” asked Vibha, still in shock.

Avinash went up to the body. “He is dead,” he announced, after checking the pulse.

Everyone except Erika and the constables turned away as they could not stand the sight of their friend lying dead on the roof of a car. Richa sat on the pavement, crying hysterically, as if all her emotions were flowing out, all at once.

“No one is at fault here,” said Erika coldly. “It was just an accident, and that is what is going to be mentioned in the report.”

“What?!’ exclaimed Nishant. “Our friend here is dead, and you are suggesting that it is going to be reported as an accident?”

“This must be a normal scenario for you guys, but that is our friend there, who is lying dead on that car,” said Kaajal.

“Richa pushed him away in self-defence as he held her at gunpoint and threatened to kill her,” Erika explained. “And even if she gets charged and convicted, she will be admitted to an asylum which she already is in,” she added as Richa was still on the floor crying out loud.

Nobody could believe that their friend was actually dead and that too, in such a gruesome manner. They could never forgive him for the horrendous crimes he had committed. But still, he was their friend