Bani's POV

"It's all my fault... I ... I did this to him... "

Meera said crying copiously.

We were back home. The police had taken Tapish's body. Though it was clearly declared a suicide case. Only we knew what the actual truth was.

All of us were in tears. Tapish was our friend after all.

Since sometime me and Tapish were fighting alot but I fought with him because I knew there was good still left in him.

He was capable of overcoming his insecurities and becoming an even better person but alas all this was no longer possible.

Tears slipped from my eyes, understanding the intensity of the the situation once again.

This game. THIS BLOODY GAME.

This game changed our lives. It ruined our lives and the most scariest part was that it was still ongoing.

We knew it was Meera's turn next.

But she was not in a state to listen to us.
We needed to be strong . Especially for Meera.

I wiped my tears and went towards her.

"Meera look at me.. "

I said firmly.

"Bani.. I did this to him.. "

She said looking all over. She was acting insane. After all she lost the love of her life.

" Meera you didn't do anything.. It was that Game... "

I said cupping her face.

"You all warned me but I didn't listen.. "

She said crying more.

"Meera even I didn't believe them until I experienced it myself.. It's not your fault. Everything happening around us is unbelievable.. "

Mayuri said.

"Please Meera you have to be strong for Tapish.."

Veeranshu said.

"I killed him Veeranshu... I did this to him.. Why should I live now? It's better the game kills me too. Yes that's better.. I am.. go.. Going.. Going.."

Meera said and got up. She started moving towards the door.

"Meera stop.. "

I said holding her hand.

" No Bani.. I.. I have to go.. I have to go to Tapish.. "

She said again trying to get off my hold when I held her hand tightly and gave a tight slap on her cheek.

For a second she paused and everybody around gasped.

I had to do it. I just had to.We lost Tapish but we can't lose Meera too.

She started crying more hugging me.

"He left me Bani. He said he would live with me forever. He took a promise from me that I would never leave him  then how could he leave me like this. How will I live without him? "

She said weeping.

"Meera bacha.. I know what you are feeling but you need to understand that you need to love and it wasn't your fault. We had warned Tapish as well but destiny had written such detestable chapter in our lives. If Tapish would be here he would also want you to live. He would want you to live your life to your fullest. So please Meera sambhalo khudko.. "

I said and Meera calmed down a little. Her pain was not easy to lessen but it was important that she heard them.

"Guys.. We need to find something about this game.. That church.. That guy.. Everything seems so abhorrent. "

I said.

"That's true.. We need to find a solution. This needs to end. "

Veeranshu said.

"But before that there is one more thing that we need to do. Whoever 's turn it is we need to choose truth.

Agar truth choose karenge toh zinda rahenge  . "

I said.

And everybody nodded.

"Meera it's your turn next.. Dhyan se choose Truth.."

I said and Meera nodded .

"Tumhe rest karna chahiye Meera.. "

Aakesh said.

"No I am fine.. I will help you guys.. "

She said.

"No Meera, Aakesh is right.. Go and rest.. Hum sambhalenge.. "

I said reassuring her.

She didn't protest further. She didn't have the strength to after the havoc that was created in her life.

She went up to sleep in the room along with Mayuri.

Me and Veeranshu sat with the laptop.

"Let's search for the abandoned church in Goa.. "

I said and Veeranshu nodded.

" I found an article.. . "

I said and Veeranshu moved a little closer to my screen.

Our faces were close to each other and I looked at him a little. Our eye contact lasted for sometime as he spoke.

" What did you find..? "

Meanwhile Mayuri came down.

"This church was built in 1920. "

I said.

"Very helpful. Likh leti hu kahi Upsc main na aajaye.. "

Mayuri said sarcastically.

"Mayuri please.. "

Aakesh said and I ignored her comment. She knows the truth now, so honestly I didn't understand why she was bitter.

" This church was built in 1920 . But was closed after five years when few teen nuns went missing from the church and a mutilated body of a priest was found in it.. "

I said.

"So maybe it's this priest's ghost that's haunting us. "

Veeranshu said.

"But what about those girls? ".

Aakesh asked.

" I don't know but if it's actually the priest why is it after us? What did we do to it? "

I said.

"Not everybody follows morales Bani. Not everybody is perfect like you. So I guess we can expect the ghost to not have morales and maybe he is killing us just for fun.. "

She said and now I was irritated.

"Mayuri why are you acting this way? You know now why I told all that in the meet . it was my truth. Then why are you behaving like this? It's not just you who lost your friends. "

I said being angry.

"BECAUSE IT'S HAPPENING BECAUSE OF YOU.."

She shouted.

"How is it my fault? "

I said.

" You took us to Michael. You agreed to the game.. "

She said.

"Says the one who convinced me for this trip. I didn't even want to go Mayuri but I went for you.. My best friend and you are behaving like this.. "

I screamed.

" Right you are our little miss perfect.. "

She said.

"Atleast I am not a cheater!!! "

I said in anger but immediately regretted my words. Tears formed in her eyes.

But just cause I don't cry, doesn't mean her words aren't piercing my heart.

"SHUT UP GUYSSS! "

Veeranshu shouted.

"Mayuri stop blaming Bani. It was'nt her fault. Nobody could have imagined things like this would happen. In fact when I protested you were one of the people who wanted to go to that place with Michael. So stop this fucking blame game when people.. Our friends are dying around us.. ".

Veeranshu said and silence enveloped the room.

" Mayuri you are the best when it comes to operating these devices..hacking,location tracking it's your thing. Please let's be United. We need each other because we love each other."

Aakesh said trying to make Mayuri understand.

Mayuri just nodded and took the laptop.
"We should start with a simple search and we will definitely get some answer."

She said and typed "TRUTH or DARE GOA"

Soon few articles popped up and one article was 6 months ago's.

"Girl burns a shopkeeper woman. "

"Guys look! "

Mayuri said and we looked at the article.

"This girl burned a woman and said that a game of truth or dare made her do it. One day she ran from the police and the police is still searching for her.. "

Mayuri said.

"There is even a video attached to it.. "

Veeranshu said. .

Mayuri played the video.

"He said when human flesh gets engulfed in fire, it radiates the kind of warmth, that is unimaginable. Very Very beautiful. "

She said getting inside the shop.

"Leave or else I am calling the police.. "

The lady said going near to the phone.

" I.. I am.. Sorry.. I have no choice... "

The girl said suddenly crying.

"Cause that's the DARE! "

The girl said and within seconds she poured the kerosene on the woman. And lit it with the lighter in her pocket..

The woman's scream echoed throughout as her body was set ablaze.

The girl fell on her knees crying.

"I didn't have a CHOICE "

The video ended.

"Oh my god.. "

I said .

"It's the game.. "

Veeranshu said.

"We have to find her.. What's her
name? "

Aakesh asked.

"Chandani Rajvanshi.. "

Mayuri said.

"We need to find her.. "

I said.

"Let's check on Instagram.. "

Mayuri said and checked for Chandani's profile and we soon found it. Turned out she was an Instagram influencer.

That made things a little Easy for us. Because her profile wasn't private. .

We browsed through her feed but didn't find anything in particular.

"Nothing's here.."

Mayuri said.

"Check the tagged photos.. "

Veeranshu said.

Mayuri started browsing the tagged pictures when a picture popped up.

"STOP! "

I said.

"That's... That's Michael.. "

I said.

"Yes it's that fucker.. "

Mayuri cursed.

"Who has posted this? "

I asked.

"It's some adventure club and they went together.. "

Mayuri said

"Seems like they were dating.. ".

Aakesh said.

" Is he tagged? "

I asked

"No...he isn't "

Mayuri said.

"Should we text her? "

Veeranshu asked.

"But will she check her texts. We aren't even sure if she has her phone... "

I said.

"That's our last resort.. "

Veeranshu said.

" Okay fine.. "

I opened my Instagram and started typing..

"We know you are a victim of the Game. We are stuck in the same situation Please help us .. "

I was still typing when Mayuri snatched my phone from my hand.

"You really think.. This is going to work? No one's that good Bani.. When will you understand..! "

Mayuri said and started typing.

"We know you played the game. We are playing it too. Meet us soon or else we will go to your parents house and wait for the game to give us a dare to burn down your house like you burnt that woman.. "

She typed and sent it.

"Mayuri that's mean !! "

I said.

"It will work..! "

She said confidently.

"And trust me Bani, the day you will see your own person dying in front of you.. You will choose that person and not the world. "

She said and was about to walk away when we heard a scream.

"NOOOOOOOO.. ! "

It was Meera but her voice came from outside.

We went out side to see Meera on the top of the roof walking in front while drinking alcohol.

"Meera what the hell are you doing? "

I shouted.

"Meera come down it's dangerous.. "

Mayuri said.

"It's the game.. "

She said crying taking another step forward.

"What did you choose? "

Aakesh asked

"It didn't let me choose Truth.. "

She said crying.

~~~

Author's POV

Sometime Before

Meera was lying on the bed but sleep was nowhere to be found . Tears were continuously falling from her eyes.
She felt a void in her heart. She was suffocating within herself.

She opened her phone and browsed through their pictures.

They were so happy together.
Tapish may not have been the perfect man but for her he would bring heaven on earth.

More tears started falling from her eyes. Her cheat was hurting.

She got up and went near to the window when she found a bottle of alcohol placed on the table.

She drank occasionally and in limit but today she wanted to forget all her pain. She wanted to erase today from her memory.

She went and took the bottle in her hand and gulped down few sips.

But she still felt heavy.

Woh nasha bhi dil ke dard ko kam nahi kar pa raha tha kyunki nashe main bhi usse apne pyar ka chehra nazar aa raha tha.

People often say that we drink, we reach an ecstatic state but her ecstasy was Tapish. Then how could she forget him?

She went to the washroom and started Washing her face.

"This is wrong Meera. You should stay awake. For Tapish.. For your friends... "

She said to herself.

But as she got up the light above the mirror startes flickering.

She got tensed and closed the tap and moved.

But as she took two steps she stopped.
She was sweating and shivering with the fear.

But she decided to move back.

Because she noticed that though she moved her reflection was still intact.
Her reflection was looking back at her with a creepy smile on her face. The poppy veins all over the reflection along with Blue eyes and the blue skin tone. Her hand looked more like claws.

Meera gulped.

"What.. Do.. Do yo.. You want? "

Meera asked.

" Poor Sweet Meera crying for her dead lover. "

Her reflection spoke.

"You aren't Real! Maybe I am drunk "

She said to the reflection but more like she was convincing herself.

"Wanna check? "

The reflection smirked.

Meera slowly moved her hand towards the mirror.

Her hand was shivering but she gained the courage to do so.

Her finger tip lightly grazed the mirror as she felt the claw from the other side and moved back her hand.

She immediately moved back and startes breathing Rapidly. She got a panick attack.

"No! No! No! "

She was screaming from within but her mouth couldn't utter a single word.

The light had stopped flickering and she looked back at the mirror. But now she could see her normal reflection.

Her heart was still beating fast. She held the hem of her dress tightly and was almost crawling to go out.

When once again the light flickered and a figure from the mirror came out and held her.

She was pinned to the wall as it asked.

TRUTH OR DARE MEERA?

"Tru... Truth.. "

She answered.

"TRUTH OR DARE MEERA? "

It asked again.

"I... I.. Sa.. Said.. TRUTH! "

She answered again.

" No Meera that isn't the rule.. "

The demonic voice said and she frowned.

"The game isn't just Truth Or Dare.. The game is TWO TRUTHS AND A DARE.. Which means after two consecutive truths there is a dare... "

A satanic voice said.

"DARE! "

Meera said as tears slipped from her eyes.

Flashback ends.

~~~

Bani's POV

"It's Two Truths and a Dare guyss!.. "

She screamed as tears fell from her eyes.
My eyes suddenly fell on the arrow pointed gate of the other house which meant if Meera fell in end she would land on the arrow and if she fell before the game will kill her.

" Oh shit... "

I said holding my head.

"It dared me to reach the end of roof while drinking or else I... "

She cried more.

"Nothing will happen to you Meera.. We are here..! Right here..! "

Veeranshu said and his words lifted our spirits.

"We can't give up! We won't give up! "

I said aloud.

" Aakesh and Mayuri get the mattress and I am getting my car. "

I said.

"I am going up to guide Her.. "

Veeranshu said.

"Be careful.. "

I said with care dripping from my tone.
Soon Veeranshu climbed the roof.

"I am going to die Veeranshu.. "

Meera cried.

"You won't Meera.. Just listen to me.. Don't look down.. Look at me.. Just me and walk forward "

Veeranshu said..

Meera walked forward and stumbled a little.

"MEERA!".

Veeranshu said.

" FOCUS MEERA! DON'T LET THE ALCOHOL TAKE OVER YOU.. ".

He said again and Meera moved forward.
I came out with my car keys and started it. I had to break the gate.

I started pushing the gate with the car but it wasn't that easy.

" Good going Meera.. Good going.. "

Veeranshu said as Meera reached mid way.

Meera suddenly looked down and fear crept.

"I can't walk more Veeranshu.. I can't.. "
She said shivering.

"Meera tumhe Tapish ki kasam hein. Be the brave girl we know. Jab tak hum har nahi man jate humein koi nahi hara sakta hein.. "

He said and Meera closed her eyes.

"Tapish.. "

She mumbled as a tear slipped from her eyes.

I was continuously colliding with the gate but it still didn't move.

Mayuri and Aakesh came out with the mattress.

Meera was walking ahead as Veeranshu took backward steps.

Meera almost reached the end when Veeranshu tripped a little.

"VEERANSHU!!!!! "

I screamed as I watched the scene.
Veeranshu was trying to balancing.

"Veer agar tumhe kuch hua toh main tumhe chorungi nahi.. "

I said again moving the car. My hand that was fractured was paining but Mayuri didn't know how to drive and We needed Aakesh to help with the matress.

Veer didn't say anything and just smiled melancholy. And I knew why because my scolding filled with care and love always made him feel a sense of importance in my life.

He had gone through a lot of torture in his teenage but "pyar bhari daant ".. I was the first one to do that.

Veeranshu again stood up and Meera reached the end.

" BANI JALDI! "

Aakesh and Mayuri shouted.

"Jaldi Bani! "

Even Veeranshu said.

And soon Meera reached the end and unbalanced as I broke the door.

Meera soon fell on the mattress and all of us sighed.

"Fuck.. "

Aakesh cursed .

It was a very close call.

We could have lost Meera as well.

I immediately engulfed Meera in a hug.
Veeranshu also came down from the roof.

" Thank god you are okay.. "

I told Meera.

" Thank you guys.. "

She said crying.

"Abb zyada ro mat , rona toh humein chahiye tu itni heavy hein tujhe utha liya humne.. "

Aakesh said teasing her and she hit him and laugh a little.

Finally she smiled a little.

"Halat kaise bhi ho.. Agar hum sath hein toh we will make it.. "

I said giving hope to everyone including myself.

" We will be there for each other.. "

I said extending my hand and Veeranshu placed his hand first on my hand and looked at me nodding.

Aakesh out it next and then Meera.
Mayuri was looking at us but soon she kept her hand as well with a little hopeful smile.

Soon my phone beeped and I looked at the message.

"Whose message is it?".

Veeranshu asked.

" Chandani has texted back. She wants to meet us.. "

~~~

Sometime later

We reached the isolated spot where she wanted to meet us.

"Chandani we are here..! "

I said aloud.

The place was very creepy. It was a under construction building with nobody around.

Soon a figure came out and we looked at the girl who looked pale and lifeless.

She looked like a live corpse. With no dreams and aspirations. With just a basic need of survival.

" Which one of you is Bani? "

She asked.

"First tell us, why is this happening with us..?"

I asked.

" I.. I do.. Don't know.. "

She said Psychotically.

"I guess we are unlucky.. "

She said and laughed as tears fell from her eyes.

" Why did Michael pick us?? "

Veeranshu asked.

" Michael? "

She frowned for a moment.

"Oh my god that idiot just chose you four.. He needed a bigger group. My turn would take more time then .. "

She said scratching her skin.

"Your turn? You are still in the game? "

I asked.

"Yes.. "

She said crying and laughing together.

" So it's your turn now..? "

I asked being a little scared.

"Yes.. "

She said with a stoic face.

"What did you chose? "

I asked.

"Fuck Bani ask relevant questions. First tell us what is this Two truths And one Lie shit.. "

Mayuri asked

"We thought it would be fun.. "

She said laughing.

"We lost our friends and you are laughing? "

Aakesh said gritting his teeth.

"What more can I do now? I told Karun to not do that.. Not break things in the church.. He didn't listen to me.. It destroyed us...all of us... "

She said screaming madly.

"Bani I think we should go.. "

Veeranshu said.

"So you are Bani? "

She said with a creepy smile on her face.

"Wait a minute.. I texted you from my secret account.. It didn't have my name.. Then how did you know that One of us was Bani.. "

I asked.

She slowly took out something from her pocket and pointed it on me.

It was a gun.

"I chose Dare Bani! "

She said.

"NOOOOOOOO... "

I heard Veeranshu's scream and all of them moved towards me.

The gun was pointed towards me.
It was that moment of my life when we think of all the beautiful moments in our lives that we experienced. The moment of the end of one life and the beginning of another.

My moments with Mayuri. Our beautiful friendship came in my mind.

The lovely friends that I got in this life came in my mind and of course...

Veeranshu.. The love of my life came into my mind.

Kehte hein marta hua insaan jhut nahi bolta , toh main kaise bol sakti thi.

Sach toh yehi tha that I LOVED VEERANSHU , I LOVE VEERANSHU AND I WILL KEEP LOVING HIM FOREVER.

Maybe in next life we will be together.
I closed my eyes to take the bullet.

Soon the sound of the bullet was heard , the blood splattered and a body was on the ground.

~~~

Hey guys!

So how was the chapter?

Is Bani okay? What do you guys think?

She just accepted within herself that she loves him :')

Comment on Meera's dare?

Comments on the twists in this chapter?

Stau tuned!

Love you all!