Annie's P.O.V

My eyes swept across the void atmosphere that surrounded me. The deserted street, along with the abondoned fields, almost forsaken buildings and the naked cherry blossoms trees eclipsed my wide vision.

The dazzling and fiersome ball of fire over head had now almost set below the horizon, leaving the twilight sky overhead.

The continuous jet of penetrating wind sent chills down my spine.

I walked down the pavement, minding my unbalanced footsteps. Houses after houses, I glanced upon as I advanced forward. No sign of life except me was rectified.

Everything was dull and colourless.

Only the sound of silence could be heard.

I looked down at my watch to find that it was 5:00 P.M.

I had finally made my way to Carew Street lane.

As I moved forward with frozen perspirated legs and sweaty templates, I noticed that the first, fourth, twelfth and seventeenth houses of the lane were sealed under the observations of the cops.

I had been walking since the last one and a half hour. Bending forward,I gripped my legs.

Now let me explain about the decipherment of the last two sentences of the riddle.

Bentin is a good guy
Don't forget to leave out a sigh.

Bentin Craig, born in around the 1960's had given up all the luxeries of his life to various NGO's across the country. From the time when he was a sophomore, the ideas of lending, helping the needy and the ideology of social service empowered his mind. At an early age of 27, he was a prominent figure in the newspaper and media when it came to organization of societial camps and leading movements. He was a nobleman who thought about the underprivileged by draining out his own wealth. At a very early age of 30, he was diagnosed with acute bronchitis and finally passed way in 2010.

Surprisingly, the last nail in his coffin was banged in the Carew Street itself since it was his birthplace.

Since Bentin isn't alive now, that line must mean the coffin where he was burried in.

The decryption of the Pincode of the address didn't take much time. As all the houses in the Carew Street lane were some or the other way named after Bentin Craig, I just determined the position of the alphabets in "Bentin" in numbers and derived the Pincode. Although it is entirely based on my hypothesis, I am quite sure that it is going to be turned to a fact.

Maybe I am really not trapped by the goons but the members of SAD. That's what I have revealed from the last sentence.

Darkness settled and my vicinity started becoming indistict. I turned back to see if anyone was spying on me but as usual I found no one. But I was aware that I was being spied all the time..even right now.

Turning on the flashlight, I squinted my eyes for the graveyard but only desolate fields elfolded my vicinity . With the bag pack still hunched on my back, I progressed forward to perceive that I was standing in front of a huge gateway.

The board that hung from the top swayed in the direction of the flow of the wind. It said:

Carew Cemetry: Beware of the coffins

ESTD: 1865

I was startled at the header. The chilly wind was now slicing my spine like a sharp,deadly knife. With palpitating hands, I pushed opened the gate and entered the graveyard to find the coffin where Bentin Craig was buried.

___________________________________

The entire encompassing region around me was totally drowned in the mouth of a deadly darkness. The gust of wind along with the deafening silence, made my heart beat fastened. I moved on forward,revealing coffins after coffins but there was no sign of Bentin Craig's.

It was almost 5:30 PM. Only the crunching and munching sound of my feet on the dry leaves and grasses were heard. The befriending full moon along with the flashlight in my hand were the only source of light. The only light that I could rely on.

Although, I wasn't a believer in paranormal activities, the eerie surrounding that engulfed me didn't stop the constant quivering of my feet, sweating of my templates and rubbing of my cold, numb palm.

Finally, when I was almost at the end of the graveyard where the last two coffins had been accurately planted on the soft mud, my eyes squinted through the flashlight and the inscription on the last coffin said:

In the loving memory of

Sir Bentin Brooke Craig

R.I.P

That was it.

Astonishingly,I was now accompanied with another thunderous sound except that of the dry leaves.

The clouds above clashed like the warriors of a derby war and consequently the turbo charged gush of water poured incessantly, totally blinding my visibility. I removed the foggy spectacles from my soaked eyes and stood there vaguely, trying to figure out my next step.

Overpowering the strength of the incessant pouring, the flashlight paved a pathway,just adjacent to Bentin's grave. I swiftly planted my foot forward in the dipping mud and followed the path of light ahead.

Shivering, I sprinted like a sprinter from the Olympics, splashing the muddy water everywhere and finally halted in front of a gigantic shutter. I placed the flashlight safely inside my mouth and used my drenched hands to push up the shutter. But it remained resilient inspite of my efforts.

All of a sudden,my eyes glistened at the glimpse of a tiny note, written on the top of the shutter.
It said:

18 Carew Street Lane

Bentin

A slight hint of success empowered my quivering. After all,my hypothesis didn't drain down the gutter.

That was not all. The wall,just adjacent to the shutter consisted of a digital round,black box. It said:

ENTER PIN

Pin? From where shall I get the pin to open the shutter? I clearly don't remember having or knowing the p-i-n.. wait, I-I think I know it.

I quickly pressed the numbers "251420914" which was actually the hypothetic pincode to this address. Consequently with a rusting sound,the shutter slided up on it's own , enlightening my path ahead to a hallway.

As I entered the hallway, a tall figure with a bald head and shaggy beard stood in front of me and mechanically uttered " follow me."

As instructed I followed his instructions and the path that I was led to was amost like a strait and it restrained my clumsy steppings. Finally he halted when we entered a dazzling,bright room painted in Royal blue and pearly white colour.

My eyes swept across the room to find a man in casual wear facing the curtains where the illuminated light and the shadow were busy playing on it.

" Welcome, welcome." He warmly embraced, turning to the front.

He was probably a man on his mid fifties. He had a clean shaved facial, big goggle like eyes with a neatly trimmed eyebrow that had strands of white hair in it along with the shaggy black ones. The blackish curls of his hair turned out to be whitish grey by the reflecting light.

" That was indeed impressive." he said.

I slightly formed a curve with my lips and nodded my head, unable to think of any reply.

It may be about my success at deciphering the riddle.

" Mr. Boris Kerman, the official head of the Secret Agency Department." He advanced his opened palm towards mine.

"Nice meeting you,sir." I replied back, grabbing his stern hand and shaking it.

It was still an illusion as well as a delusion for me to believe that the official head of SAD stood in front of me. It was like an unimaginable dream coming true.

" Good. Anderson, bring Edwin now." He pointed his index finger towards the man whom I followed to this room.

He nodded his head and went for the door.

Within a second, a very familiar boy stood in front of me.I closely observed his Jet black curly hair, deep brown eyes with slender eyebrows, flesh tint skin with a scar on the cheek, jawbones that got severely sharp when they merged at the chin region. The black hoodie along with the denim blue jeans accurately made his physique quite clear and distinct.

He was the same guy whom I bumped upon today while hurrying to my geography class.

What is he doing here? Was he spying on me at school?

" Both of you look at this carefully." He broke the long silence and pointed his finger towards the projector.

" Mrs. Carren. Gold digger, owned a huge business, had a daughter. A very popular figure in the public arena." Mr. Kerman pointed towards the image of a woman." That she was a gold digger was clearly visible from her look."She was the first victim from the Carew Street. She was entangled to death."

The fact that I was totally drenched almost flew off my mind until I dragged my T-shirt downwards.

" But sir, I have a query." Edwin finally spoke, revealing his deep voice.

" Hmm." Mr. Kerman hummed.

" As far as I've heard, the police is investigating this case, so shall we be permitted to handle this case?"

Wait what? We are going to investigate the case? Goodness me! What the rubbish is he speaking?

" I don't care what the police is doing. They're just spreading false information around. We work separately, ignoring the police, you get me?"He spoke with disgust without stopping anywhere.

" Umm ok." Edwin notioned with head down.

"You,any questions?" He asked, pointing his stick like finger towards me.

" No." I answered unsured of my tone.

"Good. You both are responsible for carrying out the investigation of this case. Every year we recruite two to three teenagers to at least solve one case. This has been the primary agenda of the agency to enhance it's power by bringing in young talent."

I nodded my head up and down and looked at Edwin through the corner of my eyes to find him swaying his head.

"Another thing. Don't ever ask,why we are recruiting you people out of millions of teenagers across the world." He warned.

"Yes sir."we both mechanically uttered it synchronizingly.

" Now get the details of the other victims from Andrew." He notioned his finger towards the man whose presence was entirely diminished till now.

"Get started with your job from day after tomorrow. Now, you may leave. Before that take the details from Andrew." He finally paused.

We headed towards the exit where we met Mr. Andrew. Without mentioning anything he handed two pendrives to us. As we walked out of the exit,the shutter behind us drastically shut down with almost a vibrating sound.

As I came in contact with the chilly atmosphere, the same familiar shiver ran down my spine,making me quiver my two rows of teeth.

" Hey"said a deep familiar voice.

" Hi" I smiled back and sneezed quivering once again.

"You've got cold." Edwin's voice echoed in the eerie surrounding.

" Never mind. It was just the rain. Anyway, where do you live?" I asked him changing the topic. Having a cold wasn't a big deal.

" Heymond Street. You?"

" Oh! Um Cranom Street."

"Ok.See, since we have to investigate the case together, I think it would be better if we meet at a spot after school discussing about our moves."

"Sure." I replied like an obliged police officer." Let's get to know the contents of the pendrives at first."

"Yeah." He whispered and halted for a while, facing down." You know what, the person is incredibly dangerous."

" I know." I shrugged.

The moonlight now glistened his Jet black hair and cheek scar, making his pale skin contrasting with the lit part. The gusty wind once again blew his curls of hair to settle down on the right end of his forehead.

" Anyway, um bye. My mom must be annoyed by now." I waved at him, smiling for the last time.

"Yeah,bye. See you later."

As we made our way out of the Carew Street lane, suddenly a query popped up.

" Excuse me, was I being spied at school?" My voice trailed off, unsured of his reactions.

" I was asked to." He replied back scurrying away, as we parted our ways from the fork, ready to start a new way of leading life in a whole new world.

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Well, new year update.. yass. Probably the longest chapter I've ever written.

Wishing all of u " New year 2021." Neither happy nor sad. Lol.

Although I'm starting this year with a positive note, I really don't know what's waiting for us this time.

Anyways, happy reading. Stay safe and take care.

Again, how did u find the chapter? Do comment down where did I lack in.

Till the next chapter, bbyee pals❤