MITCHELL'S DIARY :

He led me towards the deeper part of the hill. There were lots of twists and turns and I could no longer see the museum and houses which had given me the assurance that I was still in a safe domain. I followed him nonetheless. I was walking behind him like I was in a trance. But I was highly aware of my surroundings. The trickle of sunlight was now gone and we were walking under a roll of angry clouds ready to rain any moment.

After what must have been ten minutes and what felt like ten hours, we stopped in front of a big rock. The rock was as big as a one-storeyed house and a large crack ran vertically down the rock like some kid had drawn a jagged line upon the rock. The hooded man had abruptly stopped in front of it and I stopped behind him. Silence prevailed for a brief moment. Even the birds in the trees seemed to hold their breath and watch.

Raising his hand in almost slow motion, he placed it on the crack in the rock. I rather felt than hear his chanting and slowly, the fissure began to glow, faint initially, and then it increased in intensity until it was not just a crack but an opening which can fit a person at a time. Now it was not a rock but a cave.

My mouth opened in wonder, surprise, and shock at that transformation. He continued in, without even taking a look back to see if I was following him or not. That was my last chance. I could turn back and run into the bushes in the side and could go back into the town. But I didn't. I wanted to see what was going to happen. With slightly shaking but determined footsteps, I followed him into the newly formed cave.

The smell was musty, the smell of a closet opened after a long time. I couldn't see the way in front of me. It was very dark and even the light from the entry couldn't get in. I wondered where the glow came from when the crack was split. Fortunately, there was no way I could get lost because the path only went straight. I could hear the footsteps of the hooded man in front of me, the footsteps of a man sure of where he was going, unlike me. After a long time, the path was slowly illuminated in a faint glow. I could see the hooded man walking in front of me never looking back. Finally, the space we were in was glowing red. He took a turn and I couldn't see him anymore.

Imagining being stuck in this place alone, I increased my pace to catch up with him. I had to stop for a few moments and gather myself after I took the turn. What I had found there was something I only saw in movies until then. The path gave way into a large space that looked like a cathedral. The whole space was glowing red, due to the large pit of fire in the center. It was my vision of hell. For a moment, I was sure the hooded man was the devil and I was standing in hell. But the most surprising thing than the pit of fire was people. There were dozens of them. All wearing cloaks and hoods just like the man that led me there.

They were all quiet and standing erect with their hands clutching each other across their stomach. I could feel goosebumps rising on my skin as I realized, they were waiting. Waiting for me. Now, there was no going back. They all saw me.

The hooded man was standing just in front of the hellfire unfazed by the heat. I could identify him in this throng of people even though they all dressed alike. There was something in him which segregated him from the others. No one had to tell me he was their leader. But someone had to tell me why I was here. Who were all these people standing here and the most important question, was I going to walk out of this place alive or not?

Putting a stop to my thoughts, the hooded man spoke, his voice as calm and ominous as when he spoke to me the first time.

"Welcome, the child of the devil. Join us. Let's take revenge on those who had wronged our ancestors."

NAINA'S POV:

I flipped the page to continue and my mouth fell open when I found the page empty. But what happened next? She couldn't stop writing after this. I started flipping through the pages as though I was a girl possessed. The blank pages mocked me and I fell on bed like all of my energy was sucked out of me. All of that happened on the same day. Why would she write some part and then stop? What happened in that cave? I tossed and turned in my bed not being able to sleep. I came this close to having full details of this cult and I missed it by a nick.

But again I didn't. I had the location Mitchell had just described in her diary. She said it was just behind the orphanage. I had to go there, I made the decision. But I had to talk to Noah. I couldn't do this alone. Including him in this gave me some sense of relief I couldn't explain. I had a troubled sleep that night.

**********

I was drinking coffee and reading the morning's newspaper idly when the doorbell rang. I wondered who was that and sauntered towards the door. A look through the peephole revealed a delivery boy standing at the door. I opened the door.

"Good morning Ma'am. There's a delivery for you. Sign here." He handed me the signature pad and a pen. Still trying to guess what was the delivery, I signed the paper. He opened his carrier bag and handed me a small box.

"Have a good day." He grinned and walked towards the elevator.

He's cute, I thought, checking him out.

"Who's that?" I jumped at the voice coming from behind me. I saw Noah with tousled hair, his PJs hanging low from on his hips, looking fresh out of bed and I took a deep breath.

Cute delivery boy, who? I'm leaving with a Greek God here.

Unlike me, he didn't seem to have trouble sleeping last night. His eyes fell on the box I was holding in my hand.

"A delivery came for me," I said heading towards the couch. I opened the tape binding the flaps. The cardboard box was opened and it contained another small box which was made of blue velvet. A small jewelry box that was usually used to keep items like.......pearls. My mouth felt dry as I realized what the box contained even before opening it. My mother had sent it away very quickly. My aunt must have made my mother so paranoid. I didn't expect to hold it in my hands so soon.

Noah was now standing close behind me looking curiously at the box in my hand. It was time to show him the fabled pearl. I opened it to find a rather normal looking white pearl sitting innocently in the box. I couldn't fathom the fact that this was responsible for all the mayhem.

"Is this.......?" Noah trailed off but I understood that he recognized.

"Yes," I answered. His hand reached for the box. My hand clasped the box tighter. My inner voice screamed not to let go of the box. Mitchell died for this.

But this was Noah. Noah, who saved me from death in the hands of that warlock or someone. Noah, who like me, wanted revenge for his best friend. I let go of the box. He took and looked into the box, the shine of the pearl, twinkling back in his eyes. He held his breath looking at the pearl, like he was in trance.

"It's beautiful." He said handing it back to me. I let out a breath which I didn't know I was holding.

"It is," I said closing the lid. "But I don't know what I am going to do with this. I can't think of any places to hide this from those people."

"We will figure it out," Noah said placing his hand on my shoulder in a reassuring gesture.

I had to hope he was right but I was not sure. I had a feeling that the real trouble started now.