Chapter 9: Night's End and The Curse Spreads

Not knowing if anyone else was already infected, none of us dared to let our guard down.

Kabir kept glancing suspiciously at the rest of us, while Aman edged away from the group, as if that would help. I wondered if anyone was hiding symptoms, too scared to speak up. In that moment, we were all strangers to each other.

If someone suddenly went crazy, that would be a disaster.

The idea haunted me, playing over and over in my mind: what if Kabir started scratching at his arms, or Aman began howling like Arjun? I found myself inching away from the rest, pressing my back to the wall. Fear makes you think the worst of everyone.

The sounds from the corridor continued—Arjun kept howling.

Each howl was more desperate, more animal than human. It sent fresh jolts of fear through the room. I wanted to cover my ears, to block out the noise, but I couldn’t. We all sat there, listening, our nerves stretched to the breaking point.

Each howl made the fear in my chest grow heavier.

It was like a dark, heavy blanket smothering me. My mind raced with possibilities, none of them good. I tried to focus on my breathing, on the familiar sights of the room—Kabir’s cricket posters, Sneha’s fairy lights—but nothing worked. The fear was inescapable.

The others stared at each other too, all feeling on edge.

Aman’s foot kept tapping the floor, while Rohan’s eyes darted around, searching for exits. Even Sneha, usually calm and collected, had tears in her eyes. It was like being trapped in a pressure cooker, waiting for the whistle to go off.

Finally, Kabir couldn’t take the silence anymore:

"Bro, say something. You’re the boss, our backbone."

Kabir always looked up to me in moments like this, expecting me to come up with a plan. I could see the fear in his eyes, mixed with a desperate hope that I’d have all the answers. But for once, I didn’t know what to say.

I thought for a bit, then sighed:

"I know everyone’s scared, but we’re all in the same room now."

"Yaar, sabko darr lag raha hai, par hum sab ek hi kamre mein hain," I said, trying to sound reassuring. I looked around, hoping my words would calm them. "Jo bhi hoga, saath mein hoga." For a moment, I felt like my father, trying to keep the family together during a storm.

"If there’s a problem, it’s all of us together."

"Kuch bhi ho, hum sab ek saath face karenge." It sounded brave, but inside I was just as terrified as the rest. Still, I knew we had to stick together.

"Besides, there’s nowhere to run. Arjun is right outside—we… can’t just leave our roommate out there, can we?"

I glanced at the door, hearing another weak knock. "Woh apna hi banda hai, yaar," I whispered, guilt mingling with fear. "Hum log aise hi chhod nahi sakte."

Everyone nodded.

There was a moment of solidarity—silent, but real. Even Sneha wiped her eyes and gave a small nod. For the first time all night, I felt a spark of courage. Maybe together, we could get through this.

In the end, Rohan, our Second, came up with an idea:

"I still have some rope from NSS activities. Let’s each tie one arm to the bed."

Rohan, always the resourceful one, pulled out a bundle of rope from his cupboard. "Agar kisi ko kuch ho jaye, kam se kam baaki safe rahenge," he said, trying to sound logical. It was a weird idea, but in our state of panic, it made sense.

"Looks like Arjun’s lost all sense. Once someone goes mad, they probably can’t think straight."

Rohan’s voice shook, but he tried to sound matter-of-fact. "Agar hum log bhi waise ho gaye toh… at least hum khud ko ya doosron ko hurt nahi karenge." For a moment, his practical nature was a comfort.

"Once we’re tied up, we shouldn’t be able to untie ourselves if we go crazy."

The thought was chilling, but oddly reassuring. If worst came to worst, at least we wouldn’t become a danger to each other. The rope felt like both a prison and a lifeline.

We all agreed.

No one argued. Kabir passed the rope around, and we each tied one arm to the bed frame. Even Sneha, after some hesitation, knotted her end tightly. It was a strange sight—five college students, all tied up, waiting for the night to end.

But when we started tying the ropes, I noticed Kabir was being sneaky—he made a slip knot.

Trust Kabir to think about his own safety first. He tried to look casual, but I caught him testing the knot with a sly grin. Typical Kabir, always looking for a way out if things got bad.

Probably afraid someone else would go mad and wanted to be able to escape first.

It was hard to blame him. In situations like this, everyone wants a backup plan. I made a mental note to check my own knot—just in case.

I didn’t call him out, just quietly changed my own knot to a slip knot too.

If Kabir was going to look after himself, I wasn’t going to be left behind. I loosened my knot ever so slightly, making sure I could escape if needed. It was a small comfort in an otherwise terrifying night.

Kabir and I exchanged a look, silently understanding each other.

In that one look, we shared a silent agreement—survival first. It was strange, but it made me feel less alone.

Bang bang bang—

Arjun knocked on our door again.

This time the banging was more frantic, more desperate. The door shook under his fists, each blow sending vibrations through the room. Sneha whimpered, Aman covered his ears, and Kabir clutched his bat tighter. The sound was relentless, filling the room with dread.

He probably really wanted to come back to his room.

Despite everything, I felt a pang of sympathy. Even in his madness, Arjun was trying to return to the one place he felt safe. The thought made my chest ache.

I leaned against the door, carefully shifting to the side.

I pressed my body to the cool wood, heart racing. I listened for any hint of Arjun’s voice, any sign that he recognised us. But all I heard were guttural sounds, half-words lost in pain and confusion.

But the peephole was blocked by something.

I squinted, trying to see through the darkness, but there was only a blur—like someone had pressed their palm against the glass. It was unnerving. I tapped the door softly, hoping whatever was there would move.

I knocked hard on the door a few times, and whatever was covering the peephole fell away.

There was a dull thud, and suddenly the view cleared. My hands trembled as I pressed my face to the peephole, bracing myself for what I might see. The silence in the room was absolute; even the group chat had gone quiet.

In that instant, a chill ran down my spine.

What I saw made my blood run cold. My legs almost buckled, and I had to grip the doorknob to steady myself. The others crowded behind me, desperate for answers. I could barely find my voice.

Arjun was actually… peeling off his own skin.