The next morning arrived far too quickly.
Sunlight slipped through the curtains.
The city outside was already awake.
Traffic moved through the streets below.
People hurried through their daily lives.
Completely unaware that somewhere nearby, a group of exhausted college students had spent the last week fighting ghosts, ancient spirits, and their own terrible decisions.
---
Shristi woke first,tangled in the sheets beside him. The quiet composure she usually held was entirely gone, replaced by a soft, relaxed vulnerability.
---
For several moments she simply lay there.
Comfortable.
Warm.
Peaceful.
Then she remembered where she was.
And more importantly...
Who was beside her.
Slowly she turned.
Wick was still asleep.
Not half asleep.
Not pretending.
Not resting.
Gone.
Completely gone.
The kind of sleep only possible after surviving several days of absolute chaos.
Shristi studied him for a moment.
Then another moment.
Then another.
A smile slowly appeared.
Carefully, she brushed a loose strand of hair away from his forehead.
"You know..."
No response.
"Most people would have done something romantic."
Still nothing.
"You crossed dimensions."
Silence.
"Fought an ancient sea spirit."
Nothing.
"Risked your life."
Still asleep.
Then she gently poked his arm.
"Wick."
A groan.
"Wick."
Another groan.
One eye opened.
"What?"
Shristi looked offended.
"I thought you'd eventually kiss me."
A pause.
"At least you know."
Wick blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then realization hit.
"You are seriously bringing this up first thing in the morning?"
"Absolutely."
He sat up slightly.
Still half asleep.
"I hadn't slept properly in four days."
"Excuses."
"I literally passed out."
"Still excuses."
Wick stared at her.
She stared back.
Neither moved.
She didn't pull away.
Instead, she shifted closer, the friction of her bare shoulders against the linen drawing his attention to just how little space was left between them.
The comfortable silence from the night before suddenly turned thick, charged with an entirely different kind of energy.
Shristi leaned in, her gaze dropping to his lips before rising back to meet his eyes with a deliberate, teasing confidence.
"You know, I did say you could ask for anything last night."
Wick reached out, his hand sliding up the curve of her waist, pulling her flush against him.
The sudden heat of her skin against his shattered whatever restraint he had left.
"I'm changing my request."
She let out a soft, sharp gasp as his fingers gripped her hips, guiding her as she shifted to straddle his lap.
The sheet pooled around their waists, completely forgotten.
Shristi tangled her fingers into his hair, pulling him up to meet her as she brought her lips down to his.
"Too late," she whispered against his lips, though she wasn't moving away.
The kiss wasn't gentle—it was fierce, breathless, and heavy with the pent-up frustration of surviving a nightmare.
Shristi pinned him beneath her weight, every touch a raw, grounding reminder that they were alive. She arched into him, her lips trailing down his jawline, her hands scraping down his chest as a desperate, broken breath escaped her.
Rolling over, Wick pinned her beneath him on the mattress, locking his fingers with hers.
The cool morning air vanished, replaced by the intense heat between them.
As she pressed close to erase the last remaining space, Wick's hands gripped her hips, pulling her flush against him as his mouth crashed back down onto hers.
The pace they set was brutal, a desperate exchange of heat and survival. Shristi dug her fingernails into the muscles of his back, anchoring him down, while Wick pulled her weight completely over his.
"You're mine," she choked out, her composure completely shattered.
He kissed her again, relentless and deep, pushing them both right to the absolute edge. Wick crushed her body close, holding her tightly against his chest as the adrenaline and desire finally peaked, leaving them both completely spent.
For a long time, neither of them moved, drawing in ragged breaths as the sun slowly began to paint the room in gold.
A knock suddenly interrupted the moment.
Three rapid knocks.
"Come in".
Then the door opened.
Prishka entered carrying two coffees.
Stopped.
Looked at them.
Looked again.
Then sighed dramatically.
"Wow."
Shristi immediately buried her face in her hands.
"No."
"Oh yes."
Prishka sat down on a nearby chair.
"I leave you two alone for one night."
"We were sleeping."
Wick replied.
"Exactly."
A pause.
"That's somehow more disappointing."
Shristi threw a pillow at her.
Prishka caught it effortlessly.
"Violence."
"Leave."
"No."
"Prishka."
"No."
Wick immediately understood why nobody won arguments against her.
The door opened again.
This time Deep appeared.
One look at the room told him everything.
His expression immediately changed.
"Oh."
A pause.
"You guys are alive."
Prishka nodded.
"Apparently."
"I was expecting at least one dramatic emotional breakdown."
"Give Aryan twenty minutes."
"Fair."
Almost on cue, a voice echoed from somewhere down the hallway.
"WHO STOLE MY BREAKFAST?"
The entire room froze.
Then laughed.
"Aryan."
Deep confirmed.
"Definitely alive."
Within an hour the entire group had gathered downstairs.
And the chaos returned immediately.
Shristi reached for a piece of toast.
Every eye at the table followed her hand.
Aryan.
Deep.
Dipanshu.
Prishka.
Varsha.
Even Kritika.
Shristi slowly looked around.
"...Why is everyone staring at me?"
Silence.
Aryan leaned toward Deep.
"So far so good."
Deep nodded.
"Still using cutlery correctly."
Shristi lowered the toast.
"...Excuse me?"
Prishka opened a small notebook.
"Observation Log."
"09:17 AM."
"Subject consumed carbohydrates."
"No signs of demonic behavior."
Shristi stared.
"...You made a notebook?"
Prishka smiled proudly.
"I had time."
---
Five minutes later...
Shristi sneezed.
The entire table froze.
Aryan slowly stood up.
"...Was that..."
He narrowed his eyes.
"...a normal sneeze?"
Deep looked thoughtful.
"I've never actually analyzed one before."
Dipanshu nodded seriously.
"Do another."
"I'm not doing another on command!"
—
Shristi picked up her coffee.
Aryan immediately leaned toward Prishka.
"Observe."
Prishka uncapped her notebook.
"Subject is consuming caffeine."
Shristi slowly lowered the cup.
"...I'm going to count to three."
"One..."
Nobody moved.
"Two..."
Aryan whispered,
"I think she's charging an attack."
"Three."
Shristi stood up.
"I'M GOING TO KILL BOTH OF YOU."
Aryan grabbed Prishka's arm.
"RUN!"
The two disappeared around the buffet while Shristi chased them through the restaurant.
Deep calmly sipped his tea.
"...Good cardio."
---
A few minutes later...
Shristi returned.
Hair slightly messy.
Breathing heavily.
Aryan was somehow already sitting back at the table eating pancakes.
She pointed at him.
"How are you faster than me?"
"I fear consequences."
---
Later...
Shristi leaned toward Wick.
"...Do something."
Wick looked up from his sandwich.
"About what?"
"They're bullying me."
Wick glanced across the table.
Aryan and Prishka immediately smiled innocently.
"We're conducting scientific research."
Shristi looked back at Wick.
"See?"
He thought for a second.
"...Good luck."
"Wick!"
"I fight demons and spirit not idiots.
I'm emotionally supporting you."
"You're useless."
"I've been told."
Later...
The group walked through the market.
Shristi stopped to look at a bracelet.
Prishka immediately grabbed Wick's arm.
"She's staring."
"So?"
"What if she's being hypnotized?"
Wick didn't even look up.
"She's buying jewelry."
"...Or is she?"
Shristi turned around.
"I'm literally reading the price tag."
"Oh."
Prishka looked disappointed.
---
An hour later...
Everyone stopped at a café.
The waiter smiled.
"What would you like?"
Before Shristi could answer—
Aryan raised one hand.
"Quick question."
"Has she ordered anything... possessed recently?"
The waiter blinked.
"...What?"
Shristi buried her face in her hands.
"I don't know these people."
"We know."
Dipanshu replied.
"But we don't know Aryan."
Shristi took a bite of noodles.
Prishka leaned across the table.
"Blink twice if the demon likes spicy food."
Shristi slowly put her fork down.
She looked at Wick.
"...Bail money."
"What?"
"I'm asking in advance."
"For what?"
"I'm about to commit a crime."
Wick took out his wallet.
"...How much do you think it'll cost?"
Aryan immediately stood up.
"SHE'S PLANNING IT!"
"I'M SAYING IT IN FRONT OF ALL OF YOU!"
---
Afternoon.
The group visited a small arcade.
Shristi beat Aryan three times in a racing game.
Aryan folded his arms.
"I don't trust this."
She slammed the controller onto the table.
"I WAS POSSESSED!"
"I WASN'T POSSESSED BY MARIO KART!"
Prishka gasped dramatically.
"That's exactly what someone possessed by Mario Kart would say."
Shristi stared at her.
"...I'm adding you to my murder list."
Prishka smiled proudly.
"I moved up?"
Deep sighed.
"I've officially lost control of this group."
"You never had control."
Varsha corrected.
"Fair."
---
By evening...
Shristi finally snapped.
She stopped walking.
Everyone turned.
She slowly looked at every single one of them.
Except Wick.
"You all realize..."
A pause.
"...I'm perfectly fine."
Silence.
Then—
Prishka slowly walked forward.
Holding a bottle of water.
"Drink this."
Shristi frowned.
"...Why?"
"In case you're secretly possessed."
"What does water have to do with possession?"
"I don't know."
"I saw it in a movie."
Shristi closed her eyes.
"...I'm surrounded by idiots."
Aryan immediately raised his hand.
"Present."
Dipanshu nodded.
"Guilty."
Aryan saluted proudly.
"I've embraced it."
Even Shristi couldn't stop herself.
She laughed.
A real laugh.
Long enough that everyone else joined in.
The strange tension they'd all been carrying finally disappeared.
Nobody was checking her anymore.
Nobody was waiting for something terrible to happen.
Because seeing her laugh...
Really laugh...
Made them realize.
She was back.
Completely.
—
The teasing finally stopped.
Shristi sat beside Wick on a bench with a dramatic sigh.
"They're impossible."
"They are."
"You could've helped."
"I could've."
She narrowed her eyes.
"...But?"
"I was curious how long you'd last."
She lightly punched his shoulder.
"I hate you."
"You don't."
"I know."
Another pause.
"...I'm still putting your name on the list."
He smiled.
"Fourth?"
"Third."
"I moved up?"
"You smiled while I was suffering."
"Worth it."
She rolled her eyes so hard she nearly laughed.
"...You're all children."
From somewhere behind them—
Aryan shouted,
"SHE'S SMILING!"
Prishka opened the notebook again.
"Subject appears emotionally stable."
Shristi stood up.
""One more word and I'm feeding you to the next ghost!"
Aryan screamed.
"IT'S BACK!"
The entire group burst into laughter as Aryan and Prishka sprinted away again.
At night
Shristi excused herself and walked toward the elevator.
"I forgot my phone."
"I'll be back."
The elevator doors closed.
Silence settled over the lounge.
Wick looked around the room.
"I need everyone's attention."
Conversations stopped immediately.
Deep straightened in his chair.
Even Dipanshu put his coffee down.
Wick's voice remained calm.
But there wasn't a hint of humor in it.
"The possession jokes end today."
Nobody argued.
Nobody even smiled.
Deep nodded once.
"Understood."
Dipanshu folded his arms.
"Fair."
Varsha simply said,
"Done."
Kritika gave a small nod.
"Of course."
Wick's eyes settled on Aryan.
Then on Prishka.
"You two."
Prishka pointed at herself.
"...Me?"
"Yes."
Aryan looked around.
"I feel targeted."
"You are."
Silence.
Wick folded his arms.
"The possession jokes end here."
Neither of them spoke.
For almost three whole seconds.
Which was impressive.
Then—
Wick's gaze settled on Aryan.
Then shifted to Prishka.
His voice was calm.
Almost too calm.
"The rest of them will stop because I asked."
"You two..."
"...won't."
A long silence.
"So listen carefully."
"If either of you makes one more possession joke at Shristi..."
"...I won't argue."
"...I won't warn you again."
"I'll simply deal with you."
He took one slow step closer.
"And when everyone asks what happened..."
"...you can explain that embarrassing and annoying my girlfriend was worth finding out where my patience ends."
His eyes never left theirs.
"Are we clear?"
Then Prishka sighed dramatically.
"...Fine."
"I suppose we'll retire the investigation."
Aryan lowered his head.
"The Observation Committee has officially been dissolved."
Deep nodded solemnly.
"A tragic day for science."
Dipanshu couldn't help laughing.
"Worst research team I've ever seen."
---
Five minutes later...
Shristi returned.
"...What did I miss?"
Everyone smiled normally.
No staring.
No notebook.
No suspicious comments.
She looked around once.
Then twice.
Finally she frowned.
"...Why is nobody being weird?"
Aryan opened his mouth.
Wick slowly looked at him.
Aryan immediately changed directions.
"...Nice weather."
Shristi blinked.
Then looked at Prishka.
"...You're not writing?"
Prishka quietly slid the notebook into her bag.
"Nope."
Shristi slowly turned toward Wick.
"...You did something."
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
She stared at him for a long moment.
Then laughed.
"I genuinely thought those two came with a lifetime subscription."
Prishka sighed.
"We almost did."
Aryan nodded sadly.
"We had at least another week's worth of material."
Wick stared at them.
They immediately fell silent.
Shristi looked between the three of them...
Then smiled.
"...Whatever you did..."
"Thanks."
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Wick's mouth.
"Anytime."
From across the room, Aryan whispered to Deep,
"...She's smiling again."
Deep looked at him.
"Don't."
Aryan immediately covered his own mouth.
"I'm growing as a person."
"Let's not get carried away."
The room erupted into laughter once more.
Later in the night—
The hotel entrance doors slid open.
Everyone instinctively looked up.
Several familiar faces stepped inside carrying backpacks and luggage.
Shrikant.
Karan.
Annu.
Ayesha.
They stopped.
Looked at the group.
The group looked back.
Silence.
Then Shrikant frowned.
"...Why does everyone look like they survived a horror movie?"
Aryan slowly stood.
"You have..."
He checked an imaginary watch.
"...absolutely no idea."
To be continued…
Every ending is just another beginning.
This was only the first chapter of the chaos awaiting them.
The vacation Arc(Awakening Arc)
ends here