CHAPTER - 7: AFTERMATH

6:30 AM

Cape Spear

The sea stretched endlessly, waves crashing against the rocky coast beneath a pale morning sky. The lighthouse stood tall near the edge, silent, watching the horizon.

Jefferson walked along the shoreline, his footsteps slow, deliberate. The wind brushed past him, carrying the sharp scent of salt and cold water. He reached the base of the lighthouse and turned toward its entrance.

Just as he was about to step inside—

A voice echoed from within.

“Hello, Jefferson.”

He froze.

The voice was calm. Familiar.

It was Shaziya’s.

CHAPTER - 7: AFTERMATH

Jefferson stared at her, shock tightening his chest.

“Y‑you… you know me?”

Shaziya smiled faintly.

“Of course. Rehan told me who you are.”

Jefferson’s jaw tightened.

“How did he know?”

Shaziya’s voice remained calm.

“From a list. Two months old.”

Jefferson exhaled sharply.

“So… UNI identified me.”

“Of course,” she replied.

A beat passed.

Jefferson glanced around instinctively.

“Is Rehan here?”

Shaziya tilted her head slightly.

“Ah.”

Jefferson forced a short laugh.

“So… that means you’re alone.”

His eyes shifted to the right—then snapped back to her.

In the same instant, he moved.

Jefferson lunged straight toward Shaziya, intent clear, body committed to the kill.

She saw him coming.

And she didn’t move.

Not until he was close enough.

Then—

Her leg snapped upward.

Her heel struck cleanly under his chin.

Jefferson’s head jerked back violently as his balance broke. He staggered, clutching his jaw, breath knocked loose, pain flashing through his face.

Shaziya stepped forward, composed.

“You really think,” she said evenly,

“Would tricks like this ever be enough to catch me?”

Jefferson groaned, still holding his chin.

She continued, her tone almost casual.

“And since you’re here… you should know—Rehan arrived a long time ago.”

Jefferson froze.

“He’s been standing at the top of the lighthouse this whole time.”

Jefferson’s eyes widened.

“What?”

Shaziya smiled, almost apologetic.

“I was actually coming to capture you myself. You just saved me the trouble.”

She paused, as if remembering something.

“Oh—and I almost forgot. Rehan asked me to pass on a message if I found you.”

Jefferson swallowed.

“What is it?”

Shaziya met his eyes.

“He wants to help you reach the other world.”

Jefferson stared at her, disbelief cracking through the pain.

“What… really?”

“Yes. Really,” she said.

She glanced briefly toward the towering lighthouse behind them.

“He said if we throw you down from the top… you’ll reach the other world on your own.”

Jefferson let out a broken sound.

“Ah…”

Shaziya pulled Jefferson effortlessly, his hands restrained, guiding him upward.

The door swung open ahead, and Rehan emerged, standing casually on the upper platform. His arms were crossed over the railing as he gazed down at the view below, the morning light casting long shadows across the lighthouse structure.

The sound of the door made him glance back.

“You caught him already?” Rehan said, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

Shaziya turned to him, a teasing glint in her eyes.

“He came to me himself, darling.”

Rehan’s eyebrows lifted.

“Ah… when will you stop calling me that?”

Shaziya’s smile widened.

“When you marry me. And then, I’ll call you hubby.” She chuckled softly, playful.

Rehan shook his head, a mix of amusement and disbelief on his face.

“What kind of girl are you?”

She shrugged, teasing.

“To everyone else, I can be anything. But to you… I’m just right, darling.”

Rehan’s expression shifted, back to business, calm yet commanding.

“Enough of that. Put Jefferson in that chair.”

He nodded toward the chair a few feet away, positioned deliberately across from him, still within reach of the lighthouse railing.

Shaziya guided Jefferson, whose resistance had long since drained, toward the chair. The salty wind whipped around them, carrying the scent of the sea and the faint echo of distant waves. Above them, the platform stretched out, the railing marking the edge—but here, on this upper level, they were exposed, tense, cinematic, every movement deliberate.

Rehan walked behind Jefferson and dragged another chair forward. He placed it a short distance away, directly facing him, then sat down slowly.

His posture was relaxed.

His eyes were not.

“Why did you come to meet me yesterday?” Rehan asked.

Jefferson lifted his head slightly.

“To see whether you suspected me or not. And you didn’t.”

Rehan let out a dry breath, almost a laugh.

“Are you stupid?” he said flatly.

“If I suspect someone, do you really think I’ll show it on my face?”

He leaned back.

“I doubted you from the very first moment you walked in. The moment you sat across from me. But you tried to read my face instead of controlling your own. No man walks in, sits that close, and talks so freely unless he has an agenda.”

Jefferson swallowed.

“Ah… so you figured out why I was doing all this?”

“Of course,” Rehan replied without hesitation.

“Your obsession gave you away. This whole ‘another world’ fantasy.”

Jefferson snapped back, anger breaking through.

“You don’t know what the other world is. So stay quiet.”

Rehan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Then tell me. What is this other world?”

Jefferson took a breath.

“A place where power exists. Where people live with abilities. A world with its own systems. Humans live there… but so do demons. Vampires. Other beings.”

Rehan tilted his head.

“What nonsense did you crawl out of? Which anime did you watch before deciding this? What is it—a zoo where every creature lives together?”

“This is real,” Jefferson insisted.

“I’m not lying.”

Footsteps approached from behind.

Albert rushed in, slightly out of breath.

“Sir… I don’t know how, but everything he’s saying is coming true on the lie detector.”

Rehan paused.

“…So you’re insane,” he muttered.

Jefferson blinked.

“Wait—what lie detector?”

Rehan gestured casually downward.

“It’s under your seat. Relax. Advanced model.”

Then his gaze hardened.

“Enough of this. Tell me about the drawings. The one on the ceiling. And the message on the paper.”

Jefferson hesitated—then spoke.

“It’s a ritual. For teleportation. To reach the other world. It requires human lives.”

Rehan’s voice dropped.

“And what exactly did you draw?”

“An evil demon,” Jefferson replied.

“That demon has the power to move people between worlds. But it needs sacrifices. There’s a process.”

“And the process?” Rehan asked.

“First, the ticking sound. Then the killings. Then the ticking again. The bodies must be placed together in one area… for a certain amount of time.”

Shaziya stepped in, her tone sharp.

“And the chemical? How did you get it?”

Jefferson looked away.

“I killed a lab technician. Took it from his house.”

Rehan leaned forward slightly.

“Why do you want to go there?” he asked.

“You already have money. Status. Everything people kill for here. Why chase power there?”

Jefferson’s voice trembled—not with fear, but desire.

“Because I want to become like them. Like the evil demon. Like the vampire king.”

Rehan stared at him.

“And who told you these stories?”

“These aren’t stories,” Jefferson said firmly.

“It’s the truth. Even ancient Indian civilization—Mohenjo‑daro—mentions it.”

Rehan scoffed.

“Oh really? Historians haven’t been able to understand their language for decades, but you cracked it?”

Jefferson looked up.

“One of their drawings matches the human form of the evil demon.”

Rehan’s eyes sharpened.

“Human form… of a demon.”

“Yes.”

Rehan stood.

“You’re insane,” he said calmly.

“I’m not insane,” Jefferson snapped.

“I’m telling the truth.”

Rehan turned away, already done.

“Fine,” he said.

“My job was to catch you. I’ve done that.”

He looked over his shoulder.

“I don’t interrogate. I’m sending you to Zeeshan. He enjoys that sort of thing.”

2:07 P.M. — Principal’s Office, School

The office smelled faintly of polished wood and old papers. Sunlight slanted through the blinds, cutting sharp stripes across the floor. The principal sat behind his massive desk, hands folded, eyes restless. Shara leaned in the corner, quietly observing, her face a mix of curiosity and unease.

Zaya shifted in her chair, glancing at the clock.

“When will they get here?” she asked softly, impatience creeping into her voice.

Daan, standing near the door with arms crossed, replied calmly, “They’re on the way. Just wait a little.”

Zaya let out a quiet sigh. “Ah…”

The office door opened with a soft creak. Shaziya, Rehan, Albert, and Johnson stepped in. Rehan’s hand pressed firmly against the door, pushing it wide. The group moved in with quiet precision, their presence commanding but contained, like a storm held at bay.

Zaya straightened, eyes wide. “So… what happened, sir?”

Rehan’s voice was calm, measured, and almost clinical. “Nothing much. The case… It's solved. He’s caught.”

“Caught?” Zaya repeated, disbelief flashing across her face.

“Yes,” Rehan confirmed, scanning the room as if weighing every shadow, every corner.

The principal leaned forward, tension written across his features. “Who… who was he? Someone from the school?”

Rehan shook his head slowly. “No. He was from outside. Not from the school.”

The principal frowned. “Then… Why did he keep bodies here?”

Rehan’s expression darkened, a shadow passing over his features. “Forget that. Listening to him… it disturbed me.”

“But sir,” the principal pressed, leaning in, “I need to know. Why our school?”

Rehan let the words hang in the room, heavy and deliberate. “He’s insane. He said he treated the school like… an area, a place to keep the bodies… to complete his ritual.”

“Ritual? What ritual?” the principal asked, voice trembling slightly.

Rehan exhaled, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Nothing. Just understand this… he’s crazy.”

Shara remained in the corner, watching silently, her unease palpable. She didn’t speak, but her presence added weight to the tense silence that settled over the office.

Only the hum of the fluorescent lights above filled the room, echoing faintly, carrying with it the remnants of something dark, something incomprehensible.

2:20 PM

Rehan walked beside Shara along the quiet road, the afternoon sun casting long shadows across the pavement.

Shara spoke first.

“So… my name didn’t come up?”

Rehan shook his head.

“No, it wasn’t mentioned.”

“Why not? Was he… a good person?”

Rehan kept his eyes forward, calm and steady.

“No. He wasn’t. He was just… obsessed. Lost in his own fantasy about that ‘other world.’”

“Other world?” Shara asked, her brow furrowed.

“Yes. Another world.”

Shara tilted her head, trying to understand. “You mean…”

“He believed there’s a place where vampires, demons, humans, and other beings all exist… with powers of their own.”

Shara’s voice dropped. “What?”

“I know it sounds insane… but that’s what he said. And the lie detector confirmed it—he really wanted to go there.”

Shara paused, thinking. “If that’s true… Do you think such a world could exist?”

Rehan gave a small shrug. “Hearing him, it seemed… possible, at least in his mind. But we don’t know. Maybe it’s just an obsession.”

She exhaled softly. “Well… the case is over. When are you leaving?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” she repeated, surprised.

“Yes.”

Shara hesitated, glancing at him. “Can’t you stay a little longer?”

Rehan shook his head. “No. And why would I? I caught you, didn’t I?”

A small, soft smile tugged at Shara’s lips.

“Yes… you did. But somehow, being near you feels… different. Safe. And… good.”

Rehan glanced at her briefly, words caught somewhere between surprise and amusement.

11:30 PM

Night had fallen, but this night carried a strange calm—a peaceful silence that seemed to wrap the whole world in stillness. Everyone was asleep in their homes, and the quiet was the kind that made sleep come naturally.

Yet, in her room, Shara lay in bed, eyes tracing the ceiling, mind restless despite the peace.

“Am I starting to… like him? Maybe… yes. But does he like me? Would he… be ready to stay with me… ah, Rehan…”

Her hand drew the blanket up to her face, hiding a faint, uncertain smile as her thoughts swirled in the quiet of the night.

Meanwhile, in Shaziya’s room, her phone buzzed. She held it close, a faint smile playing on her lips as she spoke.

“Yeah, I’ll come tomorrow.”

There was a pause.

“Wait, Rehan’s coming? Alone?”

Shaziya chuckled softly. “No, he’s coming too. And honestly… Why is my 92% girl worrying about my darling?”

“I was just asking… nothing else,” came the muffled reply.

“Relax, I’m just teasing,” Shaziya said, her tone light. “By the way… listen. Rehan was asking something about you.”

“What?”

Shaziya grinned. “He wants to know when you’re quitting your job.”

A brief silence. Then a soft, amused, “Shaziya…”

“Sorry,” she said, laughing.

6:00 AM

The first rays of the sun crept over the horizon, casting a soft, golden glow across the grounds. The morning was quiet, peaceful, almost like the world was holding its breath.

Shara, the principal, and the rest of the team had come to see Rehan and Shaziya off.

“Ma’am, will you come again next time?” Zaya asked.

“Of course,” Shaziya replied, a smile playing on her lips. She took Rehan’s right hand in hers, sliding her fingers around his, her eyes sparkling. “I’ll be with my darling. Right, darling?”

Rehan placed a hand over hers, shaking his head with a gentle frown. “Why don’t you just stay here?”

Shaziya laughed softly. “Because I want to be with my darling.”

Rehan smirked. “Fine. But from here, let’s see if I catch you in London without showing my face.”

“That won’t be a problem,” she teased. “I’ll just sneak into your house.”

“I’ll move my house then,” he shot back.

“You think you can run that far, darling?” she laughed, stepping closer.

“Just let me go, I’m leaving,” Rehan said, starting to turn away.

Shaziya reached out, stopping him with a quick tug. “Hey, wait—wait! I’m coming too. Don’t leave me behind.”

Shara watched them with a small smile. “So, Rehan… will you really come?”

“I will,” he replied calmly.

Shaziya grinned, her eyes dancing with mischief. “Yes, of course. You have to.”

Albert, already moving toward the car, spoke up. “Sir, we should go now… it’s getting late.”

“Alright, let’s move,” Rehan said, finally giving in.

“Byeee!” Shaziya called, teasingly.

“Not yet,” he muttered.

“Darling,” she insisted, leaning closer.

“…Bye,” he said, finally giving a small smile.

Their hands lingered together as they climbed into the car. Even in parting, their laughter and quiet touches filled the morning with warmth.

8:47 AM – Toronto Airport

Rehan and Shaziya stepped out of the car, the morning sun glinting off the airport facade.

Their luggage was unloaded from the trunk.

Albert: “So, sir… bye.”

Rehan didn’t reply immediately.

Shara, walking beside him, tugged lightly at his arm.

Shara: “Darling!”

Rehan glanced at her and replied, “Yeah… bye.”

Shaziya turned to Albert with a smile.

Shaziya: “Bye, Albert. And thanks for all the help.”

Albert waved as they walked toward the entrance.

Inside, Shaziya held Rehan’s left arm gently as they moved through the terminal. Rehan carried several suitcases with ease, balancing them as they walked.

The bustle of the airport surrounded them—people rushing past, announcements echoing overhead—but they moved steadily, side by side, calm and composed.

9:03 AM

The pilot’s voice crackled softly over the cabin speakers, announcing their imminent takeoff.

Rehan and Shaziya settled into their first-class seats.

Shaziya leaned slightly, a playful smile on her face. “Darling, what movie are you going to watch?”

Rehan shook his head, calm but firm. “Listen… Don't call me, don’t bother me. I’m putting on my headphones. Don’t even try.”

“Ah, alright,” Shaziya said, feigning disappointment.

Rehan adjusted his seat, sliding it slightly back. He rested his head against the cushion, eyes closing. A handkerchief covered his face, and his cap was pulled low.

The cabin’s gentle hum and soft sunlight streaming through the windows wrapped around him, and he drifted into sleep.

Shaziya watched him for a moment, a small smile tugging at her lips, then relaxed into her own seat, careful not to disturb him.

10:13 PM

Rehan and Shaziya stepped out, suitcases in hand.

Shaziya: "How long will it take?"

Rehan: "We're already there. I just need to get home."

Shaziya: "Ah… okay."

Rehan: "For this short distance, what’s the rush?"

They walked outside, where a cab was waiting—Rehan had called it a little earlier. Shaziya settled into the seat as Rehan loaded the suitcases beside her. Both of them were exhausted.

After a short drive, the cab stopped at Shaziya’s place. She took out her suitcase and, stifling a yawn, said, "Bye, darling."

Rehan: "Bye."

The car started moving again. A while later, they reached Rehan’s stop. He got out, retrieved his suitcase, completed the payment, and headed into his flat.

Standing on the seventh floor, Rehan unlocked the door to his apartment. Once inside, he set the suitcase aside, pulled out fresh clothes from the wardrobe, and headed to the washroom.

After coming out, he sat down to prepare his meal. His phone rang.

Rehan: "Hello?"

Shaziya: "Hello."

Rehan: "Have you eaten yet? Or are you still hungry?"

Shaziya: "I ordered something outside. Already ate."

Rehan: "Okay."

Shaziya: "Why? What’s up?"

Rehan: "I was making my own food, thought I’d check if you’d eat too."

Shaziya: "I already ate. I’ll come over tomorrow."

Rehan: "Huh, what?"

Shaziya: "I’ll come tomorrow so you can make food for me as well."

Rehan: "Okay… bye then."

Shaziya: "Bye."

A little later, Rehan finished his meal and went to sleep.

9:00 AM – UNI Headquarters

The sun’s first rays streamed through the glass walls of the UNI headquarters, casting long golden lines across the polished floor of the lobby. The morning was quiet, almost peaceful. A gentle calm filled the air, a stark contrast to the chaos that had just ended days ago.

Rehan walked through the lobby, his steps slow but deliberate, echoing softly against the marble. The sunlight caught the dust in the air, making the quiet walk feel almost cinematic. He stopped at the front of the head judician’s cabin and pushed the door open.

“Hellooo,” he called casually.

The head judician looked up from his desk, raising an eyebrow. “It’s not ‘hello,’ Rehan. You have to say, ‘May I come in?’”

Rehan smirked. “I just say hello.”

“Ah, forget it,” the head judician said, waving a hand. “Tell me—who was the culprit?”

Rehan took a deep breath. “Sir, it was a man named Jefferson. He was obsessed… obsessed with going to another world.”

The head judician leaned back, clearly skeptical. “Another world?”

“Yes, sir,” Rehan said. “He believed there’s a place where humans, demons, vampires, and other beings live with powers. He truly believed it existed.”

“Are you serious?” the head judician asked. “Or are you trying to trick me?”

“Sir, I’m serious.”

The head judician sighed. “So… this man was insane?”

“Not insane, sir. Obsessed, definitely obsessed.”

The older man shook his head. “Hmm… alright. And why did he abduct children? Why did he kill people? And why in the school?”

Rehan explained calmly. “Sir, he did all this to complete a ritual. A ritual that would allow him to reach the other world. He had to kill people and keep their bodies in one area for a short period of time. But… sir, he wasn’t entirely bad. He left the children unharmed.”

“Not bad?” the head judician asked, incredulous.

“Yes, sir,” Rehan said. “He took the children but didn’t hurt them.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes, sir.”

The head judician frowned. “You’re lying.”

“No, sir. I’m telling the truth.”

“Okay… then tell me—what exactly was this ritual?”

Rehan hesitated a moment. “Teleportation to the other world, sir. That’s what he claimed. I’m still trying to understand how he planned to do it.”

“With whom?” the head judician asked sharply.

“With an evil demon,” Rehan replied.

The older man blinked. “What?!”

“Yes, sir. He said the demon could teleport him. I wondered why he was relying on the demon’s help, but I thought… I should tell you directly.”

“Hey,” the head judician said, annoyed.

“Sir… I mean, you,” Rehan said, smirking slightly. “You are the evil of the evils.”

“Oy!”

“Sir, hear me out,” Rehan continued. “Even the evil of the evils fears you. That’s why I had to tell you directly.”

The head judician shook his head. “Ah, you will never learn.”

Rehan chuckled. “So, sir… I’ll be going now.”

The older man leaned forward. “By the way… what are your plans now?”

“What, sir?”

“Where are you going? Out to explore?”

Rehan nodded. “Just to relax and take it easy for now, sir.”

The head judician smiled faintly. “Ah, Shaziya told me before your mission that you, Shaziya, Zeeshan, Jimmy, and two others were going to Japan.”

“Yes, we were supposed to go, but now… maybe a few days later. For now, I just need some rest.”

Rehan stepped out of the cabin, his footsteps echoing softly in the hallway. The lobby doors loomed ahead. He stretched slightly, enjoying the sunlight on his face, and muttered to himself, “Now… just time to rest.”

— — — — — VOLUME - 1 — — — — — 

                                     Written & Created by

                                             DARK_Novels_

(Note: I hope you enjoyed the volume.

Now, the volume 1 is over but that doesn't mean the story is over and I am coming with another story on 1-2-26. Which is global survival thrill)