Chime Of The Bell- A Horror Adventure Story

Chapter 1

I felt kind of nostalgic sitting at the corner table of the Silverspoon café. This used to be our favorite hangout spot. After we finished school and had our minds set in pursuing different fields, the bitter realization hit us that our good old times together was coming to an end. Hence this place was decided as our meeting spot. We promised each other that once in a week we would meet to discuss our daily life problems.

Once a week was an unsustainable goal. It gradually extended to once a month when college started and then as the exams approached it was once in 6 months. We had our careers to focus on and when we got employed it was hard to squeeze out time from our busy routines. Then some of us had to leave the city. So from 6 months, it was once a year till it was never.

So much has changed in these years save this café. Looks like this place hasn't changed a bit; The same disgusting taste of coffee, the same portraits on the walls, the same spiderwebs still hang from the ceiling. Maybe the people working here are also still the same. But we have changed. We moved on in life.

Sitting here I recall some of our memorable evenings like the time when the meeting was called to discuss whether Sam was in love, or the time when we gathered here to cheerDishani up after her first heartbreak and the time when Rileena had eaten up my entire cutlet. I beamed as thousands of such memories flooded my mind.

“What are you smiling at Jayee?”

The question just brought me back to the present world. I realized a few faces were staring at me for some answer. Here I was sitting in front of the idiots I have known since childhood-- the same school buddies(Well...not much has changed).

“I was just speculating how much food can fill up Rileena’s pouch”, I replied pointing at the enormous fat-storehouse my friend had developed and the girls burst out laughing. I laughed too. Oh hell, I have missed these moments. Finally, it feels like home.

We chatted about serious things like how fucked up our lives were, fashion, internet speed at NASA and stupid things only best friends can care about. Till finally, it came to planning a vacation. Yea, that was the actual purpose of the meeting.

“I would propose we go to a beach. Our trip to Goa has been getting postponed for years now”, said Rileena.

Rileena Sanyal, nicknamed Rilu is that shrewd businesswoman you would not like to mess with. But this definition will not do justice to this multi-talented woman. Alongside her business, she is also a passionate writer. In fact, she is the chief editor of the renowned magazine VISUAL which also happens to be her magazine. Though I didn't understand why she insisted on going to the beach(with all that weight she had recently gained she couldn't just walk around in a bikini) I decided not to dissent because going on a debate with her has never been a good idea.

“No...a jungle will be better. Beaches will be over-crowded that part of the year. A jungle, one the other hand will never be overcrowded. Its away from the hustle bustle of the city...just the view of stars...oh wonderful!”, said Sam almost dreamily as if she could see the stars.

Sam- Sampreeti Sarkar, an attractive looking woman with an amazing figure who could easily pass as a supermodel. She had this thing for stars from her very childhood. Her ambition was to one day get close to the stars, to reach out to them and now she is working at NASA.

“But there won’t be internet there”, complained Dishani and everyone gave her an omg-you-are-impossible look.

Dishani Roy seemingly with no nicknames is a software engineer with brilliant hacking skills. She is also a professional dancer. You won't realize how can a person excel in programming and dancing at the same time until you see her.

“Let's go to some island so it is beach plus jungle”, I offered.

“Hmm... that's not a bad idea”, said Sam thoughtfully.

Just then, serendipitously, my phone buzzed. There was a message from Mr. Woodsworth, the man I was currently under. It read like this:

‘Dear Jayeeta,
I hope you're enjoying your holidays, and I'm sorry to bother you but I have a good news that just couldn’t wait. Mr. Khan has finally authorized us to explore the island! But sadly enough I won't be able to go as a lot of work here that requires my attention. I would rather like to assign this job to you as I feel you have all the qualities to lead your own team which you are free to choose.

Let me know what you decide. I believe you are not going to disappoint me.
All the best. You will be sending me the report of your trip. Greetings of the season.’

I almost leaped in excitement after reading that. “Guys, we just got our holiday planned!”.
Everyone gave me an inquisitive look so I went on to explain. “My boss is friends with some Mr. Khan who recently bought an island”. Everyone's jaw dropped. That's exactly what happened to me when I heard it for the first time. I continued, “He has invited my boss and his team to explore the island. That island has some real history. But my boss being a busy man, won’t be able to go so he wants me to do it. He said I can get my own team”

-“So?”

-“So I will be taking you guys with me”

“What! We aren't archeologists. Won't your boss object?”

“Nah...he lets me have my own way. Cause you know...I am special”, I said jokingly.

“Do you fuck him?”, asked Dishani, smirking. She has always been this straightforward. Whatever comes in her mind just slips down and out of her mouth with absolutely no filters. Thankfully I didn't have to answer that as Rilu’s question followed -“Which island?”

“Poveglia island. It is considered one of the most haunted places on Earth. And the best part is it's totally isolated”

'Cool’, 'awesome’, 'terrific’ were some of the responses. Even though we were very different from each other, our love for adventure is what was common among us.

“Honestly Jayee I always thought you were an useless, insane creature mugging up history all day. But today...today you proved that you can be of some use too”, said Sam patting my shoulder and another heartfelt laughter broke out amongst the group.

Soon we were packing our bags for Poveglia island.

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Next Chapter: https://wrytin.com/jayeetapaul/the-chime-of-the-bell-chapter-2-ju05hbr6