Chapter 4 - A Mysterious Presence in The Fog
Yet the boys were terrified.
They wanted to step out of the car and search for their parents... but fear froze them in place.
Then... A bright light flashed behind them.
Both boys turned to look through the rear window.
A spark of hope ignited in their hearts.
A car was approaching from behind.
Within moments, a long black sedan pulled up and stopped nearby.
The boys watched anxiously.
They felt as if someone inside that car was watching them too.
The door opened.
A man stepped out.
He looked tall, unnaturally tall.
Long hair fell over his shoulders. He wore a black jacket and, despite the late hour, dark sunglasses covered his eyes.
Slowly, he walked toward the boys' car.
He glanced at the open bonnet, then leaned forward and looked inside.
His gaze fell upon the two frightened children.
He gently knocked on the closed window and gestured for them to lower it.
The boys exchanged nervous glances.
They were alone.
They had no other choice.
After whispering to each other, they slowly lowered the window.
The man smiled.
"What happened, kids?" he asked calmly.
"What are you doing here so late at night? Where are your parents?"
The boys hesitated, then spoke softly,
"Our car broke down. Dad went outside to check… it's been a long time."
"We don't know where he went."
The man nodded thoughtfully.
"It's okay," he said.
"There's a village nearby. Maybe your parents went there to look for help."
He paused, then added,
"My name is Korvex. I can help you! if you want."
The boys looked at each other again.
After a moment, one of them asked,
"Can you help us find our mom and dad?"
Korvex replied calmly,
"It's very late, and I don't have much time. But I can take you to a safe place."
The boys thought for a moment.
Then one of them said,
"Can you take us to the police station?"
Korvex smiled, a strange, crooked smile.
"You're quite clever, boys," he said.
"Alright… we'll do that."
After that, The boys stepped out of their car.
They were still shaking with fear.
Cautiously, they looked around before following Korvex to his car.
Korvex glanced around once more, as if checking something unseen, then got into the driver's seat.
The boys sat inside.
The engine started.
But instead of turning toward the city, the car slowly moved in the opposite direction.
The boys noticed immediately.
"The city is that way!" one of them said nervously.
"Where are you taking us?"
Korvex replied in a deep, heavy voice,
"My house is nearby. I'm very hungry… and seeing you two has made my hunger even stronger."
He laughed.
A strange, unsettling laugh.
The boys froze.
Their hearts raced wildly.
Their hands and feet began to tremble.
Fear wrapped around them like a tightening grip.
Korvex laughed again, then said casually,
"Oh… relax. I'm just joking."
"Haha…"
But his laughter didn't feel like a joke.
The black sedan moved forward, cutting through the fog, carrying the two terrified boys away, To somewhere unknown.
To somewhere dark.
....
The Next Morning ( 11:00 A.M.)
Morning had fully arrived
Six kilometers away from the city, Harris's car lay parked on the side of the road. A police vehicle stood nearby, its lights flashing faintly. Several officers were searching the surrounding area, examining the road, the bushes, and the nearby fields.
The senior police officer J.D., was present at the scene himself, closely investigating what had happened during the night.
Moments later, another police vehicle arrived. An Assistant Inspector stepped out and approached officer J.D.
With a worried expression, the Assistant Inspector reported,
"Sir… we found another car further ahead. It looks like it crashed as well, but no one was inside."
Officer J.D.'s face grew serious.
"Harris was returning to the city last night with his family in this car," he said gravely.
"But he and his entire family vanished during the night. This car is all that remains."
The Assistant added,
"I called my station earlier. So far, sixteen missing person complaints have been registered. We don't understand how this is happening."
Officer J.D. nodded slowly.
"Yes… this is extremely unusual. So many people disappearing in a single night."
He paused.
"It feels like something big is going on. We need to stay alert."
The Assistant lowered his voice.
"Sir… could this be the work of some major mafia group?"
Officer J.D. responded cautiously,
"Possibly. Because people don't just disappear like this without reason."
He looked around thoughtfully.
"Last night, the entire city was covered in fog."
The Assistant hesitated before speaking again,
"That's true, sir. For some time, visibility was almost zero. Maybe something happened within that fog… maybe that fog itself...."
Officer J.D. cut him off sharply.
"Enough with these theories. Don't jump to conclusions."
He straightened up.
"Harris is one of our own. First, we find him. If police officers themselves start disappearing, what will happen to the public? We need to investigate the nearby villages immediately."
(Krish's Homecoming)
(An Old Residential Society – Inside the City)
In one of the city's older residential societies, a house that had remained locked for years now stood open.
Kanishk, aged twenty eight, had returned home after four long years.
Four years ago, after the death of his mother and due to unresolved personal matters, Kanishk had left this house, and the city behind.
Now, he was back.
Alone.
He had no family left. The neighbors had changed. The familiar faces were gone, replaced by strangers who neither recognized him nor knew his story.
Why had Kanishk returned after so many years?
That question carried weight.
Wearing unusual brown tinted glasses, Kanishk stood by the bedroom window on the second floor of his house. From there, he carefully observed the third house across the street.
It belonged to Professor V. Shivers.
A few moments later, a bike stopped in front of Kanishk's house. The sound of the engine immediately caught his attention.
Kanishk grew alert.
He walked downstairs toward the living room.
The doorbell rang.
He opened the door to find Rinesh, his old friend, standing there, wearing a round sweater and slightly formal pants.
Rinesh smiled widely.
"Well, well… how are you, my friend? You didn't forget me, did you?"
A faint smile appeared on Kanishk's face.
"I didn't expect anyone to recognize me here anymore," he replied.
Rinesh laughed.
"What are you saying? An old friend forgetting you? Is that even possible?"
He pulled Kanishk into a warm hug.
Kanishk chuckled.
"You haven't changed at all. Still wearing those strange sweaters."
Rinesh grinned.
"Maybe… but you look like you've changed a lot."
Kanishk nodded calmly.
"Yes. Change is the rule of the world. No one can stop it."
Rinesh glanced toward the courtyard.
"Is that black car outside yours?"
Kanishk replied casually,
"Yes. It's mine. Second-hand."
He smirked slightly.
"So… how do you like my German beauty?"
Rinesh raised his eyebrows.
"It looks brand new. Quite impressive."
Kanishk gestured inside.
"Come in. Let's sit and talk."
Rinesh entered the house, and the two old friends sat across from each other on the sofa.
There was a time when they had been inseparable, studying together, roaming the city, sharing dreams.
Then, suddenly, everything had changed.
Breaking the silence, Rinesh asked,
"I noticed the house open this morning. When did you arrive?"
"Last night," Kanishk replied.
Rinesh's expression turned serious.
"Last night?"
He shook his head.
"You picked a strange night to return. The city was covered in thick fog, and several people went missing."
Kanishk responded calmly,
"Yes… I saw the news."
Rinesh leaned forward.
"From now on, be careful at night. No one knows what's happening here."
Kanishk nodded.
"Staying alert is always wise."
Rinesh's voice softened.
"Tell me, Kanishk… where were you all these years? We missed you. I honestly thought I'd never see you again."
Kanishk paused before answering.
"Circumstances forced me to leave. You know everything already. I tried my best, but…"
Rinesh sighed.
"It's okay. That's how the world works."
Then he smiled faintly.
"So tell me… what are you doing these days? A job? Or just wandering around?"
Kanishk grew serious.
"I'm not supposed to tell anyone this," he said slowly.
"But you're my friend, so I can tell you."
Rinesh leaned in eagerly.
"Come on. Just say it."
Kanishk replied,
"I'm a secret agent. I've been in service for the past three years. Right now, I'm on leave."
Next Chapter…