Author note:::
***~ This chapter would contain blood and gore. I'll try not to write too much details, but it's satisfying torturing Ritu in my imagination. So, please skip to the end of the gory part if necessary. ~***
...-...
...-...
Naina returned to the warehouse that night, feeling the same kind of excitement she usually felt while hunting. Humming under her breath, she came to the center where Ritu Mishra and Col. Handa were being forced to watch Bhargav's torture on repeat for hours. The whole Campbell clan was present this evening. After greeting her mother with a hug, Naina went to the small desk and stopped the video. She heard twin sighs of relief from her victims. She turned around and politely introduced herself to Col. Handa.
"Hello, Col. Handa. I'm Naina Singh Ahluwalia... Captain Naveen Singh Ahluwalia's biological younger sister. Currently, I'm a cadet at KMA."
Col. Handa gasped and turned towards Ritu. She didn't respond though as she was in too much shock after watching the gruesome torture of Bhargav for hours on end.
"How did we miss that?" Col. Handa questioned in hoarse voice.
Without bothering to reply, Naina shifted her attention to her family and observed them gathering their possessions. She then directed her focus squarely on Colonel Handa and posed a direct question, "What is the real name of Eagle?" In her possession was the knowledge of her brother's capture, acquired through Bhargav's interview. Her sole intention was to reveal the real identity behind the alias Eagle.
Despite Col. Handa's glare and silence, Naina shrugged and proceeded to take Ritu to the other side of the large room where Jeremy had set up a large steel pool with two poles fixed into it. There, she tied Ritu to one of the poles before returning to grab Col. Handa and doing the same with him.
Col. Handa was astonished at the amount of strength this petite girl possessed. Despite his best efforts to loosen her grip, he was unable to budge. It was as if she didn't even notice his struggling. "He would know... he won't spare you!" he tried threatening Naina.
"I want him to find me... so that I can avenge my brother." she replied casually as she tied him to the other poll.
~~~ Blood & Gore Alert! ~~~
After she was done, Naina went a few feet away from them and sat on a chair. Col. Handa and Ritu noticed that Thomas had setup a camera facing them. Then, Natasha and William connected IV lines on both of them and pulled out 3 bags of blood per person. Ritu and Col. Handa was confused at first but when they poured those blood in large wine glasses and distributed them amongst the Campbell family, A sense of terror overwhelmed them, as they understood that their lives were destined to end on this very night.
Naina took a sip from the fresh blood and let go the control of her power of illusion. Thomas clicked play to start recording. "Why did you join Eagle and his anti-national organization?" Naina asked. Her vampiric aura reached both Ritu and the colonel, making them shiver instinctively.
At first, they didn't answer. Jeremy came with a large makeshift stove and there was a large steel container on it. The container held boiling gold in it. Naina shoved her cup in it and pouring the liquid gold down on the container again. The heat emitting from the container was enough for Ritu and Handa to know it was extremely hot.
"ANSWER ME!" Naina shouted at them, breaking their gaze from the container.
They stayed silent. Angry, Naina threw the hot liquid gold towards them. Col. Handa and Ritu screamed in pain as they were burned from the hot liquid.
"Money... and power." Col. Handa answered, gasping.
"Money and luxurious... to restart my life wherever I wanted." Ritu chocked out, tears streaming down her face from the burning sensation on her body.
"Why did Eagle trap Captain Naveen?" Naina asked Col. Handa as she knew he would know more about this than Ritu.
"Captain Naveen... he discovered Eagle's utilization of KMA for his illegal weapon trafficking network. Moreover, Captain Naveen had uncovered Eagle's true identity," he explained. "Our men tried to locate the evidence, but the captain was clever. He concealed the proof within an Army Redbox before hiding that box. We fabricated the story of its theft, with the intention of retrieving it and replacing the evidence with something else. It was then that Eagle deemed Captain Naveen too dangerous to remain free," Col. Handa explained. He knew he was going to die today. "Why should I go down alone?" he thought to himself.
Naina's anger simmered beneath the surface as she processed the information. Taking a deep breath to regain her composure, she pressed forward with her inquiries. "I am aware that Col. Bajaj oversees the purchases and sales within Eagle's illicit weapon trafficking operations, and there is an insider managing the day-to-day affairs. Who is this insider?" she questioned, her voice laced with determination.
"It's Major Pravat Nair... Major Nair is the insider for Eagle's illegal weapon trafficking business," Col. Handa disclosed, the weight of the revelation hanging heavy in the air.
A surge of anger coursed through Naina as she clenched her jaw, determined to bring those responsible to justice. She took a deep breath, steadying herself before she posed her final question, her voice filled with unwavering resolve. "Who is Eagle? What is his real name?" she demanded, her eyes piercing through the room, searching for the truth that lay buried beneath the layers of deception.
...-...
...-...
Next morning
09:00 hours
A man in his early 50s was engrossed in reading a file when a knock interrupted him. Suddenly, his personal secretary, Mr. Basu, burst into the room with a worried expression. The man raised an eyebrow and inquired, "Mr. Basu, why do you appear as if you have just seen a ghost?"
"Sir, I have a message." Mr. Basu replied.
At that, the older man gestured for his security guards to go out and close the door behind them. Once they were gone, the man asked, "What's the message?"
"Col. Bajaj called. He told me that... Col. Handa and Ritu Mishra's dead bodies were found in front of the military headquarters' main entrance this morning. No footage was found in the CCTV cameras and no witnesses. Whoever this person is... they sent another message for you, sir." Mr. Basu informed before giving his phone to his boss.
The older man inhaled sharply as he saw the photos of Col. Handa and Ritu Mishra's dead bodies. "What is this gold color thing that hardened around their mouths?" he asked.
"Col. Bajaj said it was melted gold. He said someone had poured liquid gold down their throats to symbolize their greed for money." Mr. Basu informed fearfully.
The older man swiped to the next photo and saw the message that was addressed to him. It was written in blood like last time. It said,
"Roses are red,
Violets are blue.
Eagle, you should know,
I'm coming for you."
"What nonsense is this?! Who is this person that thinks he can threat ME and get away with it? And how come no one saw who placed to bodies at the entrance? Is this a joke?!" The older man, Eagle roared angrily.
**** End of Blood & Gore.****
He was the founder and head of the anti-national group. For years, Military, Special agents, commandos, and police were unable to find him. But now, someone had dared to not only capture his key people, but also torture them in different kinds of ancient methods.
"Major Bhargav, Col. Handa, and Dr. Ritu Mishra... they were all connected to that Kanchenjunga Military Academy, weren't they?" Eagle asked his secretary.
"Yes sir."
"Do you think Captain Rajveer could've done it?" Eagle asked thoughtfully.
"I'll look into it immediately." Mr. Basu responded.
"No. I will do it." Eagle told him. "Tell Col. Bajaj and Major Nair to be very careful from now on. There should be no mistake. Tell our men to be on high alert as well." he ordered.
"Yes, sir." Mr. Basu responded before hurrying out of the office.
...-...
...-...
...-...
Notice board area,
KMA academy building
10:00 hours
Gathered around the notice board area at KMA, the first-year cadets were filled with anticipation as they awaited the release of their final exam results. Ali paced rhythmically, quietly reciting surahs, while Yudi mirrored the motion, murmuring about the weight of his parents' expectations. In the meantime, Alekh and Huda found amusement in a playful bet over potential failures, and Pooja stood secluded in a corner, fervently praying for a positive outcome. Naina expertly captured these comical interactions on her phone, her soft chuckles a testament to her amusement.
Rajveer hurriedly approached Naina at the same spot and joined her. "Aren't you feeling anxious?" he inquired.
"Not really. I'm quite confident that my friends and I have succeeded, so why should I be nervous?" Naina replied with a mischievous smile.
"You seem to be relishing their anxiousness a bit too much," Rajveer teased.
"Absolutely," Naina affirmed, accompanied by a playful wink.
The first-year cadets immediately stood up straight when they noticed Suriji approaching the notice board with a stack of papers in hand. He affixed the results to the board and retreated. Without delay, the cadets flocked around the board to examine their results. Out of the 45 cadets, only two failed their final exams. The Super Six, comprising the top performers, had the highest marks, with Naina securing the first position.
With his chest swelling with pride, Rajveer smiled widely to see his favorite cadets top the exam. Suddenly, his phone began ringing, startling him out of his thoughts. Retrieving his phone, he noticed that his godfather was calling him.
Rajveer's father's college classmate, Lala Gehlot, served as his godfather after his parents passed away when he was only six years old. Rajveer's father was a major in the Indian Army, and his mother was a homemaker. During his parents' anniversary party, terrorists attacked their home and killed everyone in attendance, except for Rajveer, who was playing with the neighbor's dog. With no surviving relatives, Lala Gehlot took on the responsibility of caring for Rajveer. He provided for Rajveer's education, enrolling him in the best hostels during his school and college years. When Rajveer expressed his desire to join the military, Lala Gehlot supported him wholeheartedly. A few years ago, Lala Gehlot was appointed as the Defense Minister of India. He immediately offered Rajveer any assistance he required, be it personal or professional. Rajveer held Lala Gehlot in high regard as he had been his only guardian for many years.
Rajveer greeted his godfather with a wide smile as he picked up the phone. "Hello, sir! How have you been?" he exclaimed enthusiastically.
"I'm doing fine, my boy. But I have to ask, why do you always refer to me as 'SIR'? Can't you call me 'uncle' or something else?" Lala scolded his godson in a playful manner.
Rajveer chuckled, "It's just a habit, sir. Can't seem to shake it off, especially when addressing the esteemed Defense Minister."
Lala laughed before asking, "Well, you don't call me often, so I had to call you. How have you been these days?"
Rajveer shared that he is currently working as a communication and strategy teacher in KMA. Today, the first-year cadets received their results, which is causing a lot of commotion. He mentioned that the last few days have been very busy because they had only two days to grade all of the cadets' papers and physical exams, which he found quite challenging.
"That means they would be given vacation before their start the second year, right? I remember.. after your first year's result got out, you had come home with that friend of yours... Ah... what was his name again? The one you wanted to prove innocent?" Lala asked.
"Naveen."
"Yes. Naveen was his name. He was a cheerful guy and you guys had lots of fun pulling pranks on me." Lala playfully scolded Rajveer.
Rajveer chuckled. "Yes, they would be given 10 days' vacation before the second year." he responded.
"That's good. They would be able to relax and meet with their families before starting the new regime. By the way, what happened to Naveen's case? Were you able to find any proof of his innocence now that you're posted in KMA?" Lala inquired casually.
Rajveer opened his mouth to tell the truth, but he recalled the warnings from Naina and Col. Shakti against doing so. "Uncle, I have decided to move on with my life. I know Naveen was innocent, and I do not need any proof to believe that. The truth is like a seed. It will sprout and grow when the time is right, no matter how deeply it has been buried. Therefore, I have left everything in the hands of God and fate. I am no longer looking into his case," he lied with a sigh.
Lala praised Rajveer for making a wise decision and expressed his happiness that Rajveer is moving on with his life, while also expressing sympathy for what had happened with his friend. Lala then playfully teased Rajveer by asking about his personal life, "So, what's the latest in your personal life, Rajveer? Have you started seeing anyone yet?"
Rajveer blushed at Lala's question and replied, "Yes, I have actually started dating someone. She is one of my cadets, and things are quite serious between us. I plan on spending the rest of my life with her," he shared with a smile.
Lala reacted with surprise, exclaiming, "Oh my! You have found a daughter-in-law for me, and you did not even bother to tell me! That's very bad, Rajveer. When are you going to introduce her to me?"
Rajveer explained that his girlfriend is currently focused on her training, and he plans to introduce her to Lala after she graduates. He also shared that they plan to get married immediately after her graduation. Rajveer blushed even harder as he spoke.
Lala expressed his joy at the news, saying, "That's amazing news, son!" However, he quickly added, "Oh no, I have to hang up now. I'll talk to you later," apologizing for having to end the conversation abruptly.
"That's okay, uncle. Talk to you later." and the hung up.
Rajveer was startled as he turned around and saw Naina standing right behind him with an amused expression on her face. "So... we're getting married right after I graduate, are we?" she teased him as she stepped closer.
Rajveer blushed at her flirty tone and took a step back, whispering, "N-Naina... everyone's here."
But Naina didn't seem to mind as she replied confidently, "So what? Let them hear. I can't wait to be your wife, Rajveer." She smiled, and her eyes twinkled with happiness and love. Naina continued to tease Rajveer, saying, "But you do realize that you have to propose to me for that... right?"
Rajveer chuckled nervously and replied, "Of course, I do. And I have the perfect plan for it, don't you worry."
Naina raised an eyebrow in amusement and asked, "Oh really? And when are you going to execute this 'perfect plan' of yours?"
Rajveer grinned mischievously and replied, "Soon, my love. Very soon."
Naina giggled at Rajveer's response and stepped back, not wanting to embarrass him further. "I'll wait," she told him before turning to go back to her group of friends.
Rajveer watched her go with a smile on his face, feeling grateful and excited to have her by his side.
... - ...
Amidst the celebratory atmosphere in the mess, Rajveer and Shalini were sitting together at a table, soaking in the joyous ambiance. The cadets who had passed were jubilantly celebrating their success, with the BC treating them to free cups of coffee as a gesture of congratulations.
Suddenly, Rajveer's phone started ringing. The caller ID said that it was from Col. Shakti. Rajveer excused himself and went out of the mess before receiving the call. "Jai Hind, sir!" he greeted formally.
"Jai Hind, Captain. I have some news." Col. Shakti told him with a sigh.
*** Mention of Blood & Gore***
"Sir, last time you said that when Major Bhargav's body was recovered." Rajveer pointed out.
"Yeah, I remember. Captain, we found Dr., Ritu ad Col. Handa's dead bodies at the same place this morning. Again, no footage or witness." Col. Shakti informed.
Rajveer turned to stare at his girlfriend, who was casually chatting with her friends. "Were they killed the... same way?" he asked curiously.
"No. From what we can see... they were restrained and their mouth was forced open as heated gold was poured down their throat. As a result, severe damage occurred to their distal organs and had severe blistering of the lungs... ultimately leading to their deaths. There are also molten gold splashed on random areas of their bodies. As if they were interrogated like that." Col. Shakti informed.
Rajveer winced. "That's brutal." he commented.
"Agreed. We also found a second note, written with their blood." Col. Shakti added.
***End of Blood & Gore***
"What did it say?" Rajveer asked.
"It said, 'Roses are red, Violets are blue. Eagle, you should know, I'm coming for you.'" Col. Shakti replied. "Captain, what happened during the transfer of those triggers? You wrote in your report that the backup truck was attacked and we found bullets lodged on the outside of the truck. How did Dr. Ritu escaped?" he asked.
Rajveer took his turn to speak and reluctantly informed his commanding officer that Ritu had initiated an attack on them at the truck. He explained that during their scuffle, he managed to grab her firearm and subdue her, but the gun went off causing the driver to stop the vehicle. To prevent any further trouble, he instructed Alekh to keep the driver at bay while he and Naina chased after Ritu who had fled the scene. Unfortunately, Ritu's accomplices intervened, leading to a fight in which Rajveer and Naina were able to eliminate most of the attackers, but some managed to assist Ritu's escape. Rajveer concluded his account by saying that he had not seen Ritu since that incident.
"That means she had been alive when you saw her?" Col. Shakti asked.
"Yes, sir." Rajveer replied as that was indeed the truth. "Would you mind sending me photos of their bodies please? I would like to see." he asked.
"I'll send you all three. Bye." and Col. Shakti hung up with a sigh. A few seconds later, Rajveer received the photos. He didn't know how he would react, that's why he headed for his room.
As he departed, Naina gazed at the vacated doorway, her expression reflecting a mixture of emotions. She realized that it was a pivotal moment that could either strengthen or shatter their relationship. She pondered whether he would be able to reconcile with the violence he had witnessed, or if he would view it as a deserved penalty. Naina understood that only time would reveal the answers she sought, and thus, she needed to remain patient.
...-...
...-...
...-...
Naina quietly made her way into Rajveer's room through his bedroom window, only to find that he wasn't there. Suspecting that he might be struggling with inner turmoil, she ventured out to the living room where she discovered him sitting in an armchair, deep in contemplation while nursing a glass of whiskey. Approaching him noiselessly, Naina retrieved his phone from the coffee table. As Rajveer watched her, he remained silent. Naina proceeded to open his phone's gallery and scrolled through the last pictures of Bhargav, Ritu, and Handa.
"Why did Ritu betray Naveen?" Rajveer inquired, seeking to understand if Ritu had ever harbored any genuine affection for Naveen.
Naina let out a deep sigh before responding, "The lure of money can make even the strongest of minds succumb to weakness. Ritu was no exception." She then settled herself on the coffee table, facing Rajveer. "How are you holding up?" She was concerned about his well-being, particularly his mental state.
Rajveer shrugged and drained the remaining whiskey from his glass before responding, "My mind is struggling to reconcile conflicting thoughts. One part of me agrees with your approach and believes it will send a strong message to Eagle. Another part thinks we should have followed the rules and regulations. A third part is relieved that Naveen's perpetrators were brought to justice, while a final part believes their punishments were too harsh." Rajveer sighed, conveying his inner turmoil.
Naina gave Rajveer a curious look and asked, "Why aren't you scared of me and what I'm capable of doing?" Her question was genuine and open, reflecting her desire to understand his perspective.
Everybody needs inspiration
Everybody needs a song
A beautiful melody
When the night's so long
'Cause there is no guarantee
That this life is easy
Yeah, when my world is falling apart
When there's no light to break up the dark
That's when I, I I look at you
When the waves
Are flooding the shore and I can't
Find my way home anymore
That's when I, I I look at you
Rajveer opened up with difficulty and said, "I must confess that I felt scared for a moment. My rational side knows that I should fear you and keep my distance, but the truth is, I'm afraid because I want to stay with you, even more than I should. There's a part of me that I'm not even familiar with, and it's compelling me to do everything in my power to stay by your side."
When I look at you, I see forgiveness
I see the truth
You love me for who I am
Like the stars hold the moon
Right there where they belong
And I know I'm not alone
Yeah, when my world is falling apart
When there's no light to break up the dark
That's when I, I I look at you
When the waves
Are flooding the shore and I can't
Find my way home anymore
That's when I, I I look at you
Naina nodded slowly in agreement and said, "Yes, wanting to be with me is definitely something to be afraid of. I could lose focus for just a split second, and you could lose your life." Her tone was serious, reflecting the gravity of the situation. She continued with a bitter smile on her face, "But I'm a very possessive person. Once something becomes mine, it stays mine. This stubborn, possessive nature of mine only intensified after I was turned." Naina paused for a moment and then confessed, "I should have kept my distance when I learned that you were my mate. But when you went missing, something in me snapped that day." Her voice was filled with regret and sadness as she reflected on her actions.
"Thank God for that. I love you too much to even think of a life without you now." Rajveer told her with a small smile.
"No, Rajveer, don't thank God." Naina's tone was harsh as she reminded Rajveer, "Remember, you're not just my mate. It's not just your company that I crave. Never forget that. And never forget that I am more dangerous to you than I am to anyone else." Her words were a warning, meant to make Rajveer realize the gravity of their situation.
You appear just like a dream to me
Just like Kaleidoscope colors that
Cover me, all I need
Every breath that I breathe
Don't you know you're beautiful?
Yeah, yeah, yeah
When the waves
Are flooding the shore and I can't
Find my way home anymore
That's when I, I I look at you
I look at you
You appear just like a dream
To me
"You've mentioned it a few times in the past as well. What did you actually meant?" Rajveer asked curiously.
"Did you manage to guess my diet yet?" she asked.
Rajveer instantly recalled seeing blood on Naina's lips on the day of Dr. Shalini's test. He had assumed it was coming from Naina's lips being bitten by her. Then the other day, she had been drinking something from a stainless steel bottle and it had a dark red color. "Blood?" he uttered.
Naina nodded. "Our kinds... survive on blood. The taste and smell of human blood is unique to each individual, and occasionally our kind may encounter a person whose blood is almost impossible to resist. This type of human is referred to as "la tua cantante" or "your singer" by our kind's rulers, as their blood seems to "sing" to that particular person of our kind in question. This discovery is often a highly pleasurable experience for most... when they get to have that blood. But it's also a really painful torture for those who are determined to resist it's pull." she explained in detail without uttering the word 'vampire'.
With a nod, Rajveer gently held Naina's face in his hands. "I finally comprehend why your family holds you in such high regard. Thank you for resisting your impulses and allowing me to make a choice. You could have easily taken away my options by feeding on me and turning me into one of your kind, but you didn't. You continue to battle your own instincts in order to keep me safe, not only from the outside world but from yourself as well. If that's not love, then I don't know what is," he said, his warm smile meant to comfort her. Naina sighed and rested her forehead against his.
...-...
...-...
...-...
A/N:::
When I Look at You by Miley Cyrus