Chapter 3: sneak attack

"Anjali, look at this," Rahul said, pointing to the old maps spread out on the table. "I think I've found a pattern in the markings. It's like a trail leading to a specific spot."

Anjali leaned in, her eyes widening with excitement. "Really? What does it mean? Could it be the location of the treasure?"

Rahul nodded, his heart racing with anticipation. "I think so. These markings seem to align with the riddles in the letter. It's as if someone deliberately left a trail for us to follow."

Anjali's laughter bubbled up.

"This is like we're in a real-life treasure hunt! I can't believe we're actually doing this."

"I know, it's unbelievable,"

Rahul said, his voice tinged with excitement. "But we need to be careful. If this treasure is real, there's a chance that someone else might be after it too."

Anjali's expression turned serious.

"You mean like a rival treasure hunter?"

"Exactly," Rahul confirmed, furrowing his brow in concern.

"I don't want to jump to conclusions, but there have been strange incidents recently. I feel like we're being watched."

Anjali's eyes widened in surprise. "Watched? By who?"

"I don't know," Rahul admitted, his tone hushed. "But when I was at the old library, I noticed someone lingering around, observing me. And last night, I heard footsteps outside our house."

Anjali's breath caught in her throat. "That's creepy. Do you think it's because of the treasure?"

Rahul nodded grimly. "It's a possibility. If the treasure is real, then there's bound to be others who want it too. We have to be cautious and stay one step ahead."

"I'm with you, Rahul," Anjali declared, her voice filled with determination. "We'll make sure no one gets the treasure before us."

"Thanks, Anjali," Rahul said, giving her a grateful smile. "Having you by my side means everything. We'll figure this out together."

Anjali grinned, her eyes sparkling with determination. "You bet we will. Now, let's go over these clues again and see if we can figure out where this trail leads."

They turned their attention back to the maps and the cryptic riddles, ready to unravel the mystery and safeguard their quest for the hidden treasure.

Rahul' has no idea

The killer was sitting on a tree

killer chopped Rahul's hand by throwing a knife through the string.

ran away

"Rahul, what happened? Why did you go out alone at this hour?" Anjali's voice was filled with concern as she helped Rahul clean up his wounds.

"I didn't think anyone would follow me. I just wanted to check out the next clue without worrying you," Rahul explained, wincing as Anjali dabbed antiseptic on his cuts.

Anjali sighed. "We should have been more careful. We can't underestimate the dangers lurking around us."

"I know, and I won't make that mistake again. But I managed to fend him off. He won't come back anytime soon," Rahul assured her, trying to sound confident despite the tremor in his voice.

"We need to be cautious from now on. We can't let our guard down, especially with this treasure at stake," Anjali stated firmly.

As they discussed their next steps, there was a sudden rustling outside the window. They both froze, exchanging alarmed glances.

Without warning, the window shattered, and a masked figure lunged into the room, brandishing a knife.

"Stay back, Anjali!" Rahul yelled, pushing her behind him as he confronted the intruder.

The intruder lunged at Rahul, and a fierce struggle ensued, accompanied by grunts and thuds as they wrestled for control.

"Get off me, you coward!" Rahul roared, his voice mingled with the sound of the tussle.

Anjali, panicking, grabbed a nearby vase and hurled it at the intruder, hoping to distract him.

The vase collided with the intruder's shoulder, eliciting a pained yelp from the masked figure.

Seizing the opportunity, Rahul lunged forward, delivering a well-aimed kick that sent the intruder sprawling to the ground.

The room fell silent, except for heavy breathing and the sound of the intruder's hasty retreat.

"Are you okay, Rahul?" Anjali's voice quivered with worry.

"I'm fine, just a few scratches. But we need to be more cautious. It's clear that someone is determined to stop us," Rahul said, his tone resolute.

Anjali nodded, her eyes reflecting determination. "We can't back down now. We've come too far to let anyone intimidate us."

As they cleaned up the mess and secured the broken window, their resolve only grew stronger.

"We need to figure out who this person is and why they're so desperate to stop us," Rahul mused, a hint of determination edging his voice.

"We will. But for now, we need to ensure our safety and prepare for whatever comes next," Anjali suggested, her voice steady despite the lingering fear.

With a shared nod, they began strategizing their next move, the urgency of the situation driving them to act swiftly and decisively.