Chapter 17: A Desperate Plan

As Subham approached the blocked exit, he saw Saheli and Ankan waiting anxiously. The relief on their faces was palpable when they saw him emerge from the shadows. Subham held up Psychodeus, its eerie glow reflecting in their eyes, instilling a sense of hope.

"Subham, you're back! What is that?" Saheli asked, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and awe.

"It's just a dagger I found in a secret chamber," Subham replied, trying to sound casual. "I took it for my safety."

Ankan's eyes lit up with determination. "That's good thinking. While you were gone, we found something too—dynamite. We plan to blow up the boulder blocking the exit."

Subham nodded, understanding the gravity of their situation. "Let's do it. We need to get out of here."

Together, they began setting up the dynamite around the massive boulder. Ankan took charge, his confidence and calm demeanor guiding them through the process. Subham and Saheli followed his instructions, their hands shaking with a mix of adrenaline and fear.

"Okay, everything's set," Ankan said, stepping back. "Everyone, take cover!"

They retreated to a safe distance, huddling behind an old stone wall. Ankan ignited the fuse, and the seconds stretched into an eternity as they waited. Then, with a deafening roar, the dynamite exploded, sending rocks and debris flying. The force of the blast shook the ancient fort, and a cloud of dust filled the air.

As the dust began to settle, they cautiously approached the exit. The boulder was gone, and a clear path lay before them. Relief washed over them, but it was short-lived.

From the shadows, the ghost emerged, its form more menacing than ever. It held a metal rod in its hand, its eyes locked onto Saheli. The ghost's presence exuded malevolence, and Saheli froze, terror etched on her face.

"No, not again," Saheli whispered, her voice barely audible.

Subham's grip tightened on Psychodeus, but at the sudden appearance of the ghost, he froze. His body refused to move, paralyzed by fear. As the ghost advanced, a fragment of memory suddenly flashed through Subham's mind, a vision provided by the dagger.

In the vision, Subham saw Saheli and Ankan from a few hours earlier, searching through the darkened halls of Bhangad kila. Their faces were tense with worry as they called out for Yuvraj and Sourav. As they explored, Saheli's eyes caught a glint of something shiny in the debris. She bent down and picked up a delicate necklace, its pendant glittering in the dim light.

"Saheli, don't touch anything!" Ankan warned, his voice urgent. "We don't know what kind of curses or traps are here."

But Saheli, intrigued by the necklace's beauty, ignored Ankan's plea and fastened it around her neck. Almost instantly, the air grew colder, and the ghost appeared, materializing from the darkness. It lunged at Ankan, knocking him to the ground before he could react.

The vision ended abruptly, leaving Subham gasping as reality crashed back around him. The ghost was now mere steps away from Saheli, its malevolent eyes fixed on her. The necklace around her neck glowed faintly, almost mocking them.

"Saheli, pass me the necklace!" Subham ordered, his voice firm.

Saheli, her hands trembling, unclasped the necklace and tossed it to Subham. He caught it and held it up towards the ghost.

"If you want the necklace, take it," Subham shouted. "But leave my friends alone."

The ghost paused, its hollow eyes narrowing as it regarded the necklace. Subham's heart pounded as the ghost approached, its hand reaching out for the necklace. At the last moment, Subham lunged forward and stabbed the ghost with Psychodeus.

"This is for killing and hurting my friends!" Subham yelled.

The ghost let out a horrifying scream as Psychodeus began to absorb its essence. In a final, desperate act, the ghost thrust the metal rod towards Subham, aiming for his heart. The rod pierced through Subham's chest, and he cried out in pain.

As the ghost's form began to disintegrate, being pulled into the dagger, Subham felt his strength fading. The dagger glowed brighter, sending a mysterious energy coursing through his body. His vision blurred, and as he fell to the ground, he saw a blurry figure approaching from the exit.

With his last ounce of strength, Subham tried to focus on the figure, but darkness overcame him, and he slipped into unconsciousness, clutching Psychodeus tightly.