I tossed to the other side of the bed as the events of the day kept replaying in my mind.

Fathima was dead.

Chandni was dead.

Raziya was arrested.

Riddick was suspicious.

I hadn't said goodbye to him when I left his place and I did not regret it.

I was sure that it was Riddick who stole the file from Chandni. I found both the file as well as Lilly's hair in his shelf. He must have left the hair, thinking that Chandni wasn't there. He wanted to shift the stealing on to Lilly's name. 

Was it all that he had in mind?

The stealing actually disturbed the Kaalan case too since it was the first time that an escapee came back into the picture after they achieved freedom. I knew that it was impossible but I too fell for that and thought that she actually returned.

Was that what he had in his mind? to disturb my investigation?

My clutch on the blanket tightened due to the possibility. If it was so, he wanted to destroy me and he was still working on it which meant all his acts of affection were mere parts of a sickly directed drama in which I played a part without even knowing it. I felt my blood boil and started taking deep breaths to calm myself.

It was raining heavily outside. The sky roared and rumbled like it was angry with every being on earth. Raindrops pelted heavily against the glass panes of the window as the wind blew sharply.  I could hear yelps and howls from outside.  The screeching sound of cats. The rustling of leaves. Falling coconut palm leaves. The only sources that allowed me to see the things around me were the emergency light and occasional lightning.

I kept tossing from side to side with forced shut eyes but sleep was not yet ready to take over.

My eyes snapped open when I heard a scratching sound on my door. I tried to listen carefully to my surroundings and for a moment I thought that it was mere imagination. I slowly sat up and kept listening intently but all that filled my years was the merciless thunder. I sighed and went back to lying.

My eyes flew open as I heard a click sound, I waited to confirm that it was my mere imagination but it wasn't.

The rain ceased to mere drizzling in a matter of seconds.

Hushed footsteps grew louder as I started sweating profusely, it was too late for me to run for my gun. I tried to even my breath and tossed to face the wall beside my bed. I could see the shrinking shadow of a person on the wall, each second making his shadow clearer, he was coming towards me. My breath hitched, once I sensed him behind me.

He leaned and his masculine perfume made me suffocate. His breath fanned my cheeks and I closed my eyes. I could hear my frantic heartbeat as my throat went dry. I saw his hand searching below the pillow beside me. He withdrew his hand once he had my diary in his hand. I bit the inside of my cheeks when I thought that the book would smash on my face.

The footsteps started going away, the shadow becoming larger. I waited till the shadow was out and I slowly sat up. My feet momentarily numbed due to the cold tiles. I tiptoed to my drawer with my phone and took my gun, giving a boost to my confidence. I trotted towards my room's door and stood beside it, my back pressed against the wall.

I gulped and peeped through the half-open door. I saw moving light that hit the part of the corridor's floor and wall in front of the kitchen.

Taking one dubious step, I stepped out of my room. I felt it almost impossible but I had to move on.  Wiping the droplets of sweat that formed above my upper lip, I slid my back against the wall, moving to the kitchen. 

The movement of light ceased once I was beside the kitchen's door.

I licked my lips and moved my upper body so as to peep into the kitchen.

There wasn't anyone.

I knitted my eyebrows and entered the kitchen with the gun in my hand. I gulped as I turned from my right to left and above in swift movements. My diary was kept open beside my stove with a flashlight. I walked towards it.

My grip on the pointed gun, stronger.

My breathing, slow and hushed.

Eyes scanning the dimly lit kitchen.

Increasing heartbeats.

Heaving chest.

Adrenaline rush in blood.

Drops and drops of sweat forming and sliding throughout my body.

The ticking of the clock.

The masculine scent still lingering in the atmosphere.

Dry mouth.

The cool breeze through the open window.

My diary and a flashlight that wasn't mine.

My body shivered as I read the content on the page which was kept open.

Tick tock, tick tock

Tick tock, tick tock

And stops your clock, Keerthy

-With lots of love Kaalan.

I shuddered when I heard a door close. I sprinted to my room to find it shut. He knew that I was awake and I had to get out of there. My lips trembled and knees shook as I trotted towards the front door. Breathing heavier through my mouth and nose with each step. I had to get outside of the house. Immediately.

I felt a glimpse of hope when I got a hold on the door's knob without anyone following me. I lowered my wrist with full force while looking behind me.

It was locked.

I pulled and pushed the door to be disappointed further. I banged on the door but nobody was there to help me. Running to the window, I prayed for someone to be on the street in front of my house. My shouts and screams did not manage to overpower the rain that resumed.

I was not ready to give up, I kept shouting till I saw a silhouette on the footpath beside the street. The man stopped walking and looked beside him. I wasn't sure that he was listening to me but I kept shouting for help.

A small smile spread across my face when I saw his head turn to the direction of my house.

The rain became heavier when his head turned towards my direction. I took the whole of my energy to shout at the top of my lungs. I extended my hand outside and waved at him, losing my gun in the process. The man started walking away, perhaps blaming my screams on his imagination.

Not all the faint sounds are mere imaginations.

I was trapped in my own home with a stranger.

I firmed my grip on the phone even more. The phone was my last chance, though not an immediate escape, it was my last chance.

I heard a click sound from my room's door. I pressed the side switch of my phone.

Another click sound. My hand shivered and I made a mistake in the pattern password.

The sound of the doorknob, I opened the lock.

I saw a silhouette emerging from my room, tall and well-built man, a flashlight facing downwards in his hand. I opened my contacts and swiped a random contact, calling.

The number you are calling is switched off, please call again later.' A female voice said.

The man took a step forward as I took a step backwards. I swiped the phone, sliding my finger downwards and swiped another contact.

The man's pocket lit up and his phone started ringing as he took another step forward. I took another step backwards.

The man held the flashlight up straight. The phone dropped from my hand as I walked backwards. Once my back touched the wall behind, I gasped.

"You...You are Kaalan, Aren't you? Like a wolf in sheep's clothing"