Ratan and the Detective opened the door slowly, the hinges creaking under years of rust and silence. The air inside was cold and damp. Ratan raised his gun instinctively, stepping forward with caution. The Masked Detective followed close behind.
They moved deeper into the dark room. A soft whimper echoed somewhere inside.
The Detective quickly turned on the flashlight on her phone.
A narrow beam cut through the darkness.
And then they saw them.
Girls—tied up, gagged, terrified.
All of them.
Sanchayita. Ishita. Debolina. And others they hadn't even known were missing.
"Oh my god," Ratan whispered.
The light passed over one more girl, sitting quietly in the corner.
"Is that… Ishita Basu?" Ratan asked.
The Detective moved closer, her eyes narrowing behind the mask.
"No," she said softly. "This is Sanchayita Pandit."
"What!?" Ratan's voice cracked. "H-How is that possible?"
Before she could answer, a voice echoed from behind them.
"You finally found the truth, Ms. Detective."
They turned sharply.
A man stepped into the dim light.
Ratan's eyes widened in disbelief.
It was Principal Animesh Basu—head of Taraniketan School.
---
To Be Continued…