"Kiran’s wife is missing?"
Rudra was taken aback. He looked around the large hall in confusion.
’How can a person go missing?’ He wondered.
Kiran was the spectacled, middle-aged man who had huddled with Pandit ji. As for his wife, Rudra remembered her being a lean woman with tanned skin.
Unfortunately, his stomach continued to rumble, and he could not join the others in search of the woman. He put the matter aside after considering that she might be hiding in one of the rooms that were usually for the guests of the bride or the bridegroom.
He had been to the MRM convention hall quite a few times, so he knew his way around. He entered the dining area and made his way across the lawn before heading towards the bathroom.
Rudra was about to enter the men’s section of the bathroom when he suddenly noticed a bloodstain on the opposite wall. He wouldn’t have paid much attention to it since bloodstains were all over the place, but this one was different. The blood was flowing down the wall, and from the looks of it, it seemed fresh.
He first handled his business before cautiously walking forward. Hesitantly, he reached out his hand. As soon as he touched the viscous liquid on the wall, his eyes widened, and he sharply backed away.
Maybe if it was him before, he couldn’t have told the difference, but now that his strength and senses had been enhanced, he could feel the slight heat radiating from the blood.
To whoever the blood belonged to, if they had died, they hadn’t died too long ago.
Rudra immediately connected the blood to Kiran’s wife.
He knew what the blood meant as well. There was still danger lurking around, and going by the location, the most likely place should be within the bathroom.
Making as little sound as possible, Rudra backed away and made a knocking sound on the table to attract everyone’s attention.
Pandit ji and the others were initially startled by the knocking sound, but understanding that it was a deliberate noise made by Rudra to catch their attention, they all headed towards the sound and, in a beat, were in front of Rudra.
Rudra motioned Prabu to bring him his spear while he showed the bloodstain on the wall to the others.
"I found the blood to be slightly lukewarm. It’s definitely not a bloodstain from a few days ago."
Everyone understood the implication, and looks of astonishment appeared on their faces, quickly followed by bone-chilling fear.
"Is there something inside the bathroom?" Laila asked, her voice trembling.
Rudra didn’t answer, but everyone was already convinced.
"No, no, you’re lying, you’re lying." Kiran struggled through the crowd and dashed towards the bathroom. Deepak and the others tried to hold him back, but they were too late.
Rudra wanted to go after him, but a tearing sensation in his leg stopped him from doing so, and he looked at the back of the man with some worry.
"Oh, my wife."
Kiran went into the bathroom, and soon, heart-wrenching cries were heard throughout the lawn.
Hearing his cries, everyone was both relieved and saddened. Relieved that, since they were hearing Kiran’s cries, it meant there were no monsters within the bathroom, but saddened because his wife was most likely killed.
They arrived at the bathroom with short steps, and what they saw inside left them stunned.
Kiran had collapsed on the ground, his pants and body smeared with blood. He was crying like a heartbroken child, clutching a piece of fabric tightly in his hand.
"This is her saree." He showed everyone and cried even more bitterly.
A feeling of pity welled in Rudra’s heart, but his eyes narrowed and inspected the entire bathroom. Apart from bloodstains and a single piece of fabric, there was no other indication that someone had died here. Not a piece of flesh nor a sign of struggle.
Not to mention, the bathroom was not far from the area where everyone was staying. If any sound had come from the bathroom, given how extremely alert everyone was to their surroundings, they would have definitely noticed it.
Thinking about it, he put forward a speculation. "This couldn’t have been done by the monsters. They don’t usually finish off their prey so cleanly, and it couldn’t have been the rats as well. They have no ability to kill a human without making a sound."
His words attracted everyone’s attention, and that included Kiran.
"This was done by something that is capable of killing without the victim struggling or making a sound."
A sense of dread filled everyone’s heart, and they looked around their surroundings with caution. It was as if they were not looking at a desolate convention hall with overgrown weeds, but a devil’s den where an invisible monster could take their lives whenever it wished.
"Can’t stay here any longer." The Pandit ji spoke out, fear not hidden in his tone.
Lingaraj, Kavya, Deepak, and others also nodded their heads in agreement.
They were normal people. Such a terrifying situation scared them silly.
It was the same look on Laila’s and Prabu’s faces, and even they had expressions that showed unease.
A tingling sensation in his leg and the other injured parts of his body had already become much more intense. He could tell that his strength was gradually returning. He was confident that in another hour or two, although he would not be fighting at his best, he could definitely handle one or two monsters at a time.
Yet, seeing how eager everyone was, he couldn’t help but heed their request.
He was about to motion for everyone to pack their bags, but Kiran, eyes bloodshot, growled as if he was possessed by an evil spirit.
"NO! I’m not going anywhere."
Kiran turned his attention towards Rudra.
"Rudra, you’re strong, aren’t you? Why don’t you find my wife? I’m sure she is alive. You’re so strong. Please help me out."
Rudra looked at Kiran. He recognised that expression. It was a look of desperation, a look shown by a person who was drowning and only clutching at a faint ray of hope. It was the same expression he had when his grandfather was badly injured and taken to the hospital.
He felt hesitant to crush that hope because he knew nothing good would come out of it.
But hardening his heart, he was about to calm the man down, but he noticed a long green vine appearing behind Kiran from the hole in the bathroom.
Before anyone could react, the vine seemed to sense the existence of Kiran, and it shot straight towards his neck and plunged into his mouth.
Kiran’s eyes were wide open in shock. However, to everyone’s horror, his body began to shrink, visible to the naked eye. In just a second, a 70 kg man turned into skin.
The next moment, the skin exploded, sending the remaining blood all over the bathroom and onto the faces of all the standing onlookers.
"Oh, divine mother, protect your child." The Pandit ji screamed and ran away, and as if his shout woke up everyone else, they ran from the bathroom at the fastest speed they could muster.
Rudra was terrified as well, but due to his injuries, he couldn’t keep up with the rest of them. Thankfully, Prabu ran back and helped him into the hall.
The faces were pale. The image they just saw wouldn’t leave their minds.
Rudra could tell that no one had the heart to stay there any longer. He made his decision. There was no point in wasting any more time.
"Prabhu, take the lead," he ordered.
Prabhu hesitated, but understanding Rudra’s condition and looking at the looming fog behind them, he gritted his teeth and walked forward.
Prabhu was tense, and Rudra was no different. He wanted Prabu to get some combat experience, but he imagined it in a controlled environment where he would first injure the monster heavily, and then Prabu would deal the finishing blow. However, the situation was bigger than his intentions.
He didn’t have a choice but to push him directly into combat.
They got only a few dozen meters before a rustling sound was heard, and a monster came out from an intersection.
Everyone’s hearts tightened. They understood it was no longer Rudra taking the lead. Rudra’s breath hitched. He was worried for Prabu, and Prabu trembled.
The situation was tense, but unfortunately, the monster did not care.
It roared and ran forward with its claws gleaming.
"Remember to dodge and aim at the neck." Rudra roared.
Prabhu’s mind regained its clarity with the shout, and he forced himself to concentrate.
He looked at the monster, remembered all the fights of Rudra, and as soon as it got close, he jumped to the side.
Rudra’s face changed. "Dodged too soon, damn it." He growled and shot his bone spear towards the monster like a bullet out of a gun.
The spear swished through the air and hit the shoulder blades of the monster.
It wasn’t enough to severely injure the beast, but getting a critical hit was never the intention. He hadn’t completely recovered and was in an awkward position facing the monster, so he already knew he couldn’t land one anyway.
The monster staggered a step, and it cast its furious gaze towards Rudra.
Instead of fear, a victorious smile appeared on his face.
"Now, do it."