The bustling city of Kavora is a testament to time itself. It was once the capital of the great ancient Kings. It now serves as the capital of the state, its glory never fading. Kavora’s modern skyline of cement and steel is seamlessly intertwined with the stone forts of its historical past. These ancient strongholds, built by kings long gone, stretch far beyond the city’s limits. The towering structures still stand tall, as if guarding Kavora even in this new era.

Smitha, Chandra, and Ayisha set out to explore the ancient heart of Kavora, determined to uncover its hidden stories. They rented a couple of scooters, ready to roam the city and take in every corner of its past. Their goal was to experience the true essence of the old Kavora.

They began their journey in the bustling heart of the city, visiting the grand Queen’s Palace. It was surrounded by the hum of modern life mixed with echoes of ancient times. As the day wore on, the vibrant cityscape slowly shifted. The lively streets gave way to quieter roads lined with crumbling stone walls and historical relics.

By the time they arrived at their final stop, dusk had begun to settle in. It was the tall stone tower that once guarded the city. From the tower, they could see the ancient fort perched atop a distant cliff, glowing faintly against the twilight sky. It stood as a silent sentinel, watching over the twinkling lights of the modern city below.

The three friends stood at the tower, watching as the skyline darkened and Kavora transformed into a shimmering sea of lights.

Chandra’s excitement grew. “Look at the lights on top of the hill! That’s the old fort everyone talks about,” she said, pointing at its silhouette etched against the night sky. “We just have to go up there. From the top, we’ll have a bird’s-eye view of the whole city.”

She grinned. “I can already picture it—cracking open a drink and soaking it all in.” Her enthusiasm was infectious, and Smitha and Ayisha nodded in agreement.

They set the map on Smitha’s phone, eager to navigate their way to the fort. With Smitha confidently riding one scooter and Chandra nestled behind her, while Ayisha took the lead on the other, they began their ascent.

The roads they had traversed in the morning now transformed into an eerie landscape cloaked in darkness. The streetlights offered a feeble glow, casting long, wavering shadows that danced among the rustling trees. Each gust of wind seemed to animate the branches. It created the illusion of figures moving in the night, whispering secrets of the past.

Although a shiver of fear crept in with the night, a thrilling excitement bubbled within them. This felt like an adventure, a secret journey into the heart of the unknown. The thrill of the ride quickened their hearts as they maneuvered through the winding path, the sound of their scooters cutting through the stillness.

After what felt like an exhilarating eternity, they finally arrived at the old fort atop the hill. Its imposing silhouette stood watch over the city, a stark reminder of history shrouded in the mystery of the night.

They parked the scooters in the fort grounds, where a few cars were also nestled among the shadows. The fort had a well-lit pathway that invited them, winding its way up to the back. As they stepped onto the paved path, a thrill of adventure coursed through them. They could almost feel the echoes of history surrounding them with every step. The pathway eventually led to a staircase lining the ancient walls of the fort, each step bringing them closer to the highest point. With every upward glance, they marvelled at the intricately carved stones that had withstood the test of time.

Finally, they reached the viewpoint atop the fort’s wall. They could see the entire city of Kavora sprawled beneath them, its lights twinkling like stars fallen to earth. The breath-taking view was nothing short of the wonder that they heard of. A few people were scattered along the walls, enjoying the serene atmosphere. But, it was far from crowded, allowing the girls to revel in the moment. They settled down leaning against the wall to take in the spectacular sight, embracing the magic of the night.

After what felt like a very short time, Ayisha exclaimed, “Wow, did you look at the time? It’s getting very late.” Both Chandra and Smitha looked at her with surprise etched on their faces.

“It couldn’t have been that long; it must be around…” Chandra paused mid-sentence, glancing at her watch. “Wow, it is late!” she said instead.

“It is awfully quiet,” Smitha added as she scanned their surroundings. There was no one nearby; they were the only ones left in the vast fort. Since the fort didn’t have a closing time, they hadn’t noticed the passage of time. “I guess it’s time to leave,” she said, getting up and dusting herself off.

“Yes, let’s,” Ayisha agreed.

Chandra nodded in agreement and got up.

The pathway back was still well-lit. The history they had revelled in now felt like a haunting presence, as the surrounding buildings loomed ominously in the darkness. Unbeknownst to each other, the girls quickened their pace towards the parking area. When they arrived, they found their scooters standing alone, isolated with no other vehicles around.

They got on their scooters, pairing up as before. Smitha switched on the maps once again. “This seems different,” she exclaimed, pointing at the route on her phone. The others leaned in to see what she was talking about. The map displayed a route connecting the back gate of the fort to the city via a winding road. Smitha checked the option for the main road from the front gates, but it appeared to be the longer route.

“The first route is just 1 km, while the road through the front gate takes the long way around the hill,” she explained, sharing her discovery.

“Let’s take the shorter route. It’s getting pretty late, and I really don’t want to stay here any longer,” Ayisha said. Her voice was tinged with urgency. She cast nervous glances over her shoulder, as though the darkness might conceal lurking shadows.

Smitha looked up in the direction the map indicated. The dimly lit road wound along the outside wall of the fort. That was when she realized it was the infamous path from ancient times. Not wanting to alarm the others, she decided to keep this information to herself.

****

In ancient times, when kings ruled the land, the fort served as both the royal residence and the centre of governance. It was a bustling hub of activity, housing the offices of officials and the lives of royalty. A steep road connected its back gate to the city, serving as a vital pathway for bringing in supplies.

However, this pathway also bore a darker history. The lifeless bodies of traitors persecuted by the king were taken down this road. They were paraded across the city as a grim warning to discourage anyone else from following in their footsteps.

In one particularly haunting instance, the king’s ninth son was deemed a traitor for reasons unknown. Due to his royal status, he was executed just outside the fort walls. His lifeless body was then carried through the winding roads.

Legends say that the spirit of the young prince still rages with anger over the injustice he faced. Unable to enter the fort due to the king’s banishment, his restless spirit is said to roam the area at night. Numerous tales of haunting along this pathway of death have been passed down through generations, adding an unsettling air to its already dark history.

****

Back in the parking area, Smitha took the lead on the way back. Chandra was behind her, holding the map and providing directions. They navigated the road alongside the fort, which would eventually lead them to the notorious path. The dim moonlight outlined the fort’s walls, casting a silver glow over the once golden stone. Now, the stones appeared grey, their windows pitch dark. Every sound—the whoosh of the wind—felt eerie, as though unseen eyes were peering from the depths of the shadows.

Reaching the entrance of the pathway brought a mix of relief and foreboding for the girls. The dark walls of the fort were now behind them, while the bright city lights beckoned ahead. In between lay the winding road that snaked away from the fort, a serpentine ribbon of darkness swallowed by the night. The path twisted and turned through the rugged Veilwood hills, each bend as sharp and treacherous as the last.

The faint glow of the night illuminated a narrow paved route, barely wide enough for a car to traverse. Shadows danced playfully along the edges, where the ancient fort’s stone walls loomed, guarding the secrets of a bygone era.

Smitha, who was leading the way, stopped right before the descent could start. She looked over her shoulder to check on Ayisha.

“Why did you stop?” Ayisha shrieked, her voice echoing, startling everyone, including herself. She had slammed on her brakes, causing her scooter to jerk to a halt. She was not expecting Smitha to stop suddenly.

“I was just making sure you didn’t fall too far behind,” Smitha explained as she glanced at Ayisha. Chandra turned to look as well and noticed Ayisha’s wide-eyed expression, her face pale with fear. The path behind them looked eerie, with the shadows of the trees forming uncanny, humanoid shapes. Feeling goosebumps prickling her skin, Smitha added, “It doesn’t matter. Let’s just keep going. Be careful of the road ahead.”

Chandra tried to lighten the mood, “The road ahead seems like an adventure!” she chimed in, hoping to perk up the situation.

Smitha let out a sigh and resumed the ride, taking the lead once more. Controlling the vehicle on each turn felt like a battle—every bump on the road seemed determined to send them tumbling down the hill.

“Should we get off and push the scooters for safety?” Ayisha asked as they paused at a particularly sharp bend.

“The road is too steep, while the scooters are too heavy. We might not be able to control them,” Smitha replied, glancing back at her nervously.

Meanwhile, Chandra watched the exchange nonchalantly.

“Besides, we’re halfway through. Do you really want to slow down now?” Smitha added, her gaze drifting to the thick darkness surrounding them.

“You are right, lets get going,” Ayisha replied.

Whoo-whoo. An owl hooted in the distance just as she spoke. All three of them turned their heads towards the sound, which came from near the hilltop. There, something—or someone—caught their attention.

A shadowy figure stood between them and the fort, where moments earlier there had been nothing.

“Do you see that?” Smitha asked, squinting to make out the features of the figure. “I didn’t think anyone was there a second ago.”

“Neither did I,” Ayisha whispered, her voice barely audible.

“Nor me,” Chandra added, her tone uncharacteristically quiet.

In a moment of stunned silence, the mysterious form seemed to shift, moving slowly toward them. A cold breeze swept in from the same direction, chilling them to the bone.

“It’s moving! It’s moving!” Ayisha and Chandra screamed in unison, their voices laced with fear. Without a second thought, Ayisha twisted the accelerator to its maximum and sped off, racing ahead.

“What are you doing? Let’s go!” Chandra yelled at the frozen Smitha, tapping her back hard. Jolted out of her daze, Smitha quickly revved her scooter and surged downhill, desperate to escape.

The perilous twists and turns of the road faded into the background, overshadowed by the fear of the obscure figure chasing them. Smitha nearly lost her balance several times, her reckless driving taking her dangerously close to the edge. She was oblivious to the thorny shrubs that scratched at her face and hands.

Ayisha’s driving was no better. She scraped her shoes along the road in a desperate attempt to maintain her balance. She ignored everything else in her single-minded focus on escape.

“It’s closer!” Chandra exclaimed, glancing back to assess the danger trailing them.

“How? We’re driving fast!” Smitha shouted, her voice nearly swallowed by the bitter wind.

“It’s gliding toward us!” Chandra screamed in panic. “It’s not even on the road—it’s not human-like!”.

“We’re almost there!” Smitha urged, pushing the accelerator harder. In just moments, she veered off the old paved road, not stopping to assess the situation behind her. Ayisha raced ahead, pulling further in front.

With a straight stretch of road ahead, Smitha rode with newfound confidence, determined to escape.

“It stopped!” Chandra shouted, her voice tinged with a mix of relief and disbelief. “It’s no longer following us. It’s just standing at the end of the fort road! I can see the figure fading into the distance.”

“Well, I’m not stopping to check!” Smitha replied firmly, her grip tightening on the handlebars as she sped away. “Not until we reach our room!”

****

“I have waited for centuries. I can afford to wait a few more decades to gather all the souls,” the shrouded figure muttered to itself in a language long forgotten by the humans of this era. It watched as the fleeting humans, mere mortals racing away on contraptions faster than horses, slipped further from its grasp, their panic fuelling its patience.

— The End —