Avyan's senses snapped awake to the urgent voice cutting through his groggy consciousness. It was Ishan, his tone tinged with both concern and impatience. The dorm room was dim, curtains drawn against the morning light that struggled to invade their space.

"We're getting late," Ishan reiterated, his bulky frame outlined against the soft glow of his phone screen.

"I truly hate the 8am classes," Avyan muttered, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he swung his legs over the side of the bed.

"It's noon already," Ishan retorted, already halfway through his morning routine.

Avyan's eyes widened. "Noon? Damn it!" He scrambled out of bed, his thoughts racing ahead to the looming 1pm class they were already late for.

Avyan's roommate Ishan, towering and sturdy, was already dressed and waiting impatiently by the door. "You're going to get detained, sure enough," he quipped, his voice a mix of teasing and genuine concern.

"Ah, I don't know about that," Avyan replied with a wry smile. "I think I deserve a day off. Engineering breaks you, man."

"I major in Electrical, brother," Ishan shot back, his voice resonating with a hint of pride. "Computer science is smooth as butter. Besides, I haven't had breakfast, and you know how I am without food. Let's grab something on the way. Pancakes, maybe."

Avyan chuckled. "You always think pancakes."

Ishan stood tall and imposing with a physique that spoke of years dedicated to weightlifting. His broad shoulders and muscular arms hinted at the strength he effortlessly wielded, a testament to his commitment to physical fitness since childhood. Ishan's dark hair, cropped short for practicality, framed a rugged face. His personality was quit the opposite to how he looks, he was very sweet and caring.

In contrast, Avyan possessed a more refined and subtly striking appearance. A blend of rugged charm and subtle sophistication. His strong jawline gave his face a chiselled look, hinting at determination and resilience beneath a veneer of youthful energy. But it was his captivating blue eyes that often drew people's attention—deep and expressive, they seemed to hold secrets and dreams all their own, adding an air of mystery to his otherwise open demeanour.

With synchronized urgency, they bolted down the stairs of their dormitory, the clamour of their footsteps echoing in the empty corridor. The campus was unusually quiet for a midday, which struck Avyan as odd, but he dismissed it as the lingering effect of his interrupted sleep.

Their friend Pratyush intercepted them on their way to class, his slender frame and keen eyes betraying his acute awareness of their surroundings. "Where are you two running off to?" he asked, a playful grin tugging at his lips.

"Relativity's been kicking my ass," Ishan confessed between breaths, "and I can't afford to miss another class. Plus, no breakfast yet."

Pratyush raised an eyebrow. "Oh, I won't disturb you on your way to breakfast. I know how you get without food. Avyan, haven't you heard?"

Avyan and Ishan exchanged puzzled glances.

"There's a modelling show happening in BR Auditorium. You can skip it, Ishan—I won't interrupt your eating spree. Remember what happened to Akash when he hid your pancakes?"

Ishan chuckled and waved them off, heading towards the Lecture Hall Complex for his classes, intent on snatching a quick meal from the café just outside.

Pratyush cut a lean and short figure among his friends, with a demeanour that balanced sharp intellect with a laid-back charm. Pratyush's dark brown eyes were keen and observant, often flickering with curiosity as he absorbed details from his surroundings.

Avyan, however, decided to join Pratyush, sensing a strange undercurrent in the air.

As they traversed through the campus, Avyan and Pratyush couldn't help but notice that their once familiar hostel was now surrounded by a tall, imposing fence, its barbed wire glinting menacingly in the harsh sunlight. The fence, though formidable, had a gaping opening where the wire had been forcibly cut and twisted, suggesting a recent and hasty breach. The metal edges of the opening were jagged and rusted, hinting at the passage of time and neglect.

They cautiously stepped through the gap, their senses on high alert. The campus felt eerily different, as if it had aged decades overnight. The once vibrant and meticulously maintained landscape now appeared neglected and forlorn. Ancient trees, their branches gnarled and twisted, cast long, sinister shadows that danced on the cracked and uneven pathways. The grass, which used to be lush and green, was now overgrown and yellowing, a patchwork of neglect and decay.

The sunlight, instead of illuminating the campus with a welcoming glow, seemed to exacerbate the eeriness, casting elongated shadows of the academic buildings and trees that stretched across the roads like dark, grasping fingers. The once bustling walkways were silent, save for the occasional rustle of leaves stirred by a faint breeze.

Gone was the familiar scent of blooming flowers and fresh-cut grass. In its place lingered a stale, musty odor that clung to the air, a mix of damp earth and something indefinable yet unsettling. The vibrant colors of the campus had dulled, and an almost sepia-toned gloom seemed to hang over everything, as if the life had been drained from the very ground beneath their feet.

As they moved deeper into the campus, an overwhelming sense of unease washed over them. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the distant cawing of crows that circled ominously overhead. Windows of the once lively dormitories and lecture halls stood dark and vacant, their panes grimy and cracked.

Avyan’s mind raced with questions. What had happened here? How had everything changed so drastically in such a short time? He exchanged a glance with Pratyush, whose furrowed brow mirrored his own apprehension. They pressed on, driven by a mixture of curiosity and a growing sense of dread, each step taking them further into the unknown.

The campus seemed unusually deserted, devoid of its usual bustle. "Something feels off," Pratyush muttered, coming to a sudden halt in the middle of the pathway.

"I feel the same" Avyan asked, scanning their surroundings uneasily.

"There's no one around," Pratyush replied, his voice tinged with unease.

"Maybe there's an event or something," Avyan suggested, trying to shake off the growing sense of unease.

"I couldn't reach my family this morning," Pratyush continued, his tone now tinged with worry. "I thought it was a network issue, but now I'm not so sure."

"Avyan! Pratyush!" a voice called out.

They turned to see their friend Anirudh sprinting towards them, his clothes torn and his face marked with cuts and bruises. His normally athletic frame looked ragged, as though he had been through a battlefield.

"We need to get out of here, now," Anirudh gasped, struggling to catch his breath.

"What happened to you?" Pratyush demanded, his concern overtaking his initial confusion.

"Who did this to you?" Avyan added, his voice edged with anger.

"I'll explain everything," Anirudh replied urgently, "but first, we need to gather everyone we know and stick together."

Anirudh, known for his sprinting prowess and quick decision-making, wasted no time. "Ishan went towards the LHC, right?" Avyan asked, his voice urgent.

Pratyush nodded, and without further discussion, the three of them hurried towards their friend.

Finally reaching the Lecture Hall Complex, Avyan urged them forward. "Let's find Ishan quickly."

The building felt eerily silent as they ventured deeper, the atmosphere thick with an unspoken dread. Avyan's heart pounded as they navigated the labyrinthine halls. Anirudh said, "Let's separate and find him quickly"

"We should stick together," Pratyush suggested nervously as they reached a fork in the hallway.

"I agree," Avyan began, but his words were cut off by a chilling sound echoing down the corridor—a high-pitched, guttural roar that froze them in their tracks.

The trio exchanged horrified glances, their worst nightmares suddenly taking shape around them. Shivers ran down their spines as the unearthly sound drew closer.

Without another word, Anirudh and Pratyush retreated into an empty classroom. They shut the door behind them, the heavy silence inside the room a stark contrast to the echoing dread outside.

"Why isn't Avyan with us?" Anirudh whispered, his voice a mix of concern and fear.

"I don't know," Pratyush replied, his senses still reeling from the unearthly roar. "I was overwhelmed after hearing that... whatever it was."

Meanwhile, Avyan found himself hiding in a nearby restroom, panic rising within him. "What was that sound? It couldn't be anything natural. I'm stuck in a nightmare," he thought, his fingers tightening around a broken piece of pipe he had found.

The sound of footsteps approached the restroom door, and Avyan shrank back, his mind racing for something, anything, to defend himself.

As the door creaked open, Avyan prepared himself for the worst.

"Avyan?" a familiar voice called out.

"Ishan?" Avyan exclaimed in relief, opening his eyes to see his friend standing in the doorway. "We've been looking for you!"

"I heard screams and ran," Ishan explained quickly, still scanning their surroundings warily. "I took cover in this restroom."

"We need to leave," Avyan said urgently. "Anirudh and Pratyush are waiting. I know where they are."

With haste, they regrouped in the lecture hall, where tension hung thick in the air.

"It's time," Pratyush said firmly. "Anirudh, tell us everything."

Anirudh hesitated, his eyes darting to the door as it began to move.

"Quick, hide!" Pratyush whispered urgently, and they scrambled beneath the desks, hearts pounding in their chests.

The door burst open.

The voice froze them in terror, and Avyan tightened his grip on the makeshift weapon, ready to defend himself and his friends at all costs.

"What are you doing here?"