Chapter 10: The Reckoning

The key-holder was completely bound in heavy chains. IG Uncle and the head officers were shocked, looking at him. "Is all this protection necessary?" they asked.

Shekar replied, "It is, sir. We still don't know the extent of his powers or how dangerous he is. This is the only way to ensure no one gets hurt."

IG Uncle nodded, "Alright, proceed."

Shekar then asked Murthi, "Where is Meera?"

IG Uncle answered for him. "I sent her on another case to keep her out of this."

Shekar didn't push for details, knowing he had to stay silent when a superior gave an order. "Okay, sir," he said quietly.

Shekar entered the investigation room and approached the key-holder. "What's your name?" he asked.

"Naveen," the man replied.

"Alright, Naveen. Who are you, and why did you kill so many people?"

"I didn't kill them. You know that too."

"The topic isn't about me right now. It's about you. Who else is on your list?"

"Do I have to tell you that too? You know, right?"

"Naveen, answer the question I asked. How many more?"

"Not like this. How about we talk in private? Off the record."

"That's not possible."

"It is for me."

"What do you mean?"

Suddenly, Shekar felt a shock. He froze, completely stunned. Naveen had entered his mind.

IG Uncle didn't understand what was happening to Shekar. They panicked. IG Uncle immediately ordered them to get Shekar out of the room.

From Shekar's perspective, the outside world was moving very slowly, while his mind was at normal speed.

He was in a void with only Naveen and himself.

Naveen said, "Now, ask all the questions you wanted to ask."

"What is this? Where are we? What did you do to me?"

"You don't have much time. Your time is only until they pull you out of this room."

"I don't understand what you're saying or doing."

"Time moves fast here. Outside, it's very slow. For example, 5 minutes outside is 30 minutes here. Next question."

"Why are you doing all this?"

"The same question again. Okay, I'll be clear this time. My job is just to prepare the subjects. I give them powers. That's it."

"Why are you doing all this?"

"Why does a scientist conduct experiments? Because he wants to."

"Are we your subjects? Is it your achievement to give us powers and then kill us?"

"No one gets powers for free. Everything has a cause and conditions. And limitations. And as for killing them, I'm not killing them. Their own selfishness is killing them. Thinking they can use the powers for themselves. Thinking they can be the most powerful."

"But you didn't give us a choice, did you? You gave us these powers without asking."

"It's not my job to choose lab rats. My job is only to conduct experiments on the ones provided to me."

"Who is behind you?"

"You're a part of this too, aren't you? Do I have to tell you separately?"

"The headless person! Why is he doing this? What did I do to him?"

"Ask him yourself."

"How many more are on your list? What's your motive? What's your agenda? What are you trying to do?"

"I can't tell you that. But I'll tell you one thing. Many more murders are about to happen. Be ready."

"Who will do it? Tell me, who is going to do it?"

They were trying to wake Shekar up, and he came out of the void. He looked around. IG Uncle and the head officers were there, trying to wake him. Finally, Shekar got up.

IG Uncle: "What happened suddenly? You were fine until a moment ago."

Shekar: "Sir, we're about to face a problem."

IG Uncle: "What is it?"

Shekar: "More murders are about to happen. We don't have clarity on who will die next. But the remaining people who are still alive are in danger, sir."

IG Uncle: "Who are you talking about?"

Shekar: "Some of the people Naveen conducted experiments on are still alive. We have to find them, sir."

IG Uncle: "Go ahead."

Shekar: "Yes, sir. Thank you," and he saluted.

Shekar was walking out of the station in a hurry when Murthi came and told him an important thing. "Shekar sir. We got a report that 3 dead bodies have been found."

Shekar's inner voice: It has started again. The murders are happening faster now. How will I solve this?

Shekar: "Where is Meera?"

Murthi: "Meera madam went on the same case."

Shekar: "Did anyone go with her?"

Murthi: "No, sir."

Shekar: "Shit! Who told Meera to go alone?" Shekar got scared that something would happen to Meera and called her. She didn't pick up the call. His fear that something might have happened to Meera grew even more.

Murthi: "Shekar sir, what about the dead bodies?"

Shekar was breathing heavily. IG Uncle came from behind. "What happened, Shekar? Is there a problem?"

Shekar: "Sir, we already found the dead bodies."

IG Uncle: "Oh my God! Then what are you doing here? Go right now."

Shekar didn't want to tell him about Meera because he would get more anxious. "Okay, sir."

Shekar immediately went to the place where the dead bodies were. The dead bodies were also in brutal conditions. Like one body was completely dry, and all the organs inside were kept on the side. The second one had its body folded backward, and all the bones inside were broken. The third one was a female. Her head, hands, and feet were blasted. Just like what happened to Raghav.

Shekar saw all that and thought, How many more deaths do I have to see? While he was thinking, Meera called Shekar. Shekar immediately picked up the call. "Meera, what is this every time? I'm telling you to be careful, but you're getting more and more careless. Where are you now?"

Meera: "Shekar, everyone is dying. The people who are still alive are dying before I can talk to them. Who is following us? Our details are also getting leaked. How does the killer know who is still alive? And this time, he's killing them so fast that he's not even giving us time to think."

Shekar: "How many?"

Meera: "11."

Shekar's eyes widened when he heard that. "11 murders!"

Meera: "I don't know how many more have already died."

Shekar: "Meera, you come back right now. Something might happen to you too."

Meera: "How much more can you protect me, huh? If you solve the case and catch the culprit, nothing will happen to anyone. Stop being scared for me."

Shekar: "But, Meera..."

Meera: "You're not just my husband. You're a police officer too. I can take care of myself, okay?"

Shekar: "Okay, I'll send some people for your protection."

Meera: "You, sorry, I don't need to tell you again and again, sir. I'll think about my protection. You think about the case."

Shekar: "Meera..."

Meera: "All the best, sir!" She ended the call.

Shekar was thinking, I often wonder why I don't have the courage she has. I have to solve this case somehow and get out of all this.

The murders didn't stop.

Shekar went to the same city where Naveen conducted experiments in the hospitals. He found out how many more people were there in every hospital. Shekar hadn't sent the police selects list to the station yet. He thought he would edit it and remove his name before sending it. But before that, he had to find out about the hospitals.

He went to the government hospital. He asked the in-charge there. "Did you give a list to the lady police officer who came before?"

The in-charge said, "Yes, sir, we did."

Shekar: "I want that list."

The in-charge went and took the list and gave it to Shekar.

Shekar called Meera to ask about the people who were still alive at the government hospital. Meera picked up the call. "They're all dead."

Shekar's tension grew even more. "How many?"

Meera: "We found 34 files. And out of those, 23 were supposed to be alive, but..."

Shekar: "But what?"

Meera: "All 23 of them also died."

Shekar: "That many? Why did that many people die in one day?"

Meera: "Someone is killing them, and we have to find out why. We also have to find out who is behind all this and how many people are involved."

Shekar: "Be careful. There are still many things you don't know."

Meera: "Hmm! Things I don't know."

Shekar: "Are you asking me or telling me?"

Meera: "I reached another person's house," and she ended her call.

Shekar: "That's Meera... shit, she hung up."

Shekar was thinking, I don't know how many more are there. Everyone is dying without anyone being alive. I have to find a lead. I have to find out where the headless person is.

40 murders happened in one day. The count was still going up. There were more murder cases being registered than ever before. There was no difference between male and female victims. Even the ages had many variations. There were even minors. Shekar took the list of all the patients from the hospital. More than 50 people were still alive. But half of them had died. And most of them were minors. Small children. He didn't even spare them.

Shekar was going crazy. He couldn't do anything even with so many people dying. And there were zero leads.

He remembered what IG Uncle said. "If media attention comes, I can't do anything either."

Shekar came home, completely exhausted. Shekar was also very sad. He regretted not being able to save anyone, especially the little children.

He was getting calls from IG Uncle. He already had 3 missed calls. When he called again, he picked up the call.

Shekar: "Yes, sir."

IG Uncle: "The matter has gotten out of hand. So many murders in one day. And you couldn't stop even one of them. We have to hand over this case to the CBI. And you might even lose your job. With so many murders happening, no one can save you. Don't involve Meera. You're responsible for this."

Shekar couldn't answer and stayed silent.

IG Uncle: "I don't know how you'll save your job. You don't have much time to solve this case."

Shekar: "Sorry, sir."

IG Uncle: "Saying sorry to me is useless. Do whatever you can in the time you have."

Shekar: "Okay, sir."

IG Uncle: "Think carefully before you make a decision," and he ended the call.

All the doors were closing for Shekar. He didn't know what to do. Shekar didn't know in the beginning that there were so many killings behind the MEDS case. When he was investigating, he was only thinking about himself. He wanted to be free from the power and not die. But after seeing so many people dying, Shekar's fear grew even more.

He didn't know what would happen to anyone.

Shekar's mother: "Shekar, what happened? You look very tired." Shekar's mother came close and asked. But Shekar's father was standing a little away, watching Shekar with some anxiety and worry.

Shekar: "Nothing, Mom. I'm just thinking about the case."

Shekar's father: "Where is Meera, son?"

Shekar was so caught up in the murder case that he completely forgot about Meera. And since Meera talked so bravely, he forgot to worry about her too. Shekar: "She's also working on the case."

Shekar's mother: "The situation outside isn't good, son. Why is she going alone?"

Shekar's father: "Yes, son. You could have gone with her, right?"

Shekar: "Dad, Mom, Meera is not a little girl anymore. She's very courageous. She's much braver than me. And she's a police officer. Stop worrying about her."

Shekar's mother: "That's not it, son..."

Shekar's father: "They can take care of themselves. Let's go and rest."

After his parents left and Shekar was still worried about Meera, he called her. When Meera picked up the call, Shekar could hear her crying.

Shekar: "Meera... Meera, what happened? Meera, talk to me!?"

Meera: "Do you know how many people have died? He didn't even spare the little children. I can't find out who is doing this or why. Why would they kill them like this? What did they do wrong?"

Shekar: "Meera, where are you?"

Meera: "At the station."

Shekar: "Stay there. I'm coming."

Meera: "To get the answers to all this, there's only one person."

Shekar: "Meera, what are you going to do?"

Meera: "I'll talk to Naveen in jail."

Shekar: "No, listen to me. Talking to him is very dangerous."

Meera: "I won't let anyone else die."

Shekar: "Meera, listen to me... please..." and Meera ended the call.

Shekar talked to himself. "Shit. No matter how much I tell Meera, she's not listening. The very thing I don't want to happen is happening. I have to get to the station as fast as I can."

Wait until next time to see what happens next.