It rained that morning.
Dark clouds blanketed the sky over Taraniketan Institution, and thunder rumbled softly in the distance. The school bell rang at 8:00 a.m., but hardly anyone noticed.
The halls were quiet.
Even whispers had stopped.
Three were already gone—Ritika, Mrs. Nilima Roy, and now… Anirban and Debasish. Fear had sunk deep into the bones of the school.
No one was safe.
---
In the security room, Ratan stared at the blurry freeze-frame on the screen. The figure in black—face hidden, blade in hand. The Psycho Doll.
"Why record it?" Raju muttered beside him. "Why send it to us?"
Ratan's eyes narrowed. "Because it wants to be seen. It wants fear. Attention. Control."
He stepped away, pocketing a USB copy of the video. "We're not dealing with just a killer. We're dealing with a performance."
---
Meanwhile, in Class 11-B, Sanchayita found something odd inside her desk.
A matchbox.
Wrapped in a black ribbon.
Her hands trembled as she opened it.
Inside: A burnt matchstick doll, and a slip of red paper.
Five words:
> "She's next. You know who."
Aaradhya leaned in and read it, then looked around the classroom.
Someone was watching them.
---
At recess, the intercom buzzed with static.
Then a voice.
Distorted. Cold. Female.
> "Tick-tock. Tick-tock. Who will fall before the clock? Three have gone. Two remain. Psycho Doll loves her game."
Students screamed. Teachers rushed to shut it off.
But the message had already been heard.
And the fear had already spread.
---
In the garden, the Masked Detective dug again—this time beside the statue of Saraswati. A hunch had brought her here. The symbols had aligned.
She uncovered a sealed jar wrapped in cloth.
Inside was something far worse than she expected.
A tooth.
And a lock of hair, bound in red thread.
A tag attached read:
> "The Third Offering"
---
Back in the staffroom, Ratan paced.
He knew the Psycho Doll wasn't just one person anymore. It was an idea. A cult. A game being played by more than one hand.
He gathered the teachers and made an announcement.
"Classes are suspended. All students must stay in groups. And until this ends—no one walks alone."
He turned to Jayasree Mukherjee.
She smiled gently. "Inspector… the game isn't ending. It's just changing."
He stepped closer. "You won't win this."
She leaned in, voice like a whisper.
"I already have. You just don't know what's been taken."
"Next day, we will go to Ritika's house and Aarav's house." said Detective.
---
Meanwhile, in the nurse's room, Ritika stirred again. Her heart monitor beeped faster.
The nurse rushed to her side.
"Ritika… can you hear me?"
Ritika's lips moved.
> "She's wearing… my face."
Then her pulse spiked—and the machines screamed.
---
In a nearby classroom, a mirror cracked without warning.
Written in red on its surface:
> "The third will fall at dusk."
---
To Be Continued...