Her Dark Knight

Preface

The Inspector rushed in the city hospital; a case was handled to him. A boy was found unconscious in the forest near the city. The boy claimed that it saw some kind of creepy creature in the forest. The boy was isolated after getting separated from his tracker troop, after a hectic search of hours the boy was found unconscious in the deep forest, but there were no tracks of any animal attack on his body.

The Inspector rushed inside the ward room, the boy was sitting on his cot, beside him was siting a lady in mid-thirties, the boy himself was around 18 years of age. The inspector came inside and said, "I am from Mumbai Police, I am here to interrogate him." The lady replied, "Please have a seat." The inspector sat on the stool and asked the boy, "What did you saw in the forest?" The boy seemed to be afraid as he looked towards his mother, she took his hand in hers and nodded towards him. On assurance the boy replied, "A creepy shadow."

The inspector noted down and asked, "Why were you there?" The boy replied, "I was trekking with my friends when I heard someone calling my name, when I went to the direction of voice, I lost my troop. When I walked in the direction further, smoke filled up the surrounding and I saw the creepy shadow." The inspector gave a weird expression and stood from his place and asked the last question, "Are you sure it wasn't a bear or something else?" the boy nodded and the inspector left the room.

As he walked out, he saw the boy's father coming towards him, the inspector greeted him and said, "You should avoid showing horror movies to your lad." the boy's father replied, "You know officer, he does not watch T.V." saying so the father walked away towards the ward where the boy was kept.

20 years later

Chapter 1

Hyena

"Hyena please get up time for a wash." The metallic voice of my piggy alarm rang up until I got up and switched it off. I woke up and looked at the empty bed in my room. My roommate hasn't showed up yet. Today was the first day of my college, and last night was my first night in St. Mary Girls Hostel, I slept late in night as I felt very inconvenient in this new place. This was my instinct I never got adapted to new place soon, it would take me again few weeks to settle here. The cold weather in Sunburg suited me best as it reminded me of my own place in Greenland.

I got up and rushed to the washroom in my compartment, until my partner arrives, I would be the boss here. A warm shower in the cold atmosphere was the best, after the shower I put on my simplest dress and a sweater over it, my aunt has oven it for me. I opened the door of my room and walked through the alley between various compartments, hoping that I would get someone to accompany me to the college but before that I was going to take a breakfast in the cafeteria of the hostel, I looked at the sign convection and reached the cafeteria. It was large, the canteen in my old graduate college was not even half of it. There were few girls in the cafeteria, I hoped those were the one in the first year with me. I hopped through the tables and got an empty one, I put my bag on the chair and went to the counter to order some breakfast. It arrived soon; the taste was good as I gulped the water down a girl sat on the table with me.

I tried to talk to her but I was never good in this kind of stuff, like breaking the ice. The girl came with some breakfast and then she asked me taking the first bite, "College?" it took me while to grasp what she said but then I answered the question, "College of Medicine." She chewed the bite and then said after few chops, "First year?" I nodded instantly. She said then, "I am Tanu, College of Architect. My roomie can help you she is also in the same college and is your senior. Don't be shy your one is a good college except your fifth semester seniors, especially boys." She warned me.

After scoring good in the graduates, I decided to be a pharmacist- okay who I was fooling to, I wanted to be a surgeon but my budget would never afford the high fees of any reputed medical college, so according to my budget this college and hostel fitted me best, even I had no interest in medicines, but I was happy that it had a close resemblance to medical profession.

I got up and walked towards my college, it was just a ten minutes' walk from hostel, I entered the college gate. The infrastructure was quite good; I would admire the architect for his remarkable work on the building that showed the design of the bricks.

While staring at the building I accidently got bunked into a guy, I fell down as if I was stuck by a wall. Without seeing the face of the guy, I said, "Sorry, I am extremely sorry." I raised my sight to meet a face of brilliant beauty, he was handsome, extremely handsome. His jawline was nothing less than perfect, his dark eyes were deeper, deeper than sea. For moments I got lost on them, but then the voice pulled me out of it, "It's okay." He started walking away, he wore a brown leather jacket, his body was in perfect shape, he walked away. I restored myself, throwing myself at such boys wasn't kind of my nature but again there was something in him.

I walked into the classroom; half of the class was already filled with students. I walked on the third bench and took the seat; the girls were already busy in chitchatting among themselves. I was feeling a little lonely but then a beautiful girl with a top-class dress and all the attractive looks joined me. I could hear most of the boys already whispering about her, she sat beside me. I wanted so hard to talk to her but I was never good at such stuff.

"Hey, I am Diana White. How about you?" the girl asked me.

"Hyena Sherrif. Nice to meet you." I smiled and replied.

I was sure, I had heard the name before. Suddenly my memory shone up and I asked, "Are you the one staying at St. Mary Girls Hostel room no. 71?" The girl looked at me in puzzled look but then she drew a piece of paper from her bag and replied, "Actually yes." I was so glad to hear that she was my roommate. She added, "Well, I think you are my roommate, aren't you?" I smiled and nodded.

"Well, that's glad to hear, actually I would have surely visited you after college there are some things, I want to make you aware of." Multiple sighing sounds from the girls' side interrupted her, we turned to notice that all the girls were staring at the doorway, we too turned our heads. I still did not believe my eyes, it was he, the guy I bumped in this morning. Diana said, "What's so interesting in him?" I stared at her and then back at the boy, he did not even pay any attention to the sighs and even did not raise his sight towards girls. He simply walked towards the last bench and sat down, alone.

We returned to our topic, Diana was about to say something when our teacher entered the classroom. She was a middle-aged woman, she was wearing a simple suit, we all stood on our places and greeted her. She smiled and asked us to sit. "I am Mrs. Rohini Segal; I am your class teacher as well as your Analysis teacher. To begin with the topic first I will make you aware of the certain rules." The lecture began for rest of fifteen minutes she gave us along 'Do's and Don'ts' list. She warned us to maintain strict discipline and follow the dispensing rules in the practical lab. Then she started to give us our roll numbers. One after the other each one of us was called by name and given our respective roll numbers.

"Darren Clarke." Our teacher said, "Yes Miss." A voice I heard this morning, it was him, Darren Clarke. I was about to turn around but the next name was mine, "Hyena Sherrif." "Yes Mam." I replied immediately, "Roll Number 58." I noted down, I was a neighbour of him. "Diana White." The next roll number, I was glad to hear that, my roommate was my bench mate and now my neighbour too. We smiled at each other.

The rest of the class was given there roll numbers, everyone figured out who their neighbours were, after all we had to go with them until our graduation. Luckily, I was blessed with my roommate. Diana resumed her conversation, "I was about to tell you something. Actually, I already have my house here." I was not sure how to react to that but she continued, "By mistake they rented me a place in the hostel but I won't be staying them on a regular basis but I will be there whenever I like so you can enjoy the complete room to yourself."

I did not know how to react owning a complete room by myself was a kind of royalty but leaving all alone was a compensation for that royalty. I did relay on my roommate to make me feel home but to what I had heard minutes before was all end to my hopes. I think it was clearly depicted on my face because what she said next was convincing, "Hey, don't be upset I will be there by tomorrow and until you go familiar with this place I will be staying there on regular basis. Now just cheer up, smile suits you better."

I smiled and replied, "You are nice, Diana. But I don't want to bother you about that, there's no need to stay in the hostel for me." Diana replied, "Actually, I am started to feel more at home. I want to try out a new living place its nothing like for you and all that." I smiled, something in her was family like, she smiled back and said, "By the way my friends call me Shree." I smiled and said, "Ok, Shree."

The bell rang, after few minutes our new teacher entered the class. He was a very formally dressed man, with his looks he seemed to be in his mid-thirties. He introduced himself, "Good morning students, I am Mr. Randy Watson, your pharmaceutics teacher." Pharmaceutics an interesting subject, related with the pharmaceutical preparations and formulations, a class I was looking forward to. There was no introduction session our class began with a direct introduction to our subjects. For fifteen minutes our teacher explained us about the subjects and then the topic took a sudden shift towards the laboratory assessment, he instructed us about the special care and precautions to be taken in the lab.

The bell rang and our class was dismissed. It was a lunch break. Everyone headed towards the canteen, I too got to the canteen. Diana headed out of the campus for some work, so I was left alone. Somehow, I managed to make up with some girls that look alike me. Roshni, Anushka and Ruby were my new friends, I was having my lunch in the canteen when our seniors entered the scenario.

"Hey fresher's it's your first day in the college, so there are some unspoken rules for the relationship of Senior-Junior." One of the seniors spoke. "First of all, the fresher boys stand here in a row." Another senior spoke. All the boys those were present in the canteen started gathering in front of the group of seniors. The seniors made them stand and asked them for introduction. It seemed that it was less introduction and more ragging. We just watched the show, somewhere in the depths we knew that the next turn will be ours.

The introduction of our class boys was going on, we could here our seniors laughing, teasing and passing comments. Then all of a sudden, the laughing stopped and one of the seniors shouted, "Hey, you, right in the corner. You are a fresher, aren't you?" Everyone turned their heads towards the corner which our senior was asking for.

It was him, Darren Clarke, he was sitting on the table with an expression that nothing was going on around him. Our senior shouted again but he did not respond, then our senior asked one of the boys about him. I heard someone calling out his name. Our senior shouted again, "Hey, Darren Clarke, come here." This time he stood up and walked to the direction but he did not stop there on the contradiction he stopped at the counter; he made some payments.

There was utter silence prevailing in the cafeteria, no one knew what was about to come next. One of the seniors, blocked his way on the cafeteria door and asked him, "Are you deaf or something?" He gave the senior cold look; everyone was expecting some action but the bell rang and the suspense ended. Seniors called of their session and left for their classes, he left too.

We hurried to our practical labs it was our practical session now. The teacher was not in yet, the lab assistant told us to accommodate places according to our roll numbers and we did so. Serena was not present yet and so was Mr. Rude, the nickname I gave him after the event at cafeteria. I was standing alone on my workplace with two vacant places around me.

Luckily Diana was the first to enter the lab and soon after her Mr. Rude entered the lab and as he did so, whispers began in the labs. Our teacher entered the lab, he introduced us with the lab assistant and the rules and regulations of lab. After the short 'to do and not to do' session our first practical began. We were placed in the group of three and we three were on the same group.

The practical was preparation of simple syrup and was simple, luckily there was not a lot to speak to each other beside Mr. Rude didn't seem interested either in chit-chatting. Diana took over the charge of making labels and Mr. Rude did some measuring and fetching of necessary commodities. I was handed with the task of making the mixture. Within minutes the mixture was prepared, the practical session ended up soon and at the end we did not share a single word with each other. The first day of my college was good indeed

Chapter 2

Darren

The first day of college ended and it was as usual boring for me. After I exited the college, I was expecting my so-called college seniors to interrupt my way but they did not do so. I waited till she left the college; it was all for her I had joined in else who was interested in the stuff like this.

I walked to my rented home, the moment I entered the house, Eddie showered me with questions. "How was the day? I believed that the campus was good, did you mess with you seniors?" his tone was cold like me, most of the time he kept imitating me. I sighed, entered inside and handed him my cell phone. I sat in the sofa and replied, "It was fine and so far, the campus is concerned you have been through pictures on net for dozens of times."

Eddie handed me a glass of water, folded his hands and said, "We have a new game, will you join in." The kid was totally over video game and computer stuff. It took us great effort to shift our two-man luggage in this house, mostly it was his stuff that needed care.

"I have some sort of work out I will join you at night. By the way, what are the details from my cell." I asked him leaning my head on sofa.

"They added you into two groups, one is some Pharmacist and the other is boys' group, I will mute both of them. Huh, here we go you have a message from an unknown number. It says that have you taken the readings?" Eddie said.

"I guess it is from one of my practical partners. Can you check who is it from?" I asked him.

"Yeah, it simple. People write their username under their DP. It is Hyena Sherrif. What a beautiful girl!" Eddie replied in a teasing tone.

"Get my notes and reply her and handle the stuff on those groups. I am going for a nap." I headed for my bedroom, before entering my room I asked him, "Any message from Tina."

"No not yet." Was his response. I entered my room changed my clothes and leaned on my bed for a nap.

_____________________________________

The wind made the trees around shake fiercely, a woman on a horse-riding through the forest, her face is covered with her own hair. She stops her horse near a den and then enters the den. The woman walks in the dense darkness of the den and then slowly a light appears in the corner as she approaches the light a young man stood before her, "We must get him down, where is the holder?" He asks her. Before the woman could give a response, warriors with black armor enters the den and comes towards them. The young man pulls her back and unleashed his sword, there is a strange tattoo on his arm. One after the other the other the black armor warriors fell to ground and then suddenly a strange roar resounds in the den.

My alarm broke my nap, it been while since this dream had approached me. There was something in this dream, after the incident that took place in my childhood, this dream had entered my life. Now, it did not seem any frightening. I checked my personal phone; it showed three messages on it. When I checked them, one was from Tina asking that when would I be at home, I replied it that it will take me time. The next was from the Aastha Orphanage informing me about the function that was to be held by them, I replied that I would mark my presence there.

The third and last message was from an unknown number, I knew who it was, the text was just, call me. I called the number, he said from the other end, "Hello. Finally, you are free."

"Huh, why do you keep changing numbers?" I asked him in sleepy tone.

"Some reasons, how was the day? Did you notice something strange? Is she safe here?" he asked.

"Yeah, she is safe. No need to worry about her. I will manage things." I replied.

"Can we meet?" he asked.

"I don't feel the need." I replied.

"Yeah, I know. It's been while since I met you." He replied.

"Don't get sentimental. Focus on your business." I replied and hang up the phone. It was almost the dusk, I decided to go for an evening walk at the same time get a glimpse of her hostel.

I walked in the direction of the hostel, it was a sound and safe building, the security was also good, I wanted to take a look from inside but things weren't in my favor. I walked away slowly, everything seemed to be pretty good and safe, for a normal girl thing would have been easy at the spot. I was about to return to my place when I caught a glimpse of a knowing face standing on the roof of the building. She was the girl from the morning, and my practical partner, Hyena Sherrif. There was something strange in the girl, she was timid, average girl but still there was an urge in my body that attracted towards her, though I didn't listen to it.

I walked away soon, I returned to my place, Eddie was already in the hall.

"I am home." I spoke.

"Welcome. I am hungry, can we start the cooking?" Eddie said.

"Yeah." I replied, and we headed for the kitchen. It has been a long time since I and Eddie started to live together and it has given some interesting turn to my boring life. As Eddie assisted me in my work, I asked him, "Any messages?"

"The same girl from your class, Hyena. Yeah, and one from Tina. She was inviting us to her place, I gave her the usual excuse. May be must go and see her?" Eddie asked.

"Yeah, I think the same. We will go there for summer vacations." Darren replied.

"Isn't it too long, how about winter holidays?" Eddie said.

I nodded. We did our work effectively; the dinner was ready and we served it for ourselves.

"Were there any other college stuff?" I asked Eddie.

"No, just the college groups and some of your college friends texted you, most of them were boys so I had no difficulty in replying them." Eddie replied.

"Mange my personality well, I don't want people to say, you so talkative on the social media but when it comes to real life you are totally different." I warned him.

"Don't worry about it. I will handle the things properly." Eddie replied.

I looked at him, the kid was just 14 but he had already been so adaptive and act like a grown up.

"You promised me a game tonight." Eddie said.

"Yeah, you will lose again." I teased him. He smiled and we had our dinner with a bit of argument.

Chapter 3

Hyena

"So, group up as your roll number sequence and start the preparations, the presentations will be next week." Mr. Shah instructed us, as the last lecture of the day ended up. Everyone started to leave the classroom.

"Let's go. We will have to discuss with Mr. Arrogant for our presentation." Diana said as she got up on her place. I too packed my stuff and headed out with her. Together we looked around for Darren. I was looking around when Diana pulled me towards the gate and said, "There he is. Let's catch up with him." Darren was walking out of the gate; he was wearing a black shirt and his hand bag was hanging on his right.

"Hey, Mr. Darren Clarke." Diana yelled at him everyone looked at us, Darren too stopped and turned around. Diana made me walked towards him ignoring all the glares. It was very like her unlike me never cared what others thought about her this made her very frank and sometime annoying too.

"Mr. Darren Clarke, we are on the same group for the presentation." Diana said, I stood beside her silently, it was better to let her do the talks.

"Yeah, I know." Mr. Rude replied.

"We thought you didn't. By the way, we need to discuss about the topics and other stuff, so let us know when you are free." Diana said.

"I see. How about the coming Saturday? It's a holiday and there will be lot of time on our watch. Let us finish it fast." Darren replied immediately, I noticed that his sight shifted a little towards me in the talk.

"Oh, you are quite good at picking up the things. Well, I don't have any plans for the Saturday, so it is fine by me. How about you Sweetheart?" Diana asked me, and suddenly I was at the spot light, both of them looked at me.

"I am free." I replied.

"Okay, then let's fix the Saturday, we will convey the time later." Diana said. The conversation ended and we took our ways.

We walked towards our hostel, today Diana was going to stay there for some time. I was glad, usually it wasn't any good to stay alone.

"My goodness, you have turned it into a one room home dear." Diana exclaimed as she stepped inside our room.

"Well, I had nothing to do here at all, so this was the way I used to spend time." I replied.

Diana jumped on her bed and folded her legs and said, "Sorry Sweetheart, but I will try my best to stay here more and more."

I smiled and put my bag on the desk. "How are things going at your home?"

"Oh, they are fine as always. The same house stories." Diana replied me, as she started to chat in her group. She was an extrovert, it was just fortnight since the college started and she was already friends with almost everyone in the class, she keeps the chat at our college group alive.

"Hey, we are going to have a Fresher's Party." Diana exclaimed looking into the device.

"Really, when?"

"Coming Sunday, they say." Diana replied and then she started to read the message, "All the First-Year students are hereby informed that we will soon have a Fresher's Party held at our college, the coming Sunday. So please participate and enjoy the function."

"It's nice. What do we need to do?"

"Nothing prepare a formal introduction and then there will be a feast and some dance." Diana replied.

"Sounds fun."

"Yeah. We must be preparing to shine and outcast everyone." Diana said dancing in the room.

"Well, I just want to stay the way I am. I don't like the spotlight."

"You underestimate yourself a lot, dear. You can be a very good ideal girl." Diana said offering me a hand for a couple dance. I smiled and gave her mine and together we moved in circles in our small room.

"Look you can dance pretty well." Diana said as she smiled and we continued our ball, smiling and enjoying.

______________________________

'I won't be able to catch up please cope up for me and sorry.' I read Diana's message which displayed upon my screen, she had called me later too.

It was Saturday, 9.30 AM. we had decided to meet each other on the very day and decide about our project. But due to some reasons Diana was unable to come. The plan was not drooped and I was supposed to show up at the designated spot at 11 AM.

A feeling of uneasiness aroused inside me. The project was important but seeing a guy all alone, even for the study reasons, I had never done this before. On the top of that Mr. Rude, the most notorious and handsome guy of our class, was the one I was about to meet. My heart raced with thought though I did not know the reason behind the unsteadiness.

My device glowed up and I checked it. Darren's message displayed on it. I read the message it said, 'We are going with the plan, if you have any subject reference book please bring it together, it will be helpful, looking forwards to the meet.'

He was a strange guy, a totally different person on the social media and a totally different person in person. I replied it assertive, though I did not want to. I exhaled, and tried to calm myself down, it was the chance to change, there was nothing to fear about, everything would go well and it was Mr. Rude not a demon. I tried to convince myself as the time passed.

__________________________

10.50 AM. The time displayed on my watch, despite of feeling uneasy I was ten minutes earlier than the decided time. I looked around and sighed, I was making a fool of myself.

"Hey." A voice surprised me, when I turned around, I saw a guy from my class, Michal.

"Sorry, did I scare you?" he asked.

"Oh no."

"Waiting for someone?"

"Yeah, my group members are going to show up."

"Oh, I see. The same is for me, I am on my way to my friend's house."

I nodded; it was making me uncomfortable.

"Hey." A voice said. I looked at the source, Darren was standing there, I was glad.

"Hi." I replied immediately.

"Did I make you wait?" He asked. I nodded in denial.

"See you later." Michal said, waving a hand. He did not speak to Darren and headed towards his way.

"Did I disturb your talk?" Darren asked.

"No." I replied immediately.