Chapitre 32: Rescue from Locked Room
Rescue from Locked Room
The second-floor hallway was unusually silent, the kind of silence that seemed to seep into your skin and make your heart pound louder in your ears. I stood in front of the locked classroom door, its chipped paint and faint scratches telling stories of years of use. This room, one of the two abandoned classrooms on this floor, was notorious for being a secret spot where seniors raised stray cats. But now, the stillness emanating from behind the door felt... wrong. Something wasn't right.
Just before I'd headed to the staffroom, I'd noticed Tanvi walking toward this classroom. Her face had been pale, her steps hurried and uncertain. And now this.
Teacher Mayuri rapped her knuckles against the door, the sound echoing in the empty hallway. "Hello? Is someone in there?" she called her voice calm but firm.
No response.
She frowned, her hand pushing against the door. It didn't budge. "Strange... It's locked."
The worry on her face mirrored my own. She pulled out her phone, her fingers scrolling quickly. "I'm calling security," she announced.
"Wait, teacher," I blurted out, stepping in front of her because if security involves I can't save Salina. "I've got this."
Her eyebrows shot up. "What do you mean, you've got this? Are you planning to break down the door? "That's ridiculous! Let security handle—"
"We don't have time to wait for security," !" I cut her off, determination in my voice. "Move aside."
"Stop! Don't be reckless!" Miss Mayuri called after me, but I didn't listen.
She hesitated but stepped aside, her lips pressed into a thin line. I ran forward and kicked the door near the lock with all my strength, sending a dull echo down the hallway. Nothing. The door held firm. I stepped back, trying again. My foot slammed into the wood, sending a dull ache up my leg. Still, the door didn't give.
"Stop this nonsense!" Miss Mayuri snapped. "You'll hurt yourself!"
Ignoring her, I steadied myself for another attempt. . I took a deep breath, my heart hammering in my chest, and charged forward. I kicked again and again, each kick more desperate. my breath coming in sharp gasps. Finally, on the fifth or sixth try, until finally the lock gave way with a loud crack violently, and the door swung open. I stumbled inside, barely catching my balance landing hard on the dusty floor.
The air inside the room was heavy, almost suffocating. The faint light filtering through the grimy windows cast shadows that danced eerily across the walls.
Teacher Mayuri stepped in after me saying
"What are you—" Her voice caught as she took in the scene. Her sharp intake of breath breaking the silence. Her eyes widened in shock.
I stood frozen for a moment, the scene burning itself into my memory.
In the far corner of the room, a figure stood partially obscured by the shadows. Akash. His face was contorted with panic, his breathing uneven. His arm was wrapped tightly around Tanvi, pinning her against him, his hand clamped over her mouth. Tanvi's eyes were wide with fear glistening with unshed tears, her hands trembling at her sides, her chest rising and falling rapidly
Akash's voice broke through the tension, His voice was sharp and frantic "It's all over! It's all over because of you, you bitch!"
Teacher Mayuri took a cautious step forward, her voice steady but soft, trying to defuse the situation. "Akash, calm down!" Miss Mayuri said firmly, though her voice wavered. "Let her go. You haven't done anything irreversible yet. Let her go, and we can work this out."
Akash's grip tightened, his expression shifting between anger and desperation. "Don't lie to me! You think I'm stupid?!"
"No one's lying to you," she continued calmly, her hands raised slightly in a placating gesture. "I'm saying this for your sake. You don't want to ruin your life over this."
"No! I won't! I can't!" Akash shouted, his voice breaking Akash's breathing grew more erratic
"You can," Mayuri replied gently. "You have a choice. Please, Akash. Let her go. Listen to me," she continued her tone steadying. "It's just us here. Me, this boy, and Tanvi. No one else knows what's happening. If you stop now, we can fix this. I promise we won't tell anyone."
I stayed behind the teacher, my body tense, ready to act if needed, I keep my eyes on Tanvi. Her hands were free, though trembling. If she could calm down and think clearly, she might find a way to break free.
"I've already called security," Miss Mayuri lied smoothly, her voice calm. "They'll be here any minute. Don't make this worse for yourself, Akash. Let her go before it's too late."
The room was suffocatingly silent, tension thick in the air. Akash's breathing was ragged, his eyes darting between us. My heart raced, but I forced myself to stay calm, ready to act if the situation escalated.
Tanvi's fingers twitched slightly, and I realized she was trying to compose herself. She just needed a moment—a single moment—to act.
Miss Mayuri took a small step forward. "Akash, please. Don't ruin your life over this. Let her go."
I shifted slightly behind her, positioning myself to help if things went south. The seconds stretched endlessly, each one heavier than the last. This had to end, and it had to end now.
The tension in the room was overwhelming, but with Miss Mayuri standing firm and negotiating, I felt a strange sense of calm beginning to settle over me. My heart was still racing, but the fear gripping my legs began to fade. Strength returned to my body, and my mind raced, searching for a way out of this situation.
Miss Mayuri's voice broke the silence, steady and filled with authority. "Akash, listen to me. Please! I'm your teacher. I'm not here to harm you. I want to protect you." Her words were slow, deliberate. "If you stop now, I'll help you. I promise we won't report this. I'll even help you transfer to another college if that's what it takes. You can start fresh, Akash."
Her words seemed to hit him. For a moment, his grip on me faltered. "Transfer...?" Akash muttered, his voice tinged with confusion. "Why would you do that for me?"
"Because I'm your teacher," Miss Mayuri said firmly. "It's my job to guide you, no matter what. But you have to let Tanvi go. Do the right thing, Akash."
Akash hesitated, His grip on me remained, and I could feel the room shift ever so slightly in our favor.
And then, Miss Mayuri's tone changed. "Please Akash, listen to marble. Marble?" she said suddenly, her voice sharper, her eyes darting behind her.
The word startled me. My mind whirled, trying to piece together what she meant. Was it a distraction? A signal?
"What are you saying?" Akash snapped, his confusion evident. "Marble? What are you talking about?"
In that instant, it clicked. She was creating an opening, a moment of distraction. My body moved on instinct, my fist clenching tightly. I lunged forward with all the strength I could muster and drove my fist into his crotch.
"AHHH!" Akash howled, his voice echoing through the room as he released his grip on me, doubling over in agony.
"Run!" I shouted.
She didn't need to be told twice. Tanvi sprinted toward us, stumbled forward, gasping as she broke free. I grabbed her arm, pulling her behind me. Miss Mayuri moved swiftly to meet her, pulling her into her arms.
"Are you okay?" I asked my voice shaky but firm.
I stood my ground, my fists still clenched, adrenaline pumping through my veins. Akash was on the floor, clutching himself and groaning in pain.
I didn't waste any time. With a burst of adrenaline, I charged at Akash, who was still reeling from the blow. Before he could recover, I tackled him to the ground. Using every ounce of strength I had, I put him in baseball chock applied pressure until his struggles weakened. His body went limp, unconscious.
Breathing heavily, I got up and turned to Miss Mayuri and Tanvi. Tanvi was sobbing uncontrollably, clutching the teacher tightly as if she were her lifeline. Miss Mayuri held her, whispering soothing words.
I walked over and knelt beside them. Gently, I rubbed Tanvi's back. "It's okay now. You're safe," I said softly, though my voice carried a hint of exhaustion.
Miss Mayuri looked up at me, her expression a mix of relief and worry.
"What should we do next?" I asked, my voice low.
"What do you mean?" she replied cautiously.
"I mean, I'm not some spy or RAW agent who deals with situations like this on a daily basis," I muttered, attempting to lighten the mood, though my frustration seeped through.
Miss Mayuri sighed. "Just wait. Let's give Tanvi a moment to calm down."
"Fine," I said, crossing my arms. Then, in a mocking tone, I mimicked her. "'Wait until Miss Sensitive calms down.'"
"Rahul! Just get out of here!" she snapped, her voice sharp.
I blinked, taken aback. My frustration boiled over. "Great! First I help, and now you're telling me to leave? Perfect!" I spat bitterly.
Tanvi pulled back slightly from Miss Mayuri's embrace, her face streaked with tears. "I'm... I'm all right now," she stammered, though her voice trembled. "I don't want this to become public. Teacher, please... can you handle this quietly?"
I exhaled sharply, trying to rein in my emotions. "Then let's get out of here. We can talk in another classroom or the staffroom. This place isn't safe."
Miss Mayuri looked at me, her brow furrowing. "What's gotten into you, Rahul? Why are you acting so heartless all of a sudden?"
I looked away, clenching my fists. "I'm just jealous, okay?"
Her confusion deepened. "Jealous? Of what?"
"Care," I mumbled, barely loud enough for her to hear.
"What?"
"It doesn't matter now," I said, shaking my head. "Just take Tanvi to the staffroom. I'll follow after I tie him up. We can't risk him waking up and causing more trouble."
Miss Mayuri studied me for a moment before nodding. "Fine. Come quickly." She helped Tanvi to her feet, guiding her gently toward the door.
After making sure Akash was unconscious, I searched the classroom for something to tie him down with. My eyes darted around the dimly lit space—old desks, scattered papers, and dusty shelves—but nothing useful caught my eye. Frustration bubbled inside me.
"This is ridiculous," I muttered, wiping sweat from my brow. Then, my gaze fell on Akash himself. With a sigh, I knelt down and yanked off his blazer. "Guess this will have to do."
I tied his wrists tightly behind his back using the blazer, ensuring the knots were secure. His handkerchief was next. "Sorry, but I can't risk you yelling for help," I said quietly, tying it firmly over his mouth. Once I was confident he wouldn't cause trouble, I stood up and dusted off my hands.
"All right, time to go," I said to myself.
I left the classroom and headed toward the staffroom, but my stomach growled loudly, a sharp reminder of how long it had been since I'd eaten. I stopped in my tracks, groaning. "You've got to be kidding me."
Turning back, I walked into the empty classroom where I'd left my and Miss Mayuri's lunchboxes. They sat untouched on a desk, just as we had left them. "This day can't get any weirder," I mumbled, grabbing both boxes.
My hunger drove me to move quickly. The faster I got to the staffroom, the sooner I could eat. As I hurried through the hallway, I noticed Shruti walking nearby with a drink in her hand.
The sight of the drink made me painfully aware of my parched throat. My steps slowed as I glanced at her. Without thinking, I walked up, plucked the drink from her hand, and kept moving.
I glanced back briefly, taking a sip of the drink. Her expression was a mix of shock and amusement. Then, unexpectedly, she smiled.
Her eyes saying "Really, Rahul?" shaking her head in disbelief.
I grinned back, raising the drink in mock thanks. "I'll make it up to you later" I sign over my shoulder before turning forward and quickening my pace.
Shruti's laughter echoed faintly behind me as I focused on my destination—the staffroom. Despite the chaos of the day, that brief exchange brought a small, unexpected spark of relief.
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État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
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