I AM KIDNAPPED - Final Part

 

 

 

Chapter 10: The Hidden Truth

Our journey from London to Uttar Pradesh was separate but destined to converge at a single point—Renukoot. A single rule bound us all: no mobile phones.

Bhushan’s relatives welcomed us with open arms into their home—a modest yet comforting sanctuary, just a few kilometres from Renusagar. This safe house became our base, shielding us from prying eyes as we prepared to embark on our mission in earnest.

Zawar, the master of disguise, had altered his appearance to blend in seamlessly with the locals. At first, it was unsettling to see him transformed, but over time, we got used to his new look.

The factory where Ankush was held was heavily guarded, overseen by a man —Andrey Mikhailov. This was no ordinary kidnapping. The guards were highly trained, loyal not just to their leader but to a powerful organization based in Russia.

Bhushan shared that he attempted to communicate with Ankush multiple times. In the end before he became totally unconscious he told him "It’s time for Stella to know the entire truth."

"More truth?" Samriddhi asked, bewildered. "We haven’t even recovered from the last one!"

Zawar and Bhushan exchanged a look before asking me and Samriddhi to sit.

Bhushan couldn’t help but notice the subtle beauty of Samruddhi. Her fingers nervously twirled a lock of hair, a clear sign of her unease. The sunlight streaming through the room bathed her face in a golden glow, making her look even more radiant.

I found myself watching Bhushan watch Samruddhi, with a quiet smile on his face, content with his newfound feelings for my dear friend. But then, suddenly his expression changed. These superhumans... they’re really strange, I thought.

Zawar’s voice pulled me back into reality.

"There are people in this world with unimaginable powers," he explained, his tone steady. "Some remain unaware of their gifts, which, in many cases, is for the best. Perhaps they’re not ready to bear the responsibility."

I felt scared and confused "Are you saying there's someone even more dangerous than Andrey?"

"Not just dangerous, Stella," Bhushan quickly interrupted. For a moment surely saw him strangely staring at Zawar. Bhushan is definitely the strange one among the three. 

"The most powerful superhuman of all... is here. And he is the leader of this entire project. But the Russians back home have no idea."

"Who is he?" I asked,  ignoring my suspiciousness.

Bhushan took a pause. His fingers drummed against the metal surface of the table between us. "No one knows his real name. They call him 'The Puppetmaster.' Every plan, every experiment, every test subject—it all leads back to him. And the worst part?"

I swallowed hard. "What?"

Bhushan locked eyes with me, and in that moment, I saw the fear he had been trying to suppress. "Probably they are two steps ahead of us and our every move is watched."

Samriddhi was visibly shaken. "How can you be so sure?"

"We have our ways," Zawar said cryptically.

A plan was devised—Zawar and I would enter the factory alone. The others would support us remotely, ready to act if things went wrong.

Chapter 11: The Awakening

We set out that night. But barely a kilometer on road, our driver—a relative of Bhushan—suddenly changed direction.

"Where are we going?" I demanded.

"Trust me, Stella. Just wait," Zawar said calmly.

""If you don’t tell me now, I’m jumping off this jeep," I said firmly, my voice cutting through the night.

Zawar exhaled sharply, then signaled the driver to pull over. "Listen," he murmured, glancing around. "We might be watched. There's more to this than you know. We need to get somewhere safe first."

The darkness stretched endlessly around us, unfamiliar and unnerving. Trapped between fear and uncertainty, I had no choice but to agree.

We drove in silence until we reached a secluded cottage, two kilometers from Renusagar. As I stepped out, the weight of the unknown settled over me. I had no idea what I had just walked into.

As we sat down, Bhushan’s relative served us hot badam milk. Zawar took a deep breath and then he spoke words that altered the course of my life forever

"Stella, what we told you yesterday about the Russian superhuman… it wasn’t true. The most powerful being isn’t Russian."

I narrowed my eyes. "You mean the Puppetmaster doesn’t exist?"

Zawar hesitated. "No, the Puppetmaster exists."

"Then be clear," I snapped. "At the safe house, you said one thing, and now you're saying something else. We don’t have time for this."

Zawar took a deep breath, his gaze steady. "Because the Puppetmaster isn’t someone new, Stella. .....It’s you."

I let out a sharp laugh. "That’s ridiculous. You’re telling me I’m the mastermind superhuman behind Ankush’s kidnapping? That’s why you dragged me out here in the middle of the night—to lock me up?"

"Calm down, Stella," Zawar said, his tone measured. "We know you’re unaware of your abilities, but the fact remains—you’re powerful. Very powerful. You can manipulate minds."

I stared at him. "I don’t know if you’ve lost your minds or if this is some elaborate trap. Either way, I’m not buying it."

"Think, Stella," Zawar urged, his eyes searching mine. "Deep down you know you know you have always got things very easy from people."

“Oh, stop it, Zawar. . I was a below-average student, bad at sports. I am still scared of dark, anything that crawls. And you’re telling me I’m a superhuman. Looks like your superhuman calculation have seriously gone wrong this time."

Zawer did not give up

"Has it ever crossed your mind why everyone seems to listen to you? Your parents—so adamant against your relationship—suddenly changed their tune. Ankush’s parents, who were dead set against it, had a complete change of heart the moment they met you.You’re not just persuasive, Stella. You have the power to shape thoughts.."

A wave of nausea hit me. "So… Ankush thinks the same? Was he with me because he believed I had this so-called power? Not because he wanted to?" The thought twisted in my mind like a knife 

"You’re getting it all wrong," Zawar said, his tone calm, yet firm. "He did have a doubt on certain instances but only realised the extent of your power after your visit to his parents. The ones who were so opposed to the marriage suddenly agreed, just like that. He wanted to protect you, Stella. He knew you weren’t manipulating people on purpose, but your desires, your emotions—unbeknownst to you—were shaping everything around you."

I refused to believe it. "Zawar, we don’t have time for this. Let's leave as planned to rescue Ankush."

"Not yet," Zawar insisted. "You need to understand your power first."

“Why didn’t you tell me this in the safe house?”

Zawar placed his hand on my head like an older brother, gave a forcible smile and left the room.

Chapter 11: The Rescue

The next night, we executed our plan. Zawar and I entered the facility while Bhushan stayed behind to guide us through mental communication.

Zawar transformed seamlessly—first into a guard, then into one of the scientists inside the lab where Ankush was being held. I followed closely, my heart pounding.

Inside, we found Ankush strapped to a metal chair, sedated and weak.

Before I could move, the door swung open. A towering man with icy blue eyes and a presence that commanded fear stepped inside, flanked by armed guards. The air in the room seemed to drop a few degrees.

We didn’t need an introduction—this was Andrey Mikhailov.

His smirk was razor-sharp. "So, you finally came to rescue your strange little boyfriend," he spoke in a teasing tone

I tried to manipulate his mind, but my power failed. The guards raised their weapons, ready to strike. Panic surged through me.

Then it clicked—my emotions were interfering. I needed to act without fear. Taking a deep breath, I focused. “Lower your weapons,” I commanded in a firm voice.

One by one, the guards hesitated, confusion flickering across their faces. Their grips slackened, fingers trembling over the triggers. Andrey’s smirk wavered, his confidence cracking as he fought against my control. But it was too late.

I twisted his thoughts into a loop, feeding him a lie so deep it became his truth. Every time he would start any research on superhumans his mind would convince him that only those of pure Russian blood could possess superpowers. Therefore, rest of us? Are nothing but impostors.

His breath hitched, doubt creeping into his expression as the certainty he once held fractured.

“No,” he muttered, shaking his head, trying to resist.

The guards exchanged uneasy glances, waiting for orders that wouldn’t come. Andrey’s own belief system had become his cage.

I knew the moment was mine.

He stepped back. “Take the prisoner and go,” he ordered.

We wasted no time. Bhushan signalled for help, and soon, our allies arrived. Ankush was carried out safely. Relief washed over me. 

We had won!!

As we reached the jeep, I prepared to leave with Ankush. But Zawar stopped me.

“There’s one last thing,” he said.

“What? No! Ankush needs me!”

Zawar sighed, his expression grave. “Stella, we have a traitor among us.”

I froze, my mind racing. “Bhushan? Goodness me! Are you sure?”

Zawar placed a firm hand on my shoulder, steadying me. “Samriddhi has been working with the Russians.”

My world crumbled in an instant. “No… that’s impossible.”

“Bhushan sensed it yesterday,” Zawar continued. “She was blocking her thoughts. Then, Ankush managed to communicate—he overheard Andrey mentioning her name. They were paying her well to keep an eye on you.”

A wave of nausea washed over me. My best friend… a traitor? It couldn’t be. Samriddhi had been with me through everything—the long nights, the close calls, the sacrifices, the one who helped me decode files, who fought alongside me. And yet, the truth had been beneath the surface all along. I shook my head, pushing the words away.

“I noticed Bhushan staring at you. Possibility he was mind communicating then. But...but there must be some mistake,” I whispered. “I doubt she would…”

“She already has,” Zawar said grimly. “And we need to act before she does more damage.”

A lump formed in my throat. The memories of our friendship warred before me. I clenched my fists, forcing myself to breathe.

“What do we do now?” I asked, my voice barely steady.

Zawar looked at me, his eyes reflecting the weight of the moment. “We find her. And we stop her.”

Zawar continued, “Stella, there is no space for any self-pity in your life anymore. Your shoulders are loaded with larger responsibilities; therefore, you have no choice but to always keep your emotions at bay in every situation.”

---

We returned to where she was waiting with Bhushan. She rushed to me, worried. "Where were you all day? Is Ankush safe?"

I forced a smile and hugged her. My heart clenched.

Now, I understand that she did betray me. But at that time, I couldn’t bring myself to doubt a lifelong friendship for the sake of a few men I barely knew. Yet, for her safety, I did what had to be done—I used my power.

I reached into her mind, feeling the soft, fragile threads of her thoughts. I twisted them, weaving a new reality. Slowly, carefully, I made her believe the entire superhero story was nothing but a fabrication. That Ankush, Bhushan, and Zawar were simply ordinary men, weaving together a lie to uncover the Russians' true motives.

Andrey had likely already called her later, severing their ties. She was no longer needed.

Bhushan's face remained unreadable, but I knew—deep down... he was hurt.

"You’re learning," Zawar said later, his voice kind of something between approval and warning. "This is just the beginning."

________________________________________________________________

Days later, life returned to normal—or so it seemed. Our families were happy, believing in a simple life for Ankush and me. What they didn’t know was that our real journey had only begun.

Ankush and I got engaged. And yes, we got married. But behind our smiles lay a secret—a mission, a responsibility.

And Samriddhi? She remained my friend. But now, I am watching her.

Because in our world, the battle never truly ends.

The End.

- Sharon