Chapter 3

The driver was gasping for breath at the wheel of the car.He was in shock at the near miss.Even more after the strange sight.He could have sworn that he hit that guy.But yet there was no sign of anyone hurt.He was glad he had not hit the child.Phew!Close call.The crowd was now starting to gather around him.Luckily for him,his dark tints prevented the crowd from seeing him.He looked at the corner of the street, which was now empty as all the crowd was gravitating towards the car.The driver was Abishek Rajan, his nervousness increased.Then Abishek had an idea.

The crowd was surging forwards and surrounded the car.One of them opened the door,felt a breeze on him and gaped wide-eyed inside the car.The car was empty! People stared in open mouthed suprise at the empty driver seat.One of them shouted that the driver must have run unnoticed into the crowd.The kid was safe and the people quickly lost interest and went back to their vehicles to head away.Some of them still muttering at the incident.

Abishek breathed a sigh of relief.He was standing in the street corner and looked at the dispersing mob.It was a close call.He looked aroung and hired an auto rickshaw.He gave the address of his destination and sat back and waited for his heart to stop hammering.The last thing he needed was the police on his trail.Yes that would not be good at all.

He was a lawyer by proffession and quite a good one at that.After that fateful trip he was even better.He saw the familiar neighbourhood around him. At five foot seven inches he was average height.The power helped him now and then and he had no qualms about using it to the maximum potential.

The destination loomed ahead.The big house was tastefully built.A front portico which led to a stained glass door.He rang the bell and Raj opened the door.Abishek gave him a broad smile and the two of them headed for the bar.

Raj looked at him quizzically and said "You don't look too well. What happened?". Abishek replied "I had an accident,not major damage but it was not pleasant.I need a drink.Chivas,on the rocks."Raj poured out two drinks and handed him a glass.He seated himself at the teak table and thoughtfully turned the drink around inside the glass.

Abishek savored the feeling of the warm liquid down his throat with a hint of the ice cubes. It certainly helped his jangled nerves.He then said "So what happened to Sharath? You said you had found him.Where is he now?". Raj looked down into the amber depths and then slowly said "Yes, I did find him. He was in Coorg. Interesting place to hide.He was uncooperative as expected.I tried to talk him into it but he would not listen.Lets just say he won't be troubling us soon.Abishek looked wide eyed at him and exclaimed "You mean you killed him?" Raj just shrugged his shoulders and said "I did what I had to, he was a threat. You may not know it now but he was a danger to us all."

Abishek gave him the what-are-you-talking-about look and said "Danger. How?". Raj looked far away and just said "You will know soon enough. Calm down".

*****

Dr.Malcolm Thorn, Ph.D was definitely not in a calm state. His fingers were shaking. This was all going wrong. Everything was very very wrong. Here he was in the middle of an Indian desert in some place called Rajasthan miles away from home and he was afraid. His own creation was now turning against him.

He ran to the security room.The red alarm lights were on everywhere indicating an exposure. He went into the room and sat down at the chair next to Pavan their Chief Security Officer. Thorn said "How bad is it?". Pavan shook his head and said "Its terrible. Three of the creatures have escaped. The other two are in the cages."

Thorn looked at the bank of monitors in front of them and asked "How many of us are down?" Pavan looked at a screen which had a list of names and said " Four are dead or missing.Four scientists are in the lounge.Nine of my men are in the armory getting ready. Then there is you and me.

Something in the monitor caught Thorn's eyes. He looked at it and gasped.His worst nightmare was coming true.

Chapter 2

Mutton biryani. Rice enriched with spices,steaming basmati rice which wafts into your nostrils. The egg sitting grandly on top like a dew drop on a leaf.The soft succulent pieces of mutton with enough flavour to cause an orgasmic explosion on your taste buds.It was truly an experience which a lucky few will experience. Krish was one of those few.He sat there in the sweltering Chennai heat and gorged on his delicacy.He was waiting for someone to turn up and meanwhile had decided to treat his stomach rather nicely.

He looked around and wondered what was keeping Kelerov.Then a sound came at the entrance.A tall,languid young man walked in with a smile.Krish looked at him and continued to wonder what his real name and why he used his taken name.He remembered how he had met him after 'The Event' and asked him his name.Kelerov had just looked at him sourly and walked away.Now he was walking in the very picture of a man at peace with himself.

Kelerov seated himself comfortably and began the usual South Indian pleasantries.Krish got to the point "So any news about Sharath?"

"Yes,I actually do have some info".Krish was now looking at him keenly "Thats good to know.What is it?".Kelerov looked around carefully as if somehow might overhear them and said "He is in hiding.I was shocked at hearing it,but he had sent me a snail mail".

Krish was now excited"Snail mail?Sounds like he is off his rocker again.What was his crazy theory now?"Kelerov replied "I do not think this time he was crazy" and he took out a note from his pocket and passed it to Krish, who wiped his hands and read it.

To Kelerov,

I think I am in grave danger.I can't say from whom right now.Find my book.It is the key.Find Juan Carlos.He can help you.

Sharath

Krish looked at the cryptic message and tried to figure out if there was a deeper meaning.He decided it didn't contain anything and looked quizzically at Kelerov "What did you make of it?Why did he send it to you?Who the hell is Juan Carlos?"

Kelerov looked equally puzzled " I don't know mate."

"I do not understand why he did not tell us.How did you get it?"

"Post."

Krish knew there was nothing more he could learn today.Sharath was still a mystery.What was up with that dude?His mind was already on finding out who this Juan Carlos was.It struck him it was a funny name for an Indian.It looked like he needed some help.

They stepped out of the restaurant into the street with traffic buzzing around them.Kelerov looked at the normal people milling around in their day-to-day existence.He thought about how life had been simpler before.He looked across the street and saw a liitle boy of about five years crossing the road with a cherubic smile.One hand held an ice cream and with the other he was holding his mother's hand.

Kelerov smiled and looked at his new friend.Krish had a strange power.He was a mastermind.His mind just worked at a rate that was beyond normal intelligence.Kelerov was just glad that his power was a little more worldy and not like Krish.A sudden commotion brought him to reality and he saw a car had cut a red light and was heading straight towards the little boy he had noticed!

In a flash he decided what to do and ran across the road.He pelted across the asphalt and reached out with his hand,he nudged the kid a little and pushed him out of the way.Kelerov tried to break away,but he was too late the car hit him and caught him on his flank.The car careened to a halt a few metres away.

Pandemonium ensued.In what was a unique Indian way people instantly gathered around the scene, but with no real idea how to help.They rushed towards the kid first,who was scratched but fine.They then turned their wrath on the erring driver. Kelerov got up after the jolt had subsided and instantly joined the mob.

Some people had noticed the youth who had run across so quickly.Some had thought he had been hit.Most were not sure what had happened.But they all shared one thing in common.Shock.The car looked like it had been in a train wreck.The whole of the left front part had crumpled inwards as if it had hit a post.The damage to that side was severe.

Kelerov and Krish quickly walked away from the scene trying not to appear like they were in a hurry.Krish said"Nice work.That kid was a goner if not for you eh?".Kelerov gave a happy smile and replied "After all isn't that why we have powers?Saved the kid,lets hope we can save Sharath."

Krish looked at him "Like Save Sharath save the world"?Kelerov jus added seriously "Hope we are not too late".

Chapter 1

The mist rolled over the hills even as the dusk sun began its inevitable descent.A slight breeze through the trees and leaves fell to the forest floor.In these desolate hills, man was just one among nature and not its unwanted usurper. The ghats of Coorg were a tourist locale for most times of the year, but to Sharath it held a whole new meaning to the words 'rejuvenate'.

For months now he had been living in hiding here. Hiding from the evil he knew would eventually track him.It had all begun so strangely and so happily.It felt like ages ago, time blurring and nothing made sense now.How had it all gone downhill so fast?

He looked at the sunset which calmed him a bit.He checked around to make sure nobody was nearby and walked to his cabin.It had belonged to a farmer who had moved to the city in search of a better life. Sharath thought about the fact that he had come here just to save his life. A small smile lit his face at that ironic thought.

The neat room was welcoming as always.He lit a candle,nothing with electricity was there in this room.The spartan furnishing did not diminish the cosy comfort of warmth,books and the breeze that flowed in the upper rafters.There was a bed,a lounge chair and a table.The table was littered with papers.His papers,his writing,his power,his life.

He hoped that his message had reached Kelerov in time.It had taken a long time to decide whether he had to give his position away, the risk of Raj finding him was too big.Eventually he had decided that he was better off telling someone where he was.More importantly telling someone where his writings were.Nobody had realised the extent of his powers.He suspected that Krish had known but had wisely kept quiet.

The memory was clear.When a few months Krish had asked him why he was not using his powers?Sharath remembered the feeling of dread in his heart.So much power.Power that he could use to save lives,instead here he was hiding in the forests like a fugitive.Anger welled against Raj and all that he stood for.No point losing it now.Not when he was so close to figuring it out.The fact was undeniable,Raj was one step ahead of them.He had no idea how Raj was doing that.

He heard the trees sway and then a twig snapped.Instantly his mind came to reality and he concentrated hard on the noise.No mistake, definitely was a sound.He put out the candle and the cabin plunged into a semi-darkness.The evening light made the trees look like sombre beings.The twigs which he had laid out to from a natural alarm now started breaking.

Someone was out there...the chill in his heart increased.It can't be,Raj could not have found me so soon.Panic began and his mind was in turmoil.There was no where to run.He took out the knife and gripped it tightly wishing this was just a nightmare and he would wake up soon.Footsteps approached the door and there was a knock.

Sharath retreated into the furthest corner and hid behind the bed,sweat poured down his face and stained his back.The door was blasted of its hinges and he suddenly felt the primal fear that guided all beings,he charged towards the person standing at the doorway who was momentarily caught off guard, a blue flash and he fell back.

Another blue flash emitted from the man's hand and lit up and old bulb dangling from the ceiling.Sharath looked through the daze and saw Raj standing there.Raj looked around, smiled and headed for the bed.

"So this is where you are hiding?Interesting choice.Last place I thought of looking."

Sharath looked defeated,he groggily replied "Apparently not enough.Why don't you just leave me alone?"

Raj looked at him and smiled"Ah, but I can't do that.Now that I know to what limit your powers can go.I can't risk it.I told you to join me.You being my brother I would have thought you would have seen my side."

Sharath just glared at him"You are just crazy to even think you make sense".

Raj simply stared at him "Do you really think Kelerov and Krish are going to stop me?I can easily finish them off. I just hope they have more brains than you do."

At that moment Sharath knew it was over.This only had one ending.He just hoped Kelerov got to his writings before Raj did.He made a sudden movement and lunged off the floor, towards Raj with knife in hand.

A blue flash was the last thing he ever saw.

Raj got up, sighed,looked down at the limp body of Sharath which was now smoking.He collected the papers from the desk.He went out the door and bang! A light came from his hand and the house caught fire.He saw the corpse one last time.

He said "Goodbye brother" and walked into the mountains.