Crime sites never made such an awful impression as they do… Today. Still impressive, I like it.

I am alive is the main thing I should be perturbed of. Specially because of this exceptionally rotten smell of a corpse coming from nowhere but increasing minute by minute. or rather second by second.

As the clock ticks by, my body starts to betray me. ̶I̶t ̶a̶l̶w̶a̶y̶s ̶d̶o̶e̶s ̶i̶n ̶a ̶m̶o̶m̶e̶n̶t ̶l̶i̶k̶e ̶t̶h̶i̶s. The Apartment seems to be completely burnt, but the dead bodies found were suspiciously wounded. Which simply means, Murder. Too obvious to be left unraveled.

'Hey, little friend! I see you. and I want you to know that I am here... to haunt you.' *evil laughter of a combined voice of a male and a female* But There was No one in my sight.

'You have made a mistake, you shouldn't be here. you know! ' *A girly voice whispers onto me as close as my next breath* It lingers in for a moment before it starts circling me and to my surprise it was still just the thin air which I could feel.

The first question which arises to my mind, Now! is..

Why am I standing in here yet? In the same posItion? Not a movement seems to be possible?

The doors shut in with an exceptionally loud thud noise. And not once but repeatedly where fog already surrounded me taking away my vision completely.

My another question or more… A realization. I can't speak.

My voice? It's long gone before I even knew.

'haha oh my dear! Can't even shout for help? Well... good for me. I like... Both Hunting and Haunting. So be prepared, little angelic human.' Her voice was insanely intolerable. A hot trickle slid down my ear -- thick, metallic...but not water. Never Water.

My eyelids twitch but it lay no effect on my sight. My head feels like it would explode any moment. The voices and the noise seem to be inversely proportional to my body temperature. Even the room temperature. It keeps on rising up to a level where I can literally freeze. Although Mechanically I have....

Oh God!

How should I escape? I can't breathe. ...

Feels like my throat is being held too tightly and out of nowhere my body initiates to rise and somehow this time my hands tried to free my throat but of no use.

. ....

One... last... thing before I black out. …...

This... isn't over! Till I say..

_________________

India is a country where in the name of Government detectives, there's only a group called CID.

Well.. the case of private ones are completely different but that one thing in common is.. They are neither counted nor managed. However, here I am A Detective.

The Crime site seems to be normal with no evidences at all! That is what extremely bored me. I must have left but my colleague is in there, and it's my courtesy to wait for her.

But it has been a long time. She isn't back yet, what is she possibly doing in this boring place? Playing 'ghar ghar'?

Well jokes aside, I must have go check on her.

'Hey, dude! Remember me?? it's Aarav Khanna. '

A man with a well-maintained body and good looks approached me with a warm yet charming smile. Wait this is....

Aarav?

'Our Aarav?? '

'Yes, Man! How could you forget me? '

'Ah! Look at yourself in the mirror, boy! You are the one who forgot all of us. '

'Absolutely Incorrect! If I hadn't remembered you then how would I have recognized you? '

'Oh my goodness! Great of you! '

And we let out a sarcastic laughter which automatically sneaks out.

'So, Man.. For what purpose do you wander here near an abandon house? '

'By God's grace, I am a Successful Detective now! And this is my new case, but it has kinda bored me though. '

'Perfect!! Congratulations!! Come on let's have lunch together then.'

'Well…. I am waiting for someone… '

' Who?? Wait… Are you not single? '

.......

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Author's pov.

A wicked smile is seen held on a soft and juicy lips of a woman who had her screen open right in front of her and several footages in it with a photograph in her hand. Her attire was simple yet elegant and bossy. The photograph in her hand was not something she burnt, not even something she tore but even more insane....

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Author's pov.

Two cars of Ferrari, one red sleek in color and one in fluorescent green ran through the streets of Kolkata but both in opposite direction but facing each other in the mid-afternoon.

______________________________________________________

Hey guys! I am Lily Everstone, Nice to meet you. I am a beginner in here. I bet you wouldn't be disappointed after you be a part of this journey.

Thank you!

LYE.

" 'You were never destined with me but yet... here you are, why?!'

'I... maybe it was meant to be...! '

I walk up to him vulnerably with tears in my eyes and anger hovered over my state of mind. For the very first time.....

Smack!

A hard slap landed on his cheeks, enough to make him feel dizzy.

'YOU WERE THE ONE TO BETRAY ME , DESTROY ME. TO LEAVE ME IN A STATE FROM WHERE I COULD NOT WALK OUT EASILY! YOU LEFT ME TO SUFFER ALONE THROUGH MY CRUCIAL TIMES. And... NONE of that would have mattered… To me. Only if you hadn't played with me. WHY??!! I NEED THE ANSWERS, NOW!'

'what was my fault, huh? ... ' my state growing worse when the surroundings suddenly changed and everything, everyone -- disappeared.

The darkness hovered me up in his embrace. A feeling of warmth spread in my chest but then.... I fall.

My heart sank into the pool of black cold water, freezing me to death. The temperature decreased instantly in seconds and it lands on -5°C....

There's a regulator far -- it reads... -6° C, -7 ..

-8...

-9...

with every passing second and my body freezing, cold like a corpse.....

I opened my eyes.. and it's all over. "

Her:- What the actual heck?? You saw this in your vision??

Charu's gaze was fixed on mine with shock and concern that etched on her face reminding her that it can be a warning or something more grim than it seems.

Me :- ahm... Well. Leave it.

Ofcourse I did not tell her about Wednesday's incident... Even her life is much more puzzled... I can't trouble her.

Charu:- No! We can't leave it , bro! What if he comes back? Did Anything happen in recent days which you aren't telling me?

She's fast.

Me :- Nothing much. Just my boring life, what else can it be?

Charu :- Ah, fine let's hangout, Ira! I am tired of this boring life.

Me :- Finally!! I was waiting for you to say this from so many generations!! *dramatically*

She lands a 'Tapli' on my head playfully and we both chuckled.

Charu :- Dramatic ass!

Me :- 😁😁

What are you waiting for?? Let's go!!

______________________________________________________

08:07

'Packup!'

The Auditorium which was filled with silence now slowly started to sound like a honeybee's beehive. Everyone packed their stuffs while some were busy gossiping with each other, some in their couple-talks , some in their teasing-taunting session and the list goes on.

None of the above was my type of stuffs to do. So I straight head towards the exit in my cold demeanour while someone approached me. Unknown. Obviously!

'Hi! I am Ajax. I am a transferred student.' he extends his hand for a handshake. Likewise, I look at him first then at his hand.

'Need anything? ' My expression, unchanged.

'uh… Wanna be friends? '

'Why? ' My gaze was fixed to his eyes and I could sense his awkward feeling which grew. Because of me. obviously.

His eyebrows twitch at my response. Trying to process what to say next. He gave me a confused look then withdrew his hand.

I walk past him and leave the center in the matter of few minutes. I left for home, already exhausted.

'HELP ME!!! '

My body automatically freeze at it's position and eyes and ears trying to figure out the direction from where the sound was coming.

'PLEASE!!! ' Voice of a girl who was in extreme pain.

That direction. Right.

Hurry up!

'ahhh!!! HELP ME, PLEASE!! I AM DYING! THIS MONSTER WILL KILL ME, PLEASE!! '

ah Wait! This is....

I rush in and break in through the door to find....

Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick.

Heavy breaths were taken by both the prey and the predator while I stand there observing.

Tick.

Tick.

Tack!!

'Aahhh!!' I lift up the chair in my hands and attack the guy with all my anger boiling my blood just as he turns to look at me.

Triggered.

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hmmm... hmm... *humming a song while earphones played it*

Cool atmosphere+ cooking + song :- Ahn! Great combo! Indeed.

mm… I guess I'm running out of some grocery. Do I need to go out at this hour?….

Let me check the fridge, first. Nothing in here except Yogurt. my face fell but I realise... I would be busy tomorrow so I must buy the grocery today.

*soft thud*

This one is fine.

My outfit.

Perfect!

Let's go. I walk out of my house, completely lost in my own world.

well.. Tomorrow I am going to meet with her again. I hope she is okay. As this our professional meetings, She would not bring her personal life in it. Leave it. I had hurt her and I know that. I just don't understand.. how the hell should I face her. leave it. But What the hell happened to her that day? I didn't find anything, did she encounter something?

Did she crossed paths with something she shouldn't have? God knows! She had ended up right in the hospital after that incident so our meeting was left incomplete.

I didn't realize I had already reached into the convenience store. That's kinda obvious too. The store is not so far from my apartment.

Ah! Dumplings I need to try these atleast. My eyes were on the packaged dumplings while I was walking.

Thump!

Ira...?

We step back after we realize we are standing too close to each other and staring at each other like creeps. Joking tho.

A girl walked towards us, Charu?? ..

And I could say from her face that she was too shocked to see me here.

Wait… Why? Doesn't she know that I am working with her best friend?

I look at Charu then at Ira with a questioning look.

None of us were ready to start a conversation. And Ira seems to be frustrated. She is wandering whether what to say. Her body language speaks it all.

I faked a cough.

Me :- Ahm ahm! Hi, Charu!

I extended my hand towards her. She first glanced at my hand and then at Ira who was already staring at her with a tensed look.

Ira haven't told her about our professional meeting this Wednesday. 🤣

I am 100% sure. I felt a fit of laughter and I struggled to control myself.

Although I maintained my smile. And finally after a while, Charu accepted my handshake.

Me :- You both are here? … Ira, Are you okay?

I am surely working as fuel here. 🤣 I do enjoy it, Anyway.

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Hey, Guys!

Welcome back to the new chapter of Checkmate.

Chapter 2 is out now. Do surely tell me how is it and review it.

Do Inform me of my mistakes and enjoy reading.

Happy Reading!

Thank you.

LYE.

CHAPTER :- 3

She stares at the person standing right in front of her blankly, deprived of affection. Her throat muscles contracts and falls as if she finds it difficult to breathe.

Her face, which stayed cheerful, grumpy around him now shows an unreadability. Something distant. He stands still in front of her, figuring out 'What could have possibly happened in just 10 mins that itself was enough to trigger this version?'

She wore a black formal suit with a long dark red coat that drapes her elegantly. But.. Something was off. There was a hint of deep hollow spot on the fabric of the top indicating a dark liquid colored in a bit shiny black color showing the uneven section.

His eyes twitched with worry as he tries reaching out to her holding her palm into his. His right hand rises up to touch her stomach on the patch. He felt a wet, dripping fluid and just as the realisation hits him making his gaze meet hers- slight hint of tears rolling down his cheeks.

While she could see what he couldn't.

YYYYAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!

She shoved him to the right side of her while she blocked the dagger with her left hand. Her right hand still holds his wrist. A loud growl escapes followed by a soft thud which shocked him.

The moment of silence was interrupted by the ragged breathing. Her eyes were bloodshot red with anger, palm covered into fist As she shielded the person behind her with the other hand.

The average-looking attacker was now dumbstruck. One swift move and the intruder lies unconscious. While she stands still with a thick steel rod in her left hand.

Flashback

◦•●◉✿ Her ✿◉●•◦

 (Dialogues as she can talk with herself all day without caring about what people may think.)

Uh... Wow! This is how the room looks, just before he comes?..

So messy!! How will I clean these all? He will surely tease me even for that and annoy me to the core till I'm tired. Which I already am. How dare he not even console me when he was the one who ignored me! Amazing! And now breaking into my house suddenly. To invite on what..? On a date? With his date?

He is surely out of his mind, he dies afterwards btw. Let him come. And so why should I clean the house? Let it be. But I can't just simply leave it, though. Umm.. These clothes, wow! Did I even have them, anyway? I spoke while I pressed the dresses against my body, checking them out on the mirror, one by one.

Finally done. Uh.. What is this steel rod doing here? I picked it up, suspiciously staring at it but then dropped it with a sharp clang and ting. It was almost so smooth and cold under my touch. Well well. I went down to ring the door bell.

To my shock!

'Surprise!!'

His grin widens as he holds a huge bouquet of Red spider lilies. Might be fake though. Yet my eyes softens at the sight of him and a slight smile automatically hovers my lips.

'What's all this?'

'Surprise, ofc. Wait, Hold this.' Handed over the bouquet, and moved my finger to touch it.

'Heyy!! Don't touch it. Those are real!'

'These are? '

'Yes and for God's sake, please do not touch them or consume them. They're deadly and I do not wish to be the one arranging your funeral that too draining my money, yk!' He had a charming yet smirky smile something he had shown only to me till today. As far as I know.

'Uh-hn!' I passed on a 'get lost' glare to which he couldn't hold his bright smile.

He nonchalantly opens his car's trunk, taking out some wrapped gifts.

'Well, for your information Today is neither my birthday nor my deathday.'

'So? '

'May I ask what for these gifts are if you don't like draining your money? And one more question , why prepare the poisonous flowers?'

He steps closer to the door to where I was standing.

'Who said I am doing these for you?' He asked mockingly, leaning in closer to my face while I back away.

'These are all for my date, yk. ' And he winks at me. Winks at me!!! The hell, I am gonna kill this guy someday!

I roll my eyes and let out an angry chuckle, diverting my gaze to the other side.

'You've already murdered me with that look, darling. '

'What the hel! Can't I even think of things in peace now? '

'No. Not until I'm here. Come on! I can't wait to surprise you. Just wait for me upstairs. I'll be there in minutes. I'll bring you, all you deserve.'

'I'm not your date! ' I commented grumpily.

'Yes yes, nobody said you are. '

I passed on a 'I see you' glare which I wished could make him land in ICU fr but Khair!

'Oh, Ira! You know, you are even more attractive when you look at me that way. You don't have any idea what you make me feel, do you? '

'Huh huh. Save those cheesy words for your dates.' I rolled my eyes in disgust. ̶̶N̶̶e̶̶v̶̶e̶̶rd̶i̶s̶g̶u̶s̶t. ̶A̶t ̶l̶e̶a̶s̶t ̶n̶o̶t ̶f̶r̶o̶m ̶h̶i̶m.

'Haw! I'm afraid , I'll make you fall even harder.'

He pulled me by my wrists, towering over me with his tall frame.

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Hey guys!

Your Author Lily Everstone is back with a new chapter. I hope you like it. Actually I had exams ongoing so I couldn't update from a long time. But now here I am!

And From now on, I'll try to be as consistent as possible. so don't worry, much more fun chapters await!

 Chapter 4 is scheduled to release on 21st March, 2026.

Happy Reading!

~LYE