FORBIDDEN FLAMES ?

AUTHOR'S POV

Rakesh was sitting in his usual spot at the pub, nursing a drink and enjoying the lively atmosphere around him. The dim lights and thumping music provided a sense of anonymity he cherished. His phone buzzed on the table, and he picked it up, seeing a familiar number flash on the screen. Smiling, he answered, "Yes, Devil. Do we have any exciting news, Any new target?"

The voice on the other end was tense. "Flex, where are you?"

"In the pub, buddy. Why?" he replied, his smile fading as he sensed the urgency in his friend's voice.

"Leave from there immediately," the caller said, almost shouting. "They caught Swathi."

His heart skipped a beat. "How?"

"They recognized your tattoo. Go to a safe place. Where's Lucy?"

"Lucy is with me," he said, glancing over to where she was seated, seemingly unaware of the impending danger. "But no one can come here."

"Don't be foolish," the voice warned. "Swathi might mention the Blue Orchid. Go to that place where no one knows other than you. They may come for you anytime soon."

His mind raced. "Okay," he said after a moment. "But where are you both leaving?" the caller pressed.

He thought for a second, weighing his options. "I'm going to our usual hide out place the docks. That's the safest place for us right now."

The other person sighed in relief. Fine Be careful. I'll try to gather more information about where they are heading.

"Got it," he said, disconnecting the call. He stood up walking over to Lucy, he whispered urgently, "We need to go. Now."

Lucy looked at him, puzzled "Where?"

"The docks," he replied. "I'll explain on the way."

They hurried out of the pub,  heading for what they hoped would be a safe haven. But deep down, he knew that time was running out and their pursuers were closing in.

Soon, he and Lucy reached the docks, the cool air brushing against their faces as they hurried along the pathways as it was getting dark. The sound of water lapping against the pier and the distant hum of docked ships filled the air, creating an eerie yet tranquil atmosphere. Lucy looked around, her unease growing with each step.

"Why did we come here, Flex?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. He glanced around cautiously before responding. "The police caught Swathi with help of these tattoos," he explained. "As they captured Swathi, and she might have mentioned about the pub. That's why we can't stay there. This is our hide out  place so it is safe for now. That bitch doesn't know about this place."

Lucy stopped walking and turned to face him, her eyes wide with surprise. "Flex, did Devil say this?" she asked.

He nodded. "Yes, he did," he replied. "He warned us to leave immediately and find a place where no one knows, not even Swathi. The docks are the only place I could think of. Lucy took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart.

They continued walking, reached an old, abandoned warehouse near the edge of the docks. He pushed open the creaky door and they slipped inside, the darkness swallowing them as they moved further in. 

"We'll stay here until we get a message from Devil," he said, his tone resolute. "We need to lay low and stay out of sight. The police will be looking for us, but they won't find us here, he said smiling sarcastically." Lucy nodded with a smile.

VIHAAN'S POV

My thoughts drifted back to the words Swathi told me. What if I hadn't reached Aarna in time? The mere thought of her being their next target sent a shiver down my spine. I closed my eyes, trying to steady my breath and focus on the task at hand, but the images of what could have been kept flooding my mind.

Aarna, with her innocent eyes and boundless energy, was too precious to be caught up in this nightmare. The idea of those monstrous people laying a hand on my baby made my blood boil. I clenched my fists, feeling the rage and fear intertwining within me. This wasn't just about stopping a criminal operation; it was personal. It was about protecting the innocent, ensuring that no other child would face the horrors these people had inflicted.