They gulped in unison, the sound loud and shaky in the silence of the room. “What kind of game?” Kriti managed to whisper, her eyes wide as though she already regretted asking. Rupali, meanwhile, had her hands clamped over her chest, as if bracing herself for the worst answer in the world.

Kiara’s lips curved into a devilish smile, her eyes glinting mischievously as though she had been waiting all her life for this exact moment. She tilted her head slightly, paused for dramatic effect, and then, with an expression so grave it could put an actor on stage to shame, she whispered, “We have to find a…” Her gaze suddenly shot upward, as if she’d spotted something crawling just above them. She let her eyes widen, her body stiffen, and then—