42. INVESTIGATION

The sun was sinking beneath the horizon, casting a warm, orange glow over the dense forest. The cabin where Taliya and her team had been working stood silent, its worn wood and creeping vines blending into the surrounding wilderness. The peaceful scene was deceptive; inside the cabin, tension hung thick in the air.

Taliya stood outside, her eyes scanning the scene. The police had arrived swiftly after her frantic call. Uniformed officers moved about with quiet efficiency, combing through every inch of the area. Their radios crackled with sporadic updates, filling the otherwise quiet evening with a low hum of activity.

Haroon stood beside her, a steady presence in the chaos. His sharp eyes tracked the officers' movements, but his focus was on Taliya. She felt a mix of fear and frustration; the feeling of being watched, the sense that something was terribly wrong, but without any tangible proof. It gnawed at her, making her feel helpless.

An officer approached them, removing his hat as he neared. "Ms. Taliya," he said, his voice calm but serious. "We've completed our sweep. There's no sign of forced entry, no suspicious items. It appears everything is in order."

Taliya's shoulders slumped slightly. "But... it doesn't make sense," she murmured, glancing back at the cabin. "We all felt it. The unease, the feeling of being watched. We couldn't have imagined it, also the blood? What does it indicate?"

The officer nodded sympathetically. "I understand your concerns. We'll increase patrols in the area for the next few days, just to be safe. Sometimes, these things are hard to explain. But rest assured, we've done a thorough check. It can be that a teenager have done this prank for someone."

Haroon gently placed a hand on Taliya's arm. "Thank you, officer," he said, his tone polite but firm. "We appreciate your help."

The officer gave a small nod, then turned to join his colleagues, who were packing up their equipment. Taliya watched them go, a knot of anxiety tightening in her stomach. She knew they hadn't imagined the sensation of eyes on them, the whispers in the trees.

"Haroon," she began, her voice low, "what if they're still watching us? What if they're waiting for the police to leave?"

He looked at her, his expression serious. "I don't think they're here anymore. If they were, they'd have made a move by now. But we can't let our guard down. We'll head back to the city, regroup, and figure out our next steps. Also, we aren't going to stay in Goa for long. Our flight is in evening, tomorrow."

Taliya nodded, biting her lip. The weight of the situation pressed down on her, but she felt a flicker of reassurance at Haroon's calm demeanor. They walked toward the SUV they had arrived in, the sun now just a sliver on the horizon. The warm colors of the sky had deepened into rich purples and blues, the first stars beginning to peek through.

"We apologise for the trouble guys and we are really thankful for your support." Haroon shook hands Carl and James as Rebecca and Sarah patted her arms with assurance.

"We are a team, Sir." Rebecca tried to lighten their mood with her high pitched voice making Carl shake his head at him.

"Thank you." Taliya nodded in appreciation and walked towards her vehicle with Haroon, as he gestures the staff to leave the place.

As they approached the vehicle, Haroon opened the door for her. "We'll get to the bottom of this," he assured her. "But for now, we need to stay safe."

Taliya hesitated, glancing back at the cabin one last time. It looked so ordinary, so harmless. Yet, it was the epicenter of her growing fears. She turned back to Haroon, nodding once more as she climbed into the SUV.

The car's engine rumbled to life, breaking the tranquil silence of the forest. Haroon got in beside her and started driving down the narrow dirt road. The headlights cut through the encroaching darkness, illuminating the path ahead. Taliya stared out the window, the shadows of trees flickering by, her mind racing with unanswered questions.

"Do you think we're overreacting?" she asked quietly, almost to herself. "What if this is all just... nothing?"

Haroon shook his head. "Trust your instincts, Taliya. Something spooked you and the team. That means something's off, even if we can't see it right now. We'll get to the bottom of it."

She sighed, resting her head against the window. The cold glass felt grounding, a small comfort amidst the uncertainty. The landscape blurred past, the silence between them filled with unspoken fears and doubts.

As they neared the city, the orange glow of streetlights replaced the fading light of the setting sun. The familiar sights of civilization brought a small sense of relief, but the unease lingered. Taliya knew they were far from finding answers, and the night felt like a pause, a brief respite before the storm.

For now, all they could do was wait, watch, and hope that the shadows they felt creeping in the woods wouldn't follow them back to the city.

Sighing, she dropped her hands in her lap as exhaustion creeped in her body making her muscles groan with the need of sleep.