Horror Story 2: The Black Masks of IFFCO Chowk

It was a cold winter morning during the COVID era when the world felt off-kilter in every way possible. The streets were eerily quiet, and the familiar chaos of Gurgaon seemed muffled under the weight of lockdowns and restrictions. My office bus picked me up every morning from IFFCO Chowk, taking me on a long journey to Noida. With most people still working from home, the roads felt deserted, except for the occasional masked commuters and the ever-present stray animals. On some mornings, as I waited for the bus in the dim, early light, I’d notice the strays—dogs, pigs, and sometimes even cats—scampering around the streets. But what unnerved me was that I’d sometimes spot **figures in black masks** chasing these animals. At first, I thought it was just a trick of the light or maybe some overzealous animal catchers. But their movements were odd—erratic, frantic, almost inhuman. One morning, after another frustrating fight with an Uber driver who’d canceled my ride, I arrived at my stop earlier than usual. The streets were empty except for a faint mist curling at my feet. As I stood waiting, I noticed something strange: a car had pulled over a few meters away, and several black-masked figures emerged. They weren’t walking—they were running, **sprinting towards me.** My heart raced as panic set in. Were they coming for me? I instinctively moved back, clutching my bag tightly, ready to run. But then, they veered to the side, darting toward a group of stray dogs and pigs that had been rummaging through the garbage nearby. Relief washed over me, but it was quickly replaced by curiosity. Why were they so obsessed with chasing these animals? I decided to follow them. Keeping a safe distance, I tailed the group as they captured a few animals and loaded them into the trunk of their car. They moved with precision, like they’d done this countless times before. Something about it felt… sinister. I hesitated but decided to keep going, driven by a mix of fear and a gnawing need to uncover the truth. The car eventually stopped at an **abandoned warehouse** on the outskirts of the city. The area was desolate, shrouded in fog, with the faint hum of the highway in the distance. The figures carried the animals inside, and I crept closer, heart pounding, barely breathing. Peering through a cracked window, I saw them. The masked figures had gathered around a makeshift altar, dimly lit by flickering candles. The air was thick with the smell of incense and something metallic—**blood.** The animals were restrained, whimpering and squealing as the figures chanted in low, guttural voices. It hit me then: this wasn’t just some bizarre hobby or cruelty for the sake of it. They were performing a **ritual.** A dark, twisted ritual that reeked of black magic. I wanted to run, but my legs wouldn’t move. My phone trembled in my hand as I fumbled to dial the police, but before I could press the call button, one of the figures turned and looked directly at me. Even through the mask, I could feel their gaze—piercing, malevolent, as if they knew everything about me in that instant. I froze. Then, as if on cue, the rest of the group turned to face me. The chanting stopped, replaced by an unnatural silence that made my skin crawl. I don’t remember how I managed to move, but I ran like hell, the sounds of their footsteps echoing behind me. I didn’t stop until I was back at IFFCO Chowk, gasping for breath, praying that the bus would arrive soon. It did, and I boarded it without looking back. I didn’t tell anyone—not my colleagues, not my friends. Who would believe me? The next morning, I skipped the bus and took an Uber, paying extra to avoid IFFCO Chowk altogether. But the memory of those black-masked figures stayed with me, haunting my dreams. And every time I see a stray dog or pig wandering the streets, I wonder: Are they safe? Or are they next? Because somewhere out there, the **rituals are still happening**, and no one is stopping them. **TL;DR**: During a winter morning in COVID times, I noticed black-masked figures chasing stray animals near IFFCO Chowk. Following them, I discovered they were capturing the animals for dark rituals involving black magic. I barely escaped, but the thought of what I witnessed still haunts me. This was based on a real incident that happened with me, I am doing well and it was around 3-4 years ago around the peak covid times where I had to commute to the office in Noida as they were open everyday. Let me know what do you think about this one ;)