For readers help, the story is in Mikael's point of view for short time.
MIKAEL
As I watched Sheraz, I thought that he was rude… but he was in pain, actually. I wanted to console him. But he never opened himself in front of us. All I wanted was to have fun, but after war, everything was in ruins.
"We are here." Sheraz shouted into the microphone.
This was the signal for us to move. As we advanced, we successfully freed our workers, but one of them cried out:
"HELP!! He took the chief into the lab!" Blood streamed down his face.
I nodded to Abdullah so he'd understand to take the hostages to safety. As they left, I went down the hallway. It was nothing less than a butcher's shop. Corpses everywhere. Blood clinging to the walls. After the war, this was the first time I had seen so many people dead again.
The air was heavy, choking, when suddenly — a man stepped into the corridor. His hair was silver, his presence inhuman. For a moment, the first thought in my mind was:
"How can a man be so beautiful?"
Then he spoke, his voice delicate, unnervingly calm:
"Are you Mikael Mohsin?"
Before I could even answer, he closed the distance. So close I could hear his breathing. My body trembled. There was an aura around him, thick and suffocating… darkness, alive.
I reached for my gun — and in a flash, my hand was gone. Severed, like nothing.
I screamed. And screamed.
Death felt certain. My thoughts spiraled:
"Is this all? All I wanted was a good life… Even my family isn't here anymore. Oh, right… they're all dead. Where is Attia? She's gone too. Maybe this is my time to leave."
As my consciousness slipped away, I saw Sheraz charging in — his sword ablaze with blue fire — clashing against the silver-haired man.
And in that haze, a voice echoed inside me. Not his, not Sheraz's. Something… other.
"Suffering lies in the creases of your hand. Fate cannot be escaped. No man can. But you… you are an exception."
I awoke in a hospital bed. Abdullah sat beside me, explaining what had happened.
"I hope you're well now."
Then Commander Shah entered the room. We both saluted.
"If I may," he said, "I'd like to invite you to Gozke. This time the boss himself is coming. I need my best men at my side."
The incident left us with wounds, but Gozke was more important. It always was.
Gozke is the event held every year, where leaders of the great parties gather.
And yet… something had changed inside me. A presence stirred within, stronger than I could contain. Strong enough to consume me.
But it doesn't matter anymore.
I am still alive, after all.