(At Bus)
He pulled the blanket aside and walked to the window.
The sun hadn't fully risen yet, but its golden hue had begun to brush the horizon. In the distance, towering hills stood tall, cloaked in dense forests and vivid greenery. A cool gust of wind brushed against Ayaan's face, washing over him like a gentle tide—and with it came a rare moment of calm.
"Will I make it back alive…?"
The fear was there, lingering deep in his chest. But in his eyes—there was a spark. A fire.
He wasn't here to prove anything to others. He wanted to prove it to himself. This mission… would be his answer.
Behind him, Oliver stirred. Noticing Ayaan by the window, he stepped out of bed and quietly walked over, taking a seat beside him.
Ayaan turned, surprised. "Oh… you're awake?"
"Yeah," Oliver replied, his voice relaxed. "Couldn't really sleep."
"Why? Is everything alright?" Ayaan asked.
Oliver chuckled softly. "You should be asking that, not me. What about you, buddy? Why are you sitting here alone?"
"Oh… nothing really. The weather outside felt nice. Just wanted to enjoy the cold breeze."
Oliver followed his gaze outside and nodded. "Yeah... it is kinda beautiful, isn't it?"
A brief pause. Then Oliver smiled faintly. "Takes me back. To the days when I was in the army—traveling with my unit to places like this."
Ayaan's curiosity was instantly piqued. "You were in the army?"
"Sure was. Spent years serving the country. Back then, I used to fight men. Now, I fight demons."
Ayaan's eyes widened. "Then how did you end up here?"
Oliver chuckled again. "That's a long story, my friend. I'll tell you sometime… maybe over a beer."
"You drink beer?" Ayaan asked with sudden excitement.
"Of course."
Ayaan's eyes lit up. "I used to drink with my friends too! We'd sneak up to the rooftop, hide a couple of beers with chips and snacks, and just mess around all night. There was this one time—"
He stopped mid-sentence. His expression fell. The memories rushed back like a wave—and the laughter died in his throat.
"…Sorry," he said softly. "I got a little carried away."
Oliver studied him silently. He could see the pain written all over Ayaan's face. He gently placed a hand on Ayaan's shoulder.
"Ayaan," he said, voice low and calm. "Your friends—"
He stopped himself.
"You were saying something?" Ayaan asked, looking up.
Oliver looked away. Sweat beaded on his forehead. "No… it's nothing. Don't worry about it. Everything will be fine."
He smiled, trying to shift the mood. "This is your first mission, right? I'll make sure nothing happens to you. That's a promise."
"But… aren't you afraid?" Ayaan asked.
"Afraid?" Oliver burst out laughing. "Haha! I've been doing this job for years. None of this is new to me. Sure, each time there's a different monster waiting for us. But I've never faced something I couldn't survive."
"You'll see," he added confidently. "The three of us will take that demon down in no time. Before you even blink, it'll be over. As long as we're around—you won't even need to lift a finger."
"Got that, kid?"
Ayaan felt his chest lighten. The burden wasn't gone, but it no longer felt unbearable.
He smiled. "Thank you… all of you. I don't think I can ever repay you for what you're doing for me."
Oliver's smile widened. "Oh come on. Don't get all dramatic on me now. It's not about debt or favors. Every life matters—no matter who it belongs to."
He stood up.
"So, Ayaan. You ready for your first mission?"
Ayaan rose with him, nodding firmly. "Yes, sir. I'm ready."
And with that… the moment had come.
After a long night of travel, the team had finally reached the mission site. The cold had grown sharper, and a strange, heavy silence hung in the dense forest around them.
Luna was inside the changing room, while the others were nearby, changing in a small makeshift cabin.
To protect himself from the chill, Ayaan had thrown on a thick sweater and jeans. The rest of the team had also suited up—winter gear, gloves, scarves, jackets—they were all ready.
Then… Luna stepped outside.
For a moment, Ayaan froze.
She wore nothing more than a black top, a light combat jacket over it, and denim shorts—paired with sleek black sports shoes. Thick wristbands hugged her forearms—the kind used by lifters or pro fighters.
Ayaan stared, thoughts racing: "Is she made of iron? Doesn't she feel cold at all?"
Oliver didn't waste a moment. "So, Luna—you ready?"
With a faint smirk, Luna replied, "I've waited long enough. I need to break something—preferably a face." Then her eyes landed straight on Ayaan.
Ayaan's soul nearly left his body. Without thinking, he slipped behind Oliver, using him like a human shield.
"Haha..." Oliver laughed. "Relax, man. She's in mission mode, not killing mode."
Rudra, who had been silently standing by the window, turned and asked, "So, what's the plan, Oliver?"
Oliver pulled a chair, sat down, and looked at everyone calmly. His voice dropped into a serious, strategic tone.
"Alright, listen up. This isn't your average field operation. We need to be smart… and we need to stay silent."
"We're heading into the jungle to find that kid. The three of us—me, Luna, and Rudra—will go in and track him down."
"Just the three of us?" Rudra asked. "What about Ayaan?"
Oliver paused, then said plainly, "Ayaan stays here. It's the safest call for now."
"He hasn't been through any real training yet. If we throw him into the field like this, he's more of a liability than backup. One weak link could put the entire team at risk."
Ayaan looked down, clearly disheartened. But Oliver immediately caught the change in his expression.
"Don't take it the wrong way," he said gently. "This isn't your fault. I'm not risking your life just because the manager believes in hunches."
Ayaan gave a faint smile and nodded. "You're right… thanks for looking out for me."
Oliver pulled a small pouch onto the table and opened it, revealing three smartwatches.
"These will keep us connected. They're built with real-time tracking, so we can monitor each other's location at all times."
He handed them out one by one.
"They also have mics and speakers, so we can talk even in the deepest parts of the jungle."
Ayaan inspected his watch curiously. "Sir… isn't this just a regular smartwatch? You could buy these anywhere."
Oliver smirked. "Not quite. These were custom-designed by our organization. Flip them over—you'll see our insignia."
Everyone checked the back. Sure enough, the logo was clearly engraved.
"They're more durable than regular watches. And they function perfectly even in low-signal zones. Range extends across several miles without breaking contact. There are other functions too, but for now—just focus on using them for communication."
Luna, already adjusting hers, huffed impatiently. "Alright, enough briefing. Let's go already—I'm running out of patience."
"Hold up," Oliver raised a hand. "You need to hear the full plan first."
"If any of you spot the target—or make contact—you do not engage."
"Your first move is to send a signal using the watch. That way, the rest of us can get there ASAP."
He turned to Ayaan. "And you—once you get the signal, your job is to call Nyra immediately and request backup. Use the emergency protocol to activate support. Got it?"
Ayaan nodded. "Got it. Understood."
Oliver's gaze shifted to Luna. "No one fights alone until we're all on-site. Got that, Luna?"
Luna rolled her eyes. "Yeah yeah. You don't need to drill it into my skull."
Rudra walked over to Ayaan and placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
"Ayaan, no matter what happens—don't leave the bus. Even if it takes us a while to get back. Don't take any chances."
"I promise," Ayaan said quietly. "I'll stay right here."
"Good." Rudra gave him a reassuring pat.
Oliver stepped forward, raising his hand.
"Alright then, Field Reapers… let's begin the mission!"
"YES!" they all shouted in unison.
They placed their hands on top of Oliver's—then raised them into the air as one.
The hunt had begun.
The team was ready. Prepared to face the unknown depths of the jungle.