Manav's legs were hurting.
Arjun was tired.
Priya was breathing slow.
They had been walking for many hours.
Finally they saw the city lights.
Kheiron City.
Still alive.
Still loud.
Still full of people who did not know what was coming.
Manav said quietly,
"We made it."
Arjun nodded.
"Yeah."
Priya asked,
"Now what?"
Arjun took out the small tracker Rayan gave.
"We find the meeting."
Right then Manav's small communicator started beeping.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Manav answered.
"Hello?"
Rayan's voice came.
"Change of plans."
Arjun got closer.
"What happened?"
Rayan spoke fast.
"The meeting location changed."
Priya asked,
"Where?"
Rayan answered:
"Priam Auditorium."
Manav repeated,
"Priam Auditorium?"
Rayan confirmed.
"Yes."
Arjun asked,
"Why change?"
Rayan answered,
"Security leak maybe."
"Or fear."
"Or trap."
Priya asked,
"Should we still go?"
Rayan paused.
Then said,
"If you want answers… yes."
Arjun did not even think.
"We're going."
Rayan yawned softly.
"Be careful."
Manav asked,
"Anything else?"
Rayan said one last thing.
"If something feels wrong… run."
Call ended.
Silence again.
Priya asked,
"Distance?"
Manav checked map.
"Three kilometers."
Arjun said,
"We walk."
The city felt normal.
Cars moving.
People talking.
Street food shops open.
A child laughing.
A couple arguing.
A man selling tea.
Everything normal.
Too normal.
Manav whispered,
"They don't know."
Priya replied,
"They don't know."
Arjun did not look at anyone.
His mind was somewhere else.
At his village.
At the fire.
At the soldiers.
At the graves.
They reached the Priam Auditorium.
Big building.
Old design.
Tall pillars.
Many lights.
Security guards outside.
Manav asked,
"What now?"
Arjun said,
"We wait."
Priya checked time.
"Midnight."
Manav asked,
"Meeting?"
"Morning."
Arjun nodded.
"So we stay hidden."
They found a broken service door at the side.
Easy entry.
Inside was dark.
Empty corridors.
Old posters on walls.
Priya said,
"Feels strange."
Manav asked,
"Scared?"
Priya answered,
"A little."
Arjun said,
"Good."
Manav asked,
"Good?"
Arjun replied,
"Fear keeps you alive."
They found a small storage room.
Broken chairs.
Dust.
No cameras.
Safe enough.
Manav sat down.
"I hate waiting."
Priya smiled a little.
"Everyone does."
Arjun checked his gun.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Like it was the only thing keeping him together.
Manav watched him.
"You really going to do it?"
Arjun answered,
"I need to."
Priya asked softly,
"And after?"
Arjun did not answer.
Because he did not know.
Hours passed.
Nobody slept properly.
Just small rest.
Manav asked suddenly,
"Arjun… what if he says sorry?"
Arjun replied,
"Sorry doesn't fix dead people."
Priya asked,
"What if he cries?"
Arjun answered,
"Then he cries."
Manav asked,
"What if he was forced?"
Arjun stayed quiet long.
Then said,
"Then I still ask why my village."
Priya nodded.
"That's fair."
Manav asked,
"You nervous?"
Arjun said honestly,
"Yes."
That surprised them.
Manav asked,
"Why?"
Arjun answered,
"Because truth can be worse than lies."
Nobody spoke after that.
Morning started slowly.
Sunlight came through broken windows.
Voices started outside.
Cars arriving.
Security getting tighter.
Manav peeked through a small crack.
"They're coming."
Priya asked,
"How many?"
"Many."
Arjun stood up.
"Time."
They moved into the main hall balcony.
Hidden behind curtains.
Perfect view of stage.
Chairs filled slowly.
Politicians.
Officers.
Important looking people.
Talking quietly.
Laughing fake laughs.
Manav whispered,
"They look normal."
Arjun replied,
"Monsters also look normal."
Priya grabbed Manav's arm.
"Stay low."
High above the city.
A Continuity Authority aircraft moved through clouds.
Inside sat Director Seren Vale.
Same calm face.
Same cold eyes.
Pilot spoke:
"Position stable."
Seren nodded.
"Nuclear device status?"
"Ready."
One young officer asked,
"Target confirmation?"
Seren answered,
"Kheiron City."
The officer swallowed.
"Population?"
"Ten million."
Silence again.
The officer asked carefully,
"Meeting confirmed below?"
Seren nodded.
"Yes."
"High value political cluster."
The officer asked,
"So this is strategic?"
Seren answered,
"Everything is strategic."
The young officer looked nervous.
Seren noticed.
"First time again?"
"Yes."
Seren said,
"You will remember it forever."
The officer whispered,
"I don't want to."
Seren answered,
"Nobody does."
Back inside the auditorium.
More people arrived.
Guards checked everything.
Metal detectors.
Snipers on upper positions.
Manav whispered,
"This guy is important."
Arjun said,
"He better be."
Finally…
One man entered.
Gray hair.
Sharp suit.
Many guards.
Everyone stood up slightly.
Respect.
Fear.
Power.
Manav whispered,
"Is that him?"
Arjun's hands started shaking.
"Yes rayan sent his photo so it's obviously him idiot."
Manav asked,
"What now?"
Arjun answered,
"I wait."
The politician started speaking on stage.
"Friends… our world is changing."
Arjun's breathing became heavy.
"We must make hard decisions."
Arjun's fingers tightened on gun.
"For survival of humanity."
Arjun whispered,
"Survival?"
Priya noticed tears forming in his eyes.
Not weakness.
Pain.
The politician continued:
"Some sacrifices are necessary."
That word hit Arjun like a punch.
Sacrifice.
He remembered his mother.
His father.
His little sister.
Were they sacrifice?
His hands trembled.
Manav whispered,
"Arjun… wait… listen first."
Arjun whispered back,
"No."
The politician continued talking.
About order.
About control.
About future.
Each word making Arjun colder.
Above the clouds.
Pilot voice came.
"Drop window in 8 minutes."
Seren stood up.
"Prepare sequence."
The young officer asked,
"Do they know?"
Seren answered,
"They never do."
Officer asked,
"Do you ever feel guilt?"
Seren replied,
"Yes."
The officer looked shocked.
Seren finished,
"But I don't let it stop me."
Inside auditorium.
Speech continued.
Arjun slowly raised his gun.
Priya grabbed his arm.
"Not yet."
Arjun whispered,
"I can't wait."
Manav said,
"What if he tells why?"
Arjun answered,
"He will."
Priya asked,
"How?"
Arjun said quietly,
"Because I will ask."
He started moving forward slowly.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Heart beating loud.
Manav whispered,
"Arjun stop…"
Priya whispered,
"Too many guards…"
Arjun replied,
"I don't care."
On stage the politician said:
"History will remember us as saviors."
Arjun whispered,
"No."
Another step.
Manav felt fear.
Real fear.
Not for himself.
For Arjun.
In the aircraft.
"Release in 5 minutes."
Seren looked down at the city.
"So many stories ending."
Nobody replied.
Inside auditorium.
Arjun reached the stairs.
Gun hidden.
Face calm now.
Too calm.
Priya whispered,
"If you die…"
Arjun replied,
"I already died once."
Manav asked,
"What if this changes nothing?"
Arjun answered,
"It changes me."
Another step.
Another.
The politician drank water.
Adjusted mic.
Arjun now just few steps away.
Aircraft system voice:
**Release sequence armed.**
Young officer whispered,
"This is wrong."
Seren answered,
"It is necessary."
Arjun placed hand on gun grip.
His mind showed one last memory.
His sister smiling.
That was enough.
He stepped forward.
Gun coming out.
Finger ready.
Above the city.
Bomb doors started opening.
Inside auditorium.
Arjun about to speak.
Above the city.
The nuclear device unlocked.
Arjun lifted the gun.
The politician looked up.
Seren Vale gave the order:
"Release."
Arjun opened his mouth—