The Heroic Massacre

In the previous chapter, we saw....Rishi, devastated by Priya's death, struggles through her funeral, his heartache palpable as he breaks down at her grave, wrestling with the profound loss and memories. Consumed by grief and inner turmoil, he questions how to move forward without her. Leaving the graveyard, he is struck by a car, brutally injured and left disoriented on the cold, wet ground. Strangers rush to help, their faces filled with concern. As darkness overtakes him, Rishi's fate hangs in the balance, leaving us to wonder: Will he survive this tragedy, and how will it change him if he does?The chapter starts from here...."The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion."  - Albert Camus"Huh? Where am I?" Rishi whispered, his voice barely audible in the painful silence. He lay motionless, shrouded in a white sheet, surrounded by the sterile gleam of medical equipment in a sparse, hospital-like room. The air was heavy with the overpowering scent of antiseptics. A slender tube snaked from his hand to a bag of glucose, its contents dripping steadily, while the soft hum of machinery provided a constant, eerie background whisper. Rishi tried to sit up but found his legs unresponsive. Panic surged through him. "Why can't I move my legs?" His voice trembled. He struggled against the sheet, trying to get up from the bed. In his haste, his hand slipped off the side of the bed, slamming into a nearby table.The metal flask on the table toppled over, falling on the floor with a loud, jarring sound that shattered the quietness surrounding the room. The noise echoed down the hallway upon hearing which someone started approaching the room. Rishi's heart raced as he heard footsteps nearing. He tried to get up again, his arms straining to lift his body, but his legs refused to cooperate. "Come on, come on!" he muttered through gritted teeth in frustration.Sweat dripped down his face as the footsteps drew near, their firm footsteps signaling an imminent arrival. Rishi grabbed a syringe from the table and held it in his hand, hiding it behind himself. The door slowly opened and a middle aged man in a black beard wearing a maroon shirt and a cream coloured pant entered the room. He saw the mess Rishi had made of the room and sighed "What are you doing, Mister?" he entered the room and closed the gate."Who" Rishi stuttered "Who are you?" Rishi continued. The man replied "Me? I'm just an old man troubled with the world.. but that's not you want to know right, young man?" He sat down on the ground, picking up the flask. "My name is Ravi, 45 years old, and I live here.... alone." He continued, putting the flask on the table. "My turn now young man, who may you be?" Ravi asked Rishi noticing the syringe Rishi was holding in his hand. He walked back slightly, maintaining a safe distance before he looked at him again waiting for his response. "I'm Rishi.. 25 year old" Rishi replied hesitantly."I see.. young men these days are pretty violent, aren't they?" Ravi gazed at Rishi's hands holding the syringe tight. "I would be pleased, if you put that syringe on the table, mister." Ravi continued in a suprisingly calm tone. Rishi felt embarressed on being caught by Ravi. He reluctantly moved his hand towards the table. "Don't worry, I'm no threat to you" Ravi said in an assuring tone but continued further taking an intimidating stance. "unless... you are a threat to me" Rishi felt fear seeping through his veins. He immediately dropped the pencil on the table and sat quietly."Good... stay obedient like this." Ravi responded affirmatively, picking up the pencil and throwing it away in the dustbin. "I have a few questions for you, mister. If you'll be generous enough to answer, I'll be glad." Ravi's tone was serious and stern, despite his polite phrasing. Rishi nodded silently, not daring to speak."So, why were you lying at my doorstep, all wounded?" Ravi asked, his gaze piercing."At your doorstep... I don't remember, Mr. Ravi," Rishi stammered, his voice trembling. He didn't want to say anything that might anger Ravi. Hearing his response, Ravi sighed and posed another question. "What do you remember last?""I-I..." A wave of sudden desperation and sadness washed Rishi's face. He gritted his teeth, summoning the strength to move his jaw and reply to Ravi. "The last thing I remember is attending my wife Priya's funeral. I was heading home in a thunderstorm, and then there was a heavy downpour, and I got caught up in an accident," Rishi replied, slowly gathering himself. "I remember lying on the road, hearing people calling for an ambulance. That's all I can recall." He finished speaking, his hands trembling as he recollected the memories of the traumatic events."Life is unpredictable young man, and losing people is inevitable. Infact, one can argue that life is nothing but an act of letting go. Though sorrow is natural, it is temporary. One must always strive to keep the mind and heart looking forward." Ravi walked over to Rishi, sitting beside him on the bed as he patted his back. He couldn't help but feel sorry for Rishi. Rishi looked at Ravi with eyes filled with admiration. "I suppose so.. but letting someone so dear go. It's hard." Rishi whispered in a breaking voice."True, letting go is painful. But you know what's more painful, mister? Reliving the same pain, again and again. When you wake up and look for them beside you, when you cook breakfast for two people out of habit, when you rush back home only to realise nobody is waiting for you anymore. And what's worse? When this dumb brain of ours purposely show their memories." Ravi replied to Rishi while getting up from the bed. He opened the window to let the sunlight venture into the dark room. The warmth of the sun invading the cold room, the gentle breeze and chirping birds lifted the dampened mood of the room. "Be an open window kid.. there are plenty of closed ones out there." Ravi said, his tone was no more intimidating rather it became soothing.But a sudden question aroused his attention that left him perplexed. "Did you say, it was raining?" Ravi shifted his gaze towards Rishi, his tone became grave and serious. "Yes, It was raining.. why?" Rishi was confused as to why this little detail mattered.Suddenly, Ravi lunged toward the bed, gripping Rishi's shoulders tightly and shaking him. "Tell me the truth. Was it really raining?" Ravi's voice turned sharp with aggression. "Yes, yes, it was raining, I'm not lying Mr. Ravi." Rishi replied, startled by the abrupt change in Ravi's behaviour, Rishi responded immediately."How can that be? There hasn't been rain for years.... nowhere in the country," Ravi murmured, bewildered by Rishi's reply. "What year is this, Rishi?" he pressed, his tone full of concern."Year?" Rishi chuckled, momentarily amused by the absurdity of the question. But worry etched on Ravi's face held him back from laughing. A sense of unease crept over him, stemming from a series of inexplicable events."It's 2024, right?" Rishi replied, looking for a confirmation."2024!?" Ravi stepped away from the bed in fear, he rushed out from the room leaving a perplexed Rishi all by himself in the room. Ravi reached the basement, unlocking the door with a swift motion. The dim light of a single bulb hanging by a wire cast eerie shadows in the room. A marble platform dominated the center, filled with torn pages and books, a chaotic testament to intense research. Wooden racks lined the walls, crammed with scientific instruments and jars of chemicals.On the platform, a meticulous arrangement of scientific tools hinted at an ongoing experiment. Unfinished equations were written on the walls, suggesting complex theories in progress. The air was thick with the scent of old paper and the faint hum of electronic devices. Ravi moved quickly, scanning the racks until he grabbed an old diary, a rolled-up chart paper, and an odd-looking pill. He shuffled through the pages of the diary looking for something whilst murmuring continously "Travel.. Travel.. Travel.. where is the goddamn page!" He shouted in an infuriating tone. After a minute of shuffling and causing ruckus in the usuall empty laboratry his hands stool still, holding a yellow crinkly page in his hand. "I knew it!" His hands shook with excitement, his face screamed of curiosity and hundreds of unanswered questions unfurled in front of him. "Finally! Finally! It's just how he said, thank you.... dear god." He was amazed, it was as if the canvas of his life was just painted with a new meaning.He collects himself quickly, theories and the thirst for answer wrapping around his head. He grabbed the items hastily locking the door to the basement, and rushes back upstairs. Upon returning to the room, Ravi found Rishi staring out of the window from his bed. "Rishi, how are you feeling?" Ravi asked, his tone laden with curiosity. "My legs? I'm starting to regain some feeling thanks to your aid, but they're not as good as before." Rishi replied, his voice steady. "Nahh, not your legs. How are you feeling overall, not just your legs y'know?" Ravi clarifies, his eyes searching Rishi's face for answers.Rishi, puzzled by the question, furrows his brow. "I... I'm feeling a bit dizzy, as if I've traveled a long distance," he admitted.Ravi's eyes narrowed, sharpness to his gaze. He poured a glass of water from the nearby table and offered it to Rishi. "Drink this," he said softly. Rishi takes the glass, his confusion deepening as he sipped the water. Ravi sat down beside him, his expression grave. "Listen to me carefully, and try not to be shocked," Ravi began, his voice low and cautious. "You have traveled across time... this is 1982."Rishi's eyes widened, the glass slipping from his grasp and shattering on the floor. He stammered, "What? How... how is that possible?" His mind spun as he struggled to process Ravi's words."It's true. That's why you're here," Ravi replied softly, his tone unwavering.Rishi stared at Ravi, his heart pounding. The room felt stifling, the air heavy with the weight of the revelation. He glanced around, his vision blurred by a mixture of disbelief and fear. Every object in the room which once seemed familar now suddenly became foreign. The walls closed in, and a cold sweat broke out on Rishi's forehead. His hands trembled as he tried to steady his breathing, but his chest felt tight, constricted by the enormity of the situation. He felt a profound sense of displacement; as if the ground beneath him had shifted, leaving him unmoored.Ravi watched him, eyes filled with empathy. "I know it's hard to believe, but you need to understand it son."Rishi's breath quickened, a shiver running down his spine. The fear of the unknown gnawed at him, and he could barely find his voice. "Why... why me?" he whispered, his voice cracking.Ravi hesitated, his voice trembling. "I don't know, son. You're from the future... it must be some kind of advanced technology." His eyes flickered with a fleeting spark of curiosity, quickly masked by resolve. "I know it sounds like some over-the-top sci-fi tale, but..." He took a cautious step closer to the bed, his gaze fixed on Rishi with an intensity that seemed to bore into his very soul. "But it's your reality now. It's up to you whether to reject it or face it."Rishi sat there, feeling trapped in an inescapable vortex of the unknown. The weight of the situation settled on his shoulders, leaving him with no choice but to accept this bizarre twist of fate. "How..." His voice was barely a whisper, trembling with fear and confusion. "...can I return to my time?""We can try.." Ravi answered. "We can try but it will take some time." He paused for a while. "But you have to assist me." Ravi finished."Assist you? How can I? I don't know anything about this." Rishi's tone grew serious, his mind wrestling with denial."Just do as I say. I promise I'll send you back." Ravi's curiosity was replaced by determination. Rishi felt a flicker of hope but remained uneasy about trusting Ravi. Yet, he knew there was no other path. In this dire situation, Ravi's intelligence and expertise were his best chance. Reluctantly, he nodded; ready to face whatever lay ahead."Hmm... what should we do?" Ravi pondered, grabbing the television remote. "First, you need to gain some familiarity with the world... you might need to interact with people." He turned on the television, which was housed inside a wooden case. The screen flickered for a moment before coming to life. Ravi sat near the television, pressing buttons to change the channels. "Ah, here we go—this is the best news channel around," he said, rising slowly and glancing at Rishi.Rishi was captivated by the old television model, something he had only seen in pictures. Despite his dire situation, he watched the screen in amazement. "So this is how it looks in reality... There are no such televisions in 2024," he murmured.Ravi overheard Rishi's words and responded with a chuckle, "Oh, please, don't spoil the future for me." His laughter was a crude yet effective way of lightening Rishi's mood.Rishi managed a small smile, his anxiety momentarily eased by Ravi's humor. The flickering screen cast a warm glow in the dim room, a brief respite from the chaos. "Thanks a lot, sir." Rishi said softly, feeling a flicker of hope amidst the confusion.Ravi nodded, his expression softening. "We'll figure this out together, son. One step at a time."A sudden voice of a female news anchor filled the room, startling Rishi, who was still fascinated by the old television set. Silence veiled the room as both Rishi and Ravi fixed their eyes on the screen. "In our continuing coverage of today's events at The City Tower... government-authorized special forces have been deployed inside the tower. Earlier this morning, the tower fell under the control of an armed terrorist group known as 'Revanche.'"Five militants from Revanche crashed a car through the City Tower gate, breaching security and slaughtering the guards on standby. Numerous civilians are now being held hostage. This is the third terrorist attack in the same day, following earlier incidents at the City Railway Station and the City Airport. Special forces have also been deployed in these locations.""What?" Rishi's voice trembled with panic. "Will we be fine, sir?" His anxiety was palpable."Calm down, newcomer. There are a few things you need to know." Ravi settled on the bed, his demeanor serious. Rishi's eyes were locked on him, awaiting the explanation."The City Tower, it's owned by a wicked plutocrat.""A wicked plutocrat... who?" Rishi interrupted, his curiosity piqued."Frank. Frank Simon. He's a wealthy businessman who plays in billions and controls city politics. The current mayor is his son, Bill Simon. This father-son duo is despised for the oppression they bring." Ravi's explanation was cut short as he noticed Rishi lost in thought. "Rishi, it's disrespectful to drift off like that.""No, sir, I didn't mean to. I was just trying to figure things out," Rishi quickly defended himself."And did you?" Ravi's curiosity was evident."I think..." Rishi hesitated but continued under Ravi's encouraging gaze. "I think Revanche targeted the City Tower because it's a symbol of Frank's wealth and oppression. But doesn't that make Revanche the good guys?""Smart thinking." Ravi nodded approvingly. "Yes, for many, Revanche are the heroes. If elections weren't rigged, Mr. Phantom would be our mayor, and we'd be on a path to glory." Ravi's eyes sparkled with admiration for Revanche, his devotion clear."Phantom?" Rishi's interest was piqued."Yes, Mr. Phantom. He's the leader of Revanche. A truly inspiring figure." Ravi's tone softened with respect. "Always call him Mr. Phantom. He deserves it.""My bad, I'll keep that in mind next time," Rishi apologized, realizing his mistake. His heart pounded, excitement welling up inside him. "I want to meet Mr. Phantom," he murmured, barely audible.Ravi caught his words and responded with a tone of encouragement. "Well, some day you might, son. Some day you might."The moment shattered with an unexpected scream from the anchor. "Oh my god, what's happening?!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with fear. "Th-the...," she stammered, her face a mask of terror and desperation. "The special forces... they..." Overwhelmed, she collapsed, unable to continue. The screen swiftly switched to live footage from the City Tower, where a harrowing scene unfolded.Outside the tower, Special Forces were lined up, their expressions grim. The cries of civilians filled the air, echoing through the streets as they pleaded for the release of their loved ones held hostage by Revanche. Anger simmered among the crowd, their desperation palpable and growing with each passing moment.The televised scene unfolded into that of chaos and brutality. The special forces, seen as guardians of order and the hope for the demostrating civilians to bring the hostages back, had transformed into agents of terror. Their rifles discharged with mechanical precision, each shot ripping through flesh and bone. Innocent civilians, previously gathered in protest against the Revanche's hostage-taking, now lay sprawled on the ground, their bodies contorted in pain or lying motionless in pools of their own blood.Amidst the heavy gunfire, agonized screams pierced the air, a haunting chorus of despair and disbelief. Those who survived the initial onslaught scrambled for cover, their faces etched with horror and disbelief at the sudden turn of events. The once bustling street now resembled a battlefield, filled with crimson puddles, the wreckage of overturned barricades and discarded belongings.The news anchor's voice cracked as she attempted to narrate the unfolding tragedy, her words faltering in the face of such senseless violence. Onlookers across the city watched in stunned silence, their hearts heavy with grief and outrage. The scene painted a stark portrait of a society teetering on the brink of collapse, where the forces meant to uphold justice had instead unleashed unfathomable cruelty.Everyone's eyes were glued to the television screens as they saw this act of horror being committed. Suddenly, windows shattered on the tower's second floor, shards cascading to the ground. Phantom and his crew burst forth, their figures stark against the smoke-laden skyline. With lightning speed, they descended upon the chaos, their movements a whirlwind of retaliation against the armored, faceless oppressors. The air crackled with tension as gunfire ceased, replaced by the clash of steel and hand to hand combat. The Special Forces, now exposed as ruthless enforcers of a corrupt regime, fell one by one to the relentless fury of Revanche, their cries drowned in the symphony of destruction.The fighting lasted for an hour, culminating in Revanche's brutal victory. They outclassed the special forces in every aspect, dismantling them swiftly despite being outnumbered, halting the brewing genocide.But the losses were irreparable, the pavement awash in crimson screaming of the shattered dreams of the brutally murdered. Beneath the piles of distorted bodies, a few survivors huddled, seeking shelter from the nightmare that had unfolded.Viewers across the city were horrified. A state of shock and mourning washed over every citizen. Seeing their fellow citizens slaughtered without remorse by the very special forces meant to protect them fueled an inferno of anger and resentment. Mothers clutched their children tighter, fathers wept openly, and families huddled together in grief. The streets echoed with cries of anguish and fury, a collective sorrow that morphed into a seething rage. Trust in authority shattered, leaving the city's heart bleeding. The betrayal by their protectors had ignited a spark, threatening to engulf the city in rebellion.