silent spectator

***Warning: This chapter deals with the topic of terrorism with the aim of highlighting its dangers and negative impact on society. It is not intended to promote any violent ideas or actions.***

When Qusay's consciousness returned to his body, his head still throbbed as if struck by an iron hammer. He sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing his temples in an attempt to ease the pain. "No time to rest now," he muttered to himself. What he had seen and heard in Chefchaouen wasn't just idle talk. "Operation Chefchaouen" was real, and danger was imminent.

Qusay's mind raced. "I can't go to the police," he thought. "If I tell them, I'll either become a suspect as one of the group's members, or they'll discover my ability… and that's worse." He knew that using superhuman abilities without a license was a crime, and no one would believe him without solid proof. "I need to find another way."

After hours of thinking, he came up with a plan. "I'll use the deep web to send an encrypted, anonymous message urging the authorities to act immediately." The idea was simple yet brilliant: use his awareness to track the group, gather enough information, and send an encrypted message through the deep web to alert the authorities without revealing his identity. "Tomorrow, I'll begin."

But Qusay didn't know much about the deep web. "How do I access it? How do I send an encrypted message without leaving a trace?" he wondered. He decided not to waste any time. Pulling out his laptop, he began searching for information on how to access the deep web. "I need to learn this quickly."

Qusay didn't sleep that night. He remained glued to the screen, reading articles and watching tutorials. He learned how to use the Toior browser to access the deep web, how to create a temporary email, and how to send encrypted messages. "This is complicated, but I need to master it."

Around midnight, he decided to use his ability to speed up the process. Closing his eyes, he attempted to channel his consciousness into the digital world. "Maybe I can see what's happening on the deep web without using the computer." But the first attempt failed. "Looks like this takes more energy."

He returned to his laptop and continued learning. He delved into encryption protocols and methods to hide his IP address. "I have to be careful. One small mistake could expose me."

By dawn, Qusay was exhausted but determined. "I can't stop now. The danger is coming, and I'm the only one who knows about it."

Finally, after hours of attempts, he accessed a secret forum on the deep web. "This is the right place." He began drafting an encrypted message warning the authorities about the planned terrorist operation in Chefchaouen. "The message must be clear, but it can't reveal me."

Once finished, he tried to send the message using a temporary email to a known anti-terrorism agency. But every attempt was rejected. "Why isn't it working?" he wondered in frustration. He tried again, but the result was the same. "Looks like I've failed."

With the sunrise, Qusay was drained, but he refused to give up. "If I can't send the message, I'll go to Chefchaouen myself and gather more information." After recharging his energy from nature, he projected his consciousness towards Chefchaouen.

What he saw there shocked him. The city was in chaos. Streets were swarming with police and royal gendarmerie, and armored vehicles surrounded specific areas. "What happened here?" he wondered.

As he approached, he saw a group of people handcuffed and being loaded into police vans. Their faces were covered with black scarves, adding an air of mystery and tension to the scene. Although their faces were hidden, their body language radiated anger and fear.

He overheard one officer saying, "The terrorist operation has been foiled. Over thirty people involved, most of them with fire power."

"Fire power?" Qusay was stunned. "Were they planning to blow up the city using their powers?" he thought silently. He then caught more details: "They had strategically placed gunpowder in a strange matrix that would've caused the entire city to fall into catastrophe."

When Qusay returned to his body, he felt utterly drained. Sitting on the couch, he grabbed his phone and browsed the news to learn more about what had happened. He quickly found a detailed report on the thwarted terrorist attack.

"Major Terrorist Plot Foiled in Chefchaouen"

*In a preemptive security operation, Moroccan authorities successfully thwarted a dangerous terrorist plot targeting the city of Chefchaouen. According to security sources, more than thirty individuals were arrested, most of them possessing Fire power.

The group had planned to blow up the city using a sophisticated gunpowder matrix strategically placed in several critical locations. Authorities confirmed that the plan would have resulted in massive destruction if not stopped in time.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior stated, "This operation could have been catastrophic. We are proud of the efforts of our security forces, who managed to foil it just in time."*

Though Qusay was relieved that the terrorist plot had been stopped, a wave of guilt crept into his heart like a dark cloud. "Could I have done more?" he wondered silently, staring at his hands as though they carried the weight of the world. "Should I have intervened directly? Should I have been the hero who saved the city?"

But he quickly realized he was just one person, small in a vast world filled with events beyond his control. "Perhaps I'm just a side character in this grand story," he whispered to himself, as if trying to accept his role. "A background figure, watching, learning, but rarely at the center of events."

This thought made him reflect on his role in life. "Am I merely a spectator? A secondary character with no impact on major events?" he questioned, feeling the weight of this realization pressing on his shoulders. "How many times have I stood on the sidelines, watching events unfold without being able to change their course?"

Still, he decided to accept this role, at least for now. "I'll play the observer… and only intervene when I'm ready." These words carried a sense of temporary acceptance, yet they also reflected a deep internal struggle. "Maybe this is my role for now: to watch, to learn, and to wait for the right moment."

After this internal debate, Qusay felt the tension that had been weighing on him begin to turn into intense fatigue. He decided to take a break from all this pressure. He put on his light jacket and left his house, heading toward the nearby nature. The weather was slightly cold, but the warm rays of sunlight pierced through the dense branches of the trees, making the place look like a painting.

He stopped under a large olive tree, closed his eyes, and drew energy from the surrounding tranquility. He took a deep breath of the fresh air and felt the tension gradually begin to fade. "Nature is the best remedy," he whispered to himself, as he reached out to touch the rough bark of the tree, as if trying to connect with the earth.

After feeling at ease, he returned home. He decided to prepare a simple yet satisfying meal. He opened the fridge and took out two eggs, fresh tomatoes, and some onions. He began slicing the tomatoes and onions into thin pieces, then heated a pan on the stove and added a bit of olive oil. Once the oil was warm, he added the onions and stirred them until they turned golden, then added the tomatoes and let them soften slightly. Finally, he cracked the two eggs over the mixture and gently stirred them until the meal was ready.

Qusay sat at the small kitchen table and ate his meal slowly, savoring every bite. "Sometimes, the simplest things are the most satisfying," he thought as he finished his food.

After his meal, he headed to his bed, closed his eyes, and prepared to use his ability once again. This time, he decided to go to Fes. As soon as his consciousness arrived, he began moving between characters, observing their daily lives.

The first person he noticed was an old man sitting on a wooden chair in front of his house, reading an old newspaper. The man's face was full of wrinkles, but his eyes sparkled with wisdom. "Perhaps this man has lived a long life full of stories," Qusay wondered to himself.

Then he moved to a young woman who was washing clothes in a basin outside her home. She was humming a light tune, as if trying to make the hard work seem easier. "She seems happy despite the exhaustion," Qusay thought.

After that, he noticed a child playing with a ball and his dog in the street. The child was laughing innocently, while the dog jumped around him excitedly. "This is the simple life we sometimes forget," Qusay whispered to himself.

But soon his observation settled on a young man named Adnan. Adnan was part of a group in the neighborhood called "The Delinquents." He was sitting in a dark corner, talking to another young man in a sharp tone. Adnan, 17 years old, had a tall and slender build (1.84 m, 66 kg), with thick, dark brown hair, neatly shaved on the sides. His shiny brown eyes reflected determination and ambition, but they also carried a hint of defiance and impulsiveness.

"Who is this young man?" Qusay wondered to himself as he observed Adnan closely. "And what is this group up to?"

Adnan was wearing a green jacket, his favorite color, which added a touch of vibrancy to his appearance. As he spoke to his friend, his movements were quick and enthusiastic, as if he couldn't stay still for long. "I do what I want," Adnan said loudly, laughing. "Everything's great!"

But Qusay noticed something else in Adnan's eyes, something deeper than just youthful enthusiasm. "This young man has a lot of energy, but he's also quick-tempered," Qusay thought. "Is he really part of a delinquent group? Or is he just a young man trying to find his place in this world?"

Suddenly, Qusay heard words from Adnan that made his heart race. "We'll take down those weaklings," Adnan said with a tone full of malice. "They think water can extinguish my thirst for blood."

Qusay was shocked by these words. "What does this mean?" he wondered in his mind. "Is Adnan part of something bigger? Is he dangerous?" Qusay felt the tension returning to him, as if he had discovered something he hadn't expected.