The Trash Heap Team

It was a quiet night in Taynza Forest. The stars twinkled between the branches of the tall trees, and the night breeze gently caressed the leaves along the narrow forest path. Qusay was following a man who seemed tense, walking with quick, cautious steps as if carrying a heavy secret. The forest path twisted and turned, leading to a deep valley surrounded by towering mountains that looked even darker under the faint moonlight. After a long walk, the man reached the valley and paused for a moment to ensure he wasn't being watched. Then he continued walking alongside the river, which flowed quietly, as if playing a secret melody for nature. Qusay noticed that the man occasionally stopped to check if anyone was following him. But Qusay wasn't worried; he was walking right beside him, invisible and undetectable thanks to his abilities. After an hour of walking, the man reached a high earthen wall that seemed like part of the hill, but Qusay sensed something strange about this place.

The man stood by the earthen wall, looking around cautiously. After making sure he was alone, he raised the axe he was carrying and began striking the wall with force. After several blows, a part of the wall broke as if it were thin glass, revealing a small entrance to a dark cave. The man bent down and entered the cave, and Qusay didn't hesitate to shift his consciousness inside to see what was there. Inside the cave, the surprise was immense. The cave was filled with hundreds of large sacks neatly arranged, each containing cannabis. Cannabis, also known as hashish, is a narcotic plant used for illegal purposes like smuggling and black-market sales. In addition, there were six luxurious handbags placed on the ground next to a colorful rug and a number of scattered blankets and cushions. The man, who looked panicked, rushed to one of the bags and quickly opened it. He began stuffing the money inside into his pockets and the folds of his robe until only a small amount remained. He glanced at what was left with a look of disgust, then hurried out of the cave. Before leaving, he reshaped the earthen wall with a thin layer of dirt using his supernatural ability, "Earth Manipulation," as if nothing had happened. Then he gathered some firewood and began heading back home.

When the man arrived home, he found his wife in the kitchen preparing dinner. He looked at her with eyes full of worry and love and said, "Do you need any help?" His wife looked at him with suspicion in her eyes and said, "Where have you been? You've been gone for hours." He tried to smile and said, "I was gathering some firewood. You know, winter is coming." But his wife wasn't convinced and said, "Walid, what's the point of firewood if we're leaving tomorrow? You know we're leaving after breakfast, so why gather firewood now?" He looked at her with sad eyes and said, "I love you and Suleiman, and I just want to protect you." But his wife shook her head and said, "I don't want to be protected from something I don't understand. I'm scared for you and for Suleiman. You're hiding something, and I know it."

Suleiman entered the kitchen and looked at his parents with conflicted eyes. He said, "Mom, Dad, is everything okay?" His father looked at him with loving eyes and said, "Yes, son, everything's fine. We're just talking about some things." But Suleiman wasn't convinced and said, "I feel like something's going on. You two don't seem happy." His mother looked at him and said, "Don't worry, sweetheart, everything will be fine." But Suleiman was torn between truth and illusion, unsure of what to believe.

The next morning, after the family had breakfast, they decided to leave. They got into the transport vehicle waiting for them. The driver, noticing the tense atmosphere, casually asked, "Is everything okay, Walid?" Walid tried to force a smile and said, "Don't worry, it's just a short trip. It's not like we're leaving forever." But the driver wasn't convinced and asked again, "I can't take you if your luggage contains hashish, you know." Walid reassured him, saying, "Hashish has its own customers. No need to worry."

The family began talking in the car, but their conversation was vague enough that the driver couldn't understand. The wife said, "Walid, are you sure this is the right decision?" He looked at her with worried eyes and said, "I know this is hard, but it's the best for us." Suleiman, sitting in the back seat, said, "I don't understand. Why do we have to leave?" His father looked at him with loving eyes and said, "Sometimes, we have to leave to start over." But Suleiman was internally conflicted, unsure of what to believe.

When the car reached a police checkpoint in Dardara, there were no issues at first. The car was moving slowly, as required when passing through checkpoints. But suddenly, the child Suleiman screamed loudly, "Dad!!!" His sharp cry immediately caught the attention of the police. One of the officers signaled the driver to stop. The officer approached the driver first and asked for the car's papers and license. After confirming everything was in order, the officer asked the child, "What's wrong, boy? Why are you screaming like that?" The child looked at the officer with wide eyes and said, "My dad's gone crazy!!!" The father shouted hysterically, "What are you saying, you ungrateful brat?!" The wife began crying and said, "He's scared of something, and I suspect he's involved in terrorist activities." The officer drew his gun and pointed it at Walid's head, saying, "Step out quietly, or you won't like the consequences." Walid looked at his wife and son with red, angry eyes, while the driver was terrified by what was happening. The entire family, including the driver, was taken to the police station. The driver, furious, thought to himself, "Screw this job. Once I get out of here, I'm never driving anyone again, even if they're family."

After witnessing all this, Qusay smiled and said to himself, "This is better. I would've felt bad if someone with such a twisted mind escaped the law. Sometimes, I love the law." Qusay returned his consciousness to his body and opened his eyes on his bed, thinking about the treasure the man had left in the cave. Qusay said to himself, "There's loot waiting for me, but when should I go get it? I need to secure it before someone else does. But what puzzles me is how those fools didn't expose him. There's something strange about this. For now, I need to focus on getting that money."

He got out of bed with confident steps and began his usual routine: he showered to refresh himself, ate a light meal to recharge, and finally went out to absorb energy from the world around him, ready to face what awaited him in the quiet night.

After finishing his routine, Qusay closed his eyes and shifted his consciousness to Adnan. He found him in the middle of a heated verbal argument with his mother, who was standing in the center of the room, waving a police report in her hand. Her voice was raised in anger: "Adnan! How did we get to this point? The police report says they're going to rehabilitate you! Didn't you learn from the last times?!"

Adnan, who was standing by the table, tried to calm her down, his voice defensive: "Mom, you don't understand! The problem isn't me, it's those troublemakers who took over the team's training ground! They were destroying property, and I had to step in to protect what's ours!"

His mother shook her head angrily, her eyes flashing with frustration: "And did you have to go that far? You always act without thinking, and the result is that you're being punished again!"

Before Adnan could respond, the doorbell rang. Officer Abbas was standing at the door, his face serious and stern. He looked at Adnan and said in a formal tone, "It's time, Adnan. You need to come with me to the rehabilitation center. Let's get this over with quickly."

Adnan glanced at his mother for a moment, as if searching for support or understanding, but she turned her face away, tears welling up in her eyes. He took a deep breath, then turned to Officer Abbas and said, "Alright, let's get this over with."

Adnan walked out of the house, a sense of injustice filling his chest, while Qusay watched the scene from afar, wondering if he should continue observing Adnan or return to focus on his own mission of securing the treasure in the cave. But he decided to keep watching.

Officer Abbas drove Adnan to an old building that resembled a school, its faded and worn appearance a testament to the many years it had witnessed similar events. Upon arrival, Abbas handed the report to the officer standing at the door and introduced Adnan, saying, "This is Adnan. He needs to undergo rehabilitation as per the report."

After that, Abbas left Adnan with the officer and drove away, leaving the young man to face his fate inside the building. The other officer, who seemed strict and clear in his instructions, ordered Adnan to leave anything he was carrying at the door, warning him, "If we find out you've brought anything prohibited, you'll face punishment as if you were a legal adult."

Qusay noticed the look of anxiety on Adnan's face. "It seems Adnan is starting to realize the gravity of the situation he's in. But he's still trying to appear calm... impressive, though not always practical."

Adnan, who wasn't carrying anything prohibited, obeyed the orders and entered the building, where he found himself face-to-face with familiar figures from his recent past.

Yasser, Khaled, Ali, Rami, Sami, and Ziad were all there, each wearing a different expression. Some seemed happy to see Adnan, while others looked as if they were preparing for another confrontation.

Qusay commented, "How strange! All of them here? Yasser, Khaled, Ali... his old enemies. This place is going to be a new battlefield, but this time without physical fights. I'll watch how Adnan handles this situation."

Rami, who was closest to Adnan, approached him with a slight smile: "Adnan, you finally made it! I knew you'd be here sooner or later."

Adnan smiled back, though it was tinged with bitterness: "Yeah, it seems we're all here because of that stupid fight."

Sami and Ziad also approached, as if forming a small group of allies within this strange place. But the sharp glances coming from Yasser, Khaled, and Ali didn't go unnoticed by Adnan. Yasser, who was Adnan's arch-nemesis, took a step forward and said sarcastically, "Well, well, look who's here! The hero has arrived to join the party!"

Adnan didn't respond to the provocation, but he could feel the tension in the air thickening. Khaled and Ali stood behind Yasser, as if ready for anything that might happen.

The officer who was monitoring the situation interrupted the silence with his stern voice: "Enough! You're here for rehabilitation, not to continue your fights. Any trouble, and you'll face harsher punishments. Understood?"

Suddenly, the atmosphere in the yard changed, and an eerie silence fell as the sound of heavy, deliberate footsteps approached. Each step echoed like the beat of war drums, making the ground tremble slightly. Then, Officer Salim appeared. His tall frame, standing at 1.83 meters, looked like a mountain walking with confidence, and his 88-kilogram build added to his imposing presence. His short, neatly combed gray hair reflected his unwavering discipline, while his dark brown eyes radiated intelligence and authority, as if they could pierce through any lie or disguise.

Qusay felt a growing interest. "This man... Salim. A leader, no doubt. His way of speaking earlier (when he handed the rehabilitation report to Abbas) and his presence now command respect even from a distance. Adnan will need all his wits to deal with this man."

Salim stood before them, his royal blue uniform gleaming under the sunlight, his favorite color reflecting his authority and dignity. His booming voice rang out, fast and confident, filled with authority and sternness: "Welcome, trash heap! From today, you're officially part of a team called 'The Trash Heap Team,' until you prove otherwise. Is that clear?"

His words were like a sword, cutting through any hope they had of leniency or slack. As soon as he finished speaking, they had no choice but to respond in unison: "Yes, sir!"

Qusay chuckled to himself: "Trash Heap Team? A fitting name for a bunch of troublemakers."

Officer Salim continued, his voice rising slightly, as if reminding them of his famous saying: "Security doesn't happen by chance." Then he added, "I'll be overseeing your rehabilitation, to elevate you from a trash heap to... trash! Is that clear?"

Once again, they responded in unison, as if they had been trained beforehand: "Understood, sir!"

Then Officer Salim pointed to the field with a sharp gaze that missed nothing: "Now, I want you to use your special abilities on the field until you pass out. Anyone who doesn't lose consciousness gets no dinner. As for lunch... there's no such thing for you here today."

They all responded in unison: "Understood, sir!"

Qusay commented, "This is harsh training... but effective. Adnan will have to push his abilities to the limit. I'll watch how he handles this challenge."

The recruits began moving toward the field, each carrying a mix of fear and determination within them. Officer Salim stood watching them with his piercing eyes, as if he knew this was only the beginning of even tougher tests awaiting them. He believed that "every detail matters," and that's why he tolerated no mistakes, big or small.

Salim wasn't just an officer; he was a symbol of discipline and responsibility. Anyone standing before him felt the weight of that responsibility, as if facing a historical figure who would not be forgotten.

Qusay concluded that Salim was "a complex character, combining strength and discipline, but perhaps lacking flexibility. He's the right man to enforce order, but he might not be the best at helping someone like Adnan change his path."

Qusay decided to keep a close eye on Salim, especially in how he dealt with Adnan. "I'll watch how he handles Adnan specifically. If Salim can reach Adnan's heart and change something in him, I'll admit he's more than just an officer... he'll be a true mentor."