The next morning dawned bright and bustling over the Indian Air Force Base in Mumbai. The usual routine dynamics of military life began to unfold: morning physical training, roll calls, and the backdrop of aircraft taking off and landing. But what lay ahead was something neither Ria, Kael, nor Sidharth could have anticipated.
Ria, still riding the emotional highs and lows of the previous night, moved through the base with a sense of urgency. Her thoughts flickered back to the rooftop and the kiss—an ignition of feelings she hadn't fully processed. However, she pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on the mission ahead. She and Sidharth would be heading out later to gather intel on Singh, their primary target.
In the bustling heart of the base lay the Airforce Market, a lively hub where officers and their families gathered to buy supplies and share stories. Vendors shouted across the stalls, calling out deals on fruits, vegetables, and various military gear. The air was thick with the aroma of spicy street food wafting from makeshift stalls. Officers exchanged banter while children played, their laughter weaving into the fabric of this little community.
Kael and Ria walked through the market, Ria trying to shake off her apprehensions while Kael observed the surroundings with a keen eye. He was keen on ensuring that Ria stayed clear of distractions as they prepared for the mission, gaps in the atmosphere leaving him feeling more protective than ever.
“Ria, let’s focus on what we need,” he suggested, glancing at her wistfully as they passed a line of vendors selling colorful trinkets. “We have to finalize our plans before the afternoon briefing.”
“Ugh, okay, Mr. Serious,” she teased lightly, though she scanned the market tentatively, ever aware of their surroundings.
But before they could get lost in conversation, a loud explosion resonated through the market, catching the ears of everyone nearby. The ground shook beneath their feet as a great plume of dust and smoke erupted from the direction of the market’s far end.
“What was that?” Ria’s voice trembled, her eyes wide as fear clawed at her stomach.
“Stay close!” Kael barked, instinctually stepping in front of her as panic swept through the crowd. Officers shouted commands, and the once vibrant atmosphere turned into chaos.
Sidharth, who had been working with a team nearby, was already sprinting toward the source of the explosion. He gestured for Ria and Kael to follow, his expression fierce and focused. “We need to assess the situation and provide help.”
As they drew closer, chaos reigned. The market, once filled with chatter and laughter, was now a scene of devastation. Scattered debris littered the ground, while cries for help pierced the air. Ria felt her heart drop as she took in the shambles: wounded personnel, overturned stalls, and the overwhelming sense of fear that enveloped everyone.
“Ria, check for casualties!” Sidharth commanded, his military training kicking in as he glanced back to make sure she was following. “I’ll give first aid wherever I can. We need to get the injured out of here.”
Without another word, Ria steeled herself, instinctually pushing through the throng of fleeing people, finding a small group of officers huddled around a downed soldier. Cradling his leg, he groaned in agony.
“Call for a medic!” Ria shouted, kneeling beside the soldier. “What happened?”
“There… there was a blast. Someone detonated a bomb,” he gasped, beads of sweat glistening on his forehead. “I don’t know who did it…”
The urgency of the scene deepened Ria's resolve as she applied pressure to the wound. She glanced around at the chaos, searching for familiar faces among the frenzy. Just then, her gaze locked with Kael across the remains of a destroyed stall as he helped another officer patch a wound.
“Kael!” she cried out, her voice barely audible over the din. “We need to get the injured to safety!”
Without missing a beat, Kael nodded and ran toward her, his presence a comforting anchor amid the turmoil. “I’m on it!”
As they worked together, the gravity of the situation sank in, each moment more harrowing than the last. Their hands moved efficiently, driven by adrenaline and fear. Ria felt the weight of the tragedy unfold around her—the faces of fellow officers lit with confusion and panic, the sounds of sirens growing ever closer.
Sidharth was by their side in an instant, a first aid kit in hand. The hours that followed felt like a blur as they triaged in the heat of chaos, professional training blending with raw human instinct to save lives.
But as the minutes ticked by, a pulsating horror gripped their chests. A military escort arrived with news too shattering to comprehend. “We suspect the attack was a targeted hit against the Air Force,” a sergeant reported, breath heavy with urgency. “We need to secure the perimeter! Who did this?”
“Could it be Singh?” Sidharth mused, his face hardening as he absorbed the implications. “This was a calculated move.”
The reality hit Ria like a punch to the gut. They had always known Singh was dangerous, but this felt different—deeply personal, lethal.
“There are still civilians unaccounted for!” another officer shouted, and Sidharth’s face shifted from determination to urgency.
“We need to push through this chaos and get help to those still trapped,” he commanded. “Ria, Kael, can you reach the other side of the market? Make sure no one is left behind.”
Nodding with steely focus, Ria felt a surge of resolve wash over her. “We’re on it!”
As they split up, navigating collapsed structures and the debris-strewn ground felt surreal, each step echoing the commotion around them. Together, Ria and Kael pushed forward, their hearts racing not just from fear but also from the profoundness of the situation igniting a fierce determination within them.
Suddenly, Ria caught sight of a crowd gathered at an ambulatory tent where people were being treated. She rushed toward it, her instincts kicking in: every moment was precious.
“Is there anyone still left out in the market?” she called out to a medic as she tended to an injured officer.
“Not sure! We just started bringing people in!” he replied, his tone strained.
Ignoring the pounding heart in her chest, Ria pushed further into the wreckage, determined to help whoever she could find. In the corner, she spotted another officer pinned under the remains of a stall. She rushed to his side, fear coursing through her. “Can you hear me? We’re going to get you out!”
Kael soon joined her, lifting debris with sheer strength. “Hold on!” he grunted as they worked together urgently.
With every ounce of effort, they cleared the way, and just as they rolled the last piece of twisted metal aside, the officer gasped, eyes wide with relief. “Thank you… thank you!”
In an instant, Kael and Ria helped him to his feet, but when they turned around to head back toward the ambulatory tent, a deafening second explosion shook the ground, sending them toppling to the litter-covered ground.
Orange flames erupted into the midday sky, and Ria felt weightless, spinning as she fell against Kael. A thick haze enveloped them, and the world around them twisted into chaos once more.
“Get down!” Kael shouted instinctively, pulling Ria close as debris rained down, smothering their surroundings in a thick blanket of dust and confusion.
As the smoke began to clear, Ria gasped, scanning for Sidharth and the others, anxiety clawing at her gut. “Where’s Sidharth?”
“I don’t know!” Kael growled, determination flashing in his eyes. “But we can’t stay here. We need to regroup and find him!”
To Be Continued....
Web Novel 'The Reason' - Chapter 14 - https://storylinespectrum.blogspot.com/2025/03/the-reason-chapter-14-sci-fi-horror.html
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