As the two figures, a man and a woman, arrived at room 306, the tension between them was palpable. The hallway was dimly lit, and the sterile hospital smell lingered in the air. They approached the door cautiously, but when they pushed it open, the room was empty. Aryan was nowhere to be found.
The man, tall and muscular with a stern expression, scanned the empty bed and cursed under his breath. "Where is he?" His voice was low but filled with frustration.
The woman, more composed but equally determined, placed a hand on his arm to calm him. "Relax," she said softly, her tone carrying an air of confidence. "I'll find him."
She closed her eyes, her face instantly becoming serene. With a deep breath, she began to activate her unique ability—her heightened sensory power. It allowed her to extend her perception far beyond the physical senses, detecting the presence of all living things, objects, and even residual energy in the surrounding area. She could feel the pulses of energy emitted by every person and object within the hospital, as if the entire building was breathing and alive with motion.
The woman's ability was intricate. She started by focusing on the room they were in, detecting every subtle detail—the vibrations of the machines, the scent of antiseptic, the faint warmth left on Aryan's empty bed from when he had recently been lying there. Her mind expanded, reaching beyond the room, her awareness flowing through the corridors of the hospital like an invisible wave.
As she honed in on specific life forms, she could sense the nurses moving about their daily routines, the other patients resting in their rooms, and even the subtle hum of the electricity flowing through the walls. But Aryan was different. His energy signature stood out, fragile and wounded, but still distinctly his. She knew what to look for.
"There are hundreds of people here," the woman whispered to herself as she sifted through the noise, isolating one life force from another. "But none of them are him."
Her senses continued to search further, sweeping through each floor, until finally, she felt it—a faint but familiar presence. It was Aryan, weak but alive, sitting far above the bustle of the hospital, on the rooftop.
Her eyes snapped open. "I've found him," she said with certainty. "He's on the roof."
The man gave her a curt nod. "Let's go."
Without wasting another moment, the two of them swiftly made their way to the stairwell, avoiding the elevators for a quicker route. Their footsteps echoed against the walls as they climbed the stairs with determined purpose, ascending floor by floor until they reached the rooftop.
On the rooftop, Aryan sat in his wheelchair, his gaze fixed on the horizon as the setting sun bathed the world in hues of gold and crimson. The nurse stood beside him, watching him with quiet sympathy. The sky was a masterpiece of swirling colors, blending from fiery oranges and deep reds to soft pinks and purples as the sun slowly dipped below the city skyline. It was a beautiful sight, yet Aryan couldn't fully appreciate it. The beauty of the sunset only reminded him of the cruelty of his own existence—trapped in a broken body with no future ahead.
"Life goes on," Aryan muttered to himself, his voice barely audible. "Even when you wish it wouldn't."
The nurse, hearing his soft words, gave him a gentle nudge. "Aryan, it's almost time to head back to your room. You've been out here long enough."
Aryan sighed, his heart heavy. "Just give me ten more minutes," he requested, his eyes still on the horizon. "Let me finish watching the sunset. I'm not ready to go back in just yet."
The nurse hesitated but eventually nodded. "Alright. Ten more minutes."
As the final rays of the sun dipped beneath the horizon, casting long shadows across the city, the air grew cooler. Aryan's thoughts drifted as he stared into the distance, losing himself in the fading light. The world felt so vast, so alive, and yet he felt so small, insignificant. For the first time in weeks, a tear slid down his cheek, unnoticed by the nurse standing beside him.
The quiet moment was broken by the sound of approaching footsteps. Aryan blinked, his trance interrupted, as he turned his head slightly. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw two figures approaching—one man, one woman. They walked with purpose, their footsteps steady, and the sound grew louder as they neared.
"Aryan?" the man called out, his deep voice echoing across the rooftop.
Aryan squinted, taking a long look at them before responding, his voice uncertain. "Yes, I'm Aryan. Who are you?"
The two strangers exchanged a glance before stepping closer. The woman spoke first, her voice calm but firm. "We need to talk. Do you have a moment?"
Aryan frowned, confusion flashing across his face. "Talk? About what? Who are you, and why are you looking for me?"
The man crossed his arms, his expression serious. "It's important. We'll explain everything, but first, we need some privacy."
The nurse, sensing the tension in the air, stepped forward protectively. "I'm sorry, but if this is about anything serious, I'll need to be here with him."
The woman turned her attention to the nurse, her tone soft but insistent. "This is a private matter. We won't harm him. Please, could you give us a few minutes alone?"
The nurse looked at Aryan, waiting for his approval. Aryan, still unsure but curious, nodded slowly. "It's fine. Let them talk. I'll be okay."
Reluctantly, the nurse gave in, casting a wary glance at the strangers. "Alright," she said softly. "I'll be nearby if you need anything, Aryan."
She gave Aryan a reassuring smile before turning and walking back toward the exit, leaving him alone with the mysterious pair.
As soon as the nurse was out of earshot, Aryan turned his full attention to the two strangers. His mind raced with questions. "So," he said, his voice a bit stronger now. "What is this about? Why are you here?"
The woman spoke first, her voice level and calm. "We're here because of what happened to you. The accident wasn't a normal one, and neither is what you've been through since."
Aryan frowned, his confusion deepening. "What do you mean? The building collapsed, and I got buried. That's all there is to it."
The man shook his head, his expression grim. "No, Aryan. There's more to it than that. The collapse was caused by something far beyond what you think. It wasn't an ordinary accident—it was connected to a battle that you were never supposed to witness."
The weight of the man's words hit Aryan like a punch to the gut. His breath caught in his throat as he recalled the strange lights, the deafening sound, and the energy that had torn through the building before everything crumbled around him. His eyes widened, and his voice dropped to a whisper. "You mean… that wasn't…?"
The woman nodded. "Yes. You were caught in the aftermath of a battle between powerful forces—forces you don't fully understand yet. But the fact that you survived means you're more important than you realize."
Aryan shook his head in disbelief. "I'm nobody. Just a construction worker. Why would I be important?"