Again explosion. Noor froze in shock.
Ahh.
Oh my god. People panicked heavily.
"Noor, we have to do something quick!" Sameer yelled.
"Bro, it's getting more dangerous. The fire extinguishers wouldn't be enough to stop the fire," Ashraf panicked.
"I told you before, it's no use. The fire is burning on endless gas," the injured security guard said weakly.
He's right. The fire service team haven't reached there. That means the fire is more dangerous near the main exit gate. But there must be a way. Oh god… Noor thought.
The roof is made out of glass. Some of them look openable.
There is a big aquarium in the museum and it's filled with water. But it's located at the end near the exit. Noor rubbed his chin.
"Guys, I think I have an idea," Noor said loudly.
"What is it?" Sameer and Ashraf asked.
"If somehow we manage to climb through the hanging artifacts and open the side roof glass, we can get on the roof of the hallway. Then we have to locate the aquarium. If we break it, I guess there would be more than enough water to put off this fire," Noor explained.
..
..
..
People went silent for some seconds.
"Are you an idiot?"
"He's crazy, isn't he?" Some people started shouting at Noor.
"Maybe he's trying to make his own escape plan," a guy said from the side.
"Yes, curse him."
"You selfish bastard."
"Stupid."
..
..
..
Noor went silent.
Sigh.
Sameer kept quiet.
Maybe they're right. I am a stupid fool after all. I always come up with ridiculous ideas. Noor looked down.
"Shut up everybody!"
"I said shut up!" Ashraf snapped.
Everyone stopped.
"He's trying to save all of us, and here you people are making fun of him, blaming him. He just saved a little girl some moments ago, risking his own life. How ungrateful you people are!" Ashraf shouted.
The mother hugged the unconscious girl, sobbing.
The people who were making fun of Noor looked down in remorse.
"B… but who will risk their life?" a person asked.
"I'll go again," Sameer said.
"Me also," Noor said, clenching his fist.
(I don't care if it costs my life. I will get everyone out from this danger.)
"Noor, not aga—" Ashraf started.
"Ashraf, you do know the fact I am not going to sit back doing nothing," Noor patted Ashraf's shoulder.
"But why are you taking risks every time? They just made fun of you," Ashraf wiped his tears.
"I don't care if they appreciate me or not. It's just—I think I can do this. That's why I'm not going to back off. There are people I care about, and you're also one of them," Noor said.
"But—"
Tweet.
Tweet.
Wait, a message.
The signal is back.
It's from Suvro.
"Hey, are you guys safe? The fire service is trying to put off the fire."
People started checking their phones.
"Yes, the phone signal is back."
"Looks like the jammer is damaged, but we still don't know where it is yet," Sameer whispered.
"Hmm. I see," Noor frowned.
"Guys—"
Huff.
Huff.
A boy came running.
"The timer from the explosives in the second blocked exit is running backward. Only ten minutes left," he said, huffing.
"If it explodes, the building will collapse this time. There are too many explosives," Sameer panicked.
"We have to move fast. Sameer, go to the storage room and grab some ropes, hammers, or steel pipes if available. We will also need a ladder."
"Roger that," Sameer ran.
"Ashraf, borrow another cellphone. You have to keep an eye on the explosives timer and inform me every minute."
"Okay, boss," Ashraf said.
..
..
We have to move fast…
Grab.
Woosh.
Thud.
Jenne grabbed Noor and dragged him to a corner.
"Ouch, Jenne! What are you doing?" Noor flinched.
"Have you gone mad?" Jenne pushed him against the wall, holding his shoulder, looking at him angrily.
"No, I am in my right mind," Noor said flatly.
"Why every time you try to be a hero? And you even told me to stop using my powers. What if you fail? Are you going to take responsibility if anyone dies?" Jenne whispered, looking down.
"Someone is spying on you. But they don't clearly know your current identity—that's why they used the child to lure you out. They knew you would try to rescue her. And I am not trying to be a hero. I am just trying to be useful. That's it."
"So you were protecting me?" Jenne said.
"Hmm. I know you show the fact you hate humans, but deep down you care about innocent people."
"Nice try, but I don't trust you. I will save everyone using my powers. You are not going anywhere." Jenne pushed her hand into Noor's chest.
"Ack—but hey, Jenne, listen to me. If you do that, everyone will find out who you are, and that will put you at risk of being attacked."
(So she cares about me. She's just hiding it.)
"No. I am not buying your words. You're staying here with me."
Jenne's eyes glowed, fangs visible.
Sigh.
"Why."
"You can see right through me.
You can see my heart, my liver, my kidneys—whatever.
But why can't you see the fact I am not lying?"
"I will save everyone. Trust me.
And if I fail, you can rip my heart out. I won't complain," Noor whispered.
..
..
"Oi Noor, I got everything you wanted—oh my, what's going on here?" Sameer squinted his eyes.
"Omg," Ashraf covered his mouth.
"Trust me," Noor pressed Jenne's hand into his chest.
Badump.
Badump.
She could feel his heartbeat.
"Trust me," he whispered.
..
..
"Do whatever you want," Jenne turned away.
"But remember, if you fail, I will save everyone," she added.
"Yes, you are my backup," Noor smiled.
Jenne walked away.
"Guys, let's get to work," Noor said.
"Here is the cellphone you wanted," Ashraf said.
"Thanks. Now get to your position. Keep me updated about the timer," Noor ordered.
"Okay, boss," Ashraf said.
"I got two sledgehammers and ropes, but couldn't find a ladder," Sameer said.
"Sledgehammers, huh… that brings back memories," Noor murmured.
"What?" Sameer looked confused.
"Nothing. First, we have to get on the boat hanging above our head. Then we have to make it swing so that we can get close to the side of the roof," Noor pointed.
"These boys are crazy," some people whispered.
Jenne was watching silently, arms crossed.
Noor glanced at her, but she looked away.
(Hahh… looks like she is still mad at me. Now how do we climb up?) Noor thought.
..
..
Woosh.
Jump.
Grabs.
Sigh.
Suddenly, Sameer ran horizontally on the wall and jumped onto a hanging artifact. Then he kept jumping one by one, finally reaching the hanging boat located at the top corner.
..
..
"What the hell?"
"How did he do that?"
"Is he a video game character?"
People's jaws dropped.
"Damn, he could do that. I had no idea," Noor was surprised.
Sameer dropped the rope to Noor. Noor tied two sledgehammers to his back and climbed upward using the rope.
"Dude, how did you do that?" Noor asked, curious.
"Training," Sameer said.
"Now we need to swing the boat like a pendulum in that direction so that we can get close to the roof wall," he added.
"Ready."
Swing.
Boom.
Shatter.
The glass roof wall burst open. Some glass fell downward.
"Everyone move away!" Noor yelled.
"The pathway is clear. I will jump first," Sameer said, tying a rope around his hip and giving the other end to Noor.
Woosh.
Leap.
Sameer jumped through the gap.
"Noor, your turn," he said.
"Okay."
Badump.
Badump.
(I am nervous. I can do it.) Noor sighed.
"Hahh."
Leap.
Slip—but the rope tied to him saved him.
"Noor!" Jenne called, concerned.
"I am okay!" Noor yelled.
Sameer pulled him upward.
"Thanks, brother," Noor huffed.
"It's nothing. Let's go. We're short on time," Sameer said.
They began walking on the glass roof of the hallway, trying to locate the aquarium.
Twrrep.
Twrrep.
Noor picked up the call.
"Ashraf, what about the timer?"
"Only six minutes left."
"Oh shit, we have to hurry. But hey, do you remember which side the aquarium was?" Noor asked.
"It was on the left side," Ashraf replied.
"Okay," Noor hung up.
"It's there," Sameer pointed.
"But it's still far away. My shoes are melting. The glass is really hot. Guess we have to run," he added.
"Let's do it."
Both began running.
Huff.
Huff.
"Here it is, but we have to get down!" Noor yelled.
Sameer grabbed the sledgehammer, smashed the roof glass, and jumped in. Noor followed him, jumping down.
"That was easy," Sameer said.
"Now let's break it."
Sameer swung the sledgehammer and smashed it right into the aquarium glass.
Not a scratch.
"What?" Both stood in disbelief.
"Let's do it together, full force!"
"Arrrgh!"
Swing.
Boom.
Shatter.
Their sledgehammers broke into pieces.
"What the hell just happened?"
"Look at the signboard. The glass is made from a special type of glass which is currently supporting eleven million liters of water pressure and can support more. It is titled nearly unbreakable," Noor pointed.
Twrrp.
Twrrp.
"Oi Noor, only four minutes left! I am really scared! Are you guys there yet?"
"Yes, Ashraf. We're trying to break the glass."
Noor hung up.
"What should I do now…" Noor slapped his forehead.
(I gave hope to everyone. Sameer also tried his best. Everyone's life is in danger. I gave Miss Jenne hope that I'll protect her identity. I don't want her to expose herself. I need that power. Come on.)
Noor began breathing heavily.
Sameer looked at him.
"Are you thinking what I am thinking?" he asked.
"Yes," Noor replied.
Both charged their fists at the glass.
Noor pushed all of his strength into the top of his fist, then—
Boom.
Crrrck.
Woosh.
A shockwave generated from their punch pushed the fire around them.
"It worked!"
Noor and Sameer sighed in relief.
Pop.
Crrrck.
The glass began cracking violently.
"Hey Noor, I think we should run," Sameer said, trembling.
Noor looked at it.
"Oh no, it's about to break! Run!" Noor yelled.
Both of them ran.
Splashhhh.
The heavy water waves burst outward, chasing them and completely putting out the fire.
They got drowned in water completely for a second.
But the water level lowered after some time, giving them chances to breathe.
Cough.
Arrrgh.
Noor gasped for air. Sameer grabbed his arm so he wouldn't drift away.
Woosh.
Splash.
..
...
Noor and Sameer finally entered the main hall, huffing, and dropped to the floor.
"Ohh…"
"They did it!"
"Oh my god!"
People began appreciating and clapping for them.
"The danger isn't over yet!" Ashraf came running.
"Only two minutes left."
..
..
Some time passed.
Noor, Ashraf, and Sameer were sitting outside, far from the museum.
Heavily injured people were being carried by paramedics.
"Hey Noor, you got a wound on your chest," Suvro suddenly said.
"Oh, it's nothing. Just a scratch from a glass shard. But my favorite T-shirt is ruined."
"Here you are," Sameer said.
"I was worried about you guys." Suvro scratching head
The fire service was working nonstop, but the fire was literally impossible—
Boom.
A large explosion happened.
And the museum collapsed before their eyes.
"So… it was a terrorist attack?" Suvro asked.
"Hmm. Something like that," Ashraf said, fixing his glasses.
Noor looked for Jenne. Far away, he spotted Jenne and Ria standing quietly.
(Sigh. That's a relief.)
(Wait a minute. Isn't that the girl Jenne rescued?)
Noor spotted her walking away with her mother, alongside her injured father being taken by paramedics.
"Guys, I will be back."
"Wait, Noor, where are you going?" Ashraf called.
..
..
"Hello, madam. I just want to ask your daughter something."
"Ahem… okay."
Noor bent down to her size.
"Look, don't be scared."
(She's only four years old. I remember—I better not scare her.)
"Look, I want to know something from you?"
The girl looked at Noor, confused.