"Imagine your brother, your own flesh and blood, standing against everything.
Against every established order, your friends, and everything you've believed in your entire life."
A short pause. Khan breathed in as if gathering the last scraps of courage he had left.
"When every solution is wrong… and you know that the person you love most is the one you have to stop."
He inhaled deeply again.
"I… I don't know what to do."
Present day.
"MOM! Mom, come quick! Khan is fighting some boy!"
A young boy's voice cut through the noise of the entire terminal. He squeezed through the crowd, stumbled, and clung to his mother's clothes.
"Aras… what happened? I only sent you two to grab something to drink!"
He tugged frantically at her pants.
"Hurry! Please! Khan's fighting again… and this time it's bad!"
An old man beside them glanced over, worried. The mother gave him an apologetic smile.
"Alright, Aras… go ahead. I'm right behind you."
Aras sprinted off. She turned to her husband, who rubbed his temples with two fingers.
"Always the same… Senna, we really need to teach that boy a lesson one of these days."
Senna sighed. With a tired smile, she said, "Yes… we really do."
She shoved the bag into his hands.
"Agit, go ahead to the gate. I'll get him."
"Sure," Agit shrugged. "I just hope he didn't break the other kid's nose again…"
"He won't. Hopefully."
Two minutes later.
Khan had the boy by the back of the head and slammed his fist into his face.
"Did that hurt…? Huh? So? Who's the princess now?"
The boy wiped blood from his nose and straightened up. He was bigger, broader, older. His shadow swallowed Khan whole. There was no fear in his eyes, only anger.
He grabbed Khan by the collar with both hands. Khan punched and clawed, trying to break free, but it was useless. The boy yanked him forward and smashed his forehead against Khan's.
Khan staggered, black spots clouding his vision.
Then—
A scream:
"KHAN!!"
The boy flinched and saw a black-haired woman with blue eyes sprinting toward them. Aras clung to her hand.
Further away, the boy's brother yelled:
"Hey! We need to go! Now! Before they catch us!"
The boy released Khan immediately and ran. Senna shoved her way through the people, knelt beside Khan. Her eyes flashed murderously toward the fleeing boys, then softened when they fell on him.
"Khan… hey. Mama's here. Are you alright? What happened?"
Khan blinked, dazed.
"M-Mom? That boy with the white streaks… he called Aras a girl because he wanted the Wendy magazine… and… so I…"
Before he could finish, Senna pulled him tightly into her arms.
"It's okay… It's okay, sweetheart."
One hand on his neck, the other on his back. She could feel him trembling.
"Are you hurt anywhere? Tell me."
Her voice was gentle.
Aras crouched beside them and poked Khan's cheek.
"Khan?" Again, closer: "Khan?"
"What is it, Aras? Stop annoying me."
Aras stared at him for a moment.
A smug grin appeared.
"Nothing."
One second of silence.
Then Khan exploded.
"COME HERE, YOU LITTLE SHIT!! YOU'RE NEXT!!"
Aras flinched. Senna laughed.
"Okay, you two… hahaha. Our flight leaves soon. Baba's already waiting."
She dragged them along quickly. She wanted to get away before the other parents arrived.
30 minutes later.
They walked down the narrow airplane aisle. Khan and Aras were still buzzing from the incident.
Agit called from ahead, "Here are our seats."
Khan rushed forward immediately, determined to claim the window seat. But just before he could sit, a hand landed on his shoulder.
Agit bent down, voice low.
"So? How did it go?"
Khan looked up at him. His face was slightly flushed, his forehead aching.
"…"
Agit just grinned, winked, ruffled his hair, and nudged him onward.
"It's alright. Sit down, little warrior."
Khan sat, still silent, but a spark of pride flickered in his eyes.
Then someone poked his cheek again.
Khan tensed and turned.
"Khan?"
"Aras… if you're about to say that same crap again—"
Aras leaned closer.
"Do you think Grandma and Grandpa are excited to see us?"
Khan paused.
"Hm?" He raised an eyebrow. "Yeah… I guess they are."
Aras sighed softly.
"They're always alone back home."
Senna interrupted them.
"Hey, you two. Are you buckled in?"
Aras puffed his chest proudly.
"Yes! Look, I did it all by myself!"
Senna flicked him on the forehead immediately.
"Good job. But stop looking so smug while you say it."
Khan burst out laughing.
Big, then smaller… then sluggish.
His vision blurred.
Exhaustion slammed into him out of nowhere.
He leaned back.
And within seconds, he fell asleep.
One hour later.
The flight was calm aside from a few minor bumps. Most passengers slept or watched movies.
BOOM.
A loud jolt woke everyone. Agit shook the half-asleep Senna frantically.
"Senna! Look outside!"
The right engine was on fire.
Panic spread through the cabin.
Flight attendants tried desperately to calm people, but failed.
The plane lost altitude rapidly, shaking violently.
The air conditioning failed; the cabin turned ice-cold instantly.
"Baba, what's happening?" Khan asked, terrified.
"My boy, you must be strong now. Everything will be okay," Agit answered, but his voice trembled.
Aras burst into tears.
"I don't want to die!"
Senna reached out and grabbed his hand tightly.
She began to pray.
"Please God… at least protect my children…"
Suddenly—
A voice echoed in her mind.
Warmth flooded her body.
"This child…"
A red figure appeared directly before her inner eye
and placed a hand on her stomach.
"Senna!!"
Agit's voice snapped her back,
the figure vanished.
Senna stared at him, confused.
"Senna… thank you for always being by my side."
BOOOOM.
A second explosion ripped through the plane,
even stronger than the first.
Fire engulfed everything.
Then—
Black.
End of Chapter.