A Glimpse into the Past
1999 – Sixteen Years Ago
It was a bright and beautiful morning. The sun cast a golden glow through the windows, filling the room with warmth. Two-year-old Arya sat on the soft mat, playing with his wooden toys. His tiny hands clumsily stacked blocks, his eyes filled with wonder.
The door creaked open slowly, and his mother entered the room. Her long black hair cascaded down her back, and she wore a simple dress. Unlike other assassins, she wasn't wearing her white mask—because her curse had been lifted. Her face, usually hidden, was breathtakingly beautiful.
She was pregnant.
With a gentle smile, she knelt down, spreading her arms wide.
"Arya, my baby, come to Mommy," she called softly.
Arya wobbled to his feet, his small legs carrying him toward her. The moment he reached her, she scooped him up in her warm embrace.
"You're such a good boy," she whispered, stroking his soft hair. Then she chuckled. "Do you want a little sister or a little brother?"
Arya, too young to understand, simply babbled, "Sisss..."
She laughed, pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead.
"My baby wants a little sister. When you grow up, you'll take care of her, won't you?"
The boy didn't answer, but he snuggled closer to her, as if already accepting the responsibility she spoke of.
Eight Years Later – Arya, Age 10
Night had fallen, and the house was silent except for the soft rustling of the wind outside. Arya's mother stood in the hallway, calling out.
"Arya! Arya, where are you?"
She frowned when there was no response. Searching from room to room, she finally opened Aisha's door—and there he was.
Ten-year-old Arya sat beside his sleeping sister, humming softly. Aisha, just a toddler, clutched a small cloth doll in her tiny hands, her face peaceful as she slept.
Arya turned to his mother, raising a finger to his lips. "Shh… she's sleeping."
His mother's eyes softened. She watched as Arya carefully tucked the blanket around his sister before standing up and quietly shutting the door behind him.
"You called me, Mother?" he asked.
She smiled, ruffling his hair. "You didn't come for dinner."
"Oh…" Arya looked down, suddenly feeling guilty. "I just… wanted to make sure Aisha slept first."
His mother led him to the dining table, where she served him dinner. As he ate, she watched him with a knowing look.
"You love your sister very much, don't you?"
Arya nodded without hesitation.
His mother chuckled. "You know, when you were a baby, I once asked if you wanted a little brother or a little sister. Do you remember what you said?"
Arya frowned, trying to recall, but he shook his head. "No. What did I say?"
She smirked playfully. "You said you wanted a little sister. And now, you want a little sister more than a little brother."
Arya's smile widened, remembering the moment he first said those words. "Because, if I have a brother, we'll fight all the time. But if I have a sister, she'll take care of me. She'll be like my second mother."
His mother laughed softly from the side, shaking her head. "I think you love your sister more than you love me."
Arya's face turned red at the teasing.
His mother chuckled, her eyes softening with affection. "Yes, my boy. And look at you now—you're really protecting her like a big brother should."
Arya smiled warmly, his heart full. "Yes, I will protect her. Always."
As Arya walked down the hallway, he suddenly saw Aisha standing in front of him, her gaze fixed on him, but she didn't say anything. She just stood there, her silence heavy with something unsaid.
Concern creased Arya's brow as he stepped closer. "What happened to you? Do you need anything? I'll bring it for you," he offered, but she didn't reply.
After a long, tense pause, she finally spoke, her voice trembling. "Brother, you always say you'll protect me… but now… what happened? They're taking me away…"
Aisha's voice cracked as she shouted, tears streaming down her face. "Don't come to save me, brother! Why? Why can't you save me?" She cried louder, her pain echoing through the hallway.
Arya's heart raced. He moved closer, desperately trying to understand. "What are you talking about? Who is taking you? Where are they? Aisha, please—talk to me!"
Aisha took a few steps back, fear in her eyes. "Please, brother… they will kill me…" Her voice quivered, filled with helplessness.
Arya's confusion deepened as he took another step toward her. "No one's going to kill you. We're home. What's going on? Are you alright?"
But Aisha was already moving farther away, retreating into the shadows. "Please, brother, I don't want to die… Please help me…"
Arya ran toward her, his heart pounding, but as he reached out, she was gone, vanishing into thin air.
Her voice echoed in his mind, her desperate cries reaching him: "Brother, help me… Please, they'll kill me… They'll kill me…"
Suddenly, Arya's eyes snapped open. He was no longer standing in the hallway.
He was in a car.
His breath caught in his chest as fragments of the past rushed back to him. It was 2015. Arya blinked slowly, trying to adjust to his surroundings. His eyes flicked to the side, where several assassins sat—silent, their faces unreadable.
Arya's heart pounded as the weight of his nightmare and the memories of his past converged.
Arya woke up with a sharp gasp, realizing he was still in the car, but the assassins hadn't noticed. He couldn't afford to waste time. His sister, Aisha, was farther away from him, and every second mattered.
He acted like he wasn't weak, despite the exhaustion and pain. His senses were heightened, and he quickly spotted the gun the assassin had left behind. Without hesitation, Arya grabbed the gun, aiming it at the driver. He fired, but the shot missed, and the car veered dangerously to the side.
The driver swerved, struggling to maintain control, but the car still teetered between the road and the ditch. The driver managed to stay on the road for now, but Arya wasn't giving up. He clicked the trigger again, and this time, the bullet hit the driver in the back.
The car skidded out of control, gaining speed as it careened toward a nearby shop. The impact was deafening as the car crashed into the storefront. Smoke poured from the front of the car, and everyone inside was knocked unconscious from the collision.
Arya, battered and weak, stumbled out of the wreckage. His body ached, and his head throbbed, but he forced himself to push through the pain. He looked around, realizing he was far from the city. If he stayed here, it would be too late to help his sister.
Despite the overwhelming chaos, people began gathering around the crash site. A car pulled over, and a rich boy and his girlfriend stepped out, curious about the wreck. They didn't know Arya had a gun.
Without warning, Arya pointed the gun at the boy's head. "Stay in the car and don't make a sound," Arya ordered coldly.
The boy ignored Arya's warning and tried to get back into the car, attempting to escape. Without hesitation, Arya fired another warning shot into the air, his voice low and commanding. "Don't move, or I will kill you."
Arya couldn't see, and he knew he couldn't drive in his condition. He quickly moved to the back of the car, positioning himself near the girl. He pointed the gun at her head with precision, his grip steady despite his weakness.
"Take me to the middle of the city, fast. Or I'll kill her," Arya said, his voice cold.
The boy froze, fear clear in his eyes. "I—I'm going a different way," he stammered, but Arya's patience had already worn thin.
"You want to die?" Arya shot back, his tone dark. "Turn this car around and take me there. I won't hurt you if you get me there fast enough."
The boy, now trembling, had no choice. He quickly got into the driver's seat, starting the engine. His hands shook as he slammed the accelerator down, the car roaring to life.
Without another word, the boy sped down the road, heading toward the middle of the city. Arya's presence was like a shadow over them, his grip on the gun unwavering, and his mind set on the task ahead.
The car surged forward, tires screeching as Arya shouted over the roar of the engine. "Faster! I don't have time!"
The boy's grip tightened on the wheel, his voice trembling. "The car's limited, I can't go faster!" But Arya didn't listen. He pressed the barrel of the gun harder against the girl's head. "Drive faster, or I'll shoot you."
Arya's mind raced. I'm coming, Aisha. Don't worry. Your brother will save you.
The car broke every rule of the road, speeding recklessly toward the city. On the other side, an elderly woman tried to cross the street, the red signal flashing in front of her. She moved forward slowly, unaware of the danger approaching.
As the car raced toward her, the woman noticed it too late. The vehicle came so close to her that it almost brushed against her. Startled, she stumbled and fell to the ground, hitting the pavement hard as the car zoomed past her without stopping.
The car didn't slow down, continuing its high-speed dash toward the city, leaving the old woman lying on the road behind them.