Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Four SUVs were strategically parked in front of the establishment, each one equipped with explosives that were detonated under Shambu’s meticulous control. As the fiery explosion illuminated the surroundings and debris scattered in all directions. Henrik found himself momentarily captivated by the sheer force of the blast, as he had not anticipated such a dramatic display.

Shambu, noticing Henrik’s distraction, nudged him sharply in the side and signalled for him to follow his lead. Seizing the opportunity presented by the ensuing commotion, the two men made their way discreetly to the rear of the dinner pub. As they reached the safety of the alley, Shambu swiftly initiated the process of starting the vehicle’s engine, preparing to make their escape in a black sports car.

“Look at that White Soul idiot, she is definitely unprepared to catch us with only those mortals” Henrik mocked her with a grin.

“Well to be fair, we are not much from those mortals. We have magic skills while they have guns. If we get shot, that could pose considerable damage to us. Now let’s hit the road, shall we? Shambu replied with a serious face.

“Sure, but can you at least explain me the details of the plan?”

“Just shut up, dude and follow my lead. The internet of this world is making you dumber, you know that.” Shambu said with annoyance and accelerated through the alley.

Ms. White, observed the unfolding scene through the swirling flames and smoke, was taken aback by the sight of a sleek sports car weaving through the chaos. Recognising the importance of the moment, she swiftly formulated a plan. “I cannot let this opportunity slip away,” she commanded, her voice laced with determination. “All units, divert appropriate personnel to manage the situation here. The remainder of you, prepare for an immediate pursuit.”

“Understood, ma’am,” came the prompt response from her team, reflecting their readiness to act swiftly in the face of impending action.

Shambu and Henrik were tearing down the bustling streets of Delhi, adrenaline pumping as they sped away from the relentless pursuit of law enforcement. The sports car roared beneath them, reaching a blistering speed of 100 kmph. Behind them, a fleet of eight police cars, sirens wailing and lights flashing, was hot on their heels, desperate to rein them in.

They had made a hasty exit from the dinner pub just moments ago, fleeing into the chaos of the city’s nightlife. But now, as they sped ahead, trouble loomed. “Watch out! The road up ahead is blocked with traffic, and the left is blocked with spikes! The only way we can go is right. What should we do?” Henrik shouted over the roar of the engine, panic rising in his voice.

Shambu, with an air of unshakeable confidence, replied, “They think they can trap us that easily? Use your power, we’re going left.” With that command, Henrik activated his ‘Soul Obelisk’ skill. Instantly, the tyres of their car became shrouded in a swirling black fog, a defensive shield that allowed them to drive straight over the treacherous spikes without a second thought. The officers stationed at the roadside stood frozen, mouths agape, completely taken aback by the audacity of the manoeuvre.

As they veered left, the cops began to fire their pistols in an attempt to stop them. “Phew! Phew! Phew!” went the sound of bullets ricocheting off the car’s impenetrable barrier, each shot a futile effort to bring them down. The officers quickly realised that their attempts were in vain; the bullets reflected back, posing a risk to unsuspecting pedestrians nearby. Ms White, one of the officers, felt a growing sense of anxiety. “I didn’t anticipate them to bolt like this, but honestly, I’d probably do the same in their shoes,” she muttered to herself.

“You’re seriously nailing this driving thing,” Henrik managed to compliment amidst the chaos.

“Yup, now hush and let me focus,” Shambu retorted, his tone dripping with arrogance.

‘Of course, I’m good at driving, you idiot. I’m an aircraft pilot; this is nothing compared to what I usually do,’ Shambu thought, a smug sense of pride swelling within him.

“Man, this is way cooler than anything I’ve ever posted on social media. Look at those idiots; they should be trying to find us, but now they’ve got to worry about the pedestrians instead. What a bizarre situation!” Henrik couldn’t help but mock the officers as they continued their wild chase.

“I’ve got to admit, their response is pretty impressive.” Shambu remarked, executing a sharp drift around a corner.

“Wooww, of course they’re responding; you’re just going around in circles like a moron. Oh, you almost clipped that pedestrian!” Henrik pointed out; a tinge of disappointment evident in his voice.

“Nearly clipped, whatever! Buckle up, my friend; you’re about to experience the ride of your life. We’re heading towards a smaller road now,” Shambu declared, mentally preparing to initiate their escape plan.

“Why the small road? This is way more thrilling!” Henrik questioned; confusion evident on his face.

“Do you want to get caught or escape?” Shambu shot back, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Kat! Kat! Kat! Kat! Kat! Kat!

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

As they turned onto the smaller road, a sudden beam of blaring light illuminated their car. “Dammit! They’ve got helicopters out now; we’re doomed!” Henrik screamed, panic overtaking him as he glanced up.

“Shut it! Stop shouting! That’s my brother, Anbu,” Shambu responded, a wave of relief washing over Henrik upon hearing that.

The cops, unequipped for a high-speed chase, suddenly felt a wave of dread wash over them as they realised, they were outmatched when the helicopter joined the fray.

Amidst all the chaos and despair, a pedestrian on the sidelines, angry at the reckless driving, hurled tomatoes at their speeding sports car. Shambu’s fury flared at the sight of his pristine vehicle being assaulted by overripe fruit. Spinning the wheel, he executed a quick U-turn, determined to confront their assailants. He hit the pedestrian from the back of his car. With another swift drift, they sped off, leaving their detractors in astonishment.

“As you can see folks this dude is really having a road rage during a police chase.” Henrik scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief spoke while pointing his phone’s camera towards Shambu.

Brother, it’s only me who is listening to you live call, why are you shouting. Pipe it down a bit and focus on the road, I think you are going up the mountain” Rajiv criticked.

“Thanks Rajiv.” Shambu appreciated while Henrik pain his attention towards the surrounding.

Scaling the mountainside, Shambu called back, “Get ready to jump!”

“Jump? Are you serious? How am I supposed to jump with this chubby body?” Henrik blurted out, bewilderment and frustration clear on his face.

But Shambu didn’t provide an answer. Instead, with nerves of steel, he took the plunge, using the edge of a cliff to send their sports car soaring into the air, propelling them into the unknown.

Whoosh~

…

“Ouch, stop hitting me with that toy aeroplane. I am already frustrated; we have been packing for last two hours.” Alia’s low shout echoed down the hallway.

“This is a plane that I made with my sister, when I was ten. She kept it safe all these years,” Dhruv responded, his voice tinged with emotion as he recalled a cherished memory from his childhood.

Tara, sensing the commotion from her room, moved toward Alia’s room. Upon entering, she observed the two of them packing some stuffs. Among the items strewn about, a particular photograph caught her eye—a snapshot of Dhruv and his sister, captured in a moment of pure joy as they played together. The sight of it stirred within Tara a vivid recollection of her own childhood.

~~~

“Don’t, please don’t take my child, you bastards.” A woman desperately urged two priests.

“Why are you just standing there like a statue? She is your daughter, goddammit,”

“Ma’am, I request that you please refrain from creating a scene here. Your husband has already sold her to us,” came the unyielding response from a priest, his voice devoid of empathy and filled with the coldness of business.

“What?? You, you, why did you do that?” the shock of betrayal coursed through her, as the grim reality of their situation set in.

“Can’t you see our circumstances? Our son is gravely ill, on the verge of death within weeks, and only the temple can provide the cure he desperately needs,” her husband explained, his rationale framed in desperation.

“So, you sold our daughter? Are you completely out of your mind?” Her disbelief transformed into anger, a storm brewing within her.

“She will find happiness there; she has awakened her talent,” he asserted, trying to justify the unimaginable decision.

“Are you deaf? Can’t you hear what people say? They make children work tirelessly, stripping away their childhood,” she retorted, her voice rising with indignation.

“Excuse me, ma’am, but if you don’t want to proceed with this arrangement, we can leave. However, you must refrain from slandering us, or we will be compelled to take action,” a priest replied, turning to leave.

But just as he was about to step away, a small hand clasped his wrist. A ten-year-old girl looking up at him with wide, innocent eyes said, “Can you really save my baby brother? I will go with you.”

“Sania... uh, what are you saying?” came the bewildered response of her mother, struggling to comprehend her words.

Sania smiled brightly, “I want to save my little brother.”

~Snap! Snap! ~

“Why are you crying? Even he didn’t cry for his sibling,” Alia snapped her fingers and the callousness of the moment pierced through the air.

Dhruv turned his gaze towards Tara, who leaned against the doorframe, tears cascading down her cheeks. She wiped them away hastily and muttered, “It’s nothing; I just remembered a scene from a series.”

“You know, we could report about her online,” Dhruv suggested.

“Indeed, you should do that. However, I propose we enjoy a good meal tonight. What do you think, Tara? Help me in the kitchen?” Alia said, attempting to lighten the atmosphere.

“Ah! No, we should go in person to report, and while we are at it, we can eat outside.” Tara insisted, her resolve hardening.

Dhruv chuckled softly, saying, “I also agree with Alia. Don’t you want to have a good home-made dinner tonight, Tara?”

She rolled her eyes in response to Dhruv’s mischievously light-hearted comment, the situation still heavy upon their hearts but momentarily lightened.

…

Over the mountain cliff.

A helicopter was hovering, on its ladder, Shambu was climbing up, while Henrik didn’t manage to get out of the car with his chubby body; instead, he turned into a Soul Avatar and floated up with the phone in his hand.

After entering the cabin, they were greeted by Anbu. “Let’s leave this hot area first, then talk,” Anbu said with an indifferent tone, showing urgency.

They landed on a mountain house 100 km away and went inside the lounge area.

Henrik explained to them about the situation of Avnish and one of the White Souls being ‘Thieving Maidan’.

Shambu gasped and repeated, ‘Thieving Maidan’, do you know how much power she can exert here, as it will be troublesome if she enters our trap?

“Trap! Wow! Wow! you guys are the best. We are thinking of a counterattack, but you, kind of already attacked them today.” Henrik was astonished.

But Rajiv said helplessly, from the video call. “No, we can’t confirm about her”

“Hmm, so there are three of them; we have confirmation of two identities and two of their locations, and I’m sure ‘Thieving Maidan’ will also come to Patna, at my base camp.” Anbu concluded.

“Henrik, I want you to possess a high-ranking minister and become our spy over there.” Rajiv said.

“No need; we had already set up arrangements. As you can see, we identified one of the White Souls and the other is in Patna.” Anbu said it in a confidential voice.

“Good, then what’s your plan going forward? I want all of you here on the day when asteroids hit.’ Rajiv asked.

Anbu suggested that “we should take down some White Souls in my base camp, which is exposed to them, but they can’t do anything about it yet. It’s like a fortress; I set up a trap for them there, and with these two helping me, we might be able to take down one of them at least.”

“Keep me in the loop. Ah! And we should follow a VIP plan. One person should hold all the pure souls; they should be protected under all circumstances, and if there are emergencies, with Soul Box, they will leave this world to minimise the losses” Rajiv instructed.

“I volunteer myself, as only I have defensive talent among us.” Henrik suggested.

“Anbu contemplated for a moment, then transferred 200 thousand souls to Henrik. Shambu also followed suit; he had 100 thousand.

Gasp~ Henrik took a deep breath, looking at this outrageous number of our souls. “Goddamn, you guys are loaded.”

“Now let us move to Patna. I can smell a huge battle erupting there in the near future.” Shambu said it with excitement.