Title: Aahes of mercy
Prologue
This place, now echoing with cries, chaos, and death, was peaceful just a few hours ago.
[3 Hours Before]
Rayan: "Hey, Esh, aren't you bored in this hospital already?"
Eshan: "Ren, don't be like that. We're only here for a month."
Rayan: "And whose fault is that?"
Eshan: "But if I hadn't saved Lilly, she would've been injured."
Rayan: "Esh, why are you so kind to that furball?"
Rayan never liked cats. His hatred had roots.
His older sister and father died after being hit by a drunken truck driver. His mother, broken, mentally unstable, blamed him for their deaths. She poured her love into a cat named Jasmine, treating it like her only family. Rayan never resented her for it.
But when Jasmine gave birth to five kittens, she started to ignore even him. Then one day, she snapped. She killed the cat and four of its kittens. Only the weakest one—Lilly—survived, having been abandoned by its own mother.
Covered in blood, his mother hugged Rayan. For the first time since his father's and sister's death, he felt warmth.
The next day, she was gone. Found hanging.
Everyone turned away from Rayan after that. Everyone but Eshan.
[1 Month Before the Accident]
Eshan: "Hey, Ren, can I come to your place today?"
Rayan nodded.
From that day, Eshan visited every single day. Two months passed like that.
Eshan: "Ren, today's your birthday, right?"
Rayan: "Huh? Today?"
Eshan: "Check your ID. It says so."
Rayan hadn't celebrated his birthday in eight years.
Eshan brought a cake. But just as he reached Rayan's apartment to surprise Reyen, he saw Lilly perched dangerously on the edge of the balcony.
Eshan: "Lillyyyyyyy!"
He rushed to save her. But the sudden movement startled the kitten. She jumped.
And Eshan jumped after her.
Rayan, just returning from the store, saw it all. He sprinted. Reached. And caught them—but they all crashed together.
Multiple injuries. A trip to the hospital.
[Present Day - Hospital Cafeteria]
Eshan: "Hey, Ren. Let's go to the cafeteria."
Rayan: "Yeah, let's eat something."
They were eating peacefully.
Then —
BOOM.
Rayan: "Esh! Eshhhhhhhh! Where are you?!"
Eshan: "Ren… I'm here."
Eshan was missing an arm. Blood soaked through his hospital gown.
Rayan: "What the—Where's your arm?!"
Eshan (groaning): "Ren… Let's help the others."
Rayan: "No. You're hurt. I'm not letting you move."
Eshan begged. And finally, Rayan gave in.
Rayan: "Fine. But only if you don't push yourself."
Together, they moved the elderly and children to safety.
Then—
Gunshots.
BANG. BANG.
Eshan, completely drained, was struck in the head.
He collapsed.
Rayan returned just in time to see it.
Rage overtook him.
He grabbed a surgical knife.
And snapped.
Rayan: "It's everyone's fault Esh died! I'll kill everyone!"
He didn't spare anyone—not the terrorists, not the innocents.
Patient: "Please... help me... I beg you."
Rayan: "If Esh wasn't trying to save you... he'd still be alive."
He slashed. The patient dropped.
Rayan felt... nothing.
Gunshots.
BANG. BANG. BANG.
Rayan was shot in one hand. Both feet.
He collapsed.
A surviving terrorist stepped over him.
Terrorist: "Didn't expect someone like you. Killed terrorists and innocents alike."
Rayan laughed, blood running down his chin.
Rayan: "HAHAHAHAHA! I have nothing to lose."
The terrorist grinned.
Terrorist: "Then I'll have fun with you."
He began snapping Rayan's fingers one by one.
Rayan in his mind: "Because of a drunk driver, my family shattered. Because of your greed, this hospital exploded. And humans still pretend to be civil."
Blinded by pain, vision fading, Rayan mustered one last leap—
And bit the terrorist's neck.
Terrorist: "You son of a bit—!"
He dropped. Dead.
Rayan: "Serve you right… son of a bitch."
He coughed. Blood.
He smiled.
He died.