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billjoamx · 5 months ago

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Apex

Pantheon's Ark Prologue - Part 2/4

John Reed found himself sprawled on the floor, disoriented amid the wake. His ears rang from the deafening blast, and his body throbbed from the force of the explosion. He touched his forehead and blinked a few times to adjust his blurred vision.

Most of the café was covered in a haze of dust and smoke. The air was thick with particles, swirling and dancing in the faint rays of light that managed to get through the debris. It's all limited his eyesight. He struggled to assess the situation.

"June? Behrouz?" Reed grunted as he sat up, quickly checking on both of them to assess their condition.

"I'm fine," June replied, holding her ringing head. Her head bled from the impact.

"What's happening?" Behrouz rose from the floor, clearly shaken.

Reed knew all too well what was happening; an explosion had just occurred nearby, and as his ears started to function normally, he could hear the distant sound of gunshots. There was an attack.

"We're attacked." Reed stood on his feet and carefully walked through the café.

Reed's heart raced as he sprang to his feet, adrenaline surging through his veins. With cautious steps, he maneuvered through the once warm and welcoming place, now transformed into a nightmarish scene of destruction. As the haze of smoke began to fade out, the scene before him was one of devastation and horror.

"Oh, my God," he whispered.

With disbelief written across his face, Reed surveyed the aftermath of the attack. The familiar café had transformed into a spectacle of tragedy, with people scattered and injured amidst the wreckage of shattered glass and crumbled walls. Some of them were lying unconscious, while others were still trying to gather their thoughts. Grunts and groans filled the room, along with a devastating cry.

Thankfully, their location had shielded them from more severe injuries. Reed's instincts had led them to the most sheltered part of the café, wisely selecting a table located against the inner wall. It was a habit ingrained in him through the years within Agency, even seeping into his personal life whenever he dined out.

But that was nothing but a little comfort amid the devastation he now beheld.

Reed carefully crouched low and inched toward the shattered window, peering out to check what had caused this incident. His instincts recognized the gravity of the situation and the dangerous threat that now surrounded the US Embassy. Four trucks stood parked before the gates, while remnants of another now-decimated vehicle scattered across the destroyed front gate and reception.

Reed's mind pieced together what had happened: a truck carrying explosives had been used to breach the gates, the collision leading to a detonation that rocked this entire area.

His heart pounded in his chest, anxiety crawling at him as he considered the fate of those he knew inside the embassy. The possibility of injuries or even death weighed heavily on his mind, igniting a fierce anger within him.

"Masha Allah!" Behrouz's voice startled Reed, drawing his attention. - What God has willed has occurred.

Behrouz then crouched at Reed's side, both absorbing the gravity of the situation. His face shook from the incident.

Across the road, Reed's eyes caught the chilling sight of masked assailants wreaking havoc on innocent civilians. They were attacking those poor people, even shooting them in sight. The scene unfolded like a nightmare—a large-scale act of terrorism.

These are fucked up! Reed's mind was fueled with anger. Who are these people? What were their motives? Was this Al-Samarah seeking vengeance for their leader, or was it the work of an entirely different organization?

The questions swirled, but in that moment, there was no time to ponder the answers. His priority was their survival, along with the civilians around them.

"Behrouz, they'll kill us if they see us," Reed whispered urgently. "June, are you there?"

June, crouching by Reed's side, nodded, her eyes keenly focused on the panicking civilians inside the building.

With the masked assailants heading towards the cafe, terror gripped the crowd as they desperately sought a way out. Some of them desperately attempted to flee through the front entrances, hoping to escape. Yet their attempts at fleeing were met with a hail of bullets unleashed by the masked assailants. Every single one of them was killed in just a few seconds.

The deafening sound of gunshots pierced the air, igniting terror among the guests. Screams filled the once serene atmosphere as people scrambled for cover. It was pure chaos.

"Head's down! Don't panic! Head for the back door!" June's voice rang out, attempting to guide the civilians to safety amidst the chaos. People screamed and ran, terrorized by the situation unfolding before them.

"Avoid the front entrance! Use the back door!" Behrouz's commanding voice pierced through the chaos, urging the panicked guests to seek safety. He repeated the sentences in Arabic and English.

June echoed Behrouz orders, guiding the frightened civilians away from the front entrance to a more secure route.

Reed's heart pounded in his chest as he assessed the dire situation before him. Five assailants walked closer and closer into the café with assault rifles in their hands. With no time to waste, he reached inside his suits for the concealed Colt M1911, a familiar companion he always kept close. The weight of the gun reassured him for a brief moment.

His eyes met Behrouz's eyes. "You have your weapon, Behrouz?"

"Vacation doesn't exactly involve packing heat, Reed," Behrouz muttered in frustration.

Who would've thought a brief visit to the US Embassy would escalate into this dangerous turmoil?

Clenching his jaw, Reed tried to suppress his own frustration. "Fine, just get everyone to safety. I'll handle these bastards."

"I'll see what I can do!" Behrouz tapped Reed's shoulder before he rose up and helped some unconscious guests around him.

As Behrouz and June helped the civilian, Reed fired two bullets at the assailant while moving fast to the other side of the room, hoping to distract them from the people who had escaped from the café. The assailants' response was swift and relentless, retaliating with a hail of bullets that struck the sturdy wall, offering Reed a temporary shield. There was almost no time for accurate aiming, yet Reed tried his best to calculate each one of his shots. He fired two rounds that found their mark with uncanny accuracy within the chaos of the firefight.

The café erupted in chaos as the exchange of gunfire intensified. The deafening sound of gunshots filled the room, blending with the screams of frightened patrons. Undeterred, Reed executed a series of calculated shots, taking down one more assailant with deadly precision.

Three more to go.

But amidst the mayhem, a bullet from another assailant whizzed through the air and struck Reed's left shoulder. He grunted in pain, his movements momentarily hindered. Soon, Reed sought cover behind a nearby wall to check the wound.

Fortunately, June rushed to Reed's side, her eyes scanning the chaos. With deadly aim, she fired a few remarkably precise shots from her Glock 17 that took down one of the assailants, allowing Reed a moment to catch his breath.

"Are you okay?" June asked, concern etched on her face.

"Just a scratch," Reed grunted, shrugging off the pain.

Ignoring the wound, he retaliated with another well-aimed shot, targeting the source of the bullet. With lethal precision, the bullet found its mark, piercing through the assailant's neck and taking him down instantly.

One more... Oh damn it!

Somehow, more of the terrorists closed in on their location. Luckily, with June's assistance, they both could continue to fight back, taking down the attackers one by one as gunfire echoed throughout the room.

But before long, in the midst of the intense battle, a faint cry caught their attention from the other side of the room. Reed and June turned their heads and heard a baby crying amidst the fallen debris. They could be buried under shelves and rubble over there.

"June, help them and take them to the exit," Reed commanded with urgency in his tone.

"I got this," Behrouz intervened, joining June's side. He gestured for her to hand over her Glock 17. Understanding the situation, June quickly handed him the gun and crouched down to rescue the baby.

"Don't forget to give it back!" June called out over the gunfire as she struggled to clear the debris around the baby.

"Sure! I'll add some interest!" Behrouz smirked, answering while firing back at the assailants.

As June uncovered the baby, she realized that the mother had shielded her child with her body in a desperate attempt to protect her. Tragically, a sharp piece of iron in the debris fatally wounded the mother. The baby was saved, but at a terrible cost.

"I'm sorry," she whispered to the lifeless mother.

Tears welled in June's eyes as she held the baby in her arms. With the baby safely in her care, June ran towards the exit, undeterred by the echoes of gunfire and the cries of the child in her arms.

---

Meanwhile, in the midst of the intense battle, Reed's instincts alerted him to a stark reality: the gun he held was now clicking in emptiness. The air around them crackled with tension as they confronted the overwhelming truth.

"I'm out!" Reed signaled to Behrouz, who glanced back with a focused expression.

Should've packed more mags for this! Reed muttered in his mind.

"Then we better move!" Behrouz advised.

In a moment that seemed to stretch in slow motion, Reed's eyes caught sight of something all too familiar—a deadly threat hurtling toward them. He recognized it instantly.

"Grenade!" Reed's urgent scream pierced the chaos, a warning to his comrades as he spotted an assailant tossing a frag grenade their way.

With lightning reflexes, both Reed and Behrouz abandoned their positions and dived for cover behind a nearby table. The grenade detonated with a powerful blast, shattering glass and splintering walls. The explosion caused the inner wall of the café to crumble and rain down. The ceiling fell down in instance.

Somehow, both of them survived, as the table protected them from the falling wreckage.

"Oh my God! Reed!" June's voice carried a mixture of fear and concern.

"We're fine!" Reed called back with a firm tone.

Reed raised from his temporary cover and swiftly retaliated. Dust and smoke filled the air, obscuring his vision, but his experience allowed him to stay focused. Behrouz managed to neutralize one more assailant, but their numbers were still too overwhelming for both of them to handle.

"Reed! Fall back!" Behrouz gave a command, knowing more of them were coming towards them.

Driven by the threat, Reed knew they had to act fast. They moved to make their escape through the back door, but soon they realized that the exit was now concealed under the collapsed wall, leaving them isolated from the others.

"Reed!" June's voice could be heard behind the debris.

"We'll find another way! Go!" Reed's voice rang out with determination.

His mind raced, analyzing every available escape route as he surveyed his surroundings. With bullets flying around him, he sought refuge against the wall, trying to calculate their best escape route. Running through the front door and dashing across the street seemed perilous; perhaps his best shot lay in leaping into the adjoining store.

These assailants unleashed a hail of bullets upon them, leaving both Reed and Behrouz to face an onslaught from all sides. Behrouz struggled to find an opening to return fire or make a leap to the window to move to the other side of the building. The relentless barrage of bullets kept them pinned down, leaving them with little room to maneuver.

Calculating every moment, Behrouz came out of his cover. His shot took down two of them with precise accuracy.

"Now! Move!" Behrouz's command cut through the chaos, giving Reed a momentary opening to make his escape.

Summoning courage, Reed made a split-second decision and bolted towards the adjacent store while evading the barrage of bullets that pursued him. With every stride, his heart pounding in his ears. He jumped towards the glass and took cover in the stationary store beside the cafe.

To his surprise, the gunfire ceased abruptly. Reed halted across the wall, glancing back to see his attackers seemingly distracted by something else.

And then he saw it—a monstrous truck hurtling toward the café at a terrifying speed.

"Oh fuck!"

Reed couldn't believe his eyes. The truck was like an unstoppable force of destruction, running straight toward their position.

"Behrouz!" Reed urgently shouted to his comrade.

"I know!" Behrouz replied, his eyes locked on the oncoming threat.

With adrenaline surging through his veins, Behrouz aimed his weapon at the driver, squeezing off several shots. One of them finally hit the driver, but the truck's relentless momentum remained undeterred. It didn't even slow down.

"Move!" Behrouz shouted as the massive truck closed in on them, its headlights like piercing eyes bearing down on its prey.

Reacting quickly, Reed vaulted inside the room just as the truck collided with the building. But as soon as the truck hit the wall, it exploded in its vicinity, engulfing its surroundings in a searing inferno. The resulting blast unleashed a shockwave that sent Reed hurtling across the room, his head colliding with the table.

And then silence. Everything went black.

---

In a split-second decision, Behrouz al-Asaad's survival instincts kicked in, propelling him towards the window just moments before the colossal truck collided with the café. The resulting explosion threw him high into the air, and he crashed hard against the street. Pain surged through his body, but Behrouz gritted his teeth, determined to push through it.

As he staggered to his feet, the grim reality confronted him as the numbers of masked assailants surrounded him. Their weapons pointed menacingly in his direction. Behrouz knew surrender might be his only chance to survive, though deep down he suspected that mercy would be a scarce commodity for someone responsible for the deaths of their comrades.

"إنه الجنرال! إنه القا��د!"

One of the assailants recognized his face and started shouting. - "It's the General! The Commander!"

Behrouz's heart sank. His reputation preceded him, and in this volatile situation, that was not a good thing. Yet that shouting caused distraction. Behrouz seized a fleeting opportunity as their attention wavered toward disarming an assailant near him and snatching his rifle. But as he handled the rifle, three shots were fired at the ground beside him. It was his first and last warning.

"لا تجعلني أؤذيك أيها الجنرال"

One of them warned him, his finger hovering over the trigger. - "Don't make me do this, General."

With these people surrounding him, Behrouz knew that facing such odds was a losing battle, even with the rifle in his hands. The firepower arrayed against him was overwhelming.

He glanced briefly at Reed, who was being dragged out of the building. He was unconscious and surrounded by the same group. They bound Reed's hands on his back and put a bag over his head.

At least, they don't plan to kill us immediately. Behrouz thought.

Knowing he still had a better option to survive, Behrouz threw the rifle to the ground, a silent gesture of surrender. He raised his hand behind his back. His mind was racing for a plan to survive the treacherous ordeal waiting for him. Both his life and Reed's are now teetering on the edge. He closed his eyes and prayed as they blindfolded him.

"حسبنا الله ونعم الوكيل نعم المولى ونعم النصير"

Allah is sufficient for us; He is the best Disposer of affairs. The Excellent Protector and the Excellent Helper

---

(to be continued)

AN: Some other languages are made with the help of translators, feel free to give me corrections.

#why must you forsaken me with this unfinished masterpiece #praying circle for glendy to start writing again #pantheons ark #pantheonsark #stories #tumblr stories #short story #light novel #novel #novel writing #fiction #short stories

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billjoamx · 5 months ago

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Crescent

Pantheon's Ark Prologue, (1/4)

-----------------------------------

Disclaimer

Pantheon's Ark is a compelling read designed for young adult and mature audiences. It delves into thought-provoking themes and may contain explicit descriptions of violence, gore, and sexual activities.

While certain aspects of the story draw inspiration from real-life events, it's important to note that the narrative is entirely a work of fiction. All the names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this story are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual individuals, agencies, places, buildings, or products is purely coincidental and not intended.

Reader discretion is advised, as this story contains mature content that may not be suitable for all audiences.

-----------------------------------

July 28, 1973

June Hoslow sat restlessly in her tailored suit and dress pants, her eyes fixed on the important person sitting in front of her, reviewing the documents she had just handed over. She glanced at the man sitting beside her, Jonathan Reed, her supervisor and Chief Station, who flashed a confident smile, offering reassurance.

The climate of Armanistan began to take its toll on her, as the sweltering heat and humidity often left little room for comfort. After a six-hour flight from Polland's Warsaw Chopin Airport, she was greeted with the country's finest slogan: Welcome to Armanistan, where the climates and humidity are often measured in terms of hot, hotter, and "fucking hell".

For the love of God, we have a perfectly comfortable AC in our office. But here we are... she muttered inside her mind.

She glanced around the café, where some other visitors shared their own thoughts and stories at their own tables. This place was a less favored spot when compared to others in Hashirabad, the capital city of Armanistan. But the convenience lay in its proximity, with just a mere 500 meters away from the gates of the US Embassy.

And they have very good Espresso. So, well...

As she sipped her drink, June observed the few guests scattered around the café, most likely other Embassy personnel or workers from nearby buildings. The rich aroma of Armanistan's traditional spices mingled with the scent of freshly brewed Arabic coffee. The café presents a vast and cultural layout, with the interior dominated with beige and grey color. Looks dull, but it harmonizes seamlessly with the theme of "professional suits traditional" that they have offer. The interior artfully divided by a series of internal walls that carry the essence of Armanistan culture, decorated with minimalistic wallpaper with beautiful pattern.

During these early hours of the workday, this grandeur café remained relatively quiet, with only a handful of visitors visible across its tables. However, at some point of the day, this cozy place would be engulfed with a flood of people, particularly those from Embassy, who haunted this place like Casper lurking over the neighborhood.

June knew very well that this place should have been making a tidy profit from their routine visits, but to her frustration, the café still relied on a rickety fan that did little to reduce the oppressive heat.

Come on, guys, Invest in AC! It wouldn't hurt!

On second thought, she revoked her mind. Well, not really, the electric costs must be expensive. Extra outcomes are bad for business.

She remembered the views on her way to the US Embassy. The pace of a business day in Hashirabad mirrored that of other neighboring capitals she had visited: Kabul, Tehran, Cairo, and Baghdad. At first glance, this country is no different from the other capitals in Central Asia and the Middle East.

Two and a half decades had passed since Armanistan declared its independence from Soviet influences, and in the past few years, the country's condition has experienced a remarkable upturn. Its people have begun to regain their footing, and the economy has begun to rise with exports and foreign investment.

Yet, its challenges and struggles persisted.

The city's atmosphere was overshadowed by an undeniable sense of fear, lingering like an ominous cloud, primarily emanating from the presence of a separatist group that fiercely opposed any foreign influence in Armanistan, even standing tall against their own government.

The ultranationalist and extremist group Guardian of the Crescent, Al-Hashd Al-Samarah.

In a string of relentless attacks, this group has orchestrated seven acts of violence and carried out three devastating suicide bombings over the past few months, leaving the entire country on edge and businesses reeling from the impact. Their targets primarily consist of buildings or places with high numbers of foreigners and expatriates, but the aftermath heavily influences local businesses and tourism.

But it should be over soon, June thought, reflecting on the peaceful three months that had passed since their last attack.

She understood that their methods were unconventional, but she firmly believed that their actions were for the greater good, especially for this country.

"I never cease to be amazed at how great this was. You and your team have prepared for everything," the man in front of June finally spoke, his Arabic accent adding color to his fluent English. "As expected from Al-Ghoul."

"Appreciate it, General. Thank you. We have our own way," Reed replied with his deep, rough voice. "It wouldn't have been possible without your men."

General Behrouz smiled and let out a little laugh. "You and I have known each other too long to believe that. My people were merely a guide."

Reed persisted. "Don't belittle your own men, General. They have remarkable capability."

Behrouz al-Asaad leaned back in the comfy chair, his keffiyeh slipping from his head and resting on his shoulder. He took a sip from his drink before leaning forward again to continue the conversation.

"We may have severed the snake's head, but turns out the hunt is not over yet, Reed." His voice was filled with concern.

"At least this is a good step, and for this one, as usual, we thought it would be wiser to let the authorities of this country take over this matter," Reed replied reassuringly. "My team was never there."

June added, "We've already prepared the details in the office, but it's a confidential document, so we couldn't bring it out with us."

"So..." Behrouz spoke in a questioning tone.

June replied confidently, "I am so sorry to interrupt your days off, General, but we were hoping that you could come with us inside the US Embassy. This matter shouldn't be discussed in public. I promise it wouldn't take long."

"I should be in Dubai right now with my grandchildren! I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the President himself who called me," Behrouz chuckled. "But no, I'm always just one call away, especially if it's coming from my brother here."

Behrouz pointed to Reed. "You should take a vacation too, come with me! Sarah would love to have some company, especially Nadia!"

Hearing Behrouz talk about their wives made Reed smirk. "Can't interrupt family time. Besides, I can't leave the work unfinished, right?"

"Nonsense. You are family," Behrouz said, then turned his gaze to June. "So tell me, Ms. Hoslow, are you married?"

June looked surprised at the unexpected question. "Pardon?"

"Are you married or seeing someone?" Behrouz asked with a gentle smile.

"I... Uh... No, I'm not married," June replied, feeling flustered by the personal inquiry. "But I am seeing someone."

Behrouz's eyes lit up with enthusiasm. "Congratulations! Come on, tell us more about the lucky guy!"

June hadn't anticipated that General Behrouz would be so interested in her personal life rather than the reports she was there to deliver. "I... I don't think this is the right time, General," she said, glancing at Reed, hoping for some help.

Reed just smiled mischievously, teasing her with his gaze.

"How could you never tell me about this? Who is this man?!" Reed playfully scolded her.

What is this, interrogation?

June couldn't help but feel like she was being subjected by her parents.

As the youngest person in this table, she knew she had to keep her manners. Moreover, although she had been with Agency for three years now, this was her first meeting with General Behrouz. She couldn't afford to leave a bad first impression by being impolite or rude.

Actually, this is a good time for light conversation. She convinced herself to play along.

"Actually, I didn't know if he was the lucky one or I was," June replied with a light smile. "We're not that serious, but right now, he's the one who matters most to me."

Behrouz nodded sincerely. "I think he's the lucky one to have you. You're stunning."

"You are very good with words, General. Thank you," June said, feeling a bit flustered. "Now that you mention it, I can't wait to finally come back home. I haven't seen him sin-"

June was cut off by a loud explosion from a nearby building, and a shockwave destroyed everything. Chaos erupted in an instant. Panic and screams filled the air as everyone inside the café was shocked and thrown by the explosion. Glass shattered and walls crumbled under the force.

A thunderous voice echoed through the room. Everything happened in the blink of an eye.

It was the loudest sound June had ever heard in her entire life before everything went black.

Black, engulfed by the vivid darkness.

---

(to be continued)