"THE FORGOTTEN ONES"

Flames of rising betrayal

If I may ask, who is your enemy, the one you desire to destroy? What would your answer be?

Would you say it's the rival you've always competed against, striving to outdo one another? Or perhaps it's someone from your past, a person who hurt you deeply, leaving scars that never fully healed?

This is a paradox: the challenge of distinguishing between a person whose intentions are to cause you harm and another who might be trying to help you, albeit in a way you don't understand. Both figures might seem deeply intertwined in your life, yet neither of them is your true enemy.

The real enemy lies within—it's your own will that fights to maintain a reality your mind has turned against. This inner struggle raises profound questions about existence itself. As humans, we are mere mortals, fragile beings who have no inherent purpose in this vast universe. We evolved over time and eventually began to see ourselves as superior to other living beings. This sense of superiority filled us with pride—a pride that blinds us to the existence of greater, more powerful forces in the cosmos. This pride will be our downfall, the cause of our destruction.

We fail to understand who or what we are truly up against. We underestimate the sheer power and influence of these forces. The pride we hold in our achievements, our intelligence, and our dominance is, in reality, the enemy of our lives. To those with ultimate authority—beings far beyond our comprehension—our pride is insignificant. This world, as it stands, is flawed and corrupted, filled with arrogance and ignorance. It cries out for a reset, a chance to start anew.

These words were spoken by a creature, one that bore the appearance of a man, yet something about him felt unsettling, almost otherworldly. He stood in front of a large, dark portrait, depicting a demonic woman with eyes that seemed to pierce through the soul, as if she could see into the deepest, darkest corners of one's mind.

Meanwhile, in the shadows, Arshad Ahmad Khan, a prominent opposition leader, was carefully making his way into the building. He wasn't using the main entrance but a hidden path that only a few knew about. He had discovered it through connections with some old staff members who were familiar with the hospital grounds. This secret path was well concealed, hidden behind a dense line of trees on the hospital grounds. Even the highly vigilant security forces had overlooked it.

Arshad was not alone. He was accompanied by his personal secretary, Sui Vishwath, a loyal and resourceful man from the southern part of India. Sui had been by Arshad's side for the last seven years, proving his dedication and trustworthiness time and again. As they moved cautiously, Sui turned to his master and whispered, "Sir, it seems safe to proceed now. Please follow me closely."

Together, they navigated the grounds with the utmost care, making sure to stay out of sight. The darkness was their ally, and they used it to their advantage, slipping through the shadows like phantoms. It took them a painstaking 20 minutes to locate the discreet entrance at the back of the building. Every step was calculated; every move was deliberate, as they worked to avoid the eyes of the surveillance cameras and security patrols that constantly monitored the area.

Arshad knew all too well that attempting to sneak into the building without a solid plan would be a fatal mistake. He had gathered intelligence that the security forces were watching every corner through hidden cameras, which had been installed after a series of frequent power outages. Yet, despite the advanced technology, these cameras weren't foolproof. Arshad had leveraged his contacts within the security team to gain critical information. He learned that the cameras were primarily focused on areas deemed vital by the CBI: the main entrance and all potential entry points where enemies might attempt to infiltrate.

A platoon of security forces was stationed around the building, their mood tense and frustrated. Many of them had suffered personal losses during the first wave of mass attacks by the unknown enemy, and now they were left with nothing but orders to stand by. The soldiers were growing increasingly restless, questioning why, if the intelligence was reliable and the enemy had a hidden path, they weren't being allowed to launch offensive operations.