Mysterious Card

Amelia leaned in with a playful smile. "So, don't you want to get closer to him? You know, he's already viral, and with his abilities, he might become a great celebrity someday."

Sonia smirked back, her eyes flickering towards Ayan. "I don't want to hang around him just to show off. Besides, he's too young for my taste."

Amelia chuckled. "Well, you don't mind me getting closer to him, right? Don't regret it later on."

Sonia rolled her eyes and focused on her food, ignoring Amelia's teasing.

Across the room, Ayan noticed their glances and whispered exchanges, but he chose to ignore them, quietly finishing his meal. After eating, he wandered around the inn's grounds, making sure to avoid the two women. When it was time to board the bus, he waited until most of the tourists had gone ahead, slipping into an empty backseat by the window, distancing himself from the pair.

The bus rumbled to life and began its journey. Ayan was enjoying the view when a lady's pleasing voice interrupted his thoughts. "Mind if I sit beside you, Mr. Savior?"

It was Amelia, flashing him a bright smile. With a reluctant nod, Ayan allowed her to sit next to him. The scent of her perfume was overpowering as she settled in.

"I'm Amelia, by the way. Sonia's friend. What's your name?"

"Ayan," he replied, keeping his tone flat.

"Who would've thought that the tall guy climbing the hill was actually a teenager?" Amelia teased, flashing her camera. "Can I take a selfie with you?"

Ayan hesitated and said, "Sure. But I don't want unnecessary attention so can you please avoid mentioning, what happened and who I am."

"Alright. Quiet a sensitive guy, aren't you?" Amelia said jovially while taking a selfie.

Despite her lightheartedness, Ayan sensed she was intrigued by him. She chatted on about her adventures climbing the highest mountain showing him some photos and videos, but he only responded with polite nods and short phrases, his mind elsewhere.

As they traveled through the hills, Ayan opened the window, inhaling the fresh air and admiring the scenery. The emerald-green hills and crystal-clear river below were mesmerizing, but his moment of peace was abruptly shattered when he saw a large truck swerving out of its lane toward the bus.

The driver jerked the wheel, narrowly avoiding a collision, but the bus careened toward the cliff's edge. The vehicle slammed into the railing, jolting everyone inside.

AAAhhh

The passengers started shouting and screaming in panic trying to get off the bus through the front door but due to the sudden shift in weight, the bus started slowly tilting towards the river.

Without thinking, Ayan leaped from his seat and squeezed through the window, landing on the rocky ground below. As the bus teetered on the edge, he rushed to the rear, grabbed the bumper, and desperately pulled with all his might. Slowly, the bus's wheels found solid ground again, and the driver pulled the vehicle away from the cliff, pushing Ayan back in the process.

Ayan sighed in relief and moved aside when he noticed a sudden wind passing by him and a hole in the ground where he stood moments ago. Alarmed, he jumped and ducked behind the bus. Suddenly, he heard the sounds of gunshots fired towards the bus.

He quickly went down the cliff, moved some distance, and peaked at the hills. He noticed about 20 armed men, all dressed in black, firing from above. Panic surged through him, but instinct took over. He grabbed sharp stones from the riverbed and threw them precisely at the men in black. One by one, the stones hit their head knocking 15 of them while the 5 were already dead, hit by gunshots.

Just as he caught his breath, he noticed a truck coming with some heavy artillery in its back. He looked around, lifted a big-sized stone boulder by the river, and hurled it at the truck.

BOOM

The impact of the boulder hitting the artillery caused sparks, igniting something, resulting in a loud explosion blowing it off. Ayan's heart was racing wildly facing a sudden life or death situation. But amidst the fear and nervousness, he felt a bit of unknown excitement and thrill within.

He sprinted back to the bus, only to find it riddled with bullet holes. Miraculously, all the passengers were safe, though a few had minor injuries. Sonia was speaking to the shaken driver when she suddenly drew a gun and issued orders.

As the explosion's shockwave subsided, the bus resumed its journey, speeding past the burning wreckage. Sonia made a few phone calls, calming the passengers while arranging another vehicle further down the road.

Exhausted, Ayan slumped in his seat, trying to process what happened in the last 20 minutes. His mind raced, wondering if these attackers had any connection to his grandparents' mysterious deaths. As he brooded, he felt Amelia's hand slip into his, her grip tight with fear. She leaned against him, trembling. Despite feeling awkward, he stayed quiet.

After settling other, Sonia approached, her expression soft but serious. "Thank you for saving us back there. I'm sorry you got caught up in this."

"So those men… they were after you?" Ayan asked, his voice steady despite the chaos.

Sonia nodded, but instead of elaborating, she turned her attention to calming Amelia, offering no further explanation.

Everybody quickly got onto another bus. Amelia was still clinging to Ayan much to his dismay. They crossed a few small towns to arrive at a hotel in a large town before dark.

Most of the foreigners booked rooms to stay in groups while Ayan alone booked a single room. After having a nice meal, he took a long bath, changed his clothes, and lay on the bed reflecting on this whole ordeal.

Thinking back, he marveled at how instinctively he had reacted during the attack. His strength and precision and how he quickly identified the hidden attackers—skills he didn't even know he had—astonished him. Yet, he couldn't shake the unease that followed.

Leaving these thoughts aside, As he drifted toward sleep, a knock at the door startled him.

Knock, Knock.

Opening the door cautiously, he found Amelia standing there in a white nightgown, her face pale.

"Can I come in?" she whispered.

Ayan stepped aside, and she locked the door behind her. "I'm scared. Can I sleep in here with you tonight?"

"What?" Ayan blurted, taken aback.

"You have unusual abilities. You were the one who saved us previously. I only feel safe when I'm with you," she pleaded, her voice trembling. "Please, just for tonight."

After a moment's hesitation, Ayan relented. "Alright, you sleep on the bed. I'll sleep on the couch."

"No, please. I won't feel safe if you're far away," she insisted.

Looking at his irritated expression, she said, "I promise, I won't do anything to you."

Hearing her words, Ayan almost split blood.

Reluctantly, he lay on one side of the bed avoiding her. He was almost asleep when Amelia suddenly grabbed his hand. He looked at her to find her shaking and gesturing at the window. "Somebody… someone's there", she whispered.

He looked at the window with closed curtains but couldn't see anything. He went and opened the curtains and window to see an empty balcony with no one.

"There's no one there," Ayan said as he closed the window.

"But I saw a shadow moving," Amelia said.

"Must be some animals moving. Don't worry and go back to sleep." He consoled.

He also went back to sleep.

Knock, Knock

Later in the night, Ayan was woken by another knock, this time quieter. He could also hear the sounds of people moving. Amelia was fast asleep and he slowly opened the door to find Sonia standing outside.

"Amelia went missing from her room. Have you seen her anywhere?" Sonia asked.

Ayan fully opened the door, allowing her to see Amelia sleeping soundly.

Sonia chuckled. "I'm sorry for disturbing you two. I'll notify the others." She winked before leaving.

"No, it's not what you're thinking!" Ayan called after her, but she was already gone.

----

Ayan woke up in the morning to find Amelia had already left. He quickly freshened up and went to have his breakfast hoping to find Amelia or Sonia to borrow some money but they were nowhere to be seen. He looked at the time to realize it was almost 9 a.m., the time for the bus to leave. He quickly finished his breakfast and packed his things ready to move. He went to the reception worrying about how to pay for the hotel.

"Ayan, hurry up! Everyone's waiting for you. I've already covered your bill," Amelia shouted from the hotel door.

Relieved, he quickly checked out leaving the keys, rushing to the bus. He joined Sonia and Amelia seated at the back waiting for him.

"Thank you for paying for me. Actually, I realized that I forgot to bring any cash." Ayan said embarrassingly.

"Don't worry about cash. We owe you for saving our lives," Amelia reassured him. "Besides, you can find banks and ATMs in the city."

Ayan sheepishly replied, "I forgot to ask for a cheque or ATM card from uncle."

The ladies looked at each other and laughed.

"We can lend you some until you sort things out. No big deal." Amelia generously replied.

"I'll immediately return your money after I can contact my uncle," Ayan said.

The bus rumbled along for five long hours, making a brief stop for lunch before finally arriving at the city of temples, Kathmandu.

As they drove through the bustling streets, Ayan watched the brick houses crowd the roads, interspersed with supermarkets, apartment complexes, and small shops. The narrow, winding streets were packed with people and vehicles. The sharp, acrid scent of pollution filled the air, making him slightly dizzy. The chaotic symphony of honking cars, motorbikes, and street vendors' calls blended with the rhythmic chiming of temple bells and the soft murmur of prayers, creating an atmosphere both overwhelming and spiritual.

When the bus pulled up in front of a hotel, everyone got out. After checking in and unloading their luggage, Sonia and Amelia wasted no time.

"Ayan, come with us. We need to withdraw some cash," Amelia said, practically dragging him along.

Inside the ATM booth, Ayan stood by as Amelia pulled out her card, inserted it, and withdrew around NRs. 20,000 (about $150).

"It seems I've hit my withdrawal limit for today," she said. "You wait here while I grab Sonia's card."

Left alone, Ayan felt a tug of curiosity. He took out the mysterious card with the 'R' symbol, the one his mother had left him. It looked similar to a regular ATM card. On a whim, he inserted it into the machine, wondering what would happen.

To his shock, the screen lit up with, "Welcome, Aria…"—his mother's name. He didn't know the pin, and yet, strangely, the machine didn't ask for one. He planned to experiment with the card later, but unable to find a way to exit the screen, he selected the option to withdraw 25,000, thinking the transaction would fail, just like Amelia's had at 20,000.

But instead of the "Daily withdrawal limit reached!" message, he could hear the sound of the cash moving.

Just as he finished counting the money, Amelia and Sonia walked in. Amelia's eyes widened when she saw the card in Ayan's hand.

"How did you get that card?" she asked, her voice tinged with both curiosity and disbelief.

Ayan tensed up, realizing Amelia recognized the card. "What do you mean?" he asked cautiously.

"Did Jaxon help you get one?" Amelia pressed. "I've wanted one of those for ages, but he never let anyone even touch it. He said only privileged people with international connections can have this card. But he left the country recently, so it can't be his."

"Tell me, how did you get it?" Amelia asked with expectant eyes.

Ayan hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "It's… something my mother left behind."

"Your mother?" Amelia asked, her voice suddenly softer. "Could you contact her? Maybe she can help me get one of these cards. I'm willing to pay a lot for it."

Ayan shook his head, his voice low. "She went missing 15 years ago."

"Oh… I'm sorry," Amelia said, the excitement fading from her voice. "Do you know anyways to get this card?"

"No," Ayan replied, his mind still spinning from the strangeness of it all.

Neither Ayan nor Amelia noticed Sonia's reaction—her pupils narrowing, her expression subtly shifting as she laid eyes on the card.