10 Who Are You?

Dark stones scatter all over the dry, lifeless sand. Three, two-story buildings struggle to find their footing as their pillars are marked with bullets. The bald palm tree behind them staggers from the strong sandy wind. The sand storm batters the tall frame of the masked man, almost 7 feet; but it is not enough to stop him from approaching the buildings. His eyes are smoldering with fury while his right hand wields his only companion, the silver sword. Every step he takes scars the golden sand. At times like this, it must be gone by a second, however, it still leaves marks all-over. If humans see this, it will be supernatural for them, something that can't be explained by their mere, undeveloped minds and understandings.

He surveys his surroundings in bird's eye-view, penetrating every layer of the buildings' walls. He sees three men on its doors, five on the second floor, while six are at the rooftop acting as their watchmen. He didn't stop his eyes to unearth the three dilapidated buildings. 'Nothing's there, only rats. They're not inside from any of the rooms. I'm sure they are those humans,' he thinks silently letting the sand cover him.

The masked man didn't stop scanning everything. Even the 3-kilometer radius is not spared. His patience is now fading, this is unusual for him not to find those children. 'Where are they?' He scratches his chin and realizes something. "Of course," he says out of the blue. "Something that we didn't have." He lowers his head and gives a slight smile when he confirms his guess.

Without hesitation, he disappears in a lightning flash and materializes in front of a man at the rooftop. He does it five times more before he leaves the headless body of six men and appears again on the second floor. It's a pity for these beings that before they can see who snatches their life, their heads are already flying in midair. It is a swift action and within 15-seconds, he decapitates a total of 11 men.

Clanging sound can be heard on the other side of the door. Five children in blindfolds panic at what they are hearing. Four of them, all boys, cry and wet their pants. Their whole body trembles and it is such a scene to be witnessed by terrorists. They will surely howl, laughing, quenching the fear from these innocent children. The door slams on the floor. Immediately after, a masked man enters and untied the ropes from the children's hands and feet. Lastly, he gets the blindfold from them. "Mr, Mask! I know you'll save us! Thank you!" the angelic voice of Lily rings in his ears.

The four boys, lips tight, look at their rescuer. They don't have a word to say. Even the word 'thank you', didn't come out of their mouth. However, they'll never forget any of this forever. Their deep gratitude is enough for a bargain.

"Let's go! American planes are coming!" he exclaims terrified, not for himself but for these children. Alas, his right, sounds of death are coming in their way, faster than they think, he thinks. 'Shit,' the masked man teases to say out loud. He leads their way and orders the children to stay in the basement. He doesn't want them to witness how he kills those terrorists. 10 seconds and he's back again. 'So fast,' Lily thinks looking at the masked man with her curious gaze.

The supersonic sound is coming nearer and he knows, they're late. "Close your eyes!" he shouts and the children obeys him, whatever he means.

"Shielram quas lida!" he utters in between life and death. He knows he has done his part. The familiar feeling of bitterness and resentment assaults him as the bomb detonates 5 meters away from them. The shield he summons holds its ground and he sees fire overwhelm them. However, it is not enough to hold the shockwaves to penetrate their shield. The masked man covers the five children with his large frame and is the last thing he can do. His eyes close, panting raggedly and drops on the hot ground. "Pathetic humans," his last whisper before he passes out.

"General Snyder, he's in the interrogation room," his blond secretary tells him as they walk through the empty hallway. Their steps echoed on the cemented platform making a beating sound.

"Who is he?"

"We don't have any data, he's unknown."

"Why did you bring someone unknown in this building, Spencer?"

'It's not me who brings him here,' his tongue itches to say.

"He's special."

"Special, how special?"

"He survived a blast from our F-14's and rescued five children; 4 boys and a girl using his own pocket. He killed 14 Taliban, decapitated them all."

"Superman?"

"Only that, Superman is in movies and papers. This one's breathing, and..."

Spencer stops on what he has to say. 'Is it appropriate?'

"Spill out that goddamn spit, Spencer!"

"He's ugly."

"The hell I care about him being, ugly! What's that supposed to mean?!" His thick southern accent echoes on the metal walls.

'I think superheroes need to be beautiful,' he itches to speak again.

"He looks like an alien, General."

General Snyder didn't bother to reply and enters the red door. He sees 2 more men inside looking at the monitor.

"Good god, he's ugly as hell!" General Spencer exclaims after seeing a burned man in the monitor. The devils in the horror movies are better to look at. He's totally an alien.

"Can you tell me your name?" a mature woman's voice speaks inside the 5-meter wide, boxed-room.

"Lara Whitaker, only daughter of the fifteen siblings of Brandon Dennis from his sixth wife, Cheri Whitaker. Finished her..."

"You don't have to utter the same answer for the 50th time, Mr..."

"Mask."

"I need your true name."

"If I tell you my name, will it change how the sun rises and sets? Will it change your life? Will it save billions? Will it..." he stopped on what he has to say and clangs the chains in his feet. "Will it free me?"

"At least it will change my life," she replies tired for over an hour to be in this room facing this burned-faced man.

"Okay, if you can answer my question... correctly," the Masked man says, who's rotting face is now crystal clear for anyone to stare.

"Say it."

"Who is your father?"

"Brandon Dennis. Now your name."

"I said, correctly."

"You," the beautiful woman says without a bit of hesitation who's hair are dropping like a waterfall.

"Hahahaha! Don't make me look stupid!"

"Okay let's change my question, what are you?" the woman asked him. She stares her hazelnut eyes not wanting to blink for a minute.

"Burned beef steak," the masked man answers who's hands are tied in his chair's armrest.

"I'll come back later."

"Is my answer correct? Did I pass the test?"

Athena didn't bother to look at him and opens the door in a flash. Her nerves are now dried from all those circles they have. This is the first time she slacked off, and she hates it. She is one of the best agents in the FBI. She had talked to less than a hundred humans before, and not a single one of them are spared from prison, or from lethal injection. However, here in Kabul, flying for more than nine hours and meeting that man makes her feel stress. It only means she must not bargain her pride from that sympathetic man. Her blood is boiling to win this battle of wits and wagers.

"General Snyder, nice meeting you again," she said greeting the 2-Star General, informally.

"You two have a nice conversation."

"I don't know what nice means to you, General. Only that, he's a bit poetic."

"Do we need to transfer him?" asked General Snyder, grinning. Athena knows what that smile means.

"You know that I make any man sing their song. Sometimes, they'll tell me how they very much love to marry this beautiful woman."

"You're a narcissist as ever, Athena. I am not referring to your capabilities. I mean..."

"I know what you mean, General. It's too early for him to experience pain. With that face, I'll definitely not watch him being tortured."

'We Americans don't shout those things,' the General wants to say. However, there's nothing to be reprimanded about, all the humans in this room knows that.

"Do you have any idea?" he asked and didn't bother to hear the answer from Athena and exclaims, "I'll go back to finish other important business. It's just his lucky day that he survived. Pack up tomorrow morning, I know it's nothing serious."

"General, everything is serious when someone is in that room. Most importantly, he's a ghost. No information or any data that proves he is clear," Athena says.

"Are you saying he's a Russian spy?" the General says and immediately dropped his words. "Do whatever you wanted to do. It's not my job anyway."

Athena didn't bother to say anything and escorts the General and his secretary out of the interrogation room. Before she waves her goodbye, she whispers something on the ear of the General. It must be important, as the General's face darkens upon hearing it.

"I wish you'll reconsider my proposal," she says and goes back to the room.

"Smoke him," she orders the man on his right. She is forced and she'll do it, whatever happens, she must get to the bottom of this. Know who this man is.