The war of immortality and love

The Bounty

Morning,

Warm sunlight seeped through the curtains, casting a soft golden glow across the room, heralding the arrival of a new day. Siya stirred from her peaceful slumber, her mind hazy and her body heavy with lingering sleep. As she shifted, she felt an unfamiliar weight in her arms. Her eyes fluttered open, and her heart jolted at the sight of her arms wrapped around Larkin, their bodies nestled together in a tender, intimate embrace. A shy smile tugged at her lips, but it vanished as Larkin’s gaze met hers, his eyes twinkling with quiet awareness. Siya’s cheeks burned with embarrassment, and she quickly pulled away, her movements clumsy.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to do that,” she mumbled, her voice barely a whisper, words spilling out in a flustered rush. She couldn’t believe she’d snuggled against him in her sleep, and the vulnerability left her heart racing.

“No, it’s okay. The night was cold—I should thank you for the warmth,” Larkin said, his voice shy, a faint blush coloring his face.

*What are you saying, i***t?* he scolded himself silently, feeling foolish for his words.

Siya fidgeted with the bedsheet, her own cheeks flushed. “Yeah, it was cold,” she said softly, avoiding his gaze.

Suddenly, a gunshot rang out from the ground floor, shattering the quiet. Siya trembled at the sound, her eyes wide with fear. “They’ve come for us,” she whispered.

“Don’t worry. We’ll go out through the window,” Larkin said, his tone calm but firm. He rose from the bed, grabbing his sword. Opening the window, he peered out. “Can I carry you?” he asked.

Siya’s face warmed again, but she nodded. “Yes.”

Larkin scooped her into his arms, her hands instinctively wrapping around his neck as she closed her eyes. With a powerful leap, he jumped from the second-floor window, landing gracefully on the ground below. Siya’s eyes snapped open, awe replacing her fear. “Wow!” she exclaimed, amazed at how effortlessly he’d carried her.

But a man spotted them and fired. Larkin’s sword flashed, slicing through the bullets midair before cutting down the attacker in a blur of motion. The gunfire drew attention, and more men poured out of the hotel. Without hesitation, Larkin lifted Siya again and vaulted over the hotel’s boundary wall.

They landed near a taxi idling by the roadside. “To the metro station—fast,” Larkin ordered the driver as they climbed in.

The driver started moving, but soon, the roar of motorcycles filled the air. Bikers armed with guns were chasing them, and the driver’s sluggish pace wasn’t helping. Frustrated, Larkin shoved the driver into the passenger seat and took the wheel.

“Hey, drive slower, you i***t! This is my taxi—if you wreck it, I’ll kill you!” the driver yelled.

“Shut up, or you’ll get us killed!” Larkin snapped, flooring the accelerator. The taxi weaved through traffic, tires screeching. Siya gripped the seat, eyes squeezed shut, her knuckles white with fear. The bikers’ reckless pursuit caused chaos, cars swerving and crashing behind them.

“Siya, I think I need to fight,” Larkin said, his voice steady despite the chaos.

He pulled the taxi into a construction site and stopped. Handing the driver a wad of cash without looking, he led Siya into an unfinished building. The driver sped off, but the bikers surrounded the taxi, checking it before letting him go. Then they stormed into the construction site.

“Siya, stay here. This’ll take a few seconds,” Larkin said, his tone calm.

“But there are more than fifteen of them!” Siya protested, her voice tight with worry.

Larkin flashed a confident smile. “Is that supposed to be a big number? I don’t think so.”

He left her hidden behind a concrete pillar and stepped out. The gangsters opened fire the moment they saw him, but Larkin dodged the bullets with inhuman grace, closing the distance in an instant. He cut down one man, seized his g*n, and turned it on the others. His aim was deadly precise, his movements a blur of superhuman speed and reflexes. One by one, the gangsters fell, until only their leader remained.

“Who do you work for?” Larkin demanded, his voice cold.

The man trembled, his face pale with terror. “I don’t work for anyone! I… I just attacked for the bounty!”

Larkin’s g*n barked, and the man collapsed. He returned to Siya, who rushed to him, checking for wounds. “Are you okay?” she asked, her hands trembling.

“Don’t worry, I’m fine,” Larkin said, offering a reassuring smile. “Let’s get out of here.”

They emerged from the construction site and commandeered one of the gangsters’ motorcycles. Larkin took the driver’s seat, and Siya climbed on behind him.

“Where are we going now?” she asked as he started the engine.

“Cyber café. I want to check my bounty,” Larkin replied.

Siya wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head against his back. The contact sent a wave of overwhelming emotions through Larkin, but he savored the quiet connection.

“I don’t like this bloodshed,” Siya said, her voice heavy with sadness. “Can’t this end without killing? I don’t want people to die because of me.”

Larkin’s heart ached for her. “It’s not just because of you, Siya. This calamity threatens all of humanity. We’re trying to save everyone.”

Siya’s voice trembled. “I thought about ending it by dying, but I can’t—not for another hundred years. Until then, I can only pass this power to someone else. It feels like a curse now.”

“How did you get this power?” Larkin asked gently.

Siya took a shaky breath. “My ancestor, Swamar, was gifted the power of ‘Euthanasia’ by a god over 6,000 years ago—no one knows how. He lived for over 2,000 years, watching civilizations rise and fall, performing countless honorable deeds. But the burden of outliving everyone he loved weighed on him. He grew tired of loss and chose to embrace death. Not wanting the power to vanish, he passed it to a pure-hearted warrior to protect the innocent. It’s been handed down through generations, each bearer living an extraordinary life. My great-grandmother was the last, living to 120. But then, attackers came. They killed my entire family. I was 23. I survived, but they kidn*pped my great-grandmother. Months later, gangsters came for me. That’s when I learned I had the power—immortality, or Euthanasia. For over a year, I’ve been running, escaping death countless times.” Her voice cracked as she fought back tears.

Larkin’s jaw tightened. “I promise I’ll end this, Siya. I’ll protect you, no matter what. Sura will pay for everything he’s done to you.”

Siya managed a weak smile, pressing her face against his back. “Thank you. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”

“You don’t have to repay me,” Larkin said warmly. “I’m your master—it’s my duty to take care of my student.”

Siya’s smile widened. “Yes, Master.”

Larkin pulled the motorcycle up to a cyber café, and they stepped inside. They rented a computer, and Larkin navigated to a bounty website. He opened his profile, revealing a staggering figure:

[2 Billion Dollars]

Siya gasped. “Two billion dollars? Is this for real?”

Larkin shrugged, a hint of disappointment in his tone. “Huh, only two billion? I was expecting more.”

“Let’s check yours,” he said, typing Siya’s name into the search. Her bounty appeared:

[5 Billion Dollars]

Siya’s eyes widened. “Five billion? That’s even more!”

“What the hell? Mine should be higher!” Larkin muttered, half-joking, a playful edge of jealousy in his voice.

Siya’s fear deepened, but Larkin’s lighthearted complaint made her smile faintly. “That means I’m in more trouble,” she said quietly.

“Don’t worry,” Larkin said, his tone reassuring. “Let’s get out of here.”

They left the cyber café, stepping back into the sunlight.

“What’s our next step?” Siya asked, her voice tinged with worry.

Larkin paused, then answered firmly, “We leave this country.”

“Where are we going?” Siya asked, curiosity flickering in her eyes.

‘INDIA’