Han

Startled by River's piercing scream, hidden in the dark, the man behind the gas mask reacted swiftly. He opened the lid of the so-called fireplace, allowing a faint glimmer of light to illuminate it, revealing a rusty old ladder on the wall.

"Oh no, please don't scream like that!" the man pleaded, his voice carrying a distinct Indian accent.

"What the fuck? What the hell? Who the fuck are you?" River managed to stammer, confusion and fear still gripping him.

The man's friendly face emerged from beneath the gas mask, as he removed it with his hands covered in dark gloves, revealing a warm smile and a well-groomed mustache that accentuated his features. The lines etched on his face spoke volumes of the life he had lived.

"Calm down, boy", he reassured, his voice soothing. "You could use some chamomile tea, huh?" he suggested, his words carrying a touch of humor despite the circumstances. "My name is Haniel. I shouldn't be here talking with you, so please, refrain from screaming any further, okay?"

In the meantime, Finn, alarmed by River's horrifying scream, ran towards him from the showers. "What happened? Are you okay?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.

River pointed at Haniel in disbelief. "There's... this guy", he replied, his voice still shaky from the encounter. Haniel maintained his friendly smile.

"Hello to you as well! I'm Haniel", he greeted Finn, as the boy peered inside the fireplace to catch a glimpse of the man.

Recognition flickered in Finn's eyes, widening them with surprise. "Haniel? Han? You're the one who wrote his number on the phone book that came in the briefcase?" he asked, connecting the dots.

Haniel nodded, his smile growing wider. "You got me! Did you like the candy I put in there? I mean, please don't tell anyone, you know, if someone else comes here. I could get in a lot of trouble, you know?" he said, lowering his voice.

"Why are you here?" Finn inquired.

Haniel shrugged, his expression turning serious. "They were looking for soldiers, you know, for this whole mess of a situation... so I came here. They pay me good, you know", he admitted. "But when I heard there were BOYS locked underground... My God, such cruelty! You must miss your families so much", he said sincerely, empathy evident in his voice.

River's eyes sparked with determination. "So... you're gonna help us get out of here?" he asked boldly.

Haniel chuckled, a hint of sadness in his deep brown eyes. "I'm sorry, boys, I'm afraid I can't do that. And it's better if you don't come outside, trust me", he cautioned, waving his gas mask. "But I brought you something", he continued, reaching into his dark blue, oversized backpack.

Finn and River exchanged an inquisitive look. River shook his head questioningly, and Finn shrugged in confusion.

"Here you go, boys! Prepare to catch!" Haniel said, holding a white plastic bag filled with something, carefully releasing it when the boys were ready to receive it. "You'll find some biryani I cooked this evening, yes? Growing boys like you must eat fresh food, not that canned junk you have down there", he explained with a smile. "There's also a newspaper, you know, if you feel like you want to understand what's happening", he added. "But to be honest, boys, I wouldn't dwell too much on that. Take this time here as a break from school and try not to think about it", he advised, his tone filled with empathy.

"You cooked it this evening? Does it mean it's night right now?" Finn inquired, the bag safely in his hands.

Haniel's expression turned solemn. "Oh boy, you don't even know how much time has passed, do you?" He sighed, a mixture of sorrow and concern clouding his eyes. "I'll bring a watch for you next time I come. Right now, it's around 3 AM. I can't risk coming during the day, you know? They would arrest me for sure", he whispered, emphasizing the importance of secrecy. "Do you need anything else for the next time I visit?"

A glimmer of hope sparked in River's eyes. "Oh my God, can I have a pack of cigarettes? Please?" he pleaded, his desperation evident. Finn shot him a disapproving glance, silently urging him to reconsider.

Haniel's shock was palpable. "What do you mean, cigarettes? You're barely 18, and smoking is terribly harmful to your health!" Finn nodded in agreement with Haniel's concern.

"Well, being locked underground for God knows how many days isn't exactly great for my health either. Please, Haniel! I'm dying here!" River implored, unable to contain his longing for a momentary relief, despite Finn's evident disapproval.

Haniel let out a heavy sigh, torn between compassion and caution. "Alright, alright, just this once, okay?" he reluctantly conceded, unable to resist River's desperate plea. He made a mental note to bring the requested cigarettes next time, hoping it would bring some semblance of comfort to the boy's challenging existence.

"You're amazing!" River exclaimed, his voice filled with gratitude, while Finn couldn't help but roll his eyes at his friend's addiction to nicotine.

"Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness, Haniel. I'm Finn, and this is my friend River. There are four other boys down here, so you might get to meet them when you come next time. I'll let them know about your presence", Finn stated calmly, his appreciation evident in his smile.

Haniel nodded, his head gently shaking in a customary Indian gesture. "Alright, boys, take care. I'll be back tomorrow night around the same time. Until then, try not to lose track of time before I bring you a watch, you know?" he advised, his smile warm and reassuring. The boys nodded in acknowledgment. "See you soon, boys!" Haniel bid farewell, waving as he secured his gas mask back in place and closed the fireplace's lid with utmost care, ensuring no noise would betray their secret encounter.

With Haniel's departure, the boys were left in the dimly lit underground chamber once again, clutching the bag of freshly cooked biryani and the newspaper.

"You really should take better care of yourself," Finn admonished River, concern etched on his face.

Finn smiled and shrugged nonchalantly. "A cigarette isn't going to kill me, and besides, we could die tomorrow for all we know", he replied, his words carrying a hint of fatalism. "Are you worried about me because you have a crush on me?" River teased, playfully revisiting their previous conversation.

Caught off guard, Finn's face turned a shade of crimson. "I—what are you talking about?!" he stammered, attempting to conceal his embarrassment.

Just as he tried to regain his composure, the door to the corridor swung open, revealing Sage and Cove, each holding a set of clean clothes.

"What's that?" Cove inquired, his eyes fixed on the plastic bag in Finn's hand, sensing the smell of the warm homemade food.

"Oh boy, do we have a story for y'all", River chuckled mischievously.