Algeria.

Batna Province.

Sunday, July 12, 2015, seemed like any other ordinary day in the heart of the summer vacation. The air was warm, carrying the scent of sun-baked earth, children played in the streets, adults went about their chores, and worries were far from their minds.

Yet, beneath this tranquil surface lurked a hidden truth. Disappearances plagued distant lands, and unsolved murders cast a shadow over several nations for years.

But in this peaceful country, such occurrences were rare, allowing its inhabitants to remain blissfully unaware of the darker realities lurking beyond.

My name is Ali Saifeddine, a 13-year-old born in Batna on March 1, 2002. I was a bit of an exception among my peers. Ever since I was a child, I had a fascination with the adventures of Sherlock Holmes, always eager to delve into new crime cases beyond our borders.

Don't get me wrong; I cherish my peaceful life. I had no desire to endanger myself or my family just to break the monotony. Safety always came first, after all.

I'd often think to myself, 'Living in an underdeveloped country does have its perks.'

"Oh no! I'm late," I exclaimed in panic as I glanced at my watch and hurried along my way to training. I'd been attending Muay Thai classes for two years now.

As I rushed, I made a turn and suddenly found myself blinded by a bright purple light.

"Wha....! What's this?!" I cried out.

I closed my eyes, the pain subsiding after a moment. When I finally dared to open them, I found myself in an unfamiliar landscape.

"What? Where... where am I?!" I stuttered.

To my surprise, I stood amidst a vast desert, with nothing but sand stretching endlessly under the open sky.

"A desert?!" I exclaimed.

Lost and bewildered, I began to ponder my situation.

'What am I doing just standing here? I need to do something,' I thought.

But what? I had no clue what to do next.

After lingering for a while, I started wandering aimlessly, hoping to stumble upon some semblance of civilization.

Step after step, I traversed the barren land, with no end in sight.

Then, after what felt like an eternity, I noticed something peculiar ahead.

Shielding my eyes from the harsh light, I squinted to get a better view.

"Hmm? Is that a person lying on the sand?... No way!" I gasped.

Without a second thought, I sprinted towards the figure, ignoring everything else around me, including the cawing of crows overhead.

Reaching the man, I knelt beside him, panting heavily from the exertion. He was clad in black from head to toe, with long hair and a beard to match.

"No," I muttered, checking for a pulse, but hearing nothing.

Desperation crept in as I tried to detect any signs of life, eventually noticing his shallow breaths.

Looking around, I found nothing but endless sand. I was clueless, unsure of what to do next.

'Oh God, please help me.'

"What should I do? What should I do?" I fretted.

I paced back and forth, my mind racing with uncertainty. How had I ended up here? What if this man was dangerous? All these questions swirled in my head, but one thing remained clear.

"I have to help him somehow."

With a heavy heart, I continued to wander, my steps echoing in the vast emptiness.

After a few moments, I spotted a movement, his body was trembling.

I approached cautiously, my heart pounding with trepidation.

"Is he waking up? Sir! Sir!" I called out, hoping for a response.

To my relief, the man stirred, his eyes fluttering open slowly.

"Are you alright?" I asked, concern evident in my voice.

The man slowly moved his eyes to the side, and as soon as he caught sight of me, it seemed like he lacked the energy to make any expressions other than surprise. Then, he closed his eyes with a faint smile. At that moment, I sensed that he felt relieved to have someone with him. 

He struggled to respond, his movements feeble and laboured.

"What happened to you? How can I help?" I inquired, eager to assist.

Gathering his strength, the man gestured towards a small leather bag at his side with his finger.

I rifled through it, my fingers brushing against something peculiar. I retrieved five small coloured pills—two lime green, one brown, and two yellow.

Perplexed, I looked to the man for guidance.

"The... yellow..." he muttered.

"Huh?" I glanced at him, puzzled. "Do you want me to feed you one of these?"

With urgency in his eyes, he nodded weakly.

"What?!" I exclaimed, taken aback by his kind of aggressive request.

But before I could protest further, he began coughing up blood, splattering both of us.

Shocked and nauseated, I hesitated before handing him one of the yellow pills.

He chewed it slowly, his condition worsening with each passing moment.

Panicked, I assisted him in swallowing it.

As the pill took effect, his strength seemed to return and he raised his upper body, but his back bore a grievous wound, my mind reeling with fear.

The man falls on his back again but he kept his weak smile.

"What happened to you? What are all these wounds on your back?!" I demanded, my voice quivering with emotion.

With a weak smile, he evaded my questions saying "hehe, so you saw it? thank's for the help kid."

"Who are you?! And where is this place?!" much to my frustration I pressed, desperate for answers.

Ignoring my inquiries, he replied mockingly "Stop yelling you little rascal, my head hurts."

"ah.... Sorry," I calmed down a little bit, it doesn't matter how one describes my weird situation now, staying calm and waiting is best.

"hand me another yellow pill, along with a brown one."

Distracted, I fumbled to retrieve them, but our conversation was interrupted by an ominous sound growing louder by the second, a humongous sandstorm was raging toward us.

"This is bad, Hey Kid!!"

"Hah?! Ah, wh-what's wrong?"

I looked towards the man who had a serious expression on his face.

"Hurry and give me the pills!!!"

"Ah, right, sorry."

As I reached out to hand him the pellets, a piercing scream emanated from the sandstorm. My heart seized in fear as I looked on in shock. If I had been more observant, I might have noticed the colossal columns at the heart of the whirlwind, but now, as it drew nearer, the truth was clear—a sight that defied all logic.

"Im-impossible."

A giant freaking centipede.

"Screech!!!"

I stood frozen in place as the colossal creature loomed over me, its massive form casting a shadow over the desert sands.

"Wake up!" the man shouted, snapping me out of my stupor.

I turned to see him, blood staining his clothes and his mouth, a stark reminder of the danger we faced. He had been calling out to me, his cries growing more desperate until his body could bear no more.

Without a moment's hesitation, I sprinted towards him, fear gripping me as the monstrous centipede closed in, its deafening roar echoing in my ears. With trembling hands, I placed the pills in his mouth, knowing that time was running out.

Closing my eyes, I braced myself for the inevitable, my thoughts a desperate plea for salvation.

After what felt like an eternity, I dared to open my eyes, expecting the worst. Yet, to my astonishment, I found myself alive, suspended in mid-air, with the man standing before me, holding the huge insect at bay with an ease that defied logic.

In that moment, I realized he was no ordinary man.

As his hand reached out towards me, a sense of surreal disbelief washed over me. Had I somehow been lifted away from danger?

"Impossible," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the pounding of my heart. "Am I flying?!"

I attempted to move, but my limbs remained motionless, leaving me suspended in a state of bewilderment.

"Hahaha, what's the matter, kiddo?" the man's calm voice broke through my shock.

Glancing down at him, I struggled to comprehend the situation. His demeanour was unwavering, his confidence unshaken as he effortlessly subdued the monster.

As the creature cowered before him, the man's words echoed in my mind. "Well, it's going to be quite the fireworks display for my first encounter with my student"

In an instant, his hand burst into flames, engulfing the centipede in a blaze of fire. Within moments, all that remained was a heap of ashes scattered on the desert floor.

At that moment, I knew that my life would never be the same again.