[ WP ] Extremists kidnapped an American journalist in Iraq . They are about to execute this poor soul , named Clark Kent .

The bus people had been warned, time and time again, but they refused to listen. What were a few threats in the face of providing services to rich foreigners looking for a thrill? 
 
 It was 4 am when we heard an explosion from the west, in the direction of the Syrian desert. Our'Rehnuma' picked 7 of us to investigate. Grumbling, we shouldered our rifles and set out with a map of the desert to ensure we did n't meet the same fate as whoever it was who had set off the mines. 
 
 When we arrived at the spot, I said a quick prayer to Allah for the souls of the fools who had attempted to navigate a minefield. The bus had been absolutely annihilated. Wreckage was strewn everywhere. We took photos of the scene before us in order to send another warning to the travel companies and began looking for bodies. 
 
 It was when the Sun had almost fully risen that we found the first body. And the second. And the third. And the fourth... 
 In fact, we found around 20 bodies lying in a pit. And the surprising thing was that none of them seemed hurt. Or even wounded. 
 A shadow fell over us. I looked up to see a man standing at the edge of the pit. His glasses were cracked and askew. His cheeks were flushed. And his biceps seemed ready to burst out of his shirt. I blushed. I should n't be thinking that way.'Rehnuma' would never forgive me. 
 
 I walked up to him. I could n't speak American but I still tried my best to communicate. 
 `` How alive you?'' I asked. 
 He looked away, his eyes clouded. He seemed ashamed. I did n't know what to make of it. Americans never made sense to me. 
 `` Bus boom? All survive how?'' I tried again. He shook his head. I let out an exasperated sigh and motioned for him to come with us. He pointed at the people in the pit. I shrugged. `` Help if you can. 1 hour only.'' 
 
 15 minutes later, all the Americans were on the truck. While the man was working, I kept sneaking glances at him. Allah would condemn me for all eternity but I could n't help myself. The way his hair curled over his forehead, his rippling muscles as he picked up each person. I suddenly found myself feeling more thirsty than usual. I was shaken out of my daze by my colleague John. He told me to ride with the Americans to ensure that they did n't try anything funny. 
 
 Surprisingly, the other Americans had yet to wake up but their leader was very alert. We sat in silence while he stared intently at me. Like he was trying to read my mind. I blushed and averted my gaze. I thought about what'Rehnuma' would do. He'd see Americans and freak out. He always did. Ever since his brother was shot dead by some soldiers in the invasion some 13 years ago. He could never forgive them. He was very stubborn that way. Just like those Americans. I wanted to help the man sitting before me. But he'd die just as fast by wandering in the desert as he would by the hands of'Rehnuma'. I resigned myself to believing that this was another group of people I could n't save... 
 `` Why are you here?'' The man asked. 
 I jumped and looked at him. He repeated himself, `` Why are you here? You have almost no malice in you. Why are you here?'' 
 In my hurry to answer him, I could n't find the right words. So, I said, `` Rehnuma, leader, save me dying. I serve life for him. He says. I do.'' 
 He sighed heavily. `` Just following orders.'' 
 
'Rehnuma' acted exactly as predicted. Within 20 minutes of bringing him the Americans, he had them all in chains and brought their leader to the firing range. The man was blindfolded and tied to a pole. However, he seemed unfazed by this. He was humming a song happily. I found it very unnerving. The firing squad began to the count down. When they reached 1, the man grinned in my direction and the guns fired. 
 
 Once the smoke had cleared and the dust had settled, I saw the man, standing, unharmed...'Rehnuma' looked with wide eyes at him, `` What are you?'' 
 He looked at me. `` You, release the Americans and leave. Now.'' 
 I wasted no time in following his orders. He had survived being shot point blank by 5 rifles. 
 
 After releasing the Americans, I went back to the firing range just in time to see'Rehnuma' fall to the ground, clutching what was left of his hand. I looked at him in amazement, `` What are you?'' 
 He smiled at me, `` Just a regular human like you. The name's Kent. Clark Kent.'' 
 And then he rose up and just flew away.
