CHAPTER 2

 set on December 31, 2024, a significant turning point in human evolution is depicted as unusual events unfold globally at midnight. In Paris, the Eiffel Tower starts to dim, signaling a foreboding future, while Jerusalem hosts a special Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, marking the end of an era with a pilgrimage that suggests a return to ancient traditions. At the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran, technicians Mahmoud and Ali begin their night shift, with Mahmoud focused on safety due to Ali's apparent fatigue. As Mahmoud observes irregularities in the control indicators, he hears an unusual buzzing noise reminiscent of bees, which escalates their worry despite its improbable source. Their situation worsens when critical malfunctions occur, and Ali falls unconscious, leaving Mahmoud to grapple with an impending disaster. As he attempts to escape through a darkened stairwell, his flashlight fails, and the reactor spirals out of control, resulting in severe damage to Iran's nuclear facilities and a significant setback to its atomic weapons program.