by Faulina Arif
There’s no conversation at all between Zafar and Aria inside the car. Zafar still busy thinking what happened before in his mind while Aria just looking away from window to outside view, she seems reluctant to speak. This situation unchanged until the car stopped in front of house with a wide front yard. Zafar turn off his car then look at Aria beautiful face.
“I don’t know where to take you . . . , it’s my house.”
Aria gaze at Zafar house, a dilapidated old house, she knows if that house is not treated well. There’s not even a shed of beauty concerning this place called 'house'. No green plant for decoration, the wall paint that before white, now is full of moss and turned to yellowish, and its roof began to disintegrate. She can guess when it’s raining, a water drop will surely make that called 'house' interior wet.
Its look like a shack for drifter, Aria commented in her mind.
Aria get out from the car, taking her giant sword and then she slowly following Zafar. Zafar now standing in front of the door, for a while he’s searching something inside his bag and then take out a keys. Slowly he inserting that key into the door key hole then turns it, the door opened.
“Come on in . . . I will . . . check on your wound.” Zafar feel hesitant to say that word.
Aria clothes full of hole and bloodstain everywhere. But strangely he can’t find any wound in her body.
What should I do? There’s nothing to treat, she looked fine more than me actually. Zafar speaking in his confused mind, he remembers the wound in his right shoulder because sliced with Aria giant sword.
Aria began to check Zafar’s house surrounding before walking inside. She found that inside Zafar house is only darkness, there’s not even a shred of light. Aria can’t see anything at all, out of habit she suddenly touch the hilt of her giant sword, the darkness made her alert.
Zafar searching for a light switch for a while, he found the switch then press the button. The light turned on eliminating the darkness around them. After that he turns around and once again he surprised. He found Aria in battle stance, her right hand touching the giant sword hilt.
“Whoa . . . it’s really my home . . . ,” said Zafar that once again feel scared.
Aria grip loosen, releasing the giant sword hilt.
”Is that so?” Her voice tone still showing a sign of disbelief.
Zafar let out a sigh of relief. He then walking toward kitchen and leaving Aria behind. He taking off his eye glasses and then washes it in washbasin. He cleans his eye glass thoroughly from any blood stains. After that, he walked toward the buffet and then put his eye glasses there.
Zafar return to the washbasin to wash his face, neck, and hand from blood stains. Then he takes a bottle of mineral water from refrigerator. He drank all that water in one’s breath. Feeling a little relieved he then fell silent. Taking a deep breath, he then walk to where Aria is, while bringing a bottle of mineral water and a piece of tissue.
Heare not forgetting to take his eye glasses from the buffet, before returning to the living room where Aria was.
Zafar approach Aria. She’s standing beside a window.
“Here . . .A water for you.”
For a moment Aria stares at that bottle in silent, then she take it without opening its lid.
“Um . . . Are you ok?”, feeling uncertain Zafar asking while at the same time he cleaning his eye glasses with a piece of tissue then wearing it.
“Are you live alone here?” Aria asking Zafar without answering his question.
“Ah . . . Yes.” Zafar nod.” I recall from that time you are severely wounded, I suggest you-”
Aria cut off Zafar stated opinion.”I’m fine, just needing a little rest.”
“Ok, I will prepare a room for you to rest.” Zafar slowly walk away.
“No. I will sleep here.” Aria pointed toward a brown colored old sofa.
Zafar stop and turned around, he then look at where Aria points her finger.”O-ok, if that is what you want.” Zafar let out a forced smile and then leaving Aria on her own.
Zafar going inside his room and turned on the light. He opened his blood stained clothes. He then fell silent for a long time while looking at his bloodstained clothes. An endless stream of thought suddenly filling his brain.
Zafar was certain, he’s not suffered a weird illusion such as clinical lycanthropy. A condition where someone is experiencing him/her self becoming a werewolf, or saw a werewolf because of mental stress and heavy depression.
He knows that his job is difficult and it’s often making him a little stressed and confused. But he was sure that he still keeps himself well, both in body and mind. When it’s hard to believe and don’t make any sense, he knows that it’s all was real, those werewolf and Aria’s existence. And now Aria was here, in this house sleeping in his old brown sofa.
But who is that young woman named Aria actually? Should he ask Aria for what is happening tonight? He really wanted to ask everything to Aria for his thirst of knowledge. But, it seems Aria did not want to answer his question, it happened before. She always avoids being questioned.
Zafar throw away his bloodstained clothes. After that he treats his wound in right shoulder. Then he takes and wears his other clothes. Slowly Zafar sit in his bed. Still thinking about that incident.
Zafar never believed about those strange creatures, he don’t even interested from any of that. Many story in the world mention about them but still he was sure it was not real.
And today he was forced to think twice because what he saw and experience today. Why those creature in this country? How can they roam around freely? Why there was no news concerning those creature? No one was ever told Zafar in front of him about this. If this all was not a dream, Zafar was sure those creature will be hunted if their existence was known to public. But, there’s still nothing in mass media concerning them until today.
Then, that white haired young woman named Aria, for a glance she looked like a normal woman. But Zafar knows she was not normal, her strength was unreal. How can a thin young woman swing that giant sword rapidly and repeatedly, slicing and killing those monsters easily with a composed mind. She looked like didn’t feel any fear and disgust. And although her face appear to be from foreign country. She can speak this country language fluently.
All of this time, Zafar was only blinded by his job, not caring about what’s happening to the world. Just busy thinking about his own future and dream, never cared for another people. But today his eye was opened for the world. This world is enormous, not as small like how he thinks all this time. He now realize that he doesn’t know everything. There still many mystery around this world that still left unsolved.
Suddenly Zafar remember something. Zafar quickly wake up from his bed and searching something under his bed. Trying to pull out all his belonging there. He found an old cardboard that full of hole caused by rat, inside there was full of old book. He carefully searched and read its title one by one.
“What are you doing?”, a small dagger stuck to Zafar’s neck. He knows that voice.
Zafar shocked. A book in his hand fall to the floor. He felt a cold sharp metal in his neck slowly slicing his flesh. A little blood gush out from there, Zafar slowly turn around and look at Aria while she was looking at him with hatred and intent to kill.
“I’ve seen you before . . . ,” said Aria in a cold tone.
“W-what do you mean?” Zafar asking confusedly, his heart beating very fast. Zafar know that if he misspoke, he will be killed horribly.
“In doctor Marck seminar.” Aria glared. ”So, you are a scientist? What's your position?”
“I don’t understand what you say. Who are you actually?”
“I hated all of you to death!” Aria growl angrily, she add more force to her dagger making Zafar’s neck let out more blood.
Zafar squeal loudly.”I-if you wanted to kill me . . . Do it! But, please give me a logical reason why do you hate us?”
Aria let out a scornfulsmile.”You can ask that to
demon in hell!”
“Hey! Listen, I will help you,” said Zafar quickly.
“Ha? What do you mean?” Aria looks at Zafar with distrust.
“I will do anything for you!”
“Oh, your death is enough for me."
Zafar gulped. His heart beat becoming more faster, overwhelmed by his fear of death
"I . . . I wa - I am not a scientist, I'm just a researcher. Yes! Medical researcher!"
"Heh! That’s just the same!"
"Aria,I don't know why you hate the scientist, but believe me I am not like what you are thinking"
Aria fell quite for a moment.
"It was true you are helping me before, still …" Aria eyes narrowed "It's possible that you had an ulterior motive".
"If that was how you think, why did I decide to bring you to my own house? Meeting you is just a pure coincidence. I don't even know who you are. Please believe me Aria,I don't have even a slight intention to harm you"
Aria fell silent for a while "We will see about that" She withdrawing her dagger from Zafar's neck
Zafar feels relieved, he stare at Aria that now walking toward the door, she stopped right at front of the door and turn around. "Hey I'm hungry." she said
"W-what?" Zafar stuttered while at the same time confused
"You want to help me, right?" Aria walked away leaving Zafar behind
Zafar sighed, he really tired now. For several times in a day his heart jumped because of what happened tonight. And recently he's in near death situation because of her. While standing up Zafar correct his eye glass position. Then he take a band aid and tissue, he clean the blood with tissue and then close the wound with band aid.
Meanwhile Aria was found sitting neatly in one of the kitchen chair. She sits in front of dining table and stare at Zafar intently. She seems still untrusting.
Ignoring Aria, Zafar opening his refrigerator door then take a food that still covered in aluminium foil. He put it inside a microwave then set the timer.
"Hey, you can cook or not?" Aria looks annoyed at Zafar pathetic action.
"Sorry, I don't have talent for cooking." he answered while at the same time walking to cupboard, taking a plate.
"Ah, whatever." Feeling disappointed Aria sighed
"Do you . . . want to tell me who you really are?" Zafar asking Aria Carefully
Aria and Zafar made an eye contact in silent, many word and question filling both of their minds till the microwave alarm sounded. Zafar go to microwave, opened it and take out the heated food inside with a kitchen gloves. Then he put that food to the plate and throws its aluminium cover to trash.
"Where's your parent?" Aria asking Zafar in monotone
"They are not here anymore." Zafar take a spoon then put it in the plate.
"My mother died since I'm little, and my father . . ." Zafar fell quite, he was thinking. Maybe if Zafar was truthful about himself to Aria, she will let out the truth about herself, which is possible.
"Your father?" Aria is waiting Zafar answer, her eyebrow slanting
Zafar takes a deep breath "Well, I don't know. He was disappeared and leaving me by myself for a long time, no news or anything like that."
Aria fell silent, she seems uninterested to take that conversation longer.
Zafar walk and approaching Aria.he put the plate in front of her.
"Do you have brother? or sister?" Aria starts another conversation.
"None . . . I’m a single child." Zafar walk away and go to where the refrigerator at. He then opened its door to take a bottle of orange juice. Slowly he pours that juice into a glass cup. He then returns to Aria and put that glass cup next to her.
Zafar take a sit in opposite direction of Aria. He secretly looks at her beautiful face. It’s hard to believe, a beautiful young woman like her killing those strong monster alone. He can't believe it himself if not seeing Aria did it before with his own eyes. And for sure no one will believe Zafar if he tells that to someone else. Zafar take a little glance toward Aria giant sword in the table. Its position is not far from her hand.
Zafar sighed. She still not trusting me
Suddenly Zafar remember something that bothering him before.
"When I'm driving my car, I think I was hitting something. Don’t tell me that was you?"
Aria looks at Zafar directly "Ha? Are you delirious? How amusing . . . “Ariaanswers and smiled cynically at him
"S-so? What was that creature? And why are you so strong?"
Aria shrugged her shoulder "I don't know, the only thing that I know is, I’m being targeted. I just fighting for survival."
Zafar eyes widely open "Targeted??! By who?" Zafar asked with surprised look
Aria eyes widen in disbelief, she talked too much. She then looks at the food in the plate
"This was the first time I saw those creature, and strangely I never heard of anything concerning their wellbeing. Are they some kind of . . . werewolf? Or some kind of . . . mutated monster? or animal? and from where are they originated? "
"Enough! I will not speak of this ever again." Aria suddenly standing up.
"Eh? W-wait!" Zafar standing up following Aria
Aria then take her giant sword, she suddenly point it to Zafar's neck. Making Zafar once again shocked, how many time this was happened to him.
That man didn't dare to move, for a moment he holding his breath in fear
"Don't you dare try to follow me, and don't you dare tell this to anybody!"
Aria threatens Zafar with a cold eyes making him creeps out.
Zafar look at the tip of Aria giant sword
"W-why?"Zafar asking in low voice.
Zafar overwhelmed by fear, he know the risk. If he misspoke, no doubt that giant sword will cut his neck easily. But curiosity take the best of him, he can't shut his mouth. He wants to ask Aria until everything inside his mind is answered.
"That was the only way for you to live. Except you want to die right now"
Aria put her giant sword to her back. Then walking away.
Zafar was frozen stiff. For a moment he then awakens and find that Aria was gone. Zafar quickly ran leaving the kitchen and pursue Aria to living room. Zafar saw Aria walking fast then get out from the house.
"Hey! Hey!" Zafar shout loudly
He opens the door and nothing was there, only the darkness of night. He then slowly walks around his house to find nothing. Determined to search Aria he even walk around a wide area to check on its surrounding, but still can't found her. Only he was there alone in the darkness.
"Is she even human?" Suddenly he felt a Goosebumps. He gulped and quickly goes back to his house.
Mystery
Ichsan get out from his patrol car to find himself surprised. This is the first time in his life to find something this outrageous and extraordinary, moreover he saw this with his own eyes. Slowly he approaches the crime scene while at the same time take out a gloves from his coat then wear it. He fell silent for a moment to see so many of a strange creature mutilated corpses.
"By the gods! What the hell are these?" Ichsan crouched then touch some blood in the ground with his two fingers. It's still warm.He said it in his mind.
Ichsan standing up then take off his gloves. After that he throws it to the nearest corpse bag. Ichsan looked at an old man that standing right beside him. He is writing something in his note book.
That old man now closes at the end of his service time at police department. an old man like him usually work behind the desk, drink some hot coffee and leave every bothering things to his young subordinates. But this old man is clearly different, he's at that age but still liked to do this field work. Checking the crime scene on his own, and always do something unnecessary like taking a note.
"What is this?" Ichsan asked that old man a question
"Well . . . I don't know." Answer that old man named Fahri. He then stopped writing and look at Ichsan directly. Ichsan is his new subordinate and work under him.
He knows Ichsan
is a famous detective. Ichsan always succeed to solve many hard and mysterious criminal cases. He got many award and appreciation from police department at a young age. But now Ichsan is not so young anymore, he now has a wife and children. But his character is still the same. Always honest to himself and his surroundings. Had a rude attitude and he always like to make his superior annoyed because of how he talks.
At first when he saw Ichsan. Fahri can't help but to think that Ichsan is the same as any other police officer. Always follow a direction and order from superior. But, Fahri was wrong. Since Ichsan and his partner arrived to his office, they always make Fahri heads spinning.
Ichsan is a great detective, his skill and ability was proved. Any criminal case was solved if it in his hand. The sole problem is his behavior. He always do what he wanted to do and can't be controlled even by his superior.
Maybe many of Fahri subordinates didn't know this, but Fahri always known about their character. And Ichsan is categorized as a troublemaker that cannot be troubled.
"Is this incident frequently happens?"
"Very often . . . up to eleven times now."
Ichsan think in his mind.Eleven times? A big count indeed.
Ichsan never knows and heard about this kind of rare case before. Every experienced detective will think that something went wrong about this, and moreover he heard that statement himself from his superior.It is indeed suspicious.
"Sofian!" Ichsan called a young man named Sofian. In the moment he still checking one of those corpses. He looked at Ichsan and stop to do his task. He slowly standing up and approaching Ichsan.
"So, what's your opinion?" Ichsan asked
"This is terrific sir! This is my first time seeing something this amazing!" Sofian let out a big smile
Ichsan smiled while at the same time taking his cigarette from his pocket.
"Amazing . . . . Huh?" His smile changed to a big grin, he then lights his cigarette that now in his mouth.
"It seems you are happy . . . "
"This creature is look like a legend that was told in so many tales in Europe from the past."
"A legend?" Fahri stares at Sofian, his forehead crinkled.