by Faulina Arif
Aria shocked Hah? What the hell? Impossible! She swear in her mind
She was out of breath, Aria then slid her dual pistol in her back waist. What the hell is that monster? It seems impossible to defeat. She thought
Aria was stupefied thinking about that giant monster that see saw for the first time. Then she turned and walk away, she wanted to return to see those victim in that place. When she nearly got there she saw a man standing there looking at those victim. She hides right away in the corner.
Is that man the one that yelled before? She ignoring that man and walk away from that place. She walks toward the apartment building she was before, and then she rides her sport bike and leaves that place before the police came.
I failed again . . . , Aria accelerate her sport bike until it speed hit 120 km/hour.
IRISE DELEGNERE
Sofian goes out from a bus and walk in the quiet street towards his house. Before, he was in one of his friend house and he didn't have a choice but to go home by bus, because his car is out of order and now it's still in a workshop to be repaired. Sofian walked in the darkness of night only accompanied by moonlight. His mind drift off, he remember about the case that he handled a few days ago.
As a detective assistant, any people can say that Sofian is still new in this field of work. And in his two years working, this is his first time to saw an amazing incident. In his work place before here, Sofian never getting a murder case and moreover the victim is a legendary creature that people always call a werewolf. As a young detective, Sofian was known as a capable and smart person. He can’t help but feel curious about this entire incident. He wanted to know more and can't ignore these feelings that always disturb his mind. His intelligence will not let him to stay idle. Although for this time, he didn't know what to do.
Thinking all of that only making him thirsty and feel tired. He needs more glucose to make his brain feel better. He was arrived in a crossroad. Sofian turn to other way in opposite direction from his house. He walked 500 meter more or less, to visit a mini market that open for 24 hour. Sofian gets in and approaches one of the mini market staff that now keeping a juice stall.
"One soursop juice please." Sofian asked
"That fruit is run out, bray." that young man answered.
"What fruit do you have left?"
"Melon, Avocado, Mango, Orange, and Kiwi."
"Oh, alright. One mango juice please."
"Okay . . ." that young man worked
Sofian waiting that young man to make his mango juice, he get out from the mini market. Sofian standing in front of the door whilst breathing the night air deeply. His eye gaze at the street irradiated with a poor light in front of him.
Sofian grimaced, and then raised one of his eyebrows while looking at the wall beside the street.
"Trash of society always likes to leave a trace. I bet all of these people liked to pee haphazardly in random places." Sofian muttered because he saw some wall graffiti in a bad manner.
"Bray! Your juice is done Bray!" that young man yelled at Sofian.
Sofian stare at him, then get into the mini market.
"That, who drawing that graffiti on the wall there?" Sofian asked while pointing his finger to that wall.
That young man look at the direction Sofian pointing for a while and then look at Sofian.
"Oh? That was from punk boys doing bray. They always do this kind of thing, sometimes this store wall became a victim, and me and my brays will paint it again. Damn them boys!" That young man talk with a weird accent, he hands over Sofian mango juice. Sofian takes it and hand a money to him.
"Huh, there will always be a creature like those punks, where did they stay?"
"Ou . . . ? They boys always stayed there, in old apartment."
Sofian drinks his mango juice "That twin old apartment?"
"Yea, Bray." That young man gives Sofian his money change.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
"Eh? What’s that sound?" Sofian surprised.
"Ouh, they boys again. They often light a firecracker."
Sofian forehead wrinkled. After he takes his change of money he quickly leaves the mini market. Inside his mind he thinks No, that sound is not from firecracker, I often heard that.
Sofian throw the plastic cup of his mango juice that now was empty to a trash can, he run toward where that sound was originated. Then he can hear that voice again. Sofian increasing his running speed then arrived in crossroads. That sound was now disappearing, but to prove his guess he once again run toward the twin apartment block until he short in breath and did not have strength to run anymore. He stopped in front a line of store that now was closed, he slowly takes a breath. Those line of store location was 200 meter in front of the twin apartment block. Sofian is too tired to standing straight, he bend his upper body.
Brukkk . . . the sound of something fall made him surprised, Sofian look at the apartment block that still far away from his location. And at that time, a single man runs past him. For a moment Sofian can see that man smiled, then he was gone disappearing from Sofian sight.
After that man was gone, Sofian looks back at the apartment block. He saw a terrifying giant creature wearing a black armor suddenly swing its black giant sword to a few people there. Only for a split second suddenly many blood was scattered everywhere, and those people body was split in two.
Sofian eyes widen in disbelief, a cold sweat streamed in his body. His heart nearly stopped because how shocked he was, his mouth was open wide and he can't move at all. He can only look at that incident without courage to do anything.
He then saw a young woman exiting the apartment main door while holding two big pistols in both of her arms. She was shooting that pistol toward that terrifying giant monster. But the bullet from her pistol only bounced off from its armor and let out a spark. That terrifying giant monster runs away, leaving that mysterious young woman. She then quickly pursues it. They leaving the apartment block and turn in the corner, they seem not aware about Sofian existence that can only see them in the darkness.
"H-hey! Wait!" Sofian trying to shout to call that mysterious young woman. But his scared mind and fear of that incident make his voice weak. That young woman only can hear a vague voice.
Sofian can only stare at them leaving the apartment block in silent. He was still shocked and can't believe with what he saw tonight. Even he want to, he can't chase after them now. he know that his condition make him unable to take action, he don't even have a weapon now for self defense. Meanwhile, the firearms bullet is not effective against that terrifying giant monster. Sofian then looks at the human corpse that lying in front of the apartment building. Chasing them will means death, if Sofian force himself, he was sure that his fate is the same as those corpses.
In the middle of fear, Sofian leaves his location. With a trembling body, Sofian walk toward the apartment. He then stopped near those corpses, his face pale and stares at them with eyes open wide. Four delinquent was died because their body was split in two parts. So much blood spraying everywhere, those corpses condition is bad. All of their intestines are coming out of the body. Their eyes still wide open, Sofian can tell. That black giant sword cut at their body with an amazing speed, until they did not realize their body was split in two.
A phone ringtone interrupted his speculation. He takes out his phone then presses its button.
"H-hello?"Sofian answering the phone in stutter.
"Hey! Where are you now?"
"I . . . I am." Sofian falls silent. Should I tell Mister Ichsan about this?a doubt filling his mind, and he choose not to tell this incident "Is something the matter sir?" Sofian tries to speak normally
"There's a call from headquarter. We had a mission to lead a cleaning. Where are you? I will pick you up."
"I . . . I'm in my house."
"Okay, get ready and prepare yourself."
The phone was disconnected, Sofian return his phone to his pocket. For a while he looks back at those corpses, before he r
eally leaving that place.
IRISE DELEGNERE
"This time, it’s happen near your house." Ichsan spoke, he wanted to break the ice between himself and Sofian.
Ichsan take a little glance to Sofian, since the first time meeting him today. Sofian keeps silent and his eyes staring outside the car window. He was not like Sofian that Ichsan know all along, the always talking and curious Sofian now become a silent man. Even when Ichsan talked to Sofian, he isn't looking at him.
"What's wrong with you? Are you sick?" Ichsan can't refrain himself to ask
Sofian still quiet. Still not looking at Ichsan or answering his superior question. Sofian was seen leaning to the car chair and massaging his head. A same question repeatedly appears across his mind. Should I tell everything that I've seen to mister Ichsan? Will he believe me and will not think that I was hallucinating?
Sofian does not have proof and moreover he did not know what creature he saw before. Its appearance looks like a monster in war game he played before. He was afraid to tell this truth to other people, he don't want to be humiliated as a dreamer and braggart that was hallucinating. He was sure Ichsan will laugh at him.
Sofian and Ichsan become a partner in only a few month since they was transferred here. Basically they were the same, in a new and foreign place. The difference between them is only one, they can say Sofian is a new recruit and Ichsan is a veteran. With a vast experience because of his long dedication, his transfer to another office is normal to Ichsan. Ichsan got so many appreciation, honor badge, and recognition from police department. It makes many police officers and other detective admired and respected him.
In fact, Sofian always admired and respected him since long ago. He always wanted to meet Ichsan. Sofian not even expecting that his transfer will bring him closer to Ichsan, Sofian even becomes happier because he was assigned to Ichsan. To be his partner and under his tutelage is one of Sofian wish since long ago, that wish is come true.
As he was thinks about Ichsan, for a few months in his tutelage there is no case that they can't solve. Even though Ichsan is stubborn, never listen to his superior and always ordering Sofian to do many things. Ichsan can always solve even a mysterious of mysterious cases. It was exactly because of that attitude, Ichsan always succeed. Many things that he can learn from Ichsan, he become more and more respecting him. If there is someone Sofian can trust, that person is undoubtedly Ichsan.
Ichsan smiled, and then he looks at Sofian.
"Did you break up with your girlfriend? I can read your face. Hahah!" Ichsan talked in mocking tone and laughing.
Sofian is still quiet. He staring the outside of car window again and ignoring Ichsan more than before.
Ichsan pouting "Ah, you are no fun."
They arrive in the crime scene. Ichsan get out from the car and followed by Sofian, he then stand beside Ichsan.
In that place now is filled with an officer in forensic division, some of them is busy to set a police line in the crime scene in order to prevent any civilian from going in.
"Dear god, how can these happen? Look at them! Their body was split in two." Ichsan stare at those corpses in disbelief.
Sofian is still quiet. He stares at those corpses with a flat facial expression.
"What do you think?" Ichsan asking Sofian.
Sofian is still quiet.
Ichsan stare at Sofian with serious expression. "This is strange, are you not curious? You don't want to touch them to find out something?" Ichsan trying to lure Sofian normal behavior.
Sofian still unmoved. His mind became clouded, he staring sharply at those corpses, one question appear across his mind. What should I do?
"This time there's a human victim?" A head investigator asked and he was newly arrived at crime scene.
Ichsan looked to the back. "Oh, Old man. You’re late!"
"Not your concern." Fahri answered, he look at Sofian "So, what do you think about this Sofian?"
Sofian look at Fahri in silence.
"Sofian!"Fahri calling him with a loud voice.
"A-ah?S-sorry sir."Sofian stutter.
"What's wrong with you? You can't stand this?" Fahri asked.
"I . . . I was . . ."
"Sir!How about the corpse in the next building?"One of police officer reporting and halted Sofian word.
Sofian eyes wide open in surprise. There's another victim? He said in his mind.
"How many victim?" Ichsan asked that officer.
"Three sir! This time all of them is non-human."
"WHAT??!!!" Sofian yelled.
All of the eyes in that place looked at him, not long after that Ichsan and Fahri look at each other in confusion.
"What's wrong? It seems you . . . “Fahri close his mouth, he cancelling his word purposely.
"Let's go, we'll check it!" Ichsan inviting them.
Four of them now walk away from the crowd. They following that police officer to the next building, then they climb up the stairs to the highest floor.
"Huh . . . Hehh, Hahh!!"Fahri short of breath, he needs an extra effort to climb these stairs of hell. Before he hoped that this building had a lift, but that was just a pipe dream.
"You are too fat old man, its better if you retire tomorrow" Ichsan mocking Fahri with a wide smile.
"S-Shut up! Concentrate in your job brat!" Fahri lean his fat body in a wall near them.
Ichsan stare around them, he saw two werewolf corpses and in the edge of building he saw a weird creature he never saw before. They approaching that weird creature corpses.
"What in the gods name are these?" Ichsan eyes wide open in surprise. "Disgusting!" Ichsan stare to the corpse of that creature, its appearance resemble of human and octopus.
The police officer that picked them before now's busy taking a photo of that creature.
"Are you done taking its picture?" Fahri asked that police officer.
"Yes, it's done sir" That police officer nod.
"Good work, now check another." Fahri ordering that police officer.
"Yes sir!" That police officer goes toward another corpse.
Sofian approaching that man-octopus corpse, it's was his first time seeing this kind of creature. And he was sure these creatures never mentioned in any past story. Its head is full of tentacle down to its stomach, and below its stomach is like of a normal human. It had human legs even though its black colored. Sofian squat and slowly wear his gloves to both hands. He then touch that tentacle.
"This texture . . . This is not the same as Mollusca. This tentacle texture is similar to Cnidarian tentacle." Said Sofian.
"What do you mean?" Ichsan and Fahri asked in the same time
Sofian look at both of them, he still in his squatting position
"This tentacle excrete some kind of liquid, I think this liquid is a potent toxin. I can guess and speculate from the color of this black liquid and it's texture. There is a few of Mollusca animalia that can excrete poison, but its poison far different from this. This creature can excrete so many of this poison in a second, even after its death. Terrifying monster I can say."
"What is Cnidarian?" Ichsan asked
"It's some kind of animal, like a jellyfish"
"So you said this strange and ugly creature in here is the same as a jellyfish??"
"W-well . . . I only said its tentacle texture was similar sir, I'm not so sure"
"Okay, we can assume that this ugly creature here is a jellyfish. But, I think jellyfish poison is not dangerous right?"
"You are wrong sir, there are so many cases where the diver died because they were stung by jellyfish"
"Yes, but that was because those jellyfish attack them with number"
"That's why sir. All of this related to a dosage. If a human body exposed by 40 microgram of nematocyst poison, the human death will happen in a few minutes. So what will happen if the dosage is more than that? You can imagine yourself sir."
Ichsan look at that creature with a little nod "We can see that this creature al
ways excrete this liquid. Is this liquid is really that nematocyst poison?"
"We must make sure in the laboratory to know the exact truth."
"No." Fahri quickly cut their word "This creature will be carried and then cremated to erase all evidence."
Sofian fall silent.
Ichsan stare at Fahri. He was quiet for a moment and then he look at Sofian that still squatted.
"Take its sample!" Ichsan ordering Sofian
"Hey!" Fahri yell "Do you not hear me?"
"Shut the hell up old man!"
Fahri and Ichsan glare at each other. Then Fahri take a short breath "I will not take any responsibilities concerning this."
"Yes, if this comes to light just blame me. In order to make your position safe and sound."
Fahri fell silent, and then he slowly walks away from that place.
"Sofian, do it!" Ichsan ordered
Sofian nod. He takes a sample bottle inside his jacket, then filled it with those liquid carefully.
"Cut a little of that tentacle!"
"Alright." Sofian takes a dagger inside his pocket then he cut that tentacle like how he was ordered.
"Let's go, our job is finished." Ichsan turn and walk away leaving Sofian that now just standing up. He quickly follows Ichsan.
The two of them climb down the stairs without chatting. And after they arrive in ground level, Fahri is waiting for them.
"Is it done?" Fahri asked. "Come with me!"
"Where?" Ichsan asked
"Drinks a coffee of course."
"I don't like coffee." Ichsan answering "Besides, I bring my own car here"
"Is that so? Then you can just follow my car!" Fahri turn away and leaving the two of them that now staring at each other.
Without further refusal, Ichsan go to his car with Sofian. They leaving the crime scene and follow Fahri car
"It seems you know about this incident. You showed that sign before" Ichsan talk without looking to Sofian.
"W-what do you mean sir?" Sofian stuttered
"Hah, give me a rest. I know all about you and your habit. Don’t try to lie to me."
Sofian sighed deeply. "Alright, I will tell you all about it."
Ichsan takes a little glance toward Sofian.