by Faulina Arif
"Aria, are you alright?" Evan going back to Aria room and asked her.
Evan was worried because Aria still not coming outside of her room, and he decide to go and check.
"This is unsuited for me." Aria put those roses in her bed then looked at Evan that standing in front of her.
"You don't like it?" Evan take a glance toward those roses.
"Yes, in the past I like it. But now, everything changed Evan. And you know why."
Evan fall silent
Evan heard a part of Aria story earlier. The true reason for her vengeance. Those reason made Evan admire her that can survive in that condition.
"Each person had a past, Aria. If you always look at the past, you can't look at the future. You must . . . "
"Yes, but not for me." She cut his word in cold tone ."Those past that make me strong until now. Only those terrible memories can made me feel alive."
Evan shake his head slowly."In fact . . . what did they do to you?"
Something horrible was crossed in her facial expression. Irony from that memories was felt like a big wound sown by a salt. She can remember it clearly. Each pain, suffering, and how much tears that she must drip because of those scum which captured her.
Imprisoned in the underground prison which narrow and dark. Not given any food or clothes. everyday forced into a research room, her blood was taken and she was injected by another blood type, poison, bacteria, or any other liquid. Aria thrashing, scream in her cry, but no one inside that cursed place felt any pity toward her. They are laughing instead, feeling happy and fortunate because they find a rare and profitable species. for one year Aria must felt the pain in all of her body part day and night. Aria continued to ask, when this terrible things end and those scum will stop to torture her. even though Aria always pray to God, but everything becoming much worse than before, God were not helping her. those scum raping her for several times.
Aria struggle, trying to fight but she can't do anything. Every time she fight and do something, those bastard will chained her in prison and then torturing her in despicable manner.
For two years they doing these activity, it still not made them satisfied. Aria is not pregnant and all of her rapist was died because of weird disease with no cure.
Because they was bored and angry with whatever they do, those scientist scum increasing their research level, they once again torturing Aria, cutting her flesh with sharp blade, touch her flesh with a scorching metal, even more they tear out her eyes and taking her internal organ routinely.
Every new things they do to Aria made them surprised and amazed. Separating her organ from her body still can’t kill her. Aria still alive and survive in an extreme pain without end. Even though her body can't move, but she can still breathe and her instinct become more sharper. Every time those scientist take one of her internal organ, an extreme pain draw all the time until she was hoping to die. But Aria still alive and when the night comes, those missing organ will become a red smoke and return back at her body. Filling the emptiness that torturing her.
After knowing that Aria can't die, those scientist become mad. for the sole reason of science, any cruel research and method they apply it to Aria. For 5 years Aria must felt that endless suffering repeatedly, everyday and every moment.
Aria are not believing the existence of God. every time she prays and pleaded to God, God will only see. God is not helping her and let her suffer from torture that always increased and more cruel than before. That's why she was stopped to pray.
Her anger was risen when she know that what she seek can't be saved anymore. In her mental fatigue, she got that one chance and without any doubt she escaped and draw a weapon, killing all those scientist that was capture and torturing her. Destroying that cursed facility which robbed her from all of her happiness. With her own two hand and her power, Aria tried to change everything. Relying on her skill, Aria managed to escape from that cursed place.
"Aria!" Evan voice breaking the silence and Aria terrible memories.
"You don't need to know what they do to me, it's for the best" Aria said with trembling voice.
Evan approaching Aria and sit beside her."Do you find your sister?" Evan force himself to ask.
She gulped with great effort."I found her inside the tube. Only her body. She was not breathing anymore. She . . . can't see or recognize me, she . . . "
Suffering filled her soul and spread through her body, making her trembling. Tears fall from both of her eyes. Even though hundred years has passed, Aria can still remember it, how she blindly try to get her out from the tube. She can still felt it, her last embrace before her little sister turned to dust in her arms. She scream, crying hysterically but her little sister still disappearing without a trace, as if that little girl never existed like an illusion that was never there.
Both of Aria hand gripping the edge of her bed strongly. Her sadness that she felt suddenly turned to be a hatred and anger that Evan never saw before.
"You ought to tell me all about that organization. You said it earlier that you found something."
"I know how hard your suffering is Aria, but, I only find out about them for safety, not to fight them."
"What do you mean?!" Aria voice sharpen with a different tone
"They are too dangerous, Aria. Can't you understand how worried I was?" Evan looked at Aria. "We can go away from this place, far away, and live happily."
"I will never forget that painful memories, Evan." She said while moving her shoulder.
Aria standing up, and then walked toward the door.
"Aria!" Evan called while following Aria.
Aria halted her step and turned to look at Evan that now stopped a few meter from her. "That happiness you said earlier is not for me."
Evan walk approaching Aria. That man stare at her intently while slipping her hair to the back of her ear. "Happiness is a choice. You can just choose it."
It is a lie if Aria is not tempted by Evan gentle persuasion. The feeling of lonely and fatigue always there after she fight with that organization. Even though it is small, but there is a part of her heart that wanted to feel those calming feeling. Like in the past, when she didn't know about the cruelty of this world, meeting with wrong peoples, and never dared to take up a weapons. But she quickly set that feeling aside when those feeling emerges.
Aria shook her head. "It is not for that I came to this country." She said in low voice then she walk and leave Evan behind.
Evan frozen stiff.
Evan know that he should not talk like that and make Aria hesitant with her original objective. But Evan is true to his feeling. Evan loved her very much. That woman truly overawe him, unlike any other woman that long ago entering his life. If he must have a role to be an angel or devil only to make her safe and stay beside him, Evan will surely do it. Even though that is egoistic and one day he will be hated by Aria, but Evan really wanted to protect her. Yes, as long as Aria still need and wanted him, Evan will always be there for Aria and not caring for anything that will happened.
IRISE DELEGNERE
One day you will believe if my word is not only a load of bull, Wolf. And you will surely ask for forgiveness to me.
With a quick finger Faisal type that word and then send it to his friend in online games.
Someone that called Wolf cynically smile in front of his computer screen and purposively not replying Faisal message.
Brakk . . . . A sound of door smashed was heard in the upper floor.
Faisal eyebrow frowned, he then leaving his computer. he walked to the 2nd floor of the house and there he was seeing Marsha in front of room with closed door, she was growling angrily and restless.
Faisal walk and approaching Marsha. "So, what now?" He asking Marsha
Marsha looked at Faisal without answering, she looks upset.
Faisal glance at Reyn room door before looked at Marsha. "Ignored?" Faisal cynically laugh "Like I said, every healthy man will never turn down a sexy woman like Friska
."
Marsha glared at Faisal while pointing her finger to his face "Shut the hell up!"
She go from front of Reyn room, and climb the stairs to the upper floor in the attic room. She sit there alone while enjoying her broken heart that she got recently.
Sister, Marsha smiled in sadness. No one in this world that she can trust except Reyn. But how could he only think Marsha as his sister? Marsha was sure, if Reyn know how her true feeling, that man will not think Marsha as his sister anymore like Hafiz or Faisal always said. It is just very hard to express and tell her heart content in words. She was afraid, If she did that, there will be a distance between them.
Yes, Marsha can only guess what will happen if she expressed her feeling. Even if she was sure Reyn will not hate her, but aside from that it was possible if he will reject her feeling. Not consider her as sister does not mean he will accepted her feeling, and isn't that much worse than what she feared?
Today that witch came to seduce Reyn again and again. Seems like it was impossible to set her apart from Reyn. Every chance and whenever Reyn had a free time, Friska always appear and entertain Reyn with her slut body. Really, Marsha wishes to kill that witch. Stab her precisely in the heart with a knife and then hang her body in Banyan tree that was in front of their workshop.
This is suffocating. Falling in love is tiring and drain many time and feeling. For once, Marsha wanted to forget those torturing feeling, so that her mind and heart will be calm and she does not feel suffocating as she is now. But she can't, Reyn face always appear in her mind and mess her day perfectly. That man is very close, they stay in the same roof and meet often. But she felt like they become more far away, and the more day pass, it become harder for her to reach him.
Faisal that since then lean his back at the door side and looked Marsha in silent, now trying to approach Marsha. That man take a seat beside Marsha that hide her face behind both of her knee.
"Don't bother me" Marsha said in a sad tone
"Are you desperate?" Faisal stare at Marsha "Why not giving up?"
This time Faisal can't hide his care toward Marsha and this time he decide not to ignore her. It was drawn clearly in his face.
That thought extremely suffocating till without her realizing, it made her tears flow from her eyes. "He fuck that whore, and this is not the first. You think I can still feels alright?"
"How many times did I said to forget that horny monkey? His head is only filled by disgusting things and he was clueless about love."
Marsha smiled in pain. "Are you talking about yourself?"
For a moment Faisal become quiet. "H-hey! I never making love with random woman, I still keep my pet bird untouched."
Marsha stare at Faisal with angry face but filled with tears. "That's because he don't know about my feeling."
"That is your risk for notconfessing your feeling."
Marsha wipe her tears in her cheek."What did you know about my feeling? You, that in fact never had any relationship?" She answered in weak voice but cynical.
Imagining Reyn kissing all Friska body part gave her queasiness and a little hole that too deep in her heart. Even so, she was too foolish so that she can't hate or only blame him. Marsha know she was in the wrong, she should not be loving someone blindly. But Marsha really can't resist Reyn charm and she can't follow a logical reason in her mind.
Meanwhile Faisal still sitting beside Marsha and smiled sour. Marsha did not know, that Faisal always cared for her more than Marsha know. Not because of her breast and thighs that can always seducing him, but because he was really care and love Marsha.
Unlike Marsha and Hafiz that was found by Reyn. It was Faisal that found Reyn. Playing games is only a hobby that he can't throw away. Other than that Faisal is smart in programming and hacking digital data. Because of that ability he can found Reyn.
At first Faisal is only playing around, interested in Reyn plan because he was bored in this real life. Maybe the werewolf is there like those rumor says. And that curiosity make him join with Reyn group. Faisal think he just only follow Reyn plan until he feels bored. But, it was the other way around. Their meeting actually made him to become more curious and involved until now.
Even though he always act as the fool, Faisal is a careful man that always observe his surroundings. He always careful to make a decision. And as he see Reyn seriousness to make a plan, accompanied by Hafiz and Marsha hard work, Faisal was realize that what they all do is not a games, a games that was doing by some idle people. They was serious and believe that those terrible creature was there.
Faisal didn't have many female friends let alone close to them. Squabbling often with Marsha make him feels very close to her and he can understand her better. It was natural for him to fall for her. Only Faisal can understand, behind her arrogant and emotional attitude in truth she was fragile. Faisal really wish to make her happy, But Marsha happiness is only to be by Reyn side.
Ironic, right? Faisal love Marsha, Meanwhile Marsha love Reyn that always ignoring her. If that rumor about those monsters was right, so their games will closely meets their ends. Whoever love or loved must be ready at loss. That's why Faisal choose to stay quiet, hideaway his feeling and choose to protect Marsha with his own method. A method that will not make Marsha feels any pain or burdened. Although what he do will make Marsha hate him, however if it can make her angry and forget Reyn only for a while, he will still do it.
"You don't want to tell Reyn about your feeling?"Faisal forced himself to ask
The night wind breeze embracing Marsha, gave her a prickling cold. Marsha embracing herself with her own arms, trying to drive away the cold and a little hole in her heart. "I wanted too, but I was afraid with his answer." Marsha answered
Faisal can understand Marsha worries. Because of that he can only offer his shoulder without mocking her like always. "You can lean in here if you want."
Momentarily Marsha embrace his right arm and lean her head in his shoulder, and that make Faisal a little bit surprised with Marsha attitude.
Faisal smiled thin. "You are different from Marsha that I know."
"You too, unlike Faisal that I know."
Both of them smiled in sadness, enjoying their pain, disappointment, and all resentment because their unrequited love. Drown themselves in sadness. And even though it was only for a moment, her change of attitude made he feels more pain. Even though the girl that he love leaned her head in his shoulder, but it torture her mind without ends. Yes, this painful memories will surely engraved in his heart and can't be erased, a short moment when he was close to her. And maybe, in another chance for whoever knows, Faisal must let go of Marsha, and he must be ready to see that her loved one in other man's arms. Faisal will only be an extra casts that love Marsha with his own method without no one realized his thin existence.
IRISE DELEGNERE
Lina stares at her husband full of impatience. Tonight Lina cooking was different from any other day, she hope that her effort will make her serious and stiff husband to praise her.
"So how is it?" Her dimple decorating her cheek while smiling
That man in front of Lina for a while looked at her. "Delicious, is there more? I was sure if this is on sale we will have a good profit."
Lina smile vanished. That 28th years old house wife snorting and then she let out a little smile."I cooked that food only for my stiff husband, and not for sale. I only do it just hoping for a little praise." Lina sneered and then standing up.
Ichsan fall quiet, he looked at his wife until her figure was gone from kitchen door.
Lina taking a few of chicken meat from the oven while at the same time shook her head. If only she would not meet him, Lina aren't so sure a man like Ichsan will get married. Who else will accept that stiff man if not her? But, because of that reason, Lina fall in love and choosing Ichsan rather than other man. His unromantic nature and always serious behaviors, gave that romantic and loving woman like her a great challenge. Together the two of them complete each
other and filled the blank that they have.
A crying voice was heard from the room. Without finishing his dinner, Ichsan standing up and go to the room, he pick up a little baby from the baby basket and then embracing him. Shortly that little baby fall silent.
"Is he awake?" Lina looked into the room
"He liked to disturb my dinner." Ichsan answered pretending to sigh
Lina put a little smile and giggle."That's your fault, always come home at night and always run off so suddenly. It's a given if he miss you so much."
Ichsan smiled while patting his little baby back.
Teeeet . . . Teeet . . . A house bell was ringing several times. Ichsan and Lina stare at each other.
"Who is visiting at this hour?" Lina looked at her husband
Ichsan approaching Lina, and then gave her their son before going to open the door for the guest.
"Yes . . . Yes . . . I'm coming." Ichsan opened the door and staring to see who was standing in front of his house.
"Sir, we must talk." Said Sofian in hurried voice
Ichsan clucked."Oh you, I'm still in dinner. We can meet tomorrow in the office, why must you came in a hurry?!"
Sofian looked around as he was in alert before he looked at Ichsan."This is . . . about-"
Ichsan frowned."Come in!" Ichsan cut Sofian word fast
Looking at Sofian pale face and many cold sweat decorating it, Ichsan became suspicious. How much important this case is if that partner of his desperately visiting his house, even though they are just meeting 2 hours ago. They just should talk in phone.
"Sofian? Do you want to have dinner?" Lina asked Sofian when they go through the living room.
"N-no, I just already eat." Sofian try to act normally and smiled to Lina.
"Come here!" Ichsan ordering Sofian to follow.
Lina returned Sofian smile, He was following Ichsan. Ignoring the guest and her husband, Lina takes her son to the room and be put to sleep in the baby basket.
Meanwhile Ichsan and Sofian go into the working room. After closing the door, Sofian quickly approaching Ichsan and standing in front of him.