by Faulina Arif
Zafar fell silent.
"So, it will be best for you to leave this place. I don’t know what will happen tomorrow or the day after. I can’t guarantee my own safety let alone another people."
“I understand, thank you." Zafar answered.
Reyn let out a thin smile before walked away from Zafar's front.
Zafar back into silence. Confused whilst feeling tired. He doesn't know what to do, He simply doesn’t have any solution inside his mind.
IRISE DELEGNERE
Hafiz eyes opened wide while staring at Computer display in front of him. His hand fingers fast moving a mouse and then typing some letter in a keyboard. Hafiz gulped. A big secret that he recently got make his curiosity increased and his brain boiled. His heart beating fast and not even once his eyes has blinked. His eyes moving fast following every word without patience.
"Hafiz, are you there?" A knocking sound was heard from behind his room door.
Hafiz startled and immediately looks at the door."W-what is it, Marsha?"
Hafiz returned to look at his computer display and quickly opening another file.
Marsha opening the door and bend half of her body into the room. "1 hour from now, all of us must gather in the basement."
Hafiz looked at Marsha in silence. His soul is still shaken and because of that, Hafiz can't hear Marsha's word clearly.
"Did you finish your work? Getting a lot of information?" Marsha asked.
Hafiz not answering, but still stares at Marsha.
"Hafiz!!" Marsha called
Hafiz startled and his daydream was ended. he then looked at Marsha with his eyes wide open.
"Are you alright?" Marsha asked
"Yes, of course." Hafiz answered
"I think Reyn will discuss the next plan. You already finished your work, right?"
Hafiz nod. "I will take it in the meeting."
Marsha nods a little."Okay."
Marsha closing Hafiz room door without a word. She walked away while frown her forehead. In truth she was wondering about Hafiz strange behavior. Hafiz is daydreaming and looked confused.
At this time Marsha is wearing only a mini skirt and tank top, but Hafiz is not budging moreover squawking like always. Before, not even once Hafiz skipped that important moment since they were meeting at the first time. Indeed he wasn't like usual Hafiz. Ignoring Hafiz, Marsha go to another room to find Aria and Faisal.
Meanwhile in his room, after Marsha closing his room door, Hafiz immediately leaves his chair and walked toward the door. He locks the door before taking a seat back in front of his computer. A curiosity filling his brain until it made his body let out a cold sweat. Hafiz back to opening the file which he had hide before and reading it with fast speed.
IRISE DELEGNERE
Some werewolf image appeared from the projector machine to the wide white display in the wall. And alongside that picture there was an explanation describing them.
"So they were real huh?" Faisal amazed until a lollipop in his mouth nearly fall.
"Aria, is that terrifying creature all this time always killed by you?" Marsha stares at Aria while pointing her finger toward the display.
Aria nod.
"Night vision, super smelling sense, and fast movement." Reyn reading the description that written in display then he looked Aria. "That is why those controllers always liked to use them. With that ability, they can easily find you."
"Yes, but they had a weakness." Aria answered.
Hafiz pressing next button in his wireless presenter and the display changed to the next slide, in that slide there is written a weakness of that creature like what Aria said before.
Aria remembered about the incident happened in Saint Gloria church at that time. After looking at some human, suddenly those creatures are losing control. They didn't obey the controller command to capture Aria and instead they attack any human they see.
"The second creature is this octopus-like monster." Hafiz changing the slide and there is appeared a new image full with its description.
Everyone focused to look at the display.
"This creature is a half failed experiments. A liquid that always come out from its body is extremely dangerous and can kill human at minute’s counts. This creature can also live without any oxygen. But more than that, there is nothing special. Their movement is slow and it is hard to be controlled."
Hafiz continuing to the next slide and everyone immediately surprised
"This creature with bear-like appearance is immune to bullet and had a super strength. It is the newest product, in this past month they had recently succeed developing it."
Aria frown her forehead. Newest product? She murmured. So that's why they never send that creature to attack me.
"This pig-like creature is . . . ,one of failed experiment. Not only it can't be controlled, this creature didn't even have an instinct and always quiet. Usually, a traitor in that organization will be punished by changed into this creature and then, they will be fed to another hungry monster."
"W-wait . . . What do you mean by traitor?" Faisal seems like he was misheard.
Hafiz changing slide to the next and everyone there was surprised while looking at the display except Aria.
"They are human." Hafiz looked at everyone alternately." An elder, criminal, and other people that with unknown origin. But they are inside that facility as an experiment subject. And our government know this really well."
Everyone fell silent. A cold sweats flow at Faisal's face.
"What's wrong with your 'handsome' face?!" Marsha mocking Faisal that can't answer.
Hafiz changed it to the next slide and there was appeared a foreign men with big figures wearing black suit.
"They are the organization trusted people, they are guarding the facility as their duty. Especially to keep the organization secret. These people often contacting and cooperating with police department that always doing a cleaning for their activity."
Marsha's eyes become empty while looking at that image."They are the ones that killed my parents." Marsha gritted her tooth.
Those people clothing manner and all things they had, all of that is similar with the people that visiting Marsha's house in that morning and shoot her parents. Although it was in the long past, Marsha still can't forget it. Because her desire to destroy them all, she was here with the others.
"S-so, all this time those monsters is a human?!" Faisal looks shaken.
Suddenly Faisal stomach becomes sick. He remembers about their infiltration to that facility and directly saw that waste pond which was full with human body parts. And now everything becomes clear.
"Then, is there any important information that you get?" Reyn asked.
Hafiz pressing the next button. "Main facility location."
Aria eyebrows rose while looking at the map in display."That place, seems it was not far from here."
Hafiz nod. "Yes, the distance to that place is only 6 until 7 kilometer from this place. There is a big pharmaceutical company."
"Do you mean Kimia Mandiri Company?" Reyn making sure.
Hafiz nodded.
"But, isn’t that company is only a common pharmaceutical company?" Faisal becomes confused.
"That is what society knows all this time. But from all information that I got, that company is only a disguise to deceive common people. The main facility is located there."
Next slide was appeared and there is that pharmaceutical company multistoried building image and beside it written a little description.
"Only this?" Reyn asked.
"Yes, what's left is their victim identity. Its count is thousands and it is impossible to include it in this files. There is employee data with accounting files that clarify their income and outcome."
Reyn fall silent, the same as everyone.
With great effort they infiltrating that facility in the middle of that island, and only this kind of information that can they get. All of that hard work seems in vain.
&n
bsp; Aria flipping through the document that was printed by Hafiz and distributed to everyone including herself. Aria sighed. Her thought is not much different with Reyn, all of this information is unimportant. Aria knows all of this since long time ago. The things that she wanted to know more than this information, including things about that black giant armored creature that she saw for the first time which seems invincible. If Aria had even a little information about that creature, she can make a plan to defeat it.
"I even had a worst nightmare a few days until I can't eat and this is the result?" Said Faisal.
"My purpose to cooperate with you is only to find their organization leader and killing that person with my own hands. So, I will still go there and destroying that facility to find that person, even without help." Aria looked at every people in that room.
"I wanted to know their reason why did they kill my parents, I will also go." Marsha suddenly responded to Aria statement.
"Your father . . . Wanted to leave the organization, and because of that they must eliminate him." Hafiz stares at Marsha.
Marsha eyes widely open and then looked at Hafiz, so as Reyn.
"Hafiz, what are you saying?" Reyn asked.
Hafiz looked at Reyn."From those victim lists, I found Marsha parents name there. Marsha's father worked in that facility for a long time. But then suddenly he wanted to leave without any good reason. Because of that they were obliged to kill him."
Reyn fall silent and his eyes gazing at the table.
Marsha staring at Hafiz full of anger and hatred that overflow. Now Marsha had every reason to destroy that organization.
Hafiz opening the next slide making their reverie ended and returned their eyesight to projector display.
"I found 2 suspicious invitation cards. Seemed like, this invitation is to celebrate the establishment of their facility in this country. The first invitation card is for organization employee. And the second invitation card addressed to high ranked people in organization."
"Those 10 people?" Reyn pointed to the second invitation card direction. There is a list of 10 names written there and Reyn recognize 1 of it.
"I think, it will be futile if we wanted to destroy the main facility without knowing who their leader was. But the problem is we don’t know who's that person is."
"He surely be attending that party, and . . . We will also go there." Reyn added to Hafiz explanation.
Reyn and Hafiz that had a same thought, looked at each other and smiled.
"So, who will go?" Faisal asked while looking at everyone alternately.
Reyn directly looked at Aria that seated in front of him."Not a problem right? To be my guardian angel?"
"Of course." Aria answered with a little smile.
Reyn returning her smile.
A Pathetic Normal Life's
After always made confused and doubted, finally Zafar can reach a decision. The first thing he must do is to meet with Shela. Zafar doesn't mean to make Shela feeling troubled. Not because he was cornered until he decided to search for Shela. However Zafar think, Shela have the right to know about his condition. Zafar can't make Shela always in the state of worry.
As what Reyn said, if something bad happened and Zafar always hide in Reyn workshop, those people will undoubtedly become suspicious at him. He could be considered as their accomplices. Zafar is only wanted his normal life to return, not going behind a prison's bar.
After meeting with Shela and explained everything especially about his condition, Zafar will go to another city far away from this city. That choice is the best course of action he can think right now. Zafar can't force himself to stay at this city, when he didn’t know if those men in black still targeting him or not. But as long Aria still not captured, seems like that was the case. They could be still targeting Zafar to capture her.
Zafar arrived at Shela house front yard. He quickly walked to terrace and stopped in front of the door. He pressed the bell located in his upper right side and he waits.
Zafar is truly missed Shela. Even though all this time Zafar is seen as uncaring person and doesn’t think about Shela much, but in reality Zafar really loved her. After all their relationship is goes for years and Zafar is serious about his feelings.
The door was opened, a woman in her 50th that was familiar with him coming out from the door and smiled gracefully toward Zafar. "Zafar dear? This been a long time."
Zafar returned her smile."Is Shela at home, ma'am?" Asked him to Rika that none other than Shela's mother.
Until this time Shela's parent doesn't know about Zafar and Shela relationship. Rika only thought that Zafar is only Shela close friend.
Zafar intentionally asked Shela not to say anything about their relationship. If Zafar is ready particularly at financial, Zafar will directly meet them and propose to Shela. That is Zafar's plan.
"Shela going out since this morning with Helmi."
"Helmi?!" Zafar stare at Rika in confusion.
"Yes. In morning she got a phone from the wedding organizer, and so Helmi pick her up and then go there."
Zafar frown his forehead with confusion on his mind. He truly didn’t understand the meaning of Rika's word. For what Helmi come after Shela and go to that kind of place? Shela and Helmi were known each other for so long and the 3 of them is childhood friend. Is that because Helmi will get married so that Shela helping him to prepare everything?
Zafar is indeed ever heard it, Helmi have a lover, but he keep her identity as a secret. He even keep that secret from Zafar and Shela. But this marriage is an entirely different matter. If he will getting married, as a close friend he should let Zafar know.
Zafar sighed. This is not Helmi's fault. Perhaps because he was disappeared, Helmi that can't find Zafar anywhere indeed can't tell him everything about his marriage. Yes, Zafar believe that was the case. It is unsightly for Zafar to blame Helmi. Zafar should be happy hearing that good news concerning his close friend.
"Please come on in, Zafar dear." Rika inviting.
"Ah, its fine ma'am, I only stopped by."
"Is there any important things you wanted to say to Shela? I will pass that word to her."
Zafar shook his head. "Does she well?"
Rika nod while giggling."Any woman will ultimately happy when her wedding only at day's count."
Zafar eyes widely open, his heart beating hard in surprise."M-Married?!" He said in stutter.
Rika's smile vanished.She looked at Zafar in confusion."Huh? You didn't know it Zafar dear?"
Zafar was quiet and unable to answer.
"Shela and Helmi will get married, because of that in earlier morning they go to wedding organizer to look after their wedding preparation."
Suddenly Zafar's body frozen and he felt hard to breathe. Zafar looked at Rika with empty stare and disbelief."But . . .”
Rika stayed quiet, waiting Zafar to finish his word.
“I do not know if . . . They had a special relationship. Helmi or Shela never tell it to me."
Rika looks surprised. Shela's parents know it well if their daughter is a good friend with Helmi and Zafar. The 3 of them is very close and never fight, it is reasonable if Zafar's word made her could not believe it. Zafar should be the one that know about their relationship first.
"But what I know is Shela and Helmi relationships run almost for 1 year. 3 month ago Helmi and his parent come to this house to propose Shela. They were engaged before then decide to get married next week."
Zafar becoming more surprised till he doesn’t know what to say. They are the only person he could trust, but the reality said it otherwise. His loved ones and his best friend betraying him. Without saying any farewell to Rika, Zafar turned his body and then walked slowly leaving his loved ones house.
Rika become even more confused to see Zafar strange behavior. She doesn't even know what she must do aside from stare at Zafar leave in silence.
Zafar walk through the road with clouded mind. He even sat down beside the pavement with his face
down behind both of his arms that folded above his knee. Without him realizing, his face now full of tears and his shoulder tremble hard.
A few minutes ago Zafar is still fine. Even though he lost his house and job, Shela's shadow can toughen his willpower to start everything from zero. Zafar promised will fix his attitude and worked hard more than before. But now, Zafar seems like he lost his will to do anything. He losing a purpose in his life and he can only weep at his bad luck.
This life is not what Zafar was hoping for. All of this is so far away from the normal life's he always wanted. After everything that Zafar possess taken away from his life, Zafar can still be strong because he still have Shela. But now Shela is also leaving him. Everything Zafar do to fix this broken life's is only for naught. That woman will never appear in his future ever again. Their story ends here, with an unexpected way he never thought in his mind.
Zafar grip his arms and can't stop to blame himself. If Zafar are not too stupid to highly trust Helmi, of course he will not losing Shela. Zafar is lulled with Helmi kindness till he didn’t realize there is a sharp knife stabbed to Zafar's back. All of that kindness must be paid with giving the only person that always cares for him. Letting Shela be taken away from his side.
This is his fault because he never wanted to hear Shela and spare a little time for his loved ones. Zafar are always busy with his problems and his work. And now even he trying to do something, everything will be useless. Zafar and Shela will never go back like in the past. It is impossible for a man that had no future like Zafar dared to steal Shela from Helmi side. That man is more than worthy for Shela.
Zafar sob, weeping his pathetic lives, drowned in sadness and regrets.
IRISE DELEGNERE
"You sleep well . . . Like a cow"
Ichsan that in the middle of lying down with his head rested to both of his arms looked at the direction where the voice that mocked him was. "What now? Did they ordering you to move me to another place?"
Adnan, a police officer with age that was same with Ichsan and had a duty to guard the prison cell staring at Ichsan while smiling. "No. Instead they are ordering me to release you."