The next entourage, who entered The Arena, was two soldiers who escort a man who was muzzled in his mouth and his hands cuffed behind the hands. Lord Jonah stood up and approached them immediately.
The sound of the helicopter was still heard, more and more people were entering The Arena.
Some looked like Middle Eastern princes, looked from the turban wore, the color of their skin and the shape of their faces.
There was a blond haired man wearing Ray-Ban sunglasses who looked like a gangster boss, some were narrow-eyed and speaking Mandarin, and various other people
The Arena, which resembled a small stadium, was almost full of guests who sat on the floor of the cast concrete was formed three raising section.
I remembered the runway at Chimera was only enough for 4 helicopters. The sound of helicopters heard so boisterous.
So these guests, they were from various countries landed in turn to bring them down, and then went flying again due to the limited landing arena. At the last Dragono appeared standing at the entrance of The Arena
“I will let go of your muzzle now. Don’t acts or I’ll beat you up! Do you understand, Vicko?” Said a soldier. Muzzle was released by one of the soldiers behind Vicko.
Oh… here was the Vicko.
Vicko stood between two soldiers. His hands tied behind his body, while a long round log looked to be stretched horizontally behind his back until it rose above Vicko’s right armpit through the left. Two soldiers held the end of the log, while Vicko’s shoulders also held by the soldier’s hands.
“That’s your idol, Moi. He’s Vicko.” Mrs. Rose whispered.
“Gosh, Mrs. Rose. Why does Vicko have to be muzzled like that?”
“He is too dangerous, Moi. Even his whole body is very dangerous and can be used to attack people.” Mrs. Rose explained.
“What is my reward, Jonah? Who is my opponent candidate?” Asked Vicko.
“His name is Degardo, desertion for joining separatists.” said Lord Jonah.
“Hum… desertion. The traitor, I’ll break his hip bone later.” said Vicko.
“Win the match. You will get your favorite food, special menu.” said Dragono.
“Entertain well, Vicko! The guests pay a lot for your show.” Said Lord Jonah.
“Be aware Jonah, you’re also Dragono. I am an idealistic patriotic. I was treated like an animal like this. I’ll avenge all this treatment to both of you.” Vicko growled.
“The day will come. I’ll explode without anyone stopping me.”
My seat position was close enough to hear Vicko and Lord Jonah conversation. So what would Lord Jonah do? Although I had be able to guess what would happen next. Eventually I asked,
“What kind of show is this Mrs. Rose? Why is there a ring like an octagon here?”
“Shhh… Moi, remember! We are just spectators here. Just enjoy it, okay.” Mrs. Rose’s voice was low.
The voice of a soldier with a hard face and looks rough, his chin was shaved with a beard starting to grow again, seen hairy face, holding the microphone blaring throughout The Arena.
“Good morning ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to Chimera Island. This morning we give special battle show to all of you, unbeatable world-class show! This is it. We have seen getting into The Arena ring, our defending champion, VICKO THE CHAMPION!!”
Vicko, wearing a singlet shirt and shorts, his feet without a base, entered the octagon ring accompanied by soldiers who were still binding his body with long log and his hand handcuffed behind his back.
“What… this is, what to do with him, Mrs. Rose? Will Vicko be… a real duel?” My body shuddered at the thought of what would happen next.
“With 15 times an unbeaten record!! And the challenger is Degardo. Desertion with karate and judo martial arts.” The soldier’s bass sound was like a host of international boxing matches on television.
“And let Lord Jonah to give a word or more for a fresh welcome at this morning.”
Lord Jonah stepped into The Arena. He trod two stairs with his head hold high with confidence. He carried a wireless microphone in his right hand.
“There are no rules here. So fight as well as possible! The fight will stop when one of you died.” Said Lord Jonah, the highest authority at the Chimera, stood on the side of soldier who be the host.
Died…
Died?
Oh, God!
Was there anyone who can stop this fight?
“Dear gentlemen. Here the rules are myself, because I’m the one in charge on this Island. And I stand in the middle of these two dashing men. Open the headgear, Don!” Lord Jonah ordered.
I didn’t see when two soldiers came escorting someone who was big and his head was covered with black cloth, trod to The Arena stairs.
“On my right, stood Degardo by weight of 105 kg, 185 cm high, dashing and strong, and today he is in his best condition. Stood on the left, the defending Champion, survived 15 times undefeated. Height is 172 cm, weight is 65 kg. Because he is naughty, so yesterday at noon was his last meal. In conditions of hunger, shorter, and lighter in weight, can our champions stand and hold the championship 16 times? Let’s place your bet. I give 1: 2 to Vicko.” Said the host soldier fiery.
Mr. Bruno loudly startled me,
“I’ll give a $ 100,000 check to Degardo.”
Edward’s flamboyant man also voiced,
“I accept your challenge, Mr. Bruno. I hold Vicko, this is $ 50,000.”
The flirty woman next to Edward moved seductively,
“You must win, honey.”
My stomach became nausea, it felt I wanted to throw up when I heard and saw all these.
“I’m the bookie representative of Vicko, where’s the betting money?” a soldier called out and moved in the audience.
“I’m the bookie that holds Degardo, where’s the bet?” another soldier exclaimed.
“Lord Jonah! If I win, what will be my reward?” Degardo asked.
His voice was heard throughout the stadium, because it was close to the microphone which be held by Lord Jonah.
“I’ll smuggle you into a neighboring country. Your identity will be changed. You will be free to determine your own destiny, Degardo. Therefore, you must win. Make sure it!” said Lord Jonah firmly, staring into Degardo’s face.
I really didn’t understand. Lord Jonah expected Vicko to win. On the other hand he also encouraged Degardo to win. Which side was Lord Jonah actually on?
“Yup, who wants online transactions too?” a man, wearing a neat short-sleeved shirt that was put into his trousers, wearing glasses, and carrying a tablet in one hand, exclaimed and walked in front of the audience.
“Me, boy.” someone said in front of our seats.
“That’s Jeffry the Hacker, isn’t it, Mrs. Rose?” I whispered.
“Yes, he was involved in handling online transactions. Every 40% turnover goes to Lord Jonah, Moi.” whispered Mrs. Rose explained.
“Well. Let’s just start the show today. Vicko versus Degardo. Every soldier!!! Untie the Degardo and be careful… open handcuffs and the wooden bar of Vicko slowly. Be careful… don’t let you get hit by Vicko, O soldiers!”Lord Jonah’s instructions while walking backwards followed by the host soldier, then finally Dragono shuffled down while carrying a tonfa in his big hand.
The soldiers escorting Degardo and Vicko began to untie themselves cautiously, so that there was a safe distance. So they could get out one by one from The Arena, finally only two men would duel, there in the middle of The Arena.
Two manly men seemed to move, slowly approaching each other. The high of Degardo appeared in contrast if was compared to the Vicko which appeared shorter and smaller than the Degardo.
“Kill him, Vicko!!” Shouted the flamboyant Edward startled me.
“Beat him up, Degardo !! Come on!!” Shouted Mr. Bruno.
Degardo advanced quickly and aggressively attacked. His punches and kicks were so strong and continuously made Vicko seem overwhelmed.
Sound of ‘Bam’ and ‘Pow’ felt vibrating my ears. Apparently Vicko was hit by a sudden attack from Degardo. The corners of Vicko lips and nose looked bleeding.
I covered my mouth with my hands. I’ve never seen a battle directly like this. The sound of punches and kicks was so loud that it sounded piercing my ears accompanied by cheers from guests.
The flirty woman in the red dress closed her eyes. Edward, the flamboyant man who sitting next to her hugged her,
“Ha! Ha! Ha! Calm down Misye, it’s a Vicko habit. He likes pretending to lose first, and you see later…”
Degardo lunged forward. Degardo’s eyes glittered like wild, heartless beasts. His face was fierce, with cold eyes, cruel and merciless. His mouth hardened, his teeth grinned slightly.
“Die you, Vicko!!”
“Degardo!! Degardo!!” Degardo’s name is shouted out throughout The Arena.
Oh my God! The men in this stadium were all crazy. Two men were killed against each other like gladiators in ancient Rome, brutal match…
And the audience was happy and enthusiast, happy for watching it. It heard from their screams blaring, encouraging each champion.
Vicko who looked pressed still had time to smile. His eyes looked cold as if mocking his enemy,
“Don’t be in a hurry, buddy.”
When Degardo threw a punch, Vicko pulled Degardo’s shirt, along with it his left leg kicked Degardo’s chest. Vicko dropped his body to the floor. Degardo’s large body hovered above Vicko’s head, and then fell down. Vicko’s slamming caused Degardo’s head to hit the floor hard.
Kaboom!!
Degardo rose quickly as if he didn’t feel headache.
“Come on, Degardo! If you win, you will be free.” Vicko quipped by quoting Lord Jonah.
Mr. Bruno exclaimed impatiently,
“Go Gardo, beat him!”
Degardo and Vicko faced each other. Vicko smiled once more,
“Come on, Gardo. Try to kill me. “
They stood close to each other, their hands mounted each other’s stance, ready to hit and defend.
Suddenly Vicko shouted,
“Watch out! Defense down.”
Vicko’s left leg moved quickly in shape straight kick and heard
Crack!!!
Echo…
Degardo’s left kneecap looked crooked, apparently Vicko’s ball kick had broken Degardo’s knee.
Degardo squealed in pain. Hadn’t had time to Degardo’s screaming completely, glide Vicko’s right boxing hit the chin of Degardo, continued by the left boxing, then successively Vicko’s left and right elbow.
The shorter Vicko turned out to push in, close fight was done by Vicko. He didn’t give Degardo the chance to even breathe. All of the blows struck Gardo’s face hard. It looked Degardo drunk attack, expression on his face blank got rapid onslaught and vicious from Vicko.
Of all Degardo’s faces bleeding, from the mouth, nose and eyes. It seen a pool of blood flowed swiftly.
Horrible!
Lord Jonah straightened his seat. He grinned satisfied.
“In a minute, Gardo is dead.”
Beside him sitting Dragono was carrying a camera that seemed to function as a video…
Ooh!
This battle was documented by Dragono.
“Lord, are you sure? Gardo is tall, big and strong.” protested Dragono while still looking at the LCD of camera he brought along the flow of the match of two men in the middle of The Arena.
“No one is as tactical as Vicko.” Lord Jonah said proudly.
The supreme commander of the Chimera looked very happy that morning, his face was very bright.
Gosh!!
in the midst of the event of a person dying, Lord Jonah’s face really looked happy, still in a smile, even he was seen laughing when the Vicko’s attack to Degardo’s face.
Ooh…
In fact the highest authority of Chimera was a sick person…
And this whole fight was recorded by Dragono. Was it for personal collection?
Or…
“Vicko!!“
“Vicko!!“
“Vicko!!“
The name of Vicko was echoed.
I couldn’t look at the ring anymore. Whole of Degardo’s face was covered in blood. The big man looked sitting limp on the floor. Vicko stood behind Degardo’s body, Vicko’s right hand gripped his opponent’s hair and even Degardo’s hair was wet with his own blood, like shampooing of blood.
His big head pulled by Vicko so that it didn’t fall down.
“What do you want me to do, Jonah? What’s my reward?” Shouted Vicko.
Lord Jonah held his thumb up and turned it down.
“Kill him!! And only 2 contracts left, you’ll be free Vicko.”
“Okay. You asked for it, Jonah. I finish by breaking his waist.” Vicko said calmly. His eyes looked cold and relaxed.
Broke his waist?
Degardo’s waist?
I was really surprised. Unconscious I stood up. I shouted, my voice sounded hoarse
“This is crazy. What is this?”
Mrs. Rose held me and forced me to sit down again,
“Calm down, Moi. Let’s sit down again, Moi. “
In the middle of The Arena, with agile movements Vicko hooked Degardo’s left arm then jumped on his back. Vicko’s weight pressed against the back of Degardo’s.
One more sound
Crack!!!
Echo…
Even this time it sounded very loud.
Degardo was immediately seen drooping between his own two legs, and his body shape looked asymmetrical again, leaning left, Vicko had broken his back!
No more moans, but I saw Degardo’s legs still twitching like people were convulsing, and getting weaker and weaker.
“Game over, Jonah!” exclaimed Vicko.
The Arena seemed to explode because of Vicko’s victory. The name of Vicko was echoed.
“VICKO!!”
“VICKO!!”
“VICKO!!”
The flamboyant seemed to laugh loudly and kiss the flirty woman next to him.
Four soldiers went into The Arena’s door, they carried tonfa, and some were carrying like pistols whose edges appeared to be electric sparks and a long round log that had been used to carry Vicko. They told Vicko to lie down on the floor.
After successfully handcuffing Vicko and taking him out. The next two soldiers dragged Degardo’s legs, which had drooped limp like fallen trees, out of The Arena. Degardo’s red blood stretched from The Arena along the road.
Vicko was muzzled and handcuffed again. He was led out of The Arena back to his cell. Apparently Vicko cell was right at the first end border ring the gate of The Arena. The cell was tightly closed like a shophouse door just now.
These people were really heartless.
I really couldn’t stand watching all this. I was nausea and fed up. My tears flooded. After a while being able to overcome my legs and knees that felt weak, I reinforced myself to stand up, even though my footsteps were heavy but I tried to run away from my seat, it felt like my legs were shaking.
I tried to leave as quickly as possible from there and ran out of The Arena, I passed Mrs. Rose, Lord Jonah and Dragono and Mr. Iskandar, and I didn’t care anymore.
“The inexperience Kid is not used to it. Leave her be!” I heard Lord Jonah say when he saw me crossing in front of him. Mrs. Rose’s hand was trying to reach me, I didn’t care.
When passing through cells that are lined open, I felt many pairs of eyes looking at me, I don’t care anymore. Yup, I had to go to my room immediately, away from the room full of madness that I had never seen before.
Heard Mrs. Rose said,
“Don’t interfere, Henry!”
A voice in the cell,
“What! How can I interfere, Mrs. Rose? I’m cooped up here. ”
I keep running. Didn’t care Mrs. Rose’s step, which I felt a step or more behind me. When I passed two soldiers guarding at the cell gate border, I felt disparaging faces on their sight.
Still heard behind me, The Arena who was still in a big mood because of the bet calculation, my run finally stopped, my body collapsed.
My breath felt tight. My mind raged, even I felt I could not see anymore, because of the amount of tears in my eyelids. My body was trembling and my knees felt weak, not able to sustain my body again. I leaned my body against the wall, managed my breath. In front of me turned out to be Lord Jonah’s room, yesterday I went into it.
The sound of Mrs. Rose’s shoes were heard approaching me. I do not care. I tried to control my limp body. My breath gasped, I tried to manage it.
Mrs. Rose was sitting beside me, his arms embraced my shoulders, and she massaged my shoulders.
Some guests coming out of The Arena passed us, they just whispered, some smiled while passing us. I was unable to move at that time, too weak, only my tears were heard one after another with the roar of my breath, and I never experienced such a great cry.
The flamboyant man stood right in front of me.
“Hi girl, this is your first time seeing a show like that.”
The gold necklace shined due to the light of the room. I wiped my tears with my hands.
“Don’t cry baby, there is Brother Edward here, come with Me. Never mind… I’ll make you a wife than you are stress here.” He seduced
I glanced annoyed. My hands covered my face.
Ha! Ha! Ha… he was heartless, I was afraid but he was still being seduced.
At that moment the flirty woman in the red dress pulled him to walk again. Strangely, the woman in the red shirt looked normal even his eyes and mouth looked nosy, when she saw me leaning against the wall accompanied by Mrs. Rose.
The flamboyant man brushed the woman’s hand away. The woman continued to pull at Edward’s shoulder, the gaze of those flirty women, showing his dislike for me.
This man with gentle movements wiped my tears with his fingers.
“Shush… shush… Are you afraid of seeing that one before?” He said.
Then Edward put one of his hands on the wall, on the right side of my body.After that he bowed more. His face approached my face. I can smell the perfume of the body and the scent of her hair.
I stared. This man was about to kiss me! I moved left dodging. His mustached lips touched my cheek at a glance.
Mrs. Rose dismissed Edward’s body as she said,
“Enough Edward. She’s still scared, don’t disturb her.”
Edward laughed, his movements stopped. The man turned towards Mrs. Rose. His face backed away from my face. This man was really a beast, not caring about people’s suffering.
Whuh… whuh… a helicopter sounds could be heard coming and keeping away from the Chimera.
Edward straightened his body and put his hand in his pocket.
“Ok, Rose. I go first, my business is waiting, a rich man like me, must appreciate the time.”
Edward stood up while he began to walk.
“Unfortunately I have to go. We will meet again anytime, honey!”
I snorted. Shortly the two couples away from me to get out of the Chimera fortress.I closed my eyes and held my nauseous stomach.
Whuh… whuh…
I heard another helicopter flying away from the Chimera.
“Let’s come back to your room Moi, I’ll take you.” said Mrs. Rose softly, her hand trying to pull me to wake up.
“Yes!” I said weakly.
Actually I was also embarrassed that great cry until it couldn’t control myself anymore. I had to hurry back to my room, even though my body still felt weak.
At that moment on the side there, I saw Lord Jonah and Dragono hugging two chocolate sacks, the sack that I know what the contents of without having to untie them.
Money.
Suddenly I gained strength, my rage flared moving me, and I rushed over to them.
“Lord Jonah!” I called loudly.
Mrs. Rose was surprised.
“Wait Moi! What do you want?”
Lord Jonah and Dragono had gone into the room. I followed into Lord Jonah’s room opened. As if Mrs. Rose could read my mind, he held my arm tightly.
“Moi, be patient Moi …”
When I went into Lord Jonah’s room, I pushed the door leaf fast. Heaps of dollars filled the entire desk of Lord Jonah. The supreme commander of the Chimera stood behind his desk, brandishing a gun at me.
“Next time when you go into my room, knock on the door first. Fortunately I don’t shoot your head.” He said while putting the gun into the drawer of his desk.
For a moment there was the creak of the drawer being closed by him.
“I must not to knock, the door is open.” I said curtly.
“You should be able to look after her, Rose.” said Dragono.
“So, are you doing madness just for this Lord Jonah? All this money?” I said furiously.
How I want to tear apart the heap of blood money.
“Moi, let’s go out now.” Persuaded Mrs. Rose. Her hands were on my shoulder.
“Leave her, Rose.” said Lord Jonah.
“One person has died pitifully. And you got this money.” I growled and was furious.
“I promise, in next twice battles Vicko will be free. Well, he will be free as I promised. He is the defending champion 16 times.” Lord Jonah suddenly laughed.
“You are sick, Lord Jonah.” I say angry.
“This is a stealth project, Kid. All funds on this island are stealth funds, even the funds allocated to fund your research project, also stealth funds.”
“And I believe, in a short amount of time, this project will be closed. The flow of funds will stop.”
“You hear it, Kid. I told one of the most important secrets in Chimera. This project will be closed. It is very unfortunate actually. With this project our military should be able to become the strongest in the world.” Lord Jonah tried to be patient with me.
“How if you die, Lord Jonah? Degardo is a human too.” I replied passionately.
“Degardo’s death was not in vain, Kid. With his sacrifice, I can get this.” Lord Jonah took then waved his camera.
“From this recorded video can be learned how the fighting styles and techniques by our soldiers. So, what Degardo did was not wrong. He did what was supposed to be done by a soldier. Sacrifice to die… Die for our nation.”
Felt my face heated up, how I want to beat this abnormal middle-aged man in front of me.
Lord Jonah scooped up a heap of money, then up the stairs to a small door above his room. With one hand, Lord Jonah opened the door, open a safe and put money in it.
I followed Lord Jonah up the stairs approaching the small room above his workspace. From the border of the stairs I saw Lord Jonah arranging money into that little safe.
Turned out that in Lord Jonah’s office room there was an iron-ladder room. An iron ladder was only enough for one person to walk through with an iron handle on one side, while the other side was a wall.
So the upper room, tree house style used to secure the money from the fight results.
“However, Degardo will die in the end. He’s a soldier who defected, a traitor to the country. When he defected, his partner or leader should execute him right then.” he said as if trying to be innocent, while still arranging money into the safe.
“You are really too unreasonable, Lord Jonah.” I replied still reviling him.
“This is life here, Kid. Wake up, realize and enjoy my show or please go back to your mother’s chest embrace. Uh, I forgot one thing. You can’t go home arbitrarily. You have signed our letters of contract, haven’t you? Do you remember it, Kid?” said Lord Jonah slowly, but his eyes squinted to me.
Lord Jonah’s lower lip looked down as if to support insulting me.
I regulated my breathing that felt tightness in my chest, anger that rose, making my breath gasping again.
“Kid… oh Kid. This place is small but enjoyable. I’m now 53 years old, and I need to retire.” continued Lord Jonah, smiling thinly as if mocking me.
“Two men duel, killing each other like gladiators. This is you call as enjoyable. You are really sick, Lord Jonah.”
Somehow at that time of the look on my face, but not the slightest fear when talking to him, maybe my emotional overflow has reached my limit of patience.
I craze.
Lord Jonah smiled or rather grinning. His hard face as if he was enjoying an argument with me.
“This Chimera is guarded 24 hours, and full power is in my hands. My world is so enjoyable, Kid.”
“And umm… I can even manage the fate of your family. Your father, the Gepardi. Uumm… I can ask that Gepardi’s status be deserted, not a soldier loyal to his unit. You know later, your father’s retirement will be stopped. Your young brother can lose her scholarship too.”
“And you!”
“Yes, you are!!”
“I can manage your destiny, your corpse will be found floating in the sea. Without anyone suspecting, what is your cause of death! Because of I’m in charge here!”
“Keep that in mind, Moira Gepardi!”