I didn’t suppose Lord Jonah memorized a name, even my full name, whereas before many times in each conversation he called me ‘Kid’.
I just realized the kid’s call to me was just to underestimate me alone.
The last sentence he said, all to threaten me, starting from the safety of my life to my family.
His greed for money made him justify all means.
Oh, so this was what he was meant by the sentence Lord Jonah first met me, I did my work and you did your work.
“She is just going through a difficult time, Lord Jonah. Don’t be threatened again.” said Mrs. Rose defended me.
“You are not human, Lord Jonah!” I shouted with the remaining of my courage.
“Uummm, do you need this? Accept!” Sniffed Lord Jonah while throwing a wad of money into my body, falling on my chest.
I felt so humiliated. The wad of money bounced and fell to the floor.
“That’s a gift from me for you, Kid. Actually I can punish you for your impudence, I want to torture you to the bitter end, or put you to sleep in one of the cells in the back, but today my heart is happy and… well, and I want to be generous to you. How?” He said flatly as if ignoring that I was still human.
Lord Jonah grinned, then in an instant his face turned hard, fury shined on Lord Jonah’s face.
”Take her away, Rose!”
“Moi, let’s go back to the room, okay.” said Mrs. Rose. Her hand pulled me down the stairs.
“Make sure, Rose. This kid doesn’t act anymore. Can you?” Said Dragono no less fiercely when he looked at me, from the look in his eyes there was a restrained anger.
Mrs. Rose nodded, as if surrender. I kicked the money and ran out of Lord Jonah’s room, Mrs. Rose’s step shoes sounded behind me.
I rushed to my room.
I unlocked my room, with my trembling fingers. My palm was as cold as the handle of the door I was holding. I was much effort to push the door of my room.
Tiredness and fear returned covering me.
“Moi, may I accompany you in your room?” said Mrs. Rose and I didn’t answer Mrs. Rose’s words.
I laid down on my bed. My feelings mixed between fear, horror and the shadow of Degardo’s death flashed again in my mind, moreover the threatening utterance made by Lord Jonah.
“This is crazy Mrs. Rose. The dead are killed in front of me. And the blood… oh, God…“ I covered part of my face with a pillow.
“Yes Moi, I understand your feelings.” said Mrs. Rose shady.
Meanwhile my tears were flowing again.
“You have to be strong Moi, this is what is here.”
“And… The Vicko title. It is 15 times the undefeated champion. Is it mean… before it… there were 15 matches and ended with 15 murders on the arena? Oh, no… Is this just a dream, isn’t it? Is this a dream, Mrs. Rose?” I sobbed again.
I really did not think. The horror of this place far surpassed my expectations. Degardo’s aching wails when his leg was broken, seemed to resound in my ears.
I looked at Mrs. Rose. Her eyes were soft and attentive to me. I blinked,
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Rose. I’m immersed in my emotions.”
“Take rest Moi, today you have past the morning which was very heavy in your life.”
“Go to sleep Moi, I will wake up you at noon. We will eat together, okay.” Mrs. Rose stood up and moved away from my room.
I nodded and that noon I only could muse at the edge of my bed.
About two hours later Mrs. Rose came back to my room with a tray containing a lunch for me.
“Please, Eat Moi. So that you’re not sluggish.” said Mrs. Rose opened the conversation.
“I’m not hungry, Mrs. Rose.” I said shortly.
Mrs. Rose sat next to me, on the edge of my bed, while a tray of lunch was placed on my wardrobe.
“Oh yeah, in four days, Lord Jonah will return to the capital. He takes his leave for three days, and then returns here with carrying logistics. In at least four days, you will have had an initial record of the residents of this island to be reported to the leader of Lord Jonah, it is General Manton. He is Risty’s father. If there are things you need, you can entrust him.” Said Mrs. Rose
“Is it still needs to be recorded, Mrs. Rose? Isn’t this place going to be closed soon?” I asked to Mrs. Rose
“That said Lord Jonah.Somehow the truth is I don’t know. To be sure, at this time this place is still operating. That means we still have to do our duty here, doesn’t it? I’ve arranged a schedule for you. This afternoon we will go around the island, ok. We will be accompanied by Mr. No, as well as natural therapy.”
I murmured,
“Natural therapy to eliminate the effects of my trauma, Mrs. Rose?”
“Yes Moi, as well as refreshing, hihi.. We start with the fun one, Moi, because honestly the residents here have a heavy case.”
“Mrs. Rose, I need their psychological data in the past, is there it?” I asked Mrs. Rose
“It can be attempted. I’m going to ask Jeff for help to access their past data. This is our strength, Moi. Our access is unlimited, because of state access. School data, health, areas visited, family, finance, and taxes, anything we can get. I hope tomorrow at noon, the data will have been available.”
“Okay. I’m permit to rest Moi. About at four in the afternoon, we go out for a walk. Don’t forget, after this you eat first. I brought it to your room.” Mrs. Rose patted my back softly and then came out of the room. He closed the door carefully and slowly.
Oh, God…
What kind of place was this? Why I could be in the midst of endless horrors and I could not preclude or do anything to prevent the brutal events that occurred before my eyes.
My head felt dizzy. I could not do anything to end the killing of humans in front of my eyes. Moreover clearly I wasn’t capable to bring around Lord Jonah, that what he had done was terrible.
On the other hand, the Chimera supreme commander was convinced that what he was doing provoked and recorded the killings, was the right thing for the military’s sake. What should I do now?
Crazy.
This was crazy.
***
I was ready at four o’clock. Once more Mrs. Rose arrived on time. I was invited out of the room, together with her I felt more comfortable.
Passing several soldiers, they saluted to Mrs. Rose and me, from the look in their eyes they seemed to glance at me. I wonder what they are thinking.
I saw a small figure, standing still before us, wearing a white shirt with a thin towel hanging around his neck, his face was flat as if he didn’t have expression.
“Mr. No, please take us around the island, yeah.” Said Mrs. Rose told the man who was standing motionless, of medium stature, with a plain face and a thin mustache.
I remembered in the presentation of Mrs. Rose at the past mentioned that he was Mr. Johno, a person who was trusted to keep cleanliness and cook on the Chimera Island.
“Yes, Mrs. Rose, yes.” He replied as if someone was mumbling.
Mrs. Rose opened the gate access by scanning her fingerprint, with a finger scan of Mrs. Rose.
The Chimera gate was open. Actually I also wanted to try scanning my finger, did I have access to open this gate of horror too?
Maybe at any time, I need to escape from this terrible place.
When the first gate opened, appeared the bald giant, Dragono was chatting with two soldiers holding guns barrel length before them.
“Dragono, we want to go out, look around the island.” said Mrs. Rose
The big tall bald man looked at us.
“Uumm… the waves are big. Beware Rose, don’t get too close to the beach.”
Mrs. Rose smiled and waved his hand. Felt the attention of Dragono to Mrs. Rose when telling to be careful, compared to Dragono’s flat attitude when Lord Jonah was furious in his room this morning…
Ah,
I could guess whether Dragono put his heart into Mrs. Rose?
We began to step outside. Mrs. Rose was like a tour guide to me, she explained in detail every what we passed.
“It’s a solar and wind power plant in Chimera Island, Moi. This island is not going to shortage of electrical energy. There is a chicken farm and next to it an organic vegetable garden. The guards here take turns managing it. But all who heads are still Mr. No. Is it right, Mr. No?”
“Yes, Mrs. Rose, yes. There is a cattle farm. That is to meet our consumption. But it is little smell, it’s smell.” said Mr. No, still in a tone as he murmured, his head bowed a lot, not paying attention to the other person’s face.
I and Mrs. Rose followed Mr. No’s step.
The smell of animal dung was smelt my nose. I covered my nose with my hands. A mound of cow dung was in front of my eyes, lengthwise as high as my shoulders.
“Mr. No, will this cow dung to be composted? Why isn’t the cow dung just dried in the sun so that dry out quickly and not smell?” I asked.
“Yes, that will be a prebiotic, yes.” Said Mr. No.
“Prebiotics, Mr. No? For what is it?” I asked wondering.
“It will be processed again later. It is mixed into dry grass, straw, and process again. It can be dried animal feed. Yes, animal feed again.”
I didn’t ask again, there were enough events this morning.
Oh yeah,
Although it seemed taciturn but I could still remember that Mr. Johno was an expert in herbs, secretly I was amazed at his intelligence, even though he was also suspected of having a disturbance in his past.
Seen in several places on the mound of cow dung grew mushrooms in various sizes.
“Gosh, mushrooms. Hocchh…” I almost puked.
Mrs. Rose pulled my hand to leave the place.
We walked towards the beach. The waves were rolling to the beach. The waves pounding and the sea breeze carried me as if we were at a tourist attraction.
“There is a speed boat there, Moi. That’s our island’s speed boat inventory. The key is in Lord Jonah’s room, but the gas is empty.” Mrs. Rose was like an experienced tour guide.
I looked at the seaside location, there tethered speed boat in an area that was not watery anymore, with iron chains twisted and padlocks, who looked sturdy guarding it.
“Uumm, we can’t use it for making around.” I said in an uninspired tone.
Mr. No moved away from us and picked up the shells on the beach. He crouched down like a child and then bowed his head to look at the sand around his feet, as if I and Mrs. Rose weren’t there.
“You can. We take the key first in Lord Jonah’s room, and then take jerry can of gasoline in the logistics warehouse. So, vrooomm… we can go around. But you drive, Moi. Just don’t reverse. hahahaha…”
Mrs. Rose stopped her laughter. She turned to me who was silent not responding to her jokes.
“Moi, Are you sick?” Asked Mrs. Rose, there was a worried tone there.
I looked at Mrs. Rose in her eyes. I held her right hand with my both of hands.
“Mrs. Rose, can you answer my one question and I want you answer it honestly?”
The cheer on Mrs. Rose’s face vanished. She cleared her throat and exhaled slowly.
“What question, Moi?”
I took a deep breath and came out the question that had been raging in my soul and mind.
“The Vicko match has been held 16 times. And all of his opponents who were defeated certainly died in the arena. Is… My father, Marine Captain Gepardi, one of them?”
I saw Mrs. Rose’s eyes widened slightly, her mouth quickly answered my question, besides being shocked, I got the honesty in her expression when she answered my question.
“Of course, it’s not Moi. Your father disappeared when fighting the separatists, didn’t you? Why do you ask me that?”
I looked away while looking at the waves pounding. I answered it,
“I don’t know, Mrs. Rose. Maybe I’m exhausted and stressed, after today’s horrific event. I’m sorry, Mrs. Rose.”
We were silent. I crouched down and sat on the sand. Staring at the waves could make my mind rather calm. Mrs. Rose crouched near me. We didn’t make a sound for a while.
I understood Mrs. Rose let me dissolve in the view of the beach. I didn’t know how long I enjoyed the beach view.
Mrs. Rose took my arm,
“Come on Moi, we go back to the room. It’s getting dusk.”
I was standing. Hand in hand with Mrs. Rose walked away from the beach. Mr. Johno also stepped behind us.
*****
After dinner, I went back to my room. I was preparing to meet in person with the Chimera residents tomorrow.
I put the work file in a plastic folder. I thought I had prepared enough for my work tomorrow.
I felt fatigue and a heavy mental burden on my mind.
I sat cross-legged on the floor. I relaxed myself, imagined myself in a place I like and remembered the things that make me comfortable, my memory of my childhood made me calm.
But it didn’t last long. My ears caught the sound of screaming in pain behind there.
Maybe in the direction of the cell aisle, near The Arena.
What else was there? Why shout like that?
I felt uncomfortable again.
I laid down on my bed. I covered my face with a pillow, so that the terrible noise wasn’t heard. Although in my heart frightened, finally I could fall asleep too.
***
This morning Mrs. Rose scheduled me to observe three gifted residents of the Chimera. They were Jeff the hacker, Henry, and Ronaldo.
We finished breakfast quickly.
“Moi, always remember that your job is taking notes. If you need to submit some psychological tests to several residents here, you report to Lord Jonah in softcopy. Let the team behind Lord Jonah give the results and interpretations.” said Mrs. Rose.
“Oh… Is there a psychology team around Lord Jonah too, Mrs. Rose?” I asked wondering.
“Yes Moi, they are psychologists who work for the country. Next a few psychological testing files will be sent to me via email, I will print them to help your work.”
“Then what is my role, if there are the experts’ one around Lord Jonah?” I said.
“Moi, this project won’t live in a matter of months, will it? You were recruited for the purpose as bridge to a government psychologist. And when you got job done here, you will become civil servant. Isn’t that amazing for you?”
I paused, trying to understand Mrs. Rose’s sentences.
“Come on Moi, we’re going forward. Jeff should be in the cell behind, but he is in the guard mess hall now, his cleverness makes Lord Jonah trust him to manage battle transactions.” said Mrs. Rose.
Once more it felt that Lord Jonah had great power here, even very decisive and absolute.
I walked beside Mrs. Rose, compensated for her light and fast steps.
“Soldier, we want to meet Jeff.” said Mrs. Rose
“Please come in Mrs. Rose, Jeff is inside.” said one of the soldier guards.
His bass voice reminded me of the one who was the host of the duel between vicko and dergado yesterday, his name was Rupert as written on his chest.
“Morning, Jeff. I came with Moira, here.” said Mrs. Rose warm.
Jeff, a young man of the same age, wearing glasses, wearing a sleeveless sweater, looked toward a moment from his laptop.
“Hmm… good morning, Mrs. Rose.”
“Hello Jeff, I’m Moira.” I said.
“Hmm… yeah…” said Jeff without looking at me.
“Come on Jeff. This Moira has a duty to record you, if you are cooperative with her, you can get out of here quickly.” said Mrs. Rose
“For me to be anywhere is same Mrs. Rose. Want to be free anytime, I’m okay. As long as there are computers and internet like this, I have been happy. This is the data you requested Mrs. Rose. Old psychology data files, from all the residents on this island, are here, including me.” Jeff answered while giving a bundle of paper.
Mrs. Rose accepted the papers Jeff has given her.
“Thanks, Jeff.”
“Moi, you sit in front of Jeff.”
“Jeff, please turn off your computer first. So Moira can work.” said Mrs. Rose to Jeff slowly.
“Ouch, don’t be long time. I’m busy.” hissed Jeff.
“The apple is closed first.” repeated Mrs. Rose soft.
“Morning Jeff. Sorry, I’m Moira bothering you in the midst of your busy. I was assigned to record you in terms of psychology.”
“I have given my psychological data to Mrs. Rose just now. Even personal data is all there. What is the lacking? Come on Mrs. Rose, she was a child yesterday afternoon.” Jeff protested.
I was stunned. Even though I spoke carefully, it seemed from the way Jeff spoke that he did not like me and also underestimated me.
“All the data that you give me will be responsibility of me and I will keep it a secret for the rest of my life. Sorry Jeff, let me get your data and record all the residents were commissioned by the government to me.”
Jeff answered while still engrossed in his Apple.
“Well, if you can get information when I can get out from this island surely, I will appreciate you. I can gather with family again, and then can continue my master degree study again. Yeah, that’s prospering information for me.”
“Okay, okay. Let’s make this easy. Be quick ask everything you want to know. Actually here is comfort too, can help the country. But the status is not clear.” Jeff continued, blurting out as if protesting at me.
My eyes met with Mrs. Rose, I felt reluctant to talk to Jeff again. Even though we were the same age, Jeff was annoying, difficult to be asked for cooperation. Mrs. Rose understood the meaning of my stare.
I took a deep breath, then cleared my throat, and began my question.
“Why did you hack state sites, Jeff?”
I get the response, Jeff looked at me. He took a relaxed sitting position and answered.
“That’s… for the sake of achievement, Moi, an achievement. Who doesn’t want to be like George Hotz, Adrian Lamo, Jim Geovedi, and Anonymous? That’s our entire obsession. Become the greatest hacker. ”
I knew the name he mentioned. They are famous hackers whose their existence was difficult to be traced. Their ability to hack was extraordinary, and apparently this which gave rise the obsession for Jeff, becoming a reliable hacker.
“When I try to hack, if I’m successful I will be satisfied. Then I tried to imagine even higher, until finally caught.” added Jeff.
“Sorry, Jeff. Please answer these questions, so that I can record your current psychological status. Jeff, please.” Jeff received the questionnaire form, the psychological testing material I gave.
“Come on, do it now. We are waiting for it, Jeff.” said Mrs. Rose.
“Waah… Mrs. Rose is like a lecturer.”
Two hours passed. I saw Jeff seriously answered all the test sheets I had given.
“Okay Jeff, thanks for your time. I’ll leave first. This is your ballpoint, I return it.” I said.
Jeff took his ballpoint back silently, turning his chair back to stare at the computer monitor. Apparently there are two monitor screens there, one for Jeff’s computer, one for CCTV monitoring on the island of Chimera.
Apparently Jeff also had access to monitor the entire island.Moreover the Apple tablet that was on the work table, wow… this was really special for Jeff. The world was in his grasp, even though he was imprisoned in the Chimera.
“Let’s go to back, to Henry’s handsome cell.” said Mrs. Rose pinch my elbow.
“Even though it looks harmless, Henry’s ability is capable of messing up thoughts, Moi. You need to be careful, you know.” The woman patted my back.
Without saying, Mrs. Rose tried to inspire my passion to meet the figure of the most handsome man on the island of Chimera.
I walked following Mrs. Rose, I really hope my meeting with Henry can be refreshing, unlike Jeff who was the same age, but looked annoying.
GLOSSARY
Natural therapy: Also known as Eco therapy is one of the therapies of psychology/psychotherapy, by utilizing nature as a therapeutic media. The study states that doing outdoor activities in nature decreases the level of stress satisfactorily.