Lutfi Gilang's

12. New Problem

The reflection of the sunlight began to sink into the Western horizon. His light illuminated a dilapidated place with all the inhabitants whose social life had been destroyed. The atmosphere of the Indonesian capital is changing: sullen. The cries of the inmates blared into every corner of the muscle training room, perhaps also penetrating out to the whole universe. The legs of the Boss and his subordinates and the rebellious inmates were chasing each other for the same purpose: murder.

Fists, weapons of wood, iron, and stone hit the body that was only protected by an orange worn shirt. Some of these attacks cause blood that comes out due to torn skin or through holes in the body, except the anus.

I, a man in the crowd, had to go back to face Slamet Gundul as if finishing the previous match that had not ended. But when I was overwhelmed and the brewpub managed to grab my neck, one of the rebel inmates smashed hard on the neck of the burly man in front of me unconscious with a baseball bat.

"Thank you" I said.

The man nodded then threw his gun at me. "Take. You can't lose because you're leading us, boy."

I grinned. Either be proud or afraid, because after all someone will be blamed for this incident.

My legs were chasing each other, towards Burhan where his subordinates were protecting him tightly. But my steps were blocked by Lucas and his men. With the help of the five rebel prisoners I managed to hit Lucas' face to make him bounce and fall, followed by kicks from the rebel prisoners.

When I ran and came back, Jaja was by my side. He held a small iron bar that was quite long.

"I don't think you're here" I said.

The New Prisoner grinned. With a heavy breath he said: "Detective, help me. I have business with Herman. He had to pay for what he did at the diner."

"Ah," nod me. "you can face his gouging men?" I pointed

Jaja moved his head up and down.

"Okay, take care of that guy first. I'll help you fight Herman." I added.

Me and the New Prisoner race before finally fighting their respective enemies, Jaja facing Ateng, while I fight Yusuf. It didn't take long for us to beat them both. Until finally, we stood facing Herman who had just fainted in a rebel prisoner. Picking up the wooden block lying by his side then growled: "Your asses, you bastards!"

I attacked from the right side while Jaja from the opposite side, but all of them managed to avoid Herman and agile. Even occasionally he made our attacks hit each other. Really, from the way he fights he's really a great guy. If only I hadn't managed to make Herman faint instantly, of course I would have been battered, or sent to the clinic.

As we were about to be knocked unconscious by Herman, suddenly prisoner 101 hit Herman's head with a barbell until it bled.

The man groaned with his right hand holding his eel. "Damn you...." Then collapse.

I'm still flabbergasted. It's hard to believe what just happened. "Why did he do that?" askau.

With trembling legs Jaja got up, then saluted 101 prisoners. "Detective," he called. "he's Eddie, our intel."

I was intrigued to hear it. I can't believe I can't guess who that person really is. I stood perfect and regretted it while thanking you.

"I don't think, the man who beat the brew is overwhelmed to face Herman." She said.

"I'm just lucky" I replied. "Before we speak at length, I must finish all this" I said, throwing a glance at Burhan.

"You have to go after Penja" said Eddie thwarted my move by patting my right shoulder. "I'm sure the man has a relationship with Kusnandar."

"Man without a prisoner number?" many ensure.

"Yes." Yeah." Nod him while kicking the people who were running towards us. "Raden Penja Rosyadi, he's got assets to get in and out of jail."

"Craton descent?" ask again.

"Now times," replied Eddie.

It's hard to believe him. So far, as far as I know, the people of Yogyakarta are a virtuous society so they rarely commit crimes. So, is it true that Penja is a descendant of the palace? Is he really a Yogyakarta native? Does that person really have a relationship with Kusnandar? To get the answer, I had to ask him directly.

I looked towards Jaja, he nodded and said: "We will take care of the Homo." So I ran away leaving them both. Through a crowd of inmates to tackle Raden Penja Rosyadi.

When I had just finished subverting the male subordinate without the prisoner number, he ran through the North door. I chased after him and instantly there was a man who hit hard at the nape of my neck with an iron beam. In the faintest view I saw that person, he was Jupri!

"As expected. That bastard was indeed trying to trap us!" I can only speak for myself.

From the other direction, Penja approached then kicked me in the face and said: "Remember this damn brat! You won't be able to get to me like you can't get to your fiance's Lutfi."

I jerked. "Where does he know about Lutfi?!" Sealing the eyes repeatedly. Forced to immediately clarify my view, even though the results were free. The hard beam hit my body again and again until I completely fainted.

🚶🚶🚶

I blinked my eyes in the black room. How hard I tried was nothing in sight. What the hell is going on? Where am I?

Both feet tried to step down this place. Trying to get out soon. And at once I felt my feet go into the water, which as I put it heavier and began to sound pounding. It didn't make me turn around, instead I accelerated my pace after seeing a speck of light that was probably only a hundred meters away.

At first the water was just feet, then knee-length, and now it has reached my chest. Did I get close to the light that made me get deeper into the water? But where am I? What is this place?

I kept moving my legs, trying to reach for a speck of light there, until then the water forced me to float. With freestyle swimming movements, I managed to be in front of a light that was no more than 5 cm wide.

"What is a firefly?" my thinking.

I grabbed it and instantly my body was dragged into the water. I tried to swim up, but the current was very strong, still pulling me to drown more, like a match in a swimming pool that had just been plugged water plug.

I was almost out of breath in the stream of water that was beginning to calm down. And when my back hit the deepest surface, the light up there came back to shine, which slowly grew to almost illuminate the whole place. With a sigh I tried to get back out. But I finally choked and was out of breath.

"Am I going to die now?" I asked myself.

Faint ears heard someone calling me. "Who is he? Is he Lutfi?" The longer it gets louder, until it sounds so obvious. "Say!"

I flinched with my eyes wide, rising from dreamland. Around me, I could see Jaja and Kusnadi putting on a surprised look that then turned happy.

"Thank God, man, you're dead" said the old man.

With a breath I asked: "What happened?"

"You fainted. Someone threw you down the well, with ballast on the foot." The New Prisoner explained.

"Who did it?" ask me again while trying to sit down.

"Guard," said Jaja to my surprise.

"Imust be!" I exclaimed.

"That's the truth, Detective." Respond to the New Prisoner.

"I wouldn't dare lie to you, Detective." - Kimpal Jaja.

"Pram's right. A lot of inmates saw it, too, man. Believe it." Kusnadi added.

I lowered my head, then grabbed my head with my left hand. Trying to re-enact the events before I fainted. And.... "I saw Jupri!"

"Jupri?" repeat the two men in front of me.

"Ah," Noddle. "He beat me unconscious."

"What?!" exclaim the old man. "Suckers! Is he trying to trick me?"

"That's possible. I've warned you not to get close to him, Grandpa." replied the new Prisoner.

"Basic, you brat!" geram Kusnadi's.

"So, besides that. What are you looking at again, Detective?" ask Jaja.

I catch my breath and close my eyes. I remember the man without the prisoner number saying something to me, but I'm not going to tell them about it. Now, I just need to remember something that was on Jupri. From the scene in the black-and-white delusion, I saw the man carrying an iron beam on his left shoulder. He wears a two-pointed top on the chest without a prisoner number, a belt, trousers, and strappy boots like an officer. I might! "He's not an officer" I said at last.

"What do you mean, Detective?" ask the New Prisoner.

I exhale. "Before fainting, I saw him wearing the officer's shoes and his boss was pocketed without the prisoner's number."

"Y-so?" ask the old man. "He threw the man into the well."

"Ah," Noddle.

"Bad! How dare he do that and steal the officer's uniform!" geram Jaja's.

"It could be, he's an officer, right?" I asked to make the two prisoners in front of me surprised.

"That's an unmistakable assumption" said the New Prisoner.

"Ah," Consider me. "then, what happened there?"

"Got a draw. All the leaders of the bloc were defeated. I'm sure they'll be busy looking for a replacement." Jaja explained.

"On Burhan?" I asked.

"Oh, gay man?" The New Prisoner asked to be sure.

"Ah," Noddle.

"He knows nothing about Kusnandar. He only got mail and a lot of money. Then moved here." explained Jaja.

"How about the other prisoners?" ask again.

"You Man!" kusnadi. "Officers closed the clinic, so many inmates are dying. They told the inmates to take care of their own friends in their living rooms. And we only had a bucket of water, a cloth, and a bottle of water. Weepy! They're so stingy! It's so inhumane."

I looked down, feeling guilty for making so many people almost die.

"That's not your fault, Detective" said the New Prisoner as if to hear the groans of my heart. "You just explain your purpose, and they follow you on their own."

"That's right, man!" added old man. "Western colonial times first, you are a general who wants to face the enemy alone. And they, people who need a brave leader like you."

"I'm honored to have that title from you old man." I said trying to smile. "Do you still keep cigarettes?"

"There's a dude" replied Kusnadi. "But for now, you can't bribe the officer."

"Why?" my many.

"The Chief Officer imposed isolation to avoid the events as before. And you can relax, Detective. Because only the leader of the bloc must account for it." said Jaja argued.

"Just the block leader said? Surely they will blame everything on me." I complained.

"No, man" denied the old man. "The leaders of the block have joined you."

I jerked. "What do you think is an old man?"

"Eddie told Herman and Lucas they knew they were being used by Burhan" said the New Prisoner.

"Hmmm...." I muttered. "what about the old man?"

"Penja mean?" ask Jaja.

"Ah," Noddle.

"He's out of here" said the New Prisoner to my surprise.

I exhale. "It's a pity, I let Penja get away with it."

"It's not your fault" Jaja said at last. "At any rate, you've been troubled by that cowardly attack from that jerk!"

"Right, that's our problem now, man." Kusnadi. "We need to know, what business there is until Jupri makes Bung nine-eight-nam unconscious and tries to kill Dude."

"You're right" I replied.

"If you know something, say it." ask the New Prisoner.

"Jupri works for Penja. And like what Eddie said before. Penja has something to do with Kusnandar. I'm pretty sure of that." I said with my head down.

I heard Jaja sigh. "It's getting harder."

"We just need to get out of jail as soon as possible to catch him" Kusnadi responded.

"Ah, I hope you speed up your pay." I said.

The New Prisoner was tickled. "Of course!"