The Destruction of Batana

ISLAND

THE CTYAR!

I was awakened by the thunderous sound of lightning splitting the sky. My eyes gnaw. I sat down, watching around. I was in my room. The rain is still heard. The bruises on my back are being treated. I grimaced in pain. Trickering towards the deck of the ship.

I wiped the sweat off my forehead. They're not on deck, not even Vero is seen in the wheelhouse. Where exactly are they?

“Lian!”

I'm turning. Just now I was talking, they appeared behind me. I even stroked the chest. That's really horror. They suddenly appeared while the atmosphere was gripping.

“You okay?” Jora asked slowly.

I'm nodding. The antidote to the poison reacted quickly. Now all that remains is the pain in my back.

“You're out of where?” This time I was curious. Asks meirih.

“We're after from storage space. Our food is thinning, Lian. We've been stuck on this island for two days.” Bundara.

“Two days?” I scrunched my forehead. Wanted not to believe.

They nodded in unison.

That means the storm out there hasn't stopped for two days in a row. This is really bad.

“You've tried exploring the island?”

Marko. “We don't want to leave you, Captain. When you passed out, your condition was really concerning. Every now and then your body spasms, your heat rises so drastically, your hands and feet stiff. The poison of the animal is very dangerous, making us unable to leave you.”

I let out a breath. “Thank you for all of you helping me.”

Vero grabbed my neck. Ruffling my hair. “That's for a friend, buddy. We complement each other in hard times.” Vero laughing.

“Stop! That's not polite!” Marko.

As always, there is hardly a day without their fights. I just stared in silence. The business of divorce let Jora and Bundara handle it. Until the storm out there reminds me of the island we docked on.

“Vero, is the island in our destination line?”

Vero stopped. “Eh, yes if not mistaken.”

“Then, I want to check the island.”

“You sure, Lian? Out there in a storm, you also just recovered.” Jora called out objections.

I was silent for a moment. Look at them with a serious face. “We can't miss any leads. There could be a place on the island called Batana. We won't know if we don't check it. I feel fine too. Who knows we could also meet someone there and ask them to repair some of the damage on our ship. But, I'm not suggesting you all come along. Two people must stay here to guard the ship.”

The lightning returned. It made us all quiet.

“Alright, if it's Lian's order, we will agree.” The rounder replied. Followed by another nod.

“Then, for the two people who live here Vero and Jora. The rest will come with me.”

“Eh, why a.” Jora exclaimed stifled.

“This is my order.” I stared hard at him.

He complains. He lifted his face and sat in the passenger seat.

“Vero, if something happens inside the island, you understand what you have to do, right?”

Vero slit. Nodding slowly.

Me, Bundara, and Marko rushed to get ready. We were wearing full clothes. Fortunately the ship did not dock too far from the island. We don't have to bother swimming. The rain is still heavy, the wind is blowing. The lightning came back blaring, making our surroundings glow for a moment. I really can't believe this storm hasn't stopped for two days in a row.

We don't have nigt vision on our helmets. The lightning will interfere with our vision. Be we only armed with a flashlight embedded in the rifle as lighting. We've reached the shore. There are no boats or boats on the coast. Is this island uninhabited? We'll know the answer if we examine the island deeper.

We're tracing the beach. The heavy rain slightly disturbed our vision and pace. But this will not dampen my intentions. We keep going. Until my eyes were on a house that was half destroyed. We rushed into the house. Silent. There's no one in there. Except for a rat who ran to and fro.

“If there is a house like this, chances are the island is inhabited, Captain!” Marko expressed his opinion.

I'm nodding. We're back walking. Looking for another home. Sure enough, about ten meters away, we saw a level house. At least the house is intact. We ran through the rain. Until we arrived at the house. Hurrying in.

Some rats welcomed us. They ran to and fro. I kept entering the house. It's a mess in it. There are photographs and outdated furniture. I checked some tools and documents lying around.  Bundara took one of the photos. Inside was a five-year-old girl with both parents. Bundara put the photo back. Then followed me who had stepped towards the second floor.

We stepped very carefully. The lightning returned. Makes the atmosphere even more tense. Some insects creep on the roofs of houses that have been hollow here and there. We kept checking one room at a time. Every time we opened a door, it would make a creaking sound.

We are now in the family room. I approached a fireplace. Squat in front of him while putting my hands on the charcoal. It's shocking! The charcoal is still warm, which means someone has just used it. I decided to check out the other room. Until we found something really surprising.

Someone was sitting on a rocking chair. We turned to gun. In the room there is an open window, making rain wet the floor. We approached that figure. Oh my God, it's a corpse! I almost fell down in shock. Roundara shouted in a loud voice, Marko inching backwards. The body looks terrible. His face was covered in scratches. His mouth was open, his hands were holding his neck.

“Captain, what happened on this island?” Marko asked worriedly.

“Is this an act of RP-2?” Bundara asked.

I'm shaking. “Not, this is a human deed.”

We rushed out of the house. Accidentally, we saw a black silhouette from a distance. Not so clear. Heavy rain blocked our view. Until the lightning makes it around bright for a moment. It was clearly a black silhouette. The black silhouette was a human. We rushed to him while holding a rifle. That figure is a man. He looks pale. Wearing a mask with clothes that have been tattered. The eye color is red with black eye bags.

“Finally...Finally.” The figure is flattering. He ran towards us.

“Who are you?” I asked first.

“To...Please me. I've been stuck on this island for a week.” His voice sounded vibrating. Breath faltering.

“We first listen to this man's explanation.” I gave the order.

“Then, I... I got safe... I mean safe place.” Tell that figure with a stutter.

We followed his steps. Not too far away, we only walked for five minutes. We arrived at a cave. There's a bonfire in it. He told us to sit down. My eyes remained watchful, as if this was a trap, I had to find a gap for us to fight or escape.

“I...I'll tell you what happened.we're six in number. Storm...” Sentences broken. Makes it difficult for us to digest it.

The man pointed at the sky with his trembling hands. “Six we are all total... Plane crashed. We live, we survive... But die all because.. because they.”.

I complained. It's hard to understand his words.

“All die... all die..kkhhh. I live alone...”.

“Lian, something's weird with this guy.” The whisper near me.

Bundara's right. This guy's words are so sad. His voice was hoarse and his hands were shaking. Was she traumatized or something?

“Sorry, we don't really understand what you're saying. Can you calm down for a moment?” I tried to calm him down.

He's nodding. “We, there's a strange head. There is inside... There's something weird. I don't know. I'm stumped. It hurts weird. Like.. there is swelling.”

Marko patted his helmet. I know what he feels. This man's words instead of getting better were getting messy.

The man showed increasingly awkward reactions. Sometimes his eyeballs glanced here and there. He scratched his head. Makes her hair fall out. It was really scary to see his looks. I'm beginning to suspect this isn't trauma. Don't-don't, this is what Mom said first. People who are exposed to radiation.

“There are many. I was so scared anyway. I'll bring it... Take me out I mean. From this terrible island..”.

The man looked to the right and to the left. Legs moving. We're starting to feel bad. Until the sound of someone shouting from outside the cave. The screams were followed by the sound of lightning. It surprised us all. He stood up and wanted to see what was out there. But the man intercepted me, holding my arm while shaking his head.

“Ja... Don't.” His voice began to sound snarling.

I'm starting to fret. Bundara even removed the man's grasp from my arm. Marko pointed his gun at him.

“Ja..kerr”.

What's wrong with this guy? Now he let out strange sounds.The man was downcast. His hands were shaking more. And...

“ARGHHH!”

The man attacked Marko suddenly. Marko, who was not ready for the surprise attack, fell. Bundara and I immediately helped him. The man tried to open Marko's helmet. Bundara quickly threw the man. He fell down and hit the cave wall. Marko complained of pain. Almost got his helmet open.

I thought the man was going to faint from a violent impact, but I was wrong. The man got back up and was about to attack us. I put my gun on it and was about to hit the trigger. However, my hand suddenly stiffened. I can't kill a human. I decided to make him unconscious. Hit him in the head with the muzzle of my rifle.

We heard a scream from outside the cave. His voice followed.

“We must leave this place immediately!” I gave the order.

“But, how about this guy, Captain?” Marko asked slowly.

“He's been beyond help!” I answered briefly. As for the explanation, I'll let you know later. Right now we have to rush out of this island.

As soon as we got out of the cave, a group of people attacked us. They're so aggressive. I can't fire at them. I can only fight with fists and kicks. Either way they are human.

Some of them tried to take off our helmets. I had great difficulty fending off their nimble attacks. The rain blocked my view. Marko uses his mainstay style, while Bundara relies on his physique. We continue to break through the group of humans who already have no sense. Alias their brains have been damaged by radiation.

I conclude this because the island forms a little basin. Although I can't see the whole island, I can feel the slope and texture of the soil. Most likely this island was bombed by nuclear bombs.

One of them jumped at me. My footing was not steady, making me slip, fall and roll. About eight people surrounded me. They scream like crazy people. Clawing my arms and body. Marko and Bundara were both desperate. They both can't help me.

I kept taking cover from their scratches and blows. Damn, I really didn't dare to open fire. Lightning shook, making their creepy faces clear even for a moment. I bite my lips. They cut off every attack.

I decided to use my rifle. But not to shoot, but to beat them unconscious. At least they are still forty percent human. It worked! One by one, I fainted with my gun. I approached Marko and Bundara to help them.

We ran back to the ship. About five people were chasing us. I quickly dodged whenever they jumped to catch my body. Every time someone confronted me, I would release a punch towards their heads.

We have arrived near the ship. However, the water made our steps obstructed. Surprisingly, this did not affect the speed of those people. They casually ran after us even in the water. One of them hit me. Made me fall into the water. My neck was choked and my helmet was blown to the rock. I'm yelling. Give up all my strength. In the moments before I was out of breath, I punched the figure's nose. And quickly ran back to the ship.

We got on the boat and rushed in. Vero and Jora who did not understand the situation were asking us questions.

“What happened? You guys are like people who have just been chased by a lunatic.”

I complained. My breaths. “Quick leave this island!”

“Eh, but the storm..”.

“FAST!” I cut out Vero's question.

He rushed to the steering room. I could still see the crowd of people trying to chase after us. And they ended tragically. Drowning in storm surge.

“Tadi what?”Jora who had noticed the group of strange people asked slowly.

“They are people affected by radiation. The cells in their brains die and make them tend to behave like crazy. Even if severe, they can be like wild beasts.” I answered the question in my breath.

Bundara and Marko took off their helmets. Sit on the passenger seat. Their faces are very pale. Jora immediately took the water. Our tension is not over, we still have one thing we have to deal with. The storm we are facing again.