The Destruction of Batana

I'M ZENZEN 4

“Zenzen! There's a precarious problem!”

I'mawakened. Agia was sitting right in front of the window. It's still dark. Looks like it's right at midnight. I rubbed my eyes which still felt heavy.

“What's up, anyway? Why did you wake me up in the middle of the night like this?” I rubbed my messy hair.

“Zen, this is very serious. Coup invites us all to gather.”

“What?” I who was still half asleep glared at the news.

The full moon shines beautiful. But the clouds cover the constellations hidden behind them. Tonight the air felt very cold, making a puff of dew on every breath. We both ran as fast as we could. If the coup calls with this situation, I'm sure there's a very serious problem.

We arrived about fifteen minutes later. My breath was stingy and sweat was pouring out profusely. It seemed that the other members had gathered first. Agia and I rushed into the room.

“Why in times like this? Though just now I feel our glory is in plain sight.” Droid complains in the middle of the conversation.

“What's up?” I cursed. Trying to join the conversation.

“Ah, Zenja. You have come apparently. We have a serious problem. Looks like we won't be used to forward our project.” Reply Droid with a sad tone.

Eh? Whatdoes thatmean?

“Born I heard the news of birds if this area will be leveled and made into an elite area. If not wrong some architects have come to this place with the workers. I watched it myself while buying some stuff on the black market.” Songmin added.

“Then we will never be able to steal again. Our actions will be easy to know. Plus we're just stealing from the other side. If this place turned into an elite region, it was too much of a cause for concern. We will be easily known and captured.” Coup added.

Suddenly the whole room was crowded. They all called out not to accept.

“What else do they really want, anyway? Is not enough for those who already have an elite area in the city center. Why do we add to our suffering? Do I need to kill one by one those fucking people?” Badas. He is clearly the most objectionable among us.

“We can't stay silent, Coup. Maybe we can move the masses to oppose the project. As we did before, we are thieves, we are fraudsters. Of course cheating the masses will be very easy, right?” Fencing give advice.

The room was silent for a moment. I don't know why the coup has been quieter. I don't know what to say either. My mind is completely empty. It feels like just yesterday I joined them and enjoyed my time with them. But today it was all taken from me.

“This is something no one like us can solve.” The coup said lirih.

“So you'll just give up?” Songmin exclaimed stifled.

“No, Coup is right. This is something that people like us cannot solve.” I squeezed my fingers. “We have no power let alone the right to oppose those who are far above us. The only way we can survive this situation is to move out of this slum.”

“Hey, is that right? Moving out? You think it'll be that easy?” Badas exclaimed with a sharp look.

“You've done it, huh?” Badas exclaimed in anger. I'm sure he still hates me.

“BADAS, QUIET!” The coup came with a loud voice.

For the first time we all heard the Coup screaming like that. The coup I know is always relaxed and calm in the middle of any situation. But today is definitely something we won't be able to finish. Especially there are still rumors about us spreading. If we take a wrong step, it is the same as stepping on a thorny field.

Silent room. All faces down.

“All Zenzen said was right. We can't keep stealing and acting. Starting tonight our group should disband. The money we collect has exceeded expectations. Enough for you to support your life and do everything you want. Badas, you can be an athlete like you dreamed. Songmin, be a model and have an operation to cover the wounds on your back. Fencing, continue your education that had stopped it. You can enroll in a special school with people who can accept your existence. Droid, be a computer expert, open an electronics workshop. Agia, you can do a magic show with your tricks. And Zenzen, you can go anywhere with your brother.” The coup just hung down.

They all started to sob. They have been together since childhood. I am very new to this member. Of course their days were more memorable than their days with me.

That night our group officially disbanded. The sighs and sighs of disappointment were unceasingly flowing at my every step. We can only resign and accept the decision of the coup. As per the agreement, the Coup distributed the money from the loot we collected tonight equally.

Agia was silent the whole trip. I'm sure he's just as sad as everyone else. Agia never had a family. For him they are his family. A place for him to go home. For him, they are his life. That fact is what made him so sad.

“What's your next plan, Agia?” I asked first.

“I don't know. I can't think of anything.”

I crossed my arms behind my head. Looking up at the sky. “You want to come with me and Brother Ikai?”

“Where are you going? You said yourself that moving would be very difficult.”

Stalled steps. “After I thought about it there seems to be another way. I want to go somewhere in the middle of nowhere with my brother. To a place where I have no neighbors. A place where I can run free. To a place where I can look at the sky without any fog. Isn't there such a place in the world? Ikai no longer needed to lock himself in the room while looking out through his small window. Nothing else will disturb our lives. There are no more people standing above us. At least that's the kind of place I want to look for.”

Agia smiled faintly. “Is it true that I can go to such a place?”

“Certainly can.”

“Alright, I'll come with you. I didn't know what money I had to get either. But don't let you blame me if your brother will fight with me often.”

I'm giving a thumbs up.