The Destruction of Batana

ZENZEN'S HATRED

　

　

“Zenzen, where have you been?”

I'm speechless. I found out that Brother was in my room using the wheelchair I had made. Big Brother's face looked serious. I almost wanted to hit my own head.I should have put that chair in the other room. Why am I so stupid, anyway?

“I'm just looking for the wind. This room feels crowded.” I'm trying to find an excuse.

“You think you can fool me? There's no way you've been looking for wind all that time. I heard you talking to someone. Who's that?”

I bite my lips. “Ah, it must be me who is delirious.”

“Zen, do you want to be honest or not?” My brother is starting to sound upset.

I'm down. “I was meeting with Agia.”

“Agia? Is that true? I told you not to get close to him.”

“Why can't I get close to him? Sister knows what about Agia.”

“You are! You don't remember her behavior when you first met me?”

I rolled my eyeballs. “What does Big Brother mean about him staring at Big Brother with a cynical look? He was like that. He is not good at eye contact with people he just met. Don't be offended just because of it. Agia's the only friend I have. Even when I couldn't find food in the rain, Agia helped me and gave me hope.”

“So you're against me now?” Brother still insists on opposing my words.

“Kak, please.... I'm already tired. Don't add to my burden and mind. Brother, go to sleep. Agia is my business. If you don't like... Brother just needs to stay away from her, right?” I snorted rudely. Hurry up to lie on my bed.

Brother Ikai looked at me with an annoyed look. I have never argued with my brother. I know Big Brother's feelings more than anyone and I know why he's upset tonight. No other because she was afraid I was getting further away from her side.

“Alright, it's up to you.” Brother snorted for a moment. Get out of my room.

I covered my face with a pillow. My feelings are mixed. I want to scream so loud. I haven't felt this frustrated in a long time. The last time I felt so upset was the day that Brother got sick and whimpered asking for food. That upset feeling came back tonight. Very uncomfortable feeling.

The morning came very quickly. I was awakened by a noise outside the house. I opened my bedroom window to look out and I found a lot of people gathered in the streets. Carrying pamphlets containing forms of protest. I glare. Holy hooch! this must be about the elite regional development project. I rushed down from my bed and came out to see if it was true.

The entire alley was filled with people protesting. Shouts for the sake of twirling screams were stepped up. Plus there was a whirling sound that broke the sky. As soon as I looked up, I found drones the size of adult palms everywhere. Looks like it's some kind of warning system to immediately vacate this area.

“WE ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO IMMEDIATELY CLEAR THIS AREA. WE APPEAL TO ALL RESIDENTS TO IMMEDIATELY CLEAR THIS AREA...”.

Damnit damnit! Why so fast? I rushed back into the house.

“Kak! We must get out of this place immediately!” I called out in panic and went into Brother's room.

“What happened Zenzen?”

“Already! Anyway we go first to a safe place.” I rushed to help Brother get into a wheelchair.

But my brother brushed my hand. I'm appalled.

“I won't leave this house.”

Holy hooch! Why could he think like that?

“Kak, this place will be used as an elite area. We have no choice but to leave or they'll catch us. It's the only option. Accept the fact that we can do nothing.” I tried to persuade him.

“You think traveling doesn't require money, huh? You'll only add to the suffering if we're swayed in the streets like an immaculate ship!”

I jerked. That word just stabbed me.

“Or don't you hide something from me. About your relationship with Agia that I know nothing about. Oh, that's right... Where'd you get those foods from?”

I clenched my jaw. Wh why? why at a time like this?

“Zenzen!” Someone just walked into the room. Who else if not Agia. “We have to go right now...” Agia. Make the sentence cut off.

“Agia, calm yourself.”

“I heard if the project will be done as soon as possible. At this time the masses began to move and try to oppose the plan. But it seems like their efforts will end in vain. That's why we have to leave as soon as possible. Or worse circumstances will happen.”

“Kak, did you hear that? We have to go right now. Stop being childish.” I said in a cold tone.

Brother squeezed his fingers. “Jawab used to be where you got those foods.”

I ruffled my hair rough. All right, my patience is on the verge. “I got it from the loot. Satisfied?” I said briefly.

Suddenly Brother glared at me. “KAU!”

Brother pulled my collar. Makes me fall. Agia's trying to help me. But his body was pushed by Big Brother's hand. I'm trying to take off Brother's grip. We rolled here and there. Hit the closet and drop various items. Brother hit me in the face. Makes me grimace in pain.

“WHO TAUGHT YOU TO DO THIS?” Brother exclaimed furiously. His face was red and the veins on his neck were hardened. He was unceasingly hitting me in the face.

I tried to brush off Brother's blow with my hand. “STOP!”

Can't do. My body is much bigger than my body. I flailing. Trying to find something I can use to survive. I found a figura near me. I quickly thrust it right into Big Brother's head. Brother Ikai is falling. Blood came out of his forehead. My hands vibrate. For the first time I hit Brother. My body moved on its own and it happened so fast.

“Kak... L'm.. I didn't mean..”

“You... You broke our family photo.” Brother cried while taking a picture of the family that had been shabby and scuffed. Plus the photo is not too visible because it was exposed to splashes of blood.

Meanwhile, the situation outside was getting more and more precarious. The masses are increasingly violent because they do not accept the decision. Some started making Molotof bombs and tried to attack the flying drones. It sparked anger among the top. The warning is no longer ignored. Replacing the disaster that brought disaster.

A drone attacked a rampaging mob and threw a petrol bomb indiscriminately. The shot was not fatal, but it was enough to make someone fall down and unconscious. The anger of the masses is growing. They threw Molotof bombs here and there. A few small explosions occurred. A drone was hit by a bomb, falling into one of the power poles. That happened so quickly. I don't know who is to blame. It ignited a gigantic flame in the blink of an eye.

Chaos began to happen. As a result of the fire, the evil higher-ups decided to burn other areas. Use the situation to run their nefarious project. Tomorrow the news will only cover if the fire incident is purely an accident. An incident that left hundreds dead. Dozens of children have lost their parents and dozens have been injured.

I hear the sirens ringing. Ash began to fly everywhere, followed by sparks that fell like rain. Smoke began to cover the view and make the chest feel tight. The mob started running away. Spatter is not kumuan. Their guts whistled as they watched the fire king devour house after house.

“Zenzen, we have to go immediately!” Agia.

I hurried to stand up and approached Brother Ikai. “Kak, we don't have much time!”

Brother just fell silent. Looking at the image of our family that has been stained with blood.

Big explosions happen. Shaken our house for a moment. The fragile roofs easily fell off. The fire is getting bigger. Spread from one house to another. The smell of smoke is very strong. I started coughing and had trouble breathing. Our house is already in chaos. The support wood fell and made fire fences everywhere. I'm trying to find a mask. Damnit damnit! I should have never let go if the situation would have ended like this.

But I was even more surprised once I found that Brother had squeezed some wood. I screamed in panic and tried to pull Big Brother out of the rubble. Things are getting more precarious. The fire started to appear outside the window. The feeling of heat and tightness made my energy not strong.

“KAK! HANG ON!” I tried to pull the wood strong. In vain.“AGIA! HELP ME!”

Agia stood behind me. He didn't move one bit. “Can't, we have to go now.”

“YOU'RE CRAZY, HUH? I WILL NOT LEAVE MY BROTHER!” My screams are trying to defeat all the noise that is happening. My hand started getting hurt from a wood splinter.

“YOU MUST BE AWARE, ZENZEN!”

Silent moment. Leave the flames. I almost hit Agia if it wasn't for this kind of situation.

“Your brother can't be helped. He will only hinder our journey.”

My grip's stretched. So that means I have to leave Brother?

The next explosion happened. The things around us fell back. I gasped and fell, a piece of wood almost fell on me. The smoke is getting thicker. This time my eyes started to blur. I faintly watched Agia approach towards Brother. I don't know what he's doing. My surroundings are starting to look dark.

Agia rushed to run towards me and put on a mask. My consciousness had not fully recovered due to the lack of oxygen I was breathing. Agia carried my body out. My body feels weak and my breath is sharp. When I realized... I've been outside the house.

I spontaneously removed Agia's grip. I want to run back into the house. But sometimes fate can be cruel. That day in front of my eyes, the house collapsed engulfed in a fierce fire. I screamed without a sound. That was a scream I hadn't even heard in a while. My tears are so heavy. The tears I have been crying all this time. The tears I've been trying to hide. That day, everything just spilled out. My biggest fear is realized. Lost my only family to me.

Agia tried to pull me away from the place. I'm tumbling. My legs felt limp and my body trembled violently. For a moment I could hear nothing but the voice of Big Brother in the past. Regret began to fill my chest. Empty gazes.

“So don't worry. I will never leave my brother. I'll never leave you no matter what. It won't. Little finger promise.”

My tears are so heavy. My breath was heavy and my chest was very painful. It's not because of the dirty air or the smoke I breathe. But the pain that lies deep in my heart. The pain of loss. In the end, I was the one who broke the promise. In the end, I was the one guilty.

“ZENZEN, AWAKE!” Agia broke my daydream. “A LIVING PERSON MUST STAY ALIVE!!!”

I jerked. Agia hurried to pull me. Time is going very slow. Like a video playing in slow motion mode. For a moment, I could watch some drones dropping small bombs on residential neighborhoods. For a moment, the whole scene perfectly formed hatred in my heart.

You're not wrong, but the world is wrong.

Is correct. It's not my fault. It's the wrong world. This world is what treats me like this. This world thinks I don't exist. Why should I blame myself?

Agia and I continued to run through the intricacies of the alley that started to fill with fire everywhere. We had to avoid some debris falling like meteors. The view around us was dark because of the fire smoke that covered like fog. I don't know where we're headed. Along the way I heard the victims moaning for help. But what cares about me. After all, all this time they never helped me when I was howling for help.

A drone was approaching us. It seems they cannot let any eyewitnesses live in this incident. I ran as fast as I could. Jump up and down here and there. Avoiding the flames trying to touch our skin. The drone is getting closer. Damnit damnit! Our condition is pinched. The drone won.

In the seconds before the drone was ready to release the bomb, I quickly took out an iron shield to reduce the impact of the small explosion. Just as the bomb was released, I quickly got down. Although it was just a small explosion, it was enough to make my body bounce off several meters and hit the rubble of the building. Not quite up there, my legs hurt from the impact. I fell between the rubble of the building and the iron chunks. It hurts so much. I could feel my leg breaking.

My ears were ringing for a moment, my vision blurred. I try to stay awake and try to get up. But I found my body pinched and my hands hurt. Not to mention from my forehead was flowing blood and covering my gaze. There was fire all around me.

“Agia!” I shouted out to call his name.

Silent. I can't see her anywhere. My heart was beating so hard. My whole body hurts when moved. In the end our attempts to escape ended in vain.

Until I heard a crackling sound not far from my position. Agia! He's still alive. At least he still looks fine even though his clothes look torn here and there. His face was dirty and there were a few cuts.

“AGIA! I'M HERE!”

Agia looked at me. But there was a sound from a distance. Especially if it's not a fucking drone. Agia looked frightened.

“AGIA! HELP ME AND WE'LL RUN TOGETHER!”

Agia remained silent. He only looked at me for a moment and looked back at the direction the sound came from. It was the most painful start of my life, happening in front of me. I faced something I called treason. I was a witness to my best friend's passing. He left because he preferred to care about his own life.

Agia stepped. Not moving closer but stepping away. My body feels like it's been stabbed by thousands of needles. My eyes watched for themselves how Agia just left. My mouth was open and I could hardly believe what I was seeing.

“AGIA!!!!” I shouted in the midst of the flames that were burning.

I squeezed my fingers. Watching him go made my heart so sore. I sobbed. Today two of the most precious people in my life have gone away from me. This bitter reality continued to stab me endlessly. I looked down and cried. My feet are numb. I didn't know if I could survive this condition.My eyes slowly turned to redness as the blood flowing from my forehead entered my eyes.

Is this what you felt when you left him? Did you feel sad because I left it? The question kept spinning inside my head. At least I'm still lucky my mask didn't break from that little explosion. But what about Brother? He must be in a lot of pain and fear.

The song I sing

The feeling I feel is pain

The life I live with hatred

The path I walked on the barbed field

So I decided it was raining today.

Suddenly I remembered the lyrics. The lyrics that Mom always sang when my brother and I couldn't sleep for fear of the night. I started singing the song to myself. At least in my memory I still have memories with my family. At least only that day I could breathe a sigh of relief and laugh merrily regardless of anything. At least just that day...

Slowly my consciousness began to disappear. I let my eyes close. I don't listen anymore to the noise and all the noise. Just the void and quiet.

“Pair the hose to its body”

I vaguely saw the light. Am I dead already? That's what's on my head. I could only see four round-shaped lights in the middle of the pitch. Someone is constantly calling me. Whether this is a dream or reality. I can't tell the difference anymore.

“Hold, Son. The doctor will definitely save you..”.

The voice sounded for the umpteenth time. It was just the cold I felt. Ah, this must be just a dream. There's no way anyone would call my name other than my family. Didn't a moment ago my surroundings still feel hot without my body feeling heavy due to being crushed by the building? Why is it so cold now and my body so light? Plus I don't feel the presence of my legs and hands.

The light slowly disappeared. I was unconscious.

　

　

***

　

　

I pricked. My vision was still blurred and my body felt very heavy. No, it's more like there's something attached to my body. In front of me was a dazzling light. The smell of iron and medicine was very strong. Mixed with the smell of blood. I try to move my legs and hands. Doesn't feel anything. I try to move my head to the side. Trying to figure out where I am.

This room is semi-circular and very dark. Only the lights in front of me illuminate the room. My view is still a little blurry. But I forced myself to be conscious. I heard the echo of someone approaching. A door rattled and someone entered the room. I can't see clearly who that figure is. He seemed to be getting closer to a device that was right beside me. Fiddling with something. But his activity stopped as soon as I saw him staring at him. The figure was shocked and exclaimed loudly.

“Gosh! I can't believe this.”

He took the flashlight that was aimed at my eyes then opened my eyes wide. My sight is recovering.

“Nak, are you okay? Ah, how could you be okay. What's your name?”

I was silent as a child. “Zenzen.”

“Good, Zenzen. You've made it through your critical period, son.” The man smiled warmly.

I try to get up. Again, my body feels strange. I can move my hands and feet. But I feel like I have to use my brain to think about moving it first.

“What, what happened to me?” I asked lirih.

The man looked at me with a concerned look.

“In the meantime you can't move your body. Need adjustment to move it.”

What does this mean by the word adjustment. I try to look at my hand. Can't do. Only a bandage was seen covering it.

“I know this is hard. But you need to know, it's a miracle you survived the incident. You have severe burns all over your body plus impact injuries that result in you lacking a lot of blood. That's why you need a few weeks to fully recover.”

“Kakak..”.

“What?”

“Kakkou... Where's she. It feels like just yesterday I was with him.”

The man sighed for a moment. “Son, I know you're having such an amazing nightmare that it makes your memory jumbled. When I found you, I didn't find anyone else around. I also brought some surviving children. It's just that none of them mentioned your name or looked for you.”

I'm speechless. But I clearly saw Big Brother's smiling face as I took him out for a walk.

“How about my parents?” I sobbed.

The man just shook his head.

I gasp. It felt like just yesterday I was enjoying my days with them. What the hell is going on? Why are my memories mixed up like this? Slowly my eyes began to glaze over. Unable to hold back tears. My feelings are very painful. Why did this bad thing happen? Wh why? In the end my life was filled with questions.

“Breaklah. I'll activate the dope so you can sleep comfortably for at least the next few days until your memory can recover. I know it hurts, but try to accept it. This is an indisputable harsh reality.”

The old man's words made me sob. I don't want to live like this. I don't want to suffer anymore. I don't want to feel any more pain.

The old man fiddled with the machine that was beside me. Started activating the dope to make me calm down and fall asleep. And left me alone in the room.