by Rama Nugraha
But Datan did not care. He hugged Father anyway. Datan admitted that he was worried. He told him that he thought Father would be miserably skinny, dirty, wrinkly, dressed in rags and had thick facial hair like a pile of hay. Father laughed. He tapped Datan’s forehead, finding what his son said hilarious.
“I mean it, Father!”
Datan was relieved to see that Father looked normal. The scent of vanilla in his body got even stronger somehow. It masked the musty scent from his clothing, and… sulfur. It was then that Datan realized that Father had caught the plague.
“Datan,” Nymeria called out.
Datan ignored her. He was bewildered seeing Father muttered praises for Unum out of nowhere. Datan thought that perhaps Father was thankful for their reunion.
“I’m sorry for all of this, Father,” Datan said, truly meant what he said. “Listen. Please look at me. You can praise Unum later because right now I want you to get out of here.”
Datan then noticed that Father was confused as if there was something blocking his mind. His spotted blue eyes looked pale and dull, the pupils shifted around, unfocused. His palms were sweaty, gripping the hem of the worn-out white shirt that had not been washed for a couple of days. Datan had to shake his shoulder to regain his attention.
“Yes?”
“I want you to get out of here. Do you hear me, Father?” Datan pointed at the tunnels he came from. “Run through that tunnels into the surface. My friends are there. They’ll help you.”
Father was stunned, looking at the nearly unnoticeable tunnels and his son’s face back and forth. He looked deeply conflicted. “But I’m not like you,” he grimaced. “I cannot see through darkness, Son.”
“There are torches, you just need to get them.”
Father shook his head, he started to breathe erratically like he was terrified.
◆◆◆
Datan understood their initial plan. No matter how dire the situation is, Datan and Kanas would try to face Nymeria and her associates. Datan thought he would use persuasion and charm, and a little bit of intimidation, to negotiate with her. All the while Irirana tried to save Father, taking him to a safe place. In their simple plan, they agreed that improvisation would be conducted depending on their need and the situation.
But now, the plan felt superficial. He did not think that Nymeria would separate him from Irirana and Kanas this far.
“If I must run, we shall run together,” Father insisted stubbornly. “Because you cannot face the people of Zuruk on your own. They don’t have feelings, Datan. The number four, Ermac Zuruk… that bastard raised them within lies, indoctrinated them since they were children, telling them that life is a matter of eating, breeding, and killing!”
Datan turned him down. “I don’t care,” he exclaimed. “I don’t want you to pull your foot nerve again if you try to do a kick.”
“You are belittling me,” Father protested. “And why is your skin red like this?”
“I am not belittling you, Father. But you are not in your best safe. And I’ll tell you the whole story once we get out of here.”
“I can manage,” Father insisted. “I can do this, Son. Have a little trust.”
Datan realized that Father stubbornness has resurfaced. He hoped that Father could actually help him. “Alright, hold this,” he handed Father one Royan knife. “Don’t force yourself. I’ll try to charm this woman for a moment. Whatever happens—“
“You really believe I would get to live once more after this, do you?”
Datan glared at him. “Stop, Father,” he snapped. “Don’t talk like that! Not now, I want to—“
“Charm me? Are you serious, Datan?”
Datan turned around to see Nymeria. She looked flustered. He was unsure if she was flattered or angry.
“We’re friends, aren’t we, Nay?” he said, crooking his eyebrow.
She brought the tip of the burning torch towards her shoulder. She whispered, calling the lizard to come out of her thick silver hair. The lizard took a deep breath, blowing off the torch as though it was a candle.
“Zu, Datan,” Nymeria let the torch fell onto the ground. “I want the Zu stone. Now.”
“No, Nay. I’m sorry,” Datan sighed. “Alright, this is real. Without any seducing or deception. I just can’t give the Zu stone to you,” Datan felt his blood rushed towards his head. “But listen. The one wanting the Zu is a prominent figure, a powerful man. Trust me you don’t want to mess with him.
“The truth is, he asked me to capture you after what you’ve done in Fardas. You know what I mean, right? The slaughtering,” Datan said as he walked closer with a raised hand, resembling a man trying to tame a hungry bear. “I know you have been nice to me. So let me just pay you back. Here’s the deal. I’ll let you go, letting you be free, and I will fabricate a story that you managed to escape, yadda yadda, and I cannot keep up with you. And you will do the same to me and my father. Letting us go along with the Zu stone.
“What do you think?”
Nymeria threw Datan a despised look. “You betray me!” she bellowed. “You fool!”
“I’m not foolish and I am not betraying you. I swear. Look at me,” Datan opened his eyes wide. “Look at me. Deeply. I mean what I say, don’t I?”
Nymeria’s face turned blue like she was nauseous. Instead of yelling, she shut her mouth. The lizard scratch its face, shrugging. It jumped from Nymeria’s shoulder and escaped into the darkness, deciding not to meddle.
Datan took a step back, thinking that Nymeria was about to explode.
“I feel insulted, Datan. You always do what you want and you said we’re friends?!”
“I am not insulting you. We can be best friends if you’re willing to free us. We can exchange letters.”
“How about the stone?”
Datan sighed. “Really, Nay,” he groaned. “I cannot give it to you.”
Nymeria’s eyes looked watery. “You betray me,” she said sadly, tightening her cloak like she was sick blown by the cold wind.
On the other hand, Datan felt the air got hotter.
“You’re mistaken. I am not betraying you. Have you read the cross-country newspaper lately? The entire people of Fardas accused me of the murder you commit to everyone in Ubaga Jarhal’s mansion.”
“Not everyone. I let his children live, and those two guards.”
“Right. But still, I am the suspect. I sacrifice myself for your sake. You owe me one. By releasing me, we’ll be even.”
Nymeria smirked, looked disgusted like Datan was deformed beggar. “That’s only because you’re an amateur, Datan,” she sneered. “You should have fought Ferid in the yard, not taking him around the city.”
“That was unintentional.”
“You lack experience!” Nymeria jabbed. “I tried so hard to go back, to kill Joris and let you escape. Can you imagine what would happen if I wasn’t there to help you?”
“Sami was there! He was there to help me! Even if you didn’t kill Joris, I would be fine!” Datan panted, his anger got the best of him. “And you killed him!”
“I stopped his suffering,” Nymeria declared. “His body was buried by Jasin at the back of the house in case you want to pay a visit. Well, he sort of deserves it because he managed to piss us off by chasing us here.”
Datan stared tensely. “Sami was sick,” he hesitantly said. “And…”
Nymeria did not deny him. “The Zu stone, Datan,” she demanded.
“No.”
Nymeria stilled, not blinking. Her fists were balled. She then glanced at Father who was wiping black liquid from his blood and looking confused at what they were talking about.
“Do you really wish to do this?”
“I don’t have any choice.”
“I’ll help your father, then.”
Datan smirked, covering panic with a dry laugh. “Nonsense,” he said, moving closer to Father. “We’ve talked too much. So, do you accept the terms or not?”
“You hurt me.�
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Datan held the handle of his sword. “Take a deep breath, Nay,” he suggested. “I don’t want to fight. But if you insist… I’ve told my friends about this before we got here… well, if you make me do this… really, I’ll shave your head clean.”
Nymeria frowned deeper and her face became even paler and more terrifying. Her hands trembled, and so was her body. She blinked and her eyes turned into glowing silver balls. “You hurt me!” her voice echoed hatred.
Datan shook his head. “You’re insane,” he commented.
Nymeria’s gaze turned evil. “I’ll kill your father, Datan,” she bellowed.
“Stop yapping, Nay. Do you want another fight? Come on, this time we’ll finish it,” Datan raised his balled fist and got into fighting stance. “Because my father and I would like to get out of here.”
Then, that smile appeared. A part of Nymeria that had been engraved to his brain.
“Datan.”
Datan raised his hand without turning around. “Hold on, Father,” he said. “I need to finish my business with this woman.”
“No, listen to me!” Father choked up. “Look at me!”
Datan turned his neck, feeling it harden like he was turning into stone. Right away, he felt suffocated. Father had brought a knife to his neck, which now looked fragile. His hand was trembling as he held the leather handle so strongly that his veins popped up. His breath became erratic and his gesture showing that he was ready to end his life anytime.
“How? How could be—”
“Move an inch, Datan,” Nymeia cut him. “And your father will slit his own throat. From now on, your father will do whatever I say.”
Datan could not believe what was happening. He looked at Nymeria and Father back and forth, terrified. It felt like those two had put him in a corner, threatening him. Beads of sweat dripped in his face. What did Nymeria do to Father? Datan was losing his mind. His knees trembled.
“Nay—come on,” Datan could not muster a coherent voice. “Listen—”
“The Zu stone.”
“Alright, alright! Calm down—the stone,” Datan took the Zu stone from the left pocket of his pants. Without giving it another glance, he threw it toward Nymeria. “That necklace—I mean the Zu stone. The real one. Nay, please… my father. What are you doing? Let him go!”
Nymeria acted like she could not hear him. The pair of silver eyes stared at the longed Zu stone and its blue gleam. Then she mustered her sinister smile. “Do you have any last words, Uncle Mattan?” she mumbled, looking straight at Father, ignoring Datan.
Strands of Nymeria’s hair fell covering her face.
“Nay?” Datan was shocked—he could not breathe.
Father gulped, giving Nymeria a sad nod. He then looked at Datan. “Datan. Hey, listen to me, Son,” he asked in a hoarse voice. He stopped for a while, frowning, then inhaling air as though he had forgotten how to breathe. “Don’t worry about me. Unum will resurrect me back.”
Datan felt a knot in his throat, making him incoherent. “No.”
“Listen, you have to get a hold of yourself—“
“No! You can’t say that! No dead man can ever come back to life! We only live once!” Datan rebuked, throwing Father a terrifying glare. “You’re out of your mind! You cannot think straight, Father. You’re insane!”
“Listen—”
“I don’t want to listen!” Datan shouted hysterically. “Do you know? Tormera… the people are going insane! They hallucinated! They lost their mind! Everyone! Uncle Baram told me that he met Unum the Creator! That’s crazy! He slaughtered Tortor! You know how much he is fond of Tortor, right?”
“Baram is crazy, but I’m not, Datan!” Father protested. “Stop yelling like a child! I know Unum before you’re even born!”
“That! That is the problem! No crazy man would admit that they are crazy!” Datan screeched, frustrated.
“There’s hope, Datan. A dream, that we must fight for. Do you think one life is enough? For Unum, I don’t find it enough. I’m hungry for the second life.”
Datan’s eyes bugged in horror. “No! I don’t care!” he yelled. “You’re sick! That’s a sick person’s dream! Stop talking about death! Casta came to our house and King Lucas even wanted to see you. So, you cannot die now!”
Father gasped. He looked like he had remembered an unpaid debt.
Datan nodded helplessly. “Yeah, it was surprising that you are looked for by great men,” he said hoarsely. “And you owe me something too! You have to come home!”
Father sighed. “I am old. My business with them was over, Son—”
Nymeria took one step forward. “You’re running out of time, Uncle Mattan,” she warned. Datan turned to her. “Damn you, Nay!” he hollered before turning back to Father.
Father caught his breath as Datan approached him with cautions. Fear was crystal clear in Father spotted eyes. But it was not the fear of death.
“After this,” Father said sorrowfully tense. “You’ll encounter a great power, an evil one. You’ll be involved in a battle bigger than you could imagine. A war. You’ll find out my secret, my mistake in the past. For Unum, no matter what happened,” his entire body trembled, overflowing with emotion. His shoulder tensed. He looked down. One drop of tear escaped his eyes from tears that had been pooling in his eyes.
Father lowered his gaze. He looked for something with his left hand. “My debt, this ring—” he reached for Datan’s hand, he wiped Malika with his fingers. “Don’t dwell on sadness. Don’t be afraid. And—and—the Scripture of Essa… one day you must read it. Yes, you must—”
Datan could not say anything. He felt tongue-tied. His chest hurt so much that he was suffocated. He felt paralyzed. Helpless.
“This life is just a game, Son,” Father kept going with teary eyes. His left hand tapped Datan’s chest. “Don’t be too worried. Listen to your heart—the Truth is there—unseen—as always—”
As fast as possible, Datan took the knife Father held to his neck, and Father did not fight back. “Nay, stop playing around! You already have the stone!”
Datan gritted and threw the knife. Nymeria avoided it. That woman was expressionless, her mouth was completely shut. Her silver eyes looked cold and wild still.
“Find your faith and don’t ever let go—”
“Please, Nay!”
“Your journey has just begun, Datan. Oh, For Unum. I’ll see Unum soon—”
“Quiet, Father!” Datan roared as his heart quivered. He groaned, holding his head that felt like it was on the verge of breaking. He could not comprehend what was happening. He was drowned in fear. “I’m sorry… I…”
Father scrunched his face, making him look older. His cheeks were wet with tears. He laughed bitterly. Then, his body trembled greatly like holding back spasm. He coughed and black blood oozed from his nostrils. “I love you, Son. I hope Unum welcomes me with a smile—”
Datan’s entire bones crumbled under Father’s gaze. Those eyes were wavering, teary. Inside its deep dark eyes socket was agonizing sorrow. He reached for Father’s arm. “Enough,” he declared. “Don’t listen to the mad woman. Let’s get out of here!” he pulled Father away.
“Jump, Uncle Mattan.”
Datan widened his eyes in horror. Father pulled himself away from Datan using the remaining of his strength. Father turned around, roared and ran towards the edge of the cliff. He passed Nymeria and—
He jumped.
Chapter 33
Nymeria Tells
A distant crack was heard as a body crashed into the ground.
“What a beautiful sound. A freefall to freedom,” Nymeria hummed, closing her eyes, imagining how Father fell in her mind. “Thank you, Uncle Mattan.” She opened her eyes. Those sharp grey orbs lit up.
Datan felt like he was stroke by lightning.
The knife fell off his numb hand. Datan fell on his knees, holding his head. His eyes bugged out, horrified. He could not breathe. He looked miserable like a dying man. This
could not be real. Datan refused to believe. His body trembled, his blood boiled. He bellowed, punching the ground as his feeling went haywire.
Father… no, Father!
Datan wiped his cheek, looking up to see Nymeria walking toward him while biting her thumbnail. The stomping sound of her boots dragged the pebbled ground.
A smile was formed in her face. “Really, I don’t understand. Why do people cry over death?” she asked brutally. She spread her arms like she was waiting for a hug, her eyes remained cold and cruel. “Come on, don’t be a dramatic weakling. Open your eyes, Datan. Our lives are mere coincidences. Like a tiny candle is blown by the wind. Once it dies, then puff, it’s over.
“No need to cry over it. There’s no need to be emotional.”
Datan sobbed. He struggled for air like there was a gaping hole in his lungs. It was heavy. Hard. Agonizingly painful. His cheeks were wet with tears, he was as pale as a corpse.
“I thought you think the same way.”
“Shut it! Shut it!” Datan screamed. He did not want to hear anything anymore. “You killed him! You!”
Nymeria’s face stiffened. “Weak! Crybaby!” she exclaimed. “You thought I wasn’t serious—”
“I’ll kill you,” Datan’s shoulder trembled. He was sure. “I’LL KILL YOU!”
Nymeria gasped.
Rage boiled up and exploded, numbing his insanity. His darkened heart went mad, screaming to him that his soul would never rest in peace until Nymeria died in his hands. Datan took the knife. He jumped to his feet and ran toward her so fast that his cloak fluttered. He jumped, ready to stab Nymeria.
“I’ll kill—!”
The black wristlet froze. It was so cold that he could not feel his hand.
The next thing he knew, he was tackled from the side by a Ludaj.
A loud thud followed. Datan was thrown away, hitting the wall of the cave and fell into the ground. He choked. It was painful. He groaned, gripping his left ribs, hoping his bones were not broken.
“Stop, Ciriel!” Nymeria yelped. “You could kill him!”
Ciriel’s yellow eyes sheened, his black hair rose. “I’ll do it if I have to, Missus,” he said, not caring. He puffed his chest arrogantly, showing his board hairy chest with iron-like muscle. Datan did not notice when the Anag came out of hiding. “This man is dangerous. He’s like an animal! Miss Raisa will punish me if something happens to you.”
