CHAPTER 19 : I WANT TO GO HOME

"Papa? No! Why are you here? No! I-I will hurt him!" Farah panicked, her Mind Dimension trembling as the darkness surrounding her began to consume her. Mei tried to control the Mind Dimension, but part of her body was also starting to be engulfed by the darkness."Farah! Please, calm down!" Mei pleaded, also anxious. Farah only held her head and screamed."Aaaaargghhhh!""Kuaaaaaaarrgghhhh!"In the real world, Stray Farah screamed and emitted a powerful sound wave. Mikael jumped toward her with an angry expression. The black liquid from his palms morphed into two solid black axes, and he struck the back of Stray Farah's neck, but the blades couldn't penetrate fully."Why? Why?! Why!? Papa!" Stray Farah punched Mikael aside, sending him sliding on the pavement. He quickly got back up and created two more axes with his power."Sir Mikael!" called one of the police officers from Mikael's team, all of them confused, unsure of what to do. Rose and Shaurya moved forward to see what was happening."Mikael..." Rose sighed, seeing Mikael wielding two axes and surrounded by black liquid seeping from his shadow."Stop... Stop talking like that!" Mikael shouted before launching another attack. Stray Farah focused all her assaults on Mikael.Mikael used his axes to deflect and counter each of Stray Farah's attacks. Their battle was swift, sending dust swirling around them, obscuring what was happening."Hold fire! Fall back and regroup! We can't engage in this fight, it's pointless! Everyone, move immediately!" Rose commanded, and all the police members repositioned themselves, retreating."What's happening?" Khalid asked, all members of HOPE still hiding behind the Furioswheels. Mei was drenched in sweat, slightly opening her eyes while gritting her teeth, her body trembling from the heat."Her... Her father... became a mutant! Hah... Hah..." Mei spoke slowly, exhausted, as Chyou appeared at her side to check on her condition."Sister... Your body?" Chyou said, worried."I can still go on... Don't worry about me. Help her... Please, help them. Chyou... Khalid... Kyoko... Kh-Khairul..." Mei pleaded. Khairul looked at Mei's condition before glancing at Nasuha, who was still unconscious.Chyou, Khalid, and Kyoko moved forward without a second thought. They quickly headed toward the battling Stray Farah and Mikael. Khairul tightly held Nasuha's hand before slowly letting it go."I still can't forgive her..." Khairul said."I understand, but I'm sorry, Khairul. This power, it's our responsibility to save her. No matter what she's done, this isn't her fault." Mei replied, and Khairul drew both of his swords."If she hurts anyone else like Nasuha... I will kill her without a second thought," Khairul declared, running ahead.Stray Farah grabbed Mikael and slammed him into the asphalt, creating a small crater. Mikael tried to free himself, but she pressed him down harder. Khalid appeared and managed to slice Stray Farah's wrist slightly, weakening her grip on Mikael, allowing him to escape."You..." Mikael glared at Khalid."We're on the same side, officer... Besides, now you're one of us." Khalid said.The wound on Stray Farah's wrist healed almost instantly, and now scales grew even more, with razor-like spikes emerging around her body. She attacked Khalid with Mikael, but they were quickly aided by Chyou and Kyoko, who pulled them away from the assault."I don't care who you are. I just want to kill this monster!" Mikael shouted."Officer... This monster—""I don't care what it is!" Mikael interrupted Khalid's words and attacked again, creating a sickle with a long handle and a large blade. The swing of the weapon was caught by Stray Farah, but Mikael was strong enough to push her back slightly."Listen! This Stray still has a bit of her human mind! Some of our team is trying to control her right now! Don't kill her!" Khalid pleaded, but Mikael turned to face him and unleashed the black liquid that forcefully pushed Khalid away."If you don't want to help me, then just go to hell!" Mikael shot back.Suddenly, Khairul appeared from Mikael's side, kicking him aside. They faced each other, deadly glares locked onto one another. Mikael recreated his sickle, and Khairul lifted both of his swords."I want to kill that monster more than you do. She hurt the people I care about, but we have to try to help her," Khairul said."You don't know anything, kid!" Mikael continued to attack Khairul, their weapons clashing."I'm stopping him from disturbing you all. Quickly, stop that Stray!" Khairul ordered, and Khalid and Kyoko nearby nodded in understanding, refocusing on Stray Farah.He reminds me of someone.But there's something different too; in his eyes, there's hatred, but I don't feel it's directed at me.This feeling is strange.Khairul and Mikael's weapons clashed repeatedly, but Mikael was a bit faster and managed to inflict several gashes on Khairul. Khairul didn't stop; he moved closer to Mikael, his right hand aimed at Mikael's face with his blade.I've learned. Control myself.Control...The blade in Khairul's right arm reentered his arm, and he clenched his fist tightly, punching Mikael in the face."Urgh..." Mikael fell to the ground in front of Khairul."Huh!" Khairul exhaled deeply and wiped the cut beneath his mouth."You could've just killed me earlier..." Mikael sighed."And I didn't. I just wanted to prove something, old man. I can be better." Khairul replied.What am I saying?This guy...he's not my old man.He's dead..."Like I give a fuck! As long as you try to stop me, I'll kill you! Get out of the way! Why are you defending that monster anyway? That thing hurt the people you care about, didn't it? That thing killed my family! What do you understand? Losing everything just like that! You don't know what I'm going through!" Mikael shouted, creating a sickle and an axe as Khairul drew his swords again."I understand very well, old man. It feels like absolute shit, doesn't it?" Khairul replied.Meanwhile,Khalid pulled out a sword card from his belt as he jumped away from Stray Farah's attacks. He drew a card with a lasso icon and inserted it into his belt slot."Weapon Change! Lasso of Justice!" A lasso appeared in Khalid's hand, which he used to tie around Stray Farah's neck and pulled her down."Kuaaarrrghhh!" Stray Farah unleashed a sound wave attack, but Khalid managed to control its direction and redirected it to the pavement, causing tremors akin to an earthquake.Kyoko was in the air, gathering a large amount of lightning energy, her hair blowing upwards. She took a deep breath and then shot two giant bolts of lightning at Stray Farah, slamming both of her palms into the pavement.The Lasso of Justice will stop her from moving as long as she has the intent to do something evil. But only for 5 minutes. Khairul and the officer are still fighting; I have no idea what's happening in the Mind Dimension with Mei.But this is the best we can do to stop her from moving right now.Hurry, Mei!"Arrghh! It hurts! It hurts!" Farah screamed as her Mind Dimension slowly shattered like glass. Mei looked around with a fearful expression.The entire Mind Dimension shattered, and the two of them entered a new Mind Dimension surrounded only by darkness. However, Mei was able to illuminate it using her powers; red light emanated from both her hands as she pushed back the darkness trying to reach her and Farah."Just kill me..." Darkness began to cover Farah's body, leaving only half of her face visible."Farah, fight back... I don't know how else to say it, but fight!" Mei pleaded.I can't do anything...Farah didn't want to fight the Mutant Cell that was consuming her mind right now. In fact, when she tried to fight back, the situation only worsened.Mei opened her eyes in the real world and saw everything that was happening, all that was playing in the minds of those around her. The battle between Khairul and Mikael; in Mikael's mind, he was also surrounded by darkness, the Mutant Cell gradually eating away at his mind.Farah's father is suffering too..."Save your daughter, Mikael!"Mikael froze, he and Khairul entered Farah's Mind Dimension. Mei was seen controlling the dimension from the outside, as the shadow-like Mutant Cell with glowing red eyes tried to restrain her but Mei fought back."What is this?" Mikael asked, his expression changing to shock as he saw Farah."P-Papa..." Farah said softly, tears streaming down her cheeks. Khairul was also confused about why he was there; he looked up and saw Mei fighting the Mutant Cell that refused to let her gain control.There must be a reason I'm here, Khairul thought to himself."Farah... What's happening?" Mikael approached his daughter, trying to pull Farah from the darkness consuming her, but his hand couldn't touch the darkness."This is the Mind Dimension. If I had to guess, this is your daughter's Mind Dimension...""What are you rambling about?" Mikael sighed, repeatedly trying to reach Farah."We're in your daughter's brain. Can't you realize that yet? The monster you want to kill—""Shut up! Stop rambling! I have to... No...""Papa... I'm sorry... sorry... Sorry.""Papa is here, Farah. I'm here... Let's go home. You haven't visited Mama yet, right? I will take you back, dear. I should be the one to say sorry... I should have come back again... to see you... to see Mama... I promise I'll stop working and stay with you..."Since so many mutated monsters started appearing, Papa got busy with work, and I was always with Mama. It's not that I don't like Mama, but I feel uncomfortable with her...Mama is too pushy."How was school?" Syakila asked as she and Farah were having dinner together. Farah glanced at the empty chair next to Syakila."Is Papa not back yet?""Same as usual for the past two days... School?" Syakila continued her questioning. Farah let out a small sigh.It's ridiculous that I have to worry about school during times like this. Every day I worry about my own safety, your safety... Papa's safety.I just want us all to be together. When will this area be quarantined?"Papa!" Farah was chasing after Mikael, who was walking toward the door of their house."Oh, yes, Farah?" Mikael turned around, revealing his slightly bruised eyes and unkempt mustache and beard."Papa..." Farah looked sad.Say it...Say that you're scared.Say that you want him to stay home.Say that you're uncomfortable going to school."Be careful. Come home early today," Farah said, a small smile appearing on her face. Mikael smiled back and gently stroked Farah's head."I'll try. Take care of yourself, and if anything happens, just call me, okay? You can bring your phone to school now, right?" Mikael advised.Stupid. Hold his hand, say what you really want to say...Mikael disappeared from view, and Farah stood frozen at her doorstep.Please show up.A truly dangerous monster.That kills many people so that...Papa can come back..."How long are you going to keep relying on your father? He's busy... You need to stop expecting him to come home early... Understand his responsibilities," Syakila sighed, looking disturbed."At least try talking with him. Aren't you worried? What if Papa suddenly doesn't come back?""Watch your mouth! What do you think I've been doing? I already did! I wanted him to come home early too... I wanted him to stop!"Mama. Only when a monster comes does Papa come back.That's the only reason he's working now.Maybe Farah needs to become..."Huh? M-Mama...?" Farah was sitting in front of a headless woman, her mouth smeared with blood, elongated, as were her hands and feet. The entire living room was drenched in blood.What am I doing?Mama?Where's Mama?Farah looked around and then caught a glimpse of her face in the mirror in the living room. She transformed into a monster and realized... she was the one who had killed her own mother."Kuuuuuuaaaarrrrrghhhh!" A powerful wind pushed Mikael and Khairul back forcefully, while Farah screamed as darkness approached the right side of her face."F-Farah!" Mikael steeled himself to step forward; he almost got thrown back again, but Khairul caught him. He helped Mikael step forward, and together they faced the fierce wind."You're the only one who can save her... old man," Khairul said before pushing Mikael forward with all his strength.Mikael used his powers to ensure he wouldn't get thrown back again; this time, he embraced Farah tightly and finally managed to touch his daughter.The strong wind ceased."Papa is here now, Farah! No matter what happens... Papa is here... I will never leave you," Mikael said, and Farah's eyes widened."You're not wrong! The ones who are wrong are those monsters. They destroy our lives, take our rights... I have power now, and I will use it to protect you... and kill all those monsters. You don't need to be afraid anymore... Papa is here, Papa is here... Oh, my dear, dear, Farah..." The hug grew tighter, and Farah's hands broke free from the darkness enveloping her body to embrace her father in return."Papa... I want to go home.""Yes... Let's go home."Khairul, watching from a distance, looked relieved. He sat down, letting out a long sigh."Don't hope for it!"A gruff male voice echoed as the Mutant Cell that Mei fought against smashed its head into their Mind Dimension, shattering it before them all."Ah!" In the real world, Mei lay weakly, blood streaming from her nose."Damn it!" Khairul pulled out two blades, but the entire Mind Dimension began to crack into thousands of pieces.The giant hand of the shadow monster from Mutant Cell reached for Mikael and Farah. Mikael tried to block it, but with a single flick, the upper half of Mikael's body was severed from the lower half, ejecting him from the Mind Dimension."No!" Khairul rushed towards the shadow monster, which was gripping Farah and pulling her closer."P-Please! Help! Anyone! Papa!" Farah cried in panic."Accept it... This is what you are now. And I don't need you anymore. This is my true self," the shadow monster said, and Farah looked at it in horror. Khairul jumped towards it, trying to attack, but the monster punched Khairul down."Ergh! Uh... Hah..." Khairul slammed into the dark floor, his right hand severed and every bone in his body crushed. The Mind Dimension continued to crumble and fade away, including Khairul, before he was also ejected from the Mind Dimension.The last thing he saw was the shadow monster devouring Farah's head."Hah!" Khairul woke up in the real world. He was facing Mikael, their weapons clashing against each other."Farah! What happened to Farah?!" Mikael yanked his weapon away from Khairul."I-I don't know..." Khairul groaned as Mikael looked back, seeing Stray Farah still bound by Khalid's lasso and restrained by Kyoko's lightning."Let her go now! Let my daughter go!" Mikael swung the black staff created from his power, striking Khalid and Kyoko away from Stray Farah."Oi, calm down!" Khairul pushed Mikael.Stray Farah remained frozen, her eyes shut tight. The police, noticing that the battle seemed to be over, began to step forward, each raising their weapons except for Rose and Shaurya."Sister!?" Chyou rushed to Mei, who lay weakly with blood streaming from her nose. He tried to lift Mei's head, but it was too hot, causing his hands to redden and smoke."Ah!" He pulled his hand back but then tried again to lift his sister's head despite the intense heat. Mei slowly opened her eyes; she looked pale, but with the remaining strength, she clung to the door of Furioswheels and Chyou's shoulder."Not... yet... Just a bit more..." Mei sighed, and Chyou looked at her with growing concern."The police are coming forward; have you managed to control that Stray's mind?" Khalid asked, landing in front of Furioswheels after being hit by Mikael's attack."Just... a little more..." Mei tried to stand but almost fell, wiping the blood from her nose.I've never been killed in the Mind Dimension I created myself...Mutant Cell can even fight me there? I don't understand at all, but just a little more...Get back into Farah's mind!Mei used her power, but after a moment, she stopped, and her expression turned sorrowful. She sat down weakly, and everyone there noticed her reaction."Mei?" Khalid called out."We're too late..." Mei said, and she began to cry."You've... tried your best, Mei..." Khalid replied, pulling out his lasso card and inserting the cannon card into his belt slot."Weapon Change! Meteor Canon!" A cannon appeared beside Khalid, and he prepared to fire it at Stray Farah.However, suddenly around Stray Farah, black liquid surged upwards, forming a wall that enclosed everyone there. The police couldn't advance, and Khalid was unable to release his cannon attack.Khairul found himself trapped inside the black wall along with Mikael and Stray Farah."What do you think you're doing, old man?" Khairul asked."I... have to save my daughter." Mikael replied, then unleashed several black thorn attacks towards Khairul.