CHAPTER 54 : SUPRISES

"The world is small, huh, Ali?" Danielle smiled at me, but his eyes reflected regret. He put my mask back and placed his left hand on my chest...I could see what his powers could do earlier... He could destroy everything with the palm of his hand."See you later, Ali."Danielle wanted to kill me then.But that doesn't matter now. What happened? Danielle... a Mutant working with the White Tigers?The heart of the White Tigers?"Whatever... idiot." The night when I and Danielle were studying together at the table flashed through my dreams."Huh..." Ali woke up, his eyes wide open, realizing he wasn't wearing a shirt and his bed was a mess. He lifted his heavy head, exhaling deeply while rubbing his temples.As he got out of bed, Ali adjusted his martial arts pants before walking into the bathroom. He splashed water on his face and looked at himself in the mirror, noticing his beard and mustache were growing a bit thicker. His fingers brushed against his beard before he pulled back from the mirror.The Special Forces have been patrolling ever since the fight between me, HOPE, and the White Tigers... I can't go out as the 'Masked Man' much anymore, but from what I've seen...There isn't a trace of the White Tigers in Klang or nearby right now.Where have they gone? Out of the state? Abroad? Who knows where they disappeared to. I need to find them as soon as possible...HOPE... even though I feel guilty relying on them after what happened, I realize I can't fight alone. I need them when the time comes."Assalamualaikum everyone... This is our first online class. Sorry, the teacher is still using an old laptop from university, so the camera quality is quite poor." Ali sat at the dining table with a pile of books beside him, facing a laptop. He appeared to be on an online video call with his students."It's okay, sir!""Wow, Sir Alihas a beard... It looks good on you, sir!" a male student praised, causing Ali to smile slightly before opening the textbook."Alright, alright... So turn to page 43." Ali replied.Time feels longer when there's not much to do."Look, sir! Look at Jamal using a filter, how did he do that?" A student called Ali's attention to another student playing with the filter in the video call. The other students laughed at their antics, including Ali."I can do it too..." Ali used a filter that transformed his body and face into a fish, but his beard made it not work properly."Hahaha!" The students laughed even harder, some even bursting into fits of laughter.I miss these kids.The quarantine doesn't seem like it will end anytime soon. The Strays cases have also increased since HOPE took a break. But they're back now...Hopefully, the world can return to some semblance of normalcy...These kids deserve a safe place and world to learn in.Speaking of the kids...Ali arrived at the orphanage, walking while carrying a box. Two male assistants approached to help him with two other boxes from the car."Thank you, guys," said Ali."Don't mention it," one of the assistants replied.They entered the prayer hall, placing all three boxes down. Ali opened one of the boxes, revealing packets of pastries inside."We can give these to the kids after the Isyak prayer," Ali suggested with a smile, and the assistant nodded in agreement. Ali looked around, searching for someone."Where's the ustaz?" Ali asked."Oh, a former resident here is with Ustaz Umar right now. Who knows, maybe you know him, Ali?" the assistant replied. Ali placed his hand on his chin."A former resident, huh?"Ali walked out of the prayer hall, spotting several boys approaching, all dressed in traditional attire. They greeted Ali with a handshake, and a smile remained on his face as he interacted with them."Have you seen Ustaz Umar?" Ali asked a young boy."The ustaz was in the dining hall earlier," the boy replied."Okay, thanks." Ali walked away from the prayer hall. He hurried to the dining hall, pushing the door open quickly. The smile on Ali's face vanished, replaced by a look of horror."Oh, Ali? I didn't expect you to come! Look who decided to visit after such a long time..." Ustaz Umar said excitedly. Beside him sat a muscular man with a smile on his face, and Ali's eyes widened."D-Danielle..." Ali said quietly as Danielle turned his head toward him."Assalamualaikum... Ali."What are you doing here, Danielle!?Ali's fists clenched tightly, his expression tense. Ustaz Umar noticed Ali's tension."Ali? What's wrong, son? Are you okay?" Ustaz Umar asked. Ali took a deep breath and calmed himself, slowly unclenching his fists."Waalaikummusalam, Danielle..." Ali replied, while Danielle simply smiled. He moved slowly toward the two of them and sat next to Ustaz Umar."Alhamdulillah, look at Danielle now. He's looking good again... and no longer in debt. He even got a good job. I'm so grateful everything is going smoothly." Ustaz Umar beamed with pride."It's all thanks to the ustaz and Ali too. If you guys hadn't found me back then... I don't know what would have happened to me now. Allah sent you to help me," Danielle replied, and Ustaz Umar placed a hand on his chest, looking relieved. Inside, Ali felt furious.D-Don't use God's name to deceive!"I'll leave you two to catch up after such a long time. Make sure to join us for dinner later," Ustaz Umar said after chatting with Danielle for a while Ali remained silent.As soon as Ustaz Umar left the dining hall, Ali glared sharply at Danielle, his hands emanating a glowing blue aura. Danielle remained calm and smiling."What are you doing here, Danielle?" Ali asked."Just came to visit the ustaz, that's all. I didn't expect to see you here again, Ali," Danielle replied, and Ali gritted his teeth."Don't try to fool me! If you're thinking of hurting anyone here... I'll kill you..." Ali said angrily, and Danielle exhaled deeply."If I wanted to hurt anyone here... I would have done it a long time ago. Calm down, I didn't come here today as a thug. I'm just a former resident of this orphanage. I've been thinking about this place since I met you..." Danielle's words left Ali speechless."Danielle... What happened? W-Why... Argh! My brain is overwhelmed with all this. Why did you join the White Tigers? You're a Mutant too!" Ali exclaimed, and Danielle leaned back in his chair."None of that is important. I have my own reasons. Just like you, I choose how to use my powers..." Danielle said."I don't think your brain is working properly right now. Do you even realize who you're working with? What do you intend to do with your powers?" Ali questioned, his anger rising again as he stood up."You don't know anything, Ali. The one making foolish choices right now is you and your superhero friends. Since you're here, I'm giving you a chance... Join the White Tigers, Ali..." Danielle offered."Over my dead body, Danielle... I won't join your gang," Ali retorted, and Danielle also stood up slowly."Because of me and the White Tigers... the underworld is now under one powerful gang. That's what you want, right, Ali? To destroy all the gangs?" Danielle explained, and Ali clenched his right fist."Then you kidnap, kill, sell drugs, and hurt people! Just like the gangs before you. Plus, now there are powerful Mutants strengthening you! This is all madness! I don't understand at all... Danielle... Gangs hurt you... hurt me... They hurt our home! Why become like them?!" Ali shouted repeatedly.Sigh... "Talking to someone naive like you is exhausting. If you don't want to join us, then just remain my enemy, Ali. See you later... Don't die too soon," Danielle conceded and tried to walk away, but Ali released a punch toward Danielle.The punch created a strong gust of wind that sent tables and chairs flying in the dining hall. It was clear that Danielle stopped Ali's punch with hIS right hand, which then emitted a bright blue aura."What do you think you're doing?" Danielle asked, hos eyes glaring at Ali."Do you think... I'll let you go?!" Ali unleashed a kick that sent Danielle backward. Not stopping there, Ali threw chairs and tables within reach, but Danielle pointed his left hand forward.The red aura shattered all the chairs and tables that were headed her way. Taking advantage of the distraction, Ali gathered a lot of energy in his right hand and launched a punch at Danielle."Allahuakbar! Allahuakbar!" The call to prayer echoed, masking the loud sounds from Ali's punch, and the entire dining hall was in disarray. Ali's right hand came to a halt against Danielle's chest, but he seemed unaffected by the impact."Huh—" Before Ali could comprehend what was happening, Danielle grabbed his right hand, spun him around, and threw him to the floor."Allahuakbar! Allahuakbar!"Ali tried to fight back, freeing himself and kicking at Danielle again, but once more, his kick had no effect on him."Ashhadu alla ilaha illallah... Ashhadu alla ilaha illallah."Danielle swung his left hand at Ali, sending him flying to the end of the dining hall. He crashed into the wall with great force, causing the hall to shake. He wanted to get up quickly, but Danielle suddenly appeared in front of him, dragging him against the wall and throwing him again."Ashhadu anna Muhammadar Rasulullah... Ashhadu anna Muhammadar Rasulullah.""I'll make you see the truth, Ali. Your resistance is futile... Everything you believe in is pointless..." A red aura gathered in Danielle's left hand as he walked toward Ali. The veins all over Ali's body glowed blue as he quickly rose and rushed toward Danielle with his right hand ready to punch."Hayya 'alas-Salah, Hayya 'alas-Salah...""Chaos, Entropy." The black-red winds formed from the aura erupted from Danielle's hand, enveloping everything in front of him, including Ali. Debris from the ceiling swirled in the winds, destroying everything into tiny pieces."Arrrghhh!" The attack caused Ali's body to explode from within, the energies gathered inside him shattering and hurting his own body."Hayya 'alal-Falah, Hayya 'alal-Falah."Once Danielle's power ceased, Ali collapsed to the floor amidst debris from the ceiling and roof, along with pieces from tables and chairs. Several veins on Ali's body opened up, causing blood to flow from all over him."Allahuakbar! Allahuakbar!"Danielle looked at Ali with a disappointed expression, but suddenly, Ali's veins began to glow again. Danielle's eyes widened briefly when Ali stood up once more, his face fierce, with a large amount of energy gathered for his punch."Nuclear-!""La ilaha illallah...""Order, Restore."The entire dining hall returned to its original state, and Ali also recovered, his torn clothes from their earlier battle mending themselves. His right hand was still grasped by Danielle, a bright blue aura enveloping the area before slowly dissipating."I've never seen you so angry that you couldn't control yourself like this, Ali... Have you perhaps did changed? Or is this who you've always been? Filled with resentment and anger," Danielle asked, as Ali sat in front of him without looking at him."Yes... I'm angry... I'm resentful, resentful towards the people who killed my father! The ones who hurt you too! But now you've become a gangster as well. I can't accept that. You... my brother... Danielle..." Ali sighed, his voice becoming hoarse."Your brother has been dead for a long time, Ali. I'm not the person you knew before," Danielle said, releasing Ali's hand."Please! Tell me why?! Let me help you..." Ali reached for Danielle's clothes, pleading with a sad expression."I don't need your help or anyone else's... not even God," Danielle replied coldly."D-Don't say that...""God has abandoned me, Ali." Hearing this, Ali became even more furious; he tucked his limbs in and swiftly managed to bring Danielle down to the floor."Repent now, Danielle! Ask for forgiveness... Allah hasn't abandoned you..." Ali commanded while holding himself back from punching Danielle."Haha... You've never taught me your martial arts... This is the first time..." Danielle simply smiled.Taking the opportunity, Danielle kicked Ali's leg, causing him to fall, then he pulled at his clothes to bring him down with him. He stood back up while Ali was still on the floor."The world is changing. Mutants will have more enemies than friends... Choose your side, Ali. Do you want to perish, continue living, or become the strongest creature that Zotura desires?" Danielle said as he walked away, leaving Ali on the floor.What kind of power is that?He could stop the Nuclear Punch and restore everything after destroying it all...I don't understand what's happening at all...But I realize...Our powers are vastly different... and he's more powerful than me...Oh Allah... Forgive... Forgive him...Grant this servant of Yours a chance to help him... Oh Allah...He... is family, Oh Allah...I can't lose my family again...I won't leave my family again...Ali sat down, leaning against the wall, and began to pray for Danielle. A few tears fell into his palms, and he looked in pain.At the same time, Danielle continued his path through the orphanage's courtyard. His gaze briefly settled on the playground facing the mosque, then he looked at the children praying in congregation, led by Ustaz Umar.I thought... I could do it... Leave behind all my humanity but...Danielle recalled Ustaz Umar embracing him when he returned to the orphanage. The cold expression on his face softened as he returned his embrace.Still... a part of me is still human.I need to destroy it...Destroy this place...Destroy Ali...Danielle's steps momentarily halted, with a red aura surrounding his left hand, but he deactivated his power after a moment and let out a long breath.He continued her path, leaving without looking back again.