CHAPTER 57 : YOUR WILL ARE WEAK

Syafiq rushed into a room in Bella's lab, his face looking furious. Several scientists turned to look at him in confusion, and Bella also noticed that something was wrong with Syafiq and immediately approached him."Captain. What happened?" Bella asked."My men were attacked by a Mutant! And for sure...they're members of the White Tigers..." replied Syafiq. Bella followed him as they walked down a long corridor."What makes you so sure it was a White Tigers Mutant that attacked?" Bella asked."I recognized one of the Mutants there. He was there the night we fought the White Tigers." Syafiq grumbled, recalling when he encountered Danielle, and his helicopter was attacked before it almost crashed.The two of them stopped in front of a cell with a sign reading 'Danger Level-Medium Risk-Mutant.' Syafiq placed his right hand on the scanner, and the metal door to the cell opened. He and Bella entered together.Inside the room was the rubber Mutant who had fought and lost to Mikael earlier. His entire body was stretched out to its limit, with his arms and legs shackled, leaving him immobile."F-Food?" the man asked."No food for you unless you tell me what I want, Riza!" Syafiq yelled, slamming the glass between him and Riza."I-I already told you everything you wanted..." replied Riza. Syafiq gritted his teeth and pressed one of the buttons on the machine in front of the glass between him and Riza."U-Uurgh!" Riza's body was forced to stretch even further, causing him pain."Who is this?! Tell me!" Syafiq showed a picture of Danielle through the CCTV footage, and Riza's expression immediately turned fearful."N-No...No...""He attacked and killed all the Special Forces members who were transporting important goods! My men infiltrated the White Tigers before...We know White is your boss, but who is this?!" Syafiq asked angrily."I-I don't know anything! I had just joined the White Tigers when you captured me! I don't know anything! I'm serious! How could I know they would attack the Special Forces when I'm here?!" Riza anxiously replied to Syafiq's questioning. Bella crossed her arms and leaned against the wall, observing Syafiq's interrogation."You're not answering me!" Syafiq pressed the machine again."S-Stop! Aaarghh! Uurrghhh!" Riza screamed in pain. Syafiq stopped the machine and glared at Riza angrily."W-What more do you want?! You've cut me up...tortured me! I've told you everything you wanted!" Riza snapped back."You still haven't answered me, Riza. Who is this man? All the Mutants in the White Tigers hold high ranks, right? I know he's a Mutant...Who is he, and what is his Mutant power?! Answer!" Syafiq shouted angrily again. Riza spat, hitting the glass in front of him."You might as well kill me...If he knows I told you anything, he'll kill me anyway...It's all the same," Riza muttered. Syafiq pressed another button that opened the door to Riza's cell."Captain. What are you doing?" Bella interjected, stepping forward to try to stop Syafiq."You wanna play games with me, asshole!" Syafiq pulled out a pistol and walked into Riza's cell, shoving the gun into his mouth. Bella immediately held back Syafiq's hand."C-Captain! That's enough! Calm down!" Bella pleaded. Syafiq's finger was on the trigger, and Riza closed his eyes."Argh!" Syafiq withdrew the pistol from Riza's mouth and stepped away. Riza slumped down while Bella watched Syafiq, worried."Make...Make him talk, Bella...I have to get back, help the others...Make sure he talks..." Syafiq instructed before walking out of the cell. Bella also quickly exited and locked the cell again. Riza looked at her."He's started moving. The answer is he's going to come here too and kill us all..." said Riza."Who is he?" Bella asked."The heart of the White Tigers...That's how important he is. If you think you've seen all kinds of Mutant powers...You don't know anything. He's too powerful; if he chooses to attack the Special Forces base and this lab right now, he alone could kill everyone here." Riza smiled cynically as he talked about Danielle. Bella glared at him."Why are you telling me this and not the captain earlier?" Bella asked, questioning Riza's motives."What can a useless scientist like you do?""Tragic news: a Special Forces tank and truck carrying important laboratory goods were attacked, believed to be by a group of Superhumans. This is the first case where Superhumans have used their powers to attack. All Special Forces members were killed, and two scientists with them were captured...An investigation into the case is still ongoing—"All HOPE members gathered in front of the television, watching the news about the attack that had happened earlier that morning. Their expressions were filled with confusion, worry, fear, and curiosity about what had transpired. Mikael crossed his arms, watching the footage, his eyes focusing on the dead roots shown in the recording."Syakir and Lilly were there during the attack...See those roots? The same roots they used when we fought them before," Mikael said."The Mutants who turned my brother and me into Mutants? Was it them?" Nur asked, turning to Mikael with a troubled look."Yes. That's their names," Mikael replied. Nur quickly looked away, hiding her expression."The public and even some ministers already dislike us...And now, something like this happens? We're going to be even more hated," Kyoko lamented, resting her head on the sofa."Some people know we're a different group, but what you're saying is still true. It's going to be harder for us to build good relationships with them now," Mei replied, resting her hand on her chin."We need to investigate what happened," Khalid suggested."You want us to get involved in this case?" Mikael asked."We need to show the Special Forces that we're on their side and that we can work together. Prove that we're different...What do you all think?" Khalid responded, looking around at the rest of HOPE."Hmm, I get it. But..." Nasuha seemed hesitant."We tried that when we fought the White Tigers before, but they betrayed us first," Khairul added, looking slightly angry."Right, I don't want to put us in a dangerous position like that again, Khalid," Kyoko said."I understand why you all disagree, but what Khalid said is still true...We need to show that we're different," Mei chimed in."We have Rose, Shaurya, and Bella...They can get us the information we need about what really happened. Let's ask them for help first before we take action. Besides, we're currently investigating the White Tigers...Who knows, they might be involved too?" Mikael suggested, trying to calm the situation."I'm sorry, everyone...I didn't mean to make you all tense like this..." Khalid said."Don't worry. We understand, Khalid," Nasuha smiled gently."After what happened, it's clear that Superhumans are just as dangerous as mutant monsters! They're not human!" an elderly man with glasses said on television. Shaurya immediately turned off the TV as Rose and the other police officers entered their office."The Special Forces lost thirteen of their members. We have experience dealing with mutant monsters and Superhumans...I'm offering our unit to work with the Special Forces temporarily. We'll help investigate what happened and apprehend the White Tigers members responsible for the attack this morning..." Rose looked at each member of her unit, including Shaurya."Understood, ma'am," the others replied, each of them appearing confident and determined after hearing Rose's orders."Thank you, everyone. Get ready, we'll be heading to the Special Forces headquarters in Kuala Lumpur..." Rose clapped her hands, and the rest of her team moved to their desks and began packing.Several files were placed in a black bag, and Rose made sure to bring the files concerning the Mutants and White Tigers cases. Shaurya approached her."What is it, Shaurya?" Rose noticed Shaurya's questioning expression."Are you serious about working with the Special Forces now?" Shaurya asked."Bella asked for help. Captain Syafiq also spoke to me personally. They need us...Besides, working with them now could also help us assist HOPE. There's information and intel that only the Special Forces have access to," Rose explained. Shaurya nodded in understanding, though he still looked uncomfortable."I understand...You turned down their offer before. I'm sorry, Shaurya." Rose placed her hand on Shaurya's arm with a bitter smile."Don't worry, sis...As long as you're here, I'll keep trusting you," Shaurya said."Thank you, Shaurya.""Alright...I'll see what I can get." Ali was talking to Khalid over the phone. After the call ended, Ali placed the phone on the table, his expression immediately turning angry.What did you do, Danielle?! You killed them all...the Special Forces members...Khalid sent a picture to Ali, a CCTV recording showing Danielle standing in the street, blood splattered everywhere. Ali gripped his phone tightly.Khalid: Rose and her unit are helping the Special Forces in their investigation. They've confirmed that it's a White Tigers member we encountered before. Hope this helps.Ali: Thanks, Khalid. I'll find him.Khalid: HOPE will help too. Let's stop them."Khalid," Mei called, as Khalid turned around while putting his phone away. The other HOPE members were already dressed in their costumes, ready for action."We know the Mutants involved in this case. This time, we'll stop them immediately...I understand we were betrayed by the Special Forces before, but they didn't do it because they wanted to. I believe that...They were just scared," Khalid said, walking forward."But don't stop hoping. We have to do what's right even if it's hard...That's why we created HOPE. To give hope to those who are afraid to hope in these dark times." Khalid looked at everyone with a determined expression.We've trained hard. Believe in our abilities...We've been through thick and thin together.Over these past few months, we've changed ourselves. We use our powers for good.Believe in yourselves again, hope once more. For a better future.Not just for ourselves, but for the other Mutants still hiding...still suffering."Syakir and Lilly are definitely still around...Plus, they're working with the White Tigers now. We must be on their hit list too," Mikael said as he swung and stuck himself to the side of a building using his shadow powers. Kyoko flew beside him, holding onto Mikael's shoulder when he stopped."We've been trying to find them all this time but found nothing...Now, all of a sudden, they attack the Special Forces. What can we do, Mika?" Kyoko asked."M-Mika?" Mikael was puzzled."Yeah...Your name's a bit of a tongue-twister for me sometimes, so now I'll just call you 'Mika,'" Kyoko replied with a smile, causing Mikael to let out a small sigh."We need to guess where they'll strike next. Think about it, there must be a reason they attacked the Special Forces. What do they want? Something? Someone?" Mikael placed his hand on his chin, thinking deeply."If it's something...they did steal a Stray that the Special Forces had and some lab equipment, right? If it's someone, the Special Forces do have a White Tigers Mutant in their custody..." Kyoko responded."After we attacked the White Tigers, we forced them to hide and shut down their operations for a while...The Special Forces definitely seized their belongings left behind at the White Tigers' base. We can assume that their attack was a way to show they're still in power," Mikael explained."Oh, I see...A cop's mind is truly something, huh?" Kyoko teased with a sarcastic tone."I wouldn't be surprised if the place they'll attack next is the Special Forces' base in Kuala Lumpur. They certainly have the capability to hit that place now," Mikael said.Mutants are no longer human. No matter how much you try to believe in the humanity within you, in the end, you'll realize that becoming a Mutant means your human self has been destroyed, has died...For those who still cling to their humanity, they can never become the true Mutants they are meant to be.I've discarded my humanity. There's still a trace of it, but I will make sure that no humanity remains within me.I will no longer be weak; I will no longer bow to anyone. To become the strongest being, I must discard... everything.The desperate face of Ali, as he tried to punch Danielle, flashed in his mind. Danielle's eyes shot open. He exhaled and stood up from his seat, walking away."They've got nothing left to give us... What should we do with them?" Syakir asked as Danielle walked into a dark room, where two captured scientists were tied up. On the table lay notes detailing information about the Special Force headquarters and the labs located there."We... we've given you everything... Please... Let us go..." the male scientist pleaded, as Danielle looked at him with a smile."Syakir... Do you think they're useful?" Danielle asked."If you ask me, their willpower is weak. I've turned people like them into Mutants before. People like them, who are content with life, don't develop any powers that are interesting or useful..." Syakir replied, recalling Hazim, whom he turned into a Mutant, only for him to develop laser-eye powers."I'm jealous... Are you content with life?" Danielle placed his hand on the male scientist's neck."W-What...?""Some people face harder lives; some have it easier. It's the way of life. My power allows me to change fate... I used to be a weak human, but now I'm a powerful being. The Mutant Cells look into the souls of humans; that's what the aliens who brought these cells said..." Danielle's fingers tightened around the scientist's neck."Please! D-Don't... Please..." the female scientist beside him begged as the male scientist struggled to breathe."Become a Mutant now... Show me your will to live, enough to make you become someone powerful. If you can't become a Mutant or a Stray right now, you will die, and that will prove... you're not worthy to continue living." Danielle's smile grew more sinister, tightening his grip even more. The male scientist tried to escape, but Danielle's fingers held firm."In your heart, you're afraid to become a Mutant; that's why your Mutant Cells can't activate... Your will to live is weak! So what's the point of living?" Danielle asked before snapping the man's neck, killing him instantly."Aaaaahhhhh!" the female scientist screamed while struggling to escape, but Danielle grabbed her by the throat."Now, you... Let's see." Danielle said, the woman looked at her with terror in her eyes as her breathing became labored and her limbs thrashed against her restraints.Syakir watched silently, his expression blank, before remembering something."Hey, lady... Think about your fiancé, he'll be left all alone without you if you die," Syakir taunted."P-Plea... Please... Don't... Don't... Urgh... Kurgh!" The female scientist began to cry, and Danielle looked disappointed."Love and your will to live are still weak... Disappointing... so disappointing, humans. That's why your death has no meaning, nothing will change if you die... Another scientist will replace you, another woman will replace you..." Danielle snapped the woman's neck too, killing her as well."Syakir... We are Mutants; humans are weak creatures and should be beneath us. Defending them has no meaning, relationships with them have no meaning... This is what White Tigers must believe." Danielle turned to Syakir."I agree," Syakir replied"Now... it's time to plan our next move. I'll take back what rightfully belongs to White Tigers, stolen by the Special Force. We'll show them just how weak humans truly are..."