CHAPTER 58 : LIES

"All of this is your fault! You're the ones who abandoned me before! You... just ignored me! I was weak, I was stupid! I know that! So why did you leave me!?"The weakness of my humanity... The face of Ali looking at me with pity. I hate it... I hate that sympathy. Now you think of me when it's too late?I don't need you anymore, or Ustaz Umar, or anyone..."Alright, Danielle... Let's begin our session." A woman wearing a headscarf and a neatly pressed blouse sat in front of Danielle with a smile. At that time, Danielle's hair was long and unkempt, his body thin and frail. He stared at the woman blankly.My human life is destroyed. There's no more hope for me...God has left me...No matter how many therapy sessions I go to, I'm already empty. My human life has no meaning...Danielle walked alone in the middle of the street, his clothes tattered and his pants slightly torn, while the night sky remained dark. He had no destination, just walking aimlessly. His phone rang, and he opened it to see a call from Mrs. Fatimah."Danielle, where have you gone!?" Mrs. Fatimah asked."Huh?""The warden said you disappeared from your room! Where are you now? I'll come pick you up..." Mrs. Fatimah replied, but Danielle clenched the phone in his hand."You don't need to help me anymore..."I hate being human. I didn't ask for this...Growing up without parents, forced to be strong because I was the oldest. I didn't ask to be stupid... I didn't ask to be born!Why did God put me in this world? If all I ever do is suffer and fail...Danielle threw his phone to the ground, smashing it to pieces, then ran away quickly, his sandals falling off, forcing him to run barefoot on the rough pavement.Meanwhile, a rain of colorful particles fell, but Danielle kept running until he reached the city. While everyone marveled at the sky, Danielle bumped into a few people and fell onto the street."Who do you think you're bumping into, huh?!" A man in a black jacket lifted Danielle and punched him in the face.Humans...Weak bodies bruise from a single punch.If you don't eat, your body withers away...Everything you need requires money to get.Wants and desires are only for the lucky and wealthy...Not everyone is that fortunate... or has an easy life..."I know this guy... Isn't he the one who borrowed money, and the orphanage paid off his debt! Hahaha! I remember you!" the thugs who dragged Danielle into a dark alley behind the brightly lit city mocked, as Danielle clung to the wall, his nose bleeding and his eye swollen."You looking for a fight with me, huh?!" One of the thugs kicked Danielle in the stomach, causing him to vomit.I lived by the rules... followed my faith, but all I got in return was dirt...Look at these people... They live by hurting others, taking from people, stealing from people, killing people, yet they live comfortably and happily.God is not fair...I... can't wait for Him or anyone else to save me.No one will save me...Not the ustaz who raised me or... anyone I ever considered family...They are the fortunate ones.To live comfortably, you have to be someone lucky and blessed by God...I want control... Control over my life...If I could control everything... I could be someone lucky.Danielle caught the punch thrown by one of the thugs who was beating him, causing the thug to jerk back in shock, glaring at Danielle."I see what you want. Accept me... Accept me... Accept me, Danielle."Danielle walked out of the dark alley, his hands and clothes covered in blood. He pushed his hair back, revealing his body, now muscular and large, with a bright blue aura emanating from his right hand and a black-red aura surrounding his left.Destruction and reality. Fate is in my hands..."The power you possess is incredible, Danielle... Your potential is immense to become the strongest being we desire..." Sui'ra looked at Danielle with a small smile. They stood together in Sui'ra's hideout, with Sui'ra's spaceship visible behind them."You are fortunate, Danielle..." Sui'ra added."Fortunate?""Yes... Your desire to control your fate has granted you powers beyond human understanding, even beyond that of the Zoturians. I never expected the Mutant Cells to give you the ability to defy and control reality itself." Sui'ra praised.That's what the alien said about me.That I am fortunate... In the end, I'm fortunate not because I kneeled in prayer. It's only because of my will...With this power, I make my own choices... For the first time in my life, I hold my own fate.I will never be weak again. That is the Order I place upon myself...White was kneeling before Danielle while Alex was slumped against the wall, with cracks in White's iron-like skin leaking blood. He gritted his teeth as Danielle walked forward."Sui'ra brought me to the two of you... Said you wanted to create a group of Mutants to control the underworld. I've proven I'm powerful enough to join you, haven't I?" Danielle smiled, extending his hand as White looked up."I'm not taking over your organization. I just want to be part of it," Danielle said."So... why did you beat us half to death?" White asked, his face puzzled."I just wanted to prove that I can control everything. So don't even think about stabbing me in the back, White," Danielle warned, and White sighed softly, grasping the hand Danielle extended."We're the same. You and I... Mutants deserve to be at the top of the food chain. I'll show you what you want, Danielle," White replied.I chose to take revenge on them. On the thugs who took everything from me...I brought other Mutants under the banner of the White Tigers. Like Nora and Riza.But at some point, I realized something... Everything I did and wanted now was the desire of my humanity.The urge for revenge is a human trait...The desire to want everything is a human trait.Compassion is the most disgusting human trait...I must kill my humanity... That's what I need to do.To become a being beyond human reach, to be a true Mutant... I have to accept my inhumanity...My body is no longer weak, so why should I be afraid?My heart isn't afraid, so do I really need revenge?Love is something only humans can feel...Discard it..."Please! Tell me why?! Let me help you," Ali pleaded while tugging at my shirt... For some reason... my human heart twitched...I'm disgusted... So disgusted...There's still humanity left in me.I can't destroy the orphanage...I can't kill Ali."This time... I won't make the same mistake," Danielle said, looking at Syakir and Lilly, who were seated at a round table with maps and information gathered from the two scientists they had captured."Mistake?" Lilly looked confused."Don't hesitate. Focus on the mission, get what we need, kill anyone who dares to challenge us... With the fall of the Special Forces' base, the White Tigers can demonstrate our power, and our next move will be much smoother..." Danielle explained."So... after we get what the White Tigers want from that base, we'll start destroying HOPE? You don't think I'm your subordinate, do you?" Syakir asked, and Danielle turned to him."Of course. HOPE is a problem for us... but they have weaknesses we can exploit. Their hearts are still stuck in that disgusting humanity.""Tell me everything you know about Danielle, Sui'ra! How did he become a Mutant? Why did he join the White Tigers!?" Ali asked relentlessly, confronting Sui'ra who was observing other Mutants through his drone hologram. He quickly shut down the surrounding hologram as Ali approached him."You seem desperate, Ali... I've already told you, I won't get involved anymore, right?" Sui'ra replied."Don't lie to me! You knew Danielle was in the White Tigers and purposely made me run into him again... I know you, everything you do forces us to change, you're a hypocrite who still dips your hands into our world and issues!" Ali pointed an accusing finger, his expression full of frustration, while Sui'ra faced him with a small smile."A few months ago, many Mutants were directionless, especially those in Malaysia. I had to give them some guidance, but now, I really won't interfere anymore... Humans choose their own fate, and I will continue to watch," Sui'ra explained, as Ali clenched his fists."You've lied so many times, Sui'ra," Ali retorted."Sigh... alright, since I'm feeling generous, I'll tell you something. Danielle is the only White Tigers member in Selangor right now... and there are two new Mutants who have joined them," Sui'ra said, causing Ali to sigh in frustration."I already knew that! I've been searching almost all of Selangor for them these past few days, and I didn't find a single trace of the White Tigers, but suddenly yesterday, they attacked the Special Forces," Ali slapped his face, while Sui'ra shrugged."Well then, there's nothing more I can do to help you..." Sui'ra sighed."Haven't you been bored these past few weeks with nothing happening? You must be eager for us to fight again, right?" Ali asked."There are other interesting things going on. Mutants aren't just in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur... Mutants in other states are also showing interesting developments," Sui'ra responded."You really don't want to help me, huh..." Ali turned away, and Sui'ra rested his chin in his hand before smiling again."Listen, Ali... If you can't stop Danielle, the future of humanity in Malaysia will grow darker. That's all I'll tell you," Sui'ra warned, making Ali look back at him with a horrified expression."What do you mean?""I've already said... that's all I'll tell you.""Sui'ra didn't give me much useful information, but that's all he warned me about," Ali said while hanging onto the edge of a rooftop. Mei, Khalid, and Chyou were with him. He told the three of them about his conversation with Sui'ra before he met them."We haven't heard anything from Kyoko and Mikael lately. They said they were investigating the area near the Special Forces' base," Khalid said, glancing at his phone screen for a moment."The Special Forces' base? Why there?" Ali asked."According to Mikael... it's likely the White Tigers want something or someone located at the Special Forces base. We found out there's a lab there, where they're conducting research on Mutants, and they have a Mutant captured by the Special Forces, someone from the White Tigers," Khalid explained."Makes sense," Ali nodded in understanding."In any case, we'll wait for any updates or calls from those two... To be honest, I hope we can stop whatever the White Tigers are planning before they strike first," Mei added."Agreed," Ali stood at the edge of the rooftop."If I find anything, I'll let you know," Ali said."Same here," Khalid replied. Ali then leaped from the rooftop to another building and continued on his way.No matter how strong the Special Forces are, if they're attacked again, many innocent people will die... I won't let Danielle kill anyone else...Rose and Shaurya were terrified, their eyes wide open. Rose clenched her trembling hand, while Bella walked toward her, adjusting her glasses."Bella... Where did this Mutant come from?" Rose asked, her reaction causing Bella to pause for a moment."The Special Forces brought him in a few weeks ago..." Bella replied. The three of them were standing in front of the capsule containing Zaki, whose body had mostly healed, though half of him was still in his monstrous form."He's still alive?" Rose sighed."Yes. When I think about it, you two were there, and HOPE as well... What's with this Mutant?" Bella asked."He's Khairul's father... He tried to kill Khairul, kidnapped Nasuha, and he killed someone..." Rose seemed disturbed, and Bella let out a long breath."I don't know anything about that, but don't worry... He's under our control now, and he hasn't woken up since that day. His body has fully healed, but I think the attack that burned him entirely had an internal effect. His mutation cells are recovering much slower," Bella explained."What use is he to you, Bella? Can't we just... kill him? He's too dangerous..." Rose hesitated."Calm down, Rose... He's useful for our research. It's easier for people here to do research on mutants that look like they're dead... They don't hear their screams when we tear their skin and cut their body parts," Bella replied coldly, causing Rose to look away from the capsule."Are you okay, sis?" Shaurya asked Rose as Bella walked away."I-I'm okay," Rose replied. Shaurya glanced at Bella for a moment, seeing her giving two thumbs up and making an excited face. Shaurya bitterly smiled at her actions."Don't tell Khairul or Nasuha about this again... They just recovered after what happened. I don't want to burden them with 'him' right now," Rose pleaded, looking back at Zaki with an annoyed expression."Alright," Shaurya nodded in understanding."L-Leeet'ss! Ea-t! E-Eattt!" A stray that looked like a fat human with a mouth that opened all the way to its belly was chasing Khairul. Nur tried to help Khairul by creating walls with tar on the road, but the stray simply devoured the walls with ease. Its thick teeth made the hard ground seem like it was chewing meat."Seriously!? He eats dirt!?" Nur questioned. The stray's huge hand reached out toward Khairul, but he split the creature's fingers before it could touch him."It hurts! Arrrghhhh!" The creature grew angry and tried to slam Khairul with its left hand repeatedly. A light shield formed in front of Khairul, protecting him from the attacks."Take this!" Nur clenched her hand, and a hand made of earth formed behind her, mimicking her movements. The powerful punch from the earth hand swung and hit the stray right in the face. Nasuha, who was in the air, raised her hand."Star Slash!" Nasuha released the Star Slash that pierced the creature. The stray stopped moving for a moment before falling to the ground, causing dust to swirl in the air."Ahek! Ahem!" Khairul coughed, choking on the dust."Khai, are you okay?" Nasuha asked as she landed slowly."I'm okay... Ahem!" Khairul dusted off his clothes."How are they going to take a big Stray like this?" Nur asked, crossing her arms as she looked at the fat stray in front of them."That's not our problem," Khairul replied quickly."Is that so?" Nur looked at him curiously."But remember the White Tigers member who attacked the Special Force yesterday? They also stole Stray bodies. I don't think it's a good idea to leave this Stray's body here. What if they steal it?" Nasuha pointed out. Khairul and Nur turned to her."That's true..." Khairul put his hand on his chin."What if we wait until someone comes to take the Stray before we move?" Nasuha suggested."Sounds good," Khairul replied."It suddenly becomes our problem when Nasuha agrees?" Nur teased Khairul, placing her hands on her hips."Y-Yeah..." Khairul smiled wryly.In the end, the three of them waited at a nearby construction site close to where they had fought the Stray. Not long after, a tank and a large truck approached the road where the fat Stray's body had been left."They respond pretty fast... How did they even know? Did someone report it? There aren't any apartments or houses nearby that would notice what happened," Nur said, looking around the area."The Special Force has cameras almost everywhere, look there, if you look closely at that sign," Khairul pointed to a hidden camera on a signboard."If that's the case, how did the White Tigers bypass the Special Force's surveillance?" Nur still wondered."Their powers probably helped them evade the Special Force's observation... My light is bright, so that's how I hid my face all this time," Nasuha replied."And that's also why we need to fly high so they don't catch us going anywhere..." Nasuha lifted Khairul and Nur into the air. Khairul looked around, his eyes able to see clearly from a distance. He also used his nose several times to catch the scent of mutants or strays."When you use your powers, you look more like a dog than a mantis," Nur commented, looking at Khairul with a puzzled expression."How would I know? Don't look at me like that..." Khairul sighed.Suddenly, Khairul's expression changed to one of shock as he detected a bad smell, raising his hand."Nasuha, stop for a moment," Khairul requested."Is something wrong?" Nasuha asked. Khairul closed his eyes and ears, focusing on his sense of smell."It stinks... Something smells really bad... Like a corpse? Is it a Stray's body left behind? No... It can't be..." Khairul opened his eyes and ears again, his face looking nauseated."Khai?" Nasuha began to worry, seeing Khairul's reaction."Follow my finger, Nasuha... Let's see what it is," Khairul instructed."Alright." Nasuha took them flying following the direction pointed by Khairul. They flew low, passing several factory buildings until they reached a large drain, where waste was flowing from the nearby factory."Smelly? Of course, drains smell bad, Khairul..." Nur pointed out."Not that... There's another smell," Khairul replied. Nasuha landed them, and Khairul rushed to follow the scent. Nasuha and Nur followed him closely.Khairul stopped as they reached the end of the drain, placing his hand to the side to stop Nasuha and Nur from going any further."Khai?" Nasuha questioned."Corpses." At the end of the drain lay two scientist corpses, a male and a female, killed by Danielle, their white coats stained with sewage."Ah..." Nur took a step back as Nasuha began covering her mouth in horror. Khairul turned to face them."We need to call the police," Khairul said.