What day is it today? What time is it? I don't know where I am now. As a Kiau who was attacked blindly and covered in blood or a Kiau who was wounding blood with his own hands? Which one this time? Is it the victim or the perpetrator?
Either way, he felt very calm now. No more burning rage and anger or the guilt of stabbing someone or the fear of something to come. All merged into one, tranquility. I could feel it clearly, the emotions of anger and disappointment, guilt and restlessness. But like a movie on replay. All will end when the film ends. The feeling is gone.
I woke up again. Awaken from unconsciousness. Any Kiau will only meet the same person, Niem. Niem looked at me with an indescribable fondness. He didn't look angry because I killed Irung, nor did he look happy because he liked graving and hurting my body. This time it was as if mixing the two.
"This time you woke up calmer." Niem said. “So how about the 'second generation master'? What do you feel?" he looks very excited. His eyes sparkled.
I was silent, did not give any response. I looked to my right and left, he was there. Lying breathless with stitches on his neck. Irung. I killed him? For the first time I killed someone. there should be a feeling of guilt raining down on me? But why can't I feel anything? Everything was calm.
Was it because I thought they were the killers? These two people in front of me. Niem and Tieden. They killed their own friends and also killed myself. Made me one of their dolls. And sacrificed his own friend. Or just Irung committing suicide.
"Ugh!" I gasped at the scent that pierced my nose. Very pleasant scent. I covered my mouth and nose with both hands, trying to reduce the smell.
“Oi Oi~” Niem crossed his hands in front of the chest. “The first words you bought after waking up were those?” he looks annoyed. “Do I smell?”
“I think I want to feel my punch.” Niem gripped his hand tightly, “Especially with your face, Kiau, I didn't like you from the start.”
“Niem,” Tieden called out, choosing Niem. “He has to adapt to his senses which are stronger than before. that means the transfer was successful.” Tieden smiled. “Irung's sacrifice will not be in vain. We should know more about his abilities in this second stage. But there's no need to rush." Tieden walked away, “Give him some time.” Tieden pushed Irung's bed and carried him out of the room.
Niem followed, get away from me. Although Niem's face was annoyed because he couldn't satisfy his curiosity. "Okay~" he said lazily.
What's this? I can smell everything in this room. From the one at the end to the corner of the other part. The smell of iron research tools. Or some chairs made of wood. Even the smell of cotton and cotton on the pillow and the smell of the cotton blanket I was wearing. Everything becomes one.
The smell of ink and blood left in my fountain pen that was left in my pocket was also smelled. I took it out, looking at the weapon I used to injure someone. But there are still feelings of sadness or guilt.
Slowly I no longer feel sick with the aroma that comes to my nostrils. Now everything calm down again.
“Hey new neighbor~” someone's voice was slightly muffled. He was behind the glass. He was in the room next to this room. He smiled.
"Rurimi." I said half unconsciously.
"Oh?" he was shocked. "You already know me. But have we met before? If so, sorry, I forgot about my past. And I ended up here. I love to eat and can eat anything without exception.” he said it quickly in one breath.
"No. This is our first time meeting.” I explained uncertaintly. “This is first time for Kiau.” I mumbled, and Rurimi didn’t hear that.
"Eh?" Rurimi gasped again. “Usually Irung will introduce new people who come to everyone. But apparently not this time. Or is that one of your abilities?” He looked curious.
"This is Irung's memory." I've answered it briefly, and I think it answers all the questions.
"Hey?" Rurimi gasped again and again. his eyes sparkled with excitement. He put his face in front of the glass. “I wonder how your body feels~.” he sticks out his tongue and licks it in appreciation.
“No different from an ordinary human, Rurimi. Or it could be different, we never ried it.” I answered flatly.
"Wow!" Rurimi gasped again. “Irung once said the same thing. So you have to take advantage of Irung's abilities. Oh! I forgot to ask your name." Rurimi looked so interested.
"Kiao." I said flatly.
"Hey Kiau!" He waved his hands full of passiont. “My friend added another one~” He looks happy. "Eh! You remember your name? You don't have memory loss like the others?"
"Yes, I can clearly remember everything." I answered.
"Wow! Who were you before Kiau?” He sat cross-legged on the floor, ready to listen intently.
"Only journalists." I answered briefly.
"Ehh! Tell me more interesting things!” Rurimi was like a child asking for more bedtime stories.
"There's nothing interesting. Only humans are selfish. I look for bad guys, uncover and write down their crimes on paper, just for a few pennies. While the rich people will eventually be free using their money.”
"So you're the second person who became the second generation!" He suddenly changes the topic and looks excited. “Cool~ You know Pifu. His skin is like steel! Maybe he's the strongest in this place."
"It's just the skin. He needs to do some muscle strengthening exercises. That way the inside and the outside will be strong.” I speak fluently about research and development of research capabilities. I gasped, as if that was a natural conversation for me to say as Kiau.
“Uwah! The second generation is different. I am so envy~ if my strength was more than just an all-consuming. I can tell when food is poisonous when I eat it. But if it's swallowed, my internal organs still can't digest it." he looks disappointed.
"Why are you jealous? If your power is passed on to the second generation, you'll just-" I stopped my sentence, not saying 'die'. I thought about Irung's case before he died. If he, Irung, wouldn't really die. “...become one with the next generation..?” I muttered.
"Eh? Merges? Merged into one?” Rurimi looked confused. "How can? Are you just merge? Oh whatever." Rurimi gave up, he didn't like to think about it too much. "Do you want to go back?"
“You have memories of your past. Do you want to escape from here and return there?” Rurimi clarified her question. "You know, like a home to come back to or people who might be waiting for you, or vice versa you want to meet people you know out there.".
Rurimi looks sad, "I don't have any memories."
"That's why you don't want to go out?" I looked at him.
"Who knows. I don't really care. I have no goals out there. But here there are people that need me, I am expected and we are fed every day. There are no chains binding the feet or hands. The bedroom door can also be opened freely.” Rurimi changed her tone, no longer as sad as before.
“You are free to do or do nothing all day long!” Now he looks really excited again.
"Kiau!" Call him, “Want to be my playmate? You know it's not that Taringa doesn't like sounds, I can't even just talk to him. While Anya…” He paused.
"You never know what she's thinking. Even I doubt she's still breathing or not. She literally never moved from her position. But it makes me feel challenge, if I tickle her of course she will react right? We can play together. With Pifu too. Usually Irung can be invited to play. Now you." He said everything in one breath very quickly.
"Wait. Just because of that you want to be a research rat?” my words took away his smile.
"Then?" He looked at me. “You want me to leave this place? Meeting people I don't know and leaving people I know here? To a foreign place that won't necessarily accept me? Accept my situation?”
"But it's the people here who have changed you." I said flatly.
He looked at me intently, “When I realized I was like this. I eat everything. I don't know who did it to me. But, only they understand my condition and adjust everything I need. They're my friends." Rurimi smiled.
“Some of us have difficult conditions to deal with. Especially Taringa, people out there don't know his super sensitive hearing. And no one will want to be around Anya who can see everything. Or Piele who used to have very, very sensitive skin, anything that touched it would only hurt him.”
“Then, just destroy this place. And all of you, the victims of this chaos will get the protection and treatment they deserve from the government. I'll make you guys get it." I said it flatly.
"Wow! Like a hero!” Rurimi looks happy. “Kiau and I really like heroes with their superpowers. Superhuman strength! Isn't that cool?" He smiled, “Then I will wait for you.” he said.
"You don't want to come directly with me?" I asked confused.
“I will restrain Tieden and Niem from messing up your escape.” Rurimi smiled. “You didn't think of a plan to escape from here? I wandered around a lot, but never found my way out of this place.”
"I came in here on my own two feet. I, Kiau, am just a journalist looking for this human research site. I followed someone and ended up being caught and used as an experiment.” I held my head, “But this place is like a maze. The entrances and exits seem to move and are very hard to find.”
"Maze?" Rurimi looked very interested.
"Yes. But I don't know who the person I'm following is. Irung didn't even remember that person or the way out. Irung never left this place. His memory started only from him being a scientist here.” I held my head, trying to recall the memories Irung had, but to no avail.
"I found it!" I gasped at the thought of something, “I found a way to get out of here.”