DIGITS AND VARIABLES

2. Unwelcomed Guest

"Tell me. Now!" The voiced rings over my eardrums, almost ruptured it. But I couldn't talk even if I would. My face's swollen. It's even hard for me to open my eyes but I can see the one who tortured me. His hair is red.

"What happened back there?" he threatened.

Even with my eyes squinted, I can see his eyes glowing crimson. It scared the hell outta me.

"I dow kno—" I tried to speak but nothing come out as I wanted to as he strangled me, making it hard for me to speak even more.

"I suggest that you to tell us with details, Human." Said another man with green-hair with his hoodies on. I remember he was the one who deliver the warning from the Embryon. "That light and that girl. It wasn't suppose to be there."

"Enough." I heard the word when the door snapped. And I'm surprised that I saw the white-haired man that I saw leading the battlefield himself, standing in front of me. A mark on his left cheek made him looks distinct.

I feared the worst.

"Serph. He can't be a coincidence. He appeared after we awaken from that thing. Moreover, he was bathed in blood. It's a proof enough for me to put a suspicion on this guy." The red-haired man spoke furiosly.

"Heat is right. You saw it too, Leader." The green-hair agreeing. "This person found bathed in blood. You cannot deny the fact that this guy is connected to the coordinates 2314 5873 incident."

I didn't believe myself if I didn't hear it with my own my ear that the guy just remembered the full coordinates and pronounce it complete. But he did.

The comment that he gave made me learned that the one who strangled me now called Heat. A very appropriate name for him.

Whether or not it's true, I don't understand anything they asked me. Even the unexplainable thing like how my clothes were painted in blood. I lost my consciousness.

But I tried to told them that I saw somekind of a person. With a gold armor, if my memory were right. Given the circumstances that I lost my own conscious at that time. Maybe that's a little too detail.

But they didn't believe me. They refused to listen. Especially the guy who severly beaten me up and fond using his fist rather than his mind.

The white-haired tapped Heat hand and he dropped me. Cold air filled my lung, I coughed while trying to breath.

When he moved his hand, I winced. I thought he was going to gave me another punch. But instead he reached his hand to me.

"Name."

It was rather demanding than asking.

I don't remember my name. I don't remember anything. I somehow got into this place.

By the look of his eyes, I think he's judging me. If I say much more than my name, I'll be more suspicious. But I don't have any name. Or...

"Shura." I stated.

"His answer is flawed, Leader. He didn't have one." The green-haired interrupted, he's been glaring me with his empty expression of his.

Still with the judging look, the white-hair staring at me. Curious? Sceptical? I can't really tell. I didn't feel murderous intent like from Heat before.

But I can tell this guy is a dangerous one.

He's the leader.

I jumped a bit when he blinked and turn his head over.

"He didn't lie, Gale. Somehow I can feel it."

"What is feel?" The green-hair named Gale asked. " I do not comprehend."

Out of my mind, I chuckled. I don't understand why I found it funny.

"I-I am not sure either." He answered. "The word just snapped out of my mind."

Both of them didn't notice my laugh. But one person did, and he's the least person that I expect to notice it right now.

Heat.

He grabbed me and deliver his fist right into my jab. That leaves a blood pool coming from my mouth.

"You think that's funny? Well, think again! Serph, fuck this guy. I'd say we throw him out from our base. Or throw him to the prison. Or..." he grinned devilish. "I could just kill him right now."

Crap! That was a stupid move I did back there. Now, I'm really going to die!

I closed my eyes, I hope he really killed me. Not torturing me again. I can't stand it. I rather die and face whatever judgement that the Almighty serves for me.

"Heat, release him." The leader spoke flatly but there's a grudge somewhere in his line. I can feel the tense between the two. They stared at each other.

The leader is calm but I know I see something in his eyes that he didn't like Heat insubordination.

And Heat glared him menancingly. His expression is more like of a beast.

They just stared at each other leaving in the room fell in silence. I can heard the outside. Raining. I can heard a splashed from the room.

Heat pulled me closer to him. "You are one luck bastard." He whispered the word that chill through my bone. Then he released me and lay himself to the nearest wall, throwing his face from us.

Serph pulled me up to my feet.

"Somehow, I can trust you, Shura." He sighed. "There's something about you. But I can't seem to put a word for it. Not just yet."

"A-Alright." I answered groggily.

"My name is Serph. We need manpower now." He explained and straight to the point.

The only people who seems to be surprise were me and Gale.

Especially Gale.

"Leader, would you reflect your decision again?" Gale asked in confusion.

"Yes, I'm sure." Serph said firmly. "We needed all forces we can get. We lost a lot of people back there, Gale. Half of the tribe is gone by now."

"Yes. But the only thing that this tribe needs is a leader like you. I do not comprehend, Leader. We could always get a replacement for a lost man."

"But a leader is irreplaceable." Serph interrupted. "I saw it in Shura, Gale. I saw it in each of every liutenants that I gave a responsiblity. My trust. Including you, Gale. Don't make me doubt you."

Heat suddenly grumbled something, which made both of them distracted. But he didn't said anything afterwards and the main topic didn't sway. Me.

"Maybe that light confused your mind, Leader. Can't you see this person is dangerous? Even the scanner said that this person is an unknown. And the only information is the category that registered on him. Human. The rests are unknown. The Karma Temple database didn't have any information about this person."

I didn't realize if it weren't for Serph who lifted my hand showing a ring on my finger.

"He has a Tag Ring. That means he's one of the soldier. Even if he's tribeless, we could make him one of us. The Embryon."

"But he could be a spy for other tribes or—."

But I wouldn't know the rest of it because Serph slammed his hand to the table, interrupting Gale speech.

"Would you want to be a leader, Gale?" he raised his voice on the last word.

The wall where Serph sink his fist looks dent. The room fell silent. Gale didn't answer the question. He was showing his stoic face.

I kinda understand his skepticism, but I reminded myself that my life is on the line and for that I should be grateful.

"That's decided then, Shura. You are now an Embryon."