COOLDER
11: THE TWIN

"Can't you slow down a little push her? I might fall out of this wheelchair!" I called out to the Talon. My hand gripped tightly on my right and left side. Talon just silent—listen and run while continuing to push me down this minimal lighting aisle.

Almost all the lights were turned off at night, leaving only about four to five along the hallway. We're almost at the end of the hall. "Damn, they're guarding there too." Talon was startled, immediately swooping to the right after seeing some guards standing—guarding the door that seemed to be the exit.

Why even turn? I wondered, then exclaimed to her, "Hey, where are we really going?"

Talon snapped, "Sit down and shut up, son. I'll take you somewhere safe!" I raised an eyebrow, it sounded strange. If it was his goal to take me to safety, why not continue the path just now until meeting the guards and then tell the guards to keep me and all done, no need to run like this.

"Nobody can be trusted for now. Just throw away all your trust, he can be anyone" Talon explained. Wait, who could be anyone?

"Someone who broke through the kingdom's defenses. He can be anyone, son" Talon explained.

I'm even more astonished. "Then what if you now push me is him. Because you accuse the guards of clearly guarding and securing the kingdom, unlike you, as if to take me out of guard. He could have easily shot you maybe, and then kidnapped—"

"DIAAAAAM!! Shut the fuck up, or I'll shut the fuck up!" Talon snarling. I didn't think it would happen. Well, I better follow.

We moved and turned several times, but Talon did not look tired even though he had run pushing my wheelchair from the room until now. "A little more we'll be there. Hope this line is safe and smooth to pass." Talon's feet move violently to break the sepinya hallway.

I can already see her. A black wooden door. "Is that the path we're going to go?" my many. Talon. He opened the door immediately. And it turns out to be empty, there's nobody in here.

This room is not too big, it looks just like a storage warehouse. "Yes, that's exactly your guess, son. This is where they keep all the tracks to all the islands," Talon told me. His hand pulled a lever, and the whole room became bright, but not because of the light of the lamp. A circular-shaped portal lined up neat—circled around the full room. The portals are on one by one.

Talon approached me—bent, explaining if I should go to one of them. I have to choose myself, because if anything happens, Talon will not take responsibility.

"But you brought me here? Indirectly of course you have responsibility for my safety Talon, and it is your duty to take care of me!" I snorted annoyedly at hearing his words earlier.

Talon stood up again. He explained, "It was different, if that was my duty, and it was cash, son. You got here without a scuff. Then that's your business!"

Talon grabbed hold of my wheelchair. "Good kid. You decide for too long, I'll choose the best island and the safe one in my opinion."

"Gosh, wait. Don't throw me in there!" I held his hand holding my wheelchair, begging him not to throw me into the portal.

He looked down for a moment, and said, "Sorry son." Then smiling at me, his hand pushed my wheelchair towards the portal.

I immediately shouted, "Basic of your fucking Talon! Wait until the time comes!" Talon who was outside the portal did not listen, turned the body leaving me who had entered—fall into the portal.

I don't know how Dad reacted after knowing his son was no longer on his bed tonight, and what about Miko after finding out her brother disappeared?

My brain stopped asking as I looked at a tip of the portal that was starting to get closer to me. It turned out that the portal I entered was not as bad as the one I used before.

ZELSO! ZELSO! ZELSO! PLOPS. My wheelchair landed perfectly on the ground safely, I loved the portal. Maybe I'd love to travel to the other islands using that.

I arrived near a building resembling Gor. Many people passed by, their faces were full of colorful paints and there were some who wore scarves. I don't know exactly where I am now. Obviously, I was near a Gor.

"Ladies and gentleman welcome to the League of War Tar-Kam." I looked straight up. There is a large screen attached to an iron, displaying an event that is taking place in Gor.

A commentator again spoke, "Let me introduce, on the right side, he call himself 'The Monster from Valhalla'. He is Dem-Dem-Demaaaa!" For the sake of hearing what the commentator said I didn't blink— focused on watching it seriously, making sure that what I heard wasn't wrong.

I was so surprised. Did this really happen? The Dema that had been in one body with me, was standing inside the Gor. And I am the one who amazes me the most is Dema's face, her face makes no difference at all to me. Like a betel in two.

A woman in uniform came from behind, surprising me. "Excuse me sir. What are you doing here? And why are you sitting in a wheelchair now? You must be in the arena right now. Or you will be disqualified." I was pushed in by the woman before I could explain.

I was pushed into the Gor building. The woman pushed me through the crowd. Not long after we arrived at the front of a door with a large body guard standing in the way.

The woman approached the guard, spoke briefly to him a few sentences, and the guard nodded back then pulled over— giving way to the two of us.

I was pushed back into the room in front of me. The woman stopped pushing—talking to me, "You stay here. Don't go anywhere!" I just nodded when I didn't understand what he was saying. She turned back— out of the room and left me.

The woman left me in a room that I can be sure was a private room. There is glass attached to the middle of the wall of the room, and there are some photos that are deliberately arranged lined up on the wall to the right of the room. There is a glass cabinet in the right corner that contains trophies and various other awards.

I moved closer to the pictures. Wondering if there's a Dema there.

I shut my mouth, I almost laughed. The photo of Dema was among the photos. He took pictures with a cloth that was used as an eye patch, and with only a long tight dress without wearing a top.

"Excuse me sir. Can I help you?" I heard a voice I knew very well. I immediately turned the wheelchair to me—facing him. Oh my God, the person I was looking for from the first time came. I called her, "The Theme! Where have you been all this time? I need you, buddy." I wiped the tears that suddenly dripped.

"Amed's? That's you Med? Are you sure I'm not dreaming right now?" With her burly body, Dema walked towards me. I can't wait to tell her, "Here come, man. A day yesterday was like a year without you Dema."

Dema was already standing in front of me. I took both of his hands. "Dema, I'm down here, man. What the hell is going on with you?" Her hands move fumbling my face—smiling happily.

Dema directly opened her blindfold. Tell me if he can't see anything since time came into this world.

"Well how did you get this far?" my many.

Dema explained, "Aing was helped by someone with a noble heart Med. He made aing a tool that can help and facilitate aing in survival here. Then, aing accidently hear this league, and just signed up."

I grunt. "Dema, don't say anything I don't understand. What did you just say? Describe using ordinary language so that I can understand."

Dema laughed, she forgot if I didn't understand. Then he explained to me in Indonesian. We had a casual chat in the room. "Amed, I want to ask you something."

I said, "Yes, please. Ask me anything Dema."

Dema continued, "Are you getting shorter? Or have you been this short before?" I chuckled at her question. I told you I couldn't walk like I used to. The cremation is quite strong. "How come? What happened to you, Med?" tanyakanya.

I told him to sit down first so it was better to talk about it. "Well, all right for a second, where's the chair.... Well meet. Well tell me everything Med."

I took a deep breath, explaining from the beginning the time I entered and saw someone who also entered the portal but took another path. "Who is Med?" Dema cut.

I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know who Dem is until now" I said. I continued to explain that after that I felt the pain. "But all of that is not comparable to what I met Dem" I explained. I smiled widely, even though Dema couldn't see me.

Dema bent— inclined her face, curious about the continuation of my explanation. "I met Dad and Miko."

Dema asked me, "Then what about the state of the two Meds? Is it okay? Where are they now?"

I said, "Very much more than safe. Father is now a king on Singgede Island, and Miko now has superpowers. Just so you know Dem..." I held his shoulder. "Never invite Miko to run."

Dema raised an eyebrow. "Why is Med? Is it hard to beat a kid who's easier than both of us?"

"Yes, you don't know yet. Later when you come back you will see for yourself" I explained.

Dema was impatient, asking me how to get back there. "Now I don't know either." I chuckled softly, scratching my head which was not itchy.

Dema stand. "Aing remember! aing knows someone who might be able to help us Med."

"Huh seriously? Who's the guy?" much

Dema says, "Vi... He's the one helping out, and it looks like he'll also be able to help us both go to Singgede Island to see Father and Miko." I'm nodding. Having Dema encourage me to meet Vi immediately. "OK, briefly. Aing wants a vacation permit to the manager, so that the match schedule is not messy." The body-back creme goes out of the room.

...***...

We walked through a forest on the island. The trees lined with circular lights ornaments on the trunk, making the forest brighter this afternoon.

Dema and I were laughing together since we were apart a few hours ago. "And you know Med. His nose immediately bled after aing hit, and he immediately sprawled helpless." Dema laughs loosely telling her opponent who looks sangar but is fast and easily defeated by Dema.

I asked him how he could join and understand their language. Dema stopped pushing me— standing in front of me showing her tools. "With this aing could also understand what they were talking about Med. Very helpful for this tool." Dema went back to the back, continuing to push me.

"But your style of speech is already like those of Dem," I explained, amazed by Dema who almost looks like she is fluent in the language of this island.

Dema said, "That's because aing also learned to talk and read the books they made." I-oh, Dema is quick to adapt here.

I continued to ask, "If you may know.... Where did you get his Dem?" I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to have it, too. Such a tool would be beneficial to me, even if I only used it to understand their language.

Dema told me briefly, "We're coming. Later you will introduce to the one who made it, you just ask for it yourself." The further creed pushed me.