Traveling to the Unseen Realm
93. Eugene's Luka

Ranvier came out of the musholla after performing Dzuhur prayers. As he stepped into the room, he passed by a Chinese man called Akong earlier.

" Recover immediately so as not to drag on...! " akong said as Ranvier was right next to him.

Ranvier stopped walking and turned to look at Akong.

" I'm sorry, did Grandpa talk to me...?" ask Ranvier.

Akong looked over and smiled. He stretched out his hand and touched Ranvier's shoulder.

" I know something's following you. Finish your mission and leave this place immediately. Soon," Akong said with a serious facial expression.

" Yes the Cake. But before that, can we just talk for a second...?" ranvier asked expectantly.

" absolutely. Follow me now..," Akong took a step.

Ranvier happily followed Akong's steps.

It turned out that Akong brought Ranvier to the side of the inn where there was a gazebo made of teak wood. The place looks beautiful because it is surrounded by beautifully planted flower plants.

" Sorry Cake. Introduce my name first Ranvier..," said Ranvier opened the conversation politely.

" Greetings to Ranvier. It's good to know you. Just call me Akong, just like all my grandchildren call me." said Akong with a smile.

" Good Akong..," said Ranvier smiling back.

" So, can you tell me why you want to help her...?" akong asked as he glanced to Ranvier's left side where Eugene's ghost was standing.

" His name is Eugene. I.., first met him a few years ago. At that time I was just able to see something invisible and was in the process of learning to control my abilities.", said Ranvier.

" And...?" akong asked as he saw Ranvier speechless.

" I'm sorry Kong, but Eugene doesn't like me to tell you about him as much as Akong..," Ranvier said.

" I got it. Let me tell you the story and you listen. How's...?" ask Akong.

" What story is Akong...?" ask Ranvier.

" On the origin of your friend it may be..," said Akong with a meaningful smile.

Ranvier looks glanced at the ghost of Eugene and Akong alternately. And without waiting for Ranvier's approval, Akong begins the story.

" In the past, in the Dutch and Japanese colonial era, everything was difficult. Thousands and even millions of Indonesians are victims of colonial atrocities. They started from hunger and had no place to live. There were even slaves to serve them, without being paid a penny, until they died in terrible conditions. Indonesians in this area are also many victims of colonial atrocities.", Akong said as he glanced at the ghost of Eugene.

When Akong said that, Eugene's ghost seemed to frown. He is like being invited to recall the incident decades ago or maybe hundreds of years ago when he was alive. Ranvier who understands that Akong is insinuating the ghost of Eugene can do nothing but listen to Akong's story.

" But things turned around. Resistance to colonial atrocities is everywhere. Even the fighters are willing to sacrifice their lives just to gain independence. My ancestors are citizens of Chinese descent who long settled in Indonesia. They also struggle even though the physical We are often misunderstood because We are considered traitors.", Akong said stopping his story while looking far ahead.

Ranvier knew, there was a wound in Akong's heart as he recalled the weight of his family's struggle back then. It is not their fault if born with narrow eyes and yellow skin. But at that time the invaders were intensively provocation to pit the people of Indonesia, including in terms of race.

The invaders provoked the citizens and said that the yellow-skinned and narrow-eyed people were their minions. Eventually, the Akong family was persecuted and accused of being traitors. Ranvier turned his head towards Akong as the old man continued his story.

" It turns out that the misery of the Indonesian citizens also made the feelings of the good-natured Dutch soldiers touched. Many of them defected from their troops and sided with the colonists, including him," Akong said, glancing at Eugene's ghost.

" Akong means there are some Dutch soldiers who actually fight with Kita...?" ask Ranvier.

" right. I've heard of some Dutch soldiers who were proven to defect being killed by their own friends when caught. They are left to bear the pain of the wounds they suffered until the end of their lives, said Akong.

" He's right Ranvier. I remember now how I ended up dying horribly in the garden from being left behind when I was seriously injured. They are angry because I help the people of Indonesia. I am called a traitor because I have leaked the strength of the troops and the stockpile of weapons that We have to the fighters of Indonesia.", said the ghost of Eugene with a choked voice.

Ranvier is shown Eugene's past. The Dutch man was paraded with his hands bound. During the journey Eugene did not necessarily receive torture. He was pushed, kicked, hit with a rifle butts until he was wounded and bleeding.

Eugene was forced to admit his involvement with the deaths of several Dutch soldiers who were on patrol on the village road.

" You told them that there would be a patrol there, didn't you...?" ask one of the Dutch soldiers.

Eugene was just silent. After being paraded for a long time, Eugene and his captured friend were taken to the middle of the forest. There he was again interrogated.

" If you will tell me where they are hiding and keep the spoils, then We will set you free...!" said one soldier.

" And We guarantee you'll live." another soldier tried to convince Eugene.

" I can't believe it. Whether I talk or not, you're gonna kill me anyway...!" eugene said after a long silence.

All the soldiers look sumringah. They were happy because Eugene finally wanted to talk.

" You finally want to talk to Eugene. Come on, tell me where the natives are hiding the weapons they took from our troops" said one of the Dutch soldiers.

" Show also where their soldiers hide." the other soldier interrupted, clenching his hand.

" Even where they keep the beautiful women Eugene. I was happy to see the woman screaming because it could satisfy my cravings" said one Dutch soldier, licking his lips.

Laughter also echoed after the soldier said the sentence mes*mnya. But the last words of one of the Dutch soldiers that actually provoked the anger of Eugene.

He looked grudgingly at the soldier who incidentally was his countrymen with a look full of hatred.

Eugene recalls how his people hurt indigenous women including teenagers and children just to satisfy their wild desires.

" Cursed are you !. Remember, God is not sleeping !. Don't forget you also have a mother and a sister. How would you feel if it happened to them...?! " said Eugene furiously.

A kick from a soldier landed on Eugene's face, breaking his jaw. After that the other soldiers came forward and took out daggers. He held onto Eugene's face with his palm.

" Bangs*t !. You dare to swear on my family just for the sake of those bod*h people Eugene !. After this your dirty mouth will no longer be able to speak. Rot here and die You...!" the soldier said as he began slashing Eugene's cheek.

Eugene screamed as the dagger began to slash from the tip of the lip straight up and stopped just below the ear. It happened on both sides of his face. Blood flowed profusely from that wound on his face. The wound also managed to show Eugene's oral cavity in the form of molar teeth and tongue which are all now blood red.

All the soldiers applauded watching Eugene get hurt. After being content to torture Eugene, they left the place.

Eugene stared pushyly at the figure of the man who had injured his face. He remembered that the man was his little friend Kheil.

After being content to hurt Eugene, Kheil stepped aside. He spat on Eugene's dying body and then went to follow his troops.

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