White. Cold. A single table, two chairs, and a blinding light from above. His shadow split across the table, exhaustion written plainly on his face. He sat in silence. His breath was shallow.
The door opened. Two officers entered. One older, his eyes deep and unyielding. The other younger, sharp, alert, every movement precise. They sat across from him, quietly measuring his soul.
The senior officer spoke first, his voice heavy but calm. "Start from the beginning. How did you know about the explosion?"
Kaivan nodded slowly. He inhaled, his rough voice steady but subdued. "It started with curiosity. They called it 'sincerity.' I thought it was just some spiritual philosophy. But I was wrong. They were a terrorist syndicate."
The younger officer narrowed his eyes, saying nothing. His stare was like a scalpel, dissecting every word.
"When I realized who they really were, I tried to leave... but they don't let anyone walk away. Anyone who turns back becomes the enemy."
"And the explosion?" the senior officer interjected, his tone unchanged, but the weight in his words pressed hard.
Kaivan lowered his gaze. "They started to panic. Some of those who woke up caused chaos. There were explosives there. I couldn't stop it. Everything blew up. I didn't know it would be that bad."
Silence. The two investigators exchanged glances. There was no suspicion, but neither was there full trust.
The young officer finally spoke, her tone sharp. "Then why did you come here? Why not just run away?"
Kaivan's eyes turned cold and steady. "Because I don't want to run. I want this to end. I want to help stop them. No one else should die."
Outside the room, the intercom buzzed faintly. Other officers listened in, tense expressions dawning as they realized, this was more than a confession.
An older investigator straightened in his chair, his tone firm yet calm. "We'll look deeper into this. But we need to know, was anyone else involved?"
The question hung in the air like a blade. Kaivan clenched his fists, eyes downcast. When he finally looked up, determination burned within his gaze. "Many. But I don't know who they were."
The young female officer leaned forward slightly, her voice soft but piercing. "Kaivan, this information could save lives. Are you sure you don't know anyone?"
He shook his head slowly. "There was no time for introductions. Everything was fast... and secret."
Heavy footsteps echoed from the corridor. The air grew taut. The door opened, a man in a neat suit stepped in, carrying an aura of authority. Governor Heri.
"I'm Heri," he introduced himself, his voice deep and calm. Sitting across from Kaivan, he continued, "I want to hear this directly from you."
Kaivan lowered his head, his shoulders tense. "I... I don't know if this is right. But I want to be free from that place."
Heri nodded, eyes steady on him. "Then help us. What's their goal? Where will they strike?"
Kaivan took a deep breath. When he lifted his eyes again, his voice trembled, yet it was clear. "Their target... is the Asia-Africa Conference in Bandung."
The room froze. Pens halted. Breath caught. Only Heri remained calm, though his gaze revealed it, this was bigger than anyone had thought.
In the tension, the interrogation room seemed to swallow the light. The dim lamp cast harsh shadows across Kaivan's weary face as he sat upright, exhaustion gnawing at him. Governor Heri stood before him, radiating unshakable authority.
"In a way," Heri said, his voice firm yet gentle, "you've already saved many lives." That look of respect made Kaivan pause, he had never imagined being recognized by someone like a governor. But the moment didn't last.
"However," Heri continued, his tone shifting, "what about the illegal gold trade you were involved in?"
Kaivan's heart pounded. He hadn't expected that. Still, he met Heri's eyes, forcing himself to stay calm. His voice was low but steady. "Is it wrong to turn scraps into something of value?"
Heri regarded him in heavy silence. Then, finally, his reply came, measured and resolute. "No. But what's illegal is doing it without a permit. According to Law No. 18 of 2008 on Waste Management."
For a moment, Kaivan felt struck by truth, relieved that he wasn't entirely wrong, yet burdened by the weight of responsibility.
Heri stepped closer and placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "You've saved this city, Kaivan. But everything must remain within the law. This isn't just about what you did... it's about what comes after."
Kaivan nodded slowly. In his eyes, fatigue and resolve intertwined. He understood, his journey was far from over. He carried more than the sins of his past; now, he bore the fragile hope of what might still be saved.
The iron door creaked softly, slicing through the silence. A sliver of light from the hallway spilled in, revealing Kaivan's face half-veiled in shadow. A figure stepped through, Arman, a city council member known for his cold composure and smile sharp as a blade.
Behind him, two young figures followed. Darius, his son, stood tall, his eyes burning with fury. His knuckles cracked in the air, his jaw set tight with vengeance. Beside him, Tania walked slowly, her long brown hair veiling part of her face. Her gaze was faint, yet piercing, fragile on the surface, but sharp as a hidden blade. Her dress was wrinkled, her presence ghostly quiet.
Kaivan sat on a metal chair, his hands locked on the table. His black shirt hung loose over his thin frame. His eyes widened for a moment when he saw Tania, then calmed, but his pulse throbbed like wildfire.
"Tania…" His thoughts trembled, tasting the bitter scent of betrayal.
Arman spoke first, his voice calm yet edged. "I'm Arman. This is my son, Darius. We're here… to make sure justice isn't blind." His gaze cut like glass. "This concerns a stolen motorcycle."
The chief of police stepped forward, his tone cold and precise. "Who committed this theft?"
Darius took a step ahead, pointing sharply. "Him! That kid! He hit me and stole my bike!" His voice thundered, but beneath the anger was something rehearsed, more demand than truth. Kaivan met his glare silently, suspicion flickering in his eyes like a dying ember ready to spark.
His jaw tightened. His lips sealed, swallowing the storm within. But before a word could escape,
A sob shattered the room. Soft at first, then growing louder. All eyes turned to Tania.
Her body trembled, hands covering her face. Her voice broke through the silence, trembling but deliberate: "He… took my boyfriend's bike key… I saw him after he… violated me…"