The Pride Game

Chapter 2

A man crossed a large house with colorful plants that were so beautiful. However, his eyes immediately fell on the corpse of a man who was being pulled out of nowhere. The man slowed down the car. He glanced intermittently through the rearview mirror, bitting his lip briefly, then sighed. At first, he didn't recognize that helpless, bruised face, but the sight bothered his eyes. He had just visited his old friend who was also in this elite area. However, it wasn't his friend who came to him, but a big dog that rushed straight through the extensive and majestic fence belonging to his master's house. Frightened, Jonathan immediately got back into the car, he caught his breath, and he saw a part of the scene when a man started beating someone so brutally. It happened so fast that he couldn't help the man who was being abused. "Is the man who was hit, Samuel?" Jonathan said to himself while the big fierce dog was still barking loudly, interrupting his concentration. Samuel was an old friend when he was at CDA, a group of top detectives with reliable analysis whose truth is close to the facts. Jonathan still remembers when Samuel was accused of mis-analyzing a case that resulted in an innocent person being sentenced to death. After that, Samuel was expelled from the most prominent big company in their country; Samuel was his childhood friend, they grew up together in the same environment. Just like himself, Samuel had a hard time getting a job back. Now his life is only at the mercy of his friends, who he helps when he solves problems. He divorced his wife, Caroline, and now lives with his uncle and aunt. Jonathan was still in his car. 

Right, it was Samuel, Jonathan thought in his mind. He recognized the clothes Samuel was wearing, as well as the pants that Samuel often wore. Blood dripped all the way.

Another security splashed water on the path of blood, sticking to the ground until it became spotless. The body didn't move, but Jonathan could still see the battered man's breathing. 

He's not dead, Jonathan thought again. 

Finally, Jonathan turned the car around and stopped right in front of the three security guards still walking towards the river. "Stop. Put the man in the car. I'm a friend of Mr. Samuel Chandra." The three men stopped; they looked at Jonathan with grim faces. 

"Who are you?" one of the most significant security guards said in a frightening voice.

Jonathan took a deep breath. This must be easy, and they will indeed obey my orders, Jonathan thought in his mind. He took out his membership card, which he had not used for a long time, but he still used it to scare people, precisely what he could use at a time like this. "I'm Jonathan Prawira, a detective from the Heavy Crimes division, CDA." The three security guards widened their eyes one by one, confirming the card Jonathan was holding once again; it was indeed the CDA card, the most famous detective association in this country. After they were sure that the identity on the card was the same as the person holding it, the three security guards immediately felt embarrassed. "Okay. Where should we take this pathetic man?"

Jonathan's eyes stared at the man who had just spoken with piercing eyes, "I mean this man." The security guard swallowed his saliva in fear of facing Jonathan. 

"Put it in my car." 

Not long after, the car carrying Samuel's body drove to the hospital. 

"Have you contacted the patient's family, Sir?" The nurse sitting in front of Jonathan was about to start recording Samuel's data. "Yes, I have. They'll be here in a minute. Just finished recording the patient data; I'll pay for the patient administration." Jonathan hesitated to say this, but he had to help Samuel. 

Two days later ...

Samuel tried to open his eyes, and he didn't know how long he had been asleep; the last sight he saw was Jonathan's shoe nearly tearing his mouth; his breath hitched as his memory returned to Frans' brutal action. 

"Frans ... Frans ... stop it. It's my fault that this beggar is still in our house. Next time I will ask security to expel him immediately if he dares to come to the house." Samuel still remembers what Caroline said when she asked Frans to let him go. Samuel's pride was torn apart. He was very insulted by the treatment of Caroline and Frans earlier. 

"He's awake!" shouted an old woman, her body bent slightly as she walked closer to him. Samuel blinked; he was surprised when his aunt was on the edge of the gurney, her face worried.

Samuel's head was heavy, and he felt dizzy. "Where am I?" he asked; he felt the smell of a hospital filling his nostrils. "You are in hospital," aunt Judith said quietly, "You'd better not move and talk so much. You have to recover first." Then aunt Judith's old hand stroked Samuel's hand gently. "Tell me if you're thirsty. You've been asleep for two days." Samuel's forehead lifted slowly; he didn't know what had happened to him and why he ended up in the hospital. Where did he have to pay the hospital fees? asked Samuel in his head, then he closed his eyes again. However, only five seconds later, Samuel widened his eyes. "Huh! Where do we have to pay for the hospital fees?" Samuel's voice was loud, and he immediately moved his body to get out of bed. "Aaaah!" His body still ached. The stitches on the edges of his mouth seemed to open again. His chest, face, and hands hurt. He was in a cast and had a bandage wrapped around his arm. In an instant, Samuel felt a pain that immediately spread throughout his body. "Don't move. Your injuries are quite serious. You should get plenty of rest, and you don't have to worry about payment. Someone has already paid for your treatment fee." Samuel's forehead furrowed deep, and he thought that it was Caroline who paid the hospital fees after the woman insulted and belittled him. "Give it back. Give it back to that woman," he said stiffly, unable to move at all. Someone opened the door; out of the corner of his eye, Samuel saw a female nurse enter his room. "Good afternoon." The nurse nodded her head. 

"Afternoon, Miss." Aunt took a step back; she kept her mouth shut, not trying to argue with Samuel. 

"Soon, the doctor who treats you will be here soon. Please wait." After that, the nurse put the medicine and the envelope on the medicine table. "This is a medicine you have to take. Twice a day, and you have to take it." A few minutes later, the nurse came out. Aunt Judith was curious about the envelope the nurse had given her who had just arrived. "What is this? Invitation letters from former CDA employees?" Aunt Judith read to herself, but Samuel heard it too, his mouth open. Who sent him a letter like this? asked Samuel to himself. "From who, Auntie?" 

"I don't know, but it says that you are invited to 'Pride Game'."