Grasping Strength: Games, and Revenge Transformation

Chapter 5

"I found it in the pot! Why throw it away? It can be used!"

 

"No! Your grandfather became a victim because of that cell phone! Throw it away Zidane! One of the reasons why I don't want to leave the village is because of this!" Grandma then snatched the cell phone from Zidane's hand.

 

 

Zidane was stunned to realize that she had taken the phone by force. He didn't put up any resistance. Zidane realized that if the phone belonged to Grandma, it was up to her what she wanted to do with it.

 

After she left, Zidane went back to cleaning the upper storeroom. It didn't take long, the place was clean and empty. All his belongings had been put away.

 

 

As he went downstairs to pick up the trash, Zidane felt hungry. He rushed to the kitchen and hoped there was something to eat.

 

 Unfortunately there was nothing there, even grandma's fridge was empty. Zidane felt sorry for his grandmother. Now she had to take care of Zoe as well as him. While she herself was no longer working.

 

 

 He recalled that he thought there was about 100 dollars in his savings, maybe it could still be taken.

 

Zidane looked for her and wanted to ask where the nearest ATM machine was. But he couldn't find her anywhere. Finally Zidane went alone to look for a cash machine. He hoped that the few dollars there were could still be used to buy some groceries for himself, his grandmother and his sister.

 

 

There were no vehicles at his grandmother's house, so Zidane went on foot. He chose to walk towards the right side of her house. Some of the places had already started to change.

 

 Several shops were lined up there. He stopped at one of the shops and asked them where the ATM machine was. 

 

"Of course there is. Go to the end of the village, you'll find it there. But sometimes there's a traffic jam. If your card won't come out, just hit the machine a little. It'll come back out!" the shopkeeper warned.

 

 

Zidane remembered what the shopkeeper had said and rushed to the ATM machine mentioned. 

 

He quickly entered his PIN and was surprised by the amount on the machine.

 

"15,100 dollars?" 

 

Zidane was surprised that it read 15,000 dollars. He recalled, when was the last time he got that much money. While his salary for 1 month is only 600 dollars.

 

"Did Ben give me extra money huh? Maybe he gave me this money because he felt bad for me when he dismissed me from work yesterday? Maybe I should ask him!"

 

Zidane quickly left the ATM machine after taking out some money. Soon his feet stepped into one of the places where he could use a pay phone and dialed his boss's phone number which he still remembered clearly.

 

"Hello Ben, it's me Zidane!"

 

"Yes, Zidane. What's up?"

 

"No. I just wanted to confirm with you. Did you send me some money? Because I think the most likely person to send me money is you. Is that you?"

 

"Oh no Zidane, I alone had to repair some parts of the cafe. After you left, they kept coming. I don't know what exactly they want. I just had to close the cafe today. I'm planning to move locations in the near future. I hope they'll stop! So, I can't possibly send you money, I'm sorry."

 

Hearing what Ben said just now, made Zidane think, of course it wasn't his boss. Then who, could it be Cassie?

 

"Should I contact Cassie? Is it her?"

 

Hesitantly, Zidane contacted Cassie and hoped that it wasn't that woman who sent him the money. Although he was very angry with Cassie, perhaps what Cassie did had a reason. So he needed an explanation.

 

"What? Zidane? What are you calling me for? Did you miss me?"

 

Cassie's voice laughed, clearly mocking him. That made Zidane sad. Cassie had changed a lot. Obviously, it wasn't from Cassie, so who was it from?

 

Without saying anything else, Zidane disconnected the call. Hearing Cassie's laughing voice with a mocking tone made Zidane hurt. Moreover, Cassie was with her friends. The cheers reached Zidane's ears.

 

Zidane regretted taking the money out of nowhere. He decided that he would return the money and use what was only his.

 

Zidane walked home listlessly. Suddenly, three men confronted him.

"Hey, do you have a cigarette?" asked the tattooed man.

 

"What? I don't smoke!" Zidane replied in surprise.

 

"I saw you heading for the ATM machine. Do you have money? Give it to me!" the man exclaimed.

 

"Money? No, I don't. I have, it's not mine either!"

 

"Don't lie! Come give it to me!"

 

"No!" 

 

Zidane chose to back away from them. But the three men gave chase.

Not just three, there are now eight. Unfortunately, Zidane had chosen the wrong path. The place was deserted and there were only trees. It was far from where people usually went.

 

"Where are you running to?" asked the tattooed man. He felt triumphant that he had surrounded Zidane.

 

They all laughed, thinking they had cornered Zidane who was alone.

"Come on, give me your wallet, give me your ATM PIN. Let me take everything! Hahaha!"

 

"No!"

 

"Go get it!" the man shouted in command.

 

Zidane knew he was outnumbered, but he wasn't going to stand still. He was going to fight back. Zidane prepared.

 

Three men at once came forward and were eager to crush Zidane. Zidane kicked him and it knocked the first man down.

 

Two men were astonished and came forward at the same time followed by three others surrounding Zidane with wooden beams.

 

"Buk buk buk!" came the sound of a blunt object hitting.

 

"Bruuuukkkk!" The five men were flattened by Zidane.

 

Zidane was astonished that he had managed to take out five people at once. He felt strong, capable of facing anyone. It was the same feeling he had when he faced his enemy in the game earlier.

 

"Let's go get him!" the tattooed man shouted.

 

The eight men advanced simultaneously, some of them even wielding sharp weapons. Zidane was prepared, he wasn't afraid.

 

"Bruk!" Zidane kicked, knocking his opponent down.

 

"Prang!" A machete almost hit Zidane and managed to hit the long knife he had grabbed from the opponent.

 

"Bruk bruk bruk!" Three opponents were knocked down again. This time their legs and arms were injured.

 

"Stop it already!" Zidane exclaimed.

 

"I want money!" The tattooed man exclaimed. In his hand was a pistol ready to be pointed at Zidane.

 

"Doooor!" 

 

The gun was pointed at Zidane and he was shocked. Zidane's shoulder was hit by the gun. Surprisingly, it did not bleed.

 

"My shoulder..."

 

Before Zidane could figure it out, the tattooed man opened fire again. This time, Zidane read the direction of the gun and dodged.

 

"Shit!" the man shouted in annoyance.

 

"Door door door!" 

Three shots were fired and hit no one.

 

"Buuugh!" Zidane threw a wooden block and made his opponent fall.

 

One minute. Two minutes. The man did not get up. Some residents arrived due to the sound of a gun. 

 

"Let's go!" 

 

They all moved out of the way, afraid that the villagers would surround them.

 

"Zidane! There was a gunshot! Are you hurt?" Letty asked worriedly.