A Thousand Flowers
Chapters 10. Self Rescuing

"Bismillah .…" Izzah steadied the heart, was prejudiced and believed fully in God's destiny.

They walk in silence. No one opens their voice to start a conversation. Izzah was too afraid to ask even if it was just a small talk. The flashlight on his head started to dim. He stepped more carefully.

They're far enough away to walk. Izzah's legs are like numbness. His throat feels very dry. His stomach was also rumbling. He had not eaten rice all day, just a sandwich and a light snack. Izzah's body no longer stepped on the ground. Really limp.

Kriiiuuukk!

Izzah's stomach is singing. The man stopped his steps and turned to Izzah.

“We'd better rest here. Looks like you're hungry,” take him.

Izzah was embarrassed, but could not deny that he was very hungry.

“Wait here! I'll find food.”

Izzah nodded. In an instant the man disappeared into the darkness.

Izzah didn't want to just sit still. He has to do something. He does not want to be a burden to others. Izzah always held firm to his mother's advice that he should always repay the kindness of others as he could. Without wasting any time, Izzah moved around collecting dry branches and twigs. Subjected

simply, the arrangement of firewood that he had collected, then lit the fire with a lighter that he always carried. The fire is also burning.

“Aalhamdulillah .…”

Izzah heaved a sigh of relief, then sat down on the large piece of wood he had picked up. The cold night breeze and the jacket that was not too thick made Izzah's body begin to shiver. He immediately warmed himself by extending his hands over the fire. The sound of an owl makes the feathers of Izzah bristle.

Not long after that Izzah's helper man appeared with some fish in his right hand and firewood in his left arm's lap.

Izzah was relieved. As soon as Izzah sat down, the man threw down the firewood he was carrying and immediately sat down near Izzah.

“It turns out you are quite reliable,” praise while burning fish. Izzah just smiled a little.

“I Jumali. You who?” The man introduced himself and asked in a gentle tone.

“It turns out this man's attitude is very different to his looks,” inner Izzah.

“I Izzah.” Izzah introduced himself.

“Why can you be in this Prohibited Forest? This is not a place that just anyone can enter. Dangerous,” investigate the man named Jumali.

He handed over the ripe fish to Izzah. Izzah greeted the fish, thanked it and immediately devoured it.

“I also don't know why I can be here,” replied Izzah bluntly, then recounted the events he experienced.

Jumali listened to Izzah's story seriously. Beard's head. However, he made no comment. Either because he did not believe Izzah's story completely or because he did not know what to say.

After filling up the stomach and conversing, Jumali and Izzah took a short break to recover their energy. The journey they will take is still quite far away. Jumali spread her body over the grass, closing her eyes. Izzah chose to stay seated by the fireplace, keeping his body warm.

“Wake me up after fifteen minutes!” the question is on Izzah.

“Good, Sir,” replied Izzah.

The stars have appeared, adorning the night sky. The moon is half hiding behind the clouds. Izzah looked up, looked up at the sky, counting the constellations. Without notice, Izzah shed tears. Remembering the mother. He must be very worried right now.

“Im sorry Izzah has made Mommy worried. Izzah is fine here, Mother. May Mother also be well.” Izzah whispered looking up at the stars, as if he was sending a message through the night breeze.

Fifteen minutes have passed. Izzah woke Jumali as he requested. Jumali opened her eyes. Izzah took back his backpack. They immediately got up and continued their journey.

“Stop!”

A snapping suddenly stopped their steps. Two men stood in the street. Their bodies are tall and sturdy. Although vague, Izzah could see that the two men had quite handsome faces, even the good looks of one of them equaled a model. Their eyes stared at Jumali coldly. However, which

stared at just silently.

“Hei, Codet! Hand over the girl!” orders of a more handsome man.

“What right do you guys ask for it?” ask Codet flat.

“This is our region. Everything that is here is under our power, including your lives,” snapped the man intimidatingly.

“What do you think you are God?” ledek Codet, make the two men ride apitam.

“Bigger! Quickly hand over the girl before we act rude!” The man is getting angry. Codet stretches out his left hand, protecting Izzah.

“Retreat!” codet's orders to Izzah. Izzah immediately stepped back.

“Take it yourself if you can!” challenge Codet.

Without wasting any time, the two men attacked Codet. Their martial skills are very good. Izzah just stood watching the path of the fight between Jumali and the two men who claimed to be the ruler of the Prohibition Forest. For almost an hour they fought. There was no sign of defeat yet from either side fighting.

Meanwhile, from above a fairly large tree, a masked man watched the fight between Jumali and two of his companions. His eyes did not blink following Jumali's every move. Occasionally he smiled when he saw Jumali hit by an opponent's blow.

“It turns out Si Codet's martial ability is pretty good,” murmured.

He immediately jumped down and fought as soon as one of the two men fell to his knees with Jumali's attack and was no longer able to stand up to continue the fight. Things become unbalanced. Exhausted Jumali began to push.

Seeing that, Izzah did not stay silent. He intervened to help Jumali. Jumali. It was unexpected that the girl also had martial skills. Izzah managed to defeat the handsome man who became his opponent. However, at the same time there was a scream of pain Jumali. His stomach was hit by a knife from a masked man.

Jumali fell down covered in blood. Izzah immediately ran over to Jumali and pressed the injured part of the stomach. With the rest of his strength, Izzah drained the healing energy to stop the bleeding on Jumali's wounds.

“It turns out that's just your martial skills? So against us,” taunts masked man.

“Lekas go, Izzah! Save yourself! Leave me!” jumali orders when he sees the masked man walking closer to Izzah. He smells danger.

“But, Paak  .…” Izzah doubt. His heart was heavy leaving his helper in an injured condition and had lost a lot of blood.

“No more time, Izzah. Now!” Jumali. The masked man is getting closer.

Just now Izzah was about to run away from Jumali, knowing the masked man had blocked his wrist.

“Where are you, Beautiful?” The man grinned.

“Release! You make my hand hurt.”

Izzah said that as calmly as possible. The man tried to hide his surprise at Izzah's calm demeanor. Never had he found such a brave girl.

“What? Unleash it? Don't dream you!” The check is getting stronger.

Izzah grimaced with pain. He tried to remove his wrist from the man's grip, but he lost energy. He's too tired.

“You're not afraid? You should cry begging me to let go.”

The man was curious why the girl in front of him was so persistent in breaking away and was still acting calm, as if he did not have the slightest fear.

Inwardly, Izzah actually felt trepidation. He was very afraid that the man would do him bad. He did not want to lose his precious possession, which he had always guarded. On the other hand, he also did not want to seem intimidated, let alone frightened. He really doesn't want to look weak.

Izzah kept trying to break away while moving in a half circle. Now the masked man was standing between Izzah and Jumali lying unconscious. He chuckled at the persistence of Izzah that had not yet come to fruition. The man's careless attitude was immediately taken advantage of by Izzah. As fast as lightning he threw a kick towards the sensitive area of the man.

Sensing extreme pain, the man reflexively removed his grip from Izzah's hand. He ducked down and held his most valuable personal asset. Izzah ran as fast as he could, leaving behind Jumali and the evil man.

Izzah stopped breathing because of running. He bent down, both hands resting on his knees. However, a moment later he heard footsteps running behind him.

“Sial! The man chased me,” umpat Izzah, then immediately ran back.

The footsteps were getting closer and closer. Izzah doesn't want to get caught. He kept running ... running .. and kept running ….

***