A Thousand Flowers
Chapters 9. Be marooned

Izzah was lying on the ground. Fainted. The sun stings the skin. Izzah opened his eyes slowly. Ah, glare. He blocked the sunlight that pierced his eyes with his left arm and tried to sit up. Throbbing head. Try massaging to reduce pain.

“I where?” ask Izzah. There's no answer.

Izzah looked around. No one is visible. There's no building. Only a golden tinge bounced off the surface of the water that was struck by the sunlight. Izzah stood up, a little bit of a whim. Slowly he stepped into a lake.

The lake is very large. As far as the eye could see, colorful lilies surrounded it. Make anyone who is there will feel at home for long. Breezy wind makes the hijab Izzah wears fluttering over her pretty face. He immediately brushed it off.

Izzah turned the body to the left. Slowly walking down the edge of the lake while occasionally his fingertips gently caressed the crown of Lilies he passed by.

A large tree stood firm not far from where Izzah had fainted. On the right side of the tree was a long bench made of wood. On his left side hung a swing from the roots of a tree overgrown with vines. Well-favoured.

Izzah wanted to sit on the swing, enjoy the beauty of the lake with flower rings and feel the coolness of the afternoon breeze. But, he cannot. He should be home soon. How do I get home? He doesn't even know where he is. Everything is so foreign.

Slowly he set foot when his eyes saw the path through the forest by the lake. A glimmer of hope burst into Izzah's heart.

“Yes Allah, may this road lead to the village of residents.” It speeds up the steps. The sun is moving west.

Thirty minutes have passed. There is no sign of human civilization. It's getting dark. Slowly Izzah was overwhelmed with anxiety.

CRUST!

The sound of a broken twig made Izzah's heart race faster. Thinking there might be criminals or wild animals following, he moved slowly, then hid behind the bushes. His eyes continued to look out.

Creesh .. creeesh .…

The sound of the bushes passing by sounded closer and closer. Izzah kept a silent watch with sweat pouring out and chest rumbling. His lips were incessantly reciting prayers.

THE HUFT!

Suddenly something big jumped in front of Izzah's hideout. He was shocked, scared to death. Quickly he smothered his mouth with both hands so that his screams did not come out.

A moment later it appeared that a deer ate the leftover squirrels that fell to the ground. Izzah stroked the chest, breathing a sigh of relief.

“Alhamdulillah, just a gazelle,” murmured while standing up, took out a small head flashlight and set it up. He hurried on before the sun completely sunk and the day grew darker.

***

“Izzaaaah .. Where are you?”  The screams of Fadhil and Ihsan calling out to Izzah echoed with each other. They split. That way they hope to find Izzah sooner.

Ihsan's breathing. Tired of screaming and running to and fro, descending and climbing. He stopped sighing while circulating his gaze, penetrating the thickets of shrubs and trees that began to fade.

Suddenly his eyes were fixed on a uniquely shaped tree. He remembered Izzah was always interested in everything that was unique and interesting. He moved closer to the tree, observing its surroundings. No trace of Izzah falling down the cliff.

Ihsan grabbed her hair, upset that she could not find Izzah. He was just about to step foot when he saw something lying on the ground. Soon get that thing. A keychain in the shape of a white Rafflesia flower, courtesy of Izzah.

It has been more than two hours that Fadhil and his friends are looking for Izzah. However, Izzah was not found. It's getting dark. Worried about the night, they finally decided to go home. The search will continue tomorrow with reinforcements.

“Assalamu’alaikum, Mother.” The sound of greeting.

“Wa’alaikumussalam.” Mother Izzah smiled with relief, immediately welcoming Fadhil and his friends. However,

when his eyes did not see the figure of Izzah, his smile disappeared instantly.

“Mana Izzah, Son?” he asked Fadhil in an anxious tone. For a moment Fadhil was speechless. Eyes glazed.

“Nak, where's your sister?” Mother Izzah shook Fadhil's body.

“Force Fadhil, Mother. Fadhil's useless brother. Fadhil can't keep Izzah well. Izzah is gone, Mother. Hicks, hicks .…” Fadhil feels very guilty. He was crying with regret.

“Cannot be! You just want to flirt with Mommy, don't you?” Mother Izzah shook her head, not wanting to believe what she had just heard.

He looked into Fadhil's eyes, trying to find a lie there. However, all he found was a deep pain and regret. Mother Izzah circulated her gaze, looking at Izzah's friends one by one. And when all he saw were faces bowed in lethargy, he was in shock.

BRUK!

Mother Izzah fell unconscious. Fadhil caught on swiftly before the weak body was blown away forcefully.

***

The sound of the night beast began to sound, the omen of the sun had returned to the contest. Izzah staggered down his steps down the seemingly endless path. Thirsty. Izzah crouched down, gulping down the last gulp of the water supply he was carrying.

Izzah was almost blown away when suddenly a man was standing before him, just as he was about to get up. His position is so close, plus the illumination of the flashlight on his head, making Izzah can

I saw the man very clearly.

The man was in his forties, dark-skinned and unkempt hair. His sturdy jaw and long scar on his right temple made the man look fierce and cruel. Izzah shuddered in horror. Unknowingly he stepped back.

The man smiled. However, it looked grinning in Izzah's eyes.

“Do not be afraid, Miss!” the man said as he saw Izzah turning around and running away. His voice sounds authoritative. Izzah broke his intention. However, stay alert.

“I didn't mean to be evil. Looks like Miss is lost. Come with me!” take the man. “I'll take you to the nearest resident's house. Here is not safe.”

The man offered to help without introducing himself, then twisted his body and walked without looking back.

Izzah still stands. Confused between believing and not with the speech of the scary-looking man.

“Nona wants to stay here and fall prey to wild animals?” The man stopped his steps and looked back as he could not hear the footsteps of the girl following him.

Hearing the man's stern words, Izzah shuddered. He didn't want to die silly being a savage beast's meal. Despite the hesitation, Izzah finally followed. He had no choice but to trust the man's good intentions. He believes that nothing happens by chance in this world. All have been designed by the Supreme Being. In fact, even a fallen leaf was recorded on His side.

***