Dwarf
24. Assistive

"What's up, son?"

Raina turned to look at the two glances of Puang Tuo's eyes that were so very serious as if he cared so much for Raina who now looked very frightened.

"Say, Son!"

Raina's lips trembled as she was still very scared. He did not know what to say to Puang Tuo who was still silent before him.

"What are you doing in this place?"

"It's late at night, it's not good for a girl to roam around on a night like this."

"Hey, Son! Did you hear me?"

Raina was silent. He wanted to say something but somehow it was so very difficult and stuck in his throat.

"What's wrong?"

Raina took a deep breath that felt stuck in her chest. He looked around as if he was afraid that Saoda would come.

"What's wrong?"

"A-a-I-I in-igin said something," he said at last.

Puang Tuo was now speechless with his confused face staring at the oddity at Raina.

"Say!"

...****************...

Puang Tuo sighed heavily after waiting for Raina to speak. Now both of them have been inside the mosque illuminated by the light of torch fire that is on the mosque wall.

Raina's hand shook as she held the glass filled with warm tea. His lips trembled as he closed his lips to the surface of his lips that felt frozen.

Raina put the glass onto the small plate, her face still pale from fear.

"Say, Son! What's up?"

Raina looked up at Puang Tuo who had been patiently waiting for her to talk.

"Puang Tuo, please help me!" he raised both his hands and begged expectantly.

"Well, I'll help you. Say, Son!"

"But please don't tell this to anyone else. I'm afraid this will add to the problem. I'm not-ut."

Raina's cry broke while covering her face with both hands.

Puang Tuo sighed then nodded. He touched Raina's back and patted her gently.

"Just relax, kid! I'll hide this secret."

Raina looked up at Puang Tuo who looked smiling even though from the look on her face Raina could see there was anxiety there.

"Nobody will know, believe me!"

Raina sighed. I don't know where to start this story.

"I once asked you about Parakang, Puang."

"Because I honestly suspect that Indo I who live in the house with me is a Parakang."

Both of Puang Tuo's eyes were rounded staring unexpectedly at what Raina had told him.

"Parakang?"

Raina nodded though honestly this was so heavy.

"I also do not know how Indo I was turned into Parakang. What always makes me suspicious is Indo who always goes at twelve o'clock at night and goes home before the eyes of the day rise."

"Every time he comes home, I open the door."

"Oath to whatever it is, Puang. My Indo body smells of blood, his face looks pale and scary."

Raina's cry broke and she tried not to stop her crying. Clogged his mouth hard and rubbed his wet cheek.

"Every time he came home before sunrise, the death of one of the villagers occurred. I always see a white cloth in front of the village house."

"I didn't really think about it until I finally decided to wait until twelvepm."

"Until that moment the thing that was never expected to happen."

"I saw clearly even when the room was dark."

"I saw him soar up on his bed and fall and his condition had turned into Parakang."

"Indo I'm a Parakang, Puang Tuo."

"He who had made the Wife and son of Puang Edi died, Indo Bayang and the last Puang Bakri."

Puang Tuo let out a heavy sigh. He shook his head for a moment as if he could not believe what Raina was saying.

"He wants revenge, Puang," Raina said.

"Revenge for what?"

Raina shook her head, "I don't know either."

Bruaks

Raina and Puang Tuo turned to look at the side of the mosque staring at the edge of the roof of the house that crashed because it was blown by the tight night wind blowing.

Both of them could feel the cold scented rainwater with the sky so cloudy, well, it looks like it will rain which might just be very heavy tonight.

Puang Tuo stepped towards the terrace of the mosque then looked up for a moment staring at the sky.

"It looks like it's going to be raining heavily" he guessed.

Raina who felt uneasy turned her head left and right trying to find a clock that was on the wall of the mosque. Raina's eyes were round staring at the clockwork which showed eleven o'clock past forty minutes."

"Pour Tuo!!!" raina shouted so scared.

He ran and kneeled at the bowed feet of Puang Tuo with a confused look on his face.

"What's wrong?"

"To-to-please save Erni!"

"For what?"

"Parakang Pa-pa-parakang will eat Erni. At twelve o'clock in the night Parakang will come out of the house and attack Erni."

"How did you know?"

"I know everything, Puang. I know everything."

"Please help me, Puang! Please help me!"

Raina sobbed so heartbreakingly with her tears already spilling over her cheeks.

"But I can't, son."

Raina's cry came to a halt with her two eyes so shocked that she couldn't believe what Puang Tuo said.

"What?"

"I've stopped long enough to hunt Parakang."

"But this is the interest of a life, Puang. I beg!"

"A-a-I don't have much money to pay you but it's about someone's life, Puang!"

"Please help me, Puang!"

"Please help me!"

"Who can help me if not you, Puang."

"Both of my parents have died long ago. I have no family other than Indo I who is now Parakang."

"I don't have anyone else, Puang."

"Please help me! I beg!" he said again while prostrating at Puang Tuo's feet.

Soon Puang Tuo now frowned feeling strange at what Raina said. He bowed and helped Raina to stand up straight.

"Both your parents are dead?"

Raina nodded quickly.

"Where are you staying, son?"

"In the crush of the forest and garden of the former village first."

Both of Puang Tuo's eyes widened in shock.

"Who's your Indo's name?"

"Soda," answer.

Both of Puang Tuo's hands that were tightly holding onto Raina's two arms instantly came apart.

"Soda?"

Raina nodded.

Puang Tuo was speechless with both of his eyes moving left and right as if he was thinking of something.

"Take me to Erni's house!"