Ghost Hunt: Panic in the Country
Vol. 0: I Lost | 14. Surprising News

The sun greeted me with warmth. The sound of crowded neighbors, vehicles coming out–in the apartment yard made Astan squirm. Astan glanced at the rigidly mounted wall clock and showed it at 06:00 am. Astan came out with a towel around his neck, just as he closed the door of the room, he thought of Rei. When Astan checked into Rei's room, he found nothing at all. Instant closed the door again and moved away, getting ready for the morning routine. When finished, I went to work. Along the way, Astan continued to look at the streets crowded by vehicles.

A few minutes had passed, the bus that Astan was riding on stopped at the C-3 District stop. As usual, I cleaned the whole office. After he finished, Astan sat down with a limp face as he was still worried about Rei. By the time Astan was silent in daydreams, Endra had stood before him. By leaning against the wall and the two hands folding into each other. Endra cleared his throat with a loud voice to make Astan aware of the daydream.

“What's up?” ask Astan.

“I should ask, why do you put on such a face and daydream? Did something happen?” endra asked with concern.

“Nothing, I'm just worried about Sis. Rei's. That's it,” replied Astan who tried to smile.

“Ah, fine then. Can you help me?” ask Endra again. With pleasure Astan stood up from his seat, “What is it?” ask Astan.

Endra asks Astan to follow him to an empty table. Endra gave a brown envelope to Astan who had a confused face. Endra explained briefly about the situation of the office and employees who had expired contracts. He gave an explanation and gave a paper containing the address of the recipient of the brown envelope. Not to forget Endra gave a vehicle key and told the location of the storage. Astan stood in front of a cream-colored scooter with a black box. Two colors that don't come in at all, but that's not a problem. Astan rushes towards the motor vehicle, inserts a brown envelope into the black box, turns it on and darts away.

On the way Astan tried to overtake other vehicles. Not long ago Astan had arrived in front of an archway, the big writing was clearly visible, namely 'D-6' District'. Astan walked closer to the security guard post to provide identity and checking. After he finished, he continued his journey through the unkempt and very old buildings. The concrete walls were full of ink scribbles of various colors, people dressed very eccentricly and freely. The reason they look like that is because the D-6 area is very free, containing mafia, thugs, prostitution, and much more. Astan had found an old simple building that was a restaurant. Astan walked in, greeted by a man and woman who had been in their 50s. 

Clearly, the two men were very much looking forward to his arrival. Astan gave her a brown envelope and waited a few seconds until they opened it. After that, Astan said goodbye. But the woman asked him to wait for a moment. No need to wait long, the woman returned with a cloth bag. With an awkward smile Astan accepted it and immediately said goodbye. Without feeling Astan had been in the parking lot of the office building, rushed to the office, giving the parcel to Endra who was in the middle of the room with employees and the boss. They all put on gloomy faces and lowered their heads without daring to lift them up. Astan, who was astonished by his co-workers, could only give them a questionable look. Arrived when Astan saw Hendrik who sat down with a sad face.

Unknowingly the water began to fall from Astan's eye fertilizers. A pair of Astan eyes looked at the sweet smile of a woman inside the picture frame. One sentence sliding from Astan's mouth, “Sorry.” That's one word that came out in his soft voice. As Astan stared right at Rei's two eyes, he threw them away and tried not to cry. However, Astan was defeated by his feelings of sadness, anger, and guilt. Crying suddenly, falling over with both hands holding the knee. At that time also a woman who is a twin of Rei hugged Astan with a pale face and looks tired. The two cries broke and filled the entire room. Now that they had been in a burial ground, all were silent with grieving faces.

However, not with Astan who was just standing with an expressionless face, his eyes looked so cold. After the funeral after all scattered away, while Astan lasted a few minutes to stare at the mountains in front of him. Astan was even silent when a hand touched his left shoulder, but a few seconds later he turned his head. Seeing Endra in all black clothes and carrying a backpack in his left hand. For a moment they fell silent, until Astan turned around and left. Without saying anything, Endra followed Astan until they were in a car. It didn't take long they had been in the apartment where Astan lived. Without saying, Astan just went into the room and locked it.

Astan paid no attention to Endra, he just put himself to sleep and covered his entire body with a blanket. With no sound Astan returned to shed too many tears until he forgot and fell asleep. Night has come, the blue sky is no longer visible. Slowly Astan sat himself down, looking at the whole silent room. Although the sound of the vehicle pierced the ears, but Astan felt silent. With a slow step Astan came out and found the food on the table. A woman walked with a large bowl and put it on the table. The woman gave a smile to Astan who was still standing. Astan walked slowly closer and sat in calmness, without returning Rui's smile.

Astan began to eat dinner in silence, just the sound of clockwork seconds, the singing of spoons, and the breathing of both of them. After dinner, Astan left without a word. However, Astan's move came to a halt when Rui asked him to take a moment. Without refusing Astan sat back down and lowered his head so deeply. This was because Astan was reluctant to look at Rui's face. Rui stared softly at Astan who was hiding her face.

“So I know, you feel sad and guilty. But, you can't keep going like that. I also feel lost, but if we fall too much. It will be difficult to walk. I'm sure, Rei also wants you to keep going.” Rui said by reaching into her sling bag. Take out a light blue gift box and a white envelope.

“Tadi, I went into Rei's room and found a contact with a white envelope. Looks like it's for you, I've cleaned Rei's room. So, you can choose the items to be donated or saved.” After that Rui stood up to clean the dining table.

Astan who heard all of that just kept quiet with an occasional glance at the blue city and the white envelope in front of him. Long enough Astan just looked at him, until a few minutes later. Astan picked it up and rushed into Rei's room which had been illuminated by a lamp. Astan looked at the entire corner of the room, stepped closer to the bed and sat quietly. Slowly Instant opened the gift box, the silver-colored watch was caught by Astan's vision. He picked up and opened a white envelope containing a brown letter. Read the letter in silence and focus. Although he wanted to cry again, but he puffed up and continued to hold it.