Memories of a Thousand Years
Banisters

The sun is directly above the head. It was so hot that it pinched anyone who felt the light. Rinaya flicked her hand hoping the wind blew away the sweat. "Balapati, I don't remember any village of this size near Sunyi Village.."

"This is a rapidly growing village. The village is neglected because the community is afraid of the myths that occur in the village. But since the desolate village had already begun to be safe, the surrounding village had some influence."

"Ahh I'm tired. Let's take a break." Rinaya sits on the chair of a roadside food vendor.

A servant came near. "Want to order something?"

Is there sweet iced tea?"

The waiter replied with confusion "Sweet tea exists. But there's no ice."

Rinaya laughed stiffly "oh. Heheh order a refreshing drink. Anything can."

"Good den"

"You wait here. I'll go around." Dhika leaves after leaving a bag of money on the table.

"Den please." The waiter put a drink on the table.

"eeh uh. Mangs. Waita minute. Can I ask you something? Sit mang. Sit." Sit."

"Ask what den?"

"I am here for the first time. Seeking people. But no one knows where he is. There are many myths where. Do you know why there's such news?"

"Many news from den. Which one do you mean?"

"Yes a lot of news. I was confused as to what news. Which mang knows. Any news?"

He was confused as to what to say. Rinaya is looking for information. But even if this was the case, the information he got would be very general. He tried to find the information in detail.

"Oh. Mang tau, he said there had been an incident in the village next door?"

"Yes know. Aye." Yeah."

"Say people used to die. Now look there again. What's the news, huh?"

"Oh that one. There used to be someone who took an heirloom stone from there. Reportedly the man is dead. But yesterday there was a storm he said someone saw him coming again."

"He who is mang?"

"Den don't fuss anymore. Afraid he might come. He said he had a pet dog."

"Indeed if we make a fuss he can come?"

"Eh. must be aden mah ga believe. Ever been a month ago. Kids playing in the river. He said talk about that guy again. Uh that's a dog so-so real events are coming. The kid ran away scared."

"Which river? Whose son?"

He pointed in one direction. "There. Deket village next door. Tuh. One of the kids who saw that time." He pointed to a child running with a rattan ball.

"Oh. Ceremm. Heart of hearts yes. Don't take them far away."

"Yes den. They've been warned. All."

"Keep mang, what's the story?"

"Hm. Before the news appeared. Late end of this tea there are often people missing. Not back until now."

"File man? Child boy? An adult?"

"Sometimes children are adults?"

"Suda in search? Have you reported the government?"

"It has. There is no info yet. Aden is also heart."

***

Rinaya walked down the direction the waiter pointed out earlier. It looks like the kids are playing. Chasing each other. Rinaya is looking for the boy the merchant showed. The streets are very crowded. Many people passed by. Sometimes Rinaya has trouble finding the child in question. Looks like someone is walking in the opposite direction. Distance is still far away. Rinaya saw it suspicious. Wearing hood. Hiding himself. The situation is suspicious too. Glancing around like he was being followed or something. The longer it gets closer. Rinaya relentlessly stared at him until he approached a few meters. It felt familiar to him. The longer it becomes clearer. And getting closer. For a few seconds, their eyes crossed. Rinaya remembered with that look. He knows her very well. But he continued to linger as if he did not know Rinaya.

Rinaya's blood vessels seemed to be churning. Eyes warming. His breathing is irregular.

"B- Ba-Wood?" Rinaya called her softly as she passed by a meter from him.

He stopped for a moment. Then running. Sontak Rinaya is after him. It seemed to confirm that he was Bayu. He ran fast. Rinaya's feet couldn't catch up to him fast. Bruk!! Someone hit him until he fell. He didn't pay attention to that. But Bayu is no longer visible. He turned to look at the person who hit him. He ran away. He also checked his luggage. "Dam. Thief!!!!" Rinaya ran after him many times shouting at him as a thief. The thief was very agile to run here and there. Passing the small road. He eventually stopped at a dead end. "Where is he? I can be scolded again." Previously for giving too much money Dhika was angry with him. This time he lost a bag of money. Maybe he could die at the hands of the Balapati. Of course it's just an expression. However, Dhika must be angry with him.Especially he has agreed not to roam alone.

Desperately he walked back. Worried Dhika is looking for him. Dhika must be looking for him. But.... "Where is this?"

Slums lined empty house houses with no occupants. Bad feelings began to be felt. He heard of many missing persons. His steps are getting faster. The longer the panic. Someone seemed to be watching him. Until he got caught by some adults. Big and burly. That kind of thing is what women like the least. "Excuse me"

Rinaya tried to pass through it well. Instantly they caught him. Covering his head with a cloth. Clogging mouth. Tying his hands and feet.

Meanwhile Pradhika Wiriya saw an empty chair in the tavern he had just left. He asked the waiter. And then go look for him. He bit his lips in annoyance. Rinaya always wanders around on her own. Despite being warned, he still does it as he pleases. But this time Dhika really felt anxious. He also heard about the number of missing people. He was worried that Rinaya would become one of his victims. He traces his footsteps hoping something really doesn't happen to him. He saw someone at the end of the road. He recognized the man. Just separated a few days ago. Now they are found again. He talked to the kids who were there. Talk seriously and then joke again. He looked at her. "Falapati? Are you here too?"

"Why are you here?" Dhika.

"Investigate the case." Reply lightly.

"How was the previous case?"

"About Nirmala? I have my own plan. The case was entirely handled by me. Oh. Where the hell is he?"

Dhika shook her head lowering her gaze.

"Rapathy. There's a big case here. She-can't be a victim, right?"

"I hope so." Answer weakly

"Let's go find."

***

Someone woke up Rinaya who was lying unconscious. Slowly he opened his eyes. He was somewhere foreign. Like a goa. Or the basement. Darkened. There was only lighting from candles and torches. Rinaya collected with the other victims. Consists of children, adolescents and adults. His hands are tied Some people are watching. One of them sat on a chair and folded his hands as if he was assessing a price. Maybe he's the boss. Slave trade? His whisper in his heart.

Remove from crocodile clutches. Now enter the lion's mouth. A fitting saying for Rinaya. Whether the saying is true or not. That kind of poker.

Someone came near the man. Give report. I don't know what they're talking about. Then he looked at the victim. His eyes were fixed on Rinaya. Very sharp eyes. His heart was racing as if it wanted to escape from his tissue. What's wrong? Why are they staring at me?

A man approached. Dragging Rinaya out of the room. Towards another room. The man followed. Rinaya fell down in front of a few people.

"Do you want to die fast? See her. Look who he is. Look clothes. Within twenty-four hours you will die in his hands."

"Master. What is our fault, sir. We don't understand." One of his men bowed in fear.

He kicked the man in front of Rinaya. Everyone is dumbfounded. How cruel he is.

"Don't you see the clothes? He's a student of Wiriya's. See belts?? He's under Balapati Wiriya's responsibility."

All the men fell down and begged for mercy and protection. "Please forgive me, sir. We don't know."

The man with the glass looked at Rinaya. Who her? She recognize me? Why look at me like that?

"What should we do, sir?" Ask a man with fear.

"Just let go of her." Ketus answer.

"Wait" One came from behind the door. "He's seen our faces. It would be dangerous if he told them this."

"But Sir."

"He must have the skills. Sell at a high price to a very far place." Wherever goes.

Who her? Like I've seen it.

A guy with "It's better to just strip his clothes. Replace it with another outfit."

"really. Like it's better." The other men chimed in, Agree.

Rinaya put on a half-dead panicked face. "eehh. Don't come any closer. I can get off on my own. Give clothes. I changed it myself in another room. Yep!"

"Just do it here. You don't think we know you're gonna run!!" Shouted a man.

One of the men pulled his arm. Another one pulled his shirt. "No. No!" Rinaya screaming. Panicked. Terrified.

I don't know what that guy was thinking. Tall man with slender body and strapping shoulders. Like an athletic. He pulled his arm away from the men. His head was blown off. Hair's unraveling. He hit the guy. His eyes got wetter seeing Rinaya's hair unravel. "You better take care of your behavior" He pressed his tone warning them.

"wait. Signore. Her.... She a girl?" One of the men realized it.

He just kept quiet. It was as if he had realized from the beginning.

One thing that made Rinaya focus her eyes. Underneath the floor was something he knew very well. I don't know when it fell. Who does not belong to. He picked up that thing. And watch her closely. A Flower shaped brooch. Soon the man snatched it roughly "never touch this. It's mine."

Mine? That's not my flower brooch? Did he...Rinaya still remembers that thing. Rakha's gift that he left to Tama.

Fifteen years is not a short time. But as it grows. He still knows the guy.

"Master. What we should do. We never kidnap women. They're too weak. And we never sell women"

"He's my business. Never touch it." Ketus answer.

He clasped Rinaya's arm and left the room. Tears are still flowing. His guilt still lingers. Rinaya was still afraid to say the word. So too with that guy. Without a word. He brought back Rinaya to where he woke up. With the other victims.

The kidnap victims they took with them by locking them in a wooden crate. Using a horse carriage.

I don't know where they took him. Their eyes and mouth were closed. Their hands and feet are tied. Hours they're in that wooden crate. Then pause for a moment. They've left the city. Far away to other areas.

Pradhika Wiriya and Adrian Dylan have found a trail. But their distance is far away. It will take a long time to catch up to him. But they have no other choice. They must speed up the pursuit.

The horse carriage stopped. It's dark. They took the victims out. Feed them and drink. They will not be sold expensive if they are sick. Rinaya looked around. The man stood beside his horse-drawn carriage. Genderless. Look at the others. Overseeing.

Rinaya tried to escape. It's very difficult to try to break the rope. But he succeeded. After all the fatigue he ran away from his place. They were half asleep. A long trip must have made them tired. Rinaya managed to escape. But one of them saw it. "Stop. Don't run!''

Hearing that everyone became aware. And chasing. Rinaya ran so fast that they lost track of her.

After running far enough, someone came in front of him. Rinaya. Look at that figure. Her tears are flowing again. It hurts to see the look in his eyes. It was as if he hated Rinaya for a big mistake. That was perfectly natural.

"Running away again?"

The words made her feel guilty. It's not escaping the kidnappers but Rinaya understands what he means. It reminded him of the events of fifteen years ago.

"I'm sorry....Sorry for making you wait so long. Sorry for making you a kara. Sorry for not keeping my promise. Tama. I'm sorry!!"

His eyes shook he did not expect Rinaya to still remember him. Even still recognize him after all this time."Why are you back?"

"Someone must have called me back. I don't know."

"You're not looking for me? You don't remember me? You're not worried about me? You only care about your friends. You've always been like that. As Jaka always said." Is correct. Jaka always said that to her.

"No. Loved you. Something happened I don't know how to. I don't know why I'm back either."

"I missed you. I waited for you for so long. Years you never showed up."

"Tama understand...I'm...."

Tama turned her body away from her face. "Go away. They're gonna come after you. Go wherever you want. I won't care anymore."

"Tama....?" That word made him very sick. His chest was as if he had been pierced by thousands of needles. Rinaya ran away. Run and keep running.

Rinaya through the forest. Along the way it is filled with towering pine trees. The bright moonlight peeked out from between the trees. Rinaya walked somewhere. Not necessarily direction. His mind floated imagining how a little boy lived alone.

"Not finished crying?" Dylan and Dhika have been behind Rinaya ever since. Followed every step of his way without him noticing.

"Why are you so long" she cried again. Whining spills it all. His emotion.

Dhika asked "That Rinaya?...."

"It's your fault. Why did you leave me." Angry shouting.

Dylan "Balapati's. Why is he so whiny."

"Stop talking. I don't want to talk." Rinaya pursed her lips in annoyance.

Dylan and Dhika find Rinaya confronting someone. No idea who she is, Dhika doesn't know her. Dylan stopped Dhika as he was about to say hello. The situation is not right. Rinaya seems to recognize the person Finally they just observe from afar.

***

Some food plates are served. They rented an inn in a nearby village. They want to go back to the original plan. Towards the Sunyi Village. But because the situation was not allowing them to finally spend the night in the nearest village. They rented a large room. With two beds. Rinaya's mood was upset. He devoured whatever was on his desk.

"What kind of woman are you. Eat like that." Dylan said in a speech.

"Don't talk to me. I'm pissed off."

"Yes okay. It's up to you."

"Rinaya. Answer my question." Dhika spoke calmly but a little firmly. The conversation will be very serious. Rinaya understands. He lost his emotions and ate calmly.

"All right." Answer Rinaya slowly

"You know who kidnapped you?"

"No. But I'm like I've seen that guy."

Dylan "the one who made you cry?"

Rinaya "no. Someone who is with them. Like his boss probably. He gave the order."

Dhika "do you know where they took you?"

Rinaya shook her head "Don't know. But.... They just kidnap men they say women are too weak. I don't understand what that means."

Rinaya "oh Dhika's. Fifteen years ago there were also many missing persons cases. Since then slowly we know that they are victims of shadow creatures."

Dhika "does you think it has something to do with this case?"

Rinaya "his pieces are still incomplete. I can't conclude yet but there's something big behind it. And there's a common thread that we haven't found with the events of Fifteen years ago."

Dylan "Why is that?"

Rinaya put down the bowl "When do you remember what the souls of the lovers showed?"

Dhika nodded.

Rinaya rolled her eyes "if only...." Rinaya stopped for a moment and continued "ah no no no. I'm not sure yet."

Dylan "Then who made you cry? He's one of them, right?"

"He was the only survivor of the Halimun group."

Everyone was stunned to hear that. It's petrified as if I don't believe. The Halimun group was attacked by Boris and his troops. Until there is none left. Including Nirmala.

Dylan "Then why did he join the kidnapper's group?"

Dhika "She let you go. What purpose?"

Rinaya "Yes. But it makes sense that he let me go. We know each other. He even helped me when I was in the room. I can't believe he did anything bad. He grew up in a good neighborhood. I think he has his own purpose. He even changed his name."

An arrow arrived just stuck on the table. Everyone is surprised by that. A piece of paper stuck with him.

"Aahh.does everyone always have to make me die in shock." Rinaya was stunned by the arrival of the arrow. Dylan checked out the window.

Dhika still looks calm. Then pour the tea into the glass. "Calm down. This isn't an assault."

Rinaya "Why aren't you bothered by this at all?"

Dhika "I'm used to it. Your blessings"

Rinaya "'s "..... Uh. Ahaha. Rightright right. You must be used to it." Rinaya laughed embarrassedly. Rinaya used to do that to him. Give me any important information.

Dylan opened the paper and read it. "Rapathy. This is for you."

He handed the paper over with one of his hands.

Dhika sighed.

Rinaya asked in wonder "What is it?"

Dhika "The palace investigation agency asked me to take you for information."

Rinaya "I? What's up again. Ahhhh....I'm tired of all this drama...." He was whining to cover his face with his arms.

Dylan "they acted very quickly. I thought it would take a few days."

Rinaya "is there a problem?"

Dylan "a couple of days ago I stopped by to look for files. I saw your stuff on a table in a very neat table. A lot of weird stuff I don't understand. But I'm interested to see it. Then there was one very real and vivid pictorial object. I think there's writing underneath." Actually the word drop by was not right for him. He came there in silence. He was like a thief. Take some information and leave again without leaving any trace.

Rinaya "Picture? The writing?"

Dylan "yes. Picture yourself I guess."

Rinaya "youth.... Sure do.... All my important things are there. Even my id card. Ahhh. Dhika what should I do"

Dhika "No need to worry. I'll talk."

Dylan "Why are you so scared?"