Murder In The Old Castle
159. Old Well
Nayya re-enters a modest house in a crowded alley in Kampung Hitam. His fear drifted on the events he had been through in the past. At that time, he was trying to escape from the pursuit of a mysterious figure. Unfortunately, the chase was disastrous. It was not her that was killed, but a young woman named Tari. The woman died protecting him. For a moment his chest felt tight. Eyes glazed. There was guilt in his heart.
“Rest first. It seems you are in a depressed state. We've prepared a room for you to stay for a while. We'll keep hunting down the killer of Dance. Even to the end of the world, he can't hide. For a while you are safe here,” Badi told Nayya.
Nayya's presence was welcomed quite well by the other Raymond Brothers members. They were surprised to see Nayya's weak condition, not at all expecting that the girl was a prisoner of the mysterious figure they had been chasing.
Nayya who was feeling tired, immediately went into the room. One of the Raymond Brothers members gave him a bottle of mineral water and food. Nayya felt overwhelmed. He did not expect, behind the pugnacity of this member was stored goodness that might not be owned by others. The girl entered the room reserved for her.
“The girl was held for a few days in the apartment. His condition was rather weak, but he could still communicate. I think he's starving and dehydrated. Hopefully his condition improves after here,” Badi told Raymond, the group leader.
“I hope your decision to bring the girl here was not a wrong one. This girl is currently looking for her family. Hopefully there are no problems with that,” said Raymond.
“I think he'll be safer here than at his own house. The killer would not have expected him to be here. But even if the killer knew that we were taking him, it would be better. The girl can be a lure for the killer to come here, so we do not have to bother looking for her,” said Badi.
“So where is the killer's last information now?” ask Raymond.
The ferocious-looking man sipped the coffee that stayed half on the table. Badi simply shook his head at Raymond's question
“Until this moment we are still losing track. The apartment is empty, as is the residence. I'll track down his whereabouts soon, maybe someone's seen him roaming the city."
“He is slippery like an eel. If you've been caught, it's like to skin him alive!” furious Raymond.
“We just need to be patient some time, Boss! He won't run away from this town, because it will be very suspicious. I'm sure the police are hunting him, too. Don't let the police get ahead of him. Even if he's in jail, I'll kidnap him and I'll punish him in my own way. He dared to challenge Raymond Brothers, meaning he had invited havoc for himself.”
After chatting for some time, Badi moved towards the room Nayya occupied. He opened the door, peeking at the glance. Nayya who was asleep because she was tired. Badi closed the door again, with no intention of interrupting. He remembered Dance. Sadness runs in the heart. Nayya's presence brings her memories back to the past. She loves Dance very much.
***
Miranti walked along a small path that was right-left overgrown with weeds. The blowing afternoon wind gently brushed her hair. He looked around, there were only trees and shrubs that grew sparsely. He was interested in purple flowers that grew on the side of the path. He picked some, then he put it in his hair. For a moment, she felt like the most beautiful queen in the universe.
Miranti felt so bright this afternoon. For a long time he did not enjoy the calmness in the open like this. His days were filled with college assignments. Two places that are so familiar in his life are home and campus. This kind of open nature made him feel very happy. All tired feels lost. Likewise with the threatening messages directed at him, seemed to evaporate.
Curiosity led him to continue along the end of the road that led to an abandoned burial ground. His tombstones partially collapsed, even scattering uncontrollably. There are some tombs that even the ground looks hollow. The tomb area was overgrown with tall unkempt bushes, on the sidelines of frangipani trees that began to dry up.
He remembered the words of Bu Mariyati that around the tomb there are old wells that are not closed. He is really careful and pays attention to his steps, lest he fall. His feelings were suddenly bad. The atmosphere was rather dark, making him confused, which path he had passed earlier.
“Aduh, where did ya go earlier?” muttered.
Anxiety began to appear. He looked up at the sky. The sun began to sink, leaving a reddish hue in the sky. Miranti was getting anxious. He looked back. However, to his surprise he saw a man dressed in black and masked clothes standing not far behind him. In his hand was a hammer.
“Oh, God! I don't want to die,” he muttered in fear.
Half-run he left the path, no matter where he went. The masked figure continued to follow at a rapid pace. Unfortunately, Miranti was unable to run fast. His leg was still sore from a sprained sprain as he walked towards the isolation site this morning.
That was when, he was reminded of the threatening messages addressed to him. Miranti was getting scared. It had gone out of the path, into the tall, shrubby grass. The thorn that pierced his feet and thighs was unconcerned.
“Tolooong!”
He tried to shout, but his voice sounded raucous, as if defeated by gripping fear. His voice sounded just clogging in the esophagus. He no longer had to go where, the important thing is that he ran away. Suddenly, Miranti stopped suddenly. He saw a gaping hole, just a few feet away.
“Oh, old well!” his screeches.
He looked back, worried that the figure had caught up. But he only saw silence. He hesitated, not hallucinating. That figure disappeared. Miranti was a little confused, but remained vigilant. It could be, the figure deliberately allowed himself to feel confused, then ambushed suddenly. At least that's what he's seen in horror movies.
Slowly, Miranti tiptoed to leave the place near the old well. He broke through a thorny bush that was heavily attached to his feet. He doesn't care about the pain. He just wanted to get as far away from there as possible.
Faintly behind him was seen a black figure emerging from behind the bush. Almost he shouted, but immediately sped up his pace by enduring the pain. True to his assumption, that the figure was still lurking, and will act when he was off guard. Miranti tries to fight the growing fear. I don't know where he should run anymore.
“Aaaahh!”
Suddenly, he felt the ground he was treading slumped down. Body's limp! He fell into a dark hole. Miranti just looked at the dark surroundings.
***