Murder In The Old Castle
161. Rescue
The dinner that was supposed to start was delayed because Miranti was not present. According to Bu Mariyati, Miranti went to the back area of the house for a walk this afternoon. Even though the middle-aged woman had warned that the condition behind the house was very dangerous for people who were not used to being there. A number of old wells gaping, covered with shrubs so that it can not be seen clearly.
Reno heard a report from Mr. Paiman that the old man heard a voice asking for help from behind the house, although the voice was quite slow but still heard. The alleged occupants of the house strengthened that the sound was the voice of Miranti who was lost or having difficulties.
Without wasting any time, Reno accompanied by Pak Paiman immediately moved to the back area of the house. In addition, they are also accompanied by Alex, Ferdy, and Rudi. The girls are welcome to enter the house, as the situation may be dangerous for them. The small entourage immediately followed the small road leading to the old cemetery.
“This path will lead to an old abandoned cemetery. Well around that place a lot of old wells unused. The wells have been around since Dutch times, maybe as a hiding place for the natives or a place to store weapons underground,” explained Pak Paiman.
As per Reno's directive, they were not allowed to split because they were worried about the existence of an old well that could not be detected. Reno also ordered all of them to be alert, and more sensitive to the surrounding situation, in case they heard a shouting sound.
The dark atmosphere has enveloped the area behind the house. The sky was also dark without stars. Everything there looks thick, so they must be armed with floodlights and flashlights. The sound of the night bugs muttering, a little creepy. The night wind rippled against the skin.
“Please ... help me!”
Suddenly, in the night wind, they heard a scream not far from it. All speechless. Reno hinted to be silent, while putting an index finger in front of her lips. He wanted to make sure that the sound of the scream was not a mere hallucination.
“You heard that sound?” ask Reno.
Everyone nodded quickly. Reno hinted to come to the direction of a voice that seemed not far away.
“Mirties! Is that you?” Reno shouted out loud.
“Iya. It´s me! Tolooong! I can't take it anymore!”
There was a female voice with a weak tone. The voice was increasingly clearly heard from the front, coming out of the path. Bushes as tall as the thighs of an adult human grew lush everywhere, so Mr. Paiman shook the machetes he carried to open the road.
The flashlight continued to lead around the place illuminating whatever was there. The towering trees like tall giants grow sparsely in some parts. The leaves are dense, with the tendrils hanging into a very creepy sight.
Before long, they had arrived in the direction of the screaming sounds. They stood in a hole one and a half meters in diameter that was barely visible due to the shrubbery. Reno swiftly pointed the lamp into the hole.
“Miranti, are you inside?” ask Reno.
“Iya! I'm in here!” answer the voice from inside the hole with a tone of despair.
Others also direct the light into the hole, to make it look clearer. Sure enough, they saw the figure of the girl inside the hole with a depth of about two meters. The girl closed her eyes because of the glare with a lot of light illuminating.
“Ah, thankfully she got into a shallow well. Only about two meters. Though there is a well with a depth of more than six meters. If he gets mired there, maybe he will not survive, because the air below makes it crowded,” said Mr. Paiman.
“We need rope!” reno.
Apparently Mr. Paiman had anticipated that. He had prepared the rope to save Miranti who looked scared in the shallow well.
“Mirties! Are you okay?” ask Reno again.
“My feet .. My feet are getting sicker. I think sprained. I won't be able to walk!” answer Miranti.
“Good. You wait a minute! We'll help you. Don't panic!” reno.
“How can we help him, Sir?” ask Ferdy.
“I had to go downstairs because her legs hurt. I'll tie my body with a rope, and you'll pull the rope inside. Once downstairs, I'll tie Miranti's body, while all of you will pull her out. I'll be out later!”
“I'll give you a cue later!” reno.
He slid down, finding Miranti who was anxious and afraid. The parasites are pale and slightly dirty due to exposure to soil and grass.
“Oh, thank God. I've been thinking maybe I'll die here,” muttered Miranti.
He was happy to see Reno. He did not expect that he would be found quickly. His eyes sparkled with happiness.
“You okay?” ask Reno.
“My leg hurts, sir. Maybe not strong for the road,” said Miranti.
“You just calm down! I'm gonna tie your body up, and they're gonna pull you out. You ready?”
Miranti nodded quickly. Immediately Reno untied the ties in his body, then tied the rope on Miranti's body in such a way. As a policeman, he was quite deft and mastered the science of ropes, so he did everything quite quickly, without any significant difficulties.
Once the bond is strong enough, Miranti's body is slowly pulled up by the others. The girl hung with worry. Fortunately the depth of the well was not so deep, so the rescue process did not last long. After Miranti made it out, it was Reno's turn to be pulled out.
Miranti immediately got help. He walked with the help of his friends, while enduring the pain in his legs.
“Where is the story how can you enter the well?” ask Ferdy.
“Later I will tell you the chronology of the incident, because I think what I experienced was very creepy. I want you all to be vigilant,” Miranti said.
Miranti's words were heard by Reno. He asked the girl a few questions.
“Is there someone who scares you?” ask Reno.
“I-iya, Sir. Actually, I was chased by a creepy guy. Someone with black clothes and a mask. I can't be sure who it is, because it's getting late, and I don't dare to pay attention. I only focused on the road in front of me, because I know here a lot of old wells. Unfortunately, I still mired into the well, because indeed if from above, the wells are not visible at all,” said Miranti.
“You're lucky. Mr. Paiman said, there is a well that is more than six meters deep. If you fall there, not necessarily you can survive,” said Reno.
Miranti shuddering. Inwardly, he felt very grateful for still being able to escape the pursuit of a mysterious figure who wanted to finish him off. Instead he felt that the well saved him. If only he was not mired in the well, it could be that the figure could easily finish him off.
“After this I will check the CCTV, anyone who came out of the room this afternoon. I'm sure that the person chasing you will be easily bent. You don't have to panic. I assure you no one is killed in this solitary house anymore. All the movements have been monitored by the camera,” said Reno confidently.
“With one note yes Sir,” chirps Alex suddenly.
“What do you mean?” ask Reno.
“CCTV is man-made which of course has its drawbacks. Moreover, CCTV systems still use cables, and no officer is always ready in front of the screen for 24 hours. Evil always takes advantage of negligence. I don't think CCTV will help much,” Alex said.
“But at least, with this recording camera, we can know the events that have happened,” kilah Reno.
“Hopefully so!” alex said in a pessimistic tone.
***