Murder In The Old Castle
165. Little Girl

The news of Miranti's death resuscitated the residents of the isolation house to the real danger. They could be the next victims. Their lives really are a bet. How not? In a house guarded by the police alone, there were still people killed. That made their trust in the police fall dramatically. They choose to devise their own plan to escape the assassination target.

After a brief chat with Dimas who succeeded him, Reno returned to the city with a team of paramedics and some police investigating the scene. Miranti's body was transported into a prepared ambulance, accompanied by the sad gazes of her friends. Well, they were quite lost for Miranti's tragic and sudden death.

“She's a good girl. Which madman would kill him?” ferdy Gumam.

The murmur was answered with a nod of Adinda's head. The girl then drowned her head into Ferdy's embrace sadly. Rasty looked glassy looking at Miranti's corpse covered in white cloth. Lena could only be silent. So did Rudi and Alex. I don't know what they have in mind, which obviously they can only be silent without words.

“It was just originally ...” Alex mutters.

"Don't say that ah!" sergeant Rasty.

After the group returned to the city, Ms. Mariyati invited them to have breakfast that had been prepared earlier. Breakfast was unusual without Miranti. They did put bribes after bribes into the mouth, but it was as if the food was tasteless. The fried rice that smelled so appetizing was as if a lump of bland food. No one enjoyed breakfast that morning.

After breakfast, everyone remained silent. The completely unexpected death of Miranti completely spread terror among them. They are suspicious of each other now. The friendship slowly broke down. Now there is no more trust, each more careful with those around them.

Rudi, who was sitting next to Rasty slipped a small piece of paper under Rasty's plate, glancing at the girl. Rasty accepted in surprise. He was sure, Rudi was writing an important message in that small piece of paper. Meanwhile, he saw Dimas who was enjoying papaya fruit as a dessert.

Rasty opened the small paper slowly, then read the contents.

I can't believe those cops. We can all be killed in this place. We have to get out of this place.

Rasty turned to look at Rudi. The young man pretended not to see, playing a spoon on his plate. Paras Rasty turned anxious, then looked at his friends one by one. Unfortunately, they all seem to not care.

“You're scared?” ask Dimas suddenly.

All speechless. Yes, they are afraid, but try to cover up the fear. Dimas smiled, trying to calm down so that the young people did not get carried away in an anxious atmosphere.

“You don't worry. I'm not Reno who could have been fooled by whoever committed the murder. I am Dimas, and I will not let anyone play games with me!” firm Dimas.

“I know, one of those killers is one of you. Mungin is currently one of you cheering with excitement at Miranti's death, or is thinking of something for the next target. But I assure you, Miranti was the one who was killed last. There will be no other Miranti-Miranti. Because if I knew a little about the killer, then I wouldn't hesitate to blow his head with a gun. Prison is too light. I want him to feel the same suffering as the victims he has already exhausted!” continued Dimas.

“So what is your attempt to stop this murder?” ask Ferdy firmly.

“I have my own strategy which of course I cannot share here. But you can see what I'm going to do to catch the killer. Maybe not today, but I'm sure the killer won't dwell anytime soon, ” said Dimas.

“We need security guarantee here! Do not let us be led here like a herd of cows who bring to the slaughterhouse. If you do not act immediately, then one by one of us will die in vain!” continued Ferdy.

“Listen yes young man, I know you are afraid, but I will try my best, will even sacrifice life if necessary. You need to know, I already have some names that I have pocketed. I could've bent the perpetrator at any time, but I waited for the right moment. Don't push and press me!”

Dimas stared intently at Ferdy's eyes full of menace. Ferdy felt uncomfortable, so forced to look away.

“You guys just be careful, don't trust anyone. The killer was wearing the guise of an angel to carry out his demonic actions. So beware! I'm going to increase security around this house. You do not need to worry about moving as usual,” said Dimas.

Suddenly Dimas' phone rang, cutting off the conversation. Dimas immediately saw who the caller was, while seeing Reno's name flashing on the phone screen. He frowned for a moment. He hopes to get important information from Reno. He immediately stepped away from the dinner table to receive the call. He chose a quiet back porch so that the conversation could not be heard by others.

“Dimas!” said Reno across the street.

“Iya Ren, what's wrong? Is there anything important?” ask Dimas.

“I just got home and got a report that a goat herder found a car rattled up at the bottom of a ravine. Some of the police colleagues had already gone directly there and checked directly to check. Turns out, the car is a white car similar to the car we have been looking for so far. We're checking the license plate number to find out who the original owner was. Hopefully there is a bright spot from this information!” bright Reno.

“Wait .. wait! You said someone found the car rattled up at the bottom of the ravine. Hmm, is there a victim in that car. I mean ... It could have been an accident, right? There may be people trapped inside it,” Dimas said.

“So far there are no reports of human presence in the car. If there was an accident, there would be someone in the car. I suspect, this car was deliberately pushed into the ravine to remove the trace. The car was probably driven empty,” Reno guessed.

“Can be so. Remember that! In addition to staying alert to this house of isolation, we still have another task to find the whereabouts of Gerry and Nayya who disappeared. I hope they're both alive.”

“Yes, I understand. I think all these problems that happened are related to each other. We need to focus on completing one after another. I'm sure that if one problem is solved, the other is solved. You stay focused there. Keep the kids safe there! Don't let your guard down a bit!”

“Beres! You don't have to worry! I'll take care of everything here. You just rest. I know you must be tired. Just get your stamina ready to take turns here tomorrow. I hope I can get through tonight comfortably,” Dimas said.

“With convenient? Haha. It's not that easy, man! You will feel a more frightening sensation than the old castle. Trust me!”

“I don't know what you mean!”

“You believe in mystical things? I didn't believe it at first. But after I was in that house, I believed there were unseen things around that house,” Reno explained.

“You mean ... ghost?”

“Entahlah. Or maybe my hallucinations alone, but what I experienced was so real. I don't want to explain it to you until you experience it yourself,” Reno said.

“You're not scaring me, are you?”

“Conceiving you? What's in it for me to scare you?”

“Good. Save your story, Ren! I don't want my attention to be split because of your mystical story. Even if your story is true, I'm not a coward. I don't think any ghost would dare approach me!”

“Dim, you're still there right?” ask Reno.

“Eh, yes .. yes. I think I should close our conversation. I have to go inside. You rest!”

The conversation was interrupted. Dimas immediately entered the house, found Ms. Mariyati who was tidying up the remnants of breakfast.

“Bu, where is Mr Paiman?” ask Dimas.

“Bapak just went to the market Pak bought groceries. Any need with my husband?” ask Ms. Mariyati.

“Bu, is there anyone else who lives in this house, other than you and those youngsters?” ask Dimas.

“No Sir. Just the two of us, and the guests. Nothing else,” replied Bu Mariyati.

Dias felt creepy. What Reno says is true? Or he alone feels a lot of thoughts, so hallucinate excessively.

“Sorry ... What's up, Sir?” ask Ms. Mariyati.

“Eh, there's nothing, ma'am. Thank ye. Can I have some tea please? A little bit Yes Mom!”

Ms. Mariyati nodded. He saw the departure of the young policeman who was angry with question marks.

***

Tens of kilometers from the house, precisely in a very simple board-walled house, hidden behind a dense cornfield, the, a little girl about eight years old was playing with a cheap, dull-colored cloth doll. He played alone in the lonely front yard. His hair that was pigtailed like a ponytail seemed to flutter in the wind. The parasites are pretty, just a little unkempt pity.

“Ratri! The ratri! Grandpa asked for help!”

A middle-aged man with gray hair came out from inside the house. He was wearing only a white t-shirt that faded in color, with a dark green plaid holster. Wrinkled murat began to decorate his face, but his arms were still sturdy despite being eaten by age. The protrusion of his veins indicates that he was a heavy worker in the past.

“Asking what please Cake? I'll play again!” protesting a little girl named Ratri.

“You keep a moment inside. Grandpa wants to buy rice to Warung Mak Surti for a while. We will make porridge later tonight for our guests,” said the middle-aged man.

“What are our guests aware of, Cake?” ask Ratri later.

“I think he'll wake up soon. That's why you take care of it for a while!”

Ratri nodded quickly. He placed his cloth doll on a bamboo chair on the front porch, while entering the house. He went into a small, slightly stuffy room. The room was not very spacious, with wooden cots that were eaten by the times. On the cot, a young man lay weakly, with wounds that still looked red on the face, arms, and legs.

“Kakak ..”

Ratri mutters. The young man nodded. He has no voice. However, as soon as he heard Ratri's voice, he slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was still twitching. He felt his head ache. He wanted to wake up, but felt weak. He just looked at Ratri with a look of wonder and question.

“So don't get up first!” prevent Ratri.

“In-where is this?” ask this young man.

“This is Ratri's house, Brother. Grandfather found brother injured in the car at the bottom of the ravine, then grandfather brought brother here to be treated. Brother, don't move much! Later grandfather angry with me, because grandfather asked me to look after brother.”

The little girl explained with a sparkling look. Apparently he was happy to see the figure in front of him began to roar.

The figure of the young man who was none other than Gerry was just speechless. At first, he thought he was dead and was in another realm, meeting a beautiful little angel. His mind wandered back to pieces of events that had happened before.

He still remembered the time in the car in a locked state, when suddenly the car moved slowly, then slid sharply into the abyss. He was trying to remember who pushed the car into the abyss. He growled with pain and anger.

“Kakak .. Brother want to drink? I'll get it first huh?”

Without waiting for the order twice, the little girl quickly moved towards the simple kitchen attached to the wall of the room. From an aluminum teapot, he poured water into a plastic cup. He immediately gave Gerry a glass of water.

“No need to wake up. Let me help brother to drink,” Ratri said.

Ratri helped bring the glass closer to Gerry's mouth. The young man gulped in a slight hurry. He felt a refreshing liquid enter the esophagus, having previously felt dry. He is still not fully conscious. He was watching around that felt very foreign to him.

Indeed, everything seems simple. This house is walled with planks, without a luxurious ceiling like in his house. However, he felt that this house now resembled heaven. He felt safe in this place, let alone being served by a beautiful little angel.

“Who is the name of Sister?” ask Ratri.

“Ge-Gerry,” replied Gerry briefly.

“Kakak Heri quickly healed ya!” ratri said with a smile.

Gerry held back a smile at the little girl's mispronouncing her name. But he did not want to protest. This girl was his life-saver. Maybe the story would have been different if the girl's grandfather hadn't found her in the car. It's possible he'll rot in the car without anyone's knowledge. He gave thanks in his heart, God still has not taken his life.

***