Murder In The Old Castle
352. Iron Shredder
Mariah sat in the coffee shop, in front of Gilda who was smiling meaningfully. Mariah was not comfortable with that. He tried to avoid Gilda's gaze. Mariah was forced to serve the journalist because she called the name The Girl Squad. He wondered, how did Gilda know about it?
"There's nothing exciting about The Girl Squad" Mariah said.
"Is that? The fact is they're gathering at the old castle right? I'm afraid there's something evil that might happen there. It's called friendship we don't know what's in it. Moreover, the friendship of fellow women, surely conflict is easier to occur," said Gilda while playing a straw in her drinking glass.
Mariah. Why did Gilda know about that too? Hasn't the police closed the news about the castle all along? Mariah did not want to be provoked by Gilda's words. He understood, the more he responded, the more Gilda would pry and ask about this. However, there was a hint of doubt in his heart. What if Gilda published this news with incorrect information?
He realized, the news that is not true may bring a bad reputation to him, especially she is the wife of a famous police officer. Actually it was a little bit of a problem for him. After all, he had to face Gilda properly.
"So I don't have to explain anything if you already know about this, right?" ask Mariah.
Gilda smiled. He knew Mariah was being defensive. Apparently Mariah was trying not to follow the current that was being run by Gilda.
"It's actually interesting news, Miss Marutami. The public is always interested in the news of murder, especially if it is motivated by intrigue and conflict like this. I'm going to cover the news about you, and the bad things you're hiding. Unfortunately, the police accused me of spreading false news. This news is true. So I had to find a reliable source for this. You don't want this news to be confusing, do you?" ask Gilda.
Mariah was deeply troubled to hear Gilda's threatening question. He took a short breath, and had to stop the drama that was being played by Gilda. He was caught off guard by a journalist who seemed to feel the upper hand. His decision was already unanimous, he would not inform Gilda anything about this.
"So you came to see me for the right information? Sorry, Gilda. You have the wrong address. If I had that information, then I wouldn't share it with you" Mariah said.
"So you want news about this Girl Squad conflict we broadcast with news that may be wrong?" reply Gilda.
"Yes, please! Because the public isn't as dumb as you think, Gilda. Just spread the news, through peppering with lies, so that the drama you are broadcasting gets attention from the public. I will not comment anything. Go ahead for the fake news, it's your business, Gilda! And never threaten me because I won't do what I don't want!" mariah's toilet.
"OK .. okay. Then I have to prepare an interesting narrative for this news to be a good spectacle!"
Mariah would not waste any more time in front of Gilda. He stood up, ready to leave Gilda.
"You've taken some of my time to be unimportant. Just do what you like. By the way, I paid for the coffee you drank. Think of it as a debt you have to pay another day. Good afternoon!"
Mariah leaves Gilda. Although Gilda's words slightly disturbed her mind, she tried to calm down. Even if the news about Girl Squad actually appeared on television, he would clarify that the news that was planned to be broadcast by Gilda was not entirely true. He believes, Gilda will highlight the ugliness of The Girl Squad in the past. Mariah had to mentally prepare, to fight a new enemy called the media!
***
Niken was still in awe, standing in front of the dark, narrow passageway. He did not think at all, if the wall in the toilet could open after he pulled the lever. He did not know where this passage came from, but he could feel the cool air flow coming from the passageway. Does this passageway connect with the outer area of the castle?
Curiosity made Niken set foot into a narrow passageway that might be only a meter and a half high. Niken had to duck a bit when he got into it. This hallway is more like a water or air channel, because the width is no more than one meter. The walls of the passageway were also damp and mossy, as sunlight could not reach into it.
"Damn!" objurgation.
Again, the hallway he passed turned again, no matter how many turns he passed. The more he took a step forward, the more he could feel the flow of air blowing through. Even the condition of the hallway is also getting brighter, because there is a reflection of light entering it. Niken was increasingly convinced that this passageway might be translucent with the outside of the castle. His spirit rose, until he decided to keep going.
As the passage turned, in the distance he saw a beam of light at the end of the passageway. Allegedly right! Apparently the hallway was translucent with the outside area. He quickened his steps towards the light. When he was near, he could now see the bright light more clearly. The wind blows through the mouth of the passageway which is directly penetrating with the outside area. Niken sees a lot of big trees and shrubs out there. Looks like this passageway is through to the forest.
However, it turns out that the hope of Niken to be able to go out can not be said to be easy, because the mouth of the hall is closed with iron bars. He could only hold the iron on the bars, looking outwards. He did not care to go anywhere, the important thing is that he could get out of the ground.
"How do I open these bars?" muttered.
Niken was looking for levers around where he stood.he thought, there is no way this iron bars only functioned as a mere cover. These bars must be an in and out of the castle into the forest. Niken looked towards the quiet forest. This hallway must be hidden, so maybe many people think there will be a passage that can penetrate the castle.
Suddenly his eyes looked down at the bars, which turned out to be almost similar in function to the cubicle door in the basement. Niken saw that the bars were padlocked with a big padlock, so if you go in and out through this door, someone must have the key. But who has the key?
He tried to open the iron bars, but it seemed that they were firmly planted on the ground. He wanted to change places out there. Even in the woods, it would be better than being in a dark, stuffy basement.
"You want to get out?"
Suddenly a voice came from behind him. The voice was so startling, that it almost jumped.he looked back, finding a human figure dressed all in black in the darkness. Niken was cautious, as the figure carried something shiny in his hand, perhaps a sharp object. Niken realized, he could not do reckless. If he moves wrongly, it could be that sharp object will tear his stomach. He saw the sharp object was a tinge of red, like a scar of blood. Niken shudder. It seemed like this mysterious human had just committed a terrible crime.
"I've just been hunting prey in a tea garden. A handsome man named Edwin. I took it off, and now I'm going there again to finish it off before anyone else sees. I just left him lying behind the grass again. You want to come see how I finish him?" ask that figure.
"Don't try to get close! I'm a cop and I can arrest you anytime!" threatening Niken.
The figure laughed, as if belittling Niken's words. The position of the masked figure felt above the wind as he carried a sharp object in his hand.
"Don't joke cocky cop! If I wanted to, I could have ripped your mouth right now, but I have a better plan for you ... "
"What are you going to do?"
The figure suddenly stepped closer to Niken while brandishing a sharp object towards Niken. The policewoman was unprepared, while the hallway was also not possible to use for self-defense or escape. He could only screech when the figure slashed towards him!
***