Murder In The Old Castle
XXXVII. Secret Rooms
The sreeet!
Doctor Dwi was struck in amazement, when he saw two large bookshelves stuck on the wall suddenly moving away from each other. The lever he pulled turned out to be a secret lever to open something behind the shelf. There was a wooden door behind the shelf. Doctor Dwi was curious, the door was like connecting another space behind a wall.
Slowly, he approached trying to open the door handle. It's not locked. Before him, stretched a narrow and dark passageway. Where will this hallway end? Doctor Dwi is curious. After he gathered all his courage, he set foot into the dark alley. The stuffy ambushed for a moment, but curiosity led to a step deeper.
The tunnel was so dark, without any lighting. Dwi's doctor sharpened his gaze, but only concentrated in front of him. He crept down the wall, getting inside. Suddenly he stopped, as he saw a ladder heading down. He suspected that this hallway was connected to the basement. It was dark down there, barely visible.
This time he did not take any risks. He had no idea what was waiting under the stairs. Soon he decided to return to the reading room, and told Ammar about the existence of this secret passageway. He is very sure, this has something to do with the disappearance of the figure of the attacker Maira in the reading room the other day.
Unfortunately, he was surprised by something else. The door he passed was closed! So how does he have to get out? He feels trapped. He tried to open the door, but could not. Anxiety struck instantly. Inwardly, he felt extremely careless for being careless about entering. Now he has to pay a lot for his carelessness.
Damnit damnit! I'm trapped! This door just locked? How am I supposed to get out? muttered.
Not to mention he found his way out of the passageway, he suddenly felt a hard object hit his head.
Duuk!
His body suddenly lost consciousness. In the darkness, he saw a black shadow standing upright. Baby, he doesn't recognize. The scenery became blurry, becoming a dark mist. In a split second, everything went black. He can't feel anything anymore.
***
The atmosphere of the dinner was covered with silence. As usual, the residents chose silence. Helen's dishes seemed unappetizing. Ammar himself stared at the occupants of the castle one by one, trying to dig out what they had hidden in mind. Unfortunately, he could not read the paras. Everything looks the same.
“First night without Rania. It might continue with a quiet dinner. Now Rania, and maybe I'll have dinner alone. One by one, people who are beside or in front of you will disappear, just waiting for time. One of you is a vile killer disguised in his mask,” Ammar said in a trembling voice.
All were silent, permeating the words of Ammar that spread fear. What is said is true. Now they seem to be caught in a game with life at stake. Anxiety creeps fast, like a fire that burns dry twigs.
“Hey! Why are you all quiet? Let's face it with courage! Do not be affected by circumstances. The killer will be happy if you fall like this! Why not live a normal life? Let's have fun tonight!” chirps Hans.
All were still speechless, looking at Hans with a strange look. Anxiety still haunts the mind, worrying about events that will occur suddenly. How could Hans possibly deny it?
“Didn't you guys see we've the presence of a beautiful new occupant? Your fears have blinded. From the beginning, we came here to have fun. Forget all your fears. Don't want this atmosphere ruined by that killer!” continued Hans.
Elina Agustin was silent. He had seen a lot of madness in this castle. No one is well known, except Aldo and Helen. All of its inhabitants looked foreign, as if reluctant to talk to him. Elina doesn't blame, maybe the psychological state makes them really frustrated. He stayed only a day, but was able to feel the creeping horror.
“I don't see dr.Dwi. Where is he?” ammar asked when he realized that the doctor was not with them. The doctor never missed dinner.
“I last met him in the reading room,” Michael said.
“He is not this ordinary. My feelings are not good. You guys continue to have dinner! I'm going to the reading room!”
After gulping down his water, Ammar rushed towards the reading room. As usual, the reading room was quiet and a little creepy. Ammar went from one shelf to another, looking for the doctor. Unfortunately, he did not find it. His attention was focused on the pile of books that were still neatly arranged on the table. A number of books on health and medicine, reading materials commonly read by the doctor. Ammar thought that Dr. Dwi had not touched the book he was about to read.
So where did he disappear to?
After the reading room, Ammar rushed to the doctor's room. Beginning with a knock several times that went unanswered, Ammar decided to open the room forcibly. In fact, the figure of dr.Dwi was not there either. Worry is creeping. In any case, dr.Dwi is urgently needed for the continuation of the solution of this case. He could not imagine if the doctor fell into the hands of the killer.
Dinner is over. Lost dr. Dwi also caused unrest among other residents. They agreed to return to the room and lock themselves. They don't go anywhere, because every corner of the castle seems unsafe. The killer can come after him at any time.
Maira, Tiara Laksmi, Adrianna and Elina went up to the second floor and went into their respective rooms to rest. While the men help Ammar around the castle to find the figure of Dr. Dwi who just disappeared. Michael and Hans even made it to the backyard, around the warehouse area.
The night is getting worse. The crescent moon hangs, occasionally hiding behind the clouds. The back yard is quite large. The old warehouse building looked haunted, standing among the huge trees. The sound of night insects was earthy, making the atmosphere even more frightening.
“This place is so creepy!” lament Hans.
“Do you dare to enter that warehouse?” ask Michael.
“Only crazy people want to enter such a foreign place. From the outside it was seen that the warehouse was never entered by anyone. I don't want to act stupid. It could be that warehouse is the killer's hideout,” Hans replied.
“You're wrong! The killer didn't choose a dark place like this. He chose to mingle with us, talk with us, and laugh together as if nothing had happened. He really used the guise perfectly!” said Michael.
“According to your instinct, where is dr.Dwi located? Was he the same fate as the other victims?” ask Hans.
“Entahlah. The castle is wide. He could be anywhere. Even in the tea garden. You remember, Karina's body was found days later. I wish she was okay, but I don't know!”
“Do you believe I said I was the killer?” hans asked, looking intently at Michael.
The detective story writer was stunned to see Hans' frozen face. In the dimness of the night, he saw Hans look scary, like a dracula in the films he had seen.
“You're the killer? Are you going to kill me now?”
Michael stared deeply at Hans, who was barely smiling. His mind was unsettled, trying to guess what Hans said.
“Maybe yes!”
***