Murder In The Old Castle
363. Recognition
The third break from the figure outside the room, apparently did not also make the door open. For a long time, the atmosphere became quiet. Ryan was still waiting anxiously. He was ready for all the possibilities that would happen to him. The wood in his hand was ready. However, the mood is still quiet. Looks like the figure outside the room began to get frustrated so that no more breaking. Maybe he left the cottage.
Precisely this makes Ryan more worried, because he does not know for sure the existence of a figure who is hunting him. Was he waiting out there or left the old cottage? He ventured out of the hiding place, settling slowly towards the door of the room. The atmosphere was quiet, there was no sign of the figure being there.
"Maybe he's gone" murmured Ryan.
He did not want to wait in the room. He had to completely confirm the existence of the figure that suddenly disappeared, like a disgrace swallowed by the earth. Slowly, he sliding back the large table that blocked the door. He opened the door very carefully. He was worried just in case the figure was waiting for him outside and was ready to pounce as he let his guard down. He prepared himself if that happened. In his hand was clutched tightly to pieces of wood.
After the table shifted, he opened the room door slowly. However, something he expected did not happen. Ryan's heart was panicking. The door of the room that had no key and was very easy to open, now can not even be opened from the inside. Ryan tried to open, but the door felt like it was stuck, as if it was locked. He was sure there was no key to the door. The door now opened only slightly, with a narrow gap.
"Damn!" Ryan cursed out loud.
That made Ryan panic. However, he had to try to get out of the room in the cottage. If he's locked up in here then maybe he'll die of rot. This cottage is located deep in the forest, of course, rarely anyone goes into the forest without any specific purpose. He circled the room, looking for a gap to get out. Although the cottage looks rickety, but the structure of the building still looks strong. It's not easy to get out of this room.
"Relax .. calm down. I can't panic. Make sense ... make sense to get out of this place" Ryan murmured.
He went back to inspect the door of the hut, which was sealed shut, for he was sure that it had no key, so why could it not be opened like this? Ryan peeked out from the slightly open door. The door of this room is not designed using a key. After all, the old building structure is not suitable if this door is installed with a key. He saw that there was a rope hanging outside. Now he understood, apparently the figure was binding the outer door handle so that the door could not be opened from the inside.
"I have to figure out a way to take that rope off" Ryan murmured.
He pulled out his fingers from the opening slightly, but unfortunately could not reach it. The rope ties on the door handle were strong enough that the door could only move a little. Back Ryan peeked at the outer condition of the cottage from that crack. It seemed like the black figure was no longer there, as he did not hear any sound. The atmosphere is so quiet.
After many times trying and failing, Ryan finally decided to sit down for a while while thinking another way. He cannot panic and must be calm. He sat on an old chair while taking a deep breath.
"I know .. I know you did this" Ryan murmured.
Looks like he knows the culprit of all the mess that's going on.
***
Mariah was still feeling restless in her room when Ammar entered. He saw his wife looking blankly at the makeup mirror, like she was thinking. Ammar's arrival jolted Mariah a little, but she remained unmoved.
"Mariah, are you okay?" ammar asked while holding Mariah's shoulder.
"I'm .. I'm just a little tired. The weather was so hot today, that I made me really feel like I was running out of energy" Mariah replied.
"Have you seen Dimas?" ammar asked as he stared at Mariah's reflection in the mirror.
"Yes, I met her," answered Mariah short.
Mariah just shook her head. She actually knew that one of her friends was the perpetrator of this mess, but her selfishness kept her quiet even to her own husband. Mariah chose to shut down all the dark secrets she had experienced in the past. Ammar knew that his wife was being dishonest. He is very experienced in reading the face of someone, especially Mariah is his wife. He knew there was a big secret Mariah was hiding.
"I'm your husband, Mariah," muttered Ammar slowly.
Mariah turned her face towards Ammar with a sad look. Ammar's words made Mariah feel even more guilty. He wanted to talk, but there was a lingering doubt, he was confused.
"What do you mean, Ammar?" ask Mariah.
"Now let's talk as husband and wife. Don't you think I'm a cop who's gonna interrogate you, Mariah. I am your husband, your life partner. I take full responsibility for your safety. I won't let anyone hurt you" Ammar said in a serious tone.
Mariah was silent. His head bowed, not daring to look at Ammar who was staring intently at him. Ammar rubbed the woman's hair, then raised his face. Now they look at each other. Mariah recognized her husband's sharp gaze, as if tearing her heart apart.
"Look me in the eye, Mariah. Do you still doubt me as your husband?"
"I never doubted you, Ammar," muttered Mariah.
"Then be honest with me. Tell me what makes you feel anxious, and let me share your anxiety. If anyone means anything bad to you, let's face this together. Not alone. You have me as your husband. You still believe me, right?" ask Ammar again.
Mariah nodded. Ammar hugged his troubled wife. Mariah hugged Ammar tightly while whispering in Ammar's ear.
"I'm scared .. I'm scared, '" whispered Mariah.
"I'm next to you, and you don't have to be afraid, Mariah. Talk to me what you're feeling. I'll hear it. You don't have to feel that nervous" Ammar muttered as he stroked Mariah's hair.
"Please promise me one thing, Ammar. Promise me!"
"I will promise. A promise about what I should keep?"
"Never leave me. Never ...."
"You know I'll never leave you, Mariah. And it will be forever" whispered Ammar.
Mariah sighs in relief. All the heavy weight that filled his chest cavity was slowly eroded. She looked at her husband's face, which was looking softly at her. After making up his mind, he told Ammar everything he felt and experienced.
***