Murder In The Old Castle
385. Outside of Conjecture
Juned takes Ryan to a room, so the man can get some rest. Ryan's condition still looks weak and pale, so it takes time to recover. Before Juned left, Ryan handed him a necklace with a heart-shaped pendant, which he found while in a makeshift tent in the middle of the forest.
"Whose necklace is this?" june asked curiously.
"Just open the locket, and you'll know whose necklace it belongs to!" answer Ryan.
Juned opened the heart-shaped pendant, looking at the look of the face in the photo stored in it. He was surprised, found a photo of a woman in the locket.He tried to remember the face of this woman, because it seemed familiar.
"This is .... "
"Yes, it's Stella. I found the necklace in a makeshift tent in the woods. At that time there were people who stole my clothes in the waterfall, so I had to search up to the cottage in the middle of the forest. Unfortunately, someone locked me in from the outside, in a room. I stayed up until night, hoping someone would help me. I felt very desperate, and I thought I was going to die. Until that time there was a figure in a black costume to force open the door of the room, and told me to follow him through the forest in the middle of the night, heading to a makeshift tent" explained Ryan.
"You recognize that figure?" ask Juned again.
"No, I don't recognize him. But I don't think he had any intention of killing me, because he provided me with bed and food in the makeshift tent. At first I didn't know who this was, but in the morning I suspected that this was Stella, because I found her necklace in the makeshift tent" Ryan continued.
"Don't Stella still disappear to this day?" ask Juned.
"Yes, Stella did disappear, but it was not found that she was dead, was it? I know this Stella is a woman who likes to adventure in nature. Maybe Stella survived in the woods by making a makeshift tent. I don't know, I don't know. What is clear is that the figure has no evil intentions on me, but if he wants, he can kill me at any time" Ryan said.
Juned. He keeps Ryan's necklace in his pants pocket, before he leaves Ryan to rest. However, before Juned left, Ryan called out his name.
"Juned, wait!"
"What's up Ryan?"
"I want to talk to Nadine? Where's she? Can I see him?" pinta Ryan's.
"It looks like the residents of the castle are gathering in the reading room to carry out an interrogation session with Mr. Dimas. You better rest because you're tired. I want to see Niken's condition first because he's also injured. If you need anything, don't call me. You just take a break!" advice Juned.
Juned left Ryan just like that, leaving a sense of unease in Ryan's mind. He realized that his wife had committed a fatal crime, but nevertheless he loved Nadine very much. He does not want to happen to his wife things that are not desirable.
"I have to find Nadine!" muttered Ryan.
***
Nadine was forcefully pushed into a spacious room. Even so, in the room looks dark and stuffy, and the smell of damp directly pierced the nose. Nadine was confused, who exactly was the person who threatened her with this knife? Even the gun that was to be used to hunt Dimas, was also seized by the black-headed figure.
The figure pointed the gun at Nadine, then hinted Nadine to put her wrist on a handcuff hanging from the ceiling. Of course, Nadine shook her head quickly, unwilling to obey the black figure's orders just like that. However, the figure pointed the gun at Nadine's head and began to pull the trigger until a sound was heard.
Click!
Hearing the threat, Nadine felt trepidation. He had no choice but to put his wrist on the hanging handcuffs. Now his position is more difficult, because he cannot move his hand. He just stared at the black figure with a hateful look.
"You know who I am, right?" ask that figure.
"Yes, I know you're a rotten coward who takes advantage of the situation. I'll finish you off as soon as I'm free of these fucking handcuffs!" answer Nadine.
"You are still arrogant, when your death is near. Never mind, I don't want to linger dealing with you. I'll show you who I really am to you!"
The figure opened the cover of his head, revealing his true face. Seeing the real face of the figure, of course Nadine was very surprised. The parasites suddenly pale.
"S-stella? That's not possible!"
"Why Nadine? You surprised? You think I'll die after you push my body into that abyss? It's not that easy, Nadine. You forget that I am a conqueror of the wild. I used to sleep in mountains, forests, and any place on this earth that had not even been touched by humans. After you hit my head suddenly while I was waiting for you at the cottage, I was indeed in an unprepared position. But I didn't completely faint. I still felt as you dragged my body, then threw it into the abyss. Unfortunately, your wish for me to die, was not fulfilled.
In extreme pain, I tried to get up. Caring for my own wounds in the middle of a forest that was completely foreign to me. A makeshift tent I set up, armed with the experience I had, I searched for food in the forest, and intended to avenge everything you did to me. I waited for the right time, because I wanted to punish you with my own hands.
I accidentally saw you enter the cabin and hold Ryan there. He is your husband who loves you very much. That's where I know what kind of man you are. My determination to take revenge is getting stronger, and I must find my way to the castle. Thankfully, it didn't take long to find him. I intentionally damaged the electrical installation so I could kidnap you. Not to save you, but I want to punish you with my own hands, because I found Jeremy killed because you killed him. Vile-hearted yourself. I threw Molotov cocktails in the reading room, and I predicted that you would escape to this basement. Well, now let's settle our pending business!" stella.
"No! Let go of me Stella! Unhand me! You can't do this to me!" nadine said as she tried to take her hand off the handcuffs.
"So far what do you want? You think I'll let you roam free? Or wait for yourself to be arrested by those cops, then put you in jail in just a few years? No Nadine! It's too light for a cold-blooded killer like you. I won't accept. The debt of life must be paid by life! You have to pay for everything" Stella said firmly.
"You have to pay for everything, Stella! You have hurt Saints in the past. You're the one who should pay for all your mistakes!" said Nadine.
"What have I done to the Saints? You don't make up Nadine's story! We're all guilty and you don't pretend to wash your hands. This is not the Holy will, but it is all your personal ambition. No Nadine, I don't want to argue with you. You must be responsible for the deaths of Lidya, Farrel, Adit, and Jeremy!"
"What are you going to do?"
"Splitting evil humans like you for good, Nadine!"
***