The Van Til House: STRAF SABBAT
Chapiter 36

What exactly happened at the doolhof ten years ago? Magisna wondered in her heart.

TRAPPED: Michael Isaac. Leo…

PIN THE BILLION TO BE RESPONSIBLE!

The writing on the walls of the basement flashed in Magisna's mind.

"Many students in the school basement. The average casualty of special training class participants. Special training classes are actually a kind of straf for troubled students. But on the day Gabrielle was strafted, all the students in the special training class suddenly disappeared. Gabrielle and one of the male students were found one week later in a state of severe injuries. But the others never met. Alleged murder in a special training class."

Jati's story then ringed in his ear.

"It's been alleged that Gabrielle killed a couple of years ago."

Which is right? thought Magisna. Which one can be trusted?

Then he remembered the story of Dusk.

"There was a boy named Michael. He loved to hunt during storms. You crazy idiot. I'll bet he'll be out even on a bad day like now. He said it was more challenging. He always said he could see the kerud more clearly in a storm. Kerud cannot hide well during storms. That's what he said. But he made a mistake, you know. I mean, it's easier to see a kerud in the snow, but a heckuva is harder to see than a hunter. You guys understand what I'm saying?"

Magisna thought hard, trying to connect with each other.

I have to talk to Miss Pinkan, Magisna decided.

If I could get out of here!

The rain had stopped, but a gust of wind knocked the water droplets out of the trees.

Magisna looked past the front yard towards the road. All he could see was the fog.

Hearing the voices in the corridor, Hendra slipped out of Magisna's room, while Magisna changed into clothes. Stripped Gabrielle's nightgown and put on her own. Then rushed downstairs to catch up with Hendra and gasped. Surprised to find his ankle fully recovered.

Gabe really healed his leg!

The atmosphere was calm as they went down the stairs.

Suddenly Magisna realized everyone was not downstairs.

Are Ais and Agustin not awake yet?

Where are Jati and her friends?

Where's Gabe going?

Hendra sped up his steps towards the kitchen, then returned to the living room and rushed into the corridor towards Ais and Agustin's room.

"There's nobody!" the pecker's a little riled up. "They left us!"

Magisna stuttered to observe Hendra who was pacing agitatedly, then scattering into the courtyard and running across the grounds.

Magisna followed him in a frenzy. His knees instantly trembled realizing everyone had suddenly disappeared.

Did Ais and Agustin really leave them?

Or something happened to them?

Magisna wasn't sure which was right.

But once at the foot of the hill, where Jeep Agustin and Triton Athlete belonged, Hendra suddenly stopped. His mouth gaped in shock, and he looked very confused.

Magisna followed his direction. The road curves once and then straight back. In the arch of the road there are deposits of palm oil.

Magisna shrieked stifled to realize what Hendra was seeing.

Their car's gone.

There is no Jeep. There is no Triton Athlete.

Hendra and Magisna froze staring along the empty streets. Don't know what to do. At that moment all Magisna felt was fear.

They all completely abandoned us, his mind bitter.

Hendra ran to the corner of the road, and Magisna followed. The path stretched out straight, revealing a deep abyss at his side.

"The cave is parked on the deck of that tree" Hendra said, pointing to one of the palm trees closest to the road. His breath let out a white mist.

With his boots clucking over the wet asphalt surface, Hendra ran to the edge of the ravine. He looked down, leaning his body into the sloping slope.

"God! See it!" Hendra shouted, pointing into the abyss.

Magisna rushed to the edge of the ravine, looked down following Hendra's finger, and screeched.

Hendra turned to stare at the road, then looked up at the hut. There's no one.

It's so quiet here, Magisna thought shuddering and holding her nape. Then look on with anxiety.

Where did everybody go?

Has Gabe killed them all?

Then who pushed those cars into the abyss?

It can't be Gabe, right?

Gabe can't do it alone!

Kill five people at once, then push two cars into the abyss. No, it can't be done alone.

Don't-don't, Gabe has a plot.

This place is dangerous!

Jati's been trying to warn Magisna.

I should have told Hendra last night, Magisna regretted inwardly.

Now what?

We're trapped!

I don't know where!

With strangers. Strangers who have guns.

"We got caught" said Hendra. His words echoed in Magisna's mind. For a moment, Hendra did not show his arrogance. He looks really confused. Look over and over, check the whole place. Then back into the abyss. "The car looked like nothing was broken" he said unsure. "We need to get help."

Magisna clenched her mouth while crossing her hands in front of her chest. Hugging himself is shaking. I can't think, he said in his heart.

"Let's go back to the cottage" proposed Hendra. "We can use the phone!"

Magisna looked hesitant.

Ais and Agustin disappeared, he recalled bitterly. Jati and her friends also do not know where.

But Hendra pulled his hand and forced him.

They left the house in a passionate manner, believing that they would be home soon. But now they came back with great difficulty, silent and moody.

Magisna could not imagine what was waiting for them in the cabin.

Maybe Gabe and his friends have set a trap.

Stop the. Stop the. Stop the.

I had to try to keep those thoughts out of my head, Magisna warned herself.

What if Jati and her friends turn out to be plotting with Gabe?

No, argue in the heart. Their car also fell into the abyss. And Jati had been trying to warn him last night-trying to save them.

Magisna kept her head down, trying to dodge the rising and blinding sunlight. For a moment he thought of his comfortable room in the house. Imagine what his parents are doing right now.

They must be very worried!

I will be home tonight, he told himself.

But he's not sure.

Maybe the two cars could be pulled out, he tried to entertain himself. There's a tow truck service. We just need to call!

We'll be safe!

Hendra poured into the hut ahead of Magisna, rushed to the phone and began flipping through the pages of the phone book. Raise the phone and attach it to the ear.

His spirit instantly disappeared from his face. He pressed the phone button with his jaw tightening. Then he slammed the phone and turned towards Magisna.

Magisna gulped. Not ready to hear the bad truth.

"The phone is dead" murmured Hendra in despair.