The Van Til House: STRAF SABBAT
Chapiter 41

They all looked pale under the gloomy incandescent light. Their skin looks grayish like a ghost.

The wind shut the door of the barn until it slammed hard, startling them.

Magisna embraces Miss Pinkan. He looked like he was fainting, or almost crazy.

Hendra's been crazy from the start! 😝

"Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…. Shhhh.." Miss Pinkan patted Magisna's back gently, trying to calm her down. "It's okay" he said. "You guys are safe. The police are on their way here!"

Magisna pulled her head away from Miss Pinkan's embrace, looking at Miss Pinkan with her eyebrows intertwined.

"Your parents contacted me after previously contacting the school and no one answered the call" said Miss Pinkan. "I went straight to school and got word from Papa Tibi that you were already on your way home with two local youths. So I'll catch up with you guys soon."

"How did you know we were here?" Magisna asked half-investigating.

Miss Pinkan gave a short sigh. "I just followed the road, I know the bridge collapsed and you must have turned to find an alternative path."

Hendra and Magisna exchanged a glance. Still not sure if Miss Pinkan can be trusted. Especially considering the writing they found at Doolhof.

PIN THE BILLION TO BE RESPONSIBLE!

"There's a junction not far from this place" Magisna said.

"That's a dead end, Eka!" sergeant Miss Pinkan. "While you've been down that road, you're sure to turn back to the main road. I don't have to follow him, do I?"

So it was a dead end? thought Magisna. Teak is not lying!

Miss Pinkan is a native here, after all. He certainly knows more about the intricacies of this place than Hendra and Magisna.

But Ais is also a native here, right?

He is also a plantation worker. And as a plantation worker, Ais should know better.

Then why did Ais propose that dead end?

What exactly am I thinking? Magisna tried to shake off the mess in her head. Then remember something.

Ice and Agustin…

Teak and his friends…

What about them?

They're still missing!

"I've called the police" said Miss Pinkan.

Good, thought Magisna. "But why?" He asks. "Gabe intends to take us home."

"Gabe's been involved in a murder case, Eka!" Miss Pinkan told.

Hendra was surprised.

Magisna knew the story. But to this extent, he doesn't see Gabe's crimes. There is no evidence anyway. He showed his good intention to drive us home, he thought.

All right, that collection of weapons did bother him a little. But he didn't see Gabe using it. Except. "Just just in case," he said.

"You've been missing for over twenty-four hours!" Miss Pinkan added.

"We're just caught in the rain, that's all" Magisna said. "At the same time we were preparing to go home. Gabe was trying to drive us, until. You suddenly showed up and…"

Miss Pinkan squinted her eyes.

"I heard the sound of the shot—" Magisna stared back at Miss Pinkan. "I saw you fall. You got shot!"

Hendra stuttered as Magisna glanced at him.

"No!" sergeant Miss Pinkan. "I'm the one who shot."

Magisna and Hendra fell silent.

"Just warning shots! I shot it in the air." Miss Pinkan continued.

"So that wasn't Hendra's gun?" Magisna exclaimed in surprise.

"Hendra has a gun?" Miss Pinkan looked at Hendra, no less surprised.

Hendra shakes. "That's Gabe's gun. I just hold on to doang."

"So why are you carrying a gun?" Miss Pinkan asked sharply.

"You've got a gun, right?" Hendra asked back.

Miss Pinkan tightened her jaw. "Just in case," he said.

"Yes, Gabe said that too!" reply Hendra.

"I'm trying to help you" said Miss Pinkan.

"As a masked hero?" sindir Hendra's.

Miss Pinkan glared at him.

"You've taken everything from home, haven't you?" Hendra glared back at him. "Bring firearms, put on a ski mask, stick in the barn…"

"Moor!" Miss Pinkan rebukes him. "I saw your car being pushed into the abyss. Don't you think that's suspicious? What's wrong with me taking the initiative to help you in this way?"

Hendra's speechless. But still stared at Miss Pinkan sharply. Still not sure of the explanation.

Miss Pinkan shook her head. "I'm not sure either" he admitted. "I can't see their faces."

"They?" Hendra and Magisna asked in unison.

"There are four people pushing your car. But they're all wearing hoodies!"

Magisna smothered her mouth. Could it be Jati and her friends? There were two people in the back passenger seat at the time, he thought. And that means the front passenger seat is filled with someone. The four of them!

No, serve in the heart. Their car was also smashed!

"Aargh!" Hendra groaned in frustration. "The new cave inget Ais and Agustin are still bright!"

Magisna blinked and gulped.

"We're gonna cut them off!" Hendra reminded Magisna.

"But we need to get out of this place as soon as possible before Gabe wakes up!" Miss Pinkan insisted.

It's a little suspicious, Magisna thought. "Didn't Miss Pinkan say the police were on their way?"

"Yes, Eka. I contacted them myself. But your situation is still not safe—"

BRAKKK!

The barn door rattled open. Gabe appeared with a gun in his hand.

They all flinched.

The muzzle of the gun in Gabe's hand was directed at Miss Pinkan.

"Gabe—" Magisna stuttered.

Gabe did not react. Stay glued to Miss Pinkan.

Hendra gripped Magisna's arm silently, then pulled her away.

"Stop!" Gabe turned his gun muzzle towards Hendra.

Hendra and Magisna froze in place.

Miss Pinkan slipped one of her hands behind her body.

Gabe picked it up again.

Miss Pinkan pulled her hand again and raised both her hands on her sides.

"Someone can explain exactly what you're planning?" Gabe growled at Miss Pinkan.

"Plan?" Hendra muttering.

Gabe glanced at her, but the muzzle of his gun remained pointed at Miss Pinkan. "You broke into my cabin, remember?"

"We don't break through!" sergeant Hendra. Magisna pinched his arm.

Gabe swung his gun at Hendra. Both of his eyes were simultaneously squealing.

Hendra stuttered. Just remember that Gabe can't see Dusk.

"You're spying on me?" Gabe asked again.

"No!" Magisna.

And automatically the muzzle of the weapon in Gabe's hand switches on Magisna.

Magisna raised both of her hands.

The sound of an explosion blazed into the open air, then echoed throughout the place.

Magisna's shrill scream swept through the silence.

Gabe fell down while holding the base of his arm.

Miss Pinkan just shot him, Magisna realized. Then inched away from his teacher while smothering his mouth.

Hendra looked at Miss Pinkan without blinking. Not sure what he saw.

"Run!" miss Pinkan's orders.

Hendra and Magisna just blinked.

"Run fast!" Miss Pinkan raised her voice.

Hendra grabbed Magisna's arm and pulled her away.

Magisna looked back while her legs were already running fast. No matter the direction. Just following Hendra's pull.

Miss Pinkan stepped slowly towards Gabe without lowering her weapon.

Shortly after, the sound of explosions re-echoed.

Magisna screamed again.

I don't know who shot and who got shot.

The gunshots still sounded terrible.