The Van Til House: STRAF SABBAT
Chapiter 4

Hendra stepped into the alley. Alexza gripped the back of his army jacket, and Dika followed him. Magisna walked slowly behind Dika.

The corridor was deserted. There was no sign of Mr. Isa. The rain soaked the glass windows at the end of the alley, creating waves of light like shadows across the floor.

Magisna's heart was beating fast.

This is t o l o l, he said inwardly. Hopefully not in vain.

Suddenly a hand landed on his shoulder.

Magisna. He turned around and saw Novi. "Ngagetin just you!" hardik. "Gua thought the principal."

"Sori" replied Novi.

"Novi asked to be stroked?" Hendra.

Novi just grunts.

They started towards the cafeteria, walking speechlessly.

Hendra stopped every few steps. Making Magisna imagine Hendra was listening to the sound of Pak Isa shoes on the floor surface. He thought he would hear the sound of steps. But they heard nothing.

Magisna suddenly felt strange settling down in a school like this. It's the same place he comes to every day - the same boring place. But now that the lights were off and the entire corridor was empty, this place felt different.

He did not take his eyes off Hendra as they walked. The boy looked good at sneaking around quietly like this - as if he was used to doing this. Fun as well as Hendra, he thought. He doesn't care if he gets in trouble again.

Magisna has a lot of concerns: values, activities, getting into a good college. Great, said his father.

Hendra and his friends don't have to be superior, he thought. He was pierced with envy. He could not imagine himself worrying about his parents, friends, and future.

But even this small act of rebellion was an experience in itself. Instead, spend Saturday in punishment. And he likes it so far.

The canteen looks as dark as the rest of the school. The long table stood empty, wiped clean of greasy food crumbs and milk spills.

The lighting only comes from the soda machine in the corner of the room and the dim grey light spotlight from the only window in existence.

"The cans could be the buzz of gunshots from out there" Dika commented.

"The cave doesn't want to buy" Hendra pleaded. "Our mission is in the kitchen."

He pushed the swinging door behind the lunch counter towards the kitchen. He immediately took a tray.

"It's time to shop, kids!" yells. He stormed the ranks of refrigerators, cutting boards, and large-size mixers.

Magisna is not hungry. He's had breakfast toast. But chocolate milk sounds good too, he thought.

"The cave wants potato chips" cried Alexza.

"There's no ice cream sandwich, huh?" ask Dika. He opened a large steel door. Magisna peered through Dika's shoulder. All he saw were large tubes of mayonnaise and mustard.

"Ih," grumbled Dika. Slamming the refrigerator door. "Where's the freezer?"

"Great, fun!" Alexza shouted triumphantly. Magisna saw him in the corner with a bag of corn chips.

Where is the usual refrigerator? Magisna asked in her heart. He looked around-and saw Novi in front of another large steel door. There were several bottles of fruit juice on his arm. Magisna smirked at him.

"Gosah glared at the cave kek that," he complained. "Everybody did it too."

"The people know" answered Magisna. "They just want chocolate milk."

"Oh." Novi's expression calmed down. "Second brother."

Magisna takes only one liter although there are hundreds of liters there. But the others did not hold back. Novi drink fruit juice up to several bottles. Alexza chewed a few bags of chips greedily. Eat at least four ice cream sandwiches.

Magisna looked around the kitchen. He was so happy that he momentarily forgot Mr. Isa.

He knows we're missing or not? thought. He looked at the other children, preparing to propose that they should just go back. But something's not right.

Someone is not here.

"Where's Hendra?" tanyakanya.

The others stopped eating and looked around.

"Hendra!" urged Magisna.

"What the hell cares about you?" snapped Alexza.

"The cave doesn't care" said Magisna. "But he said. Don't you care?"

Alexza looked upset. "Ndra!" call him.

There's no answer.

"He went back to the classroom time," Novi put forward an opinion.

"No way," grumbled Dika. "Hey, Bro! Jan's kidding, Shucks! Where are you?"

Still no answer.

"We have to find him now" said Magisna.

No one answered.

Magisna looked around at the large appliances and machines in the kitchen. In the gloomy light, everything seemed somewhat frightening.

His gaze stopped on the cookware shelf on the wall at the end of the room. Big spoon. Clamp. And knives.

Large meat-cutting knives.

And one of them is missing.

"Emang why?" snapped Dika.

"Relax, Eka," Novi scolded.

Alexza started talking. But the moaning stopped him.

Everything is frozen.

"What?" Magisna whispered.

"Hendra?" exclaim Dika.

There is no lawfulness.

Magisna realized her fingernails were piercing her palms. He forced himself to relax.

"Not funny, Ndra," Alexza yelled.

Another groan.

"Thank you again" whispered Magisna.

"Hendra?" call Dika.

A few steps ahead of them, Hendra staggered from the large refrigerator. He stood there for a moment, his body swaying. Eyes glazed. A glittering red liquid covered his shirt and neck.

Magisna took a deep breath. It's not real. This isn't…

BRUK!

Hendra.

He landed hard on the tile floor in front of Magisna. The meat-cutting knife slipped from his fist.

Magisna saw his shirt. Her neck. Her face.

Wet with blood.

"Can't be!" He groans. Neck Hendra... Slit neck.

Alexza screaming.

"Bro!" yell Dika.

"Call Mr. Is!" novi's orders. But nobody moves. They all froze in surprise.

Magisna's view was fixed on Hendra. His eyes are wide open. A terrible red wound that crossed his throat.

And a knife covered in blood.

"Buruan!" Novi. "We should call the principal!"

Magisna's arm was taken away, but Magisna broke away. He moved closer to Hendra.

"Wait," interrupted Magisna.

"What?" ask Novi.

"Hendra's hand was moving. He's still alive."

"Well you see?" ask Dika.

Magisna did not answer. The wound scares him, but he has to be sure if Hendra is still alive. If only he could help her. He wants to run. But something kept him in place. Something made him bend over Hendra's body and grab his hand.

He felt the pulse.

He turned to the others. "He's still alive!"

Hendra's hand was thrown up and pinched Magisna's throat.

"Your turn now!" his yell. "Add saos!"

Magisna squealed, brushed off Hendra's hand. He staggered back until his back hit the refrigerator.

His fear quickly turned into anger. "Basic asshole! Devil's son!"

Magisna tried to control her trembling hand. Then shook his head. "Gua can't believe we're all deceived."

"Lu is a real jerk" Novi told Hendra.

"And the cave thinks tomato sauce is only suitable for french fries" Hendra said. He snatched the wet towel and began wiping away the thick, sticky liquid. "The cave was behind, the cave was notakak. True, I swear."

"Jan be kidding, Shucks," Alexza said, scowling.

"Emang you really believe there's a madman loitering around people's necks?" ask Hendra.

"But this is Van Til's House" Magisna commented.

Everyone stared at him.

"I mean the cave, The Van Til House."

The group exploded in laughter. Everything except Alexza, Magisna noticed.

Perhaps he was worried that I would steal Hendra from him, Magisna thought.

He ignored the thought that made him smile.

"Let's get out of here" said Hendra.