The Witness's
Chapter VII

The smell of milk began to greet Maddie's sense of smell when the maid, who had worked for more than five years, entered. The clock was ten o'clock at night and Chester's daughter Blake was still awake, sitting on the balcony with a telescope.

"Auntie bring warm milk and vitamins."

"Just put it on the table." Maddie took a moment's glance from the telescope and turned to look at Aunt Foni, "Please turn off my room light."

Stargazing was a new hobby when Chester gave the telescope a gift on his birthday. Just like Olivia, Maddie was amazed to look at the stars in the dark sky.

The hour hand was fixed at number 12 when a long-distance light from a black car caught Maddie's attention when the car stopped in front of Richard Hartono's house. Maddie just closed the balcony door.

The 17-year-old assumed that after Richard had brought his friends to eat, he went out again with someone else and was driven home, because they were in Will's car. But what came out was someone dressed in black, who covered half of his face with a cloth. Maddie tried her best to recognize the person with the help of a street lamp standing next door.

"It's a good thing the room lights and the balcony have been turned off." Maddie murmured softly.

Shortly after, a woman flashed and as quickly as lightning this black-clothed figure struck the woman with a wooden stick. Netra hazel Maddie jumped out of place. The woman who was finally unconscious was immediately put in the car. The next second the black-clothed figure entered Richard's courtyard, entered his Green House, and came out again with something the size of an adult arm. Shortly after, the car drove away from the residential area.

Tears slowly came out as Maddie closed her mouth tightly with trembling hands. The girl was still trying to digest what she had just witnessed.

He tried to remember small details that he might have missed, but his brain could not work properly. He even imagined what in the taste of the poor woman, who did not know anything and instead was hit and carried by a stranger. I don't know what's gonna happen.

"I'm a witness."

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"Maddie's."

"Maddie's."

Still half-conscious as a soft voice called out, Maddie suddenly recalled the incident that kept her awake almost overnight. Maddie glared and sat with two legs in the cross, staring at her balcony blankly. Olivia could only furrow her brows at the princess' strange behavior.

"Why you?"

Maddie just shook her head in response.

"Mandi gih's. Mr. Yon is waiting downstairs. Classes are starting."

The 45-year-old woman turned her back when Maddie grabbed her wrist. Maddie's hands are cold. Olivia spontaneously holds Maddie's forehead, making sure the princess doesn't get sick.

"Ma, who am I?"

"You sick?"

Maddie was just shaking.

"Tumben you asked for supplies. What's up?"

"Looking around in the canteen."

Without asking again Olivia agreed to Maddie's request and went to provide the requested supplies.

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At school Maddie kept daydreaming. What he saw last night was the most terrifying thing he had ever seen. The question that continues to haunt is whether the poor woman is still alive?

"Madelline!"

The clash of Mrs Linda resuscitated the girl from daydream. Maddie glanced to the side and found Zoe and the smiling Eyebrow slanting. It's definitely those who reported it to Mrs Linda.

"You can quit my class if you don't want to hear this important explanation."

"Sorry." Maddie Reply.

"I don't want any student sitting around and not paying attention. It doesn't matter who you are. Understand Madelline?"

Madelline could only nod. Usually he would report this to the beloved Uncle of the owner of this school, but there were other things that were more important. In addition, this beautiful girl is no longer willing to add to the list of teachers who lost their jobs in this semester.l, just because they reprimanded her in class.

"OKs. Open page 35, translate the story and answer the questions below. You have time until lunch break."

As much as possible Maddie tried to divert her mind with schoolwork. For a moment he thought of disturbing Denada, but somehow he did not want to. Bizarrely. After the class finished Maddie walked aimlessly while looking down, until in front of the library she accidentally nudged someone.

"Go put the eye on." A familiar, flat voice.

Suddenly Maddie caught her head, showing her crooked eyes to her Junior High friend. Seeing Leon made Maddie a little relieved even though his greeting was very unfriendly.

"Lo cry?" Leon asked.

"No." Answer Maddie quickly.

"So why are your eyes swollen?"

"Can't sleep last night. Nightmare." Nightmare."

"Everybody has nightmares. But all you don't like imagining with puffy eyes." Leon hugged the front hand of the chest, "Lo's lying."

In the middle of their conversation Denada appeared with a strange look. He never saw Leon talking to Maddie. Especially with Maddie's condition which is somewhat messy. Leon quickly realizes Denada's presence from the library.

"Oh hi babe. Done yet?"

Denada nodded with a faint smile, ignoring Maddie who was still in front of them.

"I'm hungry. Eat yuk."

Grasping Denada's hand, Leon turned his eyes, looking at Maddie with a gaze he had never given before. Gentler.

"Maddie, you want to come?"

But Maddie shook her head and passed quickly.

"You're taking Maddie?"

"We spent the last few days with him because of the job of the secretary. I'm taking Will with me." Reply Leon relaxed. "Somehow he seems to need a friend."

In the cafeteria there are three plates of buttered chicken rice, with three bottles of drinking water and a large packet of snacks. Will is playing his smartphone while Denada and Leon are sitting down.

"Maddie's horrors are no longer the same with Zoe and Alis?" Ask Will.

Will nods, "Say people the hell they're fighting because Maddie's gonna take her boyfriend Zoe."

"That's a lie."

Will furrowed his brows at Denada's reply which very quickly refuted.

"Who's lying?"

"Maddie's a big bitch, but he's not the kind of guy who wants to snatch people's girlfriends. Especially Zoe's boyfriend." Denada insists all of his words make Will astonished.

"Know where? You never get along with him. Zoe may be right, Eyebrows say the same thing."

Denada could only smile wryly and reply, "Believe it or not, I know Maddie's nature better. I know her too well and she couldn't possibly like it even to snatch her friend's boyfriend."

Maddie who had been behind Denada, Leon and Will could only duck. He was just waiting in line for a packet of potato chips and overheard this conversation of three people. Suddenly they changed the subject. Topic that could make Maddie's knee limp.

"News this morning someone's missing. Twenty-seven-year-old woman, worker at the Sun's clothing store." Will opened the topic.

"Really?"

"Yes. The manager said this morning the store should have opened because the key was on him, but the phone was not active. Not long after that his sister came to look for him in the store. Next they end up at the police station and make a report."

Maddie backed off a little intending to hear more. He even told the two people behind him to come forward. The man by the name of Blake pretended to tie his shoelaces and approached.

"Say the missing man's address is in perum citraland. It's not far from Maddie's house."

And at that time Maddie's heart became unbecoming. Maddie did not report the incident last night to the police for fear that the perpetrator was indeed Richard Hartono considering that the criminal last night entered without hesitation into his Green House.

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After school, Maddie shut herself in her room. He began to weigh whether he would report what he saw last night or not. What if it's wrong? What if a stranger last night found out he was reporting and was gonna make him a victim? What if her family is threatened?

The door of the room that suddenly opened made Maddie turn her head. There Gavin entered still in his blue white uniform.

"Mama said you were sick."

Maddie just shook her head.

"Well, is there news of missing persons?"

Maddie looked at Gavin curiously, "Lo knows the case?"

"Udah Rame on IG Same Facebook. Rumors are circulating the victim lives on this platform."

Maddie stood up from the bed, walking back and forth while rubbing her hands. After some deliberation, and Maddie strongly trusted her sister three years apart, Maddie decided to tell her what she was watching.

"Gavin, can I trust you?"

Maddie's aura instantly changed. Gavin noticed the brother's sharp and serious gaze. Maddie was not used to giving such a look. Gavin could only nod resolutely to Maddie.

"About the woman who disappeared.." Maddie took a slow breath, "I think she's dead."

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