Canticles

180. The Biawak Demon...

The next morning Rex and Ustadz Akbar meet Elvira. Rex was very surprised to see the condition of Elvira who seemed alarming when they had not met for long. Aware of her being observed, Elvira seemed to avoid Rex's gaze by standing sideways as they spoke.

" Mrs Elvira is sick...?" rex asked as he looked at Elvira's face.

" No Captain. I'm just tired, sleep-deprived because I have to take care of the children.., " said Elvira with a smile.

Suddenly Anton, Halim and Irma approach Elvira.

" Mrs Elvira is ready yet...?" ask Irma.

" It's. Are we leaving now...?" ask Elvira.

" A little while. Who's Ma'am, sodara huh...?" asked Irma while glancing at Rex.

" Oh yeah. This is Pakde Saya Ustadz Akbar and Captain Rex" Elvira said with a smile.

They also shake hands with each other. Anton and Halim also mentioned their names while shaking hands with ustadz Akbar and Rex.

After a short conversation Elvira and her friends rushed to the bus that was parked in the hotel courtyard.

" Why Mas Rex, is there anything strange...?" ustadz Akbar asked as he saw Rex staring at Elvira and his friends with different gazes.

" Yes..," said Rex quickly.

" When you know what Mas Rex is...?" tanya ustadz Akbar curious.

" I can't tell you now Ustadz. I'm afraid this is just a misunderstanding. Now we follow Ms. Elvira to watch her movements." said Rex, who is a member of Ustadz Akbar.

Then Rex and Ustadz Akbar followed Elvira's entourage. Because that day was the last day the group was in Bandung, then the teachers brought the group to the tourist attractions to unwind.

From far away Rex and ustadz Akbar observe Elvira intensely. But when they went to Dzuhur prayers congregated in musholla, it was then that they lost Elvira.

" I'm sorry Miss Irma, where's Miss Elvira...?" ask ustadz Akbar.

" So I went to the toilet Mr. Ustadz. Understandably, the number of toilets is limited so you have to do ngantri..," said Irma relaxed.

Ustadz Akbar and Rex rush to find Elvira but nil. Even until three in the afternoon, when the group had to return to the hotel Elvira was not also seen.

" I want to find Mrs Elvira, you escort the children to the hotel." said Halim, who is owned by Anton and Irma.

Then Rex, Ustadz Akbar and Halim split up to find Elvira at the tourist spot.

While searching for Elvira, Rex's memory goes back to the time when Elvira was kidnapped in Africa. He snorted in annoyance at having to go back to feeling the same. If he used to feel responsible because Elvira is a member of his team, but now Rex feels responsible because he has already promised ustadz Akbar to help Elvira.

" One girl but a myriad of problems..," Rex murmured as he shook his head.

At that time Rex was far outside the tourist attractions. He circulated his gaze in all directions and was surprised to see a female figure standing on a cliff. From the costume that the woman wore, Rex knew it was Elvira.

" Oh my God, there it is. How to get there anyway, how to...?" ask Rex in my heart.

Then Rex contacted ustadz Akbar before going up the cliff to catch up with Elvira. Soon he arrived behind Elvira, who was standing there daydreaming while looking deep into the valley with a blank look.

Rex stood watching Elvira without doing anything because he was sure Elvira would not do anything dangerous.

Shortly thereafter Ustadz Akbar arrived at that place. He looked anxious when he saw the condition of Elvira who was sculpting while staring at a point.

" What is Mas Rex, why is Elvira there...?" tanya ustadz Akbar half whispered.

" Mrs Elvira was communicating with something that was trying to persuade her to come with her. And apparently Bu Elvira began to be affected Ustadz.., "sahut Rex riled.

" So what do we do...?" ask ustadz Akbar worried.

" We'll wait a minute for Ustadz. Come with me." said Rex, pulling the ustadz to hide behind a boulder while observing Elvira.

" Why do we have to talk about Mas...?" ask ustadz Akbar.

" Ssttt.., look over there Ustadz..," said Rex, pointing at Elvira.

From behind Elvira appeared the figure of a man who was none other than Halim. He seemed to smile meaningfully seeing Elvira who was pecking there.

" Are you ready Elvira...?" ask Halim.

Elvira turned her head and was surprised to see Halim was there with her.

" So you..," said Elvira.

" Well, it's me. Did you just know Elvira ?. Does my presence not make you realize that I am very close to you...?" halim asked as she touched the tip of Elvira's hair fluttering in the afternoon breeze.

Elvira opened her eyes. Elvira's memory goes back a few months. After he rejected Drajat, Halim was present as a new sports teacher in place of the old retired sports teacher.

When she first shook hands, Elvira felt that there was something Halim was hiding. But Elvira ignores him because she thinks Halim is just curious about her just like any other man who wants to get close to her.

The following days Elvira and Halim often talked about many things. Although they became close, but deep down Elvira refused Halim's presence.

As if knowing that Elvira did not want it, Halim began to keep his distance. But apparently Halim actually took a back road by entering into Elvira's dream and transformed into a man crowned the lizard.

In his place stood Ustadz Akbar seemed filled with anger. While Rex looks more prepared because he knows the enemy in the blanket that Nyai Hadini means is Halim.

Witnessed by Rex, Ustadz Akbar and Elvira, the form of Halim was slowly changing. Now Halim transformed into a male figure who often present disturbing Elvira is a man crowned monitor lizard.

The man's body looked muscularly stocky, clearly visible because the man was swallowed*the chest. The crown of the lizard decorates its head and part of the surface of its skin is blackish with yellow patches. Behind his body appeared a long tail dangling.

Seeing that Halim's form had changed, Elvira was terrified. He subconsciously took a few steps back and it made him almost fall down the cliff. Luckily Halim managed to reach for Elvira's waist until the girl survived.

" Now keep your promise Elvira. You'll come with me wherever I go" said Halim, drawing her face closer to Elvira's as if to kiss her.

Elvira seemed to be struggling and difficulty escaping from Halim's arms. It was then that Rex and Ustadz Akbar came out of hiding while shouting loudly.

" Take him off...!" rex said loudly to the surprise of Elvira and Halim.

Subconsciously Halim loosened his embrace. Elvira took advantage of the moment by pushing Halim's body until she could escape from the man's embrace. Then Elvira ran towards ustadz Akbar who greeted her with a hug.

" It seems you're here too. Huh, it's annoying, '" said Halim while grunting in annoyance.

" Go away or die.." threatened Rex as he approached.

Halim seemed to be wagging her tail while grinning furiously and without warning she attacked Rex violently. The battle between humans and stealth lizards was inevitable.

Ustadz Akbar takes Elvira away so that the girl is no longer influenced by Halim. After that he put his palm on the top of Elvira's head while reading some verses of the Qur'an.

The sound of the Qur'an verse read by ustadz Akbar plus the powerful Rex attack overwhelmed Halim. He was seen in a daze with several wounds all over his body. And the next second Rex's kick managed to hit Halim's stomach to make the man incarnate stealth monitor lizard was knocked down the cliff.

" Yinan...!" elvira screams when she sees Halim's body disappear down the cliff.

Ustadz Akbar was shocked when Elvira ran to catch up with the fallen Halim. Lucky Rex sprightly gets in the way. As the girl flashed in front of him, Rex grabbed her and hugged her tightly.

" Istighfar Bu Elvira, Istighfar...!" rex said to remind.

Elvira flinched and said Istighfar with a trembling voice. Tears poured down her pale face. And when that happened, ustadz Akbar and Rex breathed a sigh of relief while saying hamdalah.

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