Chandanas

Escape (2)

"How far are we going? The sun is starting to rise. I think it's seven or eight now" Kiran said wiping the sweat on her forehead.

I agree with Kiran. If you look at the current position of the sun, it may be seven or eight in the morning. Our trip was really not felt because along the way we both continued to chat and talk about many things about each other that we did not know before. I feel a little more familiar with Kiran than I did before and I am sure that Kiran feels the same way. At least, behind this incident, there are many things that can make the two of us even closer and get to know each other.

Without reducing the slightest bit of passion and effort, we both continue the journey with more focus. We started to speed up the movement for fear of arriving after the truck passed by. This time, we have to do everything we can because this is the only possible way out for us.

Time keeps rolling. The sun keeps rising. Sweat and sweat are now not only on our forehead or neck, but all parts of the body and even the back and legs. We did not intend to pull over or take a break because we realized that we were not only pursued by Edy, but also by time. After a long walk and began to feel exhausted, I saw a paved road that was now only tens of meters away from the location where we were standing.

Seeing the same thing, Kiran turned her head towards me while smiling broadly. He grabbed my hand and pulled it, taking me to the main road with so much enthusiasm and excitement.

I smiled very wide. Kiran's facial expression looked so happy and relieved. We expect a lot from our efforts. We hope the truck passes by and takes us back home safe. We want to get out of here and leave Edy alone with all the plans he has devised and put together to trap and hurt us.

Upon arriving at the main road, Kiran let go of my hand. He held my shoulder with both hands, looked at me with hopeful eyes and said, "Chandana, in a moment, we can definitely get out of here. In a moment, we'll be able to leave this place and get as far away from Edy as possible."

I nodded without saying anything. I just as much hope, I just want to get out of here as soon as possible.

"Okay, if that's the case, you sit here, let me wait next to the street. If the truck goes through, or if any other vehicle passes by, I'll stop them and ask for a ride. Now, you sit down first," Kiran pulled my hand, told me to sit and lean under a large tree, resting herself for a moment after the long journey we had taken.

I according. While I sat down and slid my legs, Kiran walked to the side of the road, looking to the right and to the left, he said, waiting for the passing of a vehicle that might be able to help and deliver us to the city or at least leave this forest and return to civilization.

At first, Kiran looked excited and enthusiastic. Every time the roar of the vehicle's engine was heard, Kiran looked alternately in both directions. However, strangely, no vehicles passed. Whether the voices were indeed there or just the shadows of the two of us, which must have been for almost two hours we waited, not a single vehicle passed by.

Kiran started to look agitated and worried. He repeatedly rubbed his hair with an annoyed sigh as he felt the sound of the engine, but just as soon as no vehicle passed.

Not wanting to let Kiran worry and fidget alone, I stood up and walked over to her. I touched Kiran's shoulder and said that everything would be fine. Soon there will be vehicles passing by. So, Kiran did not have to worry and fidget like that.

"You better sit down. You must be tired too. Let me change my standing while waiting for the vehicle to pass by," I tried to calm Kiran down and put aside the worries that were in her heart and mind even though in fact I felt the same uneasiness and worry.

"No. I'm the one waiting for the vehicle to pass, you sit down again" Kiran brushed my hand away. He looked worried and agitated.

I don't know what happened to Kiran, either because she was exhausted or because she thought too much, she got more emotional. His tone was not as gentle and as good as usual. I know Kiran is frustrated. Who wouldn't be frustrated if they were in a situation like this? Anyone who experiences something like us will feel the same way. Now, when the only hope we had was so vague and uncertain, it was only natural that Kiran became as worried and frustrated as that. But I won't just let it go. I will not let fear and anxiety divide us like this.

"Kiran, you need to rest. You must be tired. In situations like this, don't force yourself. Your mind is tired enough to think of the best solution for both of us to get out of here, if you also have to be physically forced and become too tired too, we ourselves will lose. All humans will be stressed if they are constantly under pressure. Now we are under pressure, so don't make yourself more depressed. I know you must be worried and agitated, I am the same. Please listen to my words. Don't be anyone else, I don't like to see you like this," I almost cried seeing Kiran who suddenly became more grumpy.

For some reason, I was afraid that Kiran would end up like a father. I don't want the only people I have to change like everyone else. I was afraid Kiran would become someone else and be as evil as them. Unknowingly, I shed a tear. I hate situations like this.

"Sorry" Kiran said. He rubbed the tears still rolling down my cheek with his soft fingers.

"I scared you, didn't I? Excuse me.. L am.. I'm just afraid that in the end we won't be able to get out of here. I fear that all the work we have done has been in vain. I'm afraid I failed to protect you."

"No. It is not only you who must protect me, but I must also protect you. Don't push yourself too hard like this. You need rest to think clearly. Now that you're sitting there, let me wait by the side of the road."

Kiran followed my words this time. Fortunately, he soon realized his mistake and corrected it before it got worse. I can't think of anything more if we are to be divided as things get worse.

After making sure Kiran had been sitting and leaning against one of the trees, I walked to the side of the road, circled my gaze and began to wait for the vehicle to pass by.

Honestly, I think something is strange. Three to four times I heard the sound of a motor vehicle approaching. However, there was never a vehicle that arrived or passed in front of us. There is no way I continue to mishear, especially the same thing was also heard by Kiran some time ago.

In the past, when I still often visited the cabin every holiday arrived, it was very rare for a vehicle to pass on this road. Maybe, in one day only a dozen vehicles passed. Among the passing vehicles, the vegetable truck is one of them. It's just, the difference is that vegetable trucks cross this road regularly. Therefore, I can memorize and remember it even though it cannot be said to remember too much as well.

However, this happened about eight to nine years ago. Most likely there are now many vehicles that pass through this area, although not as much as the streets in the city, but certainly the frequency of vehicles passing is more than a few years ago.

Now, back to the main problem. Where do the engine sounds come from? Why are these sounds approaching, but until now there has not been a single vehicle passing?

This time, I tried to sharpen my hearing. First, I want to make sure that what I hear is real and not just a shadow. Second, after making sure that the sounds of the machine actually exist, my job is to find out where the sounds are coming from.

I looked back, Kiran was seen leaning her back against one of the tree trunks with her eyes closed. He overslept.

I smiled a little while breathing a sigh of relief. I was worried Kiran would get too carried away and managed to be overcome by her emotions. Luckily he was not such a person so it was easy for me to remind Kiran and wake her up so as not to cross the line. His body is not healthy and he needs a lot of rest. So far he has been pushing himself too hard. Therefore, I will not disturb Kiran and try to solve this puzzle alone.

I decided to sit on the side of the road because I felt sore at the heel. After all, I somehow felt confident that there would be no vehicles passing by. Therefore, I try to wait for the next sound by sitting cross-legged so that my attention and focus are more focused on the sound that will be heard instead of busy massaging the achy heel.

Minutes by minutes passed. There was no sound other than rustling leaves and friction between branches and twigs blown by the wind. The sound of birds both perched in the trees and flying was heard to be simple to each other, giving the impression of calm and natural that is completely identical to the forest.

I was almost desperate and thought that what I had heard before was just my imagination or my shadow until the roar of the vehicle engine sound flowed in rhythm with the rustling of leaves. His voice was so slow and soft that I had to close my eyes and amplify my hearing to sort out where the vehicle engine sounds and where the foliage sounds.

*brrmm*

I closed my eyes and tried hard to catch the sound. At first, the sound of the vehicle was faint. However, for a long time, the sound became clearer, as if the vehicle was moving closer to where Kiran and I were and this is where the weirdness began to occur. The voice stopped before it finally came back. However, after being stopped, the sound of the vehicle no longer approached us, but was heard more and more faint until finally it really could not be heard anymore. As if, the vehicle was away from us after it had previously approached.

I opened my eyes again, what does that mean? Why did the vehicles come closer, then stop, then move away?

At that time I felt that something was wrong. I glanced at Kiran once more, she was still asleep. He looked so tired and so good in his sleep.

After pondering, I decided not to wake Kiran up and went to check everything myself. However, before that I took the time to walk towards Kiran and say goodbye. Although I was sure he would not hear what I said, at least saying something to him before I left would make my heart a little calmer.

"Kiran's.. There was something strange and I had to investigate it. You're fine here huh. I'll be right back. Sleeping well, Kiran," I rubbed Kiran's cheeks slowly while looking at her face for a few seconds. In that way, I want to gain courage and confidence.

The main road of this forest is a little meandering so that the limit of my view becomes quite limited. This made me have to travel even further distances just to see what was behind the turn.

At first, I didn't find anything strange. The streets are empty and empty. There are no vehicles on the road. There were only a few dried leaves that kept falling from the trees every time there was a wind blowing. At least that's what I thought before I arrived at the last turn.

Because this forest is included in the category of peak areas, there are many winding roads. So far, I have encountered two turns and now find the third turn. I sighed as I continued to move my legs, which felt like I was breaking up because I had walked too much since yesterday.

After passing the turn, I was surprised to find a large board tied with ropes connected to trees on the right and left of the road. The board covered almost all parts of the road so that the road could not be passed.

I walked over quickly to see what the board really was. After arriving at the front of the board, I found an inscription on the board written using black paint.

The text reads, "FORBIDDEN TO PASS. THERE'S A FALLEN TREE. BOTH SMALL AND LARGE VEHICLES PLEASE ROTATE."

I'm choked. Fallen tree? Where are the trees down? Who else put up this board and gave this ridiculous false information? So, this is the reason that made Kiran and I could not find a single vehicle for more than three hours waiting.

Wait for.. Wait for.. Why would.. Holy hooch! Is this Edy?

Without trying to think more, I ran with all my might, as fast as I could.

My breath went up and down while my sore feet were getting sicker. It really can't be all this is really impossible.

After running far enough, I again arrived at the place we had previously used to rest. Kiran was still asleep there. However, I did not stop running, I just glanced at Kiran at a glance and continued to continue my footsteps. To be honest, there is one more thing I have to make sure of. Maybe there was a tree on the other side of the road. After all, this street is divided in two directions. And no vehicles passed at all from either direction. So, I want to make sure there's something in the other direction.

At that time, I continued to pray and hope that there really was a fallen tree there. I hope this isn't Edy's plan. Because after all, if all this was Edy's plan from the beginning, there would be no more opportunities for me and Kiran. There was no longer a way to go if the man had properly arranged and planned everything.

I kept running and kept running. My tears began to flow when I could not see any trees falling. Until finally, my tears broke when I found the same board attached with the contents of the writing and the same position as well.

I screamed. Edy knew everything. He knew where we were and our plans to hitch a ride in a passing vehicle. He knew everything so he deliberately installed these boards so that not a single vehicle passed where we were waiting.

I got back up and stood up. I have to tell Kiran immediately so that we can escape from here immediately.

I ran once again, ignoring all the pain in the heel as well as the rest of the foot. Try to be strong and stay because there is no time for us. I had no idea what Edy was planning so he did all of this. He let us go, let us hope and think that we have been freed from him. But we never managed to be free. We're still in his shackles and somehow, we're still under his control.

After running sobbing along the way, I sat down next to Kiran. I still cry when I wake her up.

"Kiranns.. Kirana! Kiran, wake! We need to get out of here. Kiran!"

Kiran opened her eyes, she blinked many times while rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand. After actually waking up, he looked at me with a puzzled expression.

"Who? How crying? What's up?"

"Kiran's... We gotta get out of here! We need to get out and run from here!" I screamed, fear and horror running through my heart and mind.

"Huh? Wh why? Why suddenly? What was? Tell me what's up!" Kiran tried to calm me down by grasping my wrist.

However, I cannot calm down. All this is too horrible to even think about. I can't believe something like this really happened.

"Later to explain everything, the important thing is now that we have to get out of here. We should run as far away from this place as possible!" I pulled Kiran's hand so she could stand up.

Although still looking confused and unable to understand what was really going on, Kiran obeyed everything I said without asking much more. I pulled his hand and ran on the side of the road with tears still in my eyes.

Not long after, a loud voice came from behind us. Like a collision between a hard object. Kiran and I looked back and stopped our steps. However, there was nothing there so we started to move on.

Not even ten meters away, the sound of a car engine was heard approaching us. Kiran who heard it pulled my hand and stopped her step, "Chandana! That's the truck, isn't it?"

He pointed towards a truck that was speeding behind us. I turned and looked at the truck and it was true that it was the truck. That's the vegetable truck I used to see when I was a kid.

Kiran smiled very broadly, waving her hand at the truck, thinking the driver would give us a ride like we had planned.

The truck started to slow down. And unexpectedly, the truck started pulling over and stopped right next to us. Kiran glanced at me who was still sobbing as she said, "Don't cry that way. The truck is here!"

I don't understand. I don't understand. This all feels so strange and wrong. I feel like none of this is the right thing. Why did this truck suddenly go when I knew the truth? I feel a very bad feeling here. However, Kiran who did not understand everything actually looked so carefree and excited.

Kiran opened the door of the truck as the driver honked his horn. I was still crying as I looked towards the steering wheel of the truck. A man in a hat was seen sitting behind the wheel. Afterwards, I looked at Kiran who was still trying to open the door of the truck.

Not so long ago, the sound of the *czech was heard and the door was opened. Instead of us getting on and going inside, something fell off the truck right after Kiran opened the door.

Someone fell on both of us. The surprised Kiran hurriedly pushed the person to the ground. Kiran and I glanced at each other when they saw that the person who had just fallen from the truck was a middle-aged man whose clothes were covered in blood.

Kiran looked into the truck and pushed my body down. At the same time, the sound of gunfire was heard so loud and deafening.

The man sitting behind the steering wheel of the truck came down and threw his hat in any direction. He smiled a big smile while holding a gun in his hand.

"Well, one day feels like a year, huh?"