Gondo Flower

Chapter 62: The Middle House of the Forest

They run among the shrubs, thin scratches from the creeping grass create a sense of pain when touched by the night wind. They are scattered, taking their own paths, blocked by shrubs and shrubs around it.

Alingga who was in the last row chose to take the straight forward path. Unfortunately, he was left behind, not finding the presence of his two friends. The forest catches it, creating the illusion of tightening the trees. It rotates in the same place until it loses energy. It is true, nothing will go easy, even the best efforts are able to betray.

In the middle of the wilderness they called out to each other, telling each other, but also moving away from each other. Misleading voices, coming from behind, from the front, from all directions that make them confused, taking the wrong path, to far from their respective reach.

Zainal who was the farthest distance away with the two stopped running, looking at his surroundings. The tall treefather turned into rows of filthy shrouds, surrounding him, suppressing him with sounds of laughter. Zainal knelt down, closed his ear hole, expelling increasingly loud noises. He's already on the threshold.

Alingga heard the sound of Zainal's scream, quite faint yet she was very sure. Not knowing where the wind direction, he headed for the source of the sound, scattering tall shrubs, stepping on the watery ground, jumping over fallen trees, until his feet collapsed stepping on the unstable layer of soil.

Alingga passed through the muddy ground, his lighting sank, he lost the flashlight he was carrying. However, faintly he saw the light moving ahead, not too far away nor close. The light shone on the trees, signaling someone to come.

Meanwhile, Juhri who had previously led the way had reached the courtyard of the two-story wooden house. But, he only realized the two people who were following him were no longer behind him. He waited a long time, waiting for the miracle of the appearance of the two people, unfortunately until a dozen minutes passed none of them appeared. He can't wait any longer, Juhri returns to the bush, tracing his previous trail.

The wind swept over Alingga's slightly wet body, the dew clinging to her clothes, permeating, settling within the fabric's deepest fibers. He faintly saw Zainal's body, he was curling up, covering both ears with his mouth constantly rumbling. Alingga approached, patting her cheek several times, trying to resuscitate her friend again.

"Natal.. Wake up! Wake up!" Alingga patted him again. This time Zainal realized, he looked at Alingga with a sweat that had flooded his face.

"I saw.. I see, Ngga!" Zainal began to rummage indistinctly again. Alingga immediately took him, leading him to walk. They walked straight, hoping to find the place they had discussed earlier.

"Relating.."

Alingga did not care about the ravings of Zainal, he focused on finding a way out of the labyrinth. From the front direction someone suddenly appeared, shocking the two to a few steps back. That person was Juhri who came back to look for them, Alingga seemed happy when she was reunited with the person who had been at odds with her.

Alingga sat on the ground, straightening her legs while staring at the dark wooden building. There was no illumination, the place was like a ghost nest in the middle of the wilderness.

"Where's the guard you said?" ask Zainal.

"This house is not guarded, only the entrance gate is strictly guarded" replied Juhri.

"Sound! Why are they standing guard away from the building." Zainal said recklessly. It is actually confused, why they only put a guard at the entrance, then what is this building to be built if they are not guarded.

"Be careful, there may be something that makes the guards unwilling to approach this house." Alingga remember them to be careful, stay alert and do not let your guard down. No guard does not mean there is no danger, it is a place that looks safe is a very dangerous place.

Juhri led the way, bringing them into the house. They went through the front door, walking on tiptoes so as not to disturb anyone who was sitting in there.

"As soon as possible!" whispered Juhri warned them one last time before entering the house.

Juhri turned the doorknob, pushing her slowly, a creaking sound breaking the silence. The wooden floor enlivened the atmosphere, accompanying their precautionary steps.

The flashlight that Juhri brought highlighted the entire room, there were no chairs or tables, there was only a dusty wooden floor with a small cupboard cabinet in the corner of the room. They stepped in, leaving footprints and dirt on the wooden floor.

Juhri led them in even deeper. They split the task to check each room. This house is quite large, it will take a long time if they search one by one. Juhri checked the second floor while Alingga checked the lower floors. Zainal accompanied Alingga to inspect each floor, until they found a locked room.

Alingga has no key, while the door is in the key with a special key. Juhri who had finished checking the second floor again approached Alingga on the lower floor. The three of them thought, trying to find a solution. Unfortunately, without the key they could never open the door, and their efforts to come to this place would be in vain.