Grizzled

Episode 45's

At six and ten, all school supplies and necessities are packed in bags. Preparation today I start early. I never thought last night's long dream woke me up at two in the morning and I could no longer continue sleeping. Once unable to move the body, my strength felt lost and paralyzed. All I did for the next hour after was look up at the ceiling, never expecting to get into this serious trouble.

It was only before sunrise that my feet felt tingling until I could slowly work hard. Maybe it's the effect of the mess I got in the gray world. Luckily Sakti's healing technique focuses on the neck area, I can't imagine if I had to be televised all day because of neck pain, but when I noticed. It doesn't seem like much when I let my hair down.

There's still a lot of time left, I'll put a check on the diary, today's plan. My plan ahead of UTS was to study and study, but this time there was also an investigation into the last point of the six-key position, the greenhouse. Ah, I already have an idea to get in there. Unplugging the lid of the marker, I crossed out the date yesterday, counting the rest of the day before the third full moon. Seventeen days exactly, falls four days after UTS. The light gap investigation has not yet found a bright spot, but we have not planned to give up and hope to get a lot of leads soon.

Regarding my plan to inspect the greenhouse, I immediately rushed over, carried a bag and put on my shoes. While walking I checked the incoming message from Yasinta. Lately he reminds me more of the trivial things I sometimes forget. Maybe pity –or sick– knowing I often forget the little things like PR, dues, stockbox, and others. This time he reminded me not to forget to bring the practicum sheet that was distributed yesterday because today there is a physics experiment in the laboratory.

Fifteen minutes later I entered the school gate. I looked at the watch, half an hour before the bell came in. Miss Lasmi may not have come yet, but there's no harm in me coming earlier than her. The school atmosphere is starting to get crowded. One by one the students led the bike to the rear parking area because the front parking area was full.

The rising sun allowed its light to peer out from the tops of the headland trees, breaking through my classroom glass windows. Friends always reap comments whenever I come early. It must be a pleasantries before borrowing my PR book and then copying the answers together. I couldn't resist and preferred to start my mission immediately. I saw that there was already a bag on the Eagle's bench while the owner was out of nowhere.

The greenhouse and garden area behind the north building can be seen from my classroom terrace on the second floor. It was quite surprising to see the place was crowded this early in the morning. If I don't see it wrong, the Eagle's already there. Look how willing he is to start an investigation without waiting for me! I immediately went down after him.

Miss Lasmi was already there, overrun by some children I knew from XI MIPA 4. The eagle stood not far around them.

“What is this?” my many.

“Look!” the answer is short, to relax the shoulders. The tall man who was the most chatty from the representatives of XI MIPA 4 seemed to beg for Bu Lasmi to be willing to lend plants from greenhouses or other plants around this park. Unfortunately, the negotiations look tough. The expressionless Ms. Lasmi now insists on not allowing any potted plants to be borrowed.

“The head of the school has already banned me. Plants in the greenhouse are not like books in the library that can be casually borrowed,” said Bu Lasmi. Hm, it's no longer allowed!

“But XI MIPA 1 can borrow here the other day, Mom! Why can't it be our turn? Isn't that unfair?” ask the boy. Who leaked the information that I borrowed a plant here?

“Then you guys finally followed suit? Is there no other initiative? XI MIPA 1 had borrowed for a long time before the headmaster was banned. I think in those few days you've found a new replacement. The point is now that you can no longer borrow!” ms. Lasmi's answer is indisputable. The children of XI MIPA 4 left the park with a look of annoyance. Could the final assessment be held today until they are so compelling?

“So how now? Already can not go in there,” I said. The eagle seemed to think.

“Yes, we check from the outside. Half of the greenhouse wall is just wire nets,” replied the Eagle.

“Highs one and a half meters more, I have trouble peering inside,” I replied.

“Who told a short guy like you to peek inside? You observe around the park only!” the Eagle answered as sinless about height, but I must not be hurt because I am not as tall as he is. Not long ago we observed the circumstances around and what we were looking for was not found, the doorbell rang first. We had to go back to class.

“It's okay, we haven't found it yet, it doesn't mean the demon sign isn't there,” said the Eagle as we walked towards the classroom.

“Yes, related you found in the rear parking area yesterday how? Didn't you say it was in the banyan tree? Maybe by researching the signs that appear in plants we can easily find them around the greenhouse which is also surrounded by plants,” I replied.

“The mark I found on the banyan tree was a faint scratch on a hexagon-shaped tree. The point is almost the same as the sign we usually find at another point,” replied the Eagle.

“Oh, etched on a tree huh? Too bad around the park there are only small woodless plants. Maybe the placement of the sign is not the same as in the banyan tree,” I replied.

“Yes, it may be harder to find them. We must pay attention to every detail of the place,” replied the Eagle.

“Oh yes, about Miss Lasmi, did you think of anything?” my many. I remember yesterday the Eagle had discussed this. The little grin of the Eagle was not a satisfactory answer.

“No, or yes, ah, I don't know! I'll tell you later!” the answer. I wanted to keep looking for questions, but we've arrived at the class.

 ***

During the first to fourth hours of the lesson I could not focus on the lesson. The point that we suspected around the greenhouse was the last check and I wanted to confirm it immediately. Unsettled in my seat, I was more restless and daydreaming. The scenery outside the window got more of my attention, the clear blue sky without clouds, hoping my mind could silt it for some time. Mr. Rudi had time to rebuke me to pay attention to the projector screen, listening to the history of Indonesia material described. I was kind of bored of having read that material over and over again. My grandmother who had lived in the colonial era also often told me.

After those few hours that felt like a long time, the break bell finally rang. Me and the Eagle don't want to waste a chance. Bodo is very careful with the preparation of the fifth and sixth hour practicum later. I'm not so enthusiastic because nothing could explode in a physics experiment later. Friends are busy looking for report papers on the internet. I think it's the same as looking for spoilers before watching a movie. It will not be exciting because the story is already guessed.

“That's for security so we don't make mistakes during practicum later, Ra!” kilah Yasinta's. Dih, even though the practicum instructions are already on the worksheet!

The park behind the north building is never crowded when resting. This area is indeed not an area to play around. The more popular park in this school and often a selfie background is the park near the canteen and in the front yard. Nothing too exciting about this place. Greenhouse buildings that seem too boring, also a set of hydroponic plant projects in the corner of the land that should not be carelessly touched. Rather than an amusement park, this place is more focused on research.

“Meet, Shir?” ask the Eagle after ten minutes of searching. I'm shaking. All the objects were already the target of my attention, but none of them looked suspicious. Compared to the key marks at other points that look striking and easy to find, this time we had enough difficulty.

When we were intending to return to class, that was when my feet tripped over the uneven paving stones. Something I saw on the hexagon paving stone made my eyes widen. A bright orange hologram, this time not an eye, but a mouth crease with teeth biting off the tip of my shoe. I immediately turned my eyes while pulling my leg. Immediately the cramp struck along my right leg arm. The eagle tried to trample over the imaginary image, but its evil magic was not affected by the Eagle's treatment. I tried to calm myself down, remove all fear. The eagle once told me to fight this evil magic with courage. Fear of the devil means submission to him. I can't have that feeling.

“What are you guys doing here?” That flat-pitched voice surprised us. I don't know since when Miss Lasmi has been standing not far from us. The eagle helped me up, the evil magic that was holding me back has vanished.

“This area is temporarily sterilized. There are new research projects that are not cheap. I don't want to take a risk when there is damage,” he said again before even me and Eagle replied. Without much talking we left the place. At least something we wanted to find was found.

“Your feet are okay?” ask Eagle.

“It's okay. I was just surprised, not expecting the sign to appear there, but I'm glad that finally the proof at the last point worked,”.

“Last point? Did you forget I didn't find anything in the XI MIPA 7 that we suspected? On the corner shelves read the class as well. We have a lot of work, Shir!” reply Eagle. I sighed, only to realize I had forgotten about those other unproven points.

The first break is over. Friends prepare for the physics laboratory. I was with my group –Yasinta, Tiara, and Puput– got a table in the middle. Today each group conducts two experiments at once. We have to be good at dividing our time and tasks. The plan of this practicum value will be a savior of UTS value which is feared always below the criteria because Mr. Hamid never deigned to hold a remedial. So this practicum we have to finish in earnest.

Yasinta and I tested the weight while Tiara and Puput tested the spring. The hair that fell off the side of my face pinched concisely into one ponytail to the back. Then I can focus on practicum. The physics experiment this time is a bit boring, but that doesn't mean I ignore the precision. An hour later, as planned, we finished collecting the data. Yasinta and the others tidied up the tools while I started writing reports. Someone at the back table opened my hairpin, making some strands fall back on the side of my face.

“Speaking around your neck looks striking. Don't attract attention!” said someone who turned out to be an Eagle. Heh, I forgot myself! Hopefully not many have seen.

We were classed out of the lab ten minutes before the bell rested. I came out the last time because Mr. Hamid asked me to help me figure things out. The second-floor laboratory corridor was already deserted, but someone in front of the chemical lab seemed to recognize it.

Sure enough, it's an eagle. What the hell is he doing there? I can't believe he was surprised when I rebuked, immediately telling me to shut up.

“Just be here, I'll check inside,” he said.

“Check what?” my many.

“What class? Class ... XI MIPA 7, why?” my question then immediately understood, “oh, lest the position of the key trap not found there is in the chemistry lab! Right, Lang! His position is still in line!”

“Iya, I already know, Shir! That's why I want to check inside!”

“But there is a CCTV camera.”

“CCTV all laboratories are under repair. Never mind, I have to be fast,” said the Eagle then completely logged in. Heh, tumben he acted rashly. What should I do if someone catches us both? Entering the laboratory without permission was truly something forbidden.

I'm still at the door. Five minutes later the bell break sounded. Poking back at the Eagle for too long, I told him to hurry up a bit, worried that someone was heading over here.

“In this room there is no!”

“Perhaps in storage space. You see that door behind that? Check it! Be careful, there are a lot of chemicals there,” I replied. Thank goodness the door wasn't locked.

Someone who emerged from the middle staircase, leading up to here really surprised me. Pretty panicked, would not have time to tell the Eagle, I just went inside. Just before Ms. Lasmi touched the door, I managed to hide in a storage room that was not so spacious. The eagle was surprised that I came in, but he soon learned of the situation, keeping his voice from being caught. I also have to be clever to keep a distance with the storefronts-etalases where storing laboratory equipment and chemicals.

“Why are you hiding here?” whispers lirih.

“Aduh, won't have time to tell you to get out, Lang. Miss Lasmi suddenly appears!” pula whispered.

“You should distract him first!”

“You know I'm not good at doing that.”

“You are not as smart as I thought!” answered the Eagle, I would love to visit if the doorknob in front of us did not move. Shit, we got caught! A few seconds passed quietly and tensely, but the door had not yet opened. I'm sure even though the Eagle looks calm but his heart is not. What should we explain if we get caught hiding here?

The short click was the last we heard, after which the main door was slammed. With the remnants of vigilance, I peeked at the state from the keyhole. Chemical lab empty, main door closed. I grabbed and pulled the doorknob, moved it several times, not accepting the fact that this door could not be opened.

I just grinned trying to swallow the panic, “We're locked, Lang!”

“What?! Just be right!”

This time the Eagle gripped the doorknob while occasionally pulling it. It's still like when I did it, this door won't move. The eagle swore softly, not expecting it to end like this.

“Please, don't panic! I brought a cell phone, maybe there's someone we can call,”.

“Bad idea, Shir! You want to contact someone just to find the two of us in this place? No, I don't want to be interrogated!” reply Eagle. Ah, that's right too! Our position is indeed difficult, even if telling the truth, which one might believe something we are investigating?

“I can break this door, but I don't want to if I have to compensate,” said Eagle. Yes, this is indeed not a gray world room that can be casually destroyed.

Scroll the watch, the second break is still a long time. Hopefully we get out before the bell comes in, somehow. While thinking of how to get out of here, a hexagon formation of orange light that was familiar to us appeared at the door. The single eye in the middle of it widened, glaring at us.

“At the very least, we've found it,” said Eagle. I took a few steps back, avoiding the devil's eyes.

“You already know how to resist this evil force ‘kan? I believe you will not be affected by it,” said the Eagle leaning on the door, preventing the light formation from being visible to me. I just nodded, ignoring any uncomfortable feelings that started to strike. No, I won't lose to that evil magic.

“Shir, don't be quiet! Think of a way out of here! Perhaps you have a hairpin or wire, or something we can try,” said the Eagle keeping my consciousness from being empty.

“Not got, Lang. My hair curler is not a thin wire that can be ..” My words came to a halt when my hand got something after reaching into the pocket of a skirt. The clattering of key sounds sounded quite exhilarating.

“I just remembered! I was the one who came out last and was responsible for locking the physics lab. Pray that one of the keys here is the key of the chemical lab,” I replied.

“Why not tell from earlier?!” he replied, grumblingly taking the keys from me and trying them one by one. We breathed a sigh of relief when it turned out that one of these keys was a match. We were free from the narrow room without leaving any suspicious traces. Not to forget the main door of the chemical lab is also locked again.

“In this way we just make sure one point in the reading corner of the class. It's not too much trouble because every day we're there!” I said a little happy.

“Yes, even if the devil's mark is not found, I don't want to bother. Five other points have been proven. It is clear we are in the trap area of six keys,” replied Eagle, “in addition, with the position of several points that we already know, I so have one name to look out for.”

“You already know the devil's disguise? Who?” manya curious.

Eagle just grinned, “No way you don't know, Shir! The teacher with the strangest and most unusual temperament in this school is only Miss Lasmi!”

“Bu Lasmi?”

“Yes, who else?! Anyone knows he's private and can't socialize. I've been watching him for a long time. Do you remember when I helped Miss Lasmi when the OSIS room moved? Well, it was my investigation that was constrained, but with a few key trap positions that only Miss Lasmi could access –like in the greenhouse and laboratory here– my suspicion of him increased,” replied the Eagle.

I was silent rethinking his argument.

“Indeed at the moment I haven't been able to unmask him, but that's not my goal. We have to steal a clue to the exact position of the slit of light from the demon. Whether from the record, the traces left behind, we only need to continue to push forward after getting a bright spot.”

“Anu ... for a moment," I said hesitantly, "I mean, is it true that about the senior teacher who is a bit stooped and walking around dragging his feet is a demon who has harmed us? Who almost cut off Sakti's neck?” my many.

“Ah, because I was too excited I forgot to hear your opinion. What was? Are you confused by such a physical form? His power wasn't stored in his physical body, remember? After all that appearance was truly a perfect disguise for a demon with monstrous strength. You didn't expect ‘kan Shira? Me too! The devil's disguise has been really successful,” replied the Eagle before we parted.

I have to get to the teacher's room to return the lab keys while the Eagle continues to the classroom. Mr. Hamid told me to return the keys directly to the authorized lab, Ms. Lasmi. Actually, Ms. Lasmi is authorized to almost all the room keys in this school, sharing duties with Mr. Aslan and other security staff. He was typing a document in front of the monitor, looking more bent with his eyes narrowed behind the glass of his lens.

“Leave it on the table, then sign the journal in the return section,” Bu Lasmi said without moving her attention away from the monitor. I watched it for a moment without blinking.

Is it true that the demon who created the gray world resides in this person?

.Seriate.