Patok Tumbal Village
CHAPTER 22 SECRETS
Mary could do nothing but obey her mother, with a tearful face, Mary walked to her room.
Determined to find his father and brother even stronger, he plans to leave secretly from home at dawn tomorrow, with the aim of finding the two people he loves very much.
The next day, he actually did what he had planned to do last night. At around 04:52 a.m., Maria fled from her home to the top of the mountain. Without fear, it passed through the towering trees upwards, the light unable to even penetrate through due to the dense leaves of the trees.
He continued to step up and yelled out to his father and brother. Unknowingly, he had finally reached the top of the mountain, the view that showed the sunrise was clearly visible from above. He was pensive for a while, until he finally regained his senses and continued his search.
"Dad!!, brother!!" The call is relentless.
There was no response from anyone at all, only the sound of leaves blowing in the wind continued to be heard at every moment. The weather became cloudy, indicating that it would rain, but until now he still did not find any clues.
Maria was willing to circle the summit area three times, but still found nothing. He walked back towards the top of the hill, as he still hadn't checked out some of the places that were around the peak.
When he got to the top, his eyes were immediately fixed on the large stone beside the tree in that place. He slowly stepped his feet towards the place where the stone was, he was a little stunned and worried, because on the stone was splattered with blood that still looked fresh.
Seeing that, he immediately remembered his brother and father. He quickly checked around the bushes in an area not far from the big rock. The wind was blowing hard, making him smell something fishy. He walked closer and closer towards the smell it was coming from, slowly he opened the bushes that were in front of him.
And what he saw was a pile of earth shaped like a grave, his face paled slightly, his sweat splattered. The tightness in her chest made Maria decide to dig up the pile of soil.
Rain started to fall, but he was still trying to dig with his hands. Dig, keep digging, that's all he had in mind. His excavation was quite deep, until he finally found a long hair. He rounded his eyes, and pulled the hair.
His body trembled, he threw something he had just pulled. He did not want to believe what he saw at that time, but it was useless not to believe something that was very clear he saw before his eyes.
What he had just pulled, was the head belonging to his brother. He cried while pulling his hair, and glanced back at the head he had thrown.
His body grew limp when he saw his father's lifeless body lying near his brother's head. Her suspicion of the citizens and her mother is growing, Maria considers that the citizens made her brother an offering, while her father most likely died because he wanted to protect her brother.
* * * *
"Alia?" Call Fitri, startle Alia. "Now it's your turn to take a shower" Fitri told Alia.
"Ah, yes. Have you taken a shower?" Ask Alia.
"No, I'm going to eat first." Answer Fitri.
"O-oh, yaudah, if so I go take a shower first well" Pamit Alia.
Alia left Fitri after hiding the book she had read in her bag. He walked with a blank look, in his mind there were only various questions about the truth of the book he had read.
He wanted to know whether the story was true or not, if it was true, it meant the traditional ceremony that was taking place in the village, in the title to give offerings to the spirits of the people's beliefs in the village of Turi.
Alia had not read all the pages in the book, so she still could not make sure that the village was always sacrificing women to be made offerings or sacrifices for protective spirits.
As soon as Alia has to know everything, before anything unwanted happens.
After everything was ready, they finally headed to the village, except for Dirga and Jamal. I don't know why they both want to continue to repair the car, but they once said that the car will be repaired after the traditional ceremony is completed.
When asked, they only replied that if the car was repaired today, it would most likely be completed today, and they could go home at night.
Their decision was correct, but Ulan and Alia wanted them to return to the village before the citizens went to the top to bring offerings. Dirga and Jamal agreed with the words of Alia and Ulan, after which they went to their respective destinations.
On the way to the village, like yesterday they met with the children of the orphanage and the caretaker who wanted to go to the village hall as well. Kaila also came with them, unlike yesterday who he said did not want to come.
Everyone talks and laughs together. After arriving in the village, the children from the orphanage immediately ran around and played with the other children. Alia, Ulan, Fitri, and the caretaker mother went to the place where the mothers gathered, while Awal and Budi went with the fathers who were preparing tools to cut the deer yesterday.
* * * *
Other mothers are preparing seasonings that have been mashed to cook deer that have been cut later. There is not much to do today, since everything was completed yesterday, the job today is just cooking venison.
The head and blood of the deer that have been cut, separated as an offering later, while the meat is cleaned and cooked as a dish for today.
Although Alia already knows about what will be handed over, but Alia felt a little uneasy as a result of the story in the book owned by Ningsih's mother.
Alia who was sitting with Ulan and Fitri in a seat made of rattan, was approached by Kaila who looked pale. Seeing that, the three of them immediately approached Kaila and asked if Kaila was sick.
Kaila answered nothing, and hugged Alia. Alia carefully carried Kaila and went to tell Bu Wati the caretaker of the orphanage. Kaila, who was in her arms, whispered to Alia about the book they had picked up yesterday.
Alia replied to him in a slightly low tone, that she had read part of the book. Kaila once again whispered telling Alia to immediately read the entire page of the book, and if Alia had understood the story in the book, she said, Alia and her friends must figure out a way to get out of the village before nightfall.
Kaila also said that what was in the book, was an original story without fabrication. And what the villagers are doing right now, is just a lie that aims to deceive everyone in search of a collision.
Alia is surprised, and takes down Kaila.
"Alia, do you know Kaila anyway?" Ulan asked, but he ignored the Alians.
"Why do you think the book is a real story?" Tanya Alia was serious.
Kaila looked around her, and realized that all the citizens in that place were looking at her with sharp eyes.
