The Girl Next Door's

Start off

"Aren't you going to be here today?" ask Mia from across the phone.

"No" answered Deril. He had already pedaled his bike half way home, before Mia suddenly contacted him.

"What's that plan, will you run today?"

"Yes" Deril answered briefly. His heart hunted every time he remembered the plan he was going to do with Mika today.

As they had already agreed, Deril would pay a visit to Mika's house today, under the pretext of painting together. Mika asked Doctor Stephen for permission yesterday. Now, it remains to wait for the results of whether Deril is allowed or not. If Mika opens Deril's door, it means that Deril can launch his plan to find evidence of Doctor Stephen's crimes inside the mansion.

"I'll stand guard around her house" continued Mia. "I'm on my way."

"Don't hurry," Deril cut. "I don't know if this plan will go smoothly or not."

"That's why I was there," Mia argued. The sound of a car engine being turned on becomes the background. "I won't get too close. I won't turn on the siren either. Just give me a sign, if you're in trouble!"

"Like?"

"Mmm," Mia thought for a moment. "Misscall me?"

"Agreed."

"Okay, always be careful! Remember, your opponent is the devil!" mia's Message. To be honest, Mia was unwilling to let go of a teenage boy she knew as well as Deril, getting into the pit of hell. Moreover, it could put his life at risk. Mia would rather jump straight in to beat up Doctor Stephen. But, he can't do much. If Doctor Stephen finds out there's a cop after him again, that guy's gonna be more careful. Any evidence, will vanish and never be found.

Deril returns to ride his bike home, after Mia disconnects their phone. The contents of his head are a mess. He can't concentrate. Deril never imagined that he would experience something like this in his life.

"Mica... May the Lord side with us" he prayed many times.

***

Deril cannot smile naturally, as Mika opens the front door of Doctor Stephen's house for him. Plus, seeing Mika's condition getting worse, makes Deril want to cry.

Mika was limping. She was wearing a short white dress, so Deril could see bruises on her inner thighs as well as on her thin arms. "You... Is it okay?" Deril didn't know what else to ask, other than to ask such pleasantry questions.

Mika looked at Deril expressionlessly. "Every night make Papa happy" he replied. "Today, you can paint."

Deril's hands clenched at his sides. Jaw hardens. She admitted, many times, that Mika was indeed very beautiful. She's the perfect teenager with that face. But which parent would hurt his son as brutally as Doctor Stephen. Until this moment, Deril could not guess why Doctor Stephen could have a husband-wife relationship with his only child.

"I'm helping you walk, okay?" Deril was about to grab Mika's hand, but was immediately pushed aside by Mika. "Sorry!"

"Sorry," Mika said the same thing.

Deril understands. Deep down, Deril understands why Mika did it. He must be very frightened by the presence of men around him. His father sold it to a middle-aged man who was crazy s*eks. Moreover, Mika was also 'used' by her own father. Deril is here just to help Mika escape. Deril must draw clear boundaries with Mika. He didn't want to get his girl hurt because of him.

Mika leads Deril to the first floor hallway, where they painted before. The afternoon sunlight that entered from the window, made the place feel warm.

"Mrs Sonya didn't come?" ask Deril. He had to make sure that they were really just the two of them in that house.

"Home home" replied Mika. He put a canvas in front of him. Without speaking again, Mika started painting. Deril is just about to start, as Mika shifts her canvas.

ELECTRICITY WILL BE A CONSOLE. CCTV OFF.

Deril gulps spit reading Mika's message. Somehow, Mika had already thought of that plan and was about to begin.

HOWYOU?

Deril showed his canvas to Mika. Mika did not immediately answer. He looked like I was painting and playing with color. Deril did not press any further. He waited patiently. That's all he has to do now.

PAT!!!

The sound of power outages shocked Deril. He looked up, to make sure that the lights above his head were off. "It's out!"

Mika stood up straight. "I broke the cable in my room," Mika answered Deril's question. "Hurry up!" he pulled Deril's hand to get up from his seat.

Deril hurriedly followed. Mika dragged him towards the kitchen. He crouched down in front of a large minibar with marble stones lining its surface. Mika reached out her hand, then pushed against the wall of the minibar that did not seem like there was a door there. Deril's eyes widened when he saw the wall moving sideways and there was a ladder inside.

Deril rushed down the stairs. Mika follows. The stairs lead Deril to a room the size of his room with sufficient lighting. There were four large refrigerators lined up on one side of the room.

Getting a bad feeling, Deril immediately reached into his cellphone and contacted Mia. "Mom Mia!" hiss Deril.

"Are you in danger!?" sambar Mia from across, sounded panicked.

"Not now" Deril answered quickly. "There is a basement connected to a minibar table in the kitchen. I'm in it."

"Did you see anything?"

"Yes. There are four large refrigerators. I'll check one by one," Deril began to advance. He looked at Mika. "What's this?"

"Open up! Hurry along!" urge Mika.

Deril gulps. His premonition was really bad at the moment. So afraid of him, he did not even sweat and his teeth were grinding like cold. His hand grabbed the handle of the first refrigerator door. He made up his mind, and pulled the door open before he lost his mind.

"Geez!" Deril almost fell.

"What, Der!?" mia exclaimed from her cell phone.

"Ma-human.." Deryl's voice shook. He was convinced that the thing in front of him was not a puppet. But, he was also hesitant, because the thing in front of him was not exactly like a human.

"That's Fiki" Mika replied. "Cowok likes me. Flee. Papa's angry. Then stabbed. And now here."

Deril's eyes lead to seepage of blood in the abdomen of a person named Fiki. Eyes closed. Her skin was pale with ice flowers enveloping her. "When is this happening?" ask Deril.

"old. Before you come."

"Deril, relax! You don't have much time! Open the other fridge!" exclaim Mia.

Deril. He opened the second refrigerator. It was the same size as the first refrigerator. Deril's eyes glared when he saw the second face inside the number two refrigerator. "I know this woman!" exclamation Deril.

"Who?" ask Mia.

"I don't know for sure. But, I know his face," Deril replied. He tried to remember the familiar beautiful face in front of him.

"Mama Mika."

Deril looked surprised. "What?"

"Mama Mika," Mika repeated. "Mama Mika is missing. She's here" Mika pointed at the body of a woman with a beautiful face in front of Deril.

"That's your mother?" Deril made sure again.

Mika shook her head hard. "Mama Mica!" snapped it.

Deril who did not understand, almost debated again. However, considering that he did not have much time, Deril closed his mouth. "That's Mika's mother" Deril told Mia, who was still on the phone.

"I guessed it! The proof is still that guy's keeping it!" Mia became enthusiastic.

Next, Deril walked quickly towards the third refrigerator. Without waiting for instructions, he opened the refrigerator door. This time, Deril could not help his shock. He fell to the floor. His feet were shaking violently.

The body of a naked child, lying in the third refrigerator. Her long hair neatly covered the child's chest. Her little face was like she was asleep. But Deril was convinced that the boy was lifeless. Just like the others.

"That's Mika!"

Deril looked up at Mika who was behind him. "What?"

"That's Mika! I'm Ardi!" answer the person that Deril has been calling 'Mika'.

***