The Monster In Me

Owner of the Playground?

“Sial! Didn't he bring his phone?” mooed Irwan while saving his own phone as hard as he could. Refraining from exploding with anger, while his wife was still weakly drooping by his side. “Basic useless child! It usually just adds to the burden of parents!”

“You how many times have you cursed Adnan like that?” ask the Goddess suddenly. Apparently he had now been strong enough to open both his eyes and sit upright beside Irwan. He resolutely refused a bottle of mineral water that Irwan had offered him. “Continue nagging won't solve anything. You better ask the officers again. There may be good news.”

Irwan snorted violently. “What good news will we get? It was obvious that the officers just kept quiet in position. No one dared to go inside, even to simply observe the situation. Just wasting time!”

“But as long as we're still here, we'd better take advantage of the opportunity to—“

“Already, silent!” cut Irwan without caring about the face of heartache shown by the Goddess. “Trust me, all the ideas that you have thought of now have been thought of by me first. I didn't do it because it was all for free! You better get ready.”

The goddess swallowed with great difficulty. Her throat seemed to narrow as she looked at her husband's expression. The years together allowed him to understand Irwan easily, just by observing the man's face.

Irwan is no longer trying to find a way to save them. The body of the Goddess instantly shook after realizing that her husband had decided to give up. Irwan is now moving out of the car, about to move into the driver's seat.

“After the jam at the back unravels, we will immediately turn back,” said Irwan firmly without even looking back. Both of his hands had prepared on the steering wheel, while his eyes were still staring at the barricade that stood several meters ahead. Blocked by several cars that also load the family of the visitors of the Cakrabuana Playground are still unknown.

Just this time the Goddess did not feel happy to have guessed her husband's thoughts precisely. He was hoping that he was hallucinating because of dehydration. Unfortunately, no. Slowly he could feel their car start to shake because the engine had been powered by Irwan. The man now continued to look at the rearview mirror to observe the situation behind.

Then the cars behind them started moving to the side. However, not because they want to turn around, but rather want to let another car that just came to pass.

Irwan's eyes widened to see the luxury car that he could only see on television was now right behind him. The striking red color had made his eyes narrow before by reflex he directed his car slightly pulled over to give way.

The luxury car is not alone. There were several police cars complete with siren lights lit without sound that followed the luxury car right behind. Irwan opened his car window and pulled out his head to find out what was going on.

“Hey, you! Yes, you! Do you know who it is?” Adira's father asked the other driver in front of him, shouting. The driver was also sticking his head full of curiosity.

“I don't know either, Sir,” he replied while looking back. Apparently he was still young, or at least, his face looked young. Probably only a few years older than Adnan.

“Ah, basic! No use!” Irwan cursed and tried to find out more by getting out of his car. Ignoring the shout of reply from the young man he had just asked.

For decades of life, Irwan has been used to throw and receive swearing from the right and left, front and back. He always knows that life is difficult, so there is no harm in venting frustration or helplessness by cursing. And he also has no problem being the target of the curse of others, as long as it does not cross the line.

In the same way, Irwan has made Adnan never really able to defy him.

However, all the maki scolding and screams around him were increasingly heard a lot and loud. Making Irwan then frown. He did not feel that he had made a mistake that made him worthy of being the target of insults from people he did not even know, in the place he had first come. Something is strange.

When Irwan distracts him from the luxury car in front of him, that's when he understands.

Everyone there was not cursing at him, but at the man in the luxury car who was seen sitting relaxed even though many people started throwing stones at his car windows.

“Wah! Whoa! What's the matter? Who is that guy?” Irwan continued to wonder with a loud voice, trying to beat the noise that was happening around, while also picking up the stone he was able to find. Without even knowing the reason, Irwan joined the people who threw stones at the luxury car. “Have they all gone mad for too long waiting for clarity?”

“Down you! Why come if only to hide behind your dating train!”

“Take responsibility! Save our kids from your hell Playground!”

“Dead you! Die!”

Slowly, after concentrating all of his concentration, Irwan was finally able to hear some of the sentences being shouted with a little more clarity. Both of his eyes were wide. If the guess is correct, it means that the person who is sitting in the luxury car is not an ordinary person.

“Dia ... owner of Cakrabuana Playground?” irwan. It seemed hard for him to believe, because he really did not understand, what was the reason for such an important person to come to a place like this. Moreover, that person seemed to be doing nothing meaningful to cope with all the unexpected situations. So, what for?

‘What ... he wants to see how miserable the families of visitors who are trapped in his Playground?’ Irwan started thinking things out. He really can never be prejudiced to others, especially people who are able to intimidate him just by appearance.

And the man who said he owned the Cakrabuana Playground was really close to making him bow with just a charm that penetrated the car window. Irwan doesn't like that very much.

So without thinking further, Irwan took a few steps back to do a scramble, before running as hard as he could to hit a luxury car that was still surrounded by many police officers. His actions invited the families of the other victims to join him and braved the police defenses with him.

The goddess could only watch all this chaos from inside the car while continuing to chant prayers for her little girl.

***