THE MYSTERY OF THE FOREST

#22

The clock has shown at 5am when Harjan is still sitting in front of his desk. After he was busy in front of his laptop, now he was seen noticing five leaves running in front of him. The wet leaves were found by his employees in Farhan's sun-dried pocket. Most people know that leaf. That's marijuana leaf. Harjan. He could not guess why Farhan kept the illicit leaf in his pocket. He still could not believe Farhan was consuming or growing the plant. But he will still ask Farhan later if the case is finished. There must be a reason why Farhan kept that leaf.

Harjan looks like he's starting to yawn. He kept the leaf in his closet drawer again. He then got up and walked towards the door. The wind hit his fat body when the door was in his dunya. The atmosphere outside seemed empty. There were only officers at the guard post who sounded occasionally singing. Flashlight is visible from the spear boat on patrol, greeting each other with officers who were on guard at the floating post in the middle of the sea. Because the air outside was too cold, Harjan closed the door and laid his body on his bed.

The sound of the waves crashing sounded sahut memahut. The dark sky revealed countless sparkling stars. The vast and endless space becomes the reflection of those who think to reflect on the greatness of the Creator.

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Slowly the atmosphere inside the forest started to look bright. The sound of birds one by one is like racing to wake up nature. The wind that occasionally blows like to expel the thick fog that every day always bothers the bright morning. Sunlight seemed to scatter in search of the gap between the black clouds that surrounded the eastern sky. Eve was cold. The rustling sound of the rest of the drizzle on the treetop foliage, as well as the gurgling of water flowing to the lower plains, added to the cold atmosphere within the forest.

Hardian and Farhan were still hiding behind the tree. Their eyes did not turn towards the huge tree fifty meters away. The atmosphere around is still quiet. There's nothing suspicious. Only a few birds were seen beginning to perch on the roots dangling over a large tree. The occasional large lizard passing by in the bushes shocked them. Farhan, who had been awake since, was itching all over his body, approaching towards Farhan who seemed not to look forward.

"Hour 6:30" said Hardian when Farhan asked what time it was. Farhan checked his feet. Several ants and centipedes were seen gathering around his muddy footrest.

The morning atmosphere in the forest began to sound crowded by the chirping of several birds that perched at the top of the trees. His voice split through the forest. Tonggeret sounded boisterous in the depths of the forest. It was like waking up a tree that was still covered in mist.

Hardian gave a long sigh. There was also nothing visible in front of the tree where they were hiding. Hardian turned to look towards Farhan. An overnight vigil at the place, with uncomfortable conditions, made Farhan look bored and wanted to immediately check out the surroundings. But Hardian immediately prevented it. He asked me to be patient for a few more minutes. Hardian believes his instincts as an intel man will soon be proven. He was sure, the mysterious man would not go too far into the forest with such a limp condition.

Hardian himself focused his eyes more towards something like a mound that was wrapped around the roots of the big tree. The plants propagate, grow lush fill the root part of the tree that dangles. Under the big tree, a one-meter tall fern plant thrives leaning between the dangling roots of the tree.

Hardian shifted his sitting position further aside. His frowning forehead with eyes that pinched like to show that he was interested in something in front of him. The mound he saw seemed to extend backwards, approximately three meters. Hardian sighed softly and returned to his original position. Hardian brought his mouth closer to Farhan's ear as if to whisper Farhan something. But he suddenly pulled his head.

Hardian bowed his body and signaled Farhan to do the same. There was visible movement around the fern plant that grew bushy under that huge tree. Both Hardian and Farhan held their breaths together. Without any movement. Only their eyes did not turn away from something that made the fern plant sway. And not long after, someone was seen crawling out from under the roots of the tree. Both hearts are beating. One of Hardian's hands began to fumble around the gun hanging from his waist. The same thing Farhan did. The machete lying next to him grabbed slowly.

The man in the black jacket was seen standing. After paying attention to the surroundings, he fixed the position of the vines in front of him so that the hole where it came out was barely visible anymore. Likewise with fern plants. Looks ordinary and like never touched at all.

The man looks around him. After making sure his surroundings were safe, the large scythe in his hand was inserted behind his shabby jacket.

"He's a human or a Han monster" Hardian whispered in Farhan's ear, as the man revealed his face, right at them. Farhan just shook his head. The feather stands. The face of the man in front of him was so scary. It was entirely filled with black spots as big as marbles. His eyes were no longer visible due to the lump. I don't know, what disease is lodged in the face and maybe also all over the body of the man.

"Monster time, sir. Frankly, horrified to see it," whispered Farhan trying to drive away the tension between them. Hardian smiled.

The man was seen stepping away from the big tree. He seemed to be going towards his field. He was getting further and more invisible behind the tree. Hardian and Farhan got up, but remained in a hiding position behind the tree.

"Now we are for duty. I will follow the man and you will go inside. Be careful, we don't know how many people are in there" Hardian said. Farhan nodded. The machete that was tied around his waist came off and held it tightly. Slowly, he began to step his feet towards the big tree. While Hardian himself was intent on turning around looking for another direction to follow the man.