The River House

L. Miko's Return

Mak Surti was lying limp in his room. Tears have dried, swollen eyelids flushed. Occasionally he heard his roaring groans calling Miko.

In his heart Mak Surti regretted his decision to accompany Anggun moving to a new house in the forest interior. Staying in the middle of the wilderness away from the crowd that was originally for the sake of getting calm, in fact even brought disaster.

"Yuuu. . .Miko. If only we hadn't moved here, it wouldn't have happened like this, son. If we had stayed in the city, you would have been a smart student at school. .huuuuu," Mak Surti sobbed.

Emotionally, Mak Surti scratched his own hair. Miko is the lantern of life for Mak Surti. For many years the household did not get offspring. In her growing older age she got a boon, a healthy and handsome boy whom she named Miko.

Taking care of Miko while serving the Lawanto Ferry family can Mak Surti do smoothly. The boy was rarely fussy. Even when invited to move to the new house Anggun, Miko did not need long to adapt. Now, Mak Surti can only hug the photo of his little hero.

"Yourself. . .Mikoo, go home son. Hugged your bundle. I'm sorry I can't take care of you, son" Mak Surti lamented again. He hit his own chest. Self-torture is sometimes the choice of some people to vent their guilt.

Amidst the despair Mak Surti felt a small hand caress his head. His soft finger with the distinctive aroma of telon oil, made Mak Surti stunned. Mak Surti's eyes are already severely swollen, difficult to see clearly.

In a blurry eye view, Mak Surti faintly saw the shadow of the little boy sitting beside him. Mak Surti stopped crying, looking at the figure of a little boy who looked like Miko, sitting smiling with sparkling eyes.

"Miko? Is this a dream?" Mak Surti rubbed his eyes.

Slowly Mak Surti touched the little hand of the child. A touch that feels real. Mak Surti was sure he was not dreaming or hallucinating. And finally the woman grabbed Miko and cried as it happened.

"Huuuu. .you're coming home son," Mak Surti cried happily. He did not notice a female figure leaning against the doorway of his room.

After a while Mak Surti finally came to a realization with the presence of a terrible figure with a part of his face that shriveled the burn scars. Mak Surti immediately stood up, picked up Miko and hid the toddler behind her.

"A what do you want? I have nothing to do with you! Don't bother my son!" snapped Mak Surti with a raucous voice. His throat was sore from crying for too long.

"I returned your son. Taking her doesn't make me get what I want. Taking him would only make me a criminal. But I am not a criminal. I'm just the one who wants to go back to my family like I used to. Don't get me wrong," the hideous female figure was seen shedding tears, then walking away with a drag next to her feet.

Mak Surti was silent. He did not understand at all the words of the terrible figure who had kidnapped Miko. What is certain is that the female figure with a burn on part of her face had vanished into the darkness of the night.

"Son, let's get out of this house" Mak Surti told Miko.

Mak Surti immediately snatched the tote bag that was on top of the closet. He put Miko's clothes, and her son's favorite lego toy. Mak Surti also took a sling made of Graceful cotton from the closet. In a hurry he picked up Miko and carried her.

"Let's get out of this godforsaken house!" mak Surti said once again and immediately went out of the room while carrying a bag that had been filled with Miko's equipment and clothes.

"Which father?" miko asked with her innocent face. Mak Surti did not reply. For him now the most important thing is the safety of Miko. She will send a WA message to her husband later when things are safe.

Passing through the silent dining room Mak Surti sped up his pace. The lights of the room that had forgotten to be lit added to the frightening impression of the new house of his employer.

"Sorry sir, Miss, I'm saying goodbye. May you calm down" Mak Surti cried sobbing.

Although his knees were limp, as if the supporting bones of his body were disappearing, Mak Surti still forced his feet to step past the lifeless body of his master. One thing strengthens Mak Surti, his desire to take Miko away from the cursed riverfront house.

When he reached the front porch of the house, Mak Surti stopped his steps. Two strangers appeared to run towards him. Mak Surti put on a horse alert.

"Who are y'all? Want what?" yelled Mak Surti keeping his distance. Miko hugged her frightened mother.

"Ah, sorry we're from the police. My name is Adi and the one behind it is my colleague Tarji" said the male figure who arrived first while showing his identity card.

"Sir police, please escort me away from this cursed house," Mak Surti cried. Her feelings are a little relieved, but she is still not calm as long as Miko has not really moved away from Anggun's new home. A house that wreaks havoc.

"Silence Ma'am. Tell me briefly what happened?" tanya Adi tried to calm Mak Surti down.

"I'm a maid in this house sir. There's a broken-faced woman in the back of the house. That woman kidnapped my son, sir. That's why I have to immediately take my son away from this doom-bearer's house," Mak Surti replied brickly.

"Keep in the living room, all my employers are dead sir. I don't know, just take this kid out of the woods right now, sir" Mak Surti shouted hysterically.

"Haahhh haaa haaahh, shit! Tired of running away!" Tarji just arrived at the porch of the house while wiping the sweat on his forehead.

"Ji, get the mother and the child out of the forest. Once you reach the settlement, ask this mother for information. You have to take care of her, and don't let this mother go anywhere. Stay in the village until I get back!" tukas Adi gave the order. Tarji is still breathing.

"We're gonna get mom out of this place. But please cooperative mother, stay in the village and don't run away" Adi stared intently at Mak Surti.

"I understand Sir. As long as I can get out of this place, I will obey. I'm ready to be a witness for the police force" Mak Surti pleaded.

"Tarji, there's a motor beside the house. Even without the key you can turn it on?" ask Adi.

"I've learned the lesson if the matter is not you need to ask Dii," replied Tarji proud of himself.

"Mom, please come with my partner!" adi's orders to Mak Surti.

"In, the heart of the heart. If it's till midnight you haven't returned to the village I'll catch up with you here!" tarji looked at Adi with a serious expression. Adi chuckled at the sight of Tarji who was usually a hilarious face now displaying an expression without a smile.

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