The River House

49. Out of the woods

When the sound of gunfire came from the house by the river, Ellie and Iva had reached the climbs in the middle of the hills. Ellie stopped her steps, looking at Iva questioningly.

"That's Ell. Don't look back" Iva said, patting Ellie on the shoulder.

"That was Va's gunshot. The house of Zainul. What the hell's going on? Who fired the shot?" Ellie looked curious and anxious.

"Eitherway. Bayu said he did not carry any weapons. Could he be lying? Or maybe the strange Mak Ijah? Mr Mardoyo? Mella's? Denise? Too complicated to think about. What is clear is that our decision to go home at this time is very appropriate" said Iva.

Iva walks ahead of Ellie. He tried to speed up the pace. For him, the sooner he gets out of the forest, the more secure his safety will be. Iva felt lucky not to be killed like his other friends, let alone he went home with an account balance that increased by 100 million.

Ellie sighed. Then walk back after Iva. His heart was still worried and asked, was it really the decision he took?

Ellie and Iva are at the top of the hill. The area looks spacious with knee-high elephant grass. In the middle there is a large acacia tree towering. And leaning against the tree, a man in bloodstained clothes. The man sat there, motionless.

"Ell, it's Hendra!" Screeched Iva.

Ellie looked at him for a moment. And it's true, the man covered in blood is Hendra. Iva and Ellie immediately ran up to Hendra.

Hendra seemed to be drooping. His breath sounds harsh. His eyes are soft and his face pale. Clearly, the man was frightened.

"You why Hen? Where's Norita?" Ellie asked as she shook Hendra's shoulder slowly.

"I need water" said Hendra Lirih.

Iva immediately lowered the backpack from her back. Take out one bottle of mineral water with half the remaining content. He thrust it at Hendra, who was immediately downed unceremoniously.

"What's going on?" Ellie asked back.

"I saw Norita being beaten by someone" Hendra replied, holding his breath.

"Who?" Ellie and Iva asked.

"I don't know. The figure was wearing a black robe, carrying a club and a knife. I tried to help Norita, but I failed" replied Hendra with trembling hands.

"Blood on your shirt means. . .," Ellie noticed a red stain that had dried on Hendra's shirt.

"It's Norita's blood" Hendra said softly.

"Gosh, that means Norita has. . .," Iva shut her mouth in disbelief.

"Where did it happen? And how did you get here?" Ellie frowned.

"Me and Norita are looking for Denis on the front page of the house. We saw a shadow of a man in the forest. I thought it was Denis, but we were trapped. Norita was beaten and I ended up running here" replied Hendra.

"Iva and I have found no one under Hen. You're not lying, are you?" Ellie looked at Hendra sharply.

"Why am I lying? That criminal could be targeting us right now. He could be hiding around here. But thank God, I think with three we win the sum. I feel safer now," Hendra sighed in relief.

"You're more timid than I thought Hen. Aren't you quite a boxing expert?" Ellie was surprised by Hendra's attitude.

"That figure was Ellie's gun. As far as I was concerned, in the presence of a cold-blooded killer, my body trembled," Hendra was annoyed at Ellie's words.

"That's it. Not the time to argue, we should keep going so as to get out of this forest immediately," Iva interceded.

"I'm still very weak to walk" Hendra complained.

"Then I will leave you," Iva chimed in. He doesn't seem to care.

"Yes. Getting out of this forest is our only chance of surviving Ellie" Iva replied.

"It's okay Ellie. What Iva said was true. You guys walk first. I'll stop here for a moment, I'll catch up" Hendra said, trying to smile.

"No. I'll stop here with you, Hen. I don't want to leave anyone anymore. Together I'm sure we're safer" Ellie dropped her backpack on the ground.

"Sorry Ellie, this time we have to part ways. I don't want to delay my only opponent to survive. I'll leave you guys. Immediately follow later," Iva had made up her mind. He was very confident, getting out of the forest would keep him alive.

Iva tightened her backpack, then stepped away leaving Ellie with Hendra. Ellie sighed while looking at Iva's back that was running further and further away.

"Ellie, you should go with Iva" said Hendra, bowing.

"It's okay. We'll catch up with him as soon as we recover your strength. In my backpack it seems like there are some biscuits that can add to your energy," Ellie opened her backpack.

Hendra approached, and suddenly hugged Ellie tightly.

"Hey hey, what's wrong with you?" Ellie asked, not understanding.

"I told you Ellie, you should just go with Iva" whispered Hendra.

Ellie was about to release Hendra's grip when her neck felt pierced by a needle. Injections about his neck veins. Ellie did not have time to complain, suddenly her eyes were cuddled with fireflies. 

"What are you doing?" Ellie asked softly. His hands and feet felt weak.

"You stay here first Ellie," replied Hendra still tightly hugging Ellie's body.

Ellie felt the world turn for a moment. His eyelids are heavy, drowsiness comes suddenly. Ellie was about to hold on, but closing her eyes was much more comfortable. In the last second before her consciousness disappeared, Ellie had seen Hendra's smile curling on her thin lips.

Meanwhile, Iva had gone far enough. He had a look at the clock on his HP screen. The middle of the day is gone. The hunger began to eat away at his stomach.

In front of Iva, the streets started to decline. Iva sighed. His strength had been much reduced, tired clearly he felt. Dahaga also tortured his throat. He was a little sorry about the last water supply he gave Hendra.

Iva strengthened her resolve. He must leave the forest immediately. Her husband and family are waiting for her return. Iva started to step back.

Just a few steps Iva walked down the hill, she saw a sack lying in the middle of the road. The sack that was originally thought to contain animal feed grass actually contained something that made Iva jump with excitement.

There were sheets of red sheets of paper scattered around the sack. Iva picked it up greedily. Iva laughed out loud, as piles of money filled the worn-out sack. 

"Could this be the money Zainul promised? Why would it fall in a place like this?" Iva asked in her heart.

But Iva doesn't care. Obviously, the money was no man, and when he checked, was groped and handcuffed it was real money. Iva took the car keys in her backpack. Then he threw the contents of his other backpack onto the ground just like that. Iva moved the money in the sack into her backpack.

Iva was so excited that she didn't realize there was someone behind her. The man quickly smothered and snared Iva's neck from behind using a black elastic object. A rubber tire.

Iva's not picking, she's hugged and locked. His face was red, his neck veins were prominent and green. His heart was beating faster as if it was about to explode. Iva can only scratch and hit, but the power is weak.

Iva turned her head, looking at the figure that was snaring her neck. He could only stare without making a sound. His eyeballs bulged, reddish in color because his blood vessels had ruptured.

"You've put used gum on Zainul's shirt and bench. You think that's funny? Apologize to her in the dead, bangs*t!" Umpat the figure who ensnared Iva. 

Iva twitched for a moment. Until finally the body of the theater performer was drooped limp not breathing.

Connect ___