The River House

60. Revenge and Redemption

A pair of eyes blinked, looking at the sky with an LED light installed in the middle. Lights that light up and flicker several times, probably due to inedible age. It's time to replace it with a new one.

He tries to move his body. But for free, he felt helpless. The wounds all over his body suddenly throbbed. Galang is only able to hiss, take a breath and take it out slowly.

The next few minutes, the pain was slowly reduced. He looked up, watching the whole room. Empty, there was no one but her in the room.

To the left of the bed there is a small square window. Galang finally realized that it was night time. But what time? And how long did he sleep in that room? Galang doesn't know.

Sayup I heard the voice of the middle man talking. However, the voice was heard softly in the distance. In between the conversation there was a sound of crying. He was curious, but he couldn't do anything either. Even to just open his mouth, there was no more energy left.

He closed his eyes back. At least he's no longer at the Rich Man's house. His heart was relieved. He was safe, far from danger.

I don't know how many minutes Galang slept. Quite calm and quiet. He woke up to the sound of people talking outside the room. The voice of a woman and a man. Galang sharpened his hearing.

"I'm police. Are there any foreigners being cared for in this place?" The male voice asked.

"Yes, right. You're a friend of the two cops?" The female voice asked back. The momentary silent atmosphere.

"The midwife was also asked to go to the fire site to treat the injured people there" said a male voice.

The mood was silent again. No more conversations. The next second heard a sound of footsteps walking away. And again, the atmosphere was quiet.

Kriieeetttt Ceklek

This time the sound of the door in front of Galang opened slowly. I don't know why Galang was scared and horrified. His premonition told him there was a danger approaching. 

In the doorway, a man was seen standing with his head bowed, wearing a batik suit that fits his sturdy body. The man turned around, then closed the door.

Glekk

Galang gulped. His premonition was right, now he's in danger. Just a moment ago, he was relieved to be in a safe place. But now, Galang sure will not be able to escape from the devil who wants to take away the right of life.

"Haloo, how are you? I thought you were lucky enough" said the man in batik. He stared at Galang from head to toe.

The man in front of Galang is none other than the policeman, Bayu Khairil. Old friend who some time ago tried to harm Galang in the forest. 

Bayu sighed. Looking at Galang with a face that seemed concerned. Bayu's hands are seen wearing navy-colored cloth gloves. Then he dragged a chair and sat down beside Galang's bed.

"With a wound like this, you are still quite healthy and strong. What secret? Your life spirit is stronger than your other friends like him" Bayu smiled.

"You. .have killed everyone?" He opened his mouth. He forced his throat open and made a sound. 

"I didn't kill anyone. You, misunderstand Galang," Bayu shook his head slowly.

"The one who killed everyone was Hendra" Bayu added.

"lik! You tried to kill me. You're not a member of a drama club. You're not in our old picture. In the handwritten diary of Zainul, you are mentioned together with him as he writes for the last time before ending his life" Galang spoke more and more softly. His head feels dizzy.

"Ohh, you found the cottage apparently. Oh, you know too much. And that knowledge can harm you" Bayu rubbed the back of Galang's hand.

"By the way, where's Zainul's diary?" Ask Bayu. Silence is not flinching.

"Trust me if you tell me, your life will be saved. I am the one who will not lie. Abstinence licks its own saliva," Bayu assures.

"I don't know. I fainted, and once I woke up it was like this. My clothes have been replaced. I completely forgot," Galang sighed, feeling heavy. He has resigned. His eyes were blurry too.

"Dearly enough. Well, looks like you're not lying anyway. However, the book should not be taken from the cottage in the forest. It is the legacy of Zainul. You are presumptuous Galang," said Bayu kalem, but his tone was full of pressure.

"You remember, you used to put insects in a Zainul bag?" Continue Bayu.

Unanswered, his consciousness began to decline. He really did give up his life. The spirit and light of life in his heart had faded away.

Bayu stood up from his seat. He took the black plastic in his pocket. There are some poisonous insects there. Fire ants, and some kind of centipede. Bayu's left hand grabbed Galang's mouth, then forcefully opened it. While his right hand grabbed the black plastic and spilled its contents into Galang's mouth. Lastly, Bayu smothered Galang's mouth.

"Hmmmmhhh hmmhhh hmmhhh," The groaning groaned restrained. His round eyeballs slowly rolled upwards leaving only its white color. Just a few seconds Galang twitched, then drooped limp.

"This world is a place of vengeance and the afterlife is a place of redemption" Bayu wiped the sweat off his forehead.

Bayu left the room and disappeared in the middle of the darkness.

*

It was a busy night for the villagers. They were shocked to see Mr. Zainul, whom they knew, lying in his own courtyard lifeless, with a small pistol in his hand. The magnificent house on the riverbank belonging to the Rich Man was also destroyed by the red hero. Only leaving debris and foundations alone. Some residents had felt tightness when they inhaled a little smoke from the manchinell tree that was on fire.

While the arrival of Adi and Tarji police can be said to be too late.

* * *

A few days after the incident, a puzzling fact was discovered. The body of a man who committed suicide in the yard of a house known by local residents by the name of Zainul, in fact was a man named Hendra Asmara. There are 5 bodies that can be identified from the burning former house, after being seen from the arrangement of his teeth. The bodies were named Mardoyo, Yodi, Dipta, Tia and Denis. While in a separate place were also found three other bodies, Ellie, Iva and Norita, who were in the middle of the forest. The death toll rose when Galang was found lifeless in Polindes with his mouth full of insects. The village midwife said that she had met with a police officer who wanted to see the condition of Galang, but could not confirm who the police officer was.

* * *

"Ji, you didn't feel weird about the Rich Man house case a while ago?" Adi asked while looking at the files on the computer.

"What's so weird about Di?" Tarji asked, his mouth full of sweet martabak.

"If Hendra were the mastermind of the murder, Hendra would be killed in his yard. Who killed Galang in Polindes? So, who's the cop who met the village midwife?" Adi rubbed his chin. He seems to think.

"Come, my brain is lazy to think about it" said Tarji casually.

"One more, where is the real Zainul? Because everyone who comes there gets a large amount of money transfer from the account of Zainul Rikhman. The real Zainul" Adi continued. Tarji did not reply, only scratching his non-itchy head.

"Oh yeah, there's something strange. There should still be one more name invited to the house. A woman named Mella. Mella's family has made a report of the loss. Mella disappeared and her body was not found in the debris of the burning house, also in the forest area. And my mind is very disturbed by the fact that, Mella and Bayu are close friends. A few days before disappearing, Mella's family said that she had permission to leave the house to coffee with Bayu," Adi still looked at the computer screen seriously.

"Woo cops? Our associate?" Tarji scrunched his forehead.

"Yes. The time of this case occurred, coincided with Bayu who applied for leave permit to his brother's house is not clear where. A very unusual coincidence," Adi leaned her body on the chair, she looked up at the sky of her study.

Tok tok tok tok

Suddenly the door was knocked. A fellow police officer smiled at the door.

"There are those who are looking for Mr. Adi in front" said the police officer.

"Who?" Ask Adi. He felt he had no promise with anyone.

"A young woman sir."

Adi thought for a moment and immediately got out of his chair.

"Suit suit. . Rivali Sinta nih kayaknya," led Tarji with a laugh.

"Your grandmother's saltooo!"

Adi rushed out of the room. He wondered who was looking for him?

And it turns out that the female figure who was looking for Adi was Nurma, the village midwife. His attitude was shy and doubtful.

"Mbak Nurma how are you? What is it gonna take, Ma'am?" Adi asked politely.

"Sorry, Mas. . .eh, Mr. Adi. There is something I need to give to njenengan," said Nurma brick. He opened his sling bag, then took out a red-coated book. Nurma thrust the book at Adi.

"What's this?" Adi asked astonishment.

"This is the item brought by the person I treated in Polindes that Mr. Adi. I'm sorry, I'm a little forgotten about this thing," Nurma lowered her head.

A hint, so thought Adi. Nurma immediately said goodbye after handing over the book. Adi smiled as he waved a glance. And a picture fell out of the book. Adi picked it up and then noticed the photo. Everything looks foreign, nothing he knows.

"Ahh, I seem to have to overtime again," muttered Adi.

Meanwhile in the distance, Bayu observed Adi's movements. His hands were tightly clenched. His teeth clashed.

DONE???

__________

Don't go anywhere, because this story will continue.

The next chapter will clearly bring new stories and cases to solve the old case. ahh, how the hell is it complicated? just wait, yeah.

What is clear is that I still write and organize the plot, hopefully more exciting.

for the first case, it is finished

We meet again in the second case of the River House.

Give me a few days to catch my breath for a moment. Don't move to another heart, stay here 😀.

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Not all stories have a happy ending. Not all stories have an explanation.

Dude Kus, March 2022

See you again in the month of fasting.

Syeeeemmmaaaaaattt