by Faulina Arif
"Make us a tea!" Burhan yell while looking at the kitchen where his aide was.
"Right away, sir!" A reply was heard from the kitchen.
Burhan look at his nephew."How's your wife and son?"
"Healthy as ever, uncle." Ichsan smiled. "And how about you, uncle?and Alya?"
"I'm fine. And Alya . . . In campus I think."
"College in Saturday? I think all of campus was off."
"Well . . . I think she had an extra activities. it's common for a youngster, right?" Burhan smiled.
A woman in her 50th was appeared, she carrying two cup of tea on the tray. then, she put it in front of Burhan and Ichsan.
After that she was leaving, Ichsan looked at his uncle with serious facial expression.
"Uncle, can you be a bit serious?" Ichsan asked
"Hum? What's wrong nephew?" Burhan asked while sipping his tea
"Why did I get transferred inhere all of sudden?"
"Hey, you asked that again?" Burhan forehead crinkled. He put his tea cup in the table.
"Well . . . I just, unsatisfied with your answer before."
Burhan takes a deep breath "Didn't I just say it before, we are short of senior officer. Because you are idle in your previous office, we take you in. How's that?"
"I'm not idling, uncle. It is just, there was no criminal case."
"That's why, that's the reason we take you in. Because this region had so many criminal cases.Alright?"
Ichsan fall silent. he looked at his tea cup that was in front of him with perplexed mind. And after a few second, he once again look at his uncle.
"Uncle, what exactly is that creatures?"
"Ah, those?They are monsters." Burhan answered
"I mean, where are they come from? What do they want? And . . . who are those man in black suit? All of this is undoubtedly suspicious."
"Ichsan calm down, your mission is to clean the crime scene, only that."
"Cleaning a crime scene is not a case uncle, the true case is what I ask you about. Please answer me, uncle!"
"Huff . . . " Burhan exhaling his breath "Those man in black suit, is a government highest secret agent."
"Government agent??" Ichsan forehead crinkled. "They are foreigner in my eyes, not from our government."
"Yes, you are correct, they are foreigner. and, about those monsters, they are now still investigating them. During that time, we helped them to clean the crime scene to prevent any public disorder."
"So, where are those monsters came from?"
"One of those agent leader informed us, that, those monsters is a product from some research which is conducted by a most powerful and influenced man in the world. But I don't know who" Burhan sighed. "That is the only thing that I know."
Ichsan was speechless for a long time, and then he said "I see . . . " He drink his tea that was now cold.
"Want to eat lunch together?"
"Wow, what a coincidence. I was hungry." Ichsan smile widely.
IRISE DELEGNERE
In a long silence, Hafiz looked at Marsha that sit in front of him. He always want to hold a serious conversation with Marsha. But, when he think this was the right time, his head was filled with thought. A thought whether he was the one to speak or Reyn to take his place to talk.
Marsha was know and realize why did Hafiz looking at her like that. She just don’t want to start a quarrel between them, in truth she wanted to ignore him all along. While he was ignored, Hafiz became more and more unmoved like a guard robot looking at a criminal. That made Marsha annoyed, and eventually she had enough. Marsha look back at Hafiz and it make him surprised, he suddenly turn his head to his computer monitor.
"Looking at me like that, do you need something?" Marsha asked
Hafiz that was discovered had no choice but to see her again, he look at her still in silence for a moment. "Marsha . . . , it'd be best for you to stop doing this and live a normal life. Like other teenagers in your age."
Marsha eyes squinted "What do you mean?"
"This is too dangerous. you don’t want to go to school and make a friends with other people in your age?"
Marsha closes the book in her hand without diverting her eyesight from Hafiz.
"Teenagers at your age like to have fun, like going to café, sightseeing, go to karaoke and many more. You wanted that too, right?"
"That activity is just wasting time and money. You can see right? I'm not that rich."
"About that don’t you worry, Reyn and I have talked about that. And, he was agreed with me. Just leave the matter of money to us, we don’t want you to feel any danger.
"Then, who will create the drone? I think you or Reyn can't do it. You know this right? I was different from those teenagers in your mind. Those guys in your imagination is just a spoiled prince and princess. They never know about the cruelty of this world, and how about me? I know those things more than anything. How can I turn my face around knowing all of that cruelty?"
"I really wishes you to have a bright life and future, also a comfortable life. Far away from danger. I don’t want you to become like me."
At that moment Marsha fall silent. She looked at her book then she looked at Hafiz. "You know, how was my feeling when both of my parent die? I feel nothing, not even crying. But, at that time when I know who was their murderer. I don't know why, but I feel an anger, the only thing that I know is vengeance. Thanks to that, my life in a mess, I can't live a normal life. when I still not understand what love, happiness, and trust is. Those devil only gave me anger, malice, distrust, and grudge instead."
Marsha looked back at a book in her hand. That dark past return to haunt her, a dark memory that she never want to remember, a dark memory that she wanted to seal away deep inside her mind.
A man in his age of 34th years old, throw some of photo album to the blaze of fire. he then moved to a pile of papers beside him and throw it all to the fire. he let the mighty flame burn it all away.
"D-daddy . . . why burning our family picture?" A little girl in her age of 10 years old that stand behind that man asked. she looked in confusion at a strange things her father do.
That man can only stay silent, he don’t want to answer his daughter. his eyes still staring at that blaze of flame that burning away all of his family precious moments .
Unanswered, that little girl running inside their house looking for her mother.
"Mama-mama, Daddy burning our picture mama, you see!" that little girl running inside her mother's room, it's door was leave open.
"Marsha, quickly take your jacket!" A young woman that was called mother for a while looked at her only daughter. and then she put many clothes inside a suitcase.
"But, daddy . . . "
"Marsha!" that young woman glared at Marsha and make that little girl running to her room and take her jacket like she was ordered before. After that, Marsha returning to her mother's room.
Arisha slip some money between her daughter stack of clothes in the suitcase with hurry. Then she pull Marsha's hand and get out of the room, then they walked toward the garage.
"Mama, where are we going?" Marsha asked in confusion while entering the car.
Arisha not answering her daughter, she quickly entering the car and driving it.leaving their house, she drive the car through the quiet afternoon.
"Mama, where we go?" Marsha asked while looking at her mother.
Arisha glance at Marsha with a sorrowful smile.
"What's wrong mama?"
"Nothing a matter, dear.If Marsha feel sleepy, Marsha can just sleep."
Marsha slowly nod.
Arisha smiled, a smile that she forced to do. Arisha increasing her car speed. Ignoring all the pain in her heart, Arisha firm up her resolve and grab the steer tightly. Not long after that they was arrived in front of a plain house. Arisha and Marsha exiting the car and then go toward the door, Arisha knocking the door with worry.Shortly the door opened and someone she know was there, it made her a bit relieved.
&nb
sp; "M-madam? What's the matter? Why suddenly come here?" A woman named Santi asked, she was Marsha caretaker.
"Can I come in?" Arisha asked.
"Y-yes, please!" Santi Invited Arisha to come in.
Marsha following her mother without letting go of her mother's hand.
After Santi closing the door, Arisha look at Santi "Santi, can we talk in private?" She asked
Santi nod in confusion.
Arisha look at her daughter. "Wait in here, don't go anywhere, Okay?" She look at Marsha while showing the love sign that she always taught to Marsha. Combining both hands finger of index and thumb until it form a love sign, she do it while she smiled.
Marsha nod. "Okay, mama." She answered while showing the love sign.
Then, Arisha go toward Santi room and talked there. Meanwhile in Marsha side, she approaching the chair that was near her and sit there neatly. Waiting just like her mother asked.
5 minutes later, the conversation is over. Arisha return then sit beside her daughter. Arisha slowly reached Marsha little fingers. "Marsha listen, for a little while Marsha will stay in miss Santi house." She said that word in a forced tone, she have a hard time to tell those word to her only daughter, and it made her heart ache.
"Don't want to, Miss Santi stink." Marsha answered, her face was sullen
"S-stink?" Santi stuttered while sniffing her armpit.
"Marsha . . ." Arisha called her in sad tone. "Only for a while dear. Mama will come back tonight to pick you up. Okay?"
"But . . . "
Arisha glare at her daughter. "Marsha, do as mama say."
Marsha fall quiet, she's not try to argue or whine at her mother. She just looked at her mother and suddenly Arisha embrace Marsha tightly.
"Ma-Marsha, can't breathe . . . " She said in soft voice
Arisha let her go, she kissed both of Marsha cheek and forehead before she leaving Santi house.
With a sullen face and in silence, Marsha waving her hand toward Arisha. Marsha continued to stand in front of Santi house until Arisha car was vanished. She doesn't know why, but she can feel something obstructing her mind. as if, that something will be snatched from her life.
For a while Santi can persuade Marsha to leave the door and makes Marsha feel at home. Santi invite her to play so that she will not remember about her parent. But when the clock turn to 10 o'clock in the night, Marsha become restless. For several times she check at her wristwatch and sometimes she run to window, looked at the darkness outside Santi house. For a long time she was waiting, when will her mother appear and pick her up from her caretaker house. Marsha fall silent, she sharpen her hearing, waiting the sound of her mother car that may be there in a short while. but, the clock in her wristwatch show an 11 o'clock, the person she waiting all along is not appeared. Marsha crying, she was crying for a long time until she fall asleep. In the morning Marsha wake up, the first thing she said.
"Miss, take Marsha home, Marsha want to go home . . . " Marsha whine.
Remembering Arisha word yesterday, Santi try to makes Marsha calm. Santi invite her to play some games, but her effort was nil. Marsha starting to cry, she did not want to eat or just drink her milk. Santi confused and then she decide to comply with Marsha request. she doesn't want Marsha to fall sick.
After 20 minutes more or less with bus, they arrived in front of a big house with a big yard. Marsha quickly running entering the house yard then climbing a chair and pushing the bell for a few times. The door was opened, a familiar face appeared before Marsha. At that times Marsha smile widely, then she jumped to Arisha, in surprise she catch her daughter to her arms.
"Mama . . . Why did mama not coming?" Marsha asked while in her mother arms.
Arisha embracing her daughter tightly then hold her into their house. Santi following behind Arisha.
"Why you're here?" Arisha asked Santi.
"Forgive me madam, Marsha was crying and whining, she wanted to go home. sheeven don't want to eat, I'm afraid if she become sick." Santi answered.
Arisha sighed and made Marsha sit in the living room. "Marsha, don't be like that, Marsha should hear miss Santi. Mama will be sad if Marsha behave like that." Arisha lecturing her daughter that was sitting in front of her.
Marsha looked at her mother with sullen face. "Mama lying to Marsha, Mama is not coming for Marsha." She said
"Marsha listen, starting now Marsha must learn to be a strong child. you will be a great woman, Marsha. unlike your weak mother." Arisha once again hugged Marsha and pouring all her feeling of love towards her loved one.
She feel hard to breathe, her eyes let out a little tears, she quickly wipe her tears that suddenly fall. Marsha will be fine, she whispered in her little mind.
"Mama?what's wrong?" Marsha asked whilst confused, seeing her mother crying with forced smile.
Arisha shake her head slowly while looking at her. she touch Marsha cheek softly and kiss her forehead, then kissed both of her cheek with love.
Santi become confused looked at Arisha that was not in her usual self. But Santi did not dare to ask Arisha and decided to stay quiet.
Suddenly they heard the bell sounded. Arisha shocked and quickly look toward the door. Her tears was stopped. He stare at her husband that suddenly appeared from his working room and then he walked toward the window.
A cold sweat dampen Darma face. He opened the curtain slightly and peek to the outside. at that times his heart beating very hard, his face become completely pale. Darma gulped and look at his wife, he was shocked to find Marsha in Arisha lap. His fear that his felt was now increased. Darma look at his wife intently with a short nod.
Arisha understand what that sign meant. She look back at Marsha that now sitting in her lap while playing with her hair. " Marsha, let's play! we play hide and seek!" Arisha smiled then looked at Santi "Miss Santi will join in, Okay?!"
"Hurray . . . " Marsha shouted in fun
Arisha smiled then put Marsha down from her lap "Mama will be the devil. okay?"
Marsha immediately run leaving her mother.
Arisha looked at Santi "Santi, quickly hide with Marsha!"
"But, where should I hide madam?" Santi asked in confusion.
"Marsha usually hide in her wardrobe right in her room. Don't come out before I say so. Hurry!"
Santi nod. She follow Arisha order and quickly go after Marsha in her room. But when she was arrived in Marsha's room, Santi was surprised to find that this room was changed and looked different than usual. No more decoration that before was there to beautify this room for little Marsha, and those pile of stuffed animal that always here before was no longer here. Even Marsha warm and comfortable bed is gone. Now it was changed to an old bed and there was only a single old wardrobe.
In confusion, Santi closed the room door and come near Marsha. That little girl was also confused to see her room. "Let's hide, Mama will find us."
"Miss, Where is Marsha bed and animals?" Marsha asked.
"Maybe they are also hiding, Marsha dear. Let's hide!"
Marsha nod then go into the wardrobe with Santi. Inside the wardrobe, Marsha is holding her laugh, she hope that her mother will not find her.
Bang . . . Bang . . . Bang . . .
Suddenly there's a loud sound that was heard for three times.
Santi eyes open widely. Both of her hands grabbing Marsha shoulder that in front of her tightly.
"Miss?who is it that play a firecracker?" Marsha asked while whispering
They looked at each other. Suddenly Santi remember about Arisha strange behavior and her last message to her.
'Don't come out before I say so.' Santi body immediately trembling, she gulped. both of her arms embracing Marsha.
"Miss . . . ?" Marsha called
"SHH!" Santi telling Marsha to be quiet "Mama will find us." She said in low voice
Marsha fall quiet. she decide not to talk anymore and shut her mouth tightly. She don't want to be discovered by her mother.
Bang . . .
; Once again that loud sound was heard. A deadly fear comes into Santi mind. She know something horrible was happened to Marsha parents out there. But, she can't do anything than only hug Marsha. That young woman close her eyes and pray to god for their safety.
Bang . . . Brakkk! The sound of something falling was heard in front of Marsha's room.
"Mission completed." A man's voice was heard
A few second later Marsha room door was opened. Santi and Marsha take a peek in a gap of the wardrobe. A man with a tall figure wearing a black suit standing beside a body of someone they know.
Marsha and Santi was surprised. Santi close her mouth with both of her hands in order not to scream. And during that time, Marsha body was stiff, she looked at that body in silence with unexplainable feeling.
That man looked around the room. "No more person inside, I am sure I killed everyone in here." That man turned away and leaving the room.
For a moment Marsha and Santi is still unmoved inside the wardrobe. After they not hearing any footsteps. Santi opened the wardrobe and then run toward Arisha body. Santi shake Arisha body while calling her name.
"Madam, Madam Arisha! Please wake up!" Santi can't hold back her tears anymore
Marsha walk toward motionless Arisha body. that little girl still silent looked at her mother without an expression. Her eyes was open wide all the time. She saw the blood still gushing from her mother's head, and slowly forming a pool of blood. Marsha white shoes that she wear now become bloody red. But, Marsha didn't cry, she doesn't even feel sad. Only feel confused.
A laughing voice was heard from the house yard. Marsha walking to the window. 3 big man wearing a black suit like she saw before entering the car simultaneously and leaving the house yard.
Marsha looked at that car sharply. Suddenly she can feel an oppressing feeling inside her little heart. Something that can make her heart beating fast, her brain boiled, and make both of her hands clenched tight. Although she doesn't know what is that feeling at that times, but now Marsha know. That what’s we call an anger, hatred and resentment.
"Marsha!". Hafiz voice clearing Marsha minds.