The Tomb Next to the House
32. Pegged

Mas Raihan looks indifferent carrying the limp body Althaf into the house. Either it does not care or it does not know, because indeed the focus is now on the safety of our only child.

"Where is this, Ustadz?" many confused. Still stunned watching the blood endlessly pour out from the ground.

"Wallahu'alam. Let's pray that what we fear doesn't happen."

"What do you mean, Ustadz?"

Ustadz Khalid stared with nanar. As if he was weighing something to say.

"Ustadz?" I can't wait and be curious at the same time.

The man who was about a few years old above my husband breathed a heavy breath, then replied. "Actually about the genie that is worshiped by the family of Mr. Kades is true. He's a genie who was passed down from Mr. Kades' great-grandfather." Ustadz Khalid paused for a moment to take a breath.

"I've known that for a long time. But all this time I was silent. Because of his very negative aura, the power he has is very large, because the pagan jinn continue to be fed by their owners. What is my power is only an ordinary human being who can only surrender to the majesty of God" he continued.

"Get fed? You mean Ustadz, tumbals?"

"true."

"Then how's the curse?" my question still doesn't understand.

"We proved the truth first."

"How, Ustadz?"

I don't know why Ustadz Khalid's explanation seems to me to be circling. Not just telling the root of the problem. But to blaspheme it as well I feel inappropriate. He's a classmate of the famous ustadz. How dare I act bar-bar in front of him.

"Bak already knows where the infidel jinn live, right?"

I thought for a moment. "I mean Ustadz crates?"

"Now Ma'am to Mr. Kades' house. Take the box out to the large courtyard. Wait for me to get there," said Ustadz Khalid who had left leaving me who was still pecking on the spot.

My brain if it is in an urgent condition is very difficult to work with.

"But where is Ustadz going?" I shouted at ustadz Khalid who was getting away.

"home. Take resistant oil and matches," he replied without stopping his wide stride.

Kerosene and matches? Wh-wh-what for? Well, my brain is really slow amit-amit deh. Suddenly I remembered Althaf and Raihan who had not yet appeared.

We even forgot to thank ustadz Khalid. Immediately launch footsteps with width when entering the house.

"Al's? Raihan?" Don't forget to make my legendary five-octave sound.

There is no lawfulness. I checked every room. But I did not find the two men I loved the most. Where'd they? Or is it my inner eye that is seeing wrong?

A knock from the front door diverts my attention. I headed back to the front room to see who my guest was this time.

Chequelek

I've guessed.

Bryan's crimson face instantly filled my sight.

"What's up—akh!" I haven't had the time to ask her for her needs, she surprised me by grabbing my neck and then strangling it firmly.

"A-what's y-yang—" It's hard to talk at a time like this. As much as I could, I loosened Bryan's tightened hands.

"M-mas Raihan's. Help me!" my screams don't make Bryan give up. He was like a possessed man.

The tail of my eyes had seen some citizens coming out of their homes, just looking at me and Bryan without any intention to help or hurt us. What happened to the villagers? What's sane here is my family and Khalid's ustadz family?

Bugh!

"Armghh!"

"Mas?! Uhuk ... Uhuk .... " Luckily I finally got away from the giggle of Bryan's hand, after Raihan came from inside the house and immediately floated his kick beside Bryan's body.

"What's wrong with you?!" Mas Raihan was standing next to Bryan's body lying on the floor.

"Dead! You must die!" The heavy tone from Bryan successfully gave me goosebumps. He's not just Bryan.

"That's right!" Mas Raihan grabbed Bryan's collar, took him out of the house to the street, where several residents were watching from there.

I soon followed them out, but I remembered Khalid's ustadz message. So I passed both of them, combing the road between the hordes of villagers. Pumpung Bryan is here too. Looks like things will be safe if I go to his house to get the crate out.

Had looked at some residents who surrounded the sacred tomb next to the house. They seem to be praying. Some of them sprinkle setaman flowers, some also pour water from inside a small jug. The blood coming from there has not receded either. But I don't give a shit. My goal is in sight.

"Divia!!" There was a cry from Raihan calling my name. So I just signaled to him by pointing at Mr. Kades' house.

Half-running me down the road ahead to get there fast. Worried that Khalid's ustadz was already there first, and was waiting for me. I almost fell because I accidentally stumbled over a rock in a hurry.

"Awh," I groaned with extreme pain in the big toe which turned out to have shed a few drops of blood.

"Fucking rock!" as I said, I didn't stop the move at all.

My feelings are starting to get bad. I gotta hurry. I'm sure this hunch is not wrong. I continued to speed up the steps into a small run when I passed the front gate of the house, Mr. Kades.

I immediately headed towards the backyard. But the figure in front of me surprised me not to play.

"Astaghfiullah! Ustadz Khalid!!"