TRIPLE SEVEN

Chapter Six

"Wake up Josh!"

Ella shook the body. Slowly the young man's face began to frown. Then his eyes opened, ablaze and unfocused.

“Ella...?”

"Yes!" answered the girl while dialing Juan's number and asking him to come as soon as possible.

Joshua got up and sat down holding his head.

"What happened?" Ella asked as she hung up the phone.

"I was found out."

Ella didn't speak anymore. She couldn't bear to keep asking Joshua in such circumstances. Soon, Juan came with his motorbike.

"Bring Joshua home." Ella pointed out.

"And you?" Juan looked doubtful. Seeing Joshua's state, he realized the dire situation threatening them.

Ela shook her head. " Do not worry about me."

Juan was still silent. The girl coded to Joshua. Her partner got up and hitched a ride behind Juan.

"Go home." Ella insisted.

Juan stared at the girl for a while before he finally dared to start his motorcycle.

They had driven 10 meters leaving Ella who continued on foot, when Juan opened his mouth in question.

“She will be all right? Isn't it dangerous? She's a girl, what if...?”

"I'm sure she will be fine. Why do you think a girl like her was sent here alone to handle such a complicated case?” Joshua asked.

Juan didn't answer.

“She mastered martial arts better than me. Don't doubt it..” Joshua said, still able to laugh softly.

While Ella arrived at her grandmother's house immediately took off her jacket and lay down on the bed. She couldn't wait for the morning to come to her two friends and question them. Especially Joshua.

***

"So?" Ella stared at Joshua's face which was still bruised. Between them, Juan sat cross-legged looking curiously at Joshua. It was a cool afternoon after a rainy day. 3 cups of coffee made by Juan's mother circled on the table.

"He should be the first to give information. What are your observations?" Joshua glanced at Juan while massaging his jaw which was probably cracked from being beaten last night.

Juan chuckled and shook his head. "I'm keeping a good eye on Seno. However, there are no significant clues. He only went out to hang out at the village internet cafe until midnight with some other youths.” He shrugged.

"Mr. Sutardjo is going to the Regency Capital, last night he was not in this village." Ella chimed in. This girl with short shoulder-length hair looked wrinkled. Joshua was still silent, while two pairs of eyes started showering him with curious gazes.

"They're not stalking you." Said Joshua flatly. "I was monitoring you carefully. When you passed the village head's house, that's when they appeared…”

"From where?"

“They were standing under a big mango tree in front of the village head's house. When you're talking to the Kades, they're already there. But because it's so dark, assisted by the lush canopy of the mango tree that almost touches the ground, you and the village head might not notice it." Joshua explained. Ella blinked, her eyes still lost to Joshua's. Joshua is an expert in this field.

"Two persons?"

The young man nodded. “They watched you until you entered the Village Secretary's house. At that time I made a mistake. My cellphone flash accidentally turned on and was seen by one of them. I just realized they know where I am, when I see they stop watching you and walk towards me quickly. Instinctively I backed away, and they chased after me!”

"Then?" She asked.

Joshua raised his glass and took a small sip of his coffee. “Unfortunately they caught up and blocked my path. They have decent running speed, maybe because their legs are long huh?” he laughed.

"You saw their faces?"

“I haven't had time to look at their faces and a punch went straight to my face. Holy shoot!"

"Did you take the blow gracefully??" Ella joked, holding back a smile.

"Of course not. I managed to avoid and fight them. I fought a few moves, but they were people who mastered martial arts with great techniques, and I was battered. They probably would have kept hitting me if they hadn't seen the shadows of people walking in the distance. Maybe because they were afraid of being found out, they left me. Turns out it was you."

"You've been battered and yet have not had a chance to see their faces?" she growled. "That's 'double unlucky' , TSF!"

"I saw their faces when they fought, even though it was faint because of the lack of light..." Joshua replied calmly. He frowned slightly as he looked at his two comrades.

"They are residents of this village?" John spoke.

Joshua shook his head.

"How can you be sure?" Ella asked sharply.

“They are foreigners. The two men had East Asian looks. They are not from this country.”

Ella narrowed her eyes. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am. One of them has a flower tattoo of Gyoki from the Land of the Rising Sun. On his neck."

Ella tapped her finger on the table. “It's getting complicated…. We're dealing with an opponent who doesn't play games. Even here, I haven't seen a connection with Surya Rembana. The thread is still very tangled. Either they have something to do with this case, or they have other interests spying on me.”

"Maybe we should go to the sacred Surya Rembana." Joshua spoke slowly, Ella didn't answer, while Juan immediately drifted between them.

"You better not go there," Juan's voice broke the silence. “Togong Oloyomate is a sacred place that must not be stepped on, and it is very much feared by the villagers. This was further strengthened after the death of two men in the past 2 years. We certainly won't be allowed there…”

"Do we need permission to go there?" Ella spoke flatly. "We're not taking you, Juan. Like I said, I don't want to get you too involved. If something happens to me and Joshua, it is indeed our risk. Unlike you, you don't know anything."

"Didn't you say that I was part of you?" Juan looked displeased.

Joshua smiled. “I understand you are happy to help us, bro. But the further here, the more dangerous the risks, as Ella said, we…”

"Is that so?" Juan interrupted, nodding his head. “Apart from the sacredness of the place, and my reluctance to break the taboo, I am actually very curious as to what Surya Rembana is like. And if you guys insist on going, who do you think will be the guide?”

Ella and Joshua looked at each other.

"You really want to come?"

Juan nodded without hesitation. He looked different from a few minutes ago, when his face immediately went pale when he heard the name Surya Rembana. The look on his face was steady this time.

“Enough talk about Surya Rembana. I will meet one person before we actually go to the island.” Break up Ella. It was already dark when the girl said goodbye and went home on her motorcycle.

***

Mr.Mulyo's face looked a little surprised to see Ella coming to visit his house early in the morning. He invited the girl to sit on the porch chair while calling his wife. The woman came out and greeted Ella before finally going back inside to make coffee.

"Before that, I apologized for disturbing the village head early in the morning like this."

"It's okay, Ella. I'm just a little surprised, why did you come to visit so early? Of course there are important urgent matters…”

"I just want to report, sir." The girl fixed her seat. “My friend Joshua was beaten by two unknown people last night. “

Pak Mulyo was somewhat surprised. "What is the chronology of that incident?"

"He was walking down the street when two men chased and beat him for no reason."

"Your friend recognizes them?"

She shook her head. “Are there people from other countries in this village? The people who beat up my friend were not local. They seem to be from abroad.”

The village head frowned and shook his head. “There are no foreign tourists who have strayed here. It's strange when your friend gets beaten up by a stranger like that. Maybe he did have previous issues with them…”

"Are you sure there are no foreigners in this village?"

The village head nodded.

"In the neighboring village for example? Are there no tourists visiting?”

"I'm sure not, miss. The villages here are rarely visited by outsiders. As far as I can remember, during my two terms there was never a foreigner from abroad who came…”

Ella was silent for a moment. "Did you see two suspicious people near the mango tree last night?" She asked then, pointing to a mango tree outside the fence which was extraordinarily thick, even Its leaves barely touch the ground.

Mr. Mulyo shook his head.

“I hope you can help me, because after all, my friend was beaten in your government area. In this village. I don't know who should be responsible. I just don't want this village to get a bad impression of how it treats guests.”

Pak Mulyo's expression changed somewhat. He seemed a little offended by Ella's words. Their conversation was interrupted by Mrs. Mulyo who came with two cups of coffee. The woman then walked inside without speaking.

"Can you tell me what purpose do you have for coming to this village?" Mr.Mulyo Askes, look suspisious

"I'm just on vacation."

"You sure?"

Ella stopped her hand from lifting her glass. "What do you mean?"

“Don't think that I didn't observe what you did. You are not an ordinary person.”

Ella paused, waiting for the man to continue speaking.

“You seems to be carrying out a mission or whatever it is in our village. Don't think that I don't know that you have already visited Pak Gun and the Balantak man's wife. But as long as your actions haven't disturbed anyone, I choose to remain silent."

Ella still didn't answer.

"If I may suggest, you should not interfere too much in the affairs of our village. Just a waste of time. There are some mystical aspects that you will not understand, and that will prevent you from getting a logical answer.”

"What mystical side do you mean?"

"You are here to investigate Ken's death right? You will not understand, miss. There are supernatural things behind his death, and of course they cannot be explained with common sense."

“Is this about Togong Oloyomate?”

"Yes. You already know right? I just don't want you, to further interfere with Surya Rembana's existence, that will make the curse return and there will be more victims."

"What's wrong with the island?"

Pak Mulyo looked at Ella sharply. "Don't be too presumptuous to ask such a question. You must respect us here.”

The girl smiled "I really appreciate the people here, sir. And I don't mean to be presumptuous at all. I just want to know, what's wrong with Surya Rembana? Why do all the index fingers point in that direction when asked about the case of Mr. Ken's death?"

The village head was silent for a while. “Just who are you, Ella? Why are you bothering so much about this matter?”

"It doesn't matter who I am. Instead you need to question yourself. Two people have died in this village, and you, as village head, just keep silent? Where is your effort and authority as village leader? Surya Rembana has caused unrest in the community, and you, as the village government, have made no effort to investigate or stop this." Ella's sarcasm was sharp.

Pak Mulyo's face seemed to be starting to angry. "You do not know anything. There are certain boundaries that humans cannot cross. Boundary with mystical realms! That's the consequence if you violate the taboo. I remind you Miss, don't disturb or mention anything about Surya Rembana or I and the villagers will kick you out from this village!” he said.

Ella was still trying to smile. Then she stood up. "Thank you sir. I say goodbye. Good morning. Sorry for interrupting your time." Those were the only words she uttered, before she descended to the yard and left with a flat expression that could not be read at all.

Arriving at her grandmother's house, Ella took something out of her desk drawer. It was shaped like a handy talkie. She and all the members of the Investigation Department had it. During this time she reported all incidents and situations to Mr. Yubatan via the Handy talkie. She pressed it and brought it to her lips. There was a low beep followed by Mr. Yubatan across there.

“TRIPLE Seven?”

"I'm going to Surya Rembana."

***