Chapter. 9 Behind What I Know

I don't know how long Mike sat pensively on the dock. From the time the sun was still above his head until it had fallen asleep. People who saw him didn't dare to come closer. They knew how devastated Mike was by the kidnapping of his daughter and the wife he loved so much. Then one man took a step closer. As the village chief, he was afraid that Mike would be desperate and end his life there.

"Mike," called Pak Arya. The local village head. Mike didn't move. Then Mr. Arya sat down next to Mike. "I know what you're feeling right now," Mr. Arya continued, holding Mike's shoulder. "But sitting here quietly won't change anything. Trust me. Wherever your children and wife are right now. They don't want to see you like this. You have to be strong. You are the head of the family. You can't be soft like this," the village chief added encouragingly.

Finally, Mike turned his head. He looked at the face of the most respected person in this area with teary eyes. It was heart-wrenching for anyone who met his gaze.

"I believe you are a powerful person. You can get through this. You are not alone. There are those of us who will always be there for you."

Mike stared intently at the look in Mr. Arya's eyes that made him realize something.

'That's right. I can't be a crybaby. I have to find Devina and Caca as soon as possible,' Mike resolved to himself.

"Come on, let's go home! You have to continue your life as usual," said Mr. Arya.

He stood up first. Extended his hand towards Mike. With a flat expression on his face, Mike took the hand. Then they both walked away from the pier. The people who saw Mike could be persuaded to return were relieved. Not one or two people immediately approached him and encouraged him. Among those who gathered in front of Mike. Suddenly, an old man broke in.

"He's a bastard! He has no morals! You need to find your wife and children before it's too late!" the old man said, making Mike's eyes bulge. However, Mike didn't have time to ask what the man knew about this criminal. People were already pulling him away.

"Don't listen to him. That guy is crazy. You know yourself, right? How he acts every day," said Mr. Arya. Mike was silent, but his eyes kept watching the old man, who continued to babble incoherently.

"He's evil! Hurry up and save her! Hurry up and save her! Before it's too late! Hurry up! Hurry up! Hurry!" she shouted over and over again while pointing at Mr. Arya.

"Mike. What were you thinking? He was already crazy before you were here. Don't pay too much attention," said Mr. Arya. Mike, who was provoked, resumed his steps towards the house that had always been the place he longed for.

"Get enough sleep, Mike! We'll go look for Devina and Caca tomorrow!" said one of Mike's neighbors.

"Yes. We'll wait twenty-four hours. Tomorrow, we'll report it to the police," Arya added.

"Yes. Thank you," said Mike. After all this time, he was silent.

"In that case. Let's go first, Mike. Good night," said Mr. Arya and the others.

"Good night," Mike replied, lackluster.

After they left, Mike closed the door of his house quite loudly. Then he turned his body around to look at his messy house. Daniel's men had vandalized all the furniture and decorations in Mike's house. So that Mike couldn't live there and chose to leave.

Mike slowly stepped to his feet. His eyes looked intensely at every inch of his house. In the living room, he found a cigarette that had only burnt its tip. Mike picked up the small, long object. Looking at the brand and the smell of the object, it was certain. If the person who came to his house, this morning was not poor. Because he knew very well, the price of exclusive cigarettes that only the bourgeoisie could afford.

Then Mike moved on. He wanted to look for something the perpetrators of the kidnapping of his daughter and wife has left behind that. In the living room, he found nothing but food that had been scattered on the floor. Mike continued his steps towards the room. The place was quite tidy, but the wooden door leaf that he had made a few days ago had come off. Mike's mind could immediately picture that moment.

'Devina and Caca must have been hiding in this place in fear. Why didn't I have any premonition? I should have gone home and helped them,' Mike thought regretfully. He slowly dropped to the floor. His tears came pouring down again.

"I was useless. I failed to protect my wife and children. I'm a loser." Mike continued to mumble while sobbing.

In fact, Mike hit his own cheeks several times in frustration. Then he grabbed the sheets that were still neatly covering his bed. While shouting loudly.

"Argh!!!" Mike let out his emotions that had reached the top of his head.

Suddenly, a small object fell onto his white tiled floor. Mike's eyes reflexively turned to the source of the sound. With his chest rising and falling to contain his anger. Mike reached out his hand to grab the small object.

"What is this?" Mike asked himself. He stared at the gold star-shaped pendant in the center of a platinum-colored circle.

Suddenly, he remembered the old man who had been shouting in front of him.

"Wait! I'm sure he knows something. I need to see him now," Mike said and got up from his seat. Mike grabbed his black jacket before leaving the room. Because he knew it was cold outside. Mike walked quickly out of the house and walked towards the old house where the old man used to keep his family locked up.

After walking the path for a few minutes. Mike finally arrived at the last corner of the house in the corner of the village. He had not yet reached the house. Suddenly, his steps stopped. He immediately pressed his body against the high wall that bordered the road. With very careful steps, he approached the empty house.

"Mercy, sir. Mercy! Please forgive my father, sir. I beg you!" whimpered a woman from inside the house. Out of curiosity, Mike slowly approached the house to find out what was going on inside.

"I told you, don't let your crazy father wander around the neighborhood! Don't you understand what I'm saying, huh?" snapped a man whose voice sounded familiar to Mike. Mike, who was getting more and more curious, poked his head into the top window of the house. And instantly, his eyes widened. He saw Mr. Arya ruffling his waist in front of a young woman who was kneeling in front of him. Next to her, the old man was lying helplessly.

'What the hell? What the hell is going on?" Mike thought in confusion.

What a fool. Mike touched the old bicycle parked in front of the house. It ended up falling down.

"Who is that?" asked Mr. Arya, who was suspicious of Mike's presence. He didn't want to be found eavesdropping. Mike immediately left the place.