The screams of Midnight
Asih Concerns

Villagers were in an uproar, the corpse of a young man was found stuck at the bottom of a ravine. His condition is very concerning. His body is no longer intact, rotting and difficult to recognize.

Budi and Andi supervise the evacuation of bodies that are difficult to do because of the steep terrain. It's been almost three hours and they haven't been able to evacuate the body upstairs. 

"Does this body have anything to do with yesterday's bodies?" Mumbled Budi shortly after his team gave a sign of successfully hooking the corpse and lifting it up.

"Bud, the doctor of Revelation is coming!" Andi patted Budi's shoulder.

The forensic doctor who looks young in his 50s is approaching Budi and Andi. The three of them were in serious conversation. Occasionally Budi noticed the corpse evacuation team. He was curious and wanted to see the contents of the bag he found.

The body finally reached the top, Budi did not waste time and immediately approached. He opened the big black plastic bag in front of him. The stench, hundreds of maggots did not make Budi retreat. With the help of his other colleagues, Budi was finally able to see clearly the body of the poor man.

His eyes were immediately fixed on the clothes that were still stuck on the rest of his body. He reached into the pocket of his jacket and matched the pieces of cloth found on the small street this morning.

"Yes!" 

"What's up, Bud? What is the same? Apparently, Budi's murmur sounded Andi.

"Look at this, the piece of cloth that I found this morning came from his clothes!" Budi showed the piece of cloth in his hand to Andi. 

"Where did you find this?!" Looking at his co-workers, his face looked very curious. He stared at the small street that led to a large house on the edge of the forest.

From a distance an old man observed with a flat face. He then left before long Budi's eyes and the old man stared.

"He is …,"

"Why else Bud?" Andi looked at Budi's gaze, only to see an old man turning around.

"I don't think I saw it wrong." Slowly without taking his eyes off.

Budi who had been crouched in front of the corpse without identity finally stood up and approached the doctor of Revelation.

"I found this piece and also ...," he reached into his pocket and handed him his handkerchief. 

"Please check this watch, I think it has something to do with one of the bodies we found."

Doctor Wahyu frowned and opened Budi's handkerchief. "Watch?!"

"Yes, there's a bloodstain left on the chain."

Doctor Revelation nodded in understanding. He put two of Budi's findings into a plastic bag.

"Ouch, sorry! I'm late, Budi!" Mr. Kades came in a hurry, his face looks still sleepy.

He just smiled wryly, then he asked. "Sir kades is busy? Is there something we should ask?!"

"Ah, no! Want to talk here or on ...," Mr. Kades' eyes were on the body found by police officers.

 He was wide-eyed, the stench and the condition of the corpse that was not bad made his stomach protest. Soon he took out his entire stomach. Budi took some tissue for the kades sir and stretched it out.

"Eh, sorry, police. I am not strong!"

Smile faintly in response. "We should go to Wak Haji's house. It's better to talk!"

Mr. kades nodded. They walked towards the Wak Haji residence. While crossing the crowd of residents, Budi's eyes saw Asih standing among the crowd of villagers. Her father's face looked the most conspicuous, what caught his attention was the flat expression Asih showed.

"Why his face feels awful. Beautiful but ..," she murmured softly, but then she brushed off her feelings.

Mr. Kades who also saw the existence of Asih became misbehaved. He was agitated, afraid if their behavior last night smelled the people. Especially when he looked at himself. The fear of Asih's figure instantly ambushed him. Though last night he was so fierce and wild to work Asih.

He seemed to notice something was wrong between the two. His instincts said there was something hidden the kades sir and the beautiful girl with the flat expression.

*****

"Let's go home!" Ardi suddenly appeared behind Asih. He immediately pulled out his hand to follow him.

"I'm worried about you!" Ardi looked at the two empty-looking Asih eyes. 

Shut up, don't talk much. Something wrong is happening, his mind is complicated. He did not even hear Ardi's words.

"Sih, you heard me, right?" Ardi shook the Asih body, awakening Asih from his reverie.

"One, only one body was found!" He looked up and looked at Ardi.

"What?" Ardi's confused.

"The corpse found is only one, fool!" Asih again said this time by emphasizing his words.

"Where's the other corpse! Are you sure you threw it away!" Asih looked at Ardi sharply waiting for an answer from the man who was now sitting limp in front of him.

"I-I'm sure! We both took two body bags, and .. and made sure they fell in there!" Ardi has a panic attack.

"Then? Why is there only one?! Stupid, you're really stupid!" Asih yells.

Ardi just fell silent, cold sweat soaking his body. He tried to remember what happened that night, and he said.

"Western dog! I'm sure the other body must have been eaten away by a pack of coyotes! Me and the old man met a pack of coyotes shortly after we dumped them at the bottom of the ravine!"

Asih's breath was stifled with anger, his eyes were glaring at Ardi who was trying to remember the events of the night that were very stressful for him.

"You sure?!" The emotions began to subside.

"Yes, I'm sure. But they are both dead, right? You've made sure that both of them die?" Ardi asked back.

As soon as Asih fell silent, doubts arose. He did see the two young men lying helpless but he forgot to confirm whether they had really lost their lives or not.

Restless, he must find a way to cover up his crimes. Ardi's phone reads. A name was written there, Amel.

"Yes, what's wrong Mel?"

"Hmm, can I talk to Luna? I was worried for him, his phone was never active. Is she okay?"

Ardi glanced at Asih, "Yes, Luna is fine here. Don't worry!"

"I want to talk to him, please?!" Pinta Amel.

Ardi thrust the phone at Asih, "Amel,"

Asih looked at Ardi for a while and then received the phone. "Hi, how's Mel doing?" Asih's voice changed, he pretended to be cheerful again. She became Luna.

"When are you coming home, I'm afraid to be alone here?!" Whine Amel from across there.

"Ehm, how is it? My father's condition hasn't improved, I'm afraid I'm gonna have to apply for college leave this semester." Looking for reasons.

"What's? A leave? Well, we can't be the same anymore if you leave! How's Lun's house?"

"You can bring a friend, I've paid off for the next two years. You just calm down!"

Asih seduced Amel to stay in the boarding house even though Amel gave a million reasons. After a long debate, Amel finally agreed. Asih immediately sent some money for Amel's monthly needs. A small bribe so that Amel would stay in a house that is quite spooky.

"Why did you tell Amel there, did you kill him?!" Tanya Ardi received back her phone.

A smile that Ardi could not understand. A sneaky smile that only Asih knew herself.

Amel has to stay, he's the next choice!