Chapter 4 - NIGHT

Part 4

(A Night with Derald)

The bad information about Casablanca lake makes the situation around this lake always in silence. Only Eloise and her granny who live near the lake, and only their home still stand on around. This lake location is far from the village, if we want to go this lake, we have to pass traditional market and forest. Many people come to the forest for looking wood or doing something such as: hunting, looking for mushrooms, or etc. They don't want to come to the lake because they hear the legend of vampire and strange ghost near the lake.

"Eloise, never go outside in the night, the wind is very strong," my granny shouted from the kitchen.

I just want to see the sparkle stars on the sky, the shadow on the lake water is so beautiful, and the moon light is so warm for me.

"I want to enjoy this night, Granny, please," I answered my granny.

"No, Eloise. You will be sick, please enter and close the door."

I just feel sad, why granny always warn me with bad condition. Sometimes, I feel so exhausted with my life, but I have to be strong.

"Hi, Eloise," someone calls my name.

"Oh .. Hi, Derald," I ust surprised that suddenly Derald stand up behind me.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him in curious voice.

"I want to meet you," Derald sits down beside me.

"But, if my granny looks you, I don't know she will be angry or.. let's enter my home, I will introduce you to my granny."

Derald just smile and follow me to enter my home.

"Granny, please come here, I want to introduce my new friend to you."

"Wait a moment, I still fry the chicken," granny answered me from the kitchen.

"Derald, why do you come here? Do your parents not looking for you?"

"Keep calm, Eloise. I follow my father in the forest for hunting some deers with his friends. But, I just not interesting with that, so I come to your house in here."

"How about your father?"

"He is still hunting, and I say to him that I will back an hour later."

"Is he angry or curious to you?"

"No, I just say that I have a friend near the lake."

My granny comes to the livingroom and seeing Derald.

"Granny, this is my new friend, his name is Derald," I said happily.

"Hi, Granny," Derald greets with smile and calm face to granny.

"Granny.. are you okay?" I asked granny because her face is so pale.

"Yes, I'm okay. Hi, Derald," granny answered with the slow voice.

"I want to continue cook in the kitchen, after this we have dinner together."

"Thank you so much, Granny."

"Derald, just stay here, my granny will cook the delicious food for us."

"Thank you, Eloise. But, I will go to my father in the forest."

"Yes, I know. Just stay a moment, let's have dinner, then you can leave."

"Hmm, okay," Derald is smiling to me.

I just look Derald's body from the hair until his feet. All is normal, and I don't see something strange from his body. I just remember how the coffin from underwater opened and there is someone who same as Derald last night with a group of black dress people in front of him. I just imagine, how if they are so dangerous for my life in here. Am I dreaming last night?

"Hi, Eloise. What are you thingking about?" Derald surprised me.

"I'm sorry, I just very happy having new friend like you beside Marion. I only have a best friend, his name is Marion. He usually comes to my house every afternoon after he helps his parents selling in the market."

"Do you have special relation with him?" Derald asked me in serious voice.

"We just best friend, Derald. Why do you ask me with that question?"

"Ha ha ha, I just want to know and make sure that you are still single."

"Eloise, Derald, these are hamburgers with crispy fried chicken and fresh lettuce and tomato. Let's enjoy the dinner."

My granny brings a plate with three hamburgers on it, and she also brings a big bottle of orange juice.

"Thanks a lot, Granny. This is one of my favorite food, the taste is so yummy," Derald gives good feedback to my granny.

I see my granny smile a while, then she is silent and don't ask anything to Derald. I don't know why my granny is so different when she meets with Derald. When she met Marion, she gave many questions and asked about Marion's life.

"I want to go rest at my bedroom, be careful if you back home, Derald."

"Thank you, Granny," Derald answered with the mouth full of hamburger.

"Derald, do you like this lake in the night? Don't you afraid with this lake?" I am curious with Derald's opinion about this dark lake.

"Hmm, I like it so much, because I can meet you because of this lake."

"How can be like that, Derald?" I am smiling to him.

"I just like horror movie, thriller movie, and mystery. I like all the dark situation, because that was my life."

"I don't understand, what is the meaning, Derald?"

"Ignore it, I just kidding, ha ha."

"Do you know about this history of this lake, Eloise?"

"Maybe just a little story I understood. I remembered that my father was operate the boat for visitors in this lake, he drove the boat to take the visitors look around this lake. My mother helped my father with sell some foods and drinks. But, there was condition that make this lake really leaved by all the people. Since that day, this lake changed to be the ghost lake as people said, but I never see everything in here except the fishes in the lake."

"Do you miss your parents?"

"Yes, I miss them so much, Derald."

"May they rest in peace in the heaven, Eloise."

"I hope so, amen."

"I will back to my father in the forest, Eloise. Thank you so much to accompany me tonight."

"No matter, Derald. I just happy if there is friend near me, be careful on the way."

I see Derald walk so fast to the forest, I look him until his body really enter the dark forest. I close my home door, and I enter my bedroom and lock my bedroom door. I opened my book and I am writing about my activity today.

Wrrww wrwerr werrrr werr

"I hear again! That voice!"

"Are they lake's ghost? Oh, God, give me patience. I am really afraid if I opened my window again."

"But, I am really curious, is there a coffin again? Is the man who same as Derald lead the people to read or sing something?"

"Actually, who is Derald?"