After putting their bags in the room, they both headed over to Brian and Riana's place to tell them their plan and stick to their escape. Once there, Irwan and Nadia shared what they'd seen and experienced at their house.
"Hmm, is that true, Wan?" Brian asked.
"Yeah, Nadia and I saw it ourselves," Irwan replied.
"So, those two doctors helped with the birth, right?" Riana asked.
"Seems like it. We heard a baby cry for a second," Nadia answered.
"And then when you guys went inside, all their stuff was gone and new people had arrived?" Riana asked.
"Yup. The soldier put the new couple's marriage certificate in the room, right in front of me, 'cause Nadia and I were hiding under the bed," Irwan explained.
"So, it's clear. The two people they took and the baby aren't coming back here. The question is, what happened to them? Were they really freed to meet their families like the announcement said?" Brian muttered.
"No way. If they were freed, they wouldn't just vanish. Plus, Andi already told us he was kicked out, and so was Rika, so it's probably impossible for them to go back to their families," Irwan responded.
"This is scary. If Rahman were here, we could ask him," Riana said.
"Hmm, yeah, he's not back until next week, right?" Nadia asked.
"Yeah, that's what he said, right, Bri?" Riana confirmed.
"Yeah, that's right. Yesterday, when I saw you two lining up, I'd just come from his place," Brian affirmed.
"Alright then, Nadia and I will just stay at my place; it's fine. The fog's gone too. We're being watched, so to be safe, we probably shouldn't be together," Irwan suggested.
"I get it. We'll just go back and forth. But you two are still in this with us, right?" Brian asked.
"Yeah, why? Do you doubt Nadia and me?" Irwan questioned.
"No, it's not like that. I just don't want you two to change your minds," Brian replied.
"I get it, don't worry. I won't change my mind (at least not until I meet Rahman, then I'll decide if I want to keep going or find my own way)," Irwan said.
"Alright, you two head back then," Brian instructed.
"Got it. Don't want to hang around too long and get suspected again," Irwan responded.
"We'll meet every day at this time, no matter what," Riana insisted.
"Relax, Ri. (Turning to Nadia) Come on, Nad, let's go home," Irwan replied.
"Yeah, let's go, Wan," Nadia echoed.
Irwan and Nadia left Brian and Riana's house. After the door closed, Brian led Riana into the bedroom.
"Do you think they're still with us, Bri?" Riana asked nervously.
"Right now, Irwan seems a little suspicious of Rahman. You can really tell from his attitude, plus he just saw something we didn't know about. But from what I can tell, he's fine with us," Brian answered.
"I feel the same way. I really want to get out of here. I don't want to be here for long," Riana said, hugging Brian.
"Yeah, we'll definitely get out of here. Trust me," Brian replied, hugging Riana back.
Meanwhile, Irwan and Nadia didn't go home. They walked around until they found the Japanese man who was still trying to kill himself. They both came out of the bushes and went up to him. After getting back up, the man turned to look at Irwan and Nadia, tears streaming down his face and looking completely confused. He stood up and gripped Irwan's shoulders, his face already tear-stained. Irwan could see the Japanese man was probably in his early twenties.
"Koroshite, hayaku, ie ni kaeritai (Kill me quickly, I want to go home)," he said, crying.
"Waruikedo, ie ni wa kaerenai yo (Sorry, but you can't go home)," Irwan replied.
"Nande, shindemo koko kara detai no (Why? I just want to leave here, even if I have to die)," the Japanese man cried and yelled.
"Mōshiwakearimasenga, dōsureba shinu koto ga dekiru no ka wakarimasen, gomen'nasai (I'm sorry, but I don't know how you can die, I'm sorry)," Irwan said, looking down.
"Naze, naze kō naru no ka (Why, why is this happening) sniff sniff sniff," the man said, looking down and crying while hugging Irwan.
Irwan could only pat his back, letting the Japanese man pour out his heart. Nadia stared at Irwan, then leaned her face close to him.
"You can speak Japanese?" Nadia asked.
"Yeah, I can. I can also speak French, Mandarin, and English," Irwan replied.
"Wow... you're smart, huh?" Nadia exclaimed.
"It's not like that. I was always alone everywhere. Whether at school, locked in the warehouse, or eventually living in an empty house. Because of that, I'd read anything, and if I didn't get it, I'd look up the meaning, and over time, I just figured it out myself," Irwan explained.
Once the Japanese man calmed down, he stepped back and bowed to Irwan, then walked off into the forest. Irwan and Nadia followed him from a distance. They watched him go into the forest as if he was heading towards Rahman's hut. But before he reached where Rahman's hut was, he turned and walked through the dense forest, going deeper and deeper.
"Wh-where's he going, Wan?" Nadia asked, starting to get scared and gripping Irwan's arm tightly.
"I don't know. Let's just follow him and see where he goes," Irwan replied.
They went deeper into the forest until they finally saw a high cliff in front of them and a pretty big cave. The Japanese man went into the cave. Irwan stood, about to follow him inside, but suddenly Nadia pulled his arm.
"Wan, let's just go back. I'm scared," Nadia urged.
"We're almost there, Nad. Let's just be careful," Irwan countered.
"But you remember the way back, right?" Nadia asked.
"Um (looking back at the dense forest), I think so," Irwan replied.
"Oh, that's not very convincing. Let's just go back," Nadia retorted.
"Let's just try to follow him a bit longer, Nad, we've come all this way," Irwan insisted.
"Fine," Nadia said, a little sulkily.
Irwan held Nadia's hand, and they came out of the bushes, then went into the cave. They slowly made their way through the dark cave passage. Then they saw torchlight ahead of them. When they reached the cave chamber lit by torches, their eyes widened because in front of them was a small, broken temple that looked like an altar. On top of it was a statue of a princess wearing traditional Pajajaran royal clothes (like a Javanese wedding outfit, complete with jewelry: a crown, necklace, upper arm bracelets, and wrist bracelets).
They also saw a tent inside the cave, and the Japanese man was sleeping in it. Irwan went closer to the temple-shaped altar and looked at the statue. His eyes widened because, in the center of the princess statue's hands, clasped in front of her chest, there was a brightly shining blue stone bracelet intertwined with her clasped fingers.
"Nad, that bracelet, it's the heirloom, right?" Irwan asked.
"Y-yes, it could be," Nadia replied.
"Oh hello, we have guests," a woman's voice said from behind them.
Slowly, both of them turned around. After seeing the beautiful woman standing with her hands raised, they immediately backed away, hugging each other and trembling, because even though she had a beautiful face and a friendly smile, the woman's eyes had two red circles inside her pupils.