"I'M SORRY Alyx, but he really cannot meet you," said Charlie when Alyx asked to meet Nick whom she had not met since a week ago.
"If I may know, what happened?" Asked Alyx feeling Nick was trying to avoid her, even not accepting her calls.
"Who knows. He locked himself in the room, after a fierce argument with his mother. I don't know at all what they debated about," the tone of Charlie's sentence sounded regretful.
Alyx looked down. "I think, I will come another time," she said simultaneously with the gate opening. Letting a luxury car enter.
Alyx saw a woman who appeared to be well over half a century old sitting inside it. Even so she was still elegant in a wrap of clothes that were also luxurious.
"The Madam has returned," said Charlie looking at the car that stopped in front of the main residence of that house.
Alyx observed from afar, as that woman went out from her luxury car. "Did they ever debate before?"
"I think this is the first time," answered Charlie, simultaneously searching in his memory, "but, I have never seen them debate that fiercely."
"You didn't hear what they debated about?" Alyx frowned, careful not to sound forcing.
"I tried not to hear them—perhaps this matter is something very personal for this family, but perhaps because the anger was so high—Madam's voice sometimes was caught by my hearing," Charlie lowered his voice. "And strangely, they mentioned regarding Nick's life."
Alyx only nodded, even though her mind was only directed at that large house. "Well, I must go now." With a somewhat hesitant movement, she turned around, "But Charlie, am I wrong that the age of Nick and his mother, is quite far apart?" She asked, seemingly wanting to make sure of something, because actually there was no problem if it was like that.
Charlie laughed a little. "Isn't Nick indeed very special? We waited for his presence in this house for quite a long time. After almost ten years of master and madam's marriage—she was only declared pregnant. Madam spent her pregnancy period abroad. Nick wasn't even born here."
Once again Alyx nodded, this time she heard well what was said by Charlie. "I already have to truly go. Thank you for accompanying me to chat, Charlie. And please tell Nick, I hope he can contact me soon."
Alyx left that house. Her next destination, the Elizabeth tower. The camera hung on her right arm was taken by her. Her first shot, the big clock in front of her. Several shots had been taken by her when her mobile phone rang from her jacket pocket. Without a hurried movement, she accepted the call.
"Hi Indah…" greeted Alyx, but was interrupted by her interlocutor.
"Alyx, you must not be at home right now, right?" asked Indah only to convince herself.
"No." Alyx hung the camera back on her arm, after hearing Indah's voice that was slightly trembling. "What's the matter anyway?"
"I came home early today and when coming out of the lift…" Indah sounded a bit hesitant, but she still kept trying to explain. "I saw two men trying to enter into your place. Because I knew you couldn't possibly be at home right now, I went inside without making them suspicious that I found them entering other people's places—because I am alone right now."
"You did the right thing," Alyx tried to calm.
"But Alyx, I found one of them—before I went inside—turned around and smiled—smirked at me," Indah sounded terrified this time, her words paused. "I have already called Tom and told him to call the guards. And now I am informing you," she added.
Alyx bit her lip, not sure what actually happened. "I will come home immediately."
Alyx arrived at her flat forty minutes later. Indah, Tom, and two security guards she often saw on guard duty in front of that flat were chatting. Alyx looked at them one by one, asking whether they had caught that thief.
"Your room was open when we came here, but upon entering we didn't find anyone inside," explained Tom seeing the question on Alyx's face.
"But I'm sure I saw two people enter inside and haven't seen them go out until Tom came along with these two," Indah added, speaking with certainty.
"We better go inside now and check if there are any of your belongings missing, Miss," suggested one of the guards and entered first.
Alyx followed the advice. They followed behind, as if putting on a guarding act. And fortunately, after checking the items considered important, she shook her head. "I didn't lose anything, I think everything is still here."
"In that case this is not a burglary case. Then what did they want in your room Alyx?" Indah looked worried or seemingly terrified.
"I knew it," said the second guard who stood in front of Alyx's room. "There is no damage to the door, someone knows your password? Or he entered using a key. You didn't lose your key, right?"
"No. And there is only one key, after I lost the other one a year ago." Alyx nodded her head, reassuring them. "An since I didn't lose anything, I think there won't be another problem. You guys can leave now," she escorted the guests who suddenly came to her flat, once again saying thank you.
Tom appeared to spin in place, slowly, as if confirming something. With eye movements looking right and left. His nose expanded for a moment, thinking. "There is nothing wrong," he murmured.
Alyx wanted to ask what was wrong, but Tom had already continued.
"Immediately call when something strange happens," said that man before leaving. "I will also check the CCTV, I will inform you if there is something important."
"Thank you, Tom." Alyx went inside when seeing Tom and the two other guards enter into the lift.
While Indah also returned to her place, after failing to persuade Alyx to come along with her, at least until tomorrow.
"Truly don't want to?" Indah's gaze was somber. This child always refused to be helped, she thought, feeling Alyx was too independent. Even when first meeting, she really had to reassure herself whether she was right to be Alyx's friend or she would disturb her. "Don't forget to inform Tom, if there is something," she added, remembering Alyx appeared more open to Tom or Jane.
Alyx herself appeared not wanting to involve other people. She ensured she had locked the door, also the window she usually opened. After that, standing for a moment in the middle of the room, her gaze circulated.
Several times her eyes were directed at the door, as if someone was in front of there and ready to bang on her door or at any time force open. But that was seemingly only her thoughts, because of that she returned to act calm.
Although her calmness did not last long, because strangeness began to happen around her.
Alyx instantly understood if a change occurred around her. Lately, since a few days ago, she always felt there was something strange. Feeling someone was watching her. And sure enough during the late afternoon, after returning home from the photo shoot location, she who arrived with a tired condition at her residence, initially entered there without an anxious feeling.
Unfortunately, when Alyx closed the door, how shocked she was when finding a man standing behind the door. She tried to ensure if she entered her own place. After being sure all the items there were hers, her eyes looked cynically at the man aged about a quarter of a century and taller than her who showed a strange expression, as if currently playing a joke that instead made that girl truly confused and terrified.
*