Midnight, Johanes woke up after hearing the rukus outside. After leaving his room, he saw caretakers of the orphanage and children gathered in front of the window. They looked outside which was emitting a red light. Johanes looked outside and found one of three wooden buildings beside main building was on fire. In front of the burning building were several people and one of them was very familiar to Johanes, it was Anderson Willburg.
John's heart was beating fast. 'Did he know what Mrs. Willburg was doing?' In his heart, Johanes guessed the reason for what happened in front of him. 'But Lando did nothing wrong. He even always refused.'
With that, Johanes immediately ran outside. He headed towards Anderson and his men who were laughing like they were having a harvest party.
"Mr. Willburg, I can explain everything. Please, he's just a kid" Johanes shouted after getting close enough to Anderson. In Johanes' eyes, Lando was always a poor child. When Lando was just born, his mother was still not what she is today. In the past, Lando's mother, the woman named Wulaningsih, would occasionally move to ask for food to Johanes, even though she only spoke by showing an empty bowl in her hand. Over time, her condition got worse. Lately, Lando took care of everything for her even for eating and bathing.
Actually, Johanes didn't really know the background of Wulaningsih. Johanes only knew that her family had been massacred by the colonial army. She was pregnant at the time. Feeling sympathy, Johanes helped the mother and child.
"For such a lowly creature to dare to tease my daughter, you think that's not too much?" Anderson only gave a glance at Johanes who was breathing heavily after running. Anderson then turn back his eyes toward the burned building with laughter.
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Hearing Anderson's words, Johanes slightly understood the situation. 'So it wasn't about his wife?'
"Please listen to me sir, Lando is really a good boy. He only goes to do what your family asks of him. Sure he always gets paid for his work, but it's all for the care of his ailing mother" Johanes knelt in front of Anderson, at least he didn't tell lies. Johanes just covered up the unnecessary.
Anderson is not stupid. At least he understood that this was his servant's scheme out of envy. But he had not liked this boy for a long time. As a lowly person, he dared to be close to his two daughters. Plus, Anderson wanted to celebrate his arrival and fortune after a long process he's been through these years. Burning the straw man for harvest feast was natural.
"No problem" Anderson ordered his men to get rid of the object he was using to hold the door. Then he took his men back to his house. He didn't think much of the boy, after all being in such a fire, his chances of survival are slim. He also saw Lando doused with gasoline while trying to get out of the vent.
Johanes thanked him after seeing Anderson and his men leave. He felt confused. He didn't know if Lando was still alive in the burning building. Then, faint screams could be heard from inside the burning building. Johanes knew it was woman's scream. He guessed it was Wulan's voice, which meant there were still survivor.
Johanes immediately broke through the fire that was around the door. After removing some debris, he found a body wich its head wrapped in cloth not far from the exit. He didn't see anyone else there. Without thinking further he immediately pulled the body outwards.
Johanes examines the body. It was indeed Lando's body. Johanes found Lando still breathing. He felt relieved. He then lay down beside Lando. Since birth his body was weak, removing the rubble of burning buildings made his body feel a little sore. He also inhaled quite a lot of smoke. Johanes felt very tired and then he fell unconscious.