Chapter 8: Supernatural but Silly
Ardian and Rendy were still at the office, discussing their next job—one that they suspected could be particularly dangerous. Tonight, they were expecting the arrival of three supernatural beings they had summoned for extra backup.
A sudden chill ran down their spines. Their guests had arrived.
A figure wrapped in a tattered white shroud crashed unceremoniously to the floor in front of them. It groaned, writhing in discomfort.
"Ow... ugh... I swear this transportation system needs maintenance," the pocong grumbled, bouncing around clumsily like a fish out of water as he tried to stand.
"What happened, Ci? Brakes failing again?" Ardian asked casually.
"Hehehe... yeah, Bro..." the ghost replied sheepishly, finally managing to stand up straight. His corpse-pale face, complete with black rings around his eyes, looked anything but scary to Ardian and Rendy—despite being terrifying to the average human.
This was Mr. Poci, or Mr. P for short, a nickname Ardian himself had given him. While his appearance could haunt the dreams of the faint-hearted, his goofy demeanor and friendly attitude made him more clown than corpse in their eyes.
"Where are Kinarsih and Ucil?" Ardian asked.
"Right behind me..." Mr. Poci tried to gesture, but the shroud binding his arms made it difficult.
Moments later, two more figures emerged.
"Jenjeng~ How's my handsome boy? Wanna go for a walk with Auntie?" purred a woman in a fiery red dress, appearing suddenly with a sultry sway.
"Ugh, Auntie, seriously? Still flirting with big bro Ardian? At your age? Shouldn't you be chasing blessings, not sins?" quipped a small bald child with no eyebrows who stood beside her.
"Watch your mouth, you little brat! Say one more word and I'll slap you into next week!"
Ardian chuckled softly. The three had been with him since childhood: Mr. Poci, the perpetually malfunctioning pocong; Kinarsih, the flirtatious red kuntilanak; and Ucil, the ever-mouthy tuyul with a sass problem.
"So, what's the deal? What's so exciting that you had to summon us?" Kinarsih asked, curiosity piqued.
"Surprised you called, big bro. Weren't you all independent now, Mr. College Student? Guess you still need us," Ucil teased, scratching his rear.
"I was watching the football match too! Already paid half for the live stream!" Mr. Poci complained.
"Sorry, but, Rendy found something weird in the building we're supposed to cleanse."
Ardian pulled up Rendy's phone and showed them a photo of a strange sigil. Kinarsih and Ucil looked clueless, but Mr. Poci's expression turned grave.
"What's that? Graffiti?" Ucil asked innocently.
"Beats me," Kinarsih added.
"Did you try scrying it, Ren?" Om Poci asked, inching closer.
"I did. But something's blocking me for looking more info. I can't get a full read on it," Rendy replied.
"What do you think, Ci? Is it a summoning or a pact ritual?" Ardian asked.
"Definitely summoning. Judging by the symbols, that's what it looks like..." Mr. Poci replied solemnly.
Ardian let out a sigh of relief. At least it wasn't the kind of haunting caused by resident spirits—it seemed more like a botched or incomplete summoning ritual.
But that didn't mean the danger was gone.
"Are you sure this sigil could summon the one I'm thinking of?"
"To summon Him, you'd need specific items she likes. But I don't see any traces of those in the picture," said Mr. Poci.
"So this was probably just some idiot playing around," Ardian concluded.
"That's what I'm thinking," Mr. Poci nodded.
"I swear, these days people mess with this stuff without knowing the consequences. They don't realize the ripple effect on both the living and the dead..."
Rendy, Kinarsih, and Ucil glanced at each other, clearly lost in the depth of the conversation, not understand anything.
After a brief pause, Ardian asked, "Can I ask you three for a favor?"
All three lit up with wide grins.
"You don't have to ask, Bro. We're family. Your problem's our problem. Right, folks?" said Mr. Poci.
"Darn right! Tell them anyone who messes with big bro Ardian is getting a fistful of Ucil!" the little ghost declared, pumping his tiny fist.
"They don't know who they're messing with—Kinarsih the Fabulous, baby!" Kinarsih added, tossing her tangled hair.
Ardian laughed, then turned serious.
"Kinarsih, Ucil, I need you to watch over Putriani. She's not like me or Rendy. If things get out of hand tonight, she won't be able to defend herself."
"Roger that, Boss!" they said in unison.
"What about me?" asked Mr. Poci.
"You're coming with us. I need you to monitor the area. If He shows up, stall him as long as you can."
"Oh no... I'm doomed," Mr. Poci whimpered.
"You're already dead. Might as well make the most of your afterlife."
"You're cruel, Bro! I'm not a sacrificial goat!"
"More like a sacrificial ghost," Rendy chimed in, laughing.
"NOOOO!"
"You said it yourself—'your problem is our problem.' Well, guess whose turn it is?" Ardian teased.
"I'd rather face a thousand spirits than Him! Trade jobs with me!"
"He might not even show up. Just a precaution."
"Ughhhh..." Mr. Poci groaned dramatically.
"I'm gonna die again, dang it!" he cried, throwing himself to the floor and rolling around.
"Aww, our little sugar candy ghost is pouting," Ardian said.
"Who is He anyway? What's got him so scared?" Rendy asked.
"I won't say his name. I don't want to risk calling him here. But his initial is 'M' that has associated with something called "Greed". If you're curious, do your homework tomorrow."
"Auntie! Look! I'm playing ghost hop!" Ucil yelled suddenly.
"Oi, Cil! Show some respect!" Kinarsih yelled, but then laughed and joined in, hopping.
"Hey, looks fun! Count me in!" said Ardian, leaping over Om Poci's body.
The three jumped over the flattened ghost while laughing hysterically, as poor Mr. Poci lay there crying in anguish.
"I'm grieving, and this is how you treat me?! We're not friends anymore!"
Rendy watched from the sidelines, shaking his head. "That guy's completely insane... using a ghost as a trampoline."
Eventually, they all sat down again, breathless from laughter. Mr. Poci sulked in the corner, teardrops staining his pale cheeks.
"I will die so many times today... this isn't fair..."
Ardian stood and clapped his hands.
"Kinarsih, Ucil—you're up. Rendy and I are heading to the scene."
"Roger that, Boss!" they said, disappearing in a blink.
Ardian walked over to Mr. Poci.
"You too. Time to go."
"I refuse! I'm not a punching bag! Nooooo!"
Without another word, Ardian grabbed the knot of the shroud on Poci's head and dragged him toward the exit, ignoring his plea of mercy.
"C'mon, Ren. Time to visit the haunted building."
"Let's go!" Rendy grinned, watching the absurd scene unfold.
And so they left the office, accompanied by the wails of a pocong who clearly felt none of this was in his job description.
"These humans... don't believe in ghost rights at all," whispered other spirits watching from the shadows.