Chapter 13 – The Ember That Leaves a Trace
The two ghost detectives were flung far from the cursed old building, their bodies soaring through the air like ragdolls out of control.
THUD!
Rendy slammed into a large tree trunk with his back. The air rushed out of his lungs, and his body slowly slid down to the ground like a dry leaf losing its grip.
Meanwhile, Ardian had it worse. His body struck several hard branches before finally crashing down with a CRASH, like a sack of rice with its ties cut. Leaves and twigs fell with him, adding to the pain he already felt.
"Ugh... damn... Can't that big-hairy spirit play nice for once? Throwing people like bouncing balls... Who does he think I am?" he groaned, wincing as he rubbed his throbbing back.
He looked up, eyes scanning the darkness.
"Ren! You okay!?"
His friend's voice answered from afar, hoarse but alive, "I'm... breathing."
Ardian immediately rose, even as pain screamed through his body, and limped toward the voice. It didn't take long until he found Rendy sitting weakly under a tree.
"Can you walk?"
"I can... don't worry." Rendy replied, though his face clearly didn't show "don't worry."
They stood together, gazing toward the cursed building, now just a faint shadow behind the fog.
"You... worried about Suitomo?" Ardian asked without turning.
Rendy was silent for a moment, then nodded slightly. "Sorry Ar, I'm just that kind of person."
Ardian didn't respond. He understood. His friend had always been like that—too empathetic, even to beings from another realm.
And because of that... Ardian swore to protect Rendy's heart from anyone—be it human or spiritual—who tried to take advantage of it.
But before they could take another step…
BOOM!!
A thunderous explosion shattered the quiet night.
The shockwave hit them, flinging them backwards again. This time, they landed in tall shrubs and bushes, their bodies torn by branches and wild grasses.
Ardian tumbled, his body scratched and bleeding. His breath ragged. He rose, dizzy and panicked as he realized Rendy wasn't beside him.
"Rendy! Where are you!?"
No answer.
Ardian pushed through the tall grass, sweat pouring down his forehead.
"REN! DON'T SCREW WITH ME, DAMN IT!"
Until finally...
He saw Rendy's body, lying motionless among the grass.
"REN!!"
He ran over and immediately checked the pulse on his friend's neck.
Still there...
Ardian's breath caught in relief. He hoisted Rendy onto his back, staggering away from the field of grass.
But the peace didn't last long…
A hellish scene awaited them.
The old building was now an ocean of fire.
The night sky turned red, like the gates of hell had opened. Amid the blaze... dozens, even hundreds of spiritual entities circled the flames.
Their forms... defied description. Their bodies like shadows that refused to be defined.
But one thing Ardian recognized clearly—iron wings.
Not ordinary spirits. Not even local supernatural clans.
These were legends. Ancient sins once written in the Old Covenant. They were the iron-winged demons—those who fell with the rebellious angels, cast out from the heavens, cursed to walk between worlds.
They didn't just punish… they erased existence.
Ardian knew, if they saw him now, there would be no mercy. So with the last of his strength, he walked away... carrying Rendy away from the field of death.
Hours later...
The clock showed midnight. Silent. Cold. Only the sounds of crickets and night birds remained.
But in a small roadside warung (coffee stall) in the village, two people were still awake.
"Eh, Mr. Guard. Just taking a break?" asked the lady as she brewed coffee.
"Yeah, ma'am. Gotta have some coffee so I don't doze off during patrol."
"Villagers say that old building down the road is haunted, yeah?"
"I've never gone in, ma'am. But whenever I pass by... it's like a night market. So many sounds, makes your skin crawl."
"See? Creepy…"
"But ma'am, be careful talking like that—"
"Ma'am… Ma'am…"
A faint voice was heard from the distance.
The security guard and the lady looked at each other, hearts pounding.
"Did you hear that?"
"Yes…"
"Ma'am… help..."
THUD!
Something crashed hard in front of the warung.
Shaking, they looked outside. Two young men lay collapsed. Covered in wounds. Covered in dirt. As if they had just crawled out of hell.
"OH MY GOD!!" the lady screamed in panic. "Sir! That's the ones who parked the motorbike earlier today!"
Without hesitation, they carried the two inside and began tending to their injuries.
Hours passed.
Ardian opened his eyes. His body broken, but still alive.
He turned and saw Rendy... sleeping, softly snoring.
A small smile appeared on his face. But beneath it—a gnawing guilt took root in his chest. This was all… his fault. If he serious taken more precautions action then this won't be happen.
He clenched his fists.
"You're awake?" a gentle voice asked.
"Yes, ma'am... thank you for your help…"
"You're welcome," said the lady as she replaced the compress on Rendy's forehead.
"Where are you boys from, really?"
The question made Ardian a bit uneasy, but he quickly adapted.
"We… were hiking through the woods, ma'am. Just for fun. Wanted to be ghost hunters. They say that place is super haunted."
The lady stared at him for a long while. "Dear God… you kids. Looking for thrills in places like that. Do you think your lives are cheap?"
Ardian lowered his head, then softly said, "Sometimes... there are things we have to face, not because we want to… but because if not us, then no one else will."
The lady fell silent, then sighed.
"Don't your parents worry about you?"
"I… was orphaned as a kid, Ma'am. So was Rendy… life's been hard. We only have each other." said Ardian, making up some backgrounds to gains this lady sympathy.
"Oh... I'm sorry," she said quietly, her eyes glassy with tears.
"It's okay, Ma'am… in fact, thank you for helping us."
Morning came.
Ardian stepped out upon hearing a commotion.
"Ma'am, what's going on?"
"That old building, son... it caught fire. Now it's just ruins."
"...Fire?" Ardian narrowed his eyes, faking his reaction, but didn't expecting the old
building became ruins just for one night.
"Yes. But strange. No one saw it happen. Even the guard doesn't know when it started."
Ardian nodded and went back inside. Soon, he was ready with his helmet and motorcycle.
"Where are you going, son?"
"To the site, ma'am. Just want to have a quick look."
"Be careful…"
At the site, police tape surrounded what was now just rubble and ash.
Ardian slipped through the crowd.
Through a small black rat he sent out, he eavesdropped on the officers' conversation.
"No signs of gasoline…"
"Power's been out for three years…"
"No witnesses. Really weird…"
Ardian clenched his fists. None of the local spirits were around anymore. But...
What appeared... was far older. More evil. More ancient.
"Iron Wings..." he muttered.
Creatures from the Old Covenant. Fallen angels thirsty for erasure.
He looked around. Not a single astral being in sight.
All traces vanished. Yet the unease in his chest only grew.
He took a deep breath, then walked quickly back to the warung.
Rendy… was still unconscious.
And their enemy now, was no longer just roaming spirits or local entities.
But the ancient wanderers, remnants of heaven's rebellion...
And this… was just the beginning.