Chapter 17: Into the Fog
The time showed half past six in the evening. The golden hue of dusk stretched across the neighborhood, blanketing rooftops and trees in a soft, fading light. Ardian had just lit a mosquito coil when a loud voice suddenly echoed from in front of his house gate.
"Ardi! Ardi! Let's hang out!"
"Shut up, man! Yelling at this hour… Oh wait, it's you, Ren. I thought it was some random idiot!" Ardian snapped, appearing from behind the front door with a worn-out shoe in hand. His arm was already mid-swing, but he paused as soon as he recognized the voice.
"Whoa, you were about to hit me with that relic? That's savage, bro!" Rendy laughed, ducking behind the gate like it was a shield.
"You're nuts, yelling outside someone's house at maghrib. You could've just texted. What if I really did throw it, huh?"
"Then I'd sue you for emotional damage. Now, come on, let me in!"
"Yeah, yeah. Come in before you summon a real ghost."
Once inside, Rendy sprawled out on the sofa like he owned the place. Ardian served him a cup of hot black coffee, the steam dancing lazily in the air.
"There's a new job," Rendy said between sips. "In the village of Lingkar Pinus. Four guys got possessed after beating up a Pocong."
Ardian, who was mid-pour with his own coffee, froze. The dark liquid almost overflowed.
"Wait… seriously? They beat up a Pocong? What are they, ghost bullies?"
Rendy shrugged, smirking. "Apparently, yeah. But now the tables have turned. They're the ones who got screwed."
Ardian burst into laughter, nearly choking on his drink. "That's karma deluxe! Who in their right mind jumps a Pocong without spiritual protection? That's like punching a beehive and hoping it says thank you."
"Exactly. That's why we've been called. The locals are freaked out."
Ardian leaned back, face still lit with amusement. "Sometimes, the stupidity of humans really surprises me."
"Alright, laugh all you want. But we gotta move fast. This one's serious."
Ardian nodded, his expression shifting to focused. "Alright, Ren. We're heading out tonight. Finish your coffee, I'll go change."
Rendy leaned back, pulling out a pack of cigarettes. "Mind if I smoke?"
"Do whatever. Just don't set the curtain on fire."
A few minutes later, Ardian emerged from his room wearing a thick, dark jacket over a clean, neat shirt. His hair was combed back, his expression sharp. Practical—but stylish.
Rendy stood up and stubbed out his cigarette. "Looking fresh, boss. You trying to exorcise the ghost or seduce it?"
"Depends on the ghost," Ardian grinned. "Let's go." suddenly he stopped "Oh, before I forget—where's my payment from the last case?"
"I'll transfer it later. You never forget about money, huh?"
"Damn right. Spirits can't pay rent."
A Few Hours Later
It was 9 PM.
The road winding through the pine forest was narrow and suffocated by trees. Cold wind bit through their jackets, the night air thick with moisture. Fog had begun to gather, dense and fast, wrapping around their motorbike like a moving curtain.
"Dude, the deeper we go, the creepier it gets. Why is it getting foggy all of a sudden?" Rendy's voice trembled slightly, though he tried to sound casual.
"Chill, Ren. Focus on the map. Let me handle the rest," Ardian replied, his eyes narrowing.
But he sensed it.
Something was wrong.
The leaves weren't rustling. No chirping insects. Even the wind seemed to move... strangely.
The silence wasn't natural. It was dead.
"Stop the bike. Now."
BRAAAAK!
Rendy hit the brakes hard. The bike screeched, swerving dangerously close to the edge. For a moment, the wheels skidded—until they came to a sudden stop just inches from a yawning ravine.
"WHAT THE HELL, ARDIAN!?" Rendy shouted, heart racing. "We could've died!"
Ardian didn't reply immediately. His gaze was fixed forward. The road that had existed moments ago was gone, transforms into an edge of cliff.
A vast drop stretched before them.
"This road… it was paved," Rendy muttered. "It was real. I swear it was real!"
"That's the thing," Ardian muttered. "It wasn't."
He stepped off the bike, scanning the area with predator-like precision. His breathing slowed. His fingers twitched near his pocket—ready to pull out his sigil chalk or anything else he might need.
"Come out," he called, voice steady. "I know you're there. You've been tampering with my partner's senses since the last fork in the road."
A dark rustle echoed behind him. Rendy turned, eyes wide. A shadow, massive and fluid, slithered out from the forest—then stopped.
Glowing red eyes blinked in the mist.
Ardian's tone darkened. "You think I didn't notice?"
The fog thickened.
"Come, or I'll make you."
"You sound like a predator, boss…" Rendy whispered nervously. "Not gonna lie, I'm terrified and aroused."
"Ren, now is really not the time."
From the murky white veil, shadows moved—tall, hunched figures with limbs too long and skin like scorched bark. The ground shook gently with each step. One… two… five of them appeared, surrounding the two men like titanic sentinels.
The air throbbed with energy. A low hum began—metallic and ancient.
It was gamelan music.
Soft, echoing. Dissonant.
Ardian's eyes lit red. His shadow stretched unnaturally, spreading across the ground like spilled ink.
Then—skittering.
From the tree roots and cracks in the earth, hundreds of red-eyed rats crawled into view, their bodies semi-transparent, ghostly. They chittered and snarled in unnatural harmony.
Suddenly—
"STOP!" a deep voice boomed, cutting through the tension like a gong.
The music ceased. The fog shifted.
From behind a large boulder, an old man floated forward. Clad in ceremonial white robes, he carried a yellow bamboo cane. His beard, long and silver, brushed the mist. He didn't walk—he floated.
The giant spirits immediately parted, bowing their heads.
Ardian didn't lower his stance. His red eyes stayed glowing, unwavering.
The old man chuckled. "You've got guts, boy. And a temper to match."
"You messed with my friend's senses," Ardian growled. "Release him. Now."
The air crackled. Ardian's rats screeched in chorus. His shadow rippled, ready to explode.
The old man raised his cane. "You heard him. Let go."
One of the giants hesitated. "But Master—"
"DO IT!" the old man roared, slamming his cane into the ground.
A thunderous shockwave erupted, flattening the trees nearby and forcing the spirits to their knees. The sigil in Ardian's pocket lit up on its own.
Rendy gasped and clutched his head as the mental fog lifted. "Whoa… I can think again. That was like trying to read calculus drunk."
The old man smiled kindly. "We may be spirits, but we have dignity. Unlike… whatever foolishness you thought we were doing."
Rendy gave a shaky laugh. "Well, you did try to kill us…"
"No," the old man said calmly. "They thought you were the Begal. Spirit-slavers. But you're not, are you?"
Ardian stepped forward, eyes dimming. "We came to investigate. Not to capture."
The old man nodded. "Then we owe you an apology. But you must know—the village you're headed to… Lingkar Pinus… is cursed."
Ardian's expression sharpened. "What kind of curse?"
"We don't know exactly. But it's old. And powerful. Even my kind… stay away."
Ardian exchanged a glance with Rendy, then looked back. "If you're not the source, then who is?"
The old man simply said, "See for yourself… and be careful."
One by one, the giants melted back into the mist. The gamelan music faded, replaced by the chirping of night insects. The fog cleared like it had never existed.
Silence returned.
Rendy climbed back on the bike, still shaking a little. "Bro… I'm never sleeping again. That was like a Studio Ghibli nightmare."
Ardian chuckled. "You good to drive?"
"Yeah… but we're going slow. No more cliffs."
"Agreed. Let's go. The real problem still waits."
And so, into the deepening dark, they rode.
Toward a village that pulsed with ancient dread.