ALKISAH: Prayer for the World [1001 Indonesian Fantasy Stories]
TALE/Time of Miracle: The Dawn Train In The Middle of the Ocean

A beautiful white rose stands alone in a clear glass vase filled with clear water. The flower was perched right on top of a small closet next to Riko's bed. Riko had never even seen a rose with her own eyes, let alone a white rose.

“Where... me?” Riko's bright white eyes looked blankly at the only window hanging on the wall. The light of the sun came through that window.

Although Riko could faintly feel that the room was indeed shaking. However, somehow Riko did not remember how he arrived in this room at all. In fact, Riko was sure that last night, he was looking for food in his favorite trash can located behind an expensive restaurant. But strangely enough, today, on this sunny morning, Riko woke up somewhere far different from where she had lived all along.

Riko's heart seemed to stop beating as her hand touched the surface of her extremely soft bed. He wondered in his heart, how could he possibly end up here?

Countless questions slowly began to fill Riko's mind, and made her feel uneasy. Riko knew that if he just sat on this bed, then he would not get any answers. However, it feels very heavy if Riko has to leave this bed now, considering that she has always slept on the streets.

But something unexpected happened.

The door in the corner of the room suddenly let out a creaking sound, and slowly opened, then a long-haired girl who was the same age as Riko stepped into the room without hesitation.

“Halo.” Greet the little girl while walking towards Riko.

“Ah, hello... ” Reply Riko little wonder.

“Sorry yes, if I cheered into your room. You see I'm curious because only your door is not yet open.” The girl was observing Riko's room, and from the look of her eyes radiated intense curiosity.

“Ah... it's okay, kok.” Riko answered with a small smile.

“Oh yes, you why haven't you come out? The other kids are all outside, you know.” The girl sat on the bed, but her gaze was fixed on the white rose on the table. “White flowers?”

“What's outside? And...what is this place exactly?”

“Already, mending you out of here first. Yuk!” The girl pulled Riko's hand, and led her out of the room.

Upon arrival outside, a scene that was quite surprising was immediately plastered in front of Riko to the point of making his eyes wide open. A gentle and cold gust of wind messed up Riko's dense hair that was as white as her eyes, and gave her body goosebumps.

“Wah... “

Hundreds of children of Riko's age filled the corridor in distress. The dark red carpet that rolled on the wooden floor under their feet extended from the right end to the left end and seemed endless. There were also chunks of gemstones emitting golden yellow rays that floated on the ceiling along the passageway.

However, Riko was once again made astonished when he looked back, because the distance between the door one and the other was only a few jengkal distance. That's quite strange, considering the area of the room was arguably quite wide.

At that time, almost all the children who were there were looking out the window and were observing the scenery outside, while the rest chose to run around in the corridor and enjoy their freedom.

Because it was too narrow, Riko could barely see what was behind that window. Even so, the little girl did not stop there. His eyes deftly looked for a gap between the crowd so that he and Riko could also see what the other children saw.

Riko followed the direction of the girl's footsteps and tried not to separate. It is not difficult to distinguish the girl from the other children. Riko also did not know why, but somehow he seemed to be able to see a light emanating from the girl.

Finally, after some time, Riko and the girl arrived in front of the window. Riko's eyes opened wider as she looked out there.

The endless ocean, as well as the clear sky, and the clouds that clumped like a roll of waves, as well as the horizon that separated everything, were all currently right in front of Riko's eyes.

“Welcome to Train Dawn.” Said the girl who was enjoying the wind.

“Form Train?”

“Ya, Dawn Train, a place for children who do not have a home. This is a magic car.” The girl explained. “This train is looking for children who do not have the same place to live as me, and takes us on an adventure across the oceans around the world.”

“Hah? So... is this really a car?” Riko tries to believe that reality, but everything sounds too magical until it is difficult for Riko's brain to accept.

“Yap, from now on, this train is your new home.” The girl smiled sweetly. “This train belongs to everyone who is here. Here we can sleep, play, eat as much, drink as much, and do whatever we want without anyone forbidding. Great right?”

Riko took her head out through the window, and looked at the bottom of the carriage, as well as the front and back of the carriage as well. This train is very long and indeed travels over the ocean, with tracks that are out of nowhere. How magical.

However, because of the length, Riko also realized, that in this world there are very many children who do not have a home or parents, and the ones on this train right now aren't even all of them.

“Ah... you are aware also apparently.” said the girl who now looks sad. “Yes, that's it. Just by looking at how long this train is, anyone must be aware of how many children are wasted in this world.”

“Eh... Yeah anyway. But this isn't too bad either, is it?”

The girl was surprised by Riko's statement. “Hmm... but—”

“I don't really understand what's going on here, but if this train has saved me, it means that the world still cares about us, right?” Reveal Riko while enjoying the amazing scenery in plain sight. “So.. I no longer have to bother looking for food in the trash can just to survive until tomorrow. And I also won't be cold anymore because I don't have a blanket.”

After hearing what Riko said, a small smile suddenly re-formed on the girl's lips.

“Ya... you are right too.” Said the girl steady.

“Padahan... all this time I always thought that this world had thrown me away. Turns out I was wrong. I really did not expect that this world still wanted me and would accept me.” It was clearly Riko who was smiling a little. “Hah... “

“Ya... thank goodness.” Add the girl. “By the way, my name is Riviera, you can call me Riviera. I'm from Chiang Mai, and I've also been on this train for six months.”

“My name is Riko Rafajar, but people call me Riko, and I am from Yogyakarta. Greetings, yes, Rivi.”

“Ya, greetings know also, Riko.”

Then, the two children shook hands, as a sign that they had been in a relationship with each other.

“Oh yes, I'm still curious.” Said Riko.

“About what?”

“You know where this train will take us?” Tanya Riko hesitated.

“Oh about it yes.” Rivi. “Riko take it easy. Every year, this train will stop somewhere. And in that place, we will be given the opportunity to start all over again. Great, isn't it?”

“Hmm... so, yes?” Riko immediately felt better after hearing that. “Good. Until then, Rivi and I will be together, okay?”

“Yes, we will be together until this train stops.” Rivi replied sincerely.

Rivi again remembered the existence of white flowers in Riko's room.

People on this train often say that what is in the rooms is a form of their desire. For example, the Rivi, which has always wanted a fragrant room, a good bed, and magnificent wall hangings, as well as expensive items. And, that's what the Rivi room in this train is all about.

However, it is different from Riko's room. The room was too plain and empty. In fact, when Rivi entered Riko's room earlier, she somehow felt as if she was sinking into a void of darkness. It was horrible and it scared the Rivi.

However, as Rivi looked at the white flower that was beside Riko's bed, at that very instant, Rivi was detached from all those fears, and she felt as if this world had become hers.

What made Riko get to that empty?

What exactly has he been through?

What kind of suffering could create such a room?

I don't know, it would be better if Rivi didn't ask Riko about it. Perhaps, the white flower is proof, that Riko has been through worse suffering than being a street child, and become a familyless person.

For now, let only the white rose bear witness to Riko's past life.

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SC Image: Google