Ghost Hunt: Panic in the Country
Vol. 0: I Lost | 5. Pale-faced Woman

Several times Astan pulled and exhaled, he hurried away from the house. Getting closer to the exit, a thick white mist came quickly covering all the beautiful scenery. Astan was standing right in front of the door with a right hand carving. Without thinking much, Astan put his right hand on the engraving. Within seconds the door opened slowly and he walked out. The doors and the long staircase back must be passed until Astan is in the last room. Astan could clearly listen to the spooky voices, but he kept walking without turning to the right or left, trying to ignore them. 

However, when Astan had been at the last doorstep. A familiar female voice rang out, without a second thought Astan slowly turned back his body. Astan could clearly see the figure of a long black haired female. The two exchanged gazes for a few seconds, but a red liquid immediately came out of the woman's stomach, seeping until it made the white cloth become reddened with blood. Astan's breath began to pant, as if running out of oxygen to breathe, sweaty seeds falling from his temple. The sound of laughter is getting louder, as well as the sound of crying.

In an instant Astan woke up from his sleep and glanced at the clock walker on the table. The hour hand had pointed at the number 07:00 in the morning. Astan rushes to do the morning routine, bathing, cooking, and breakfast. After all was done, he left the kitchen furniture in the wash. With complete confidence Astan went to District B-3, where the Santya Academy was located. With a smile, Astan walked in until he saw a garden filled with tables and people. He walked closer to the park with a radiant face, Astan went around to choose a company to capture a male figure familiar to his memory, Endra. Astan walked up to Endra and greeted her first. For a few seconds their eyes looked at each other, they smiled broadly full of pleasure.

“What are you doing here? Would you like to apply at our office?” endra asked with a happy face.

“Iya," Astan replied with an awkward smile.

“No need to be awkward like that, just put it on the table.” Endra said by giving paper and ballpoint pen to Astan.

“Fill the form paper first,” said Endra with a smile on his face. Astan filled out a quick form and gave it to Endra.

After that Astan again continued to look for several companies that fit his qualifications. A few hours had passed, the sun was in the middle. Making the worms in Astan's stomach sing, he saw some tables that started tidying things up. A little timidly Astan ventured to ask one of the people wearing the Santya Academy alma mater suit. Immediately go to the canteen. He put the backpack on the table, unzipped the zipper and picked up the light blue bottle of the drink. He gulped it down quickly to relieve the thirst. He went to the counter to order food. Not long after, Astan's order had been completed and he picked up a tray containing a white bowl and a glass of sweetened iced tea. Astan returned to the table where he sat and ate onion chicken noodles instant flavored with chicken meatball topping mixed with several types of fresh vegetables.

While eating his lunch, Astan occasionally looked around the canteen. He accidentally saw a woman dressed in white and pale-faced clothes following a foreign man. Astan continued to pay attention to him until the man sat down. The figure of the woman just stood behind the person she was following. Hugging him with both hands that were deathly pale until a few seconds later, something happened to that person. People give attention and whisper to each other.

Not even one of them intended to help, until some well-dressed people came with a flat-faced man. The man is seen doing something that makes a female figure out of the male body. Both of Astan's eyes accidentally collided with the pale-faced woman. For a few seconds they looked at each other until a hand slapped Astan's shoulder. Astan looked to his left and Endra was standing nearby. With his serious face Endra watched the rest of the incident.

“What happened?” endra asked with her curious face.

“Oh,” says Endra sits down with Astan. Endra took a glass of sweet iced tea and drank it until there was not a drop left. Astan who realizes it can only be silent and give an annoyed look.

“Why are you drinking my sweet iced tea?” ask Astan.

“I'm thirsty," Endra replied with a smile that showed off his white teeth.

“Quiet, I'll buy you.” Endra spoke again and quickly stood up from his seat.

Endra walked to the cashier to order. After finishing with the order, Endra carried a tray containing one plate and two glasses and returned to the table, sitting right beside Astan. They enjoyed the meal together until there was nothing left at all. When they finished, they separated and in the crowded hallway Astan walked alone. Now he's at the stop waiting a few minutes for the bus to arrive. He went in and sat at the very back and leaned his head against the glass.

Slowly Astan closed both eyes, but it made the atmosphere around worse. There was no sound that he could hear. But then, one second later. A female whisper was heard in Astan's right ear.

“What do you want?” asked Astan, opening both of his eyes quickly. Everything returned to normal, the sound and atmosphere around. Buses that began to be crowded by several passengers, the streets were also filled with vehicles.

“Please me,” replied the female figure in a soft voice.

When he heard the pale-faced woman's reply, Astan was silent for a while until the bus stopped. Astan approached the exit and gave 5 Weal to the assistant driver and walked away from the stop until passing a gate with the words ‘Welcome To District B-4’. He was still at home listening to the pale-faced woman's plea, but he was silent and not chiming in. Astan simply floated a glance at the buildings on each side of the road that looked aging due to the fading of paint color.

The B-4 district is more populated by people earning under 2500 Weal. Buildings such as residences, schools, and so on also look not as good as they used to be with bright and clean colors. The buildings look old with peeling walls and a dull white color. Instant walk into the minimarket, to the refrigerator that stores various types of drinks. He picked up a small bottle of moccha-flavored coffee and rushed to pay. Astan walked slowly through the gate of an apartment. He stood in front of the elevator until the door opened and quickly entered. He pressed a number and immediately slid upwards. When the elevator would stop on the 14th floor, Astan gulped down his coffee.