King's Son (Season 1&2)
episode 49 Caraka 3

I started to tell Refald what I remember when I took part in caraka last year.

At that time, in the same month as this year, we held a caraka activity in the forest that is famous for its awesomeness. Actually, the rumor is just a myth from the rumors of villagers around this forest so that we are more careful in doing various activities carried out in the forest.

On the first day it came, there were no problems, all the activities we were doing were going smoothly without any constraints. As soon as we entered the break, we immediately entered into the tents each of which had been provided for us. The tent that we used for the night was also makeshift, did not have a tent entrance cover, just an ordinary tent as used by the soldiers.

Three meters from where our tent is located is a male-only tent. We could not interact with each other because of the obstruction of tall bushes. So, at nightfall, it was as if we were sleeping in the forest alone, without lighting and without a tent cover. We were all cold, and the one who felt the cold of the night the most was me, because my position was at the very end. Coincidentally, I was at the far end of the tent bed so I could see the ceiling directly. I saw the trees that were right above me, most of the trees here were large and tall.

If nothing happens during the day, different things happen when it is night, which is right at bedtime. I couldn't sleep that night, because this was the first time in my life that I spent the night in the middle of a famous haunted forest. I saw something strange, something that made me shudder in fear. At first there was no problem when I looked around the trees above me. Until one day, I faintly saw a white shadow standing on a tree branch.

I observed what I saw, at first glance I thought that the white shadow was the moonlight that pierced through the shade of the trees. However, after I noticed, the white shadow was not moonlight because its shape resembled a phenomenal ghost figure in the country of Indonesia. Unmistakably, that white shadow was a half-body pocong figure. I could see it clearly, the body of the pocong was on top of a large tree branch that was right above me. His leg is missing, gone somewhere. Only the stomach until the head is visible.

I felt that the pocong was watching me. I was so scared after realizing what I was seeing right now. This is the first time I've seen a ghost. Usually I can never see astral beings or anything like that. However, for some reason today I was able to see the pocong clearly even with just the naked eye.

I dare not look at it again, I closed my eyes and covered it with a sleyer that I had tied to my head so that I could not see it again. A few moments later, I felt something standing next to me. All my fur stands up. I was so creeped out in fear that I could not make a sound, as if someone was holding my voice back from getting out. I can't even move. I persevered to keep my eyes closed even though my whole body was trembling with fear. I'm not sure if all of my friends who are one tent with me feel the same way as I do or not. Clearly, I did not hear any sound, not even the night beast.

That night, it felt so long, almost all night I could not sleep because I was trembling in fear. I could not imagine that the white figure of the hopper was beside me all night. I just wish it wasn't just me who experienced something mystical like this. It is possible that all my friends feel the same way as I do now.

For almost three hours I felt tormented. Wanting to scream but my voice could not come out, my body was still unable to move. Even though my eyes were closed, I was still terrified.

Thank goodness a long night soon passed, as early as morning, I ventured to re-open my eyes. I watch my surroundings. I'm glad that pocong is no more. Her existence is also gone. I don't know what he did to me, I was really afraid that the pocong would haunt me all the time. We had to stay one more night at this place. I'm afraid the pocong will come again. I don't know what to do if I get that pocong back.

In the morning, we still carry out activities smoothly without any obstacles. During the break, I opened the bag that was next to a bat-model rain coat. I tied the coat on the roof of the tent and on both sides. That way later tonight I can no longer see the trees above me anymore because they are covered by this coat.

The night for the show begins. My senior woke me up who had fallen asleep. Thank goodness on the second night this scary white figure did not come again, probably because my sleep was too deep because before, all night I could not sleep.

“Wake, Fey. Come with me.” One of my seniors named Joni woke me up and took me somewhere. Before I left, I observed my surroundings. Some of my friends were not in the tent and some were still asleep.

I followed my senior from behind in silence. The atmosphere was very dark and there was no light here. Only the moonlight that turns out tonight is the night of the full moon, and the moon is shining beautifully into the universe.

Apparently, I was taken by my senior to a crowd of several people, one of whom was Mr. Vega. He is the chief executive of this year's caraka activities.

As soon as I saw him coming, Brother Vega told me to sit in front of him and give me a mission in the middle of the night as a form of our devotion as official prospective PA members.

“Our mission tonight is to find a group of villagers who got lost in the forest this afternoon while looking for a bung (newly grown bamboo shoots). You have to go that route ...” Brother Vega pointed towards the thicket that was on my left. “Enter into that bush and continue to follow the path. If you meet someone, then say the word ‘Mbah, your daughter liwat’ (Grandfather/Grandfather, your grandson passed by). If the person you met doesn't answer, you should continue until the last route. But, if the person you meet answers your password, then you should pause while waiting for their next mission. Do you understand?”askinya.

I listened to my senior's long explanation solemnly. It's not that I don't understand what he's saying, it's just that I know what the direction of this event is like. It's just like a guts test for me. No matter how much I fear right now, they will all still force me to take part in this guts test event even if I don't want to.

There was no other choice but to do as my senior instructed. I went straight into the bushes and found a path. I followed that path according to the instructions that Vega had given me. Just a few meters away I stepped up, as if I saw two black-clothed men standing behind me on the right side.

Actually, I was so scared. My whole body shook to see those two black figures. I tried desperately to brave myself and say the password.

“Mbah, your thread of water (Grand/Grand, your teeth are passing).” I said out of fear.

Unknowingly, I had mispronounced that password. There was no reaction from the two figures. I got more and more scared because I mispronounced my password. While trembling, I waited for the reply of the two creatures that were in front of me, but there was no reaction whatsoever.

It seems, I still have to continue the journey because there is no reaction from them

“Any thing, they did not move at all, what was that human was not, anyway?” I murmured as I continued my journey.

Because the atmosphere was very dark and I did not bring any illumination, I fumbled over all the objects in front of me to trace the path. Suddenly I heard a very loud scream followed by the sound of crying.

I memorized that voice, it sounded exactly like Lisa, the most tomboyish girl in our organization. I scanned around me to find out where the sound was coming from and what made Lisa scream and cry like that.

I saw Lisa sitting on the right side where I was standing. I ran over to him to find out the situation.

I observed the thing that Lisa pointed at. A meter from where Lisa was there was a black mound. “What is it?” I asked Lisa.

The girl was still frightened and did not want to raise her face. “I ... it was to ... ke-pa-la man.” he said while trembling.

I can't believe what Lisa said. Despite the fear, I tried to approach her to ascertain whether what Lisa said was true or not.

The black thing was indeed the size of a human head. It's just that the shape is black. Maybe because it was too dark that we could not see clearly what was around us at the moment.

I tried to touch the black object with anxious expectation, and .. It turns out, the black object that looks the size of a human head is not a human head, it turns out, but the former trunk of a tree that has been cut down and that is long enough..

I calmed the frightened Lisa. “This is not a human head, this is just a tree trunk that has been cut down.”

“But I was sure I saw the head of the person who was face down? Really, I didn't lie .. I'm sure I saw it.”

“Maybe you're too scared that you're hallucinating.”

“I'm not afraid, I actually saw it earlier.” Lisa was still strong with what she saw.

Actually I agree with Lisa considering that this place is famous as haunted. Anyone could see strange and frightening things in a place like this.

“Here is indeed very dark, Lis. See all the trees around us? Everything looks black. We are in the middle of a forest that cannot be penetrated by moonlight. We can see nothing but darkness. Stop crying and we have to finish this mission immediately.” I tried to calm Lisa down so she wouldn't constantly be afraid.

Lisa obeyed what I said. “You're right.” he got up and wiped his tears.

“You're this, tomboyish but timid girl too,” my lead while starting to walk.

“Shut up!” Lisa followed me from behind in annoyance.

“Stop!” yelled someone from behind. “You two! How can you walk together.” cried Yuda. One of our seniors.

I explained the chronology of the events that actually happened so that this senior of mine did not misunderstand.

“Truely so, Lis?” yuda asked Lisa after hearing my explanation.

“True, Brother!” answer Lisa.

“Then Lisa stays here with me, and you, Fey! Go first!”

“But, Brother ...” Lisa protest.

“No buts! It's a rule, if you don't want to follow this rule it means you fail. Next year you should be junior again.”

“Good.” Hearing the word ‘gagal’ Lisa's guts instantly shrivelled.

I continued my expedition too. This time I reached a rather narrow and descending path. I had to hold on to the bush on the cliff to my right every time I stepped. It was because the path was too dark and I didn't want to fall into the abyss. I'm sure to my left this is an abyss that I don't know how high the depth is. Therefore, I must be careful.

A few meters from where I stepped, I saw a bright light moving further and further away from my sight. I don't know what light is, obviously, it's like mine, but I'm not sure either. My hands trembled in fear, eager to chase after the light but I was so scared that I suddenly heard the sound of people screaming so loud.

"Aarrrgghh!"

Is that the sound of a man screaming?

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