The Dark World
Be marooned

...T E R D A M P A R...

...Author by: David Khanz...

The speck of rain was still falling, swept away by the cold wind, piercing my jacket. Take shelter under a small unkempt hut with a well-styled thatched roof and leave clear drops wetting all around. It's good, I thought, rather than having to continue the journey, after getting off public transport some time ago.

I opened the waist bag to pick up the phone, then opened up the former conversation through a messaging application with fingers that were still moist, accompanied by giggles shaking the body, with Azel an old friend while in college.

"Maen, dong, to the cave, Ron," wrote my friend Azel three days ago. "Old time we didn't see you."

"Where do you live now?" I asked among the longing pendam after a few years of separation. Precisely after the graduation event at the campus where we together studied first.

Azel wrote the name of an address. So foreign and far away from where I was living at the time. " ... Java area, Ron."

"Much a way, Zel. Since when do you live there?" My eyebrows shot up as soon as I read the name of the place Azel had sent.

"It hasn't been long, Ron, yet" he replied quickly. "The cave didn't mean to stay here, but somehow the cave got washed up. Hehe."

I sent a cartoon sticker laughing.

"It's all work, Ron?" ask Azel later. I said immediately, "Udah. The problem, the results of the record from Om cave. Hehe."

"Still mending. Even the cave has not been done before. Yeah, 'come on. Not anywhere. Hicks."

We had quite a message back then. Until I finally decided to visit the place where Azel lived. "okay, deh. Saturday and Sunday, the cave's gonna be a gawe holiday. All take annual leave, two or three days. So, a pretty cave can linger in your house. 'Where?"

"Well .. 'that's it, dong!" reply Azel accompanied emoticons happy expression. "You sure you know the address?"

"Easy! 'And the cave can use Google Map."

"Sip, motherfucker. Cave wait, yes, Ron," wrote Azel as if hoping for a lot of me to come.

"OK .. ready, Zel. Kangen ama you cave, you see. Hehe."

The conversation ended. Furthermore, while waiting for the specified time for departure, we had a light conversation. It was also often done after I came home from work and rested in the rented, around evening.

Actually, my encounter with Azel happened by accident. One time, suddenly the clink of a cellphone notification sounded. One of my classmates entered my mobile number into a Whatsapp group. Initially not so interested in following all the useless conversation of the members who were there. Almost always just greetings, reprimands, jokes, or showing off self-activity. To get out of the community, it does not feel up to the heart. Let it be, while quite present occasionally so as not to be judged arrogant while diligently erasing the conversation that I have not read.

Somehow, some time later, I opened the group info. Check the numbers listed there. Suddenly this eye is fixed on a number named profile that is very familiar and often I look for all this time. 'Azel ..' This heart murmur was accompanied by a great roar tore the chest. 'Yes, Lord .. since when was the number tucked between their names. Why did I find him now.'

Answer one of my friends named Syahrul, as well as the Administrator of the group, when I asked, "Si Azel has been in the group for a long time, Ron. Only, he never participated in interacting amen-temen. His number is still active. It was even sent, too. But it's never been baled."

Yeah, I checked the age of this community over a year ago. According to the statement, Azel's membership was almost half as long. "Your own number just know from the cave bokap that is your office ama Om," he said adding when I asked why I only knew there was a college class group first. "Try him, Ron. You're gonna be a decrette and one kosan ama him."

I tried to call Azel's number. Result checklist. But only on the night did he receive a reply. "Hi, Ron. Is this really you?" ask Azel.

"hey are. It's caves. You really are Azel?" I asked after a long time looking at Azel's profile picture. He used old photos while he was in college. Very classic.

Next we had a conversation until midnight, through writing. Just a few times I tried to call or make video calls, the results were never satisfactory and often delayed. Even the picture is dark, unclear, and broken.

"Sorry, Ron. The signal here is so bad!" Azel gave an excuse. "I wish I lived in the countryside. Haha."

Not much different from the Azel I used to know. Always full of jokes and laughter. We also dissolve in a sloppy atmosphere while replying to messages. It happened almost every evening.

I smiled to myself reading the former conversations then we. Until then a drop of water fell on the nape of this nape. Cold, as well as aware that the day has begun to pass through the afternoon. Scroll the clock on the phone screen, already showing half five o'clock. The rain seems to have long since subsided.

" … From there, you go to Dalem. There was a path beside the old hut. That's the only way to get to the cave residence, Ron," Azel wrote last night. Unfortunately when I tried to call him back to ask further, the message sent was still checklist like this morning before leaving. The same result, when on the way.

'Daddy's! The closer to here, the signal is getting drowned ..." I grumbled while moving the phone here and there. Still, what is sought does not improve. 'Correctly, Azel is difficult to contact.'

I looked around the atmosphere. Exactly checking the path as Azel wrote. It is true, there is an elongated canal in the form of access for walking. Wet, muddy, and slippery soil. On its right were filled with wild grass and huge trees towered high. It looks like a creepy wilderness area. Fortunately, I already had the experience of going up and down the mountain while still a student first. So that the fear of things about life in another dimension, I can scrape it thin.

'Crazy ones! 'How did the story of Azel get to come and settle in an area like this? Where far from the city. Difficult communication anyway, ' my mummy again remembered the public transport vehicle that was boarded earlier. It is one and only operates twice a day. Morning and afternoon.

"What's? What do you want to do with Sirnagalih, Mas?" asked the public transport driver like he gasped at my destination. I replied in the middle of the eyes of the loyal passengers waiting patiently for the vehicle that was still tuning this afternoon, "Meet the old meeting, Bang. He said, he lives there."

The driver glanced for a moment at the other passengers. Then he looked back at me and said, "Wouldn't it be canceled, Mom? Or at least wait until tomorrow. If Mas departs now, most likely nyampe there by evening. Especially when I'm alone."

"It's okay, Bang. I'm used to the road itself, really," timpalku feel bad to be the center of attention in the transportation.

" … or put it this way, Mas nginep used to be in my house. Not far, really, from Sirnagalih. Tomorrow both set out with me as the first rite through there." The driver gave advice. But I insist, this journey must be completed today too, in order to arrive at the destination and meet with Azel. The longing for the figure of a familiar friend, already like in the eye pelubuk. "Be careful, yes, Mas," said the driver back when I got off the transport in front of the hut.

"Thank you, Bang," I said later. Almost all the eyes in the vehicle were staring at me. What was? I don't know. Maybe just feel sorry.

The day has begun to fade. While the map instructions on the phone can not be opened. The cellular signal has completely disappeared. Since then, I have relied only on the history of past conversations with Azel. Go there, come here, turn left-right, uphill, etc. Until then, a notification clink from WA reads. This forehead is wrinkled. Wonder. Message from my friend. How could?

"Where have you been, Ron?" asked Azel with a description of the delivery time exactly the same as the time setting on the phone. I tried to reply, "Gua again the way, Zel. Just a few feet from that roadside hut." Undeliverable. Message captions are only round clock faces. Sure oes. Isn't there a signal? How did the message from Azel arrive?

TING!

"Oh, just walk right out of that shack. Follow the instructions that the cave loves."

A reply from Azel? My message just failed to get sent. Ah, this thought began to be filled with questions. The eyes are no longer able to see. The pitch-black accompanied swirling cold wind pierced the pore.

Turn on the lights using a mobile phone. It can be a little helpful even with limited visibility. Unfortunately, a moment later the battery indication winked red. The phone also coughed. 'Devil pedestal! If you know this, the cave will bring a flashlight ..' rutukku in the heart.

The lights suddenly went out. Power status is still five percent. I tried to re-ignite, still failed. Worry is present, between continuing to walk or staying in place.

'Yes, God ... What is this?' Suddenly I remembered him. Though a few minutes ago greet the bastard creature. Afraid? No. gabe. I'm used to this kind of situation. Even once separated from the group of climbers in the middle of the mountain first. Armed with that experience, I was determined to continue the journey, while remembering Azel's instructions through his message. Slowly following instinct while fumbling in the dark.

Tired of slowly coming whack, accompanied by a hot sweat wash the body. The cold suddenly turned into coals. Baking a jacket wrapped all over the body.

I don't know how far this leg has gone. Uncounted. Even the mind is increasingly blind, where I am now. There was no clue, except for a whisper of the heart that said, 'In a moment, nyampe cave at the destination.'

DUK!

"Ouch!" seruku surprised. The end of the shoe hit something hard. Damn again, I didn't have time to hold this body. Stagger forward and fall kissing the earth. Immediately tried to get back up, sat down, and felt the wet ground surface earlier. The rocks? Yes, it was that thing that caused me to fall just now. Not just one, but many. Neatly lined up to form an elongated row like a box, with the position of the ground in the mound in the middle. "What's this?" I was busy guessing. "Stying a ... grave?"

TING!

Yeah, God! Notification of the message from Azel again. Immediately I opened it and read the contents which read, "Welcome to the cave house, my friend."

I gasp. Confused mixed with misgivings fused in heart rhythm that is timid. "Where are you, anyway, Zel? Rough cave, nih," I replied with fingers shaking violently. Foolish, this message will be sent or not. In fact, on the verge of the power of the phone that is increasingly drained, Azel can still send a conversation.

"The cave is here, Ron," Azel answered quickly.

"Here ... where?" My mind is getting messy.

"In your place."

"Where?"

"The rice under the ground that you sat in."

"Don't joke you, Zel!"

"Yes, really. The cave is in this grave."

A graveyard? Holy hooch! I wish this was a prank. Yes, because the style of Azel joking sometimes fairly extreme. But, is this really? Also about the phone without that signal? No way! And Azel?

I'm shuffling. This blood murmur suddenly seemed to gather in one titk. The head of batok. Then consciousness weakens, diminishes, and then disappears without rest. However, recorded just before that happened, a figure vaguely approached, then ….

'Uh, where is this?' my ask while gluing the eyelids. A stuffy, pitch-black, narrow place seemed to be. It is difficult to move the body. Can only be stiffened in the memory that gradually recovers. "This what?" my sigh was so fumbling with my own clothes. Not a soaked jacket like the one worn before, but a damp sheet of cloth with no seams. Extending from head to toe, with multiple ties in several sections.

"Fuck, what is this?" I almost swelled, inhaling an object that shuffled my nostrils, and my face. Just deserve a stuffy.

TING!

What is that sound? My cellphone? Ah, still alive and connected apparently. How could? Isn't ….

"How are you, Ron? Sorry, yes, you cave stay. Now the cave again favors the freedom of the cave. Enjoy your solitude there. Hopefully someone else will be able to replace your position. Hehehe" wrote a message from Azel. "Gua wants to go home to your contract, work in your Om office, and also. Ahaha!"

'So yourself cave? Continue ... Now, whose cave? Is the cave ... so the figure of Azel? Yes, God ... What is this?' I thrashed with all my might in the limitation of motion in the narrow room. Screaming loudly calling the name of God. As long as this silence is present. Except sedu sedans are non-stop all the time.

Nah! I can't stay here long. You need to find someone out there who can help. Wh who? Ahhhhh, Syahrul. Our campus community WA group administrator. I hope he comes, someday.

"Well, you've been going all the way, Ron? Okay, deh. Cave pick you up there in three days. You see the cave work and I should ask for leave first, yes," replied Syahrul as soon as I asked for help. "Always, the cave also wants to travel to remote places like first. Hehe."

Good, he's willing to come. I hope it's true. Then another message came in, "Ron, there's a greeting from the public transport driver. He was grateful, the cave was alive, he said. Haha."

"Fuck you, Zel!" reply, but this time failed to deliver. I don't know why. Maybe because the day has entered the morning? Then, when else can I send a conversation with Syahrul? Waiting for the evening like that. Damnit damnit!

...Wassalaam's...