The Dark World
Go home
...GO HOME...
...Author by: David Khanz...
I squinted the petals, then moved this eyeball, sweeping the surrounding conditions that were pitch-black. Moist touched so that this fingers feel the surface of the place where I shake now, then flailing the ceiling and the same wall feels wet, distinctive scented stinging.
'Where is this?' tanyaku muttered with a mind filled with various questions. While the lungs feel increasingly narrowed. Faster when you want to breathe.
Instantly I tried to move the body, from the original tilted position. Finding yourself tied to some string threads in certain parts with a damp and cold biting sheet of cloth.
'Yes, Allah ... What happened to me? Where is this? I ....' Again, I raised my hand in the darkness, touching the solid upper surface. Like slabs of earth and wooden slats lined up neatly. Scrawling little by little, until it falls down. Continuously for how long, until then found a point of light poking up there.
The sweat had long flooded in tandem with my never-ending efforts, clawing at the loose layers and occasionally finding the hard chunks of rock between the ground.
'My Lord .. It's like in a graveyard. Why am I here? Could it be that I'm dead?' I pinch this hand, then grimace myself. 'It's very painful.' Silent. There's only me. Standing poking out from within the crevice of the former claw, on the surface of a long rounded mound of earth with carved wooden stakes at both ends.
With the rest of my energy, I tried to go up, out of the narrow chunks and sat down drenched in sweat. For a moment glance to the side, precisely in the direction of the wooden stakes embedded complete with a name and also a certain writing. 'That ... my name! Why is my name written there?' This heart is increasingly aghast as soon as reading the writing at the end of 'Dead ': 27 June 2020'.
'I'm dead already? Why can we live again now? This ... when? Now what day? What date?' A number of questions continue to echo filling the head room. Then, for a moment I rested, gathering back the much drained energy, under the white light above the sky there. The moon is full of beauty. I don't know how much time I've spent since. Buried in the earth.
After remaining silent among the songs of the night beasts and the wind beating on the leaves, I climbed the dirt step by step, down the narrow street surrounded by old buildings in the shape of an elongated box. Complete with writing and plants firmly planted on it. Dragging this frail leg, still with a white cloth full of brownish and wet patches.
There was nothing I wanted to think about at that time, other than getting out of this gripping area. Go back to the place where the rest of the memories in my mind are asking. Homehouse. Yeah, get over there. Seeking answers to what has been experienced all the time. How long? I don't know, maybe later there will get more news for sure. Who knows, Father and Mother, as well as other brothers are waiting in deep sobs. Expect a return or a warm welcome combined hugs closely stifling ....
But it turns out that this is not in accordance with what I have. As soon as this first trace arrived on the floor of the destination, the entire house simultaneously scattered, running around with a look of fear. Panic accompanied by loud screeches broke the eardrum, as soon as they looked at me.
“Yes, Allah ... Asep!” they shouted almost simultaneously. Quiet for a moment with the mouth gaping and the eyeballs widening, then moving away to the back.
“Measure! Mr!” call me to name the two people most expected to welcome this coming with their warm hugs. “It ... Asep home!”
There is no lawfulness. The room that had sounded boisterous with the strains of God's words, suddenly silent. Dibble.
“Measure! The father! Brother!” I tried to call them one by one. Niente. Until finally an old woman appeared hesitating from behind the door leaf of the middle room. “Asep? That's right you, son?” ask her with a great vibrating voice.
“Iya, Mother. Its me. Aseps. Mother's child,” I replied raucously, “why is everyone running around as soon as they see me, Mak? What is this actually.”
Slowly the old woman approached. Raising both hands, about to reach my body. The two eyes twitched as if they were skinning carefully. “Alhamdulillah .. You are Asep Mother's son. Yes, Allah .. thank you, Rabbi. My son You have returned to us,” said Mother then hugged tightly accompanied by a roaring cry.
“Asep?” Another figure appeared. An old man with a grim face. My papa. Followed by the others from behind. Still with fear and doubt.
“Bapak ...”
“Yes, Allah ... Thank goodness, Son. Finally you go home too,” said Mr. also joined the hug Mother. “Bapak is sure, you are not going as you should.”
“Meanour, how?” I was stuck when I heard the words of the Father earlier.
They both let go of the deck. Staring at me pilu. Then throw a glance between the two, continuing on to the other figures behind us. My brothers.
I did not immediately answer, but instead asked Mom to prepare a bucket of warm water. “Mari, I clean your body first, Son,” said Mr. while taking me to the bathroom. Then tell the other brother to get clean clothes.
“What is this really, sir? Why Asep ..” Suddenly I remembered what happened a while ago. Precisely when it found itself buried in a dense pile of soil. Rise from ....
Uh! There are many questions I want to ask soon. Expel curiosity and various oddities since then.
I pulled my hand into the bathroom and said, “Change your clothes first, son. After that, we will talk together.” I comply. Before we disappeared behind the bedroom door, I called to one of the people standing there. “Please, call Ustaz Solihin here. Tell you, Asep has returned home.”
“Iya, Sir,” replied a short brother of mine. While Mother and other brothers waited outside, until you finished bathing and replacing me with more decent clothes.
“You must be hungry, ‘kan, Nak?” ask Mom as soon as we get back to the room. There was Ustaz Solihin and my brothers there. Sitting in a line staring in wonder, and perhaps confused. Same as me.
I'm nodding. Right, from earlier this stomach felt wrapped around the pain. Like a long fast for days. Fortunately, my mother prepared food there. Not even reluctant to bribe me directly with his fingers. While Ustaz Solihin was seen busy muttering reciting the holy lafaz, then blowing his breath into a glass filled with clear water. “Amplease!” tell the man to sacrifice and copy the white while thrusting a drink at me.
“Drink first, Son,” says Mother softly. I comply. Sipping until the contents of the glass in question. “You want to eat more, son?”
I'm shaking.
Mother put the third plate of my former feed. Then ask the figure of Ustaz Solihin who sits not how far from where we are, “What next, Mr Ustaz?”
The man smiled as he confirmed the location of the turban that was coiled around his neck. “Does Nak Asep want to tell us something? About what Nak Asep experienced some time ago, maybe?”
I thought for a moment. Trying to restore the memories of the events experienced before finding yourself - aware - in the grave earlier.
* * * * *
That afternoon, after school, as usual I walked down the small road to the rice field to the village. Alone under heavy rain and just a piece of banana leaves to protect the body from being badly drenched. Until then, this step stopped once found a black plastic package lying exactly in the middle of the road that was about to pass. Maybe someone's groceries fell, I thought at the time. The condition is clean and looks new. Only wet the outside exposed to rain water.
‘What is this package?’ I leaned over, took. ‘Whose hands, yes?’
Immediately pull down a shade of trees, slowly opening the package. It was very surprising. How not? Full of red money. Screaming untidy without being tied or arranged in such a way. I estimate, the amount may be millions of rupiah. Who does not belong to.
With trembling hands, I immediately tied the package, then put it in the bag. This heart pounding, considering it's only a lifetime to see that much money. Being returned? On whom? It could be that suddenly many people will recognize as their owners. Then, will it be flanked? Ah, whispers of heart also said, ‘Maybe this is the way God gave me regarding my desire so far to be able to have a good mobile phone like other friends. Guitar, mini compo, camera, headset, active speaker, motor ... or buy a special gift for Mirna, the prettiest dream girl in school?’
I smiled to myself. Then hurry home. Confine yourself in the room so that no one is looking for it, also about the money. No. gabe. No one can know. Including parents and relatives at home, later. Let everything be my business with God.
At first nothing happened. Until then, after Magrib's time, I suddenly felt this body hot. Prolonged fever to endless thirst. The whole house panicked, treated with various herbs to take me to a clinic. No one can alleviate this weirdness. Until late in the night, among the crowded crowd of people around the room, suddenly another figure appeared. Tall, large, with an indistinct face covered in a large cloth on the head, pulled forcefully and led me away from there. Strangely, as vigorously as he rebelled and screeched loudly, no one helped. All were silent stiffly staring at the body that was still rolling weakly on the bed there. Not someone else, but my body.
“Mr! Mama! Toloonnggg!” I strangled away from there between the loud pull of the tall figure earlier. Niente. This time it was the same. No one cares. Even away, drifting in the darkness, to arrive at a foreign place. Full of persecuted human figures. Forced labor under the gruesome whip of someone. Creepy creatures like the one that dragged me with all my might.
“Who is he?” ask one of the creatures as soon as we come closer. The tall figure beside me grinned. Answer, “He's a new tumbala who will be our slave.”
“Bring him before the Lord King, to obtain the decree by which he will be hired!” exclaim the figure earlier.
“Good, Sir. Command immediately executed!”
I was taken somewhere else. Similar to a palace with a yellowish and dazzling feel. Faced with a crowned creature, complete accompanied by dozens of guards with faces no less sangar.
“Mr King, I brought a new man who will be our slave. Servant awaits her next commandment ...” said the figure who took me later. While this self suddenly cannot dwell or speak. The entire power locked strong accompanied by extreme fear.
There was laughter all over the room. “Kerangkeng him until later I decide what will be made for the splendor of our kingdom. Hahaha!”
“Ampuunnn! Ampuuunnn!” their cries are heartbreaking.
I was surprised to hear those voices. Shown if the current position is like theirs. Surely the same thing will happen. Yelling and screaming. Like now. Suddenly it was like another power was coming, recovering half of that power. Strong contact filled the soul, then slowly these lips also pronounce holy lafaz belonging to God. Just waving in the darkness.
Suddenly, the atmosphere of the room turned panicked. The trembles of the temali that had been unceasingly echoed, gradually decreasing. Replacing with screams some figures of creatures engulfed in confusion. “Where did that sound come from! Quickly search and stop!”
I don't give a shit. It is precisely getting excited to tighten the voice. Armed with power that came out of nowhere, reciting sentence after sentence the collection of the word of God out loud.
“Dia! The new man is the cause, Sir!” shouted one of the tall creatures while pointing his index finger at me. “Hey ... stop, Man! Stop reading those words! Please, quiet!”
No. gabe. I will never obey them. This heart felt that I was actually the one in power at that moment. Not them. Especially the creature with the title of king earlier.
“Keep me out of here right now!” I cried for a moment between the recitation of the holy verses. “If not, I will never stop making your world shake in heat!”
They are gathering more and more in front of my cage. Staring full of fear and compassion accompanied by uncomfortable body movements. Replied one of the men I thought was the leader, “No, Man. You have been dedicated to our employ. You will never be returned to your world!”
“Well then ...” timpalku, “that way, I will never stop teaching!”
“Stop!” loud screams of another creature with its head pinned to the crown. The figure that was mentioned as king. “Back you home, Man! You are not destined to die in our nature. Go home!”
I'm woken. “Really?”
“Yes, return to your realm, Man! Your presence here we do not want!”
I thought for a moment. “Hhhmmm, what about the other humans you're tormenting? They can come home with me, ‘kan?”
The creatures looked at each other. Then answered their king, “No. They swore and promised to serve us until death. They've given up the rest of their lives for us.”
“But I have never entered into any agreement with your people?” I asked half.
“Just because of that, that's why you have a chance to come back. Unlike the others.”
“Hhmmm, what about the other victims? They can come free like me, ‘kan?”
“Depends ...”
“You mean?”
The figure momentarily turned towards his men. Then slowly replied, “Depending on how big their family wants to help him to be free.”
“I don't understand.”
“Like what your family is doing now ..”
My family? What the hell are they doing? Not understanding at all.
The figure continued saying, “Come back to your house, Man. But we beg you, so that this remains a secret between you and us.”
A secret? What the hell is that anyway? I'm really confused. The answer was never found until it found itself weakly rolled in a narrow slit with moist earth walls and rows of neatly lined wood.
* * * * *
The night has shown almost midnight. All who were present in the room were shocked as the thunderous lightning started to flash a blinding glint of sky light.
“Astaghfirullahal’adziim ..”
I massaged my chest after ending the story. Mother hugged tightly from the side accompanied by heartbreaking sobs. While Ustaz Solihin nodded while looking at me deeply.
“Entai incident let alone this next, Ustaz?” asked the father as he looked towards the outside window. The wind suddenly blew violently accompanied by heavy rain as if spilled all at once from the sky.
Ustaz Solihin muttered, “We leave everything to God, sir. Keep thinking and remembering only to Him.”
Yes, we all chanted holy words together. Just like my family did while I was in the confines of the ruling creatures of the dark realm. Not a day has been brought there, in fact it has been more than a week buried in the bowels of the earth. That's according to the words of the Father on the sidelines of my story.
“Since you exhaled last, I am sure that your departure is unnatural, Son. Especially in your school bag, I found a black plastic package containing a lot of dry leaves. Therefore, we and our family assisted Ustaz Solihin decided to hold a study for several days, until you came alone earlier this evening,” said Mr, as well as answering the confusion of past questions that had not been answered.
So, maybe that's what the nature ruling party meant.
“Ustaz ...” call one of my brothers after a long time we are silent to each other.
“Ya, what's up?” ask Ustaz Solihin.
“The rain has subsided.”
“Ya, thank you. I already know.”
“But ...”
“Aparticularly?”
My brother was silent for a moment while watching his cell phone screen. Then reply, “There is another news I just received just now ...”
“About what?” Ustaz Solihin.
“P-pak Broto ... has just died.”
“Pak Broto the land of our village?”
“Iya, Ustaz. Who else?”
“Innalillahi wainnailaihi raaji’uun.” All simultaneously pronounce the sentence in harmony, accompanied by a glance full of meaning with each other.
Ungoverned, almost half of us turned to the wall clock. Appropriately. Time shows twelve at midnight.
...DONE IT...