The Eternal Fragments of Moonlight
Chapter 24: Death Parade (Part II)

Finally we went to Nitehake Temple. During the trip, I never let go of my grip from Mira's hand and she always positioned me on the inside side of the sidewalk. I make my steps as slow as possible with the aim that when we arrive at Nitehake Temple later, the time that has been “set” for Mira has long passed.

“Mir?”

“Hmm?”

“Ka, you have nothing, right?”

“Hmm.”

Mira's sudden behavior became very silent, adding to the great horror. I was scared not to play! My mind was full of all sorts of horrible things that could have happened.

Vehicles that quickly pass on the highway, high trees on each side, sharp iron that becomes a road guardrail, and, everything seemed to be laughing evilly at me who was now flooded with cold sweat.

“Aji.” I heard Mira saying quietly. “Can we walk faster?”

I was scared when I heard Mira say that. At that time I thought. Is this how he calls death? If that's true, then I should slow down even more!

I looked back at my watch that I knew how many times I had seen. Fifteen minutes left! I felt my breath hunting, my heart beating so fast. I turned my eyes to the various corners looking at what was strange things that were not as usual.

“Hah, huh, Mira?”

But Mira didn't return my greeting.

I looked at my watch again and I saw it was only 10 minutes before 22:00.

At that time, we reached the area of Pendakan Teduh. Our journey should have been straight. But after I saw the road in the very quiet Rampakan Teduh that night, I finally decided to take the road turn down the ramp that was there.

"Why turn here?" Ask Mira.

"Mh... This way Mir, it's better." My answer.

There's no one there. There were only shady trees on both sides with the lighting from the dimly lit street lights.

When we got to the middle of the Rise of Shade, I didn't know why I felt so bad. I mean, I did feel a gripping demeanor from earlier, but when I was there, it felt completely different. I felt a void so heavy open in my chest.

I don't know just my feelings but, it's really quiet there. There's no sound whatsoever. There was no sound of night insects, no sound of leaves being blown by the wind and oh, I was goosebumps in such a way when I thought about it.

No wind this late at night? It was more than just weird!

“Mir, we return to top.”

“Hmm? Wh why? We're going to the end.”

I'll see my watch again soon. Only four minutes left! Immediately I pulled Mira's hand to return to the top of the Shade. And you know what? Mira was knocked down by the pull of my hand which violently dragged her.

“Ah, sorry Mira.you have nothing?”

“Uh.”

I saw Mira who was trying to get up. Only 2 minutes left. It won't be possible! Mira then rubbed her slightly scuffed lutu and began to tidy up her clothes that became dirty due to street dust. My heart really hurt when I saw his condition at that time.

Immediately I crouched down in front of him so that he could directly climb onto my back. It was only 1 minute, when I looked at my watch.

“Magic Mira!” I was a little screaming.

“Udah Aji, I have nothing kok.”

“Mira!”

Mira looked at me with a confused face.

“A, I really do nothing kok.” He said while holding his hands in front of his chest.

Only 30 seconds left! I panicked and looked around with hunting breath. Unceasingly I diverted my gaze between my watch and the circumstances around. My heart is beating great too. Far beyond every passing second that felt like a loud bang that shook my entire body.

Only 10 seconds! Shit there's no time! 5 Seconds left. 4 seconds, three, two, one.

“Kyaa!”

Instantly I pushed Mira's body and pressed it against the cliff wall beside us. Cover his body with my body and tighten as much as possible all the muscles in my body to keep it firmly protected.

“Close your eyes Mira!”

I don't know if he's obeying my request or not. At that time I was closing my eyes tightly. And you know what?

Apparently nothing happened! Everything still remains the same. Silent.

All I could hear was the sound of my breath gasping and the sound of my own heart bursting as if by how fast it was beating.

“A, Aji?”

“Hah, huh, hah.” I can smell the shampoo in every breath. “Mira..”

Must have been bad at that time. Because from what I saw on Mira's face that was only a few inches from my face, it seemed like she was feeling scared.

“Ka, what do you want?”

“Mira, you can hate me after this. But I beg you for the next five minutes, let us stay like this.”

“Eh?” Mira seems reluctant. Then he put his hand in front of my chest and I started to feel the urge from there.

“Please Mira, I beg you... Think of this as my last request.” I heard my voice sobbing. “Gue promise I won't do anything but silence like this.”

Finally Mira stopped pushing my body. But his hand still he put there. Every now and then his big eyes glanced at my face which was right above his. Although when our eyes met, as soon as possible Mira shifted her eyes again. But still he repeated it again.

I smiled at myself seeing what he was doing.

“Pfft!” I saw Mira smiling. “Today you are so weird, you why the hell?”

I just kept quiet. Don't know what to answer.

“From yesterday you acted like... again keep me. For example, the right time to cross the road, continue the time to ride the escalator, also the time of the surgery earlier.” Unmistakably. “You really think I'm going to run away from you? Hihi.”

“Eh?”

“Details, I'll explain. But for now, we have to stay like this.”

I looked at my watch, which was right in front of my forehead. It's 3 minutes away!

“Ta, but right.. I'm ashamed, Ji.”

I saw the expression on Mira's face that I had never seen before. Yeah, that expression he had only shown Alan before.

“Sorry Mira. Just a little while.”

Every second that passed seemed to erode bit by bit the horror and anxiety that filled my mind. I began to calm down and could monitor the conditions around me with a clear mind.

There really isn't anything going on. If there is any movement, it is just Mira's lashes that blink and move to follow where her eyeballs are pointing. Oh Mira, I don't know what to do if I get to your shrewdness again this time.

“It's been five minutes right?” Mira.

I looked at my watch again and it turned out to be 22:06. It worked! We can pass the time that has been “set” for Mira. This time, he survived!

I let out a deep breath, then let my body slip on the ground. All the burden that had been feeling thick filled me, now it seemed to lift all. However, I was still panting at the thought of how terrifying the seconds I had gone through just a moment ago were.

“Ka, you're okay, Aji?”

“Ha, haha.. Hahaha!” Instead of answering Mira's question, I laughed to myself.

“No, you are really weird today.”

“Haha, don't think about it, Mira. We survived! Hahaha.”

“What are you talking about? I don't know..”

At the same time, there was a sound from a distance. Apparently, the fireworks show at Nitehake Temple has begun to take place. I can see from the distant sky at the end of the Rise of Shadeh, some sparkling lights of fireworks that are increasingly vibrant. It was as if they were having fun and celebrating my success through the tense moments I had just experienced.

“Wah, Aji! Fireworks show has started!”

“Yeah, looks like they're a few minutes late this year.” I said, looking at my watch again. At 22:13

“Then let's go, we're walking there now!”

“Just relax, people have already started also kok shownya.”

“Ugh.” Mira puffed her mouth. “Oh yes I have an idea! What if we race now? the last one to have to buy ice cream! Hihi" –Deg!

“Eh?”

“Dah!” Mira started running. “Hey Aji, if you sit there later you miss far!" –Deg!

“Tu, wait Mira.”

“What? Your voice is not heard! Hihi.”

“Mi, Mira don't run!”

I immediately ran after him who was moving away. But it made him run even faster. Now he was at the end of the intersection of the Rise of Shadeh and began to turn towards the blind spot that I could no longer see because of the high cliffs that blocked. Dan... You know what?

As he turned, his legs slipped so he fell right onto the highway and at the same time, a truck bolted from the blind side. Striking Mira's body that hasn't touched the ground.

“MIRAAAA!”

The next thing I heard was the sound of horn that raised its ears along with the sound of fireworks coming in and out. The whole function of my five senses. My body was stiff, unable to move. In an instant, the incident slapped before my eyes.

“Mi... Mira?!”

Amidst my feeling of unresponsive bloodshed, I also saw a streak of bloodstains that extended for several meters right in front of my eyes. It was as if a giant brush had just colored the asphalt road with a deep red color that made me feel pained. Stuffy. Shivered.

Then, as my own gaze followed the fresh blood stroke, I found a scene that completely destroyed me.

There. I saw a foot that poked out from between the wheels of the truck. My body shakes violently I can't control. Because really, I don't dare say if the leg is still connected to his body or not. His position at that time was really awkward!

“Could not... Mira.. Miraaa!”.

I heard the door of the truck open and I heard several steps running with hysterical screams from various directions. At that time I could no longer digest what was around me. I felt my consciousness begin to fade and without my command, my body staggered far away. But after a few steps I walked back and forth, someone caught my body from behind.

“La... race?”

My feelings became mixed when I saw him suddenly appear before me at that time. I felt shock and anger. But also happy! Because I can't deny he was the one person I wanted to meet the most at the time.

“We go to the main temple now.” Say it in a flat tone.

Whahuh? You can still be that calm after witnessing the most violent calamity that just happened before your eyes? After all that, you still dare to put the look on that face Laras? Huh?!

Laras also carry my body that has been limp. But after we had walked far enough away from the crowd, I immediately slammed it so that his body was crumbling on the ground.

At once I also overcame him so that he could not rebel, and then I firmly locked his neck using my arms.

“Hah, huh... You know this is going to happen... Aye right?!”

I don't know how bad I looked at that time. But I could see my tears falling, dripping one after another soaking down Laras's face just looking at me with his cold gaze.

“Aji, all the things I know, you also know.”

“But why did Mira stay dead, huh?!” I screamed in front of his face. “Lo himself said it, right? Mira fell into the abyss between ten and ten o'clock and five! I intentionally cheated on you, right? Huh?!”

Baras didn't answer a single question. He just closed his eyes. It was as if he had read my mind that it was true, —as long as this is where my wrath has always come from.

“Jawab Adjustable!” I started sobbing."Answer!"

But Laras remained silent with his eyes closed. Makes me look like a fool yelling at a statue.

Yes, after I think about it now, I was a fool then. To the point that I can't realize it. Because of course, if someone falls into a very deep abyss, like the one in the east courtyard of the temple. He could have died instantly. But, it may not be either.