The screams of Midnight
Chat in Warung

The Maghrib Adhan has just been reverberating, the only musholla in the village has begun to be filled with worshippers. Although small but the musholla is always crowded with citizens who never absent congregation.

Asih and Ardi down the village streets even with minimal lighting. Warung mbok Kar became their destination. Not how long they arrived, mbok Kar was watching his butut television.

"Monggo mas, ma'am!" Sapa mbok Kar friendly.

Asih smiled kindly and sat on the long wooden bench in front of the stall. "Double milk coffee mbok!" 

"Oh, not ready!" Mbok Kar immediately prepared the Asih order. 

Sumini, approaching the Kar mbok who was pouring hot water into a glass. "Who's that, like, from the city?" He asked half a whisper and helped Kar stir the drink.

"I think so, Sum. Mock just saw it too. A very beautiful woman yes, white smooth ayune koyo Widodari!"

(beautiful as an angel!)

"Yes mbok, which men are also handsome. Clean, hair does not make mbok!" Sumini giggled over the words mbok Kar.

"Hush, kowe ki! Lha kok sing didelok haire!" Mbok slightly patted Sumini's shoulder. (Hush, you are! I see the hair!)

"Lha wong haircut mbok! Look at her njegrik hair (standing) koyo gutter, mbok!" Sumini again giggled.

"Eh iyo too," the two chuckled again. "Wes there take it forward! I don't fry bananas the same way you know how to fill them first!" The order of mbok Kar on Sumini.

Asih and Ardi watched around the stall with a makeshift lighting. The forest that is not far from the mbok Kar stall looks scary at night. But not for Asih.

 The forest was like heaven to him. The forest where he took revenge on those who had hurt him. The dark forest was as dark as the heart of Asih, who mercilessly executed its victims.

"Monggo mbak, mas .. The coffee is drunk while it's warm!" Sumini placed the glass with a thin puff of smoke on the table.

"Thank you, ma'am" said Asih with a sweet smile. A smile made sweet to cover his ugliness.

"Same mother this is from the city huh? How did I just see?" Sumini asked while putting a plate of fried food and sweet snacks to Asih and Ardi.

"Yes, we just arrived yesterday." Replied Ardi sipping his coffee slowly.

"Oh pantesan, are you two? Usually when going up the mountain is the group?" 

"Ooh, we're not our niece, Miss Lasmi. Here want a vacation, he said the same village forest here is still beautiful!" Ardi answered quickly, while Asih just kept quiet while drinking his coffee.

"Oh, pound Miss Lasmi to! Sorry I just found out. But ... Are you not afraid of the night-time road here?" Sumini whispered a little to the two.

Ardi and Asih looked at each other, "Fear why mbak?" Ask Asih astonishment.

Sumini dyed to see the situation then whispered. "In this village there is a ghost terror mas! Plus anu .. um, there's a body that's been found for the past few days. Mas serem, ma'am!"

Asih looked at Ardi, then asked Sumini again. "ghosts? A body?"

"Huuush, Sum!" Mbok Kar called Sumini with a wave of his hand. "Ojo ngawur! You even want to bring our village guests to Sum! Kades denger how to try! Can't get BLT later on!"

"Eeh, yes yes mbok! I forgot mbok, yo wis I'm not going to the kitchen sek mbok see the water is still nothing!" Sumini rushed into the stall.

Villagers who have just finished praying congregated in mushola, began to arrive at mbok Kar stalls. It has become a habit of residents to gather at the stall just drinking coffee or sharing stories of activities this afternoon.

"Assynnya!" Wak Haji who was white-haired and wearing a peci came first and immediately sat down near Ardi.

"Wa'alaikumussalam, Wak! What to drink!" Mbok Kar.

"Common coffee mbok sweet item!"

Mbok Kar nodded, and immediately made an order for Wak Haji who is now busy chewing balokan (fried cassava).

"Neng, new guy yak?!" Tanya Wak Haji once saw the face of ayu Asih. The nature of Wak Haji who can not help themselves when they see beautiful women kumat once they see Asih.

Just nod and smile. Shortly thereafter Bagyo, Rohman, and Hansip's pack who had not changed into official clothes joined the mbok Kar stall.

"Assynnya!" They are giving their regards.

"Yes, windfall! Two nights we closed the gasik gegara terror demit Alhamdulillah tonight rame!"

"Mbok, yes!" Sort of Bagyo from outside.

The conversation of the citizens also sounded simple to each other. Wardi and the Imam who came after added to the crowd that night. They told me about the discovery of the corpse that happened again. Who else if not Rudi's body.

Asih and Ardi listened to the stories of the residents while occasionally smiling as the citizens invited him to joke. They put their eyes and ears on guard if there are citizens who suspect the disguised crime they are doing.

"War, reportedly the Eman also died mysteriously huh?" Bagyo asked while smoking his cigarette.

"He said so, I'm sure it was the demon who terrorized our village!" Wardi replied while sipping his coffee.

"Hiii, long time our village kok serem gini anyway! I'm surprised there could be a murder but we don't know anything!" Wardi spoke again.

"Are you sure it was War's murder?" This time Wak Haji spoke up.

"I'm sure Wak, where are there trying bodies so the victim killed himself let alone the victim hit and run?!"

"That jerky! Hit and run from where War is!" Wak Haji threw a banana peel on Wardi because he was upset.

Wardi chuckled, "I suspect this is some sort of .. tumbal!" Wak haji continued his sentence.

"Huh, tumbassal!" The compact citizens agreed together.

Asih held back his laughter, he was amused by assuming Wak Haji was too existent.

"Wak Haji if you like this weird! What are you trying Wak? Our people will not be weird!" The priest finally made a sound.

"It could be the villagers next door, dump it in our territory, Mam!" Wak Haji again assumes greeted nods and other murmurs.

"Yes, it could be that!" Rohman agrees with Wak Hajj's assumption.

"Mbok Kar, bitter coffee karo kretek cigarette pack!" Suddenly there was a loud voice from the old woman behind Wak Haji.

Residents were surprised by the arrival of Mbok Ratem to mbok Kar stalls. They immediately gave place to old women who were considered to have linuwih (excess) by the residents.

"Eh, symbuch! Tumben stopped by here too?"

Wak Haji scratched his head, a little uncomfortable with the smell of Ratem's body piercing his nose. The aroma of betel kinang, wind oil and musty mixed into one.

A hostile aura greeted Asih. He knew that Mbok Ratem was no ordinary person. His eyes stared at him. There was anger there. Smiling faintly.

You're challenging me apparently! Asih said in his heart.

Mbok Ratem did not say much he just stared at Asih and Ardi alternately. Time froze around them. Mbok Ratem smiled cynically, "Ngopo Kowe mrene cah ayu? You seem to be nanging your behavior elekt!"

(Why did you come here? your face is beautiful but your behavior is bad!)

"Don't interfere in my business, if you want to survive!" Threatened to.

The auras of the two clashed. Press each other to shrink the guts of one of them. Mbok Ratem chose to give up.

Durung wayahe Kowe karo I adhep adhepan cah ayu, Nek wis titi wancine kowe ora will iso mlyu!

(It's not time for you and me to face off, if it's time you won't be able to run!)

Time turned back around, the voice of citizen chatter was heard again. The disturbed one finally said goodbye. Mbok Ratem did not budge he sipped his coffee then sucked deep in a cigarette in his hand.

"That girl is wreaking havoc on this village!" His murmur was softened which was only heard by Wak Haji. 

Wak Haji frowned then looked at the backs of Asih and Ardi who disappeared in the darkness. The sound of an owl coming from the dark of the forest. The howls of the coyote again sounded as time passed.

Villagers shuddered in horror at the long howl and chose to return to their homes. Pull up blankets and hide in the warmest, safest and most comfortable home.