TUMBLED
Laracati

Arlan's been to this house before. Time and time again. However, at this moment, when he set foot in Dimas' house again, he felt unfamiliar. Arlan did not recognize the unpleasant cold that he was breathing from earlier. His eyes swept every corner of the room. The last time Arlan visited the house, the living room now under his feet was still warm. Nothing suspicious at all. Dimas' grandfather and grandmother used to sit on the old brown sofa while watching television. They will welcome Arlan while offering dinner together.

"When has this place been like this?" arlan muttered. He started walking through the living room.

Arlan stops at the first door, which is Dimas's grandfather and grandmother's room. "Excuse me!" greet Arlan in a low voice. Arlan opened the door slowly, hoping to find a familiar face there.

Blank.

The room had been uninhabited for years. Dust builds up on all surfaces. The lights of the room were dimly lit. A musty smell filled the room. 'Didn't they still be here last month? Dimas never told me about his grandfather and grandmother traveling, Arlan's inner self, then shut the door.

Arlan turned to the second door opposite the first room. It was Dimas' room. 'Good!' Arlan took a step back, shocked by Dimas' room condition. Blood stains are everywhere. The stench is very stinging. Arlan walked through the place quickly. Rat carcasses were everywhere, explaining where the stench came from. The carcasses that are no longer intact, even surrounded by maggots and flies.

BRACKET!

Arlan closed Dimas's room door immediately. He couldn't stand what he saw. Arlan knew that Dimas was possessed by a demon or something just by looking at Dimas' room.

"May Dimas still be saved" he prayed before moving on.

Arlan looked to the right and left. There was a door five meters away from the room. As Arlan knew, the two rooms were unused. Dimas said, when his parents were still alive, one of them was a brand room. The other one, prepared for guests who come to stay. Arlan paid no heed to the two rooms. He immediately headed to the back, towards the kitchen of Dimas' house. Arlan recalled, there was a door that Arlan could not approach since he had visited Dimas' house.

The drap! The drap! The drap!

Arlan went down the stairs two-two to quickly get to the bottom. The kitchen was not so big and looked like a kitchen in general. It's just that, right now, that place looks like a slaughterhouse for Arlan. Bones were scattered on the floor and on the dining table. Chicken heads rot near the dishwasher. A musty smell mixed with a foul smell filled the air.

Trying not to be affected by it, Arlan immediately darted down the stairs, where the forbidden door he had never seen. His hands were trembling as he held the doorknob. Arlan was already preparing for the attack he was about to receive. However, until when the door was wide open, nothing happened. In front of Arlan only stretched the stairs leading down with an invisible end. A small flashing light flickered above his head. Arlan reached into his pants pocket, pulled out the phone and turned on the flashlight.

"AAAAAAAKKKHH!!!"

"Manda!" Arlan stiffened as Manda's screams sounded from under his feet. Undoubtedly, Manda must have been held captive in that basement. Arlan sped his steps down one step after another. His left hand held the phone, while the other hand prepared with his own homemade shield.

'Relax, Arlan! Remember, you can't get emotional!' arlan said in his heart. Arlan was quite worried at the moment, as he had no one to resuscitate him. He could have killed Larasati unknowingly, but Manda's life was also threatened.

"YESHOO!!!" call Arlan when he gets to the bottom of the stairs. Arlan shone around, hoping to find Manda.

BLARS!!!

Suddenly a fire broke out on the torch hanging on the wall of the room. The lick of the flame made Arlan able to look around better. 'He's here, ' Inner Arlan, trying to warn himself not to fall asleep.

"Chihara..."

Arlan looked to his right and left. The sound of laughter came from all directions. "Where's Manda!?" exciting Arlan.

"Gee... Are you worried about that girl?"

Arlan turned around, though he knew, there was no one there. "MANDA!!!" yell again.

"What about your life?"

"YESHOO!!!"

"Will you exchange your life for that girl's?"

BRACKET! BRACKET! BRUG! BRUG! BRUG!

The brick wall that was in front of Arlan suddenly collapsed. Arlan retreated a few steps due to the burst of dust that appeared. How shocked Arlan was when he opened his eyes and found Manda there. Composed with a pale face. Dry blood covered his temples and cheeks. Highlight the eyes of Manda that Arlan loved so much to be withered.

"PEOPLE!" Arlan ran, about to approach Manda.

THE BUAG!!!

Arlan bounced to hit the stairs very hard because Larasati suddenly appeared and thrust a punch in Arlan's stomach.

"Chihui... Who said you could come closer?" larasati.

Arlan groaned while holding his stomach. Nausea instantly filled his chest, until his head turned unbecoming. Arlan looked up with the rest of his consciousness. Larasati stood not far from his place. The figure that Arlan saw, was very different from what was in his dream.

Larasati looks very pretty. The whites are shining. Her beautiful face looks very fresh and seductive. His body was tall, wrapped in pink kebaya and brown kamen batik. Arlan could not deny that the woman in front of him was perfect.

"Waaah... It's great!" puji Larasati's. "You have an incredible natural talent. It's only fitting that Pareng wants to eat you too."

Arlan could not answer. His grandfather wanted to eat it yesterday. Arlan tried to calm himself down. He must find a gap to get closer to Manda.

"I think I have to fight Pareng to take you. I want him to feel that he has no children until the end of his life. But, everything became funny because he himself wanted to prey on his granddaughter. Ahahaha!"

"If it's that funny, shouldn't your grudge be done?" ask Arlan.

Larasati stopped laughing. The smile on his face disappeared. "Then, it's the same as you telling me to forget how I suffered while I was alive because of your grandfather's slander?"

"What now, when you're dead, do you feel calm?" sindir Arlan's. He had wanted to hit his own mouth for saying that surfing and sounding like provoking Larasati.

"No. My goal is to prey on all the descendants of Pareng. After preying on her grandchildren, I will also prey on one after another of her children. The children of Pareng who only looked at me in silence who were abused by Pareng, must feel how I suffer! They would not be able to escape their fate!"

Arlan swallowed with great difficulty. His stomach is back to normal. "You're wrong. My parents only dared to kill their own daughter. Do you think they care what happens to me?"

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!" larasati Laughter is becoming. That shrill voice filled the basement, making Arlan's ears ring. "That's the funny thing about your family! It's rotten! You're all rotten!"

WHUUUSSHHH!!! BLARR!!!

Arlan threw a fireball towards Larasati. Larasati who realized late despite dodging, exposed in the left arm. Arlan rushed to use the opportunity to run towards Manda.

"Manda!" Arlan pulled Manda into his arms.

OH, MANGGG!!!

As fast as lightning, Arlan made a protector. For a time, Larasati would not be able to do anything to them. Arlan had been training the protective power he had made all this time.

"Manda, hang on" Arlan asked, using her healing powers on Manda.

"Why... lo... yourself?" Manda asked in a stammering voice.

"I'm the only one who can get in" replied Arlan. He's researching Manda's situation. The girl on his lap was not in good shape. It was impossible for Manda to use his current strength. Even if Arlan willingly gave his life to Larasati, there is no guarantee that Manda can come out alive from the house of Dimas.

"Lena..."

"Shut up!" Arlan concentrated again.

"Worshipping monkey love" Larasati was already standing straight in front of them. "YARRGHH!!!"

THE BUAG! THE BUAG! THE BUAG! THE BUAG! THE BUAG!

Larasati beat Arlan's protector blindly. His eyes glittered eeriely. Arlan was shocked to see that Larasati's skinny hand could expend that much energy. His stomach almost broke earlier.

"My shield is strong enough" whispered Arlan to Manda who stared worriedly at Larasati. "Gue's got enough time until you feel better."

Manda held Arlan's hand. "Use your power to exterminate him, Lan!"

Arlan shook his head weakly. "Gue doesn't dare" he admitted. "No mother here can save you from my tantrums."

Tears began to trickle down Manda's cheeks. "I'm sorry... I'm not careful... It shouldn't be like this..."

"Shut up! It's not your fault!" That sentence did sound cliche in Manda's ears. But, to Arlan, that sentence also saved her from feeling guilty when Gina said it just a moment ago.

"Enough, Lan.." ask Manda. He pushed Arlan's hand away. "Use your energy to destroy him."

"But-"

Manda smiling. The smile that made Arlan's chest feel sliced. "Gue will survive here. We're dating, right?"

Arlan bit his lower lip. Throat's choked. Tears are stuck in her eyes. Arlan took off the jacket he was wearing and put Manda's head on it. "Wait for me" he told Manda. "Rest and look at me who wants to look this cool!"

Manda laughed softly at Arlan's words. This was the first time he felt relieved. Not out of despair and ready to accept death, but thanks to the words of Arlan. They could not be sure that Arlan would still be aware if the other himself rose. At least they still have God to hope for. They believe that the path chosen by God is the best path for them.

***