Chapter 002: Beyond the Fog
Rezvan stood near the door, staring into the thick darkness covering the glass. The fog outside seemed to suck the light, leaving a heavy, oppressive blackness. Panic slowly crept through his body—his breath felt heavy, his heart raced, and his muscles tensed.
Behind him, Rafandra remained calm, waiting.
His eyes scanned every movement, reading the situation with a sharp instinct. Fear wasn't merely an emotional reaction; it was a valid indicator of threat.
Rafandra knew one thing: stay inside the bus, control your area, and don't be lured outside without clear information.
His aura of calm slightly rubbed off on Rezvan, though it still carried a lingering tension.
Rezvan took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. Some irritation toward Rafandra lingered, but he swallowed it; he didn't want to prolong the conflict.
He took slow steps back toward his students.
They had all reported similar sensations.
The same symptoms had also been felt by him—nearly identical.
"Can you still manage?" Rezvan asked, trying to project calm to his students.
One by one, the students nodded, even though their breaths were ragged and their pale faces betrayed their struggle.
They were technical school students—95% boys.
It was natural for them to push themselves to look strong. After all, out of thirty-six students, only three were girls.
Their teenage egos, wrapped in the desire to appear tough, forced them to endure pain without complaint.
"Is everyone okay?" Rezvan asked again, seeking assurance.
They nodded almost simultaneously, though their pale expressions and heavy breathing betrayed them.
Rezvan exhaled deeply, eyes tracing the pitch-black darkness outside.
"Thick fog, heavy air, cold temperature… and… something's off… as if we're being watched…" he murmured internally.
He tried to map the pressing sensation.
"Luckily most of the students are boys; maybe they can hold themselves. If it were mostly girls, the situation might be different…"
"Sir, doesn't it feel like we're on a mountain peak?!" Rafandra asked, trying to read Rezvan's thoughts.
Rezvan nodded resignedly, his face reflecting exhaustion and pressure.
He knew that even though the students appeared calm, the truth was they were far from okay. This situation far exceeded his control.
The bus now felt like a capsule in a strange, terrifying world; the thick fog outside seemed to hold them, muffling sound and pressing on consciousness—making each second feel longer, heavier, and scarier.
"I feel it too… like the kids, my legs feel heavy, chest feels squeezed, body aches…" Rafandra continued, after observing Rezvan's reaction. "It's not the EMP."
"You're right. EMP doesn't affect the body. And if this were environmental, we should have felt it at the airport," Rezvan replied.
"If it were environmental, I shouldn't feel it either. I've been in Kalimantan for months. But my guess—it started exactly when the fog exploded. Somehow, I feel it…" Rafandra responded.
"Seems like all of us… I saw Pak Marta rubbing his chest a moment ago. He feels it too," Rafandra added.
"Hmm," Rezvan nodded.
"I've also been holding myself back from complaining about how tortured my body feels. The cold feels strange, my body aches, walking feels like trudging through mud, chest tight, air thin in the lungs. Feels like we're on a high mountain."
Rafandra nodded slowly, agreeing.
He felt it too—the same suffocating sensation, cold air seeping into the lungs, making each breath feel like swallowing fog.
The three of them—Rafandra, Rezvan, and Pak Marta—stood silently. Each knew they must not lose control.
Dozens of young eyes in the bus now depended on them. One moment of panic, and the situation could erupt.
"What now, Pak?" Pak Marta's voice finally broke the silence.
His face tense, age lines visible under the dim emergency lights of the bus interior.
The question hung, leaving Rezvan and Rafandra exchanging glances, both seeking answers they didn't have.
"I don't know, Pak, but—"
BANG!
A loud impact made their bodies flinch.
The bus shook violently; the windows rattled as if about to shatter.
Some students let out stifled screams, while others instinctively ducked and covered their heads.
Before they could recover, a terrifying roar came from outside.
Deep, heavy, echoing—like an elephant… but something was off about the tone.
Too long.
Too… angry.
Hysterical screams spread inside the bus.
"W-what is that…" Ardi's voice caught.
"Is it… an acc-accident?!" Indah shivered, eyes darting to the fogged window.
"Did someone get hit?!" Dina's voice trembled between fear and confusion.
"But… that was an elephant, right?!" Damar asked, staring ahead.
"Hmm… an elephant… I think I heard it too…" Kirana whispered, almost trying not to attract attention from outside.
"Right, Pak? That was an elephant?" Bima asked, panting.
Questions echoed, yet no one dared to stand.
They just exchanged fearful glances.
Since entering the fog, something unseen seemed to press on their chests, piling fear beneath the skin.
Breathing grew harder. Cold spread through their bodies, yet sweat trickled down their backs.
ARRGGHHH!!
A loud scream exploded again.
This time closer.
Much closer.
The sound seemed to come from right outside the bus.
Instantly, the children screamed, some curling into their seats, others gripping their neighbor's hands unconsciously.
Then—
BANG! CRACK! CRUNCH! THUD!
Metal groaned from the back.
The bus shook.
The impact was too real to be a hallucination.
Rezvan turned sharply, pupils dilated.
Rafandra was already on alert.
Yet all he felt there was cold air and helplessness.
"Everyone stay in place!" Rafandra shouted, low but firm, trying to maintain order.
Before they could recover from the scream, terror rolled back across the bus.
BANG!
A hard hit came again, shaking the bus as if an earthquake hit.
The floor trembled, seats shifted slightly, metal walls groaned under a force far larger.
CREEEKK… CRAAANG!
Metal screeched, loud and piercing, followed by a series of small impacts making the bus jolt unpredictably.
All passengers froze.
Only their eyes moved, exchanging panicked glances in the dark cabin.
No one dared to shout; only stifled breaths and tiny, restrained cries.
Primitive instincts—survival instincts—ordered silence.
"Pp… Pak… w-what's th-that…?" One of the three girls whispered, hoarse and trembling, hands clutching the seat in front until her knuckles whitened.
Rezvan turned immediately.
"Din, calm down…" he said quickly, trying to steady his own trembling voice.
He swallowed, eyes scanning all students, some ducked in their seats, some covering ears, others biting their lips to suppress tears.
"I don't know what that is… but you must stay calm. Just stay silent!"
A cracking sound returned from outside, like metal striking stone.
"Pak…" Dovi swallowed, voice small but clear. "Th-the sound… it's terrible…"
Others chimed in, voice shaking, "Pak, it's like… like a war… are we under attack?!"
"Enough!" Rezvan suddenly shouted, louder than intended.
His voice cut the panic instantly.
He stared at his students one by one, firm yet bitter. "No messing around! Stay quiet. We have to calm down. We… need to figure out what's really happening."
His words sounded like orders, yet inside, he knew it was also a form of hope.
He had no idea what was happening.
Part of him wanted to run, drag all the kids away as far as possible.
But he knew that was impossible.
Dozens of teens before him, aged seventeen to eighteen, now relied on him for survival.
And that… was scarier than anything pounding the bus outside.
Rezvan glanced at Rafandra and Pak Marta, seeking support from their equally tense faces.
But neither spoke.
Only silence—and sound—
CRACK… CREEEEK… THUD!
…shook the bus walls again, making the air inside feel frozen.
THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.
Heartbeats echoed alongside ragged breaths, resonating off the cold metal walls.
All eyes now fixed on Rezvan—the young teacher struggling to control his own fear to appear composed.
He swallowed, forcing his legs forward toward the door.
His hand trembled as he grasped the metal handle.
He knew this step might be foolish, but logic and instinct wrestled inside: I must know what's outside.
A faint roar still echoed in the distance.
In the foggy darkness, the sound seemed to come from all directions at once—heavy, hoarse, and strangely… alive.
BANG!
Before he could pull the door lever, a hard strike came again.
The entire bus jolted.
Passengers leapt in shock.
Shadows flickered across pale faces.
Cold sweat dripped from temples.
Every breath audible.
Hands instinctively sought the nearest grip.
THUD!
The bus shuddered violently.
Metal scraping against metal made the floor shake harshly.
The bus shifted sideways—not from an earthquake, but from an external force.
Through the cracked windshield, a huge shadow moved swiftly, too fast to identify—
BANG!
Something slammed the front of the bus.
Then—
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
Rezvan froze.
Beyond the glass, a human appeared—bloodied, pale, eyes wide with terror.
The figure smashed against the glass, hands smeared with blood leaving red streaks down the surface.
"Oh my…" Rezvan hissed, stepping back almost tripping.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
The figure pounded again in panic.
Each thump heavy, muffled, full of desperation.
Breathing ragged, lungs raw.
Mouth wide open, screaming without clear sound—only hissing, with blood trickling from the chin.
Rafandra stood firm.
His gaze sharp, pupils constricted like a predator sensing danger. "Stay away from the door," he said, low but forceful.
His tone wasn't a suggestion—it was a command.
Rezvan glanced briefly.
Rafandra's face was pale, yet his eyes were clear and focused—someone who had seen the unexplainable but knew how fast things could turn deadly.
Rezvan's blood seemed to drain. Cold ran from nape to fingertips.
But only for a fraction of a second—his mind resisted what his eyes saw.
He realized: a human outside was dying… he couldn't stay still.
He moved quickly toward the door. "We have to—"
SHHHH—GRAB!
A sound came from outside. Fast. Heavy.
As if the air split then slammed back.
The figure behind the glass vanished instantly.
No scream. Only blood remained—smeared on the glass, dripping from the previous handprint.
Rezvan froze, eyes wide.
He caught a glimpse: a large black shadow moving in the fog—formless, yet real.
Too real.
Rafandra, standing just behind him, grabbed his shoulder firmly.
"Calm down!" His voice cracked, higher than usual.
Hands gripping Rezvan's arm, trembling yet steady.
Rezvan remained frozen, staring at the glass now smeared with fresh blood slowly running down.
"Wh-what was that…?" he whispered, almost inaudible.
Rafandra didn't answer.
He only stared outside—faintly hearing something being dragged.
Heavy… wet… rhythmic.
SCRAAK… SCRAAK… SCRAAK…
Rezvan remained restrained by Rafandra, who stood directly behind him.
Hands trembling, grip firm, stopping Rezvan from acting rashly.
Rafandra shook his head repeatedly: a silent "don't do it," yet tension and controlled panic shone in his eyes.
"We need to know what that is!" Rezvan half-whispered, eyes blazing at Rafandra.
"I'm curious too, Pak… but look at the situation!"
Rafandra's gaze met his, just as sharp, holding his own tension.
Rezvan felt frustrated—someone clearly needed help, yet now they had to hold back.
Still, deep down, there was relief—Rafandra stopped him.
He knew the thing attacking that person was not normal. Dangerous. Extremely dangerous.
"You saw that too, right? If he's hurt… he needs help…" Rezvan's voice trembled but tried to assert.
"We can help, but only if we're safe," Rafandra replied.
"We both saw what just happened… it's not ordinary. Pak… I'm sure you can feel it—danger."
Rezvan swallowed. A drop of cold sweat dripped down his temple, though his breathing began to stabilize.
"So… do we just stay put?!" he demanded, voice rising slightly.
His courage rebuilt—a teacher's instinct to protect human life pushed him forward.
Rafandra patted Rezvan's shoulder gently, calming him.
"Don't forget, Pak… your main responsibility is those inside the bus—your students."
Rezvan fell silent. Rafandra's words penetrated deeply.
He slowly turned, trying to read his students' faces in the thick darkness.
Wide eyes. Fearful expressions. Hands gripping each other.
All visible, but even without seeing, Rezvan could feel the ragged breaths and trembling bodies holding back fear.
A few moments later, Rezvan finally relented. He followed Rafandra's advice—the bus assistant who somehow seemed intimidating with his unusual authority.
Rezvan turned his gaze to the man.
Since entering the fog, Rafandra continuously scanned around, reading what ordinary eyes couldn't.
From the start, Rezvan's instinct told him: this man is not ordinary.
"Bang, my name is Rezvan. You?" Rezvan asked cautiously.
"Rafandra," the man replied briefly, flat, without looking.
Rezvan felt annoyed at his attitude but knew he had to yield. He turned to the middle-aged driver in the front seat.
"Sir driver?"
"I-I-I… Marta…" The driver's voice trembled, caught between ragged breaths.
"So what do we do now? We can't just sit and wait like—"
Before Rezvan could finish, Rafandra's eyes suddenly widened. Face tensed, jaw clenched.
"Everyone duck in your seats now!!" Rafandra shouted, then ran toward the still-stunned, confused students.
In seconds…
THUMP!! THUD!!
Something slammed into the bus violently, shaking the large vehicle almost over.
SCREEEKKK!!
Sharp metal scraping tore through the bus body—as if something extremely strong was slicing through it.