Several months ago…
"My husband let's go home. It's almost sunset," a woman said as she tied several cassava roots together. She wore a kebaya and a batik sarong, her hair pinned up with a traditional hairpin.
"Alright, just a little more and the sack will be full," the middle-aged man replied while quickening his movements as he cut grass along the rice field embankment with a sickle.
"Get ready, I'm done here," he said as he tied up the sack filled with grass.
In the countryside, villagers usually gathered grass for their cattle in the late afternoon and returned home before dusk.
"Let's go, honey. Just bring enough cassava. Even if we boil it later, we probably won't finish it all," the man said as he lifted the sack of grass onto his back.
The two of them walked along the narrow rice field path toward the reddish glow of the setting sun. After walking for some time, they arrived at a rocky slope descending toward a river.
The trees around the slope were extremely dense. As soon as they entered the rocky trail, the surroundings became dark. Orange-red sunlight pierced through the gaps between the leaves.
They crossed the river using a bridge made from two large iron beams about fifteen feet long.
"My husband, I need to pee," the woman said while walking behind him.
"Alright, I'll wait here," the man replied as he lowered the sack of grass and sat on a large rock by the riverbank.
The woman hid behind a rock beside a large tree.
After relieving herself and cleansing herself, she turned around to leave.
But—suddenly a cool breeze brushed against the back of her neck.
The atmosphere became silent. An eerie stillness filled the air.
Her ears rang, and the tiny hairs on her body stood on end.
The woman flinched and quickly walked away.
"Honey, I've got goosebumps. I'm scared!"
"Let's hurry home!"
"Alright, let's go!" the man said as he hoisted the sack of grass back onto his shoulder.
A while later, they arrived at a crossroads. If they turned right, the road would lead into a vast area of thick forest—a path into the deep woods.
And then they turn left.
"Come on, hurry, it's getting dark!" the man said as he glanced toward the dense forest before quickening his pace, the woman following closely behind.
After walking for quite some time, they arrived at another crossroads.
If they turned right, the path would once again lead into the vast dense forest too.
"Huh? What?" the man muttered while staring at the crossroads.
"Honey, hurry!" The two of them sped up.
And then they turn left.
After walking quickly for a long time, they arrived at the same crossroads again.
"My God… what's happening? We're going in circles!" the man said tensely.
"My husband, what do we do? I'm scared…" the woman whimpered in fear.
They were about to move again when suddenly the atmosphere turned completely silent, and their bodies froze.
"My husband… what's this smell? Jasmine flowers?" the woman said, her voice trembling as her hands shook and her knees weakened.
The strong fragrance of jasmine suddenly transformed into the stench of rotting flesh, like a decaying dog carcass.
"What?let's get out of here!" the man shouted as he threw the sack of grass from his shoulder and grabbed his wife's hand.
Only then did they realize that they were now surrounded by towering dense trees.
"Oh God… the Alas Purwo Forest!" the man cried out.
They turned around to flee.
But—
Standing before them was a gigantic black figure in the shape of a muscular man as tall as a house—around fifteen feet tall.
Its entire body was glossy pitch black, with two long horns protruding from the sides of its head like a bull's horns. On top of its head rested a crimson crown adorned with black gemstones, its upper part resembling a furnace that emitted dark red flames.
The creature wore only knee-length pants.
Its massive hands had long, razor-sharp claws.
Its eyes glowed bright red, while white smoke billowed from its nostrils.
It was a horrifying sight beyond anything they could have ever imagined.
The moment they saw the terrifying creature, shock overwhelmed them completely. Their bodies refused to move, frozen in place.
They couldn't even scream.
The creature growled.
"You lowly beings… belong to me."
It raised its right hand.
The couple floated into the air. A thin white mist-like light emerged from their bodies and was absorbed into the creature's hand.
Their bodies convulsed violently.
Groans of agony escaped their mouths as their eyes rolled upward until only the whites remained visible.
And then—
Their consciousness slowly faded, and their bodies fell to the ground.
***
The next morning, chaos erupted in the village near the forest.
At the border of the Alas Purwo Forest, a husband and wife had been found dead under mysterious circumstances.
Two police officers and four emergency response personnel arrived at the forest border together with the village chief and a middle-aged man.
Among the group was also an elderly man dressed entirely in black, with shoulder-length hair and a batik headband.
"Look, there are absolutely no signs of violence. No struggle, no physical injuries on either of them," Inspector Jayadi said while pointing at the two bodies lying on the ground.
"There are no physical wounds at all. Their bodies are pale white like cotton—even all of their hair has turned white. At their age, they shouldn't have had this much gray hair. And their expressions are completely blank."
"But… are their eyes really supposed to look like this? Their irises and pupils are completely white," Officer Irwan muttered while shaking his head.
"They look like they died after seeing something horrifying."
"Such a strange death. Could this be murder? But there aren't any wounds at all," Inspector Jayadi said while stroking his chin.
"Do you think there's a possibility they were poisoned?" the village chief asked as he leaned closer to Officer Irwan.
"That requires further examination. We'll need to perform an autopsy to confirm it," Officer Irwan answered quietly.
"I heard that a week ago there was also a report of missing people around here. Has the village found any clues or information?" Inspector Jayadi asked in return.
"Oh, that… Five young hikers went camping in the forest. There's still no information about them. They were never found," the village chief replied helplessly with his head lowered.
"Before this, nothing strange had ever happened in our area—neither in the village nor in the forest. No disappearances, let alone murders."
They then stretched police lines around the area.
"Until everything is clarified, this forest should not be entered," the village chief declared firmly.
"I'll spread announcements around nearby areas, and we'll put up warning signs. This is for everyone's safety. I'm worried something like this could happen again."
"Grandpa, what actually happened to Uncle Nurhakim and Aunt Hayati? Yesterday afternoon they were perfectly fine. In the evening they just went to the fields to gather cattle feed like usual," a young man in the group asked in confusion.
"They always helped others and were kind people. It's hard to believe anyone would want to harm them."
The old man crouched down and placed his right palm on the ground near the corpses.
His lips moved as he quietly chanted a spell.
His eyes closed.
Suddenly, thick white smoke emerged from the soil beneath his palm.
A hissing sound echoed from underneath his hand.
Everyone present stared at the old man in amazement, unable to blink.
A moment later—
A loud explosion erupted.
The old man was thrown fifteen feet backward.
"Grandpa! Are you alright?" the young man shouted as he rushed toward him.
The others were equally shocked and hurried over.
The old man slammed onto the ground, fresh blood flowing from the corner of his lips.
He slowly rose and sat cross-legged.
"A very powerful supernatural entity appeared here," he said weakly.
"It's likely that the deaths of your uncle and aunt were caused by that creature's arrival."
"Creatures like that usually take human sacrifices or prey in order to grow stronger. It will continue doing so until whatever goal it seeks is fulfilled."
"What do you mean, Mr. Broto Pamungkas? Are you saying the creature will kill again?" one of the emergency personnel asked nervously.
"Where did it come from, Grandpa?" the young man asked anxiously.
"My grandson Herman," the old man said, "that creature came from another world. I still don't know what it wants. It has already blocked communication by placing a barrier of power. That's why I was thrown back earlier—it refuses to negotiate."
"For now, we should avoid the creature while searching for a way to stop it from taking more victims."
"I will meditate to seek guidance regarding this matter."
"If everything has been recorded and examined, I suggest the bodies be taken away immediately for burial."
"You all must leave this place before nightfall. Supernatural beings prefer to act at night."
"They are far stronger after dark. During the daytime, they usually dislike coming out."
After giving his explanation and advice, Mr. Broto left together with the young man named Herman.
The emergency response team quickly handled the bodies and transported them to the hospital for autopsy.
***