Biohazard's Catastrophe: Death's Hallway

The Legacy of Catranata

Ardana did not dare to act like this because she already knew who the host she was going to. Ilham Jati Ravana, such is his full name that is known by him. As the name implies, this person is quite tall and more sturdy than seen in the photo. Age that is approaching old can not be used as a benchmark to underestimate it, and it can never be in any way.

About twenty years ago Ilham was still a member of Group 3 Kopassus with the rank of First Lieutenant. Although he was only a middle officer, there were already many important roles he played. Doing infiltration, bloody fighting against separatist guerrillas, emergency rescue and other humanitarian missions is his past that is still talked about by many people.

This big man then retired with the rank of major in 2008, then moved to Bandung. From there, he decided to join the establishment of the private military company Baihaqi Armed Corps with Shamsir Al-Baihaqi and a number of old figures of the Justice Militia who contributed to the overthrow of the dictator Johan Facturia. Although known for his pugnacity in the past, today Ardana sees him as a simple looking old man. Very contrasted with his residence which tends to show the quality of the upper middle class with the arrangement of a very neat house.

After bathing and resting for a few minutes, at night Ilham invited Ardana to discuss the task to be done at the back of the house. There is a small garden with an area of 4x8 meters which is bounded by a three-meter-high wall with one-third of the part is a pond inhabited by various ornamental fish. The housekeeper had prepared two cups of ginseng coffee and a small meal placed on the table. The back area of the house is also a storage of antique objects from various areas collected by Ilham when he was young.

“I was surprised, they sent a new kid to do the task that the elite team was supposed to do. But since you were already in front of me, it would be inappropriate to send you back home. Never mind, just drink the coffee first.” Ilham sipped coffee without taking his eyes off Ardana who was sitting in front of him.

Ardana remained silent without doing anything. Facing a big person behind the scenes makes him keep an attitude too good. Even after Ilham took out a piece of biscuit, he remained silent.

Of course the host was astonished to see the attitude of his young guest. “Why silence? The coffee will be cold. Don't be too tense, we're not preparing for training in Batujajar!”

Feeling the green light, Ardana took his ginseng coffee. The aroma of ginseng and additional spices in coffee welcome the sense of smell.

“First of all I will tell you something. Actually I was also asked to keep an eye on you, whether you work well or vice versa. All the personal data and transcripts of your training results I have received since the first day you were accepted into the Baihaqi Armed Corps. I think because your achievements are among the best and there is no one else, so you were sent here. All right, just get on with it then. You must have heard of an artificial forest south of Ciamis?” Inspiration looked straight into the eyes of his guest.

Ardana did not respond with words. He leaned forward and nodded.

“There was something strange about the forest even after it was inaugurated by the Johan Facturia government. From the eastern end point to the south the central part of the forest is prohibited to be entered by local residents as well as from outside Ciamis. Still there are entering secretly and undetected, because there are more beautiful flora. Unfortunately, those who have entered the forbidden places are never known again. After the fall of Facturia, the police immediately opened the cases of missing people in the forest. Until then they raise their hands because the results are nil. Since its inauguration in 2011 until now, there have been about 500 more missing person reports there.

Since the missing persons case began to buzz in early 2010, no one has dared to conduct an investigation. Late last year, the police and I tried to interrogate former rangers who had served there. These people, who originally said they had never seen anyone enter there, ended up bluntly but did not dare to testify during the government of Facturia. It's just never known how the victims disappeared.” Ilham again sipped his coffee while explaining everything he knew.

He took out a 5R photo from his shirt pocket.

“The person in this photo is one of the survivors I managed to find in a data search and is still under our supervision. From the information I got, when he was a child he was taken to a secret place that was believed to be in the forest earlier. There was one gaffe in both eyes that made us believe there was something the Facturia scientists had done there during her reign. We were worried that it would be bad for his health over a long period of time, but so far he is fine. We have not been able to ask him directly about this case, there is a huge psychic trauma experienced and it makes him reluctant to talk,”.

Ardana. “Can I see, Sir?”

Ilham nodded, “Please, you can see in detail.”

After the photo moved into his hands and was clearly visible, Ardana was aghast to the point of almost being jolted backwards.

“This girl...,” her hisses.

“Why, Dan? You know him?” Ilham frowned seeing Ardana's shocked expression.

Ardana glanced at Ilham seriously.

“Today I met him, sir. He is a waiter at the restaurant in the Cicaheum Terminal area,” he said while leaning back.

Ilham nodded while closing his eyes for a moment.

“You're right, she's commonly known as Paramitha Mulya. Just like most people, you only know she works as a waitress and lives in a boarding house around the Cicaheum Terminal. But his real last name is not that. She is from the Catranata family, so her full name is Paramitha Asmarani Catranata. This child is also one of the family's successor lines, which is almost exhausted because it was removed by the accomplices Facturia,” he told Ardana.

Suddenly this middle-aged man let out a heavy sigh. His two eyes implied something he deeply disliked about their chatter. Ardana is reluctant to touch him further because it seems to be very bad for their relationship later. He calmly asked Ilham to continue his speech.

“What makes me sad and angry is that I just found out that Paramitha is the only child of Linggasatria Catranata and his wife, Erni Suherni. The two of them have been my friends since we were both living in the same neighborhood. At that time I did not know it, and when I found the evidence that led to it, it was very crowded. Until the end of his life the two never told me that they already had the only daughter.”

Ardana sighed, slowly. Somehow he also felt tight when listening to the words of Inspiration about the servant girl he had met this afternoon. Indirectly it turns out to be related to the task that will be done.

“Yes, he occasionally comes here to bring food. The boy is like my own son. Although his fate was unlucky but he seemed to have no burden. Always smile kindly at people who know him. Last time I visited here was three days ago. When he said he wanted to go home to Ciamis,” Ilham replied while rubbing his face.

“But I banned it. The response of the people in his hometown to him was very negative. He is considered to be the cause of the deaths of his own parents and the disappearance of people in Ciamis's artificial forest. The village people who are already superstitious until now do not know what really happened because of the propaganda of Facturia's accomplices in the past. Though the Catranata family almost ran out to defend their rights, until finally the heirloom of the family's successor must wade through the path of life that should not be,” he continued.

Not wanting to indulge in past emotionally draining chats, Ardana immediately switched the conversation and tried to find other conversation materials. Suddenly both of his eyes widened slightly, remembering something that made him panic.

“Oh! I almost forgot something. Actually I've got a gun ration, sir. But... I forgot to bring it.” Ardana swallowed her own saliva.

Inspiration glared right at Ardana. “What? So you're not here with weapons?!”

Ardana felt like she wanted to throw herself back from the chair she now sat in.

* * * * *

From her room which was right in the front and facing outside, Paramitha looked at the Bandung city landscape which can be reached with both eyes. Nightlife in the city is almost like Jakarta. As if not stopping, continue to connect with a variety of activities. The lights that light up from the house or the center of the crowd in the distance as if able to entertain him from something that always makes him not excited to live life.

All the necessary items and clothes have been prepared with a large backpack to be carried. Room size 8x4 that little by little back neatly arranged. Blankets, bed linen and pillows are already the first targets to be tidied up. Following the contents of the wardrobe and bathroom are also cleaned. The floor of the room was still a little wet after it was dipel about two minutes ago.

Going home a little night does not necessarily make Paramitha submit themselves to fall into the arms of pleasure from a soft mattress. As much as possible the room should be neat and clean. So does his body. Luckily the monthly cost money had been paid once he set foot on the veranda, so he did not have to bother thinking about the bill from the mother of a chatty boarding owner. Moreover, the middle-aged woman found him sitting while drinking tea and enjoying a snack. As if he was waiting for his return because he knew this date was the date of his arrival at this boarding house in the past.

“Well, nu kieu anu alus mah! Pay the monthly cost money right every arrival date. The other residents should be imitating you, Mitha.”

Paramitha could only smile while nodding deeply inside.

Although fussy in terms of charging monthly money, the mother of the boarding owner who is known by the call of Sugama Mother is actually a figure who is affectionate and loyal to the affairs of money. Secretly, Paramitha felt very happy and loved the mother of the owner of the cost. She seemed to be the replacement of her parents. When he first became a resident of his boarding house, the woman who was always his guardian when there was a meeting, the distribution of rapots and even his graduation.

The treatment of the woman to the residents of other boarding houses that incidentally are still teenagers was the same. When one of them is sick, he swiftly brings the patient to the health center or hospital. According to reports, the woman, whose real name is Heni Sugama, has a lot of wealth, in stark contrast to her ordinary everyday appearance. The boarding house inhabited by Paramitha and his friends is said to be just the tip of the nail of many assets.

“Tomorrow you teh so go home to Ciamis?”

Paramitha turned her head and smiled faintly. Heni was already in front of the open door of his room.

“Muhun, Mom. It hasn't been back there in a long time. Maybe one more week will be there.” This girl approached her boarding house mother casually.

“Padahal distance from Bandung to Ciamis distant henteu tea, henteu nepika complete the sea. Sok aya-aya wae! Escape from meureun's hometown, nya?” hatch Heni while shaking the waist that became his trademark style.

Paramitha was barely able to hold back a laugh. “Because I was too focused on school and now work, it feels like I don't have a hometown to go to, Bu.”

Heni stepped into his boarding princess's room. Then calmly sat down next to Paramitha and ruffled a bit of the girl's hair.

“Where do people not have a hometown? Must have atuh, stay kita who wants to go home or just watch from far away,” he said with anxiety.

Only a knotty smile was re-emerged by Paramitha.

“Good. Later come home from there Mitha brought something, Miss.”

* * * * *