Biohazard's Catastrophe: Death's Hallway

The Surreal Sirnasurya

Ciamis, West Java

Next day

“This is the Sirnasurya forest that people talk about!” Inspiration pointed to the right.

Ardana stops the white Ford Ranger he was driving to the side of the road after Ilham tells him they have arrived near the forest in question. The artificial forest was more dense than the photos circulating. He also knew the forest on the right side of them grew in such a way thanks to biological engineering. As the name implies, it hardly seems at all the cracks that can be entered by the rays of the sun. It was as if the light of Surya instantly disappeared, sinking with the dense and tight trees that were there. The gloomy atmosphere is supported by a rather cloudy sky but does not let down rain.

There is also a police line that has turned dull. It seems that the police have marked it as a forbidden area since the occurrence of missing people after entering there more and more. Several surveillance cameras were caught by Ardana's vision, who accidentally combed around them. Everything is still active, marked by a flashing red light every five seconds.

“Civilians who came by are definitely caught and will be secured for questioning,” Ilham said while issuing a binocular. With that thing he monitored the condition of the forest as if it had no life in it.

Ardana just tapped a finger on the steering wheel without saying anything. Their journey took almost three hours. Departing in the morning because Inspiration changes plans suddenly. Once in Ciamis, the two headed straight to the location they were about to investigate. The story of the people who disappeared there again overshadowed his mind. To the extent that the incident became a viral discussion on social media.

“If the forest is dense like this, I think it will definitely be confusing to find a way out. But there's no way people can't get out unless there's something that makes them never able to do that for ever,” he said as he approached Ilham.

Inspiration turned his head for a moment then turned his gaze back towards the forest. “Makanya. Just like the higher-ups in your base, I suspect that there is something that is not visible to the naked eye but becomes a trap that makes them disappear. Something must have been underground,” responded without removing the binoculars from his grasp.

The former Kopassus officer scrunched his forehead. Both of his eyeballs glanced left to right with a single blink. The forest in front of them is no different from any other forest in Indonesia. It's just that he doesn't believe in the tranquility of the geographical area dominated by the tall trees. The cold and powerful gloomy impression had already appeared even since seen from the outside. Not surprisingly, such a scene quickly conquered the subconscious of the surrounding community and then gave rise to new superstitions and taboos that are confusing.

“Later tonight we'll start moving. Be careful because this is your first job. As I told you, I will be watching you, but certainly not just there. I'll help you if there's a problem you can't handle alone. You get it, right, Ardana?” He kept his binoculars while glancing at the young man.

Ardana nodded quickly, “I understand, Sir. But... By the way can we stop by for a while to a place where we can find a cup of coffee? That's also if you allow.”

Inspiration is just smiling. “It looks like you can't get far from coffee, huh? All right, let's just go back north. But, I'm driving.”

Finally Ardana's wish was granted. The young new member of the Baihaqi Armed Corps wore a borrowed kevlar helmet from Ilham then came out and twisted from the front, replacing his previous supervisor position on the left. As soon as Ilham sat in the driver's seat, this man immediately took the Ford Ranger he was driving back to the forest-side highway.

In the middle of the journey Ilham glanced at his flagship weapon. An AWP sniper rifle painted in the color of blood flowing typical Kopassus that looks fierce. He modified the mechanism of this weapon so that it became more deadly than the original condition before. Thanks to his desperate creative ideas that have never been told except for Ardana, anti-material bullets can be used for the weapon even in limited quantities.

“I was going to lend you this weapon, because you also have a pretty good sniper ability. It's just not used for beginners because the stopping power is quite surprising. It took me a long time to train with this new ability of the weapon. One day, I fell into a fish pond in the back area of the house because I accidentally pulled the trigger and there was still a bullet. Neighbors came in because they thought I was committing suicide or killing people in my own home, ” he said. His left hand stroked the English-made long-barreled weapon.

Ardana almost laughed and could only endure it by making a smile. That was also what he did the night before departure. When claiming to forget to bring weapons equipment, in his shadow he will be hit all-out from Ilham because it is considered teledor. What happened was the opposite. Inspiration actually invited him into the basement under the floor of his bedroom. Ardana almost glared at the contents inside. That hidden place was more like a complete arsenal. Almost all types of weapons, ammunition and supporting equipment made by various countries in the world are there, including those that are no longer produced.

The choice fell on the Finnish-made weapon, Valmet/Sako Rk.95, which is then commonly referred to as Sako Rk.95. This assault rifle is still in its original condition, metallic black and did not have time to be considered for special upgrades. Only cleanliness is still considered so that it can still be used.

Ilham even let one of his collections belong to the young man with a record of the amount of ammunition and to get it must order directly from Finland. I don't want to, because Ardana has already accepted it. Pindad certainly does not produce its standard ammunition. A total of 160 bullets only owned by Ilham for this one weapon.

“Jaga is fine with that weapon. Hopefully it can be your lucky mascot every time you run the task,” Ilham message.

Ardana gave a thumbs up while turning her head, “Siap, sir! Thank you, I thought I was going to get angry.”

“I will just be angry if the rifle you use to make trouble after coming from here,” Ilham timpal.

Both men of different ages laugh at the same time, although there is actually nothing funny.

* * * * *

On the same day

WILUJENG SUMPING IN CIKEMBANG VILLAGE.

The archway of the natural stone never changed. From behind his glasses, Paramitha looked at the village where he was born with an unbecoming feeling. There are happy, sad, curious and more. The memories of his childhood reoccur in his mind, creating a visualization so vivid that it made him a little claustrophobic.

Cikembang Village has changed a lot after many years ago. His people certainly no longer recognize him nor even remember him. He was a seven-year-old child who was helpless in the face of ill-treatment. Now he returns to the place where all the tragedies of the past have befell him, leaving himself to live a life he never wanted. Wandering in Bandung with a simple life, while hiding his original identity as a member of the Catranata family. Of all the villagers, only his best friend Sumita's family still helps him even though secretly.

Were it not for missing her birthplace, this girl was reluctant to return. But behind it he has the determination to clear the Catranata surname tainted by Facturia slander that resulted in a series of bloody events that almost wiped them off the face of the earth. Family members who survived including himself were forced to split into various cities in West Java using a disguise identity. Paramitha can still recognize them with certain codes that have been agreed upon. In such circumstances he and other family members can still work hand in hand, just sending each other money or doing something that can be done together. But for this time he refused help from his brothers when he told his arrival back to Cikembang Village.

“Have remembered everyone, this is your hometown. Don't be sad and afraid,” he said inwardly to encourage himself.

Paramitha passed through the archway while looking left and right. The houses there still use wooden walls, but have been updated so that they look beautiful. There are only a few who have used red brick walls, painted in various colors and look different from most. What remained unchanged were lush trees on various vacant lots that were allowed to grow as a source of oxygen and water absorbent for the villagers. Although it has been in contact with various technologies, Cikembang Village still maintains traditional values.

The trip was held for a moment in front of the Cikembang Village Puskesmas which is a few hundred meters from the gate. The place is one that reminds him of his childhood. His father and mother always brought him here when he was sick. Even the facilities in it at that time were among the most modern of all the villages in Ciamis Regency.

Almost he returned to dissolve in the memory of the past, until then remembered again on something to do.

“Oh, yes.. Sumita's parents' house. I'd better get there,”.

On the way, some villagers noticed. His current appearance indeed following the style of the present really made him unrecognizable. The light blue bomber jacket clad in a collared maroon sweatshirt backed by long black jeans made him look like a newcomer. More important are his glasses that tend to darken the color of the blackish red eyes. Had he not worn it, they would have been suspicious and recognized him immediately.

Finally he arrived at a house in the middle settlement of the village with a large yard and rambutan trees in it. Sumita's house which was once bamboo-walled is now replaced with teak wood which is an expensive choice. All thanks to the hard work of his best friend who now does not come home with him. Sumita's father, a civil servant in the village, refused to rebuild his house with red bricks because he wanted to run a hereditary mandate.

The large semi-stage house looked beautiful and clean. Within eleven meters of the grounds, Paramitha saw a middle-aged woman wearing a dark green negligee with long hair tied back just coming out of the Sumita family home. In his hand was grass clippers. The person approached the front of the hedgerow surrounding the yard, then pruned off a section of leaves that were thought to disturb the scene.

Paramitha knew who that person was.

“Punten. Mom, kumaha damang?” This girl dared to approach.

The mother looked. Both of his eyes shone on Paramitha from head to toe while frowning in astonishment. How not, a young girl who is foreign and has never seen, with a simple appearance but very neat know-how approached him and asked him news. His own daughter always asked with similar sentences but there was nothing too subtle and polite on this one. It's just that he's starting to feel the difference. I don't know why the girl in front of him was like she had met him.

Paramitha was still calm so as not to be quickly recognized by her mother Sumita.

“Mango, Neng. What's up, huh?” Sumita's mother stopped her activity to trim the hedges and then approached Paramitha.

“Ummm... so Mom no longer recognizes me, huh?” ask Paramitha.

Instead of answering, the middle-aged woman was even more confused. “Aduh... ari Neng iyeu saha, is it? Where have we met, huh?”

Paramitha lowered her head slightly while taking off her glasses. He slowly raised his face back and looked directly at the two eyes of the woman without removing his smile.

“Mother mah... has forgotten Mitha? It's me, Mom. Paramitha Asmarani Catranata.”

* * * * *