Biohazard's Catastrophe: Death's Hallway

Taboos and Missing Persons Cases

At the same time as the arrival of Paramitha

Coffee stalls near the gate of Cikembang Village are not too crowded. The background in the form of a large coffee garden land makes anyone's eyes will feel fresh with the green scenery. In front of him, a Ford Ranger was parked. Who else owns it if not Ardana Putra and Ilham Jati Ravana? These two people accidentally stopped by there after Ardana chose to drink coffee there. The sleepy inspiration finally agreed. Seeing their appearance in tactical uniforms with complete combat equipment, six residents who were also enjoying a cup of coffee and fried bananas immediately stepped aside. There was panic on their faces.

“Casual atuh, be far away. Kadieu, kadarieu kabeh! Kang... coffee milk one for this young boy, his black coffee is also one for me.” Ilham glanced at Ardana then looked at the astonished citizens while occupying the desired place.

“Urang kadieu mah hayang coffee, another rek newak maraneh,” he added again.

Those who had been away immediately returned to where they had been.

“Sorry this teh before. We other mah sieun was spotted, but... afraid of being interrogated about missing people in Sirnasurya,” said one of them.

Ardana glanced at me. Those people seem to know some things about the disappearance of people in the artificial forest, he thought.

“Oh... is that all? Take it easy, you will also have your turn to be interrogated. It just so happens that we from Baihaqi Armed Corps came here indeed for that. But that's later, you know, later. Now we want to drink coffee while relaxing first,” reply Ilham with a relaxed tone but a little soft.

The order for the two men in uniform moments later was presented on the table in front of the two. Mr. owner of a simple-looking coffee shop with white T-shirts and black pants pangsi straddled with gloves on the body deliver it directly to them. He was about 45, Ardana observed. Looks a mustache and a thin beard that adorned his thin face. Even so he looked fresh and healthy.

“If you want to order food.. there are toast, fried, fried noodles, boiled noodles and more. Solved guaranteed flavor steady!” he told Ilham and Ardana.

Ardana stirred up the coffee cup in front of him. His attention was focused on the pulp of coffee powder that had clumped. The distinctive smell of pure coffee immediately smelled clearly.

“Kang, it looks like this is all manually processed, huh?” tanyanya while pointing to a wisp of coffee grounds in her cup.

“Muhun, eta tea.. All coffee beans in my shop are traditionally ground. Let the taste and quality be assured. No need to buy expensive outside, because this village already has its own coffee cultivation land,” replied the owner of the coffee shop proudly, pointing towards the back of the half-open coffee shop.

Ardana looked back. The view of the coffee tree land that is quite wide can be seen more clearly from where it sits. All of its red-dominated fruits signal that all are ready to be picked. Natural hunters such as civets or mongooses are very much waiting for the harvest time as it is now. Farmers and landowners inevitably have to do strict care and supervision, making sure the omnivorous animals do not steal the coffee that will be chosen to be processed. But if it is already done, usually they catch civets suspected of eating coffee fruit so that the wasted beans with the feces can be processed into civet coffee.

This young man shuddered to imagine the civet coffee which had been his favorite drink through this process. Never before had his tongue tasted a drink that came into direct contact with the feces of all-eating animals.

Not long after, the people who had avoided it turned out to have finished drinking coffee and left the place after paying. They did not look back, especially at Ilham and Ardana. Ardana tried to hold back the laughter of seeing the panicked faces earlier. Only two seconds after the men were no longer visible from their sight, the young man's laughter exploded but did not burst out. The inspiration next to him was still trying to hold back the laughter so as not to be like the young man, then just shook his head slowly.

“They why? We haven't even questioned them at all.” Ardana put down the cup of coffee that had just been shredded.

“Yah.. indeed not everyone wants to be asked, let alone the case is heavy,” reply Ilham while leaning on the barrier of the stall from the bamboo fence.

Now only the two of them are in the coffee shop with the owner. While the owner was busy cleaning the tableware and drinking, Ardana got up from her seat. Bend your head outside the shop. Across them was the early settlement section of the front of the village. The surrounding conditions that morning were a little crowded by the activities of the local residents. Some of them shouldered hoes and wore bamboo caping on the head. Another well-dressed man rode a motorcycle out of the village to work.

“Kang, by the way did Akang know about the missing person in Sirnasurya?” the tananya suddenly while turning to the owner of the coffee shop.

The one asked looked up and then nodded. He put back the washcloth he used to dry the washed cutlery and drink.

“There have been frequent disappearances of people entering the forest,” he replied, slightly lowering intonation. “And only the citizens of this village who never dared to set foot there.”

Ardana is interested. He returned to his original seat without taking his eyes off the coffee shop owner who was also sitting near them.

The skinny gloved man continued his story, “Since 2008 until now there have been 576 people missing, whether it comes alone or in groups. Actually, the artificial forest has a very beautiful view, so many people from outside are interested in coming. I don't know what's behind it all. What is clear is that everyone who dares to enter the Sirnasurya Forest will definitely disappear mysteriously. Even from other villages there are also victims.”

Ardana frowned. There are strange things that make him curious, precisely in the part where the owner of the coffee shop said no residents of Cikembang Village dare to enter the artificial forest.

“Tadi Akang said no citizen here dared to enter Sirnasurya? What's up?” tanyakanya.

The coffee shop owner did not answer. He lit a cigarette and exhaled his smoke outwards. The look in his eyes implied something he was trying to recall.

To this day there are no more traces of the Catranata family. There was nothing left but their large house which was on the southern outskirts of the village, it also stayed burnt debris. The last thing we still remember is that the only daughter of Kang Linggasatria and Teh Erni named Paramitha was still in this village, a few weeks after the tragedy. There was an oddity in his eyes that turned blackish red. People believe out of nowhere and from who, if he lives that will destroy the village. He was shunned, treated arbitrarily by citizens who did not like his presence. Then the little boy disappeared. Never again known where.”

Ardana looked at Ilham. The middle-aged man did not glance at him and kept staring at the owner of the coffee shop. They both know who Catranata's little boy is told in the dark tale they just heard. Unlike Ardana, he believes that the one who brought Paramitha from Cikembang Village when it was Ilham himself. Remembering the man once told about his closeness with Linggasatria and Erni.

“Until now, the villagers still believe the disappearance of the people in the Sirnasurya Forest was a retaliation from the spirits of Linggasatria and Erni along with other Catranata family members who were tragically killed. Yes, residents here trust him,” said the owner of the coffee shop. He resumed his work, cleaning coffee cups and frying some banana and tempeh pieces wrapped in flour dough.

“Then where Linggasatria and Erni were buried after their deaths?” ask Ilham.

“Near Catranata's burning big family home, sir. The two tombs are still maintained until now, it's just a bit disturbed by offerings,” replied the owner of the coffee shop without turning his head.

* * * * *

Day

The former Catranata family home

Ardana stood pensively in front of two nearby tomb enclosures, several meters from the wreckage of the Catranata family home. Before making the first observation, Ilham invited him to see firsthand the state of the place. To be able to get there must cross a deserted highway that is not so crowded by the homes of residents. When asking the location of the Catranata house to some residents who happened to pass by, they looked scared and answered somewhat stammeredly. Some even fled before they got close. True said the owner of the coffee shop this morning, the people of Cikembang Village had a fear when referring to Catranata.

This young man observed the position of the house and small land located right on top of a sloping hill which is estimated to be seventeen meters higher than the land of Cikembang Village which he observed. Surrounded by the open field they should be able to escape, he thought imagining how the massacre happened. A tray of woven bamboo containing offerings was placed on the head of each tomb enclosure and apparently newly laid by someone.

“What the fuck? So great is their fear that they have to title everything?” Ardana shook his head in wonder then without feeling guilty about taking one of the market snacks that became the contents of the offerings.

“Mmmhhh. Yhang mkhakhan shemhua sheshajhen inhi thoh mhanusiah jugha,” he said as he chewed.

One market snack has been eaten. When going to take one type of snack again Inspiration has approached him, making this young man refrain from eating the next offerings. Next to Ardana, the middle-aged man took off his kevlar helmet and looked at the remains of the Catranata house. The silent atmosphere made him able to feel the remnants of cruelty without any apparent cause that originated from the fear of the villagers. Unusual people are sure to run away because they are not strong to face the scary atmosphere. After standing for almost a minute, he went to the left side of the house. In front of the graves of two people he had known for a long time, Ilham sat down. Despite not crying, the huge sense of tightness made the middle-aged man sigh heavily.

“Last time I met this married couple when they were newly married in Bandung. They both look happy. Linggasatria loves Erni very much, and vice versa. I am also happy to see my two friends living a new life. But.. I never imagined that the two of them will close the age in a tragic way like their relatives who later followed a similar fate,” regretted.

Ardana approaches Ilham. “Pak, I want to ask you something?” tanyakanya.

“Yes? What do you want to ask?” Inspiration lifted his face and closed his mouth.

“That brought Paramitha out of this village..Father yourself, right? And do not-don't.. Father also funded his education until he had a job like now, is not it?” ask Ardana again.

Ilham turned his head for a moment, then turned his face again to the tomb of Linggasatria and Erni in front of them.

“It's true. When I read about the alleged secret project of the Facturia government in the Sirnasurya Forest area, I found confidential data belonging to my superiors that were interesting. A seven-year-old girl with blackish-red eyes. What intrigued me was that his face was similar to Linggasatria. I looked into various connections and within a week found information that the boy was still in the village. I immediately took her out so knew her life was really nelangsa. Until then I found out that he was really the biological son of Linggasatria, when he had just graduated from High School. As much as possible I try to immerse the bad memories that are in his head, teaching him that to enjoy life just need to fight and be happy. Most likely he still remembers the brutal incident and the improper treatment of villagers he received,” he replied.

“After your mission is complete, we will meet him. I will try to make the promise of President Mahmud Arianagara to restore the good name of Catranata as soon as possible realized,” he continued standing up.

Ardana took a step back. His first assignment is just about to begin. After understanding what he was facing was not something ordinary, this young man reached into his pocket to pick up a piece of gum. Slowly chew the food to help lower the adrenaline that begins to rise. His right hand trembled slightly to grab Sako Rk.95 who had been hanging from the left shoulder since then.

“What do you think of Linggasatria's mere princess? The boy had already grown into a kindly beautiful girl. I am sure one day you will be interested in him,” said Ilham as it passed.

Ardana did not answer. He was still in his place after Ilham left him a few steps to get back to the Ford Ranger. After a bit far, without thinking long finally this young man passed his intention – took the market snacks on the sesajen tray again. This time it's not just one.

“Sayang nih sesajen left like this. I'd better get it on the road!”

Three pieces of colorful apem cake directly scooped.

* * * * *