Biohazard's Catastrophe: Death's Hallway

Scorched Black Body Creature

Ilham's attention was drawn to three apem cakes taken (read: stolen) by Ardana from offerings near the ruins of the Catranata mansion. This old man shook his head to see the behavior of the young man who was now with him. While Ardana himself acted as if nothing happened. While munching on the first cake drowning in her bite, she looked at the situation outside. The village that is considered modern like Cikembang still has a lack of lighting in the south, which is directly opposite the Sirnasurya Forest. Just thinking about it made Ardana upset because he did not understand the contents of the village officials' heads. Adequate lighting is needed there.

The highway that looked good in front was actually not so neat. Occasionally there are road holes that are avoided or sometimes must be hit just like that by the wheels of a car. Sometimes there are successive subtle shocks. Because of the dark path that passes, the inspiration that drives really put the eyes and ears. The only mainstay that is very useful is the headlights of his car.

“It's still like this. The local government was unthinkable to install lighting along this road, huh? Disturbing once,” complained Ilham while still concentrating on driving.

“The name is also in the village, sir,” timpal Ardana, “maybe the money of village development funds there are circumcised a little.”

Ilham sighed, “Maybe so. Or... they are so confident in the taboo of the Sirnasurya Forest that they do not dare to install a roadside lamp post.”

Ardana scratched the back of her head that was not itchy. For him it is ridiculous to not dare to complete supporting facilities and infrastructure in a village only because local beliefs are not necessarily proven true.

“I became curious, what was the horror of the forest like until the people of Cikembang Village did not dare to set foot there? Though it is no different from other tropical forests in Indonesia, even though it is man-made,” lamented.

“That's what we'll be looking for tonight. Hmmm, yes, yes. whereas only eight o'clock at night,” timpal Ilham. This time his eyes were sidetracked for a moment on the watch on his left wrist.

“Jam eight, yes?” Ardana reflexes glanced at her watch. “Sepi once, but not until eleven pm,” he added.

Inspiration to increase the speed of the car. Besides being afraid of spending too long on the road, he wanted to avoid the possibility of Ardana's first stage task this time ending when morning appeared. Armed with the fast driving ability he got while still active in Kopassus, Ilham stepped on the gas pedal as hard as possible. His two hands that controlled the steering moved swiftly and deftly. Ardana was even made to gape at the expertise of the old man he had never known. Actually he was horrified if he had to speed at night with limited lighting. Unknowingly, both hands held the back of the chair he was sitting on.

Not until eleven minutes, they finally arrived in front of the Sirnasurya Forest. It does not stop in the normal way. Ilham slammed the steering wheel so sharply to the left that it almost swirled. Ardana closed her eyes while closing her mouth because she did not want to scream due to overwhelming horror. Then everything was silent without the sound of the engine roar.

“I haven't mentioned this for a long time since the last assignment in the wilds of Papua,” said Ilham, who for Ardana seemed to want to show off.

Ardana just kept quiet without saying anything. He tidied up the bulletproof vest he had worn from the beginning and then wore an idle kevlar helmet on the dashboard. Next checked the weapon to make sure there were no glitches that could bring its firing system to a standstill.

Inspiration does the same thing faster than Ardana. He immediately descended leisurely yet alertly. His two eyes highlighted almost every part of the forest he could see. Ardana who went down a while later turned to the left and right like a confused person.

“Pak, we go in there now?” tanyanya while approaching Ilham.

Ilham nodded. “We're in now, but put your glasses on first!” his orders while pointing at the tactical goggles poking out from behind the neck crevice, right behind Ardana's bulletproof vest.

Ardana took the object in question and put it on. A small button on the right corner between the hinge and the frame of the glasses is pressed. Now what appears in both lenses is no longer a pitch-black color. All the existing objects can be seen quite clearly, exceeding the LED flashlight. Visible living things are characterized by heat sensors in the distance, which can only be seen clearly when in close proximity. The advanced glasses also feature graphical info such as location maps, active user heart rates once the stalk portion of the glasses touches the scalp and early detectors of potential hazards.

“Truly advanced,” hisses amazed. This was indeed the first time Ardana had used the Wolf Eye glasses created by the scientists in the Baihaqi Armed Corps.

The inspiration that was already used to such equipment only shook his head.

“Have amazed him. Focus on tasks!” reproofing.

Command is command. Ardana who woke up immediately approached Ilham who was still standing on the right side of the car. Both of them match the time on each watch.

“We will go in now, stay alert and remember well all the exercises you have got,” Ilham said as he moved. He evaded the yellow line of traffic bans that the police put in front of the driveway.

Ardana followed behind within a distance of one meter. While walking into the Sirnasurya Forest, his eyes kept moving in all directions, trying to find potential threats that could disturb or even threaten their safety. So far only a few night animals have been seen actively roaming around. The average was small and there was no sign of danger. Even so, the branches of trees that are so tight a little disturbing the comfort of Ardana. Just stepping several tens of meters away, he felt an uneasy sensation.

Tonight he saw firsthand how the real state of artificial forests is famous for the increasing number of missing persons cases. Not only are they close to each other, there are some trees that are very similar and can confuse anyone who explores them. Ardana was almost caught in her own panic the moment she saw it. His body almost toppled backwards over Ilham, then in a hurry he muffled his panic and continued walking.

“Don't be distracted to see the weird, Dan!” Inspiration seemed to know what Ardana felt. He looked for a moment at the young man.

“Euh. Forgive me,” said Ardana.

Inspiration does not reply. He did not want his concentration to be disturbed because of the young man behind him.

Suddenly he remembered Paramitha, the servant girl at the restaurant in the Cicaheum Terminal who attracted his curiosity. None other than because the two eyes of the girl who was blackish-red, different from humans in general. The question arises how the restaurant wants to accept it even though in his own village he is considered a disaster. After a while of searching for answers that were not found, Ardana gave up.

“Pak, I was curious about something,” he told Ilham.

“Ya?” Inspiration only responds briefly without looking.

“I am reminded of Paramitha. Is it with his two eyes that are considered awkward that does not make others horrified? I saw his co-workers at Abah Eman's Eating House accept him without fear. Very different in reverse to the story I heard from you and the owner of the coffee shop this morning,” he said with a little caution.

Inspiration turned back and turned his face back to the front.

“So that's just why you're curious? All right, I'll tell you again. Eman was actually my senior. Paramitha was able to work there because I explained to her myself who the girl was, her origins and others were important to understand. Without needing me to explain, the old man actually has a noble heart and wants to accept Paramitha to be a worker at his restaurant,” he explained as he continued walking.

A few moments later things became quiet.

“There is more you want to ask again about Paramitha, heh?” tanyanya.

Ardana shook her head quickly. “No, Sir. That's it for a while,” he replied.

Up to an hour later, Ilham and Ardana were already further and further into the Sirnasurya Forest. Without both of them knowing, from the top of the tree branches that almost docked each other there are those who lurk them.

A wide grinning mouth amidst the darkness, came from a human-like figure in black that wrapped all parts of his body. He seemed to want to show off a row of sharp teeth that almost filled the wall of his mouth cavity. His pointed-tipped tongue poked long and wriggled wildly, and at the same time his eyes narrowed sharply watching Ilham and Ardana who walked while occasionally stopping when getting something interesting.

The strange creature suddenly crept rapidly between the branches of the trees, following both of its prospective prey while letting out a heavy growling sound that sounded faint.

Ardana frowned and looked up. The heavy growling sound that caught his sense of hearing made him stop.

“Tadi it... What sound? Looks like it's up there,” murmured as he looked up.

Inspiration that realized the young man stopped taking steps. He turned around and found Ardana who was looking up with a face looking up.

“You heard what?” tanyakanya.

There's no answer. Ardana again faced Ilham who looked at her curiously.

“Ti—nothing, Sir. I seem to have misheard,” him with a grin.

There is no response from Inspiration for the answer. But suddenly the gaze of his eyes shifted slightly towards the back of Ardana. His expression also changed like one who was shocked yet restrained. Ardana who saw the change in Ilham's attitude instantly understood that the middle-aged man was looking at something behind him.

“P—Pak, a—da what, yes?” the tananya is a little flattened. His heart started beating harder.

Inspiration still does not answer. Ardana glanced at the old man's right index finger which moved to the trigger of his weapon. If so, then something is not right. Unasked, he turned his back slowly to find out for himself what Inspiration was seeing.

How shocked Ardana was. Behind him, only six meters away stood a strange creature four meters tall with a plontos-headed human form. His entire black-looking hardened body gave off a burning charred effect with the reddish blistered and weakly throbbing part of the flesh. Ardana could not see the two eyes of the creature other than its gaping mouth and wide grin with a row of sharp teeth that gave him goosebumps. His tongue was moving wildly as if ready to attack the young man.

Ardana felt a tremendous sensation of fear that made him unable to move his limbs. His whole life just this time he saw a monstrous figure in a very close distance. Though he was eager to run away and avoid the strange creature that was now slightly bent, as if watching him very closely.

“Ma—creature.. what is i—ini?! Si—sial! A—aku... can't... berge—motion!”

* * * * *