Brutal Family

Part 1 Cemetery

Cold air touches the skin. The journey of a dozen hours of about thirteen thousand kilometers was felt throughout the joints. We were not late for the flight, but did not see anyone's face for the last time.

There were only three people in that quiet area. Those carrying with them black umbrellas had dispersed themselves. Rather than watching a sad face soundlessly hugging the tombstone, I looked at the clear sky without clouds. Sumedang, this city remains cold even though the weather is sunny.

"Come on."

My shoulder was patted, when I turned my head Papa tried to smile at me. I can feel the pain. Can't be next to my mom at the last minute. I can't imagine if it happened to me and Papa. Our inner bond is very strong. If I lose it, I don't know how. Horrifically.

Then I grabbed that big hand. With a tight grip, I told Papa that I would always be there. Papa returned my hand. We will continue to live together again in different places. Stepping on various obstacles as usual.

Before the car left the cemetery, I looked there again. Mounds of earth and flowers have hoarded Grandma's frail body. Has Grandma met Grandpa now? Maybe they're knitting affection. They complete their eternal story.

My eyes narrowed, someone was standing at the end of Grandma's tombstone. As I recall we were the last ones there. But, uh,

Where is that guy?

My head was looking through the window. Nihil, that guy disappeared so quickly.

"Why Bungah?"

Dad looked at me in surprise, and even took a look.

"Eh-oh it's okay, Pa."

It may be a hallucination of losing someone. I can't hide my smile considering the short time I've been with Grandma. Remembering it, Grandma's melodious voice was always ringing. Grandma loves sharing adventure tales. And put me to sleep in the middle of the night.

Not noticeably, eight years ago we left her with Aunt Lisna-the sister of Papa. Still fresh in my memory yesterday was celebrating my seventeenth birthday party behind the house. Garden Party with school friends. Then all that changed from the sad news. Papa dragged me from the party in his makeshift clothes. I only had a few pieces of clothes. The clothes I wear now are still the same as the party yesterday and then covered with a jacket.

Actually Grandma died not too suddenly. In addition to her old age, Grandma has also started to get sick since we moved to Canada. From a year ago Papa was eager to return to Indonesia. Unfortunately, his work is increasing every day. Until the news came.

You could say I'm Grandma's favorite granddaughter. When I and my family were still complete back home every day, whatever Grandma gave me would be more than my cousins. Grandma and I rarely met each other than Grandma's grandchildren. When we lived together a long time after Papa and Mama separated, I went with Papa to live in his hometown.

Papa took me to Canada then, there I began to forget the figure of Grandma. Now I'm losing that figure.

"What song do you sing?" tanya Papa stopped the movement of my fingers painting dew on the car window.

"Granny Song. Again remembering the tone, I did not memorize the lyrics anyway. Papa knows?"

"Hmm ... What is it?"

Never mind, there's no hope in asking Papa. Where Papa likes art in any form.

"Title Kembang Tanjung Panineungan, Non," said Pak Budi while driving. The grey-haired man looked at his passenger through the rearview glass.

"Sir knows?"

"That's sinden's song. I do, often horrified Mother nyinden. If it's not wrong I have the tape, Non want?"

Mr. Budi has worked for decades in the Grandma family. Know the ins and outs of our descendants who love art, except Papa of course.

"Cassette?"

"CD or DVD, dude." Papa chiming.

I nodded happily. Whatever it is. Later Mr. Budi will lend it to me. Unknowingly I had made Papa smile as well, his hand breaking my hair was anxious. Since we lived in Canada, Papa has changed a lot. Smile more and take the time for me. When my parents were still together, was Papa so rare, or had I forgotten? I don't know my memory of Papa is only about work and rarely at home. Mama is the same.

Sometimes I think, is Papa not happy while with Mama? What are they together for? Then I thought again, if they were never together, there might never be me.

"Well, we've arrived." Papa's voice was slow. The long journey and the cool air made me sleepy.

When you open your eyes, there is no more sleepiness. I can see the atmosphere in front of a house. They wear all black, back and forth into the pale whitewashed house. I hesitated to set foot.

If it wasn't for my hand being pulled by Papa, I would have stayed in the car.

When my feet stepped through the gate, my entire sense of body felt something strange. Something was holding me back from going any further. Moreover, changes in the atmosphere seem to reduce the strength of this footrest. They stopped activities. Welcoming our arrival is difficult to understand. I returned Papa's grasp no less tightly, asking for help.

Suddenly my body was almost crushed. I who was all the way holding my breath, felt a tightness. Fortunately, Papa was quick to act, separating my body from the woman containing it.

After that I was greeted by everyone. More precisely, they were hunting salamans with me. I don't understand either. They offered me food, tried to talk to me, made me even stranger. I was not given a moment to just rest my body after a long journey.

"Well, it's Sophia." Papa brought a two-painted child in front of me. Just now his brothers Papa left me. "Sophia accompany Brother Bungah yes. Later Om Lingga love candy a lot."

Just let me glare. Sure enough, I was pinned to a child. My age is still a lot on the terrace there. They seem to be my cousins. I let out a breath, not daring to greet them first.

Sophia was sitting next to me playing a blonde doll. His round eyes kept looking at me. After Papa left, there was no sound between us. How old is he? Most first class SD. I'm not good at small talk, especially with kids.

"Una's sister."

Brother Una. I snorted amusedly. The first time someone called me Una.

"You see magic, don't you?"

"Magic?"

Sophia nodded, her little hands without permission pulling me out weakly. I followed her not out of fear, but would bother if she cried. Everyone seemed busy, no one was aware of our departure. Even on the porch, children my age are no longer there.

Suddenly I feel anxious. It's too far from Grandma's house. Sophia didn't give me an answer, where did she take me. This kid is scary too. I finally pulled my hand. Around is no longer a settlement. All the towering trees filtering the sun's highlight meet the ground.

"Sophia," Iid.

The boy was not beside me. Sophia ran into the forest deeper. I shouted his name, ignored. No. gabe. I should how? I have to go home and tell Papa. But Sophia will be even more lost if I don't go after her. Even though I don't like children, I still have a conscience.

The sound of insects on the tree accompanied my run after Sophia. With real fear, I can't lie to myself. This is the first time running around in the middle of the forest without this direction. My body breaks through the bushes no matter the twigs scratch. That kid's out of nowhere, I can't go after him. Sophia's gone out of my reach. I was getting more and more dogged to run without direction, until I realized besides the darkness of the forest, it was evening before.

Die me!

Sophia's missing. I don't know the way home. My breath was looking for a way. Trees, rocks, they all look the same.

A little distance away from me was a woman in red walking back to her. I shouted to him, the woman kept walking away.

Without caring where he's going. I ran along, at least maybe I could figure out the way home from her.

When I quickened my pace to greet the woman immediately. She's missing. Right in front of my eyes.

I am alone in this creepy place. My body's a thermorer with my chest churning uncontrollably. I took a step back, running as fast as I could. It hasn't happened yet, my body is down. A pair of hands snared my legs. His long black fingernails pierced the skin. A loud scream escaped from my mouth. The birds that spent the night in the trees scattered with their screeches.

He's displacing my body rough. These two hands grabbed anything that could hold me back from the creature, no matter how flaky the nails might be. But it's a fight, my gut feeling says it'll die if it's resigned. I had a hard time promising Papa to be next to him, I had to hang on.

I cried smelling my own blood. An unfamiliar smile rang out, slowly becoming clearer, the red-eyed creature paused for a moment letting out a slight growl. He again dragged my body trying not to be affected by the humming that bounced from tree to tree. Echoing the whole forest. It's Grandma's song. I hummed weakly in between tears. I wish Grandma would send someone to help.

Papa...

- Damaisland-