Canticles

115. Burned

The moment awaited arrived. Banga and all residents flocked to the forest edge land to hold popobawa expulsion rituals. Residents who are victims of popobawa also participate while being monitored.

At the same time Rex and everyone in the camp were praying together. They held congregational Maghrib prayers on the terrace and they remained there until Isha's time. After performing Isya prayers, Rex asked some people to read the Qur'an and others to keep reciting.

Rex also asked non-Muslims to pray in a position not too far from the terrace.

Sister Tami was with them too. He was deliberately placed in the middle to stay monitored by Rex and his colleagues.

" Stay focused and don't daydream. Especially you Sister Tami." said Rex reminded.

" Yes Captain..," said Sister Tami lirih.

Rex smiled then returned to his thoughts while observing his surroundings.

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The location of the ritual site has been illuminated by light coming from torches lit and placed around the field. In addition, residents deliberately burned dry twigs and placed around the field to prevent interference by wild animals.

Sitting lead the ritual. Popobawa victim named Ebes also sat with him. There were two men standing to the right and left of Ebes who were in charge of guarding him. While other residents sit in a circle around Banga and Ebes.

When Banga and the people were performing the ritual, Ebes suddenly screamed. Apparently he saw the popobawa who had abused him coming and grinning at him.

" He's coming !. There, he wants to take me away. Help me !. Anyone help me...!" ebes screams hysterically while creeping on the ground so scared.

Everyone was shocked and stared at the direction that Ebes pointed. In the dimness of the night people saw a black figure resembling a winged man standing upright facing them.

Banga also stood up while holding a cup that contained a pungent-smelling herb that he had made earlier. Seeing Banga standing up, the people who surrounded him also stood up and took something out from behind their clothes.

Popobawa grinned angrily when she learned the invitation was meant to get rid of her.

" Wake up Ebes !. Stand up and face him. Fear not, we are with you...!" banga.

The terrified Ebes was still face down while closing his eyes. He refused to face the creature. The two men who were with her helped her stand up while whispering something.

" Do it now Ebes. Remember, he also threatened your family and your baby niece. Imagine what he would do to them. Don't you want to stop the creature's evil now...?" asked a man trying to provoke Ebes.

Hearing the man's words, Ebes opened his eyes. His affection for his family overcame the fear and trauma he experienced as a result of the creature's abuse. Ebes stood up and walked slowly towards the creature.

Banga and the two men who were with her followed Ebes from behind. Suddenly Ebes stopped and opened all his clothes while staring blankly at the creature. Popobawa seemed to smile with satisfaction to see the aura of his victim was plastered in front of him.

Beringas popobawa approached Ebes who was in a daze and tried to hug him. But when almost managed to hug Ebes, the creature bounced back while screaming furiously because it did not like the pungent aroma of the body of Ebes. Apparently, Ebes' body has been covered in a stinging potion that was in Banga's hands.

Seeing the popobawa bouncing back, Banga also poured the potion he brought towards the creature while reciting a spell. Residents also followed the action of Banga and pelted the creature with something they held earlier.

Popobawa screamed in pain and ran around the field to find new victims who were the Ebes family. But the action of residents who cheered while continuing to throw it with something made the creature panic and in pain. He screamed once more and then vanished without a trace and left only the echo of his screams in the field.

Banga and the citizens fell silent while looking at each other. Meanwhile, Ebes stood with his body shaking while crying sobbing in the company of two men who were loyal to guard him.

" He's gone...!" said one citizen.

" yes. But we can't let our guard down. We need to be vigilant and prepare more ammunition. I'm afraid he'll come back and hurt us later" Banga said.

Banga grabbed the clothes of Ebes scattered on the ground, then asked Ebes to put the clothes back on.

" Let me be the victim and die Banga. I'd like my family to be safe" said Ebes in a trembling voice.

" No need to Bes. The creature will not be able to go anywhere because instead he will return to give up his life later..," said Banga while smiling meaningfully.

Banga's answer made Ebes surprised and happy. Ebes enthusiastically put on his clothes and returned to sit with Banga.

Meanwhile, in the camp, Rex was seen fighting against the popobawa alone. No one realized that while they were reciting the Qur'an, the popobawa came and intended to kidnap Tami's sister.

But the popobawa action was successfully prevented by Rex who was on standby waiting for his arrival.

Popobawa who was present with a body full of wounds was standing observing from under the tree. Rex who saw his presence stood up and walked towards him from the other direction. Rex is deliberately looking for a detour to outwit the creature.

Popobawa smiles to see Sister Tami among them. He was unable to get close to his prey because the aura covering Sister Tami was hot and painful for him. But easily popobawa influenced the mind of sister Tami to make Sister Tami rise from her seat and separate from her friends.

" Where are you Sister...? " ask Elvira while blocking Sister Tami's wrist.

" Want to go to the toilet, peed kebelet..," said Sister Tami while grinning.

" I am with ya..," said Elvira as she got up from her seat.

" No, I'm alone. Just for a moment anyway..," said Sister Tami quickly.

Elvira and Lita looked at each other then nodded. They feel calmer because the toilet is visible from where they sit.

Seeing Sister Tami go into the toilet, popobawa quickly intend to catch up with the woman. But his movements came to a halt as he felt something holding back his wings. Apparently Rex had stuck his dagger into the popobawa wing and tree trunk until the creature was difficult to move.

Popobawa screamed angrily and then attacked Rex violently. Because its wings were fixed on the tree, the creature's movements were limited. And that benefits Rex. He easily threw the camphor powder he prepared into the creature's face, injuring both his eyes and face. A moment later screams of pain rang out in that place.

Everyone stopped the action and turned to the right and left to look for the source of the sound. But when they saw Rex code them to continue their dhikr and teaching activities, they understood.

Popobawa screams slowly subsided and left only a groan of pain. He covered his wounded face with his palm. When she found out Sister Tami came out of the toilet, the creature was riled up. He looked violent and intended to reach out to the woman. But again his intention was hindered because Rex's dagger held him back.

Seeing the creature before him weaken, Rex uses the opportunity to end it all. Rex again grabbed the camphor powder from his pocket and threw it at the creature's int*m organ until screams of pain returned there. His voice was more thunderous than before to make everyone shudder in horror.

After the final scream, the creature disappeared, vanishing without a trace. Apparently the creature returned to the land where the ritual took place.

Banga and all the residents were shocked to see the creature coming back but in a dying condition. Many wounds on his body and Banga knew if the wounds were from Rex and his comrades.

In front of Banga and the citizens, the creature floundered in pain and burned to the ground for no reason.

For a moment the atmosphere on the ground became silent. All were speechless watching the creatures that were terrorizing them burn to death. And a moment later came the cheers of the citizens celebrating the death of the creature.

Banga sighed in relief while smiling satisfied to see the citizens dancing while laughing happily watching the death of the bat demon connoisseur* it.

seriated