Cempaka Bride

The horror is over!

Ivan approached and took a peek. His eyes are perfectly round. Looking to the left and looking at Zein.

Ivan swallowed the saliva to moisten his suddenly dry throat. His hand pointed towards the door.

"Calm, Van. Read the chair verse," whispered Zein.

Ivan nodded and followed Zein's advice. His mouth moved to read the verse of the chair intermittently.

His neck felt very cold. The fine hairs on his hands also stood up. In his heart he tried to control the fear while constantly looking at the door.

Brraaakkk!

Brraaakkk!

Brraaakkk!

There was the sound of objects being knocked to the floor of the terrace. Then the singing voice of a woman was heard.

His pretty melodious voice provoked Zein to get up and stand up. His feet moved forward to the window. Back peeking from the curtain slit.

"That's .. Rima's favorite song," Dinar said as he looked at Triska. His hands stretched out, Triska crawled forward toward him.

"A-I .. often hear this song," Triska said slowly. His hands hugged the Dinar tightly.

"Yes. The inhabitants who used to tell that story too."

They embrace, strengthen each other. Dinar wiped the tears flowing down Triska's cheeks with the tip of her wide headscarf.

"Fight fear. Don't lose!"

Triska nodded while rubbing Dinar's back.

The singing voice stopped. Now it changed with a heart-wrenching cry.

Ivan peeked out of the curtain slit into Zein's arm.

"No look, Bang?"

Zein nodded.

"Where?" ask Ivan again. He was really curious because he couldn't see.

"Near the support pole" Zein replied briefly. His eyes could not see that figure.

From where he stood, the woman's back was faintly visible. Wearing a long champaka or broken white wedding dress dangling to sweep the floor. The hair is curled and decorated with a beautiful head covering.

***

Meanwhile in Ayu's room the atmosphere was still gripping. Ayu and Tia hugged on the bed. Covering their bodies with blankets and crying in fear.

Hasni sat down to bend her knees in the corner of the living room. Covering your face with your right hand. While his left hand squeezes the end of the shirt worn.

Rama sat leaning against the wall of the room. His eyes never left the door. His mouth was unceasingly reciting the verse of the chair and other prayers.

His memory floated on the figure of Rima. Sweet-faced woman who is always friendly to other residents.

The first time she moved into this contract, Rima was the first to invite her to a chat. Without a doubt the twenty-four-year-old girl cheered in while she was cleaning up her luggage which was quite a lot.

"Hi, just moved in, huh?" ask Rima. Her sweet face revealed a small smile. Her petite figure looked agile moving among the pile of cardboard scattered on the floor of the room.

"Yes. Just entered," said Rama while smiling to welcome the arrival of Rima.

"Include me, I'm Rima without jasmine" he said, extending a right hand.

"Our names are similar. I'm Ramadhan. He is called Rama" answered Rama. His hand shook Rima's hand.

"I help you, okay?"

"No need. It could be alone."

"Can't refuse, Mom. Pamali!"

"Yes, deh. It's up to you."

Rima moved quickly to help Rama pack up. Shortly thereafter Dinar and Afni appear. Without hesitation they helped until it was finished. Occasionally throwing jokes that make their laughter break.

Since then the four of them have become more familiar. Often go together everywhere, especially in order to spend time at the end of the week so as not to be sad.

Sometimes Hasni also comes with them when there is free time. His busyness as an area manager at a pharmaceutical company makes him have to travel around often and make official trips to various regions.

Their familiarity remains intertwined until the day of Rima's wedding. Unfortunately, as the marriage neared, Rama was suddenly mutated to Jakarta by the company where he worked.

Rima ushered in Rama's move with tears. Waving his hands until Rama's car disappears from his sight. Then a hiccup on Dinar's shoulder.

Furthermore, their communication remains intense. Rima who considers Rama as her brother is often reminded to maintain health and not forget to attend his wedding.

"Mas, deg-degan here. Two more weeks. Asa fast pisan ya!" rima said as they called.

(Kaya' is fast)

"Cieeeee. Who wants to marry," ledek Rama.

"What the hell, Mas! It's not that nenangin even menggeledek!"

"Hehehe. Ja. Calm. Many prayers. Sleep enough. And timely eating. It's not funny anymore at the wedding but you're sick!"

"Yes, Mas. Ready it! Yes, too, yes. Don't not come. Iwait!"

"Sip," said Rama while disconnecting the phone.

At that time Rama did not expect, the happy day that was very much anticipated Rima instead turned into the day of his death.

Gggrrreeett.

Gggrrreeett.

The sound of clawing at the door shocked Rama. Awakened from his long daydream with a cautious heart.

Gggrrreeett.

Gggrrreeett.

Brraaakkk!

The sound of objects hitting the door makes Rama spontaneously jump backwards. Hasni ran over and squatted down next to her.

They look at each other. Confused about what to do.

Ayu and Tia's cries grew louder. Hugging tightly in the blanket apparently could not drive away the fear in their hearts.

Suddenly a cell phone rang from outside the room. Ayu suddenly remembers that she left her phone in the park.

The relentless drying of the phone apparently distracts Rima. No more clawing or banging objects.

"Your phone, huh?" whispered Tia. Ayu nodded. In his heart he wondered who was contacting him.

Slowly, I opened the blanket that covered my head. His eyes glanced at the round object hanging on the wall. At 23:30 wib, it was nearing mid-night.

"It looks like it's safe outside" he whispered to Tia who replied with a nod.

Slowly they got up while opening the blanket and pushed the thick object to the edge of the bed. Sit up straight while sharpening the ears.

Rama looked over from the parlor door. For a moment their eyes met.

"Have you left?" ask Tia slowly. Rama nodded while standing up. Forward a few steps towards the window and peek out from the curtain slit.

The quiet atmosphere out there made him curious. His hand opened the door. Holding the doorknob with the right hand. Breathe and exhale quickly.

"Bismillah" he said as he opened the door.

Wuuuzzz!

A gust of cold wind gushed down his head that was loosening from the crack of the door. His eyes revolved around looking around, trying to find the whereabouts of the figure that had frightened them.

Krrriieeett.

Rama opened the door wider, taking a step forward. Hasni followed from behind.

Krrriieeett.

There are no sightings there. Ivan crouched down and held the bottom of the pole.

"There's nothing here" he muttered confusedly. His brain was busy crafting piece by piece the strange happenings that had happened here several times.

Ayu walked out of the room while glancing timidly around. Walk slowly towards the park and grab the phone left there.

Triska appeared in front of Zein's room door. Her pretty face looks pale. He looked at Rama, who also looked pias.

"You slept in Ayu's room, Ris, yes" said Rama slowly. He felt sorry for seeing Triska who looked frightened.

"L-yes, Mas" he replied slowly. Slowly he took a few steps forward and crouched down next to Ayu. Grabbing his phone that was left behind.

"Who's phone is sounding?" ask him to Ayu.

"Missile. Dad called. Maybe he suddenly remembered me," Ayu replied slowly.

"I was in your room, huh? Afraid to go back to the room."

"Yes. We gather a rame-rame in the room," Ayu replied as she held onto Triska's hand to stand up.

They stepped together towards Ayu's room. Shortly thereafter Dinar and Afni led by Ivan followed.

"Van, borrow a roll mattress, huh?" pinta Dinars.

Ivan nodded. After driving Afni into Ayu's room, she immediately ran to her room. Shortly thereafter he returned with a rolled mattress.

Without being asked he immediately held the mattress on the floor of Ayu's room and immediately threw himself in the middle of the mattress.

"What are you doing, Van?" asked Dinar with a frowning forehead.

"Go to sleep" replied Ivan with a grin on his face.

"Cowok masa' wants to join the girls? Can't!" hardik Dinar's. His eyes glared at Ivan who was still grimacing.

"Every once in a while, Mother. Males I slept in the room alone."

"Males or scared?" ledek Tia who was still sitting on the bed.

"Both," replied Ivan, scratching the back of his head.

"Udah, you sleep in Ramah. He's wearing a double bed" Dinar said. His hand pulled Ivan's arm and pushed him outside the room with Ayu's help. No matter Ivan was nagging at the door.

"Yes, you can't take a blanket with a pillow, yuk?" invite Dinar who is asserted by Ayu.

The two of them quickly walked out of the room towards Dinar's room located next to Ivan's room. Dare not look across the park which is Rima's former room.

After picking up the blanket and pillow they ran back to Ayu's room. In Triska's room, she had already laid herself on a rolled-up mattress. Afni and Tia were already lying firmly on the bed.

"The lights don't turn off, yeah! I'm scared!" lirih Tia's.

Ayu nodded while laying down next to her. Leaning to the right while looking at Tia who was lying on her back.

It looks like he's asleep. His body tilted to the right facing the wall while hugging the bolster.

"Sir, why is Rima haunting us?" triska asked Dinar who had just come out of the bathroom.

Dinar walked over and sat down next to Triska.

Ayu and Tia get up again and go down to the bottom mattress. The four of them sat cross-legged in a circle.

"I don't know why, Ris. Maybe he felt this was his home for the last two years. So the memory of this place is so imprinted for him" replied Dinar.

His gaze glazed considering the figure of Rima. A close friend who was already considered a sister by her. So too are Afni, Rama and Hasni.

Speak softly love and hold me warm against your heart

I feel your words, the tender trembling moment starts

We're in a world, our very own

Sharing a love that only few have ever known

The voice of the woman singing melodious was heard again from outside the room.

The eyes of the four of them widened. The bodies cling to each other and stick tightly. Our mouths read prayer intermittently.

In Triska's heart she begged that this horror would end soon. The soon!

***

Meanwhile, the men gathered in Rama's room also heard the chanting.

In Ivan's heart he cursed. He should have just insisted on going to sleep in Ayu's room. Carpeting in the living room is also not a problem.

At this time, her girl friends must be scared.

"Damn!" annoyed. His hands were squeezing his hair with emotion.

"I'm going out. Anyone want to come?" rama asked while standing up.

"I'm coming, '" answered Ivan quickly.

Hasni still seems to think. The faces of Rama and Ivan took turns.

Ivan snorted, a little annoyed by Hasni's slow reaction.

His hand moved quickly holding the handle and opening the door, but failed. Many times he tried to keep the door open.

"here. Let me try!" tukas Rama's. Ivan shifted to the side and let Rama try to open the door.

"No, yeah?" mummified Rama. That normally calm face was now beginning to look panicked."Call Zein!" his orders.

Hasni immediately grabbed her phone from the table. Swipe the screen looking for Zein's contact number with a vibrating finger. Pressing the green sign and waiting for Zein to pick up the phone.

From the window of Rama's room that has been half open curtains, Zein can be seen snapping curtains from across it.

"Zein, hurry to Ayu's room. They must be scared!" hasni shouted from behind the window.

"Can't, Bang. My bedroom door is locked. Though it was not locked at all," replied Zein who looked riled.

Hasni turns off the phone and looks at Rama who looks confused.

The singing voice suddenly stopped. Silent. The atmosphere turned silent and gripping.

Four heads peeked out from behind the window. See the hallways and gardens that remain empty.

Suddenly the porch lights of the motor parking lot in front of Rama's room flickered and then went out. Followed by some lights in the hallway. Instantly dark. Only the light from each room is visible.

Ivan's mouth began to issue an oath of absorbency while hitting the wall many times. Feet jerked to the floor.

"We broke the window" said Rama as he ran to the kitchen and came back with a hammer.

Ivan immediately retreated and let Rama smash the hammer into the window.

Ppvraanngg!

Ppvraanngg!

The glass splits out of the room. Bang Hasni threw a thick blanket on the window sills so they could get out unharmed.

Ivan jumped outside first. Rama followed behind him.

"Be careful stepping," said Ivan. He immediately put on his sandals in front of Rama's room and ran towards Ayu's room.

Rama ran towards Zein's room and immediately broke the glass. Only Hasni remained silent in place. Her hair stood up straight. Step back two steps from the window as he saw a figure passing behind Rama. He screamed, but his mouth was locked. His feet were stuck to the floor. Cold sweat was pouring from his head.

"Revelation!" zein shouted as he jumped out the window and pushed Rama's body to the left side.

Rama restrains his body from losing balance by holding on to the edge of the window.

Looking at Zein with fisting eyes. Slowly his right hand touched his heavy shoulder.

Zein stared unblinkingly at the faint shadow standing behind Rama.

The female figure stood sideways. Then suddenly disappeared. Disappeared without a trace.