Climbing Trail

The Tragedy of Mount Dempo Part 9

Among the moans of the creature, I heard clearly the voice of my Father who commanded me to flee.

"GO SON! GO!! SAVE YOURSELF!!RUN!"

The bodies with their hands clawing at the air had now reached the wooden stairs. In panic I shifted

my sudden butt could be moved while frantically, my legs kicking them.

"GO!! GO!! TOLOOO0ONG!!"

But no matter how I tried those bodies kept pushing up. Those cold, pale hands were tugging at my feet. I'm getting hysterical. Then from a distance I heard the sound of the cries of Bang and Anes who were calling my name.

"BANG IDAAAAAAANNNN!! TOL00ONG!"

It was my last hysterical scream before my throat was choked again. My heart felt loose, my eyes widened in horror. The door of the cottage has opened!! The screams of Bang and Anes woke me up. Do I

passed out? Why did I faint? My body immediately twitched in thought of the dozens of pale hands that reached me and the open door of the cottage. I panicked and hysterically shook off the empty air. Then relief hugged me realizing the bodies were gone. The relief changed in horror as my consciousness recovered. I was no longer sitting at the lodge-bale, but was sitting at the root of a large tree on the edge of the ravine. The roots I sat on dangled over a cliff that jutted over a gaping gorge.

My body trembled as I looked down. A thick white mist covered the bottom of this ravine.

I looked up, Bang and Anes looked carefully down the cliff to help me. On top of that I saw other friends Bang Amran, Ale and Yuni. I came back crying from fear while calling out Bang.

"Baaang, why am I here, Bang?"

Bang Idan while still moving down replied to calm me down, "Silent Deck. Don't freak. Don't you move."

"Baang, help me, Bang. I'm scared, Bang."

I cried sobbing. The cliff that was too steep stopped the descent of Bang Idan and Anes. While I still dare not move at all.

"Now try to stand up and hold on to that hanging root." Back Bang and give orders. With trembling legs, I ventured to move as slowly as possible. I gulped as I glanced down, the abyss as if calling out to me. A little bit of my body will be thrown there.

"Continue, Deck. You put your foot on that root, and then hold it on this root." Continue Bang and again, but his voice sounded tense.

"Continue, Pin. Slow down." I heard Anes' voice as tense as Bang's.

I could not see the expressions of the two of them as I focused on finding the root grip on this cliff. My breath was running out and

my muscles are tired from fear and tension.

The cold wind blowing from the abyss earlier made my body tremble with coldness. Then my goal was to hear voices from the depths of the abyss. My body stiffened again, wishing I had just misheard. I looked at the abyss, there was nothing, only a thick mist moving in the wind.

"De, don't stop. Keep moving!" Bang's voice dawned on me.

But just about to make a move, the voices appeared again.

". Alpiiiin, tolooo.. .. Alpin, don't leave us, Alpiin.."

My palms are wet, my fingers are shaking violently. The voices of help and heart-wrenching were heard getting closer.

"Bang ldan, please bang. I fear. There are voices calling me, Bang." I started sobbing again.

"Get on, Deck. Don't you listen to that, let's hurry!" Bang Idan's voice was tense. Anes and the other friends were also screaming for me to quickly board.

"Don't you get that! Come on quick, deck!" Bang and keep yelling at me.

Once again I took a deep breath and began to hold on to the roots just as Bang had commanded. From above, the hands of Bang Idan and Anes also tried to reach me.

"Continue, Deck. A little more." Bang ldan gave me spirit.

My hand held firmly to the roots sticking out of the cliff, my left foot resting on a small root while my right foot twitched in search of a foothold. Below, the voices of help were heard getting closer and closer.

One move, and then Bang's hand and my right hand. Anes deftly helped pull my left hand when suddenly, I felt cold hands touching my calf. I looked in horror at the dozens of hands emerging from the fog and flailing and pulling at me.

". Alpiin, come with us, Alpiin...."

".Alpiins, alpiiins."

"CHILDREN, PLEASE BAAANG." I went back hysterically.

Those hands are getting stronger pulling me down.

"NES, PLEASE, NES!! I DON'T WANT TO DIE, NES!! PADAAAK TOLOO0ONGS!"

Those cold hands rose steadily and pulled my thighs and clothes.

"Get hold on Brother's hand, Deck! Don't let go! Don't look down!" Bang Idan was screaming in panic this time.

Those cold hands are getting stronger pulling my legs. I cried as I cried out for help.

As much as I could shake my legs, kicking here and there wildly trying to break free. But the cold hands were sticky and I could not let go.

"BANNNG, HELP ME, BAAAANG!"

"DON'T LET GO OF BROTHER'S HAND, DECK! KEEP CLIMBING! DON'T LOOK DOWN!" Shouted Bang ldan.

Then came the voice I knew from below. It was the voice of Bang Idan as well.

"DON'T BELIEVE IT, DECK! RELEASE HANDS! HURRY, DEK!!

My eyes widened when, looking down, the hands that pulled my hands were the hands of Bang and Anes, Ale and other friends. I was surprised, which one is right? From above again there was a cry of Bang.

"DON'T YOU LISTEN, DECK! JUST LISTEN TO YOUR BROTHER'S VOICE DON'T HEAR THE OTHERS!"

I almost died of fright when I saw the origin of the voice just now. The original above is Bang and Anes, now changed. The one holding my right hand was the Grandfather of the lodge, while my left hand was held by the black-faced Grandma with full-length hair.

Panicking and hysterically I rebelled in fear, trying to get my hand off the two creatures' grip. I was getting more and more frightened when from above them, another big black hairy creature appeared, came and took my hand. I was screaming hysterically.

"AFTERBURN!!! HOWL!! TOLOO0ONGGG!"

The three creatures laughed horribly, while pulling my body up.

-tbc