Light 1: Sandekala

Dusk End of Summer

We left the forest. Back across the river to Shanty's house. They must have been astonished to see me walking so seriously and so fast.

"Dane, wait!" sahut Shanty's.

The three of them immediately ran after me.

"Dane, what happened to you?" ask Siman.

I stopped the step. Turn around looking at their faces.

"Man .. This is the time. I'll tell you all my problems all this time. Tell me why I need your help" I said.

Siman flinching.

Shanty and Iza are still confused by my attitude.

"But I want to talk about all this with your grandmother, Shanty," I said, staring at Shanty's face.

We're heading to Shanty's house. As Shanty was about to open the door of his house, his grandmother appeared from inside. He smiled at me as if he knew the meaning of my arrival.

"Come in."

Me, Siman, and Iza were sitting on long wooden chairs while Shanty was half sitting next to the rocking chair his grandmother had occupied.

"Sir, Danny wants to talk" said Shanty.

Her grandmother just smiled as a beard. Then the grandmother looked at me. Staring into my eyes fixedly.

"What's up, son?" tanyakanya.

"Look, Grandma .. A few weeks ago I used to dream a lot." I took a breath before continuing. "In my dream, I saw a village In that village in my dream, I saw all my brothers. But I wonder, why are they all including me each carrying a sharp weapon? Then I dreamt of a forest. The forest was black and in the forest I met a girl. Girl with red hair. I couldn't recognize his face. But I'm sure the girl came from a village in my dream because I've seen the girl in the middle of my brothers who are also in that village. I wasn't just dreaming about them all. I also dream of a creature that is most feared by children in every village. I dreamt of Sandekala ...."

They were all stunned in wonder. Only the grandmother looked from earlier with a calm face.

"When I dreamed about it, I often saw the appearance of the creature. On the street, at school, at home. And what scared me the most was when I saw him on a banyan tree in the middle of a vegetable field in the Andechala mountains there" I said. "You two have also seen me under that banyan tree and you must be wondering what's wrong with me because I'm not moving under that tree, right?" I asked Iza and Siman.

They nodded but not a word was said. They want to hear my story again. "When I want to go back upstairs. Towards you. I suddenly couldn't move. It was as if the creature had bound me, hugged me, ensnared me, and would not let me go again. I don't understand why that thing keeps bothering me. Dismantle my life. What does he want from me?"

Shanty kept looking at me. I don't know what expression he had on his face. I could no longer distinguish faces between confusion, wonder, and anxiety.

"According to a paranormal friend of my cousin, I had to find the village and the red-haired girl in my dreams so I could figure out the answer to why the creature kept bothering me."

Grandma was still watching me. Listening to my story. His face that had calmed down earlier now began to stiffen. Sharp eyes. The wrinkles on his face looked stiff.

"From a site on the internet that I have read, it is explained that the village called Nekalah is the most visited village by Sandekala. It made me believe that the village in my dream was called Nekala.

"Over the past week, I've been with my cousin looking for twelve villages called Nekala all over Vereyon. Of the twelve villages, we only found eleven. And in the eleven villages there was not a single red-haired girl I was looking for.

"The plan this afternoon is that my cousin and I will search for the last Nekala village. But, just as we were relaxing in the forest, I realized everything. The last Nekala village was here. This village is Nekala village ....

"What I want to ask Grandma is, about the red-haired girl. Where is he?" I was sure that the girl was in this village.

The grandmother was silent for a long time until she finally said, "He's dead. The girl you were looking for died eleven years ago."

I was really surprised not to play. I want to ask her various things. But maybe my question won't do me any good because the girl I wanted to ask for answers is dead.

"Sir, has there ever been a red-haired girl here?" ask Shanty.

"Yes. Not eleven years ago. But, 40 years ago. When the girl was your age" replied her grandmother.

It even surprised me more. It turns out that all this time I dreamed of a girl from the past.

"What's his name?" ask Shanty.

"Shenty."

"Mother?" wonder Shanty.

"Yes. Your mother is the red-haired girl" said her grandmother.

Enough of my surprise. Now I can't expect anything more.

"If this is what should I do?" many confused. "Can Grandma help me?" I looked at him with a desperate face. "I don't want that thing bothering me anymore, Grandma."

"I can't help you, son. Only you can. You have to face your fears. You need to talk to the person who's been bothering you all this time."

"But .. I .. I'm scared, Grandma. He said the creature could get out of his world and into our world so he could touch us. That means Sandekala can hurt people. What if he kills me?"

"Look, kid .." said the grandmother heavily. "If he's been showing himself to you all along. Then he wants something from you. Or ..."

"Or what, Grandma?" my many.

"Or he wants something that belongs to him to be returned by you."

"But what, Grandma? The psychic I met, said that this part of my soul is not mine. There's a part of my evil soul that belongs to that thing."

"You should see him, son. Meet them. This twilight they will definitely come to this village."

"Do I have to see them alone?"

"One can see the creature is only children, age 20 years and under or certain people only. Almost all the old people in this village could not see the creature. But they believe in its existence. You could be accompanied by someone else. But by whom? After all, if you take someone else with you, you'll only harm him" the grandmother said.

I clutched my hair with both hands.

Fearful.

Baffled.

Uneasily.

Worrying.

I feel everything now.

I never felt this way.

I could have run.

Run away from the problems I should be facing.

But, if I keep running, that thing will bother me even more. It makes my life more uneasy.

"I will accompany you, Dane," said Siman.

"Me too!" sergeant Shanty.

"Yes, Dane. If we face them together, we will not be afraid. I will also accompany you" said Iza.

"You ...."

For a moment I felt overwhelmed to hear it. So many people are willing to help me. But I am alone ....

When Siman was sick, I didn't even get to see him.

When Iza was sad when her parents left, I couldn't even comfort her.

When my other brothers had problems I never helped them.

I feel ashamed of myself.

"Thank you for keeping me company. But ... better not. I don't want you guys to be wretched," I said as I lowered my face.

For one time, I felt unworthy and ashamed to receive help from them. Although, I need it most.

Silent moment.

I know they think I'm selfish. Although I need their help, but I don't want them to get hurt.

"Grandma, do you mind if I accompany Danny?" ask Shanty.

Wiggling his chair, he said, "Do what you want to do."

I'm looking. "Aren't you worried that she's hurt?"

"Worrying will only make your life more restless" he replied.

"But Grandma said that if I took someone with me, it would only hurt her?"

"Yes, that's right. Now the question is, is the person who accompanies you ready or not for all the possibilities that occur when dealing with the creature?"

The grandmother looked at our faces one by one.

There seemed to be some doubt on Iza's face, but she immediately brushed it off.

"I'm ready! Even if what happens with you I dare to face it" said Iza.

"You want to be with us?" ask Shanty.

I faintly saw Shanty smiling faintly at me. Maybe they all seem to think my problem is just a small one. But I saw the seriousness of the three of them.

I don't want to look like a selfish person. I finally nodded.

"Can Grandma see that thing?" my many.

"sure."

"Will Grandma help us if anything happens?"

"Only from behind. If I accompany you, it will only harm you. They don't like adults. They like children very much. Whether it is in the positive or negative. They'll only kill you if they have to" he said. "Shanty, please bring me the black square box in the room."

It was taken and given to his grandmother.

He opened the black box. There was something like a knife in it. The length is about 30 cm with a width of 4 cm. The shape is very unique. The handle is in the form of carvings with decorated with colorful natural stones.

"What's that?" ask Shanty.

"This is a weapon of victory. His name is Evilis Naifu which means devil knife. This is the weapon used to wipe the Sandekalas off the face of the earth" replied his grandmother. "Bring this up, Shanty. It will protect you all. If the creature is about to injure you, just stick this Evilis Naifu on the creature. With a single puncture, the creature could be wiped out instantly."

Grandma gave Shanty her gun.

"Where did Grandma get this gun?" shanty asked curiously.

"That's your mother's gun that your grandfather made."

"Mother's?" wonder Shanty.

"Have I told you yet?"

"What story?"

"Before, when me or your mother was your age, ever fought against them. The Sandekala."

"What?!" shock Shanty.

"Yes. Your mother and I once fought desperately to defeat them all just for one purpose. Saving the children from them. Eliminate all children's fears because of their existence."

The grandmother rubbed her wand.

"Our family is destined to fight them and save the lives of children. For generations our family has tried to exterminate the Sandekalas of this world. Our world should be ours. Not theirs. Using that weapon, your mother defeated thousands of Sandekalas."

"REally?!"

"Shanty, use the weapon as best you can. Protect your friends and those you care about. And ... don't die because of that thing."

Even if her grandmother's words sound strange. But Shanty did. The words of her grandmother made me even more convinced that Sandekala was not a supernatural being who came just to scare me. There's another reason.

"They came in the time of the mountaintop," said his grandmother.

"What's that?"

"About five o'clock in the afternoon. But usually they come early" Shanty said.

I saw my watch. At 15:00.

Shanty and Siman return to talk about Sandekala and Evilis Naifu.

Iza played her phone, dialed a number. It seems like trying to contact someone. But no one answered him from that moment.

While I sat still while occasionally looking at my watch. I saw that grandma staring at my face. And I smile back every time I smile at her.

"Your face reminds me of someone" he said. "16 years ago a pair of foreigners came here. Your face looks like them."

I'm just smiling.

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot. There was a young man this afternoon and he asked about the red-haired girl."

Ian's!

I forgot that I had an appointment with him. Now he must be at Teny's.

We've been at Shanty's house long enough. From outside the house there was a faint cry from the citizens. The old men shouted to mention a name. Not the name of their child. But the name of the figure that has been a scourge for children.

"Sandekalah! Sandekalah! The children quickly entered the house!"

Maybe the parents do not know how the form of Sandekala itself. But they are sure of its existence. Although some parents can't see, they know, their children can see it. And it makes them worried if children are kidnapped let alone injured by the creature.

"This is the time" said Shanty's grandmother.

We all get out of the house. Spreading eyes on the houses with the doors closed.

The village looks dead.

Silent.

No low noise of children playing. Parents locked themselves in their homes. Keeping and hiding their children in arms for only a few hours.

Hitoshi Sakimoto A Small Happiness. There's an SMS coming into Iza's phone.

"Dane, my brother sent me a message. Ask about our existence. Ronny's wedding is over. And now they're all going home. What do I have to pay?" ask Iza.

"Fanze?! Where is he?!" many surprised.

We completely forgot about it.

"Quiet, Dane! Za! Maybe he's in one of the people's houses. Let's go find it!" sergeant Shanty. "We went to the houses one by one. We split two groups. Me and Siman are going east and you're both going west. C'mon fast! Mumpung Sandekala has not yet come down to the village!"

"Za! Sms brother. We're in Nekala village. Please pick us up here."

Iza typed it up and texted her brother while we searched for Fanze.

Iza and I were looking for the western village. It was a road leading to the forest. One by one the door of our people's house was knocked but there was no Fanze there.

From a distance, I saw residents crowding inside the village office. We were curious to try to rush into the crowd to see what was there. We found a village officer talking to a crying child. The boy who invited Fanze to play earlier.

"Son, where are your friends?" ask the village officer.

"Ta-tadi on the river ...," he replied as he pleased.

"Why did you come home alone?" ask the officer again.

"There are rivers. I-they took Se-sely and Rudy."

I approached him.

"Son, where's Fanze?" my many.

"On the river ...."

Suddenly Iza ran out.

"Za! Za! Where are you going?! Wait for me!" I shouted to call him.

He ran towards the direction of the river where we last saw Fanze.

I chased.

"Za! Wait!"

He went down the dirt to the river.

"Fance! The fanze! Where are you?!" his yell.

I caught up with Iza.

"Dane, where's Fanze?" tanyanya panic.

I've never seen Iza as sweet and worried about Fanze.

In the river we did not see Fanze.

Then from upstream of the creek, we found a little boy running towards us.

"Son, have you seen Fanze?" ask her.

She cried. Seems very frightened. He didn't answer my question. Just pointing upstream. Then the boy ran to his house.

I saw, right across the river, the sun was at the top of the western mountains. And the once green, bright, and beautiful forest slowly turned as dark as night.