Short Story (Cerpen)

Five Islands

Category: Fiction Fantasy Short stories

Title: Five Islands

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Jaka wiped the sweat-tinged hairs on his forehead while sitting under one of the towering Mushroom Rock around the top of Brahma. Rock Mushroom is a volcanic rock created from lava that gushes from cracks in the mountain's skin. The burst froze for a moment after reaching the peak of its burst. Brahma's environment is so cold, that hot lava will soon freeze due to the drastic temperature difference, and then create the topography of Brahma which is famous amazing.

“Jaka..!”, a voice that Jaka was very familiar with (because that voice that kept bothering Jaka's ears during this trip) called out his name.

Jaka stand.

“Here..!”, he shouted loudly. Presumably sitting for a few minutes has refreshed the energy that was drained during the climb.

Artha, Jaka's brother and photographer seemed to be panting towards the place where he was sitting.

The pigtail-haired girl removed the MPC (Multi-Picture-Capturer, a camera-like device integrated into the eye nerves, and worked with the body's natural reflexes) from her left eye and sat down beside Jaka.

Artha looked up, staring at the 30-meter-diameter Rock Mushroom umbrella. Umbrella mushroom-shaped volcanic rocks are really useful for climbers of their kind.

“How many pictures?”, asked Jaka while offering a bottle of water.

Artha did not immediately reply, her mouth was still busy gulping down half the water bottle that Jaka gave her.

“umm..

Probably about 600 pictures..

My MPC memory lives 75 terabytes like.”, replied Artha as she wiped the water that was lying on her lips.

Jaka stand. His hand grabbed the backpack and took out an ordinary Binoculars from there. From behind the distance-measuring binoculars, Jaka's eyes observed the peaks of Brahma's shoulders, which continued to reflect gray smoke.

“Still far?”, asked Artha who was already standing next to him.

“Yahh..

I think it's far enough for us to spend a few more bottles of water.”.

***

Narada woke up from his bed gasping and the sweat soaked his entire body.

Soon low-frequency sounds similar to radio transmissions filled his ears.

“K-Keris Garudayana.!”, his blackened dry lips appear kamit kamat. His face was covered in an expression of anxiety.

The old man immediately surged from his bed as he was stung by the electricity.

Black robes were grabbed. He hurriedly ran out of the house - or hut - which lay behind the Brahma mountain, hidden among the wilderness of rocks.

With a breath left Narada whistled loudly. The call was then answered with a terrible flutter and shrill from above the sky. The next second a wolf and bat-shaped creature landed gracefully beside him.

“Antar me to kepundan.”.

***

“Jaka..

“Hey, why protest now? We've come this far. Do you want to give up?”, then,

“Iya. But..

I feel a bad feeling about this.”.

Jaka speechless. He knew he couldn't underestimate Artha's premonition. Her experience taught her that it was her sister's premonition that often saved her from danger.

“You sure, Ar?”, asked Jaka. Trying to convince Artha. It's more like calming yourself.

“Yakin, Jaka..”, Artha added. Staring at Jaka's green eyes, trying to convince her brother, although she herself did not know exactly what was waiting at the top there.

Jaka looked at the top of Brahma who lived a few hundred feet according to him. Feeling affection if the journey is nearing the end of this must be canceled. Much has been betted to reveal the ultimate sacralism of Brahma. Yet as far as he has investigated, Brahma has considerable endogenous energy, namely volcanic energy from the lava thrust of Mount Brahma. However, it has been rooted for too long in the minds of the inhabitants of Eastern Java, that the peak of Brahma is a winingit place. The place of the gods. No one has access to that place. Whosoever. For whatever reason.

“Aaaahh.!”, Artha's shrill voice hit behind Jaka's head. Jaka looked back.

Artha pointed to the sky with an odd expression. His eyes were implying horror.

Jaka's eyes immediately chased in the direction Artha had pointed. Her fur suddenly brushed. Her eyes widened.

A figure of old grandfather stared intently at them with blood red eyes. He rode a wolf that seemed to have bat wings on its front legs.

Jaka's hand grabs Artha's hand reflexively.

Artha was shocked because Jaka suddenly pulled with unusual energy.

Artha felt the grip on her arm strengthen, and for whatever reason, Jaka instead pulled Artha towards the top.

“kak Jaka's..!

Brother why?!”, asked Artha in panic.

Jaka did not answer. Artha looked at Jaka in horror. Jaka's aura was different from usual, and Artha almost cried because of the dark aura.

“Back, Young man!”, shouted the parents who confronted them. The old man swiftly caught up with Artha and Jaka as fast as lightning.

Jaka budging. Not caring for both the screams of the old man who was chasing him or the panic of his younger brother who was about to cry behind him.

Brahma peak stayed a few meters, Jaka suddenly stopped. He looked back.

Artha fell. He just realized Jaka's right eye had turned red. Patterns similar to small black flames also began to adorn his right face.

Jaka's index finger slowly lifted towards the old man.

And without control from his rider, the wolves landed in front of Jaka. Respecting Jaka by bending one of his front legs.

The wild action made the rider fall in front of Jaka.

“How dare you, Narada.”, said Jaka Parau, his voice suddenly dropped by several octaves and became heavy.

“Low-down men like you want to prevent me from Garudayana?”.

Narada. His eyes were familiar with the aura he had seen three and a half centuries ago.

“Sat-Satya Gatotkaca.?”.