Shrubland

Episodes. 13

"For now we're safe up here. Here I see your arms."

Aries notices jhenta's arm wound. Tear his shirt a little to bandage the wound in jhenta's arm.

"Tomorrow we find another way out. Tonight is too dangerous if we continue. That thing could have appeared from anywhere. He's connected to that tree" Aries said

"Is there no way to remove the tree? "Ask jhenta.

"Nothing. I've tried to cut it. Free. The trunk didn't scratch at all. I cut the roots free too, grow again". Aries is clear

"How should we go? "

"You rest first, I'll climb higher, maybe that exit will be visible". Aries.

Tonight they hid in one of the shady trees there. The tree has a large branch with roots dangling to the ground so it is easy to climb. They rose a little bit high from the ground range. It is dangerous to roam at night. Aside from the danger from the tree, wild animals and other creatures also roam down below.

The sound of the night animal's screams was actually heard clearly from the top of the tree. The howls and roars of the night creatures sounded so clear. Jhenta leaned her body against the tree. Her tears slowly rolled down her cheeks. Those horrible memories flashed back in his mind.

Everything was fine before they got into the bush. Everything is so beautiful, friendship, love, jokes and laughter. It all feels like a dream. It feels like to quickly wake up from this dream and everything returns to normal as usual. All of this is so suddenly like a story. All the cries of pain, horror and events that happened really shook jhenta's heart and mind.

"Not anything from up there. It is impossible that the road is not visible at all. I've been studying this place for years". Said Aries while sitting next to Jhenta.

Jhenta wiped her tears. Return to focusing his mind. Looks like something's been missed. Jhenta tried to recall all the events from beginning to end. It's something that baffles his mind.

"Riss. Try to remember, you guys used to come here on your own or someone jumped? Strange shadows or something?" ask jhenta.

Aries tries to recall memories from a few years ago. Repeating memories that have passed.

"I used to come here because my friend said I see something weird in the back of the dorm every night of the full moon. So we were curious.. Want to find out more". Aries said as he remembered.

"Yes..! I came here because of that shadow. Maybe our way out is simple. If indeed the tree displays an illusion that looks real every night when the full moon shines. It could be that our way out is towards the shadow of the tree on the night of the full moon" said Jhenta

"Can be. May it be a full night tomorrow. Tonight we spend the night here first. Tomorrow morning we find a safe place around the tree" explained Aries.

"OK! "

Jhenta and Aries decided to sleep on top of that big tree tonight. For a while the tree was the safest to avoid danger down there.

*****

The sun should have appeared. Jhenta watches already show at 09.00 wib. Why the sun has not yet appeared. It's still so pitch-black. Even the howls of the night animals were still heard. Jhenta tried to wake aries.

"Riss.. Wake up. Something's weird. "Jhenta chaps

Aries opens his eyes slowly. Removing himself from his sleep. He looked around and got up from his seat.

"What's jhen? Still night.. "Aries.

"It's not night, it's morning. It's 9 ris, but it's still dark? ". Jhenta

"What?!.. Lick..! ". Shouted aries in shock.

Aries immediately climbed higher up the tree. A few moments later he came down to Jhenta immediately.

"We're not safe here. Let's get back to the tree I lived in yesterday. Chivy".

Aries immediately invites jhenta to leave the tree where they slept last night. Jhenta was confused as to what was going on, but perhaps Aries had his own reasons for being so sweet. Jhenta followed the aries and immediately ran after the steps of the aries.

"Why is ris? "Ask jhenta

"Let's be clear, anyway we have to go to that place immediately. It's the safest place right now" explained Aries briefly.

Jhenta followed aries' lead. They run so fast. Aries lead the way.

"Krindik.....!!!! Kraa!!! "

They paused for a moment, the sound of it sounding like a tree crack. Their hearts are beating so fast. Jhenta reverses. See where the sound came from.

"Run jhen. Whatever happens!! We should run as fast as we can".

Jhenta was stunned for a moment to hear Aries saying. He was still wondering where the voice came from.

"SRAAAAKK....!!!! "

Another strange sound was heard.

Aries immediately grabbed jhenta's hand. Jhenta was still unaware of what was really going on. He just followed the aries. Aries is running so fast. It seems like the situation is really bad. Aries' face looked so tense and frightened, but Jhenta still did not dare to ask.

"Ouch!!!!!! " jhenta shouted at something.

Aries stops suddenly and turns around to see what happens.

"you guys? " ask aries.

Intan and Ade were already standing in front of jhenta and aries. They passed by accidentally. Intan and Ade looked as panicked as the two of them.

"Bhuuum.... Kraa!kkk!!! "

The sound really surprised them. Their constriction was directly fixed on the direction of the voice. That voice sounded very close.

They're stunned. Their eyes were fixed on the trees behind them that were moving with vigorous branches and leaves.

"Run...!!!! Run...!!!!!".

Aries' screams spread their daydreams. They spontaneously ran after aries. They ran as fast as they could.

"Run as you can..!! Don't look back!" aries.

They kept running without looking back. Strange sounds began to sound like the sound of broken branches, fallen trees and the sound of noise.

Their eyes are very limited. It was a dark day like night.

In their minds they just had to run for their lives.

"Oh..!!! "

They stopped hearing that scream. Intan fell down. Looks like his foot tripped over the root.

"Sheeekk...!!!"

Suddenly the diamond body was dragged back slowly and then stopped. They were stunned for a moment. Observe what's happening. Intan himself was also confused as to why he was dragged backward by himself.

"What was that? "Ask jhenta.

"No idea. But my gut feeling is bad. "Ade jawab

"Riss? "Ask aries to the silent aries.

"You better wake up!" said aries

Intan is trying to get up. But something's weird. His feet cannot be moved. Intan turned her body to see what happened to her legs.

"Sreeek!!!! "

"PLEASE...!!!!!!! "

His body suddenly dragged quickly. They immediately hunted the diamond's body. Ade pulled and held the diamond body as hard as he could.

"Run jhen! He can't help us! "Aries's chat attracted jhenta's hands.

Jhenta was silent to see the situation. Intan was crying loudly. The look on his face was so pale with fear and he was still trying to hold the diamond so as not to be interested further.

"Youto!!! " aries' screams startled jhenta

"What ris?? "Ask jhenta

"Let's run!! " saying aries

"But diamond? "

"Why do you still think of him. He can't help us anymore" explained Aries.

"But he needs ris's help! "

"Have you forgotten how he treated you? Same with you guys? Let her get her reply!" furious aries.

Jhenta was silent for a moment looking at the scene that completely shook her faith and mind.

"Jhen!!! Please jhen..! I am not strong anymore..! Please jhen! " pinta ade memelas.