SUKMA: The Deal With the Devil

Fear Sere

Sere's mother pulled out her daughter's blanket. However, the reaction given by Sere was very unexpected. The little girl tugged at the blanket as hard as she could while screaming in fear.

"Go! Go! Don't eat me! Don't eat me!" screeched Sere with closed eyes.

"Sere, it's Mama, honey," her mother said as she patted Sere's body.

"lik! You're not my mama!"

Sere's mother pulled out her daughter's blanket. Sere's cry grew deafening, his eyes still closed. Her mother shook Sere's body, until her eyes opened.

"Mama? Is this really Mama?" asked Sere with enlarged eyes.

"This is Mama, honey. What do you think this Mama is?"

Sere immediately hugged his mother's body, then cried bitterly. It was still warm in his memory of the monstrous figure of long hair and dreadlocks prodding the edge of the mattress while pulling on the blanket. Sere was scared to death, to the point of running into the corner of the room. No one heard her screams last night. Sere who was trembling, could only hide behind the study table until the figure was completely gone.

Now, Sere wants to stay with his mother. If not, then he will tremble again because of disturbed creatures that should not be seen. Even if there were a lot of maids in his house, they couldn't do much. The distance from her room to the maid's room was very far.

"Sere, Mama wants to go to work first, yeah. If you are still afraid, under the same aunty maid," said her mother rubbed Sere's head.

"No. I don't want to, Ma. The ghosts will continue to bother me. My aunt couldn't help me either. They were busy cleaning the house," Sere whined hugged his mother's body tighter and tighter.

"Sere, Mama has to work, honey. It won't take long. Later in the afternoon Mama also came home," persuaded his mother.

"No way, Ma. Don't want to!"

Feeling annoyed that her daughter was unwilling to let go of her embrace, the woman called one of the maids. Shortly after, a hooded woman of Bu Inah's age came panting. Bowing his back slightly, he faced his master respectfully.

"What's up, Madam?" ask the woman who is usually called Bi Esih.

"Please take good care of Sere, yes. I can't leave work at the office" said Sere's mother.

"Okay, Madam."

"Mama! I don't want to! Mama don't stay with me! I'm scared!" jerrit Sere's.

Sere's mother is flinching. He tried to let go of his son's indentation, especially when receiving calls from clients. Bi Esih pulled Sere's body as hard as she could, until she was separated from her mother.

Without much regard for her daughter's cries, Sere's mother breezed out of the room, then rushed down the stairs. Sere, who was still sad and frightened, cried. Bi Esih continued to persuade Sere to understand the situation of his parents who were busy working. The little girl did not understand. In his mind, both parents are just busy working without caring about the circumstances he is experiencing.

Bi Esih then took Sere down from his room. The little girl kept her head down, afraid that the creepy creatures might bother her again. While having a bit of fun, he entered the dining room with Bi Esih. While waiting for Bi Esih to bring her breakfast, Sere slowly raised his head and spread his gaze to all corners of the room. There's nothing there. His heart was quite relieved, considering that nothing else bothered him when morning came. Only Bi Esih had brought him breakfast.

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When he breaks up school, Sukma is persuaded by Ami and Kezia to play to Sere's house. Sukma did not want to rush to agree, because he had only briefly lived in Padalarang and did not know many roads to his friend's house or directions to the contract. Nevertheless, Kezia did not want to give up, considering that Sere must not be okay today. He who always plays to the house of Sere knows that his friend was always left by his parents to work and only accompanied by servants.

While heading to the exit gate, Sukma asked Bu Inah to drive him to play to Sere's house. Ms. Inah did not agree, because both did not know where her house and the direction of the road to the contract. Kezia's mother was willing to show Bu Inah the way, because his house was not so far from Sere's house. In addition, he also thinks that not only his daughter who experienced strange events, but Sere as well. As a result of Sukma opening his inner eyes, Sere fainted until moody when roaring.

Long enough Bu Inah thought, then looked at Sukma fixedly. "Are you really going to Sere's house?"

"Why do you ask again? I want to play to Sere's house, Mom," Sukma said.

Bu Inah looked back at Kezia's mother, then nodded. "Alright, then let's go to Sere's house."

Kezia's mother happily escorts Bu Inah and Sukma to meet Sere, while Ami and her mother do not join because of business. Kezia's mother told him that Sere often left behind by his parents to work. Sometimes, her mother had already left before Sere woke up. Sere is often picked up by his personal driver. Even if he does not want to be picked up by the driver, Sere sometimes walks with Kezia and Ami.

Hearing the words of Kezia's mother, Bu Inah felt sorry for the little girl. His heart was filled to imagine how sad Sere was when his parents left him to go to work. Occasionally Bu Inah looked at Sukma while occasionally rubbing his head. His chest felt tight when he remembered the incident six years ago. Sukma, who was a red baby at the time, looked so sad in Mr. Risman's arms. So no wonder if Bu Inah loves Sukma as much as his biological son, Atikah. As a mother, she felt responsible for taking care of the children.

Upon arrival at Sere's house, Bu Inah and Sukma were amazed. The little girl's residence was so big and luxurious, just like Hilman's house. A security guard who knew the arrival of mothers and their children, immediately approached them.

"Sorry, who are you, huh?" ask the security guard.

"I'm Kezia's mother, Sere's friend. Sere exists?" his mother Kezia said.

"There was. Come on, please come in!"

After the security guards opened the gate, they entered the courtyard of Sere's mansion which was so spacious. Far enough to walk to his house, to make Sukma a little tired. When he went inside, Bu Inah and Sukma were amazed to see the luxurious antique decorations of the mansion.

"Mom, Sere's house is bigger than Om Hilman's, yes," said Sukma.

"Yes. The assistant is a lot," said Bu Inah while circulating his gaze to the entire room. Incidentally, the maids there were busy cleaning the house.

Shortly after, Bi Esih came to them. With a faint smile, he greeted the guests while offering a drink.

"Not bother, Bi. We only came here for a moment, just wanted to see Sere aja," said Kezia's mother.

"Oh, yes. Neng Sere was again in the backyard. I will call," said Bi Esih with condolences.

"No need, Bi. Let us go there" said Kezia's mother.

Another Kezia, another Sukma. Although still awkward to visit a friend's house he just knew yesterday, he tried to accelerate his steps to reach Sere. Sukma noticed the presence of a long-haired creature swimming in the pond, approaching Sere. His hand was already stretched forward, as if it wanted to pull Sere into the pool.

"There! Get out of there!" yell Sukma warned.

"What's that about?" ask Sere with a frown.

"That! There is ... there is it! Go quickly Sere!" sukma was getting panicked.

Sukma had not been able to help Sere, the little girl fell into the pool. Even with Kezia who held his shoulder since earlier. Sukma could only be stunned to see the creature in the water dragging Sere deeper. Even if he wants to help, he will drown with his friends, considering he has not been able to swim at all.

The atmosphere is getting tense. Inah and Kezia's mother call the security guard to help Sere. It did not take long, the security guard came and immediately entered the pool. He rescued Sere and Kezia, then climbed out of the pool carrying the two children.

Sukma who is still standing on the edge of the pond, noticed the figure of supernatural beings under the water. The creature disappeared when Sere and Kezia were rescued.

Meanwhile, the security guard and Bu Inah try to resuscitate Sere. Even with his mother Kezia who tried to resuscitate his daughter. Shortly after, Kezia awakens while mentioning her mother. Her mother Kezia was relieved, her daughter was fine.

Unlike Kezia who quickly regained consciousness after being patted on her cheek, Sere was still unconscious. Mom Inah pressed the little girl's chest until her mouth let out water and coughed. Sere also got up with his eyes twitching.

"Sere, are you okay, son?" tanya Bu Inah stroked Sere's back.

"Tante, someone pulled my foot out of the pool!" answer Sere with teeth chattering. "I'm scared, Auntie."

"Already, already. You don't be afraid. There we are here" Bu Inah appeased Sere.

Sukma sat down near Sere while watching him. He felt sorry for his friend, especially after seeing him bullied by evil creatures. Immediately he looked at Sere fixedly while holding his hand.

"Are you okay, Sere? I told you, quickly go there," said Sukma.

"I'm sorry, Sukma. You see, I don't know if anyone will pull my legs" Sere said.

"Yes, it's okay."

"Sukma, you can make those ghosts go away, right? I don't want to be disturbed constantly. His face is blissful, he likes to chase me too. In fact, last night I was chased by a ghost with long hair that had to hide on the desk deck learning," said Sere with a clear face.

"I can't shake a ghost" said Sukma.

"Come, Sukma. Help me. I kept screaming last night, but nothing was horrified. You don't hear my voice hoarse like this?"

Looking at Sere who looked tired with a blank look, Sukma felt pity. "I can't shake a ghost, but if you don't want to see them again, I'll help you."

"Really, Sukma? Then, lakanin right now. I'm tired, I couldn't sleep."

Sukma nodded, then told Sere to close his eyes. Sere obeyed his orders, hoping that Sukma's efforts would be successful. Sukma stuck his hand to Sere's forehead while he was making a spell.

Bu Inah witnessed Sukma's behavior in front of him. He was increasingly convinced, the youngest had abilities that could not be done by children his age. About all that Sukma has ever told and seen, it may indeed really exist, he thought. After many times seeing the strange behavior of Sukma that affects others, starting today also, Bu Inah does not want to underestimate everything Sukma says.

Finished closing Sere's inner eyes, Sukma told him to open his eyes again. To ensure his efforts are successful, Sukma invites Sere into his house. Ms. Inah, Kezia and her mother, followed from behind. Sere spread his gaze in all directions. There are no horrible creatures there. There was only a maid at work.

"Sukma, thank you, yeah." Sere hugged Sukma warmly, then took it off. "If you don't help me, maybe I'll be bullied."

"Please, Sere. I'm not gonna let you freak out like I was, anyway. Kezia and Ami were also at your kayak school. Screaming in the corner while screaming unclear."

"Yes, Sere. I was at school seeing a ghost. But when Sukma has entered the classroom and told me to close my eyes, we can not see ghosts anymore" Kezia asserted.

Sere smiled wryly at Kezia's words. "Sukma, what's in your hands. How could that be?"

"I don't know either" replied Sukma briefly.

Sere and Kezia looked at each other. Similarly, Bu Inah and his mother Kezia who frowned heard Sukma's answer. Kezia's mother whispers a question about the strangeness of Sukma to Bu Inah, but the little girl's foster mother puts her shoulder to shoulder. Ms. Inah confirmed that she did not know about it.

"Yes, Sere. If you want to be protected from ghosts, you must often read prayers. Wanara said, Dedemit does not like people who are close to God," Sukma advice.

"I want it, Sukma. But I never knew any prayer. Papa and mama I never taught, they're busy working."

"If papa and mama you can't teach, you can ask for help with the help here," said Bu Inah.

Shortly after, Bi Esih came to them. Since then, he has been listening to their conversation. Realizing this is the right time, Bi Inah also hoarded.

"If Neng Sere needs help to be taught to read prayer, let Auntie teach" Bi Esih suggested.

"Well, that's Bi Esih to teach," said Kezia.

Sere was happy. At least by learning to pray to Bi Esih, he felt safe from the interference of subtle beings. Especially when Sukma explained that if Dedemit does not like people who are close to God, Sere became eager to learn religious knowledge.

After finishing with the business at Sere's house, Sukma said goodbye. Together with Bu Inah, Kezia and her mother, they leave the Sere residence. When he came out of the gate, Kezia and her mother separated from Bu Inah and Sukma, then walked in different directions.

Along the way home, Bu Inah noticed Sukma. He thought, the youngest is no different from other children when walking with him. Happy humming and walking cheerfully, such is Sukma in Bu Inah's eyes every time he comes home from school. However, the strange events that Sukma is showing at this time are very disturbing.

"Dedek, I want to ask you something."