They're Here

Chapter 11: The Questioning Force

Various assumptions assaulted my mind. Had I followed Mom's warning, Robi might not have fallen asleep again. Had I not forced my ego, there would have been no gripping story like this.

Now, only regret can be mourned. Can I turn the clock on the day before I go home? Is the call of Hamid, Moses, and Rusman a mere temptation of Satan?

Jockeying with supernatural things does arouse a million curious. The mind wants to prove their existence, but its reality is getting beyond reason.

Until the sun was overhead, Robi was still helplessly drooping. Sometimes he moans between fear and pain. Sweat does not stop coming out of the pores of the skin.

“Wake, Bi! Let's go home now,” I said grudgingly while continuing to dry her body with a towel.

A loyal story accompanied me from last night without even closing my eyes. While the mother, came home at dawn. He said he'll be as soon as he gets to meet someone.

My fault. I caused Robi's condition to become this ill. However, I also have to be wise to myself – looking for a way out of this vicious circle. Yes, it is not the time to punish my stupidity.

Cellphone's ringing. I set my emotions so that later when talking to Umi or Abi, they do not detect any sadness from my voice.

Allegedly wrong. Apparently, the one who called was Robi's mother. He must have wanted to ask his son.

If it's not lifted, he'll call again and probably fret. If appointed, what should I say about Robi? It is impossible to speak as is. Uh! I want to scream with all my might before making a decision.

“Why doesn't Aa answer her phone?” ask Aisah. The question is like an order.

As soon as my voice was connected to Robi's mother, I tried to lay down pleasantries while giving space to reason to think about answers. Answers to questions that can be guessed.

I said Robi was taking a nap after the day we were on. Impressed in disbelief, he switched the conversation to video calling mode. Fortunately, Aisah quickly helped position Robi like people really sleep.

Robi's mother knew we were in Citiis. That made me panic. What if he met or contacted Umi, then told her about the location of Robi and me? Indeed they are in two cities that are far apart, and not so familiar personally. But sometimes worry is like a suggestion that triggers reality.

Huh! I can't ask him to be my secret agent either. There will definitely be a lot of questions he asked before saying the word “agree”.

I pondered when the distance communication with Robi's mother ended. What am I supposed to do now? What if Robi doesn't wake up again?

Nooooo! I'm hysterical. Bad thoughts so presumptuously controlled the contents of my head.

“Quiet, A! Everything will be fine,” said Aisah. He gave me a glass of water to drink. “Si Mamah is trying her best to help awaken A Robi's consciousness,” he added.

After wetting my esophagus, I made up my mind to close all my curiosity regarding the mystical realm in this village and on my side. Tricked to take Robi to a hospital in the district capital. Rather than resting on the invisible, it is better to strive directly while raising hope.

I packed all my clothes and stuff. Also, tidying up everything Robi brought. Aisah looks confused at my actions.

“Does anyone here have a car? Otherwise, lend me your bike for a second. I'm going to a big road to find a car that can be rented.” I don't want to waste any more time. Robi's loss of consciousness could definitely be medically addressed. I am sure in my heart.

“Where are you going?” Aisah took my backpack hostage.

“I want to take Robi to the hospital. I'm sure he's just having regular syncope. He might be very surprised to see the absurdity that enveloped this place. So, please let me and Robi go,” please help me so that Aisah does not block my steps.

“No, A! What A Robi experienced was not just ordinary fainting. Aa see right, it has been more than 1 hour A Robi does not show any signs of his consciousness,” Aisah refutes.

Yes, I understand Aisah's statement. However, silence is certainly not the solution. After all, if what happened to Robi was a mystical disorder, it was possible that the effect would disappear after coming out of this village.

“I'm sure the doctor can explain what experienced by Robi,” concluded.

“Your friends cannot be taken home in this condition. You wanna watch it like or be crazy?” said the mother who entered suddenly.

“Why can it be like that?” tanyaku.

The mother put a blanket over Robi's entire body. After that, he spread a semi-transparent white cloth over my best friend's face.

I can't believe Robi visualized like a dead man. I immediately took the white cloth, then I squeezed it and threw it in front of the porch.

“Aisah please grab that cloth again!” tell the mother in a soft voice. Then, he threw a sharp look at me. “Sukmanya is still here. As soon as you take him out of this place, it means that you decide on his normal life. Sorry, the white cloth I stretched across his face was not a marker he was dead. It's just a cover so that he is not disturbed by attacks of sightings of other subtle creatures,” he explained.

Nevermind! There's no harm in me asking for a medical expert's action first. If it doesn't work, I'll come back here. At least, in the hospital, I can be a little more calm leaving Robi if it will have to prove the validity of the mother's words.

“Do not, A! A Robi could not be brought out of here before her consciousness had fully recovered. There is a spiritual dimension barrier that is difficult to explain; where part or all of the consciousness of the person held here will not be able to return to the body that has been exposed to the outside wind. Trust us, A!” prevent Aisah.

My mother turned her eyes away from me. “Let's, Aisah! It's up to him. Sometimes a person has difficulty believing in something before he experiences it himself, even though he has actually experienced it,” satirize the Mother while wasting breath. “At the very least, we have done our duty as human beings to help each other and remind each other of kindness,”.

Mom pulled Aisah out of my room. Aisah tried to survive. He kept shaking his head like a sign so I wouldn't do my words.

I don't know! Which words should I follow?! The head seemed to be breaking in the face of all this.

Not everything can be measured by logic, but logic can be used to measure everything.

Akhhhhhh!!!

Aisah and her mother were no longer in front of my eyes. Robi's fate also became very dependent on my decision.

“Open your eyes, Bi! If you need to hit me, because I have made you like gini,” said I pilu while lying closed eyes next to Robi.

After a moment of unwind, I woke up to remember something. Yes, Mang Sata. It could be that all of this is closely related to him.

First, the events beyond reason that befall Robi coupled with the emergence of Mang Sata. Is he really not my country?

Second, last night he asked me to visit his house. Could it be that there was something crucial that he wanted to convey regarding all these mysteries? But the thing is, where is his house? No evidence was given.

I saw the time on the phone, 14:30. Mang Sata just gave me a hint that I came at a time when the shadow was the same size as his thing in the afternoon. If I'm not mistaken, it's between 14:45 and 15:15.

I locked the room while observing the situation around. As a native of this village, Mang Sata is definitely about the ins and outs experienced by Robi.

I walked carefully, even though the road was quite quiet.

Strengthen memory, concentrate attention at one point.

If what is meant by the location of his old house, it means I have to try to design the floor plan. Match it to the current conditions that are already far shifted.

The standard I can use is mushola. I suddenly forgot the road to the place of worship.

I closed my eyes for a moment to remember. Then, recite Bismillah as an introduction in opening the eyes.

Huh huh? Where is this? Is this really my old village?

The houses, the streets, the situation, are exactly the same as when I left my mark on this sweetest place. Of course, I also khatam to where the intersection in front of the eyes directs the goal.

Is this a dream? Or is it a mirage? I rogoh my phone in my pants pocket to see the time.

It's 14:50. Not feeling the minutes so fast rolling. There were still 20 minutes left before the shadows changed size and direction.

“Rusman, Hamid, Moses!” I spontaneously called out their names. I know this is odd, but my sense of happiness masks the awesomeness of the shift in nuance that occurs.

I walked straight to my house. I'm sure the remaining time will still be enough to reminisce a moment – look at the memories even if only a moment .

No matter if it's an imaginary world or a cross-dimensional world, I'd love to see my home in the past. I miss the mood of my room.

After from my house, I just turned towards Kaler (North) towards Mang Sata's house. That's my plan.

“Yan, hurry to home urang (me) now. Mr. urang geus nangguan maneh ti earlier (My father has been waiting for you from earlier),” Rusman voice paused my steps. I'm looking for her whereabouts. However, it was invisible as far as the eyes went around.

I took a breath while closing my eyes.

“Yan! Back, Yan! Let's go home now!” This time, Robi's toned vocals jolted the silence.

Where are they? It sounded very close, but its form was invisible. Where should my feet complain?