Haunted Area

Yes, that's could happen, Satya thought. Kencana Ireng has been sentenced to death, then why tear apart the contents of his house?

The answer is only one thing!

Pramudya Antaguna and his men must be looking for something—or let's say a spell—to cancel the ritual that Kencana Ireng had started with Lathifa's death that Pramudya thought would happen.

And the spell must have been kept by Kencana Ireng very well. Otherwise, he certainly would not have been tortured before being killed.

Satya suddenly seemed to have a good idea, especially for himself.

"Hey, Lathi," he said. "Is it possible that—"

Lathifa smiled at the handsome face in front of her. "That's what I thought, Satya."

"Are you?"

"Of course," she said. "You think that maybe along with that spell there will be another spell that can return you to your world, right?"

Satya laughed softly, shaking his head. Who would have thought, it turns out that this Princess of the Artapurana Kingdom is quite smart, he thought.

"That's also why I said that maybe your bronze medal is the key to your return," said Lathifa. "Because I'm very sure, before that evil night happened to me, in the previous days, Kencana Ireng must have arranged everything to save me. He can't be honest with me maybe because Pramudya is closely watching him."

Satya was sure about this, he looked into Lathifa's eyes. "Also a plan to reclaim the throne of Artapurana."

After all, Kencana Ireng must have done what Lathifa had predicted, he thought. Thus, it is possible that after her resurrection, Lathifa can reclaim the throne of her parents' kingdom, freeing the suffering of the people. And that, perhaps just takes one more thing.

Because there is a mission then destiny is created.

And that one more thing is probably me!

Lathifa tilted her head slightly, she smiled looking at Satya.

"You seem pretty sure?"

"I don't know," Satya shrugged his shoulders and took a deep breath. "What's the point of me being thrown into this middle of nowhere, right?"

Again, Lathifa behaved like a spoiled girl who was sulking.

"You're so mean!"

Satya laughed. "I mean, if my ancestor had planned all this, it means that I'm here to help you. And this makes more sense to me."

"I do feel that way," said Lathifa. "But again, are you sure?"

"Not at all."

"Oh, you!"

Lathifa slapped Satya's shoulder and Satya just laughed in response.

Then, when Satya glanced to the left, towards the north, he became choked and fell silent. This also provoked Lathifa to look in the same direction. And of course, Lathifa also choked.

"Satya," she said in a slightly trembling voice.

"Who are they?"

"There's no time," Lathifa said as she crawled quickly towards the trees. "Come on, hide!"

Wasting no time, Satya did the same. Halfway through, he stopped.

"Satya!" Lathifa looked more and more worried.

Satya glanced at the sea pandanus fruit that they had left on the sand, he quickly grabbed the two bunches of sea pandanus fruit, then crawled back quickly towards Lathifa.

"What are you doing?" Lathifa glared with a voice that was suppressed in such a way.

Satya shows sea pandanus fruit to Lathifa. "If they find this fruit lying on the sand, they will suspect that someone was previously in the same place."

Lahifa smiled and just hugged the man because she was so happy, Satya was quite smart and could think quickly in taking an action, she thought.

Satya didn't know how to respond to the girl's embrace, after all, the thing that made them have to hide was getting closer and closer.

The two of them hid behind the lush trees while watching the situation in front, where they had been sitting.

Not long after, from the north, two soldiers appeared with their horses.

Both of them stopped right near Satya and Lathifa sat earlier. And fortunately, the remnants of the sea pandanus fruit that Satya did not have time to pick up were washed away by the breaking waves nearby.

"You see?" said a soldier to his comrade. "There's no one here!"

"But I saw two people sitting right here," said the second soldier. "I swear!"

"You just saw it wrong, mate," the first soldier chuckled. "Maybe what you saw was a kind of weasel or something. Besides, don't you know? In this area, the southernmost region of this Artapurana is a haunted area."

"Hey!" the second soldier glared. "Don't say nonsense."

"I'm dead serious, man. Here, it is said that there are often sightings of mermaids, but the evil kind!"

The second soldier stared, he gulped, he could feel his fine hairs crawling fast all over his body.

Likewise, Satya who was hiding was a few meters into the forest. He glanced at Lathifa with the same look.

Lathifa smiled and nodded, she put her index finger to her lips.

Crazy! Even though I've stayed for two nights in this area, why is she only now telling me that this area is so haunted?

Oh, the Great Gods…, please protect me.

Satya's gaze fell back on the two soldiers who did not dismount at all from their horses.

"S—So," said the second soldier with a pale face, "the two I saw just now—"

"Yeah, probably the evil Mermaids."

The second soldier who was very frightened kicked his horse suddenly and just walked away to the north.

"Hey…!" the first soldier raised his hand, but it seemed to be in vain. "What an idiot!"

The soldier kicked his horse, following his friend who had been getting farther away.

It was only after the two soldiers left that Satya and Lathifa could breathe a sigh of relief.

"Damn it!" Satya snorted as he leaned against the tree.

Lathifa looked at the man with a frown.

"Why didn't you say so from the beginning?"

"About what?"

"Good grief!" Satya looked down and shook his head. "That this area is so haunted!"

"Oh…"

"Oh?" Satya looked at the girl with a wrinkled face. "Just oh?!"

"Never mind," Lathifa smiled, then stood up. "We'd better go, maybe the soldiers will come back again."

"Hey…!" Satya scratched his head, then stood up, and followed Lathifa.

Lathifa brought Satya back, and headed to the northeast side, stepping among the trees.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier, Lathi?"

Lathifa glanced at Satya hiding her laughter.

"Are you still a kid?"

Satya smirked. "That's not what I mean."

"Then what's the difference? If this area is haunted, what will you do?"

"The question is not me," said Satya. "But you!"

"Me?"

Satya shrugged his shoulders.

"Did you see I'm scared?"

Satya smirked again. After all, the girl had lived in this area for ten years. Of course, she wasn't afraid at all.

"You brave girl!"

Lathifa glanced at Satya and smiled sweetly.

*