SHADOW OF DEATH

Horror & Thriller Series 775

(At the campsite)
(10pm)

"Rina, we have night owl activities. Do you want in one group with me?" Hani talks when they both had supper for the night. The clock shows at 10 pm. Rina was just silent. Lazy to talk. Especially with Hani. "Why you not say anything?" She asked. "You don't want to be friend with me anymore?" Ask Hani after seeing no response from her friend.

"It's nothing Hani ... I want to ask you something. This afternoon before going to the river, you told me that you already asked for teacher's permission. But teacher Abidin didn't know where we were." Rina said without looking at Hani. Hani sighed.

"You're too sensitive. Yeah! I'm lied. I just want to see the river. That's why I'm asking you to accompany me." Hani replied indifferently. Rina feel hurt.

"Hey Hani! You know I'm nearly die in the river! You don't even want to help me! You really like to see me die right?" Rina's temper blow. She continued stared at Hani. Hani lowered his face and paused. Sounds like crying.

"Come on... I'm trying my best to help you .. I ran to find the teacher this afternoon .. But many teachers don't here yet.. I ran and ran for help .. I want to help my friend! Now is up to you to think bad about me! Do you think I'm so happy to see my friend die in front of me!" Hani replies. Tears start to flow. "You are not a good friend, Rina!" Hani turned and left Rina alone.

"I'm not sure you are my friend or not Hani.. but your way make me think wrong Hani. Is it true you don't have no other intentions?" Rina bermonolog alone. He follows Hani from behind.

(At Zairi's house)

"Zairi ..... Zairi ..... wake up. Eat first son. After the Isyak prayers, you went to bed and ate nothing since morning. Wake up dear." His mother with soft tone slowly wake his son up after realizing Zairi sleeping on a prayer mat in his room. Zairi started to wake up.

"Zairi still not hungry mom. If i am, i will eat okay. I'm going to take a rest for now. Don't worry. I'll be okay." Zairi tried to calm his mother down. Hid mother smiled and wiped his forehead.

"Whatever happens, Zairi, Zakri and Rina are the my children in this world and hereafter. Me and your father is always praying for the well-being of our children and we both hope that you guys will live in peace and always on the right path. God will never test someone beyond their ability. Trust in God Al Mighty Zairi. The truth will surely be revealed someday. We can't see Zakri roughly, but we always remember him in our hearts ... In our hearts. Always be patient ... In shaa Allah .. Allah will help." She tried to persuade her child's despair.

"Okay .. thank you mom." Zairi said calmly. There can be a sense of compassion for a mother's love who overflows from her biological son. Zairi hugged her mother and kissed her hands several times. Ask for forgiveness and blessings. His mother went out from the room. Zairi stood up and folds the mat. His twin brother's Kopiah was placed on a small table beside the bed. He sits on his soft mattress. Looking through the family pictures and one pictures with his twins on the table. He take the photo and his face smiled when it recalled the events when his twin is still alive.

                   *****************************

"Mom! Look at abang Zakri! Take Rina's pencil box! Give it back!" The 7-year-old Rina ran to behind his beloved brother, Zakri, who is 9 years old. Zakri shown his tongue and made a silly face. Rina crying lauder. A strong blow on the shoulder made Zakri silent.

"You really love to see your sister cry huh? She had an asthma. If her asthma suddenly come, what will you do?" Zairi stands behind Zakri. Zairi snatched Rina's pencil box and tapped Zakri's head.

"Ouch! it hurts! I hate you bro! Busybody!" Angry Zakri and tried to arguing.

"You don't want to be rude with me! Respect me a little! Im your older brother!" Zairi is getting serious with Zakri, his twin brother. Zakri looked at Rina and showed two fingers. The fingers put at his eyes toward Rina. Hiss mouth was moving to mention something. Zakri ran out. Rina was happy when her pencil box was safe.

"Thanks abang Zairi!" said Rina cheerfully. Hugged her brother and ran to get her mother. Zairi just smiled. Zakri, who was hiding behind the bottom stairs, also smiled at the excitement shown by Rina.

                  *****************************

               Zairi was awake when he felt something gripping his neck. He's breathless trying to open his eyes. The dark atmosphere in the room made it difficult to see who was trying to kill him. His hand fumbled upon the table lamp. As soon as it is found, he pressed the button and both table lamps are on. Finally he saw someone on top of his body.

"Argh!!" Zairi try to rejects Helmi's body with his arm from his upper body. But like the wind, her hands penetrated Helmi's body. Helmi engraved a smile on his lips that only shown the bone.

"You killed me ... killed me ... you'll die ..." The sentences heard from Helmi's closed mouth while his hand was placed at Zairi's neck tightly.

"It's not me who killed you! It's not me! Go away from here! Go away!" Zairi tried to save himself from his hallucinations. Zairi's shouting voice surprised his mother and father sleep in the next room. The two old men and woman woke up and ran to Zairi's room.

"Zairi! Zairi! Open the door! Zairi!! Open the door!" Call his mother while knocking on the door. But no response. The father came up with the duplicate keys of Zairi's room. With a single turn, the room door opens. They got Zairi outstretched in bed. Father stepped in and only stared at the open window of Zairi's room. He close the window and locked it. He read a few verses of Al-Quran and exhale toward the window.

"Abang, Zairi got high fever! We need to take him to the hospital quickly! His nose also bleeding non stop!" urged mother. Tears that flow are wiped out by her sleeve. Father put his hand on Zairi's forehead and wipe the blood that flowing from Zairi's nose.

"It never happened to Zairi before. As far as I know, only Zakri who always bleeds his nose when he is feverish." Father was stuned. His mind was left untouched.

                  Zairi was taken to a nearby hospital. He was admitted in the emergency department. He will be checked if there had any other problem other than high fever. Father and mother waiting patiently.

(At midnight)
(On Mount Nuang campsite)

"I want you'll to go into the forest one by one. The rope that is in front of you is your savior. If you miss or let go of this rope, you will go astray in the woods. Understand it? So I want you to be careful. If anyone asks for a password, tell the password and your turn number into the jungle. Do you understand?" An escort teacher briefed before the night's activity began.

"Understand teacher!" Shouted all the students together.

"His password is Pocong! Remember! Pocong!" Said the teacher. Most of female students whispered. Some of them don't want to follow the activities because of weakness and some other sickness.

"Pocong? Is there's no other name beside that teacher?" one of the girls ask slowly. Teacher just smiled cynically.

"If you shout that name three times, it will come." answer the teacher with smirk smile.

             They line up waiting for their turn to be released into the forest alone. Rina and Hani are in the middle number.

"Are you afraid Hani?" Rina tried to rebuke Hani who was sulking with her. Hani just shut herself off. It was as though she had not heard what her friend had said. Rina was desperated.

                Here comes Hani's turn. Hani stepped into the jungle by holding a rope tied to each tree. After 5 minutes, Rina goes into the forest. He grasped the rope that was rather large and rough. Rina tries to enlarge her eyes in the dark so she can see the real situation around her. Sounds of the night birds and crickets howling. The situation is getting colder when she almost gone deep inside. The straps are turned into raffia rope. Probably almost to the end. Rina didn't sound a word. She was too focused on his journey and forgetting what she was supposed to do.

                  Suddenly, she could feel someone was walking behind. One hand tried to push her down. But Rina clung to the rope as hard as she could. Rina could feel her foot down the hill. She tried to balance herself so as not to falling down. A lightning flash lighten the area. She can see someone wearing black and masked clothes standing behind her when Rina turned back. Rina screamed in fear. The situation in the jungle turn up side down. It turns out that the 6th grade students are in the vicinity of the forest. It is their job to observe the geriatics of students that entering the jungle and helping them if they need any help. One of Form 6 students came to Rina while carrying a flashlight. Rina sitting on the ground only able to hold her face holding her tears. Rina's stricker has disappeared.

"Are you okay? Let's get out of here. It danger here! Who put a rope near to the cliffs?" The male student huddled up the hillside which was quite high and began to walk. Rina was taken out and calmed down on the bench waiting with some students who didn't follow the activities.

               When they passing through, a flashlight appears. Rina can see something in the distance. An old little house is a little way out of the woods. It is just a stop home if hiker are tired from climbing the mountain. But there's something there that makes Rina interested. They survived the jungle and spent their activities for the night together. After they shower and cleaned, they slept.

(Next day)
(At Zairi's house)

"Zairi, eat a little okay. After this you have to eat your medicine." Mother hold Zairi's hand as Zairi is lying in his room. His condition improved further after being treated last night. He was given injections for a fever and a little bit of medicine to calm him down with a shock when he was hospitalized. Zairi who sat leaning against the bed just looked empty into the window.

"I'm a crazy human mom. I thought that i already heal but why am i the only one saw those supernatural thing?..... looks like i'm still crazy .. If my twins still here, i will be better right mom? I misses my twin mom.... " Zairi said sadly with tears. His mother's heart pounding fast when Zairi said the word crazy. She approached Zairi.

"Zairi, every thing that happens to us is mostly not our will. Sometimes we have tried our best to change our destiny to be better but we are just planning, the God who will decide. God give hard and tough life for Zairi so Zairi be more patient. Zairi is a strong person. Zakri will always inside Zairi's heart because Zairi is Zakri. If Zairi misses him, pray for him in Zairi's prayer. In shaa Allah He will hear our prayers. Zairi is not like this. Zairi is strong son and brother right?" Mother try to gove her love and make Zairi's faltering heart more stronger. Only that can be done to help Zairi. Zairi returned to sleep. Mother left Zairi to rest.

                            *************************

"Actually I love to do outdoor activity. I love to play outside and love to challenge myself. I know where I can get the challenge. I want to share with you all the experiences I got when I'm out there. I know you don't like rugged activities but as your twins, I'll teach you how to survive in the jungle." Zakri tried to explain what to do when in an emergency situation when camping. Each item is carefully described. Zairi didn't understand As he shaking his head. Zakri will repeat his teachings until Zairi understands one hundred percent.

"So when in the jungle i need to know all kinds of trees that use to make medicine and need to know which one i can eat or not. And when i'm gone astray in the forest, first thing is to find the river. Follow the river and i will find village. Wow! Thanks bro!! I will remember." Said Zairi while smile. Zakri show his tumb up. He rubbed Zairi's head several times.

"Oi! Don't mess up my hair dude! It's important for me to look handsome all the time. And even you are popular in Ko-kurikulum, but you can't challenge me in Kokurikulum okay! Im better and more handsome than you!" Zairi boasts himself.

"Well, you're handsome. Eh! I forget! if you're handsome, so I'm also handsome! We twins!!" Zakri laughed.

                        ************************

"I miss you .... look at me now... I'm really miss you bro..." Zairi's back in the present. Crying sounds can be heard from inside the room. Mother stopped at the door As she holding a tray contain rice and food. She cry while listening to his son confession.

"Ya Allah ... restore the spirit of my son. Show me the smile on his face that I misses. I want to see he laugh like before. Please bless his life..." She prayed in the heart as sincere as possible. So that the prayer for the children will be accepted. She went back to the kitchen and let Zairi stay calm.

(In the camping area)

            Those was involved in the camping were directed to the hall provided for a briefing from the forest ranger on duty. Their activity this time is jungle tracking using the compass. The clock still shows at 10am. They still have time to carry out all the activities before finishing today.

               Those who are ready to dress in sports and bedbugs listen to briefings and lectures from escort teachers and rulers on duty. Rina, away from Hani, could see Hani smiling at teacher Abidin standing next to another escort teacher. Their faces are all very friendly. Rina began to suspect. What is Hani's relationship with teacher Abidin?

           When finished, they moved to the beginning point. Each student is required to create several groups. They will enter the forest by team. Rina and Hani are in one group when Rina volunteered to be with Hani. She wants to know what Hani has hidden for so long. Whether it's good or not.

"Now the third group goes in with the escort teacher. Ms. Abidin, please take care of the students until we finish our activities." Direction of head teacher.

"Okay teacher Aishah, we go in." Teacher Abidin accompanied ten students who started walking into the forest. Mr Abidin holds the compass. He occasionally called for the help of his students to determine the path they were supposed to go through.

"Come here Sir. I don't know what I'm doing. Can you help me?." Hani talked with Mr Abidin in front. Rina just watched. Their intimacy is not the same as the intimacy between students and teachers. Maybe other students don't realize it, but Rina starts gathering things together in one place. And determined to get the answer.

                Suddenly the thunder was pounding loudly in the sky. The rain began to fall heavily. All students are panicked. Mr Abidin instructed all students to leave the forest. There were other students in the vicinity running out of the jungle.

"Be careful all the way! It slippery here! be careful!" Mr. Abidin gave directions in heavy rain.

            Finally they survived to the hall room and sheltered from the rain. It seems their activity had to be stopped early until the rain stopped.

"If it still raining until dawn, we have to cancelled our activity altogether." The teacher's head expresses his opinion. Other teachers also gave other opinions. They talked about solving their problems so that students were not bored when waiting for the rain to stop. Rina who was near the entrance stare the heavy rain outside.

             From a distance, Rina can see something. Someone was standing on the edge of the forest. Rina tried to see who he was but failed because the rain was getting heavy. She got up and went outside to the end of the hall. She looked more closely at it.

"Abang Zakri .....?" The name appeared in Rina's mind when he saw someone that look like Zairi standing at the edge of the forest with a smile.

"Oi Rina !! Why are you here?" Hani appeared behind her. Rina was shocked and turned towards Hani.

"No .... nothing." Answer Rina briefly. He immediately looked towards the forest but Zakri's shadow disappeared. Rina searched for her brother.

"Rina ... I'm sorry... I know I did a lot of mistakes but I miss you. I promise I will not make you sad again. I'm going to fix myself and my mouth. I'm sorry. Do you forgive me?" Hani apologized in a soft voice. Rina look at Hani.

"Ok, I'm forgive you but I hope you will not do anything stupid anymore. You and I have been friends since elementary school. So I'm not in the mood of things that are unreasonable. I don't want us to separate. I'm also sorry about yesterday." Rina hugs Hani outside the hall. Mr Abidin only observes from inside. Smiling face of him a bit scary.

(END OF 4)

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