Lathi - Unleased Hexes

That day, the sky was bright, but Lucy's heart was clouded with doubt and unease. After a series of painful rituals, she felt like a stranger to herself. As she wandered into the backyard garden, her gaze fell upon a group of familiar faces.....Debby, Desy, Ericka, and Erlangga....her childhood friends.

They had come to her home to reminisce, to reconnect after all this time.

Debby, Desy, and Erlangga were already joking around, their laughter carrying across the garden. Their playful teasing brought back old memories, making Lucy feel both awkward and nostalgic. But when her eyes met Ericka's, something was... off. The sharp, piercing gaze Ericka gave her sent a chill crawling up Lucy's spine.

"Lucy!" Desy called out, her smile wide as she approached.

"Hey, Lucy! Long time, huh?" Debby added, pulling her into a warm hug.

Lucy forced a smile, trying to push aside the growing discomfort in her chest. "Yeah, it's been forever," she replied softly, her voice steady but her heart anything but.

They all sat beneath the massive tree in the garden, their old hangout spot. Erlangga pulled out some drinks from his bag, and Desy and Debby started chatting about their lives.

Then, Ericka spoke, her tone sly. "Lucy... you seem different, Mmmmm you know? Like… I don't know. Something's changed about you."

Lucy held her breath, her body stiffening. She knew Ericka's ways always prying, always pushing, always turning her observations into biting remarks. Forcing another smile, Lucy said, "It's probably just your imagination, Ericka."

But Ericka wasn't one to let things go. She leaned back, smirking. "Hmm, nah. It's more than that. I mean, remember when we were just kids playing dolls and hide-and-seek? And now look at you." Her eyes scanned Lucy from head to toe, her expression sharp and mocking. "You're all... weird now. Like, what's with the whole creepy, mysterious vibe? You're not the same little nerdy Lucy we used to know. Kinda freaky, to be honest."

Her words hit like a dagger. Old wounds Lucy had buried deep started to resurface. The memories of Ericka's subtle taunts from years ago came flooding back, stinging more than ever. Lucy tried to stay calm, but the anger inside her boiled, seeping into the depths of her being. She felt something shift a power, wild and unrelenting, stirring within her.

Ericka, oblivious to the storm brewing in Lucy, laughed. "Honestly, Lucy, we've all grown up normal, but you? You're like... the odd one out. Maybe you don't fit in with us anymore."

That was it. Lucy couldn't hold it back. The pain, the humiliation, the fury.....it all erupted. Words, ancient and potent, began to spill from her lips without her control.

"ꦄꦮꦶꦒ꧀ꦔꦩ꧀ꦄꦱ꧀ꦠꦸ... ꦄꦏꦸꦠꦸꦩꦩ꧀ꦥꦫꦶ..."

The foreign syllables rolled off her tongue, each one heavy with power. The air around them thickened, an eerie tension settling over the group.

"What the hell are you saying, Lucy?" Ericka snapped, her smirk fading.

But Lucy couldn't respond. Her eyes closed, her body trembling as the power inside her surged, demanding release. Her mind whispered dark thoughts, tempting her to act on her anger, to punish Ericka for every wound she'd ever inflicted.

ꦏꦼꦏꦸꦮꦤ꧀ ꦲꦶꦁꦏꦁ ꦱꦼꦗꦶꦠꦶ ꦥꦸꦤꦶꦏ ꦢꦸꦩꦸꦤꦸꦁ ꦆ꦳ꦶꦫꦶ, ꦏꦁꦒꦺ ꦔꦿꦺꦱ ꦲꦶꦭꦠ ꦱꦃ ꦏꦸꦭꦏꦤ꧀ ꦘꦩꦼꦠ-ꦘꦩꦼꦠꦶ ꦥꦚꦼꦤꦺꦤꦒꦤ

"Kekuwatan ingkang sejati punika dumunung ing dhiri, kangge ngreksa lathi saha kula ngampet-ngampeti panjenengan" (True power's in you. controlling your tongue, and now I curse you.)

The words echoed like a curse, unspoken yet undeniable.

When Lucy opened her eyes again, she found Ericka staring at her, confused and uneasy. Desy, Debby, and Erlangga all looked equally lost. Lucy's chest heaved as she gasped for air, sweat dripping down her temples.

"Lucy, are you okay?" Desy asked, her voice trembling with concern.

Lucy nodded weakly. "Yeah... just a little tired," she murmured, forcing a faint smile. "Sorry, guys. I think I need some rest."

The night continued with small talk, but Lucy's mind remained elsewhere, consumed by guilt and confusion. When her friends finally left, she retreated to her room, sitting on the edge of her bed and staring at the silver pendant hanging from her neck the family heirloom her mother had left her.

****

The next morning, a chilling phone call shattered the quiet.

"Ericka was dead" A text from Debby

The news hit like a thunderclap. A car accident, they said. Her vehicle had flipped on the highway, killing her instantly. No one could explain why it happened.

Lucy sat frozen, her heart pounding in her chest. Memories of the curse she had unknowingly uttered the night before flooded her mind. Could it have been... her fault?

Lucy still feels guilty about Ericka's death. When she's alone, she can't stop blaming herself, questioning why the hell she got stuck with these powers. Was it fate or some kinda punishment for something she doesn't even get? The guilt eats at her, especially when she remembers Ericka's smile it's just a memory now, and that makes it even worse.

As tears welled up in her eyes, a soft knock came at her door. Uncle Wiryo, the family's spiritual guide, stepped in, his expression calm yet serious.

"Lucy," he began gently, "we need to talk."

Her voice cracked as she spoke. "Ericka... she's gone. And it's because of me, isn't it?"

Uncle Wiryo sighed deeply, sitting beside her. "Your power is awakening, Lucy. But you must understand...what happened to Ericka may not be entirely your doing. Still, you must learn to control this gift. It's dangerous if left unchecked."

Lucy buried her face in her hands, her voice barely a whisper. "I don't know if I can control it. I don't want this... any of it."

Uncle Wiryo placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You don't have a choice. This power is part of you now. You must learn to wield it wisely. Let your emotions guide you, but don't let them consume you."

As the room fell silent, Lucy stared out the window at the darkening sky. The weight of her destiny pressed down on her shoulders, heavy and unrelenting.

Her path had been set. And it was only the beginning.