Chapter 7: Trapped in Darkness – Between Destruction and Hope

After years of sinking into a dark world, Ben was no longer the boy who once dreamed of success and meeting great people. The internet and his association with Eddi had turned him into someone even he could no longer recognize. Society now labeled him as trash, a young man who had lost his way, living in the darkness of the streets. His days were filled with crime—robbing, stealing, fighting, and indulging in alcohol. His body became increasingly neglected, and his once-sharp mind was now consumed by criminality, online gambling, alcohol, and cigarettes.

The once-pious Ben had become nothing but a grim shadow of his former self. There was no longer hope—only deeper destruction.

Until one day, a major incident occurred. One of his gang members, Pad, was caught stealing from a wealthy man's house. Unable to hide the stolen goods, Pad started distributing them among the gang, including Ben. Unfortunately, this led to a police chase. One by one, his gang members were arrested. However, unlike Eddi, who vanished without a trace, Ben still roamed the streets, alone and aimless.

Meanwhile, Ben's father grew increasingly anxious. He never stopped searching for his son. Upon hearing that Ben's friends were being caught one by one, he knew time was running out. He firmly believed that parental love never fades, even in times of destruction. He had to find Ben before it was too late.

At last, he found him. Sitting by a small river, Ben looked exhausted, his body filthy, his gaze empty. Unlike before, this time, his father did not scold him. With a voice full of gentleness, he said, "Son, come home. No matter how far you go, this home will always be here for you. We are still waiting for you."

This time, Ben did not resist. For some reason, his father's words felt soothing. Maybe because he was too tired. Maybe because deep down, he knew he couldn't live like this forever. With heavy steps, he followed his father home.

Upon arriving, his mother immediately embraced him tightly, sobbing uncontrollably at the sight of her neglected son. There was no anger—only the warmth he had longed for.

For a week, Ben barely spoke. He only sat in silence, reflecting on his ruined life. Until one day, his parents had a serious talk with him. They gave him a choice: to keep drowning in destruction or to start over from zero. They decided to send him to his father's older brother, who lived far away in a village called Pagar. There, Ben would stay with his aunt, a respected figure in the village, and his uncle, the principal of a local middle school. They were known as a religious family with a stable life, tending to vast fields and gardens.

With no other option, Ben finally agreed. The next morning, he boarded a bus for a long ten-hour journey, accompanied by his parents, who cried as they said goodbye. "Son, please listen to your aunt and uncle there. Become the child we cherish once again," his mother said between sobs.

Ben remained silent, hugging them before finally stepping onto the bus. As the bus moved, he saw familiar places that triggered memories—his old middle school, the workshop where he worked, the hangout spots with Saddam, his best friend Akhir's house, and the internet café that ruined his life. He looked at them one by one with teary eyes. "How did I end up in this world?" he wondered.

But behind his departure, there was a big secret he had yet to know. When his gang was arrested, a police officer came to his house to take him to prison. However, since Ben's father was known as a good man, the officer gave him a choice—either send Ben far away from town or let him rot behind bars. Without hesitation, his father chose the first option. Isolation was better than losing Ben forever.

After a ten-hour journey, Ben arrived in a county that felt completely foreign to him. But his trip was not over yet. He still had to take a one-hour rickshaw ride to his aunt's house. When he arrived, he was warmly welcomed. His aunt hugged him tightly, as did his uncle and cousins. There was no anger—only acceptance.

Ben looked around. Pagar Village was nothing like his hometown. There were no internet cafés, no rampant online distractions. Life here was simple, untouched. And for the first time in a long time, he felt a bit of peace.

Deep in his heart, he began to think, "Maybe here, I can find a new hope."