Episode 1: Ordinary Days

Jakarta, Midday

The scorching heat of the capital blanketed the city, making the asphalt roads glisten under the blazing sun. Car horns blared, filling the air with the usual chaotic symphony. Pedestrians hurried along the sidewalks, some carrying umbrellas to shield themselves from the relentless sun, while others remained engrossed in their phone screens, lost in their own worlds.

Amid the hustle and bustle, a grand school stood tall. Its modern architecture, towering glass windows reflecting the blue sky, and a vast courtyard filled with uniformed students made it an impressive sight.

Inside the School

Aisyah stepped through the school gates, her uniform neatly pressed, with a skirt that fell just below her knees. Her long black hair was tied into a ponytail, revealing a sharp yet confident face. Her keen eyes scanned the school hallway, now filling with students. She offered a small smile and waved at a few friends who greeted her.

"Morning, Aisyah!" a student called out.

"Morning!" she replied cheerfully, though her steps remained steady. Something felt different today, though she couldn't quite explain what it was.

As Aisyah entered the classroom, she immediately spotted Delisha already seated, fidgeting with her pen anxiously.

"Took you long enough, Syah! I thought you were going to be late," Delisha grumbled, brushing her short, slightly messy hair into place.

Aisyah chuckled before settling into the seat beside her best friend. "It's still early. Why are you in such a hurry?"

Before Delisha could respond, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from the door. Gathan strolled in casually—his uniform wrinkled, tie hanging loosely, and hair looking like he had just rolled out of bed. He smirked at the two girls before flopping into his seat.

"Almost late again?" Aisyah teased.

Gathan shrugged. "Almost, but not quite. Still cool, right?"

Delisha snorted. "Cool? You look like a sleep-deprived zombie."

Aisyah chuckled, but her expression suddenly turned distant. Something had been bothering her since morning—a strange feeling, like an ominous premonition lingering in the back of her mind. Subtle yet persistent.

Just as she was about to speak, the school bell rang.

Inside the Classroom

Their teacher, a man in his forties with thick-framed glasses, entered the room, carrying several heavy books. He placed them on the desk with a loud thud.

"Today, we'll be discussing something a little different," he announced, adjusting his glasses. "A phenomenon currently happening overseas."

Some students exchanged glances, intrigued but also somewhat disinterested.

"A mysterious outbreak is spreading rapidly in several countries. The cause remains unknown, but the symptoms are rather unusual. People suddenly fall ill, experience high fevers, lose consciousness, and—"

"—turn into zombies?" a student in the back interrupted, eliciting laughter from a few classmates.

The teacher shot him a sharp look. "I'm not joking."

The laughter died down.

Aisyah listened intently, her expression turning serious. That uneasy feeling crept back, stronger this time. She bit her lip, her mind racing with possibilities.

Delisha nudged her. "Why are you so serious? It's just the news."

Aisyah shook her head slightly. "I don't know... something feels off."

Gathan, who had been nonchalant the whole time, furrowed his brows. "Stories like this pop up all the time, Syah. The media loves to exaggerate."

"But what if this time it's real? What if there's something bigger going on behind the scenes?"

A brief silence filled the space between them.

At the front of the class, the teacher continued. "What makes this phenomenon particularly alarming is that some reports suggest those who fall ill begin displaying aggressive behavior, as if they've lost control of themselves."

Aisyah felt a shiver run down her spine.

"And most concerning of all," the teacher continued, lowering his voice slightly, as if ensuring no one outside could hear, "is the fact that several cases have already been detected in our neighboring countries."

The classroom fell into a tense hush. Even the students who were usually busy doodling or daydreaming now sat up, paying close attention.

"So... does that mean it could reach us?" another student asked hesitantly.

The teacher didn't answer immediately. Instead, he gazed at his students with an expression that was difficult to decipher.

In the corner of the room, Aisyah clenched her fists under the desk. That ominous feeling she had been dismissing all morning was now crystal clear—fear.

Delisha bit her lip before awkwardly patting Aisyah's shoulder. "You're overthinking, Syah. The government will handle it."

Aisyah swallowed hard, trying to suppress the growing anxiety taking hold of her. But deep down, she knew—their "ordinary" days might soon come to an end.

Jakarta, Late Afternoon

The sun was beginning to set, leaving a streak of orange across the horizon. The usually bustling city of Jakarta felt slightly different—something hung in the air, unseen yet unsettling enough to stir a faint unease in those who were sensitive to it.

Jasmine – A World Only She Understood

Inside a room filled with the scent of paint and paper, Jasmine sat at her small desk. A pencil danced in her hand, sketching fine lines that gradually formed the figure of a long-legged woman with hollow eyes. The sketch felt different from her usual work—darker, more mysterious, as if her hand was being guided by something she didn't understand.

She frowned, feeling uneasy about the image she had just created.

"Why does this sketch feel... eerie?" she wondered.

Setting down the pencil, she leaned back in her chair, gazing at the evening sky outside the window. The orange light streamed in, casting shadows on the walls filled with paintings. A sudden sense of unease washed over her.

A faint noise came from outside.

"What was that?"

Jasmine swallowed hard, stood up slowly, and pulled the curtain aside. Beyond the window, only darkness loomed as night began to creep in. But… why did it feel like something was watching her?

She shook her head, trying to dismiss the thought.

"Maybe it's just my imagination."

Yet, when she looked back at her sketchbook, the hollow-eyed woman seemed to be staring right at her.

Abib – Discipline Shaken

Inside the dojo, the sound of heavy breathing and fists striking punching bags echoed through the room. Abib stood firm in the center, his white gi slightly damp with sweat, yet his expression remained focused. He exhaled slowly, then launched a series of rapid punches into the air.

"Faster, stronger!" the instructor barked.

Gritting his teeth, Abib increased his speed and power. His muscles tensed, his reflexes sharpened. But in the midst of his movements, he felt something strange.

A faint vibration beneath his feet.

He halted his punches, listening intently. Everything seemed normal. Other students were still training, the sound of punches hitting bags echoed through the room, and warm air flowed from the ventilation.

But then...

The entire room trembled briefly, as if something was shifting underground. Neither the instructor nor the other students reacted.

"Am I the only one feeling this?"

His heart pounded—not from the training, but from an ominous feeling creeping into his chest.

When practice ended and he returned home, the unease still lingered. Just as he was about to open his front door...

PLAK!

The power went out.

His house was now shrouded in darkness. The streetlights, usually bright, flickered and dimmed.

Standing in the doorway, his eyes adjusted to the shadows. For some reason, the night felt quieter than usual.

Arka – Between Reality and the Virtual World

In a room bathed in the bluish glow of a computer screen, Arka sat with a focused expression. His fingers moved swiftly across the keyboard, occasionally sipping from the coffee cup beside him. The monitor in front of him was filled with endless lines of code—a familiar sight for someone deeply immersed in the world of technology.

But amidst his concentration, he heard something.

A low humming sound.

Not from his computer or any of his devices. The sound came from outside the window.

Arka frowned, stopped typing, and turned toward the source. The hum was faint, almost like an electrical buzz… but stranger, more rhythmic.

He stood up, walked cautiously to the window, and peeked outside.

Nothing.

The streets were emptying as night fell. Yet, the unease remained.

"Probably just my imagination," he thought, shaking it off.

But as he sat back down, his monitor suddenly flickered.

The signal was lost.

Arka's brows furrowed as he tapped on the keyboard, trying to reconnect to the internet. No response. Not just his laptop—his phone and router were also dead.

The air in his room suddenly felt colder.

His heartbeat quickened. Not because of the lost connection, but because of the unsettling feeling creeping into his mind.

---

A Different Night

Across the city, something was changing.

Streetlights that usually illuminated the sidewalks flickered before going out one by one. Roads that typically remained busy were now eerily empty.

The wind picked up slightly, carrying whispers that seemed to slither through the air.

In her room, Jasmine held her breath, convinced that something was lurking outside.

At his doorway, Abib stood motionless, surrounded by oppressive darkness.

In front of his now-black screen, Arka sat frozen, listening as the humming sound grew louder.

In the distance, sirens began to wail.

The Jakarta they once knew was slowly fading.