Expansion

Half of the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium exploded into countless shards, followed by another massive blast from a 50-story building nearby. The explosion was so powerful that the building split apart and toppled over with a deafening crash. But the destruction didn't stop there. One by one, buildings across Jakarta erupted—some with small bursts, others with devastating detonations—sending thick plumes of smoke into the sky, covering more than half the city. Only a few buildings remained standing, barely intact amidst the chaos.

Behind the thick, suffocating smoke, thousands of people ran hysterically, flooding the streets of the capital. The chaos escalated even further when a military plane suddenly plummeted from the sky, crashing into the ground with a deafening impact.

Screams were no longer unusual; they had become part of the scenery. Mothers no longer cared for their children, and children had forgotten their parents. Everyone was too busy trying to save themselves. 

Amid the chaos, a three-year-old boy stood crying, clutching a toy robot in his tiny hands. He was knocked over, tumbling to the ground. But fortunately, not everyone had lost their humanity. A woman in a hijab, still holding on to compassion, rushed toward the child, scooped him up in her arms, and tried to carry him to safety.

People were plunging from the tops of buildings, their bodies shattering upon impact with the asphalt, adding to the unimaginable horror. Shards of brain matter, eyes, and internal organs were scattered everywhere. Pushing and trampling became inevitable amidst the chaos.

Amidst the terrifying chaos, panic, and confusion, the woman who had been trying to save the little boy was suddenly shoved by someone unknown, causing her to fall along with the child she was trying to rescue. With all the strength she had, she desperately held onto the boy, trying to pull him away from the deadly stampede. But her grip wasn't strong enough. 

The little boy was trampled to death, his small body crushed beneath the frantic crowd. His toy robot was flung far from his grasp, lost in the sea of fleeing people. Blood pooled beneath him, staining the edges of the woman's hijab. She trembled, her hands clenched, unable to hold back the sobs that escaped her lips as she knelt there, helpless in the madness.

But the situation forced her to move. Fighting back the anguish threatening to paralyze her, she took a deep breath, steeled herself, and rose to her feet. Without looking back, she turned and ran, leaving the child's lifeless body behind in the chaotic swarm of fleeing people.

She had only taken a few steps when the towering building ahead of her collapsed. Debris rained down all around, filling the air with dust and chaos. A massive slab of concrete crashed just inches in front of her, crushing a middle-aged man beneath it, killing him instantly.

The destruction didn't stop there. More debris rained down, narrowly missing the woman. Though she managed to survive, she stumbled multiple times, startled by the chaos. Instinct kicked in, urging her to find shelter—running aimlessly wasn't an option. Spotting a nearby truck, she quickly crawled underneath it. 

It was a poor choice. The truck's frame was far too weak to withstand the collapsing buildings. But panic often overpowers logic, and in moments of sheer terror, people make reckless decisions that could end up costing them even more.

But luck was still on her side. Not a single piece of debris struck the truck. 

As the chaos momentarily subsided, she noticed several figures lurking in the shadows of a nearby minimarket, gesturing for her to take shelter. Without hesitation, she sprinted toward them. 

The moment she stepped inside, the rolling shutter was swiftly pulled down by an old man who had been watching her from the beginning.

Gasping for breath, the veiled woman scanned her surroundings.

She noticed a mother in a loose navy-blue hijab and flowing gown, clutching an eight-year-old child tightly. Her eyes darted around anxiously, taking in the situation.

Nearby, the old man who had pulled down the rolling shutter stood with his clothes stained and tattered, clear evidence that he had just endured something terrible.

With a whisper, he pressed his right index finger to his lips and said, "Diam."

"Utsss, tenang, jangan berisik. Insya allah kita aman disini."

Inside the minimarket, there were only three people: a man around 35 years old with a thick beard and an oriental face, a woman who appeared to be in her 30s, and the little girl in her arms. With the arrival of the hijabi woman, their number became four. 

The man then got up and searched for something inside the store. He grabbed a white padlock and used it to secure the roll-up door. Behind the roll-up door was a glass entrance with "123 Mart" written on it. He didn't forget to lock the glass door as well, using a chain he had found somewhere. 

After ensuring everything was secure, he walked back toward the woman and child, wrapping them in a tight embrace. From his gestures and expressions, it was clear they were a family.

"Siapa namamu nak?" the mother asked, her voice trembling as she initiated the conversation.

"Saya, saya Ayu bu. Ayu Saraswati." she replied nervously.

The woman looked extremely frightened. Dressed in a long dress with her hair disheveled, she continued speaking.

"Saya Fatimah, ini suami saya Pak Abdulullah dan anak saya Aisyah." she said, her voice trembling.

The conversation was abruptly cut off as another powerful explosion shook the ground. Its origin was unknown, but the force was enough to make the floor tremble and the ceiling feel as if it were about to collapse.[]