Jakarta, Sea of Fire
Jakarta, the metropolitan capital of Indonesia. The heart of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. A city that draws attention and becomes a place where people seek their fortunes. Various religions, ethnicities, and cultures blend in harmony.
A once-thriving city, full of charm and beauty in its progress, now lies in ruins—its skyline reduced to chaotic debris. The streets, once bustling with life, are now overrun by savage creatures—zombies, ready to spread their virus to humans and devour those who are immune.
As if showing no mercy, people from all walks of life became victims. Children, the elderly, even infants. The poor and the rich alike. Civilians and law enforcers. Ordinary citizens and high-ranking officials. No one was spared from the ferocity of this catastrophe.
It had been exactly 11 hours since the timed bombs were planted throughout the city. They were supposed to detonate precisely after 24 hours, but it seemed that a serious miscalculation had caused them to explode prematurely.
Around 8:00 PM WIB, one by one, the bombs exploded, destroying everything in their vicinity. The blasts immediately attracted the zombies roaming around Jakarta, drawing them toward the explosion sites. As they swarmed in, many of them were engulfed in flames along with the zombies that had already been infecting the city.
A series of explosions erupted, with flames consuming everything in their path. The Monas, once standing tall with its magnificent golden peak, crumbled into pieces. Kota Tua, the HI Roundabout, and many other landmarks were reduced to rubble in the devastation. Those who had survived but failed to escape—or those who had chosen to stay in Jakarta out of resignation—were not spared from the destruction.
The report arrived on the President's desk, delivering the devastating news of Jakarta's destruction. Tears slowly streamed down the President's cheeks. Initially appearing strong, the silent weeping revealed the deep empathy of an ordinary human being.
Through tears, the President muttered while reading the report, "
Jakarta is now a sea of fire, even more devastating than Bandung when it once burned in flames. A moment marking the destruction of Jakarta, once known as Jayakarta, a city that was liberated by one of the Wali Songo with the intention of freeing the people of Batavia from colonial oppression of their faith. That city is now nothing more than a story.
Arya and the others could only watch from a distance as the massive explosions lit up the night sky, visible even from hundreds of kilometers away. Suddenly, the sound of chaos erupted not far from their position—footsteps, many of them, pounding against the ground in unison.
Abdullah immediately ordered everyone to jump into the bushes at the roadside. Without hesitation, they followed his command.
Aisyah, trembling in fear, whimpered softly. Her mother, acting swiftly, covered the little girl's mouth to prevent any sound from escaping.
Then, the creatures appeared—zombies, sprinting at an unnatural speed, their grotesque forms darting past the group as they remained hidden in the undergrowth, holding their breath, praying they wouldn't be noticed.
The small campfire they had built was extinguished and trampled underfoot. Even the truck they had been riding in wasn't spared—it was struck repeatedly by the sprinting zombies, causing visible damage. The windshield shattered upon impact, and the left side mirror was completely destroyed.
The horde of zombies seemed endless, relentlessly sprinting toward the source of the explosion. Arya remained hidden, clutching the shoulder of his newlywed wife, while Pak Abdullah stayed close to Fatimah and Aisyah. In their hearts, they continuously recited dhikr, pleading for Allah's protection and deliverance from this calamity.
Finally, the horde of zombies gradually thinned out until not a single one remained in sight. They continued sprinting away from Arya and the others, but Pak Abdullah signaled with his hand for everyone to stay put in their hiding spots. His caution proved right—one last zombie appeared, lagging behind the rest. It hobbled forward with an unsteady gait, its movement sluggish due to a limp in its leg.
After everything felt safe, Arya asked Mr. Abdullah, "
"
After that, Mr. Abdullah hurried to the car and turned on the radio at a low volume. Arya, Ayu, and the others could only watch in silence. Suddenly, a faint voice came from the radio. "
"