Chapter 4: The First Encounter

Arya ran frantically, pushing through the thick fog that blanketed the streets. Around him, old, abandoned shophouses stood as silent witnesses to a time long gone. Weeds crept up their crumbling walls, reclaiming what once belonged to nature. His breath was ragged, and sweat soaked his body despite the chilling air.

Through the haze, faint shadows began to take shape. A small, bald figure with grayish skin darted past the edge of his vision, clutching a tattered cloth bag—a tuyul. Not far away, a tall, lanky creature with unnaturally long arms stood motionless. Its face was indistinct, but its presence was oppressive. A faint, eerie laugh echoed in the air—a kuntilanak. The sound was like a haunting lullaby, making Arya feel as though countless unseen eyes were watching him.

"It feels like I've seen them before," Arya thought. But he shoved the familiar sensation aside. There was no time to dwell on such strange thoughts. He had to keep running.

His steps finally came to a halt in front of an old Dutch-style house, a relic from the 1940s. It was surrounded by overgrown bushes, its structure fragile yet still standing tall, as if challenging anyone brave enough to approach. Arya could feel an ominous aura emanating from it, sending chills down his spine.

From within the house, a faint yet distinct sound emerged—a whisper carried on the wind that transformed into words.

"Are you human?" the shrill voice of an old woman asked.

Arya swallowed hard, confused and terrified. "Of course, what else would I be? A ghost?" he muttered under his breath, trying to calm himself.

Suddenly, the iron gate of the house creaked open, its sharp sound cutting through the eerie silence. It was less of an invitation and more of an unseen force beckoning him inside. Then, an invisible pull began to drag Arya toward the house.

"What the hell is going on?!" Arya tried to resist, planting his feet firmly on the ground. But his stance wasn't strong enough to counter the pull. In his panic, he slipped and fell to the ground. Arya shut his eyes tightly, bracing himself against the fear that consumed him.

"Hey... will you be my friend?" a soft, feminine voice suddenly asked, startlingly close to him.

Slowly, Arya opened his eyes. In front of him sat a beautiful woman with fiery orange-red hair, dressed in a deep blue dress. Her face was adorned with a wide smile, her eyes sparkling with a childlike excitement, as though she had just found something delightful.

"Wh... who are you? Aren't you the woman I saw jump from the campus building earlier?" Arya stammered, his voice trembling as he tried to make sense of this surreal situation.

The woman's smile grew even wider. "Don't you think that's a bit dramatic? I'm Alena, Rika Alena. And you are?" she said cheerfully, her warm tone oddly soothing Arya's nerves.