Gray clouds were hanging in the sky, millions of raindrops are the first thing I see when opened my eyes. My body swung back and forth on the sea in a big storm, on the deck of a warship that will soon sink. The dozens attack of cannon finally able to destroy the bilge of the biggest and strongest warship across the ocean. The ship tilted 45 degrees to the left. Creating objects shifted to one side.

A wooden crate hit my head before finally crashed to the fence and plunged into the sea. My fate will end up the same if only the mast was not put a halt to my body. My breath is tight. This ship was on fire. Flames were everywhere. Burns anything that can be devoured. The heavy rain couldn't able extinguish it, it made even worse. An explosion can be heard again from the hull. The voice was deafening. It shook the entire ship. The thick smoke burst out following the direction of the wind, to the top of this deck.

If only my body can be moved, I'd do it before. But I can't. A stab wound on my abdomen kept me on this deck. Draining the blood, strength, and hope. Not to mention the bruises and other wounds that exist in my entire body. That just made me grateful to be alive until now.

The sound of cannons shouted to each other. Likewise, the metal clinking and thunder beam echoed in the air. The machine of warships was getting roaring tight. They don't care. They pretend not to see. Thousands of people were killed and wounded are ignored for the sake of winning each side. None of them are willing to surrender. Charge and win, that's on the minds of everyone in this ocean.

Including myself, who have failed for everyone's expectations. The pain from the wound starting to kill all my senses. I couldn't move. I can't hear. Plus, I can't see anything. All I could do was giving up to this situation. Drowned with darkness which has begun to wrap. This tranquility is the only luxury that I'd never felt during the war rages on. Somehow I remembered the memory of a few years ago. In the past, I'd felt this similar feeling. When my body floated in another dimension. Suddenly, I missed that past.

The time when I ... started everything.

==============

'Bald' is his nickname. Taken from his short hairstyle like an army. When his hair grows long, he would cut it with the same style. That's why the word 'bald' is always attached to him. However, only fellow contemporaries who dared to call him that. For those like us who are still new members, doing that is means looking for death.

"Hey, Midget! Give me that soy sauce!" He asked, sat across from me.

My hands were shaking after heard his surprising voice, I tried to give a bottle of soy sauce in a plastic bag. The light source in this darkness just from a campfire and incandescent lamps. When my hand wanted to give it, the mountain breeze suddenly blew. Plus, thanks to my less vigilant eyes, I dropped it accidentally.

"Hey, you're a fool! Give it carefully!!" He scolded me with a high voice.

"Y-Yeah! Sorry, Kak Indra!" (1)

My hands picked up the bottle again hastily, then gave it to him. In a moment, his eyes stabbed me deeply. I swallowed my saliva when observing his arm muscles that almost perfect form. With the background of large trees which illuminated by the glow of flames, his figure who was grilling fish similar to a soldier who was surviving in the wild forest.

Indra Pradipta or 'The Bald', now I'm dealing with a man who spent almost all his spare time to exercising and muscles shaping. No doubt, now her figure is not less than professional bodybuilders who often appears on television. With a posture like that, let alone a fellow student, I'm sure many adults are reluctant to him.

Compared with my thin and small body, I looked like gravel to him. So it's reasonable if I was a little afraid of him.

"Haha. Don't be grumpy like that, Captain! Pity him," said the girl who just arrived and immediately rub my head. Her hands had just picked up firewood in the forest, provide dust and soil debris on my hair. Then she put the firewood near a large tent.

"You are scared just like that? A man shouldn't be a crybaby!"

Right now I'm joining the inauguration of Tae Kwon Do new members club at the mountain slope. The place is far from the city and crowds, looked wild natural conditions, suitable for galvanizing mental of new members.

"Don't take it into your heart! His assessment was hard, but actually, he has a really good heart," said the girl.

"Y-Yeah!"

Shella Rinjani, a contemporary woman with Kak Indra, a senior who always encouraged and listened to the complaints of other people attentively. A type of sister who can be depended on by her younger siblings. With the beauty of an oriental face, made her popular among men. It seems that many club members who join this Tae Kwon Do club were after for her.

Well, but that has nothing to do with me, anyway. Rather than chasing a girl, I prefer to looking for ways to become more manly a hundred times than now. As I said before, I have a short and small body. Because of this, many people often make a joke on me and call me 'midget' or 'dwarf'. It was hurt at first. But because I used to hear it, It doesn't bother me anymore.

Frequent harassment and bullying that had in the past made my mental become mushy. By the time my dark periods in middle school, I always yielded when my classmates or seniors bullied me. They often did it to me, made me an errand boy, or tricked me out only to become a laughingstock when they're bored. Of course, this heart wants to fight, but I don't have the strength to do so. Because even though I fight back, with my strength obviously I will still lose in the end.

For that reason, I wanted to change myself when entering high school. I tried to get in the martial club that had never come to my mind at all. I obediently follow every instruction and the materials given by the coach. Of course at first, it was very difficult to follow this club because of this weak body and stamina. But I'm very grateful because all the members of the Tae Kwon Do didn't bully me. Instead, they always gave me the passion and drive.

I was grateful for the bitter experience in junior high did not recur any more.

"Where's Dimas? And the others too?" said Kak Shella who suddenly pat on my shoulder from behind.

It shocked me, my mouth was accidentally issued shrill cries like a woman. Kak Indra suddenly squinted his gaze. Perhaps he felt disgusted with my voice.

I decided to ignore it and look at Kak Shella, "I don't know about the others. But, Dimas went to the river. He said he wanted to wash his clothes because earlier he had fallen into the mud puddle."

"Hmm, I see. I want to ask him to prepare dinner. If I'm not mistaken, he promised that he would help me cook. But in fact, he could cook, couldn't he? Not just blabbering?"

"Of course, he could. He's a son of a restaurateur. No need to ask his cooking quality. I assure you it tasted delicious." It looked like my answers removed her doubts."Need me to call him?"

"If possible, It would help me so much," Shella replied with a grin.

"Well, then I'll go."

"Watch Out! Make sure you're not be swallowed by a crocodile!" Kak Indra shouted. The existence of that animal was nearly impossible to be at the shallow river downstream, especially in the mountains. But his face was too serious to be considered as a joke.

I was a little intimidated and just nodded without answering, and quickly went away. A soft voice of laughter owned by Kak Shella can be heard. And it looks like she was hitting the captain for made me scared before.

Ignoring those two who chortled, I immediately left. Armed with my phone flashlight, I stepped carefully. The surroundings around me were very dark, I had to pay attention well where I walk if I don't want to fall. Besides rocky, this path is also filled with the roots of trees growing on both sides of the road.

Wrapped by fear, my head turned reflexively from side to side when there was a sound. Sometimes there was the sound of birds perched on a tree branch above me, and several times my ears caught howling sounds like a wolf. My cowardice made me cringe every time I hear an unknown sound. But then, I decided to fight my fear and accelerate my pace to find Dimas immediately.

The more I walked, the more I clearly heard the sound of water gurgling. A cold wind blew on the sidelines of the trees' trunks then tickled me. I folded both hands to keep warm and then ignored that breezy wind.

When the sound of the water to the point where I heard it very clear, I arrived at the edge of the river which is quite large. The flow of water was not too heavy, caused a fairly mellow voice harmony in this evening. This was an amazing calming place in the middle of the forest, I thought.

Immediately, my ears caught the sound of unusual water flow. The sound was harsh and different from the natural stream river. I turned towards the sound source. I could find torrential water falling from a piece of clothing that was squeezing by.

"Dimas!" I said to the person sitting on a rock. It is not too far from the river bank where I stand.

Whether my voice was too small or he was too focus on washing his clothes, he didn't hear me. I couldn't speak louder, so I walked closer and greeted him.

"Hey!" I said while touching his shoulder that wasn't covered by clothes.

Dimas little surprised because of my sudden coming. His face showed a little annoyed, but he held it back when saw the person who surprised him was me.

"Damn you! I'm surprised, you know!" He blurted out and splashed the river water to me. My shirt around the left chest got wet. After vent his frustration, he smiled slightly as his return succeed.

"Hey, why did you do it? I don't intend to do it before."

"Accidentally or not, you still scared me," said Dimas. Knowing I wouldn't reply to his words, he continued, "what are you doing here? If you just want to bother me, you should go away."

"You promised to help Kak Shella cook the dinner, didn't you? She called you."

"Ah, that's right! I almost forget. Okay, but wait after I finished washing my clothes first."

That boy threw his shirt back into the water and rubbed it with a stone on the dirty part. Once clean, he repeated at the other dirty parts.

I sat on a rock located on the river banks and wait for Dimas. His upper body was not wearing anything, so I can clearly observe it from behind. He had good arm and back muscle, although not perfect as Kak Indra's, begun to form beautifully like an athlete. He had an ideal body shape that I greatly dreamed of.

Then I saw my own arm. Skinny, not muscular, even frail. It seems to chase him, I still have to through long and storied ways. Realizing it, made me laugh to myself.

"Hey ... you're crazy, huh ?! Why did you laugh to yourself?" Dimas sneered when he heard the sound of my laughter.

Slightly blushed, I bowed my face."No. I just laughed at myself."

That boy looked at me strangely. Then he burst out laughing and shook his head. Looked like I had to admit Kak Shella's words, Dimas was quite charming when he smiled. Although I'm a guy, I couldn't deny it. No wonder many women pursued him at the school.

Come up one point that I envied him. This person named Dimas Permana is actually my childhood friend. He had an oval face and a super sharp nose like an Arabian man. Maybe he inherited it from his grandfather who Yemenis. His height could be proud of for the size of teenagers who just entering high school.

He may be not so clever in the academic field. But when it comes to non-academic, he can't be underestimated. In the field of athletics and sports, he has always been a champion among the other students. Dimas also had qualified martial arts skills. He used to pursue pencak silat (2), then shifted to wushu, and now he trying to enter the world of taekwondo.

Suddenly crossed an idea that tickled my mind. If Dimas fight against Kak Indra, who will win, huh?

"When I first met you, I thought you were a strange child. But now I'm sure, you've got more strange today!" he said, laughing.

Although sometimes his words sound harsh, his heart isn't like that. I dare to say it. Because he always stands up for me when I'm being bullied. As for me, he is a superhero like in the movies.

"Let's go back! I want to change my clothes!" said Dimas after finished washing his shirt. "I hope this shirt could be dry tomorrow morning."

I nodded slowly. He went down from the top of the rock. His hands holding wet clothes that he had just washed. Then walked along the edge of the river with an open upper body. It's surely quite extreme when the wind blew with breezy. Not to mention the cold of the night at the mountains which always at a low temperature. That might not mean anything for Dimas. But for me, it was enough to make limp and lost consciousness.

Directly behind him, I walk carefully. The leg length difference between us, made our distance widened several times. Instead of asking him to adjust my pace, I would try to equalize the speed. A quick walk over small stones on the river bank was quite difficult. I almost lost my balance because of the stone that I step on, then slipped to the side. I purposely didn't tell Dimas so he won't consider me too weak. While at the same time trying not to worry him too much.

Suddenly, my eyes inadvertently caught a golden flash from the riverbed. Then I stopped and tried to observe carefully. Somehow I'm very curious about this. There's a possibility that was a light reflection from metal. But soon I get rid that thought. Although that was a metal, it's impossible to reflect light when there wasn't enough light source. The forest was quite dark. The lighting in here only from my cell phone flashlight and the dim moonlight, which I think was very weak to penetrate to the bottom of the river.

"Hey, what's up?" asked Dimas, noticed me who halted in silent. But I ignored him. A few moments later, the light was shining again. This time was quite bright and clear, to made me believe that it wasn't a mere hallucination.

"Hey! Did you see that light?" I said, pointing to the mysterious light that is now gone.

"Light!? Hmm ... no. I didn't see anything."

I could see the seriousness expression on his face. Dimas was playful, but because it has been a long time with him, I could tell when he was joking or serious. The light was once again sparkling, but still, Dimas admitted to not see it.

It was quite strange. Because I could see it very clearly. A second later, I don't know what's on my mind, I'm trying to get into the river after removing my footwear. By heeding the warning Dimas who kept yelling, it automatically brings me out from his liability if something happens. My feet feel the cold water of the river and the sharp rock surfaces at the same time. Gently, I keep coming toward the golden light which is glowing repeatedly.

The more I walked towards the middle of the river, the riverbed became deeper and starting to swallow me. The water was wetting my back and chest. I never thought about the river would be this deep. Curiosity helped me defeat my fears and made me go forward. Step by step, the distance between that glowing flash and I was decreasing. Looked like it didn't take a long time to—.

Suddenly, I lost my balance due to a miscalculation. I didn't think the next leg footing much deeper than before. Flows were quite heavy in the middle of the river, made me sank to the bottom. I tried flapping my hands and kicking the riverbed to get back to the surface. My breath was getting tight every second as if there was something choked my neck. At that time I just realized, I couldn't swim.

I kept trying and trying my best to get back afloat. But it was useless. At the time I thought that the riverbed was my deathbed, suddenly there was something that keeps me surviving for a minute longer. Just when I was at the bottom of the river, my eyes fixed on something. It was a shimmering golden light source before. The riverbed was so dark, I couldn't see anything other than the light. With some difficulty, I tried to bring my body closer towards the light.

But something was holding me to reach it. A large force pulling me up. When I reversed my body, I found Dimas who is trying to save me. That guy forcefully pulled me up. I gave a little fight back. It doesn't mean I don't want him to save me. However, it's because I wanted to get something that was almost accomplished with my own abilities. I reached my hand out to grasp the light. But not even slightest my fingertips reached it. Until the end, Dimas used all his power to bring me back to the surface.

"Hahh ... hah."

In a few seconds later, I'm breathing as much as possible after afloat to the river surface. Then Dimas dragged me to the riverbank in order to get away from the place that nearly lost my life.

I crouched on the ground and start coughing. But it's still better than got drowned forever in the dark riverbed. I was lucky enough to be still alive. If Dimas didn't help me, perhaps this time I—.

"You idiot !!! What do you think you did back there!!?" Dimas snapped with a loud voice. "Why did you challenged the danger? Did you think you have many lives? Or you think I will always be here for you and help you, huh? What if I was not here? You would already dead right now !!"

His remarks rattled my heart. But he was right. It's all my fault. I'm ashamed. So bashful and sorry to Dimas who was always good to me. Everything that happens made me bowed my head and could only say a word, "sorry!"

After that, no words come out from Dimas's mouth. He just looked at me with a look of pity. Then scratched his head and sighed. "Oh, whatever! The important thing is you're safe and sound now. Let's get back to the camp and dried off." He reversed his body while grumbling. "Damn! Not only clothes, but my whole body is all wet!"

When he walked away, I started raising my head. Honestly, I'm very grateful to him. Thanks for saved me before, and sorry for made you worry, I said.

After making sure the boy is a bit far away from me, I opened my hand. In the palm of my right hand, there was a polygon-shaped small object with an octagonal star carving. It has two opposite sides. One side was bulging part with such writing ancient characters. Meanwhile, on the other side was the flat part, where there was a small hook and a needle. Is this sort of a pin?

I observed it more carefully and summed up. No doubt, this is the source of the mysterious light that seen before in the riverbed. I'm very sure of that. Because after I took this thing, I don't see the golden sparkle from there anymore. It made me wonder, this thing was no longer shining after I lifted it to the surface. As if it gave a signal to me to took it out of the riverbed and made it mine.

"Really, what is this?"

*****************

(1) In Indonesia, the word 'Kak' is used to refers to elder siblings. It can also be used to refers to seniors.

(2) Pencak Silat is the indigenous martial art of Indonesia.

My hands were cradling that thing in the grip, an ancient rusty shaped star-pin. The size was similar to the old one hundred Rupiah. My eyes glued to the rough sketch and scratch that circles one side, which seems a written text.

These letters were a little strange but similar to ancient characters. The stroke was too neat and perfect to say just a mere scratch.

At least I recognized it wasn't Javanese or Sundanese ancient characters. Because I had already known those two even though I didn't quite understand it. This character also didn't come from Japan, China, or Korea. This might come from other areas, or maybe from distinct parts of the world. I had no idea either. Because of the limited knowledge that I possessed, my head hurt when overthought about it.

"Hoi, why are you silent there, dammit!? Aren't you cold? If you want to look for death once more, it's up to you! But don't expect I'll help you again!" Shouted Dimas from a distance.

"Yeah, sorry, wait for me!"

With the rush, I put a star pin into the back pocket of my pants. Then went after the man who had walked the small road to go back to the camp. Not much different as the previous time, I had a little trouble crossing the trail filled with stones and roots of these trees. But at least I passed more quickly. Because I just follow the footsteps Dimas, who was in front of me.

Once we arrived at the campsite, the smell of grilled fish meat directly pierced my nostrils. Inviting hunger in the middle of the cold that enveloped my wet body. Near a campfire, Kak Indra put some fish freshly baked onto plastic plates. Then get ready to put more fish to the grill. Kak Shella was the first to be aware of our existence.

"Oh, you're both back? Wait, Dimas! Did you go to the river to wash clothes or take a bath?" She showed surprise expression when she saw our condition. "Jeez, Anggi! Why are you also soaking wet? "

"It's all because of this fool! He couldn't swim, but he really wanted to play in the river. So I inevitably help him when he has almost swept away earlier," Dimas replied curtly. It seems he was annoyed. That man didn't hesitate when snorted in front of my nose.

"You should have let him drown. Don't bother to save people who really want to find death!" Said Kak Indra who sat beside the campfire.

"I wish the hell. But remembered that he still owes me a hundred thousand Rupiahs. So, I had to save him." Angry Dimas walked directly to out both tent that established a few meters away from the fire.

He was indeed issued sharp words. It would be a blatant lie if I said those words didn't hurt me. But I never took it to my heart. Because I know he didn't mean to say it honestly. I'm very familiar with the nature of my close friend. Although it is a bit rough, in fact, he was a very caring person. If not, it's unlikely he's going to save me from sinking earlier. Then scold me if he didn't feel worried about me. You could say that his bold trait was the shield that covers his soft nature inside.

One more thing, I'll pay my debt later.

I followed Dimas toward the tent. Took the dry clothes out of the bag, and then changed the wet ones. Of course, I didn't forget to take the mysterious star pin out from my pocket. Then put it inside the pouch of new pants. Indeed I changed behind a large tree near here. Because I feel a little embarrassed when my body emaciated seen by others. Unlike Dimas, who casually dressed in front of the tent. As if he really wanted to show off his body to others. Instead, Kak Shella and other female members have averted their eyes because they feel ashamed of themselves.

After changing clothes, we joined other friends. Where all Taekwondo members who participated, had gathered near the bonfire. A man was helping to bake fish. He was Kak Erik, one of the closest Kak Indra's friend often called "The Java" for his homeland. Also, there were first-year students like me; the twins Vian and Vani. Because their identical, people may often be mistaken for them.

The atmosphere was more lively and fun. Because in the middle of cooking, some people like to tell a joke. The subject could be anything. But most often were the funny club moments in the past. As a new member, of course, it caught my attention. I just found out that Kak Indra ever wore cheerleader uniform.

That happened when that man challenged his senior when he was a freshman. He Lost. As punishment, he was forced to wear a uniform of cheerleader club. Kak Erik, who joined the club from the beginning was showing photos of Kak Indra wearing that "bling-bling" uniform to everyone.

Do you imagine it? When his grim face and muscular body wrapped in a super cute outfit. Suddenly everyone laughed about it. While Kak Indra in shame, trying to catch up and beat the man who took his picture.

Because the atmosphere is fun and togetherness of all these people, I could feel the warmth in my heart. A unique thing that is rarely felt. I was very fortunate to be accepted as a part of them. This is what I'll make provisions to move forward.

About an hour later, the dinner has ended. Some people are assigned to wash tableware, some are given the task for tidy up the collected firewood. As for me, being in the 'not doing anything' and remain in place. Between not needed or just be troublesome, I was placed in this area for those reasons.

Dimas came up after the completion of clearing firewood near the campsite. And then sat on the mat, next to me. Taking a packet of corn chips from Kak Indra, and ate it up. Then he offered that snack and handed it to me.

"Nope! I am full."

"Really? Too bad! Though the chips were delicious!" His voice sounded so bright while his mouth was full.

"The chips that you said tasty is mine, bastard!" Kak Indra, who doesn't like his food taken out from his hands, seize back what belonged to him.

"You're so stingy, Captain! I just had some! "

Feeling ignored by Kak Indra protest, Dimas snorted boldly in disgust behind Kak Indra's back. That scene made me let out my laughter. I think it was quite funny when Dimas sulked like that. Pouting like a child to his mother.

"Why are you laughing?" Dimas raised his eyebrow.

"It is nothing. Just forget it," I said, smiled lightly. That boy was silent for a while staring at me. As if there was something funny on my face that caught his attention. He also didn't say anything to me. After a long time, I felt a little uncomfortable about it. "What's wrong? Is there something strange on my face?"

"I've seen you frequently like this, but let me tell you this time."

"Seeing me like this?" I wondered.

"You look like a woman. From the way you speak, your voice, your mind, and your attitude, I felt like I was dealing with a woman every time."

"No way! I am a real man, you know!"

"I'm sure if you dressing up with girl's clothes, there will be a lot of men attracted to you."

"Wh-What the hell are you talking about!!?" I protested loudly.

Loud laughter escaped from his mouth. "Relax! I am just kidding. Seeing you angry like this is very funny. I really couldn't stop laughing. Very amusing!"

Dimas's laughter becomes the center of other's attention. Fortunately, the conversation was just between us. If widespread surely, I would be very embarrassed. Maybe I would follow the previous action by Kak Indra, chasing and trying to hit the person on my side.

However, if you think about it well, maybe it's precise words. Sometimes I feel my trait is similar to women.

That's because I grew up and was raised by a mother and two elder sisters. Father had left my family for another woman when I was five. Deeply hurt by him, my mother decided not to marry again until today. So I don't know how it feels to have a father and raised by a man.

Set aside myself, I always think bad about men. But my views changed after met Dimas. Not only protect me whom continuously bullied by others. He is also kind to everyone. One day, there was a little kitten who fell into the river, and he saved regardless of the heavy stream and rain. I was touched. It was like watching a real hero in the real world. Maybe that makes me want to be like him.

Since then, I've always followed him wherever he goes, and tried to follow all his behavior and speaking style. This little heart hoped that if I could be akin to Dimas. But no matter how often I followed him, I could never approach someone who I admired. I have to accept the fact that there is a large separation wall between him and me.

Nevertheless, the desire remains unchanged. I wanted both my mental and physical get stronger. I wanna have great courage and spirit. I also wanted me to be useful to others. I didn't deny if I wanted to be some kind of hero, precisely the same as Dimas. Although it took a long time to achieve it, I'll keep trying. No matter how much time will be spent.

"H-Hey, stupid!" Suddenly I was startled by the Dimas's rising sound. He shook me for the sake interrupting my dreaming. When I looked at him, startled expression directed at my lower body. "Look at that!"

I immediately followed the direction of his fixed gaze. A light was shining brightly from my back pocket pants. Instinctively I stood up as soon as possible. Then remembered if it was where I kept the mysterious star pin after changing clothes. While trying to take it very carefully and slowly, I felt the gaze of all the people who were around. It's weird. Whereas before I thought no one could see the light of this pin except me.

Dazzling golden yellow light was emitted from the sidelines of the hand grip. The intensity is too high. Dark trees looked like having their own glow after the ray doused it. Even the bonfire which was a primary light source here, was nothing when compared with the star pin. I closed my eyes with the other hand because it is too blinding.

"What is it, Anggi?" Asked Kak Shella who also blocked his view to not look at it directly.

"I have no idea. I just picked it up."

All the people fell silent and stunned by the light that radiates from within my grasp. So do I. Because this thing shines more brightly than when it was the bottom of the river.

"I'm feeling bad from it. I think you should return it to its original place!"

Anxiety appears on Kak Shella's face. That girl was biting her bottom lip. I looked at the people around me. Although no one was talking, their expressions showed similarities to one vote. Including Dimas. The boy nodded to express consent. Probably from the beginning, I really shouldn't take any origin object just because of high curiosity.

Due to a somewhat chaotic situation, I intend to carry out Kak Shella's idea. I hold the star pin tightly, planning to return it to the riverbed. I caught all the light by hands, although there is still radiating through my fingers.

Suddenly, I felt an extreme pain. The palm of the hand I used to hold that thing was heating up. Suddenly I was tossed open palms. I flinched when I found that luminous pin began to enter my body slowly. Ignoring the whole world, my eyes glued to the scenery that surprised me half to death.

A moment later, it disappeared. Imprint on my palm, then hot steam somehow continually out of me.

"Wh-What's this !!?" I yelled. Unable to withstand the heat that burned my hands, I shouted. Grimacing in pain and crying uncontrollably until falling to the ground. Hot steam kept blowing out of my arms and continue to wrap me.

"Anggi!!"

The first person who approached me was Dimas. He took my hand and tried to douse it with mineral water. But rather than extinguished it, the burning was worsening. Even the heat starting spreads the whole body. Some people try to flush my body with water. But it was useless. The heat had been burned all over me.

I rolled around on the ground while yelling desperately. My body was as if were placed on the grill with a fire burning, and that imagery became true. My whole body starting to baked. Not like a person who just sunbathes on the beach, but more similar to the burning charcoal embers. In some parts, my skin began to crack and peel.

The pain was quickly spread throughout the body and organs inside me. Until I no longer strong enough to move around and screaming. My whole body was numb. My eyes only could see black color. My ears are no longer able to catch any sound. The smell of the meat was burned, was the last time I sniff.

"Why is this happening to me? What have I done to be this way?"

For a while, I felt oscillated in a dark and vacuum room. A different dimension, where there was nothing than the cold empty space. There's nothing I could do here. Besides waiting for this room to took me where ever it wanted.

"Why was this happening to me? Am I going to really die?"

I didn't know what crossed in my mind. I thought to die like this was not a bad thing. Perhaps this incident would make me stop troubling others. It was just an idea in my head. But inside my heart, I was screaming muttered this misfortune.

I still wanted to live. I wanted to be useful to others. At least I didn't want to die in a state that couldn't do anything.

"That, I ...."

Suddenly I felt pulled by the gravitational force. I wonder what happened, the empty dimension where I was, was shrinking, before finally disappeared without a trace.

My body seemed to be thrown from a height at high speed. The crazy cold was piercing my bones from all directions. My breathing a bit tight because of lack of oxygen and heavy air pressure. My five senses started functioning. Full control over my whole body came back to me. The first thing was my ear that captured noises. At first, sounded faint, but increasingly echoing in my ears.

"What was this ...?! What happened!?"

"We're surely going to die if this keeps going ... !!!"

"Why are we suddenly fell from the sky? !!!"

I opened my eyes and realized the sound that I heard before was the screaming of Dimas and my clubmates. Their figure somehow suddenly appeared at my side. Haven't had time to think it clearly, I have been shocked again. When looked up, a vast expanse of green forest posted in plain sight. On the other side, a super big morning sun peeked out from behind the arch sky. Although hindered clouds, I'm pretty sure its size was several times larger than the usual sun I knew. My head was spinning. But that didn't make me not realized if I was falling from the sky in a state upside down.

Wait! What's on earth going on?

I tried to recall all events by sequence. It was all started when I picked up a pin on the riverbed. Then it suddenly shined brightly, releasing the heat that grilled over my body. After that, I'm seriously didn't know what happened, my clubmates and I miraculously were above the sky. My common sense really couldn't sum up all these strange incidents became one.

But for now, didn't bother about it. Below us, there was a vast forest which got closer. With this height, anyone would die if hit the ground. Plus I didn't have something like a parachute to slow the pace of gravity.

Suddenly, there was someone who took my sleeve. He also squeezed another person's shirt with one hand.

"Hold me! didn't let go anything happens!"

Dimas?

At his command, everyone was trying to hold each other. Not all immediately did so. Because some people are in fear or waiting to be rescued. At first, I fell down irregularly, but after squeezed him, my directions track turned. Dimas did a maneuver in the air and led to a large river, that divided the green forest into two.

Every second ran out, the distance of us with the river down there was trimmed. I was got ready while closing my eyes. Telling my body position to did perpendicular for reducing the pain from the impact with the water surface elevation.

A few moments later, my body fell hard into the river. I felt like crushed by force. One thing I grateful was for the river depths that so deep, hence not made me hit the riverbed directly. Below the river surface was crystal clear waters, making my eyes caught some figure of other people who fell into the river. Because I couldn't swim, relying on the Dimas's arm was the only I could do right now.

That man took me to the surface. The fresh air got into my lungs, now I could breathe normally. Dimas trying to drag another person and me to the edge. The river flowed swiftly, making it difficult for us to get to the other side. My head was repeatedly immersed below the surface of the river. We were almost washed away before being caught in the rocks. Although I couldn't swim, I tried to move my arms and legs as much as possible. Hoping at least helped us a little bit away from the middle of the river.

After struggling for some time, we finally managed to get to shore. I coughed and let out water from my mouth. My head was still a bit dizzy. My hands were trembling. I was so scared. Really, I didn't believe I could survive after what just happened.

"Bring here! Lay him down!"

Without realizing it, Dimas was helping someone who fainted after pulled him out from the water, while I was frightened to death. Then he went again to the river for helping others who were swept away. Not only Dimas but other friends who are still fine also helped him. It seemed that his action has moved the hearts of the people.

It took no time until everyone was rescued. Luckily there was no one seriously injured. Most are bruises caused by collisions with river water and rocks on the riverbed. Most people seemed traumatized by what we had just experienced. Likewise with me. Snuggled under a tree while hugging my own wet body, to reduce trembling and fear from inside me.

"Is everyone survived?" Asked Kak Indra.

"I think, yes."

"There's another person who hasn't survived," said Dimas, sitting on a stump. The looked on his face dogged by sadness. "It's Anggi. We couldn't find him. We even didn't know what happened to him after he suddenly disappeared into the mist. I hope he's alright."

Wait, what did he just say? I'm glad he was worried about me, but I really disliked being forgotten. Especially when I was right next to him. But there was something strange. Not only Dimas who showed expression like that. Everyone looked depressed. As if they mourned what happened to me.

I'm astonished. Did they also forget my presence?

Strengthening my courage, I raised my hand so that everyone could see me." Umm ... I'm here."

Having realized my presence, they were surprised. Exchanged glances each other with puzzled faces. Paused awhile for observing me, like a someone when tried to buy goods carefully. I felt a little uncomfortable. As if stripped by the intense gaze from everyone here. Some of them seemed to whisper. Dimas turned to me and raised his eyebrow.

"I've been curious since before. Who are you, Miss? I didn't remember anyone like you in the Taekwondo club. And also ... I'm curious about this. Sorry if I'm not polite!" That man looked at me strangely, then swallowed his saliva.

I'm crawling back against the trunk of a tree when Dimas extended his hand towards my face. His fingers got closer to my cheek and then caressed my long hair that down to the chest.

Wait a minute! I never remembered my hair would be this long.

"Gosh!" Yelled Dimas while touching my ear. He stroked it gently as an old man twisted his beard. "Who and what are you, Miss? You have pointed-long ears!"

Immediately I held both my own ear. Groping from bottom to top. There was a mismatch shape, texture, and long earlobes my current ears with I remembered. My ears now had a softer feel and elastic. But the most outstanding was its 20cm length.

"Wh-what's this? What happened to me?" I yelled roughly.

"Quiet for a while! First of all, could you mention your name? Then, had you fallen from the sky with us before?" Asked Dimas while touching my trembling shoulder.

"I am ... Anggi. Anggi Nandatria."

Again, everyone exchanged glances with mouth opened. They were clearly confused. So was I because of their reaction. Did they really forget about me?

"Anggi? Your name was similar to our smallest member," said the club captain who was drying clothes on a tree branch.

"It's me, Anggi the Midget. Did you forget you're the one who gave me that nickname?"

When everyone was astonished, Dimas suddenly grasped my shoulders tightly. I was so frightened to see his sharp gaze. This time he looked at me with that way. "Hey, we've just lost a friend. I won't forgive you if you lie."

"But I'm really Anggi. Why I have to tell a lie?" I answer simply.

"But ... you are different from Anggi I knew."

"Different? What's your mean?"

The guy stammered. Repeatedly opened his mouth, but no sound out. Instantly my eyes glued on his exposed forehead, showed clearly the trace of stitches along two knuckles. It reminds me of something.

"That wound," I said, pointed to his forehead. "You got it when fell from a tree on the school backyard when we first met."

Dimas startled. Her eyes widened at me in disbelief. Maybe in his mind, he was wondering how I could know about it.

But of course, I knew. How could I forget the proof of my friendship with him? That wound created because he tried to retrieve my bag that caught on top of the tree. At that time, I was often bullied by my classmates, but I thought this was too excessive. No one could help me. It was late afternoon, and the location of the tree was located a little away from the school. At the moment, I cried endlessly under a tree until Dimas came to help me.

He climbed a tall tree to took my bag, though in the end, he fell because of a slip. But he just laughed and told me not to worry him. Because of that incident, I made friend with him.

If I remembered, Dimas wasn't among those who liked to tell about the past and personal matters to others. So I was very confident, in addition to his family, only me who knew about the origin of the wound on his forehead. If he still didn't believe after this, I didn't know what else to make him trust me. I knew my ears turned into pointed-long ones, But ... why he came to doubt that I was Anggi?

Does the changing of my ears were too significant that made them didn't recognize me?

"Why are all of you doubting about me?" I asked with a big question mark in my mind.

"That's not what I mean. Anggi, are you aware of the changes happening to you?" Said Kak Shella softly.

"The changes? Oh, right! I wanna know why my ears became long ones like this. And my hair too."

"Hey, did you know? It's not only your ears," said Dimas. Then turned to the other direction. "Is there anyone could lend me a mirror?"

One of the identical twins, Vian, groped into her wet sweater pocket and took out a folding mirror from it. Dimas received it from her hand, and then he gave it to me.

Everyone was silent and waiting. It's a bit annoying, but I tried to ignore it. The surface was so slick. After four attempts, I finally able to open the folding mirror. There were some water droplets on the surface. I wiped it out by hand so the mirror could be used.

At once, I was flabbergasted by a portrait in the mirror. There was a reflection of a young girl. The chestnut eyes looked stern and dazzling. She has a small and pointed nose. Her face was enhanced with thin red lips which looked very sensual, even though not wearing lipstick. However, the most caught my attention was the presence of something stuck out of the long and thick hair of mine. I pushed aside it behind my ear. As I thought before, the earlobe was indeed had a long shape and pointed tip. The form that was very different from ordinary people.

One thing I noticed, this image was not another person, but myself. Instantly astonished, my mental was fell down rapidly.

"I-It's me ...?" I said with a shuddering voice.

It couldn't be denied again, the figure of a young girl in the mirror was me. In that second, I instantly rechecked my own body. I realized the other irregularities at my body. My light brown skin became fair white like Korean or Japanese girls. With the softness of silk and smooth without any hair. On the chest, growing two average lumps that men hadn't have. Not only that, but I also didn't feel any presence of my willy between my legs.

I was shuddering again after noticing many changes in me. No, rather than the changes, it was more like full transformation to a new body. The greatest fear wrapped my heart. I dropped the mirror. Bowed my head while tightly grasped my hair.

"Impossible! This was fuck*ng impossible!"

"Calm down first! I knew you were very shocked. For now, don't panic! Let's think about it together." Kak Shella embraced my shoulders and stroked the back of my head, making me feel a little better.

"So, What else should be considered? Didn't all this happen because of him? I mean her. Geez ... whatever! It's all Anggi's fault we all caught a strange black mist, and then miraculously fell from the sky, and lastly ... we are stranded in the middle of a random forest!" Kak Erik suddenly shouted with a tense tone.

"Wait! Don't blame him from alleged arbitrarily like that! I'm sure there must be a logical explanation of these incidents," protested Kak Shella.

"Explanation? It's clearly obvious! All seemed fine before he took that fuck*ng strange thing!! If-."

"Shut your mouth, bastard! Couldn't you silent for a while or not!!?" During the debate, Dimas suddenly screamed loud. His voice was able to thrill people's heart and made silent instantly. That man glared at his upperclassman.

"What did you mean to say that, huh? Didn't you think you're too cocky? Finally, a time comes for me to punch that handsome face."

Kak Erik's tendency not to be outdone made he wanted to vent his emotions. But soon held by Kak Indra beside him.

"Shut up, you two! It's not the time for arguing or fighting, it's better for us to think about getting out of here. was there anybody who still have a mobile phone on?" Kak Indra instructed everyone to check their luggage. Many of their phones were off because of a short-circuit or lost it at the river. There was only one person who still has a phone on." Did you get a signal? Could you call someone?" Asked Kak Indra to that person.

"No, I couldn't get any signal at all."

"Actually, where are we now? This forest was very different from where we were camping," he muttered as he looked around.

I followed his gaze. It was really precise to Kak Indra's words, the structure and composition of forests were different. The trees in this forest grew very tall and could reach a few tens of meters, unlike previous short one woods. With the shade of the foliage, made a few trees formed canopies which overlapped each other, shaded anyone who was below it.

The intensity of the sunlight fell down was not too much, because the environment around here was damp. Green moss and grasses thrive on tree trunks and rocks. Coupled with the wide crystal clear streams and large lakes

"Looks like we are not in the camping site forest. Whereas before it was night, but this time the sun actually about to rise," said Kak Shella.

"Have we underwent some sort of teleportation?" Said Vani, who suddenly pulls out his voice." Just like in the western movies?"

"I didn't know. But obviously, we have really moved to another place."

"Hey, did you hear something?"

Because of Dimas's words, everyone immediately silent. I tried to sharpen the hearing sense. From a distance, the conversation sound of several people could be heard clearly by my ears. There were probably about five or seven people, some of them were women, and there was a kind of animal sound too. Although I could hear them, I didn't know what was discussed by them because it was too far away. Their footsteps noise indicated that they were headed here.

"They're coming!" I said quietly.

Dimas and other people were turned to follow the direction of my gaze. Everyone seemed to be cautious and vigilant. Every second, voice conversations and footsteps were more clearly heard. I swallowed my saliva. Scared when bad luck that happened today, still hasn't ended.

One second later, some people came out of the lush trees. They gasped and froze when meeting us. Those people were wearing strange clothes like tribesmen. Equipped some traditional weapons such as arrows, daggers, spears, and some sort of machetes.

But what made me and other friends wonder was the existence of animals that kept whinnying. Look gallantly with white fur without stain, long and curly tail to touch the ground. Its shape was almost similar to a horse. But what set it apart was a single protruding horn from his head. Somehow, the animal remembered me on the mythical beast that often appears in fairy tales, the Unicorn.

In the next time I took a breath, that people are in attacking stance, directed their arrows, while two men who are held dagger and spear came forward and pointed their weapons at us. Suddenly I had the reflex to stand and took cover behind a tree. While others took a step back.

"Calm down! We didn't intend to intrude your forest! We got lost. Could you lend us help?" Asked Dimas who came forward, raised both hands as if to yielded.

They responded with a cold stare. I thought they were didn't use Bahasa or local languages. It was clearly strange words.

Yet somehow ... I could understand their words.

"What did he say? These people ... aren't looked like people who lived around here," said the spearman.

"You are right. Their clothes strange!" replied skinny ones.

"So what are we going to do to them? It could be dangerous if the news about us spread to Elvian city."

"We'll kill them. Nobody would care about the news of the bodies found in the woods like this. I'll start to rip the face of this handsome boy! From the beginning, I didn't like all handsome men." The ugly face of this skinny man looked disgusted at Dimas's confusion face.

"Well! I'll count to three." Two men nodded simultaneously without distracted their eyes. "One ... two ... THREE!"

"Wait a minute!" I wondered what I was thinking. Just before the two men thrusting their armaments at us, I suddenly jumped forward Dimas and held them back, as if protected him with my body. "Hold your weapons! We really didn't mean any harm to you. We got lost and wanted to get out of this forest."

Both of them looked at each other. Then turned to their colleagues in the back. Those people probably didn't think there would be one among us who could speak in their tongue. So did me. Although the words were very different, my ears and mouth as had known it for a long time. So I had no trouble understanding even speaking in their language.

After some time, one of them-who seemed the leader of this group came to me. He was a middle-aged man whose big and muscular body. His face looked terrifying yet dignified. Seemed to accentuate his leadership aura. His eyes were sharp, able to give intimidation to all his opponents. He looked at me for a while. Then, without further ado immediately revealed the hair that covered my ears.

"Elvian! This woman was Elvian!" cried the skinny. They seemed stunned after looked at me, or more precisely towards my earlobe.

"She's not Elvian," said the leader. "Her hair was dark brown, not golden bright. Also, her skin isn't yellow pale like the long-eared race. Physically, she is not much different from us humans."

"Then what is she actually?"

"Haier-Elvian," murmured the leader. "The worst race ever."

They were shocked. Looking straight at me with their eyes almost popped out. While I paused where I stood without knowing the meaning of the leader's word. As a person who had just stranded in the middle of nowhere, I didn't understand any particular terms in this place.

Maybe for now I just assumed it was just a passing wind, and thought all will be back to usual. But this was my big mistake. Because all sequence of strange events that I just had, will lead me to the way of life full of dangers in the future.