Episode 11

The figure before him was indeed there and was falteringly advancing in his direction. Dimas retreated to avoid it, while still seated on the floor.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Dimas tried to dodge, constantly moving back as the figure drew closer to him. Dimas could see it was the same figure he had seen beneath the banyan tree—a woman dressed in a traditional kebaya.

Dimas watched as the figure ceased its approach. Restlessly, he feared it would suddenly appear in front of his face, just as he had seen in horror films.

But Dimas's assumption was wrong. The figure halted and pointed outside. Dimas turned to follow the direction indicated by the figure. It was pointing at the banyan tree in the house's courtyard.

Dimas looked back to where the woman had stood, but she was nowhere to be found. A sigh of relief escaped him, no longer seeing the figure. Then he stood up, gazing at the banyan tree in the courtyard.

*There must be something there\,* Dimas thought to himself. Without further thought\, he walked out to check the banyan tree in front of the house.

When he was mere steps away from the banyan tree, something seemed to pull him from behind, and Dimas was thrown back about five meters.

"OW!" Dimas cried out as he felt as though all his bones were crushed by the impact on the pavement. Engrossed in his pain, he heard the giggling of a woman.

Thump.

Dimas's heart raced even more erratically. Nevertheless, he summoned the strength to see what was happening before him. Slowly he lifted his head, and to his shock, he saw the spectral figure from the bathroom hovering before him.

But when Dimas's gaze drifted below, he saw a woman in a kebaya standing behind what he could only describe as a disheveled ghost, its face damaged, one eyeball protruding.

The kebaya-clad figure shook her head at Dimas, signaling that he should not come any closer. Dimas's mind was in disarray, especially as the ghostly figure looked steadily at him.

With the last of his strength, and prayers continuously uttered, Dimas bravely stood up to approach the banyan tree again. But once more, something dragged his feet.

Scraaape.

"AAAAAH!" Dimas screamed, feeling pain throughout his body. He could taste the iron tang of blood on his lips. His head was pounding. After a few seconds, his vision darkened, and as he lost sight, he glimpsed the woman in the kebaya disappearing with the laughter of the ghost that had been before him.

*

"Dimas! Wake up, Dimas! Why are you here?" Riko panicked upon finding Dimas sprawling in the courtyard. He was intending to prepare breakfast, but instead found Dimas lying helpless in front of the house.

Dimas's eyes fluttered open. He saw daylight, a stark contrast to the previous dark night.

"Riko?" Dimas said weakly upon seeing his friend patting his cheek. "Yes, it's me, Dimas. Let's go inside," Riko suggested, helping Dimas to his feet and supporting him back into the house.

"This can't be ignored any longer, Rik. We must act quickly," Satrio interjected after hearing Dimas's account of his ordeal. Dimas had recounted everything.

"Yes, we need to take action," Riko agreed with Satrio. Dimas also nodded in confirmation. "We must find someone experienced to solve the mystery of all this," Dimas said.

Riko nodded in agreement. "I'll ask my grandfather for help with this. I'll call him to come here," Riko finally resolved.

"Alright, Dim. You rest now. We'll all watch over you," assured Satrio, empathizing with Dimas as he had been in a similar situation.

Dimas nodded and murmured his thanks to his friends. After they left, Dimas closed his eyes, exhausted and in pain throughout his body.

Before long, Dimas fell asleep. In his sleep, he dreamed again of the girl named Bening, the dream continuing from where the previous one had left off.

"When you're this beautiful, surely Mr. Broto will be pleased because his bride has been exchanged for someone prettier," said Aunt Bening, causing Bening to gasp in disbelief at her aunt's words.

"You mean to marry me to Mr. Broto? But it's you and uncle who have the debt. Why do I have to get married, why not your own daughter?" Bening protested, feeling it was unfair her future was being destroyed.

"Just be quiet, don't protest too much. Now, I have nothing left because all the wealth has become mine," said a girl suspected to be Aunt Bening's daughter.

Without further delay, someone whom Bening called "Aunt" dragged her swiftly out of the room. Stumbling, Bening followed where her aunt was taking her.

Once in the courtyard, Bening saw her uncle seated in the car, acting arrogantly. Bening couldn't keep complying with these so-called family members with devilish behaviors.

Bening ran to evade being forcibly married by an old man named Mr. Broto. She easily freed herself from her aunt's grip and ran toward the banyan tree for cover.

"Don't you run away! Papa, catch her!" Aunt Bening's shriek followed by her own pursuit, as well as her brother's—Bening's uncle. Bening dodged, determined not to be caught by the devil-hearted humans.

Bening glanced towards the exit, unguarded by anyone. When she turned to run that way, her body was forcefully yanked back by her uncle.

Bening was trapped. "Got you! No more nonsense from you," warned Aunt Bening. Bening struggled, pushing her aunt forcefully until she fell to the ground. She also bit her uncle's hand until he let go.

Bening ran again, looking back fearfully at her pursuers. However, she had forgotten about her cousin, who was also in on the trap.

Unaware, Bening didn't notice her cousin standing near the banyan tree, clutching a baseball bat, ready to strike her down to prevent any further resistance.

THUD!

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