Without giving the hair clip another thought, Dimas quickly stepped outside to fulfill his promise to everyone: to prepare dinner.
Upon reaching the living room\, Dimas found it deserted. *Where is everyone? And where's Grandpa Faqih?* he pondered to himself.
Not wanting to add to his headache, Dimas chose to head to the kitchen and get started on his promise. He glanced inside the refrigerator, finding chicken, potatoes, carrots, and tempeh.
Dimas paused for a moment to decide what kind of meal to make. Once he had an idea, he began to mix all the spices and ingredients. He was set on making chicken soup complemented with carrots and potatoes. As for the tempeh, Dimas would fry it with onion and salt seasoning.
After chopping all the ingredients, Dimas boiled the water first. Then, he fried the finely chopped spices. He added all the soup contents to ensure they cooked perfectly.
"I feel like I'm forgetting something, but what is it?" Dimas mused to himself, trying to recall what he might have missed adding to the soup seasoning.
Ding.
Suddenly, Dimas remembered the celery and green onions he had yet to put into the soup pot. He promptly searched for them in the refrigerator. Fortunately, he found the ingredients and washed them under running water.
As he was ready to chop the celery and green onions, a sudden memory struck Dimas that the sliced tempeh had not been seasoned yet, which would allow it to marinate before frying.
Dimas put his knife down and tended to the forgotten task. In just a few minutes, he had the tempeh seasoned, leaving it to marinate thoroughly.
Intent on returning to chop the celery and green onions, Dimas realized the knife he had placed down was now missing.
He searched everywhere but couldn’t find the knife. While looking on the floor in case it had fallen, it was still nowhere to be found. Standing back up from his stoop,
Dimas was startled by Riko’s sudden presence right beside him. "You really scared me, Rik. Here to help with the cooking?" Dimas asked, patting his chest as his heart raced.
Riko remained silent with a vacant stare. Without suspicion, Dimas resumed his search. "Have you seen the knife that was here, Rik? I can't find it anywhere," he asked, wondering if Riko might have seen it.
Riko stayed rooted to the spot. Dimas, sensing something odd in Riko's behavior, stopped searching and faced him. "Why so quiet, Rik?" he inquired, puzzled by Riko's demeanor.
SRIIIINK!
Unexpectedly, Riko held the missing knife, aiming it just inches from Dimas' eyes. If Riko moved even slightly, Dimas' eyes would be at risk.
"Rik, please don't joke around," Dimas stammered, struggling with fear. Riko's gaze remained fixed on Dimas, void of emotion.
"DIE!" Riko uttered with emphatic anger. Dimas was baffled by the situation. The knife still pointed at him, Dimas stayed alert for any possible thrust from Riko.
"DIE!!"
Riko lunged forward with the knife just as Dimas, poised and watchful, luckily dodged the attack. Dimas was certain this was not his friend Riko.
"You're not Riko, you're not Riko. Who are you?" asked Dimas, gasping for air. His heart felt like it was about to burst. Dimas uttered a prayer internally.
"Hahahaha"
Riko's laughter echoed, causing Dimas to cover his ears from the piercing sound. Riko charged at Dimas again with the blade ready to strike at any moment.
Dimas managed to evade each of Riko’s attacks. Riko seemed relentless in trying to stab him. Exhausted, Dimas fell to the floor, and various kitchen items toppled over with him.
Dimas was resigned to the knife’s impending strike. He could see Riko's triumphant smile. Riko lifted the knife high, poised to plunge it deep into Dimas.
Dimas could see Riko’s face clearly as he was right in front of him. All he could do was mutter a prayer and close his eyes tightly.
"Allaahu Laailaaha illa huwal hayyul qayyuum. Laa ta'khudzuhu sinatuw walaa nauum. Lahuu maa fissamaawaati wamaa fil ardhi. Mangdzalladzii yasyfa'u 'indahuu illai bi idznih. Ya'lamu maa baina aiydiihim wamaa kholfahum walaa yukhiithuuna bisyayin min 'ilmihii illaa bimaa syaaa a. wasi'a kursiyyuhus samaawaati wal ardho. Walaa yauduhuu khifdhuhumaa wa huwal'aliyyul 'adhiim."
Simultaneously with the end of Dimas' prayer, Satrio and Grandpa Faqih walked into the kitchen, finding a chaotic mess. "Dimas! What happened to you?!" Satrio asked in panic, seeing Dimas in a corner of the kitchen cabinet.
"Dimas! Come on, wake up!" Satrio also urged him to regain consciousness.
Hearing his name called, Dimas slowly opened his eyes. He could see Satrio and Grandpa Faqih standing before him. Dimas instantly looked for Riko, who was no longer there. "Where's Riko? He tried to kill me," Dimas said, looking bewildered.
Grandpa Faqih and Satrio exchanged confused glances. "Riko has been in his room all along and hasn't come out," Satrio replied, perplexed. "Where did you see Riko?" Satrio pressed, unable to believe Dimas' account.
Dimas looked to the floor, where indeed, a knife lay. "Over there. He had a knife and was about to stab me in the eye," Dimas responded, pointing to where Riko had stood.
Grandpa Faqih and Satrio looked where Dimas was pointing, seeing the discarded, powerless knife. "Are you sure, Dim?" Satrio asked for confirmation. Dimas nodded firmly, as he had indeed experienced that strange event.
"That wasn't Riko. It was an imposter. It's the strongest entity in this house," revealed Grandpa Faqih, astonishing Dimas and Satrio. "They can take on human form?" Dimas asked, still in disbelief.
Grandpa Faqih gazed around the room. "If their energy is strong enough, they can also draw ours. For instance, by impersonating one of us," Grandpa Faqih explained.
Dimas and Satrio exchanged knowing glances. They had encountered something similar before. Now, Dimas had experienced it again. It appeared that he had encountered a very powerful entity.
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