The Ghost Village

Jajang

Clara, who is still with Jajang, is still waiting patiently for Rendy to buy some food for her, but after hours of waiting, her boyfriend hasn't returned either. No car lights are visible approaching Jajang's house. Only the darkness of the night she saw on the streets of this hamlet.

"What really happened to Randy huh? Jajang can you not go check on Rendy's condition?” Clara asked

"In that case, Jajang doesn't dare... Jajang had already banned Mas Rendy from going to the hamlet center at night, but Mas Rendy was stubborn..." Jajang said.

"But did you really say that there are lots of street ghosts on the streets of this village at night?" Clara asked.

"That's right, Clara..How come Clara doesn't trust Jajang!" Jajang said, pouting.

"It's not like that Jang..I'm worried because Rendy hasn't come back since earlier. Even if you use a car, it's only a short time to go to Bu Siti’s food stall," explained Clara.

“Jajang have food or not? I'm hungry too..Earlier I didn't have time to eat at Bu Siti’s food stall because of her strange nature. So Clara just left, even though her fish head curry was the best."

Clara began to feel her stomach empty with hunger. At first she had hoped that Rendy would be able to buy food at Bu Siti’s food stall, but until now her boyfriend had yet to show up.

"Wait a minute..Take a look first. Mother didn't cook earlier, so Jajang didn't know there was food or not,” said Jajang who then entered the kitchen to check on the food.

"I have a hunch that Rendy experienced mystical events in this village, but I myself was powerless at Jajang's house. Hopefully Jajang has food at his house.”

Jajang came out with some fried bananas and fried sweet potatoes. "There's only this Clara..Please eat if you like..", said Jajang who handed this food to Clara.

Clara who was starving immediately put these fried bananas into her mouth. "Delicious Jang..So you remember when you were little, when Jajang's mother gave Clara fried bananas. It still feels the same..” Clara recalls.

"Jang..I'm really worried about Rendy..How can I go to the hamlet center to find out if Rendy is okay," said Clara, who was again worried about Rendy.

"Actually, if Rendy followed Jajang's advice earlier, there's no way the Ghosts of the Streets could disturb him. But why is it taking him so long?"

Jajang was also curious about Rendy's current state. But his mother had warned him not to leave the house after dark for his own safety.

"Let's wait a little longer, maybe the car has a problem so it takes time to fix it," said Jajang to calm Clara.

"But I have a bad feeling Jang about Rendy. I'm afraid he met a ghost like you said earlier. How has this hamlet become strange now with the hamlet residents who don't seem to want me to stay in this hamlet for long,” said Clara again.

"We can't do anything Clara..The streets are very dark because there are no street lights yet. Since the death of Mrs. Ningsih, Dusun Setani has become scary. The ghosts that have been in the Empty House all this time seem to have just left and are haunting the entire hamlet,”  explained Jajang

"How Mrs. Ningsih died, Jang?" Clara asked.

“Jajang doesn't know exactly. But what Jajang heard was that Mrs. Ningsih hanged herself from the big tree in front of the Empty House at the end of this road,” said Jajang while pointing towards the Empty House which was now pitch black.

"It's impossible that Mrs. Ningsih hanged herself.. She was fine when I was still living in this hamlet. Besides, it's impossible for Mrs. Ningsih to choose the big tree in front of the Empty House to hang herself. There are many oddities of Jang..” Clara said.

"Maybe Mrs. Ningsih is stressed, Clara ... Because she often hears people talking at night from the empty house. That's what Jajang heard before Mrs. Ningsih died!”

"Jajang knows where Mrs. Ningsih is buried?" Clara asked.

“At the Cemetery at the end of the village before entering the Ritual Forest. Does Clara really want to go there? Jajang's suggestion is not to do it, for fear that Clara will be dragged into the dark by Mrs. Ningsih. Besides, there is a spooky old man. His name is Ki Seto. His left eye is blind so it looks scary..!" said Jajang.

“Indeed, Ki Seto is evil, right Jang. When did he appear in Dusun Sentani?” she asked.

"I also don't know exactly when Ki Seto appeared...according to the stories of the hamlet residents, this Ki Seto came from the Ritual Forest. So according to the residents of Ki Seto, this is not a human but a kind of demon guarding the graveyard," answered Jajang.

"Hahaha..Jajang can do it..Is there a demon whose job is guarding the cemetery!" Clara laughed hearing Jajang's innocence.

"I don't know either... This is according to the story of the hamlet residents," said Jajang.

"Clara still hungry or not? Do you want some instant noodles?”

“What’s ... Jajang have instant noodles? Why didn't you say that earlier?" Clara said a little annoyed.

"Want Jang..Use eggs if you have them..hehehe!"

Clara felt comforted talking to Jajang because she had a feeling that Rendy was in big trouble at Dusun Sentani.

There are taboos and restrictions that Rendy violates that he doesn't know about.

Since childhood, Clara was always warned by her mother not to violate the taboos in Dusun Sentan. Especially the prohibition of entering the Sacred Forest. Besides that, Carla was also forbidden to play outside the house when it was night. The ban continued until her mother took her out of Dusun Sentani in a hurry without saying goodbye to anyone.

Clara did not understand her mother's actions, but she just obeyed her mother's wishes.

Clara didn't even have time to say goodbye to Jajang at that time because she was in a rush to leave Dusun Sentani.

Jajang came out of the kitchen carrying a bowl of instant noodle soup whose aroma made Clara's stomach growl more and more.

"Here Jang..The worms in my stomach have rebelled..hehehe!" said Clara when Jajang put the instant noodles on the table.

"Clara really has worms?" Jajang asked innocently.

"Hahaha..Jajang..Jajang..Are you serious or are you kidding?" Clara asked again while sipping her instant noodle soup.

"If you know you can entertain like this, I can come here often Jang..!" continued Clara again.

Jajang just smiled seeing the joy on Clara's face. He used to really like Clara, and hoped that when they grew up Clara could be his wife. But Clara's sudden departure shatters all his dreams. Now Carla returns to Dusun Sentani, but already has a new boyfriend.

“I have to get Clara back to me. Either way I will live it,” Jajang determination in his heart.

"Jang..!, Clara's call broke Jajang's reverie.

"Yes, Clara," he answered.

"Don't be angry about Mama and I who suddenly left this hamlet without saying goodbye. I feel that all the people of this hamlet are angry with my mother and me. Maybe that's what made Mrs. Siti's strange behavior and these women who I didn't know think it was wrong for me to return to Dusun Sentani.”

Jajang just smiled.. "I'm not angry Clara..I'm glad you're back in this hamlet. Tomorrow morning we will look for Rendy..Hopefully it's just a car problem and he will come back here.”

What will be the fate of Rendy next? Was it true that Clara's hunch that her boyfriend had violated a big taboo in Dusun Sentani? Who is the real Ki Seto that Jajang told about?