The Ghost Village

Mysterious Clara

Bu Siti’s food stall is the only food stall in Dusun Sentani. This stall has been around since Clara was little. She often plays in this stall when her mother is away somewhere, and is always fed by Mrs. Siti, the owner of this food stall. Warungs that used to be just rickety huts are now starting to look good made of wooden planks and tin roofs.

“You want to eat Ren? Try Mrs. Siti's fish curry, it's really delicious you know!” Clara said as they got out of the car towards the shop

"It's okay if it's delicious. I haven't tried eating home food like this in a long time,” said Rendy

"You want something to eat?" asked a woman who was old enough to greet them

"Mrs Siti..!" Clara shouted.

The woman who was called Mrs. Siti looked very surprised to see Clara appear. However, Clara didn't see happy surprise, but worry because Mrs. Siti's face immediately turned white.

"Why did you come back to Dusun Sentani, Clara? Does your mother know you came here?” asked Mrs. Siti in a very worried tone.

It was Clara's turn to wonder about the villagers. Earlier, an unfamiliar old woman who was strange saw her arrival in this hamlet and she understood it, but this is Mrs. Siti, whom she has known since she was little, who also behaved strangely towards her. Why didn't the residents of this hamlet want her to come to Dusun Sentani?

"Mrs Siti, why? I'm here just to make a pilgrimage to Mrs Ningsih's grave. Why can't I come to this village?”

Mrs. Siti looked limp, making Clara even more surprised to see her. "Mrs Siti, what's really going on? Why can't I come to this village?”

"Maybe this is fate, right... your mother took you away from Dusun Sentani. Now you have returned to this hamlet voluntarily," said Mrs. Siti, who was still deathly pale.

“So mom moved from Dusun Sentani because of me Mrs. Siti? Actually, what problem did she have in herpast, Mrs, that made her have to leave Dusun Sentani?” Clara asked again.

Again, Clara did not get a definite answer from Mrs. Siti. This woman just sat slumped and kept shaking her head as if Clara's arrival at Dusun Sentani was a big disaster for her.

Clara finally gave up too with Mrs. Siti's silent attitude, not paying attention to her questions anymore.

"We better go somewhere else first Ren. Mrs. Siti became strange when she saw me. I don't know what mistake Mama has made so that the people of this hamlet don't like me coming,” said C;ara when she saw Mrs. Siti still unable to speak.

"Shouldn't we just go home Ra. Later you ask your mother about what actually happened?”, suggested Rendy

"You're crazy! I just came here without my mother's permission. Seeing the strange behavior of the hamlet residents, there must have been a mistake that my mother made when she left this hamlet,” Clara shouted.

"So what should I do? Is there another friend of your mother's that you want to visit?” Rendy asked again

"I think all my friends are the same. I will definitely be blamed again for coming to Dusun Sentani. Confused who should I ask again?” Clara said

“Then what is your suggestion so that we know what problems are actually happening in Dusun Sentani. In my opinion, you should just forget about today's incident and return to normal life in the city," Rendy suggested again

Clara suddenly remembered her childhood friend Jajang who used to play with her. “I had a childhood friend, his name was Jajang. Come on, let's go to his house, maybe he has the answer to all this mystery," Clara asked

"You know where his house, Ra?"

“His house is not far from the big house at the end of this hamlet. I used to often go to Mrs. Ningsih's house which was at the end of this hamlet road with Jajang. Hopefully he still lives there, “ Hope Clara.

"Yes, if that's what you want, Ra. But promise me, when we get an answer, we'll just go back to town. How long have I been here, I'm getting goosebumps, okay?"

This sedan car sped towards the end of the hamlet. It was late afternoon when they arrived at a small wooden plank house not far from the abandoned house near the end of the village.

Clara rushed to this house and knocked on the door. "Excuse me, is this Jajang's house?" Clara greeted

"One moment!" came the answer from inside the house.

The door was opened by a thin black man but still handsome. "This is Clara, isn't it? Where have you been, friend?” asked this man who was surprised by Clara's sudden arrival.

"Jajang..You still haven't changed since you were little, still black..hehehe", said Clara.

"Actually I'm here to ask you something Jang," she continued.

"What does Clara want to ask Jajang?" asked this man who was still surprised by Clara's arrival

“I am confused with the residents of this hamlet, especially Mrs. Siti. You know Mrs. Siti who has a food stall in the center of this hamlet, right? Mrs. Siti felt that I should not have come to Dusun Sentani. Do you know why Jang?"

“If it's Jajang don't know. Maybe Clara can ask mom later. It's already night. Jajang's suggestion is that you stay at Jajang's house because the streets in Dusunn Sentani are now scary and there have been ghosts since Mrs. Ningsih's incident," said Jajang.

"How could there be ghosts now, bro," said Rendy, who didn't believe Jajang's words.

"Oh yes Clara. I want to buy food first at food stall. What do you want to do?" asked Rendy.

"Don't go through this village road at night, Mas Rendy. Now, at night, the residents don't come out. Bu Siti’s food stall is also closed at night. Mom doesn't seem to be coming home tonight. You guys just stay here. It's dangerous to go out at this time of night," Jajang ordered.

Rendy didn't pay attention to Jajang's ban because he thought it was just a trick by this young man. "Are you coming Ra?" he asked.

"I'm here with Jajang," Clara answered.

"If Bro Rendy still wants to go to the center of the hamlet, remember to always sound the horn and only occasionally turn on the car's headlights to memorize the road, after that just walk in the dark. But still, my advice is not to go out on the streets of this hamlet when it's already night," Jajang suggested

"I'm going first Ra. Just this time the food stall was still open. Hungry stomach, haven't eaten since earlier," said Rendy, who headed towards his car.

Clara saw Jajang approaching Rendy's car and talked seriously with him for a while. Randy just nodded his head and started the engine.

Slowly, Rendy's sedan left Jajang's wooden house and headed towards the center of the hamlet.

"Hopefully your friend doesn't experience any strange incidents on the hamlet road."

"What's going on in the streets of this hamlet, Jang?" Clara asked again, who didn't seem to hear Jajang's previous explanation.

“Since Mrs Ningsih's incident, this hamlet has become strange and scary. The hamlet streets become full of ghosts when night is approaching, which the residents of this hamlet often refer to as Street Ghosts."