PART 1 CHEMPAKA BIRU: THE LONG ROAD HOME

My pen name is Chempaka Biru.

But everyone calls me Chembi.

I’m a female student at a Quranic university in Country M. My life is simple—classes, memorization, friends…

Until I met someone strange, yet strangely loyal.

Her name is Sharmila.

But I call her Chami.

🌿 THE GIRL FROM THE MOUNTAINS

Chami is… different.

Her house?

Deep in the mountains.

Getting there isn’t just far—it’s exhausting. You have to drive up steep hills again and again.

“Ten times up, ten times down… if you don’t feel like throwing up, you’re not human,” Chami laughed.

Then she added something that didn’t sound like a joke:

“If you ever come back with me… just sleep in the car. That’s the only way you’ll be safe.” 🤪

I thought she was kidding.

She wasn’t.

🚗 THE BEGINNING OF THE JOURNEY

During our one-month semester break, I

asked my mother if I could visit Chami.

She agreed.

That afternoon, around 3 PM, Chami’s “father” came to pick us up from campus.

I glanced at him from a distance.

Young.

Too young to be someone’s father.

I leaned closer to Chami and whispered:

“Cha… is that really your dad?”

She pinched my arm.

“Quiet. That’s my uncle. But he hates being called ‘uncle’. Just call him ‘Father’.” 🤫

I nodded slowly.

Alright… that’s the first strange thing.

🖤 HIS VOICE

When he spoke…

“Got delayed. Something came up.”

His voice was deep. Rough. Firm.

The kind of voice that makes people go silent without being told.

🌫️ INSIDE THE CAR

Our bags filled the back seat, so I had to sit in the front.

“Sit there. I want to sleep,” Chami said, already closing her eyes.

The car moved.

I recited my usual travel prayer.

But as soon as we reached the foot of the mountain…

something felt wrong.

“Father… can we stop for a moment?”

He… agreed.

Without question.

That was strange.

I recited longer prayers—Ayat Kursi, supplications, blessings.

Then I whispered softly:

“Peace be upon you… I’m new here. Please make my journey safe until I reach my destination.”

The car fell silent.

Too silent.

As if something was listening.

⛰️ THE TEN HILLS

One hour. Two hours. Three. Four.

First hill. Second. Third…

Until the tenth.

It was almost 9 PM.

Chami was deeply asleep.

Too deeply.

“Father” was quiet.

Too quiet.

👁️ THE THING ON THE MOUNTAIN

I looked outside.

The moon was bright.

And that’s when I saw it.

A massive shadow on top of the mountain.

Too big.

Too wrong.

It looked human…

but it wasn’t.

More like—

a giant.

My heart pounded. My hands turned cold.

I quickly lowered my head and covered my eyes.

I recited Ayat Kursi again.

Slowly.

Carefully.

When I looked up again—

the car felt heavy.

As if something was pressing down on it.

⚠️ INSTINCT

Without thinking—

I grabbed his arm.

“Don’t press the gas too hard… slow down… neutral… first gear… Bismillah…”

He followed.

No hesitation.

No questions.

The car moved again.

Slowly…

but smoothly.

My hand was still gripping his arm.

I didn’t even realize how long.

🌆 OUT OF THE DARK

Suddenly—

lights.

Voices.

A small town at the foot of the mountain.

Alive. Bright. Normal.

And then—

Chami woke up.

She looked at me.

Then at my hand… still holding “Father’s” arm.

She smirked.

“Aren’t your hands tired?” 😏

I froze.

Quickly pulled away.

I glanced at him.

His face…

was red.

I didn’t know if it was anger.

Or something else.

🏡 A WEEK AT CHAMI’S HOUSE

Chami’s home was warm.

Her family was kind.

And the food?

Absolutely heaven for someone like me 😂

That’s when I found out—

“Father” really lives with them.

He’s Chami’s youngest uncle.

And…

a silat practitioner.

No wonder he wasn’t afraid.

Or maybe…

that wasn’t the real reason.

🌙 THE WHISPERED SECRET

On my last night there, I told Chami everything.

The shadow.

The heaviness.

The feeling of being watched.

She listened.

Then stayed silent for a moment.

Finally, she said:

“My uncle isn’t afraid of things like that. He practices silat… this kind of thing is normal for him.”

I nodded.

But deep inside…

I wondered.

Is it really normal…

or does he know that thing?

🚗 THE RETURN JOURNEY (BEGINNING)

The next morning, I said:

“I think I’ll just take the bus home.”

Chami immediately shook her head.

“No way. My ‘father’ will send you.”

I started calculating in my head.

My house: 6 hours.

From here: 5 hours.

Total…

11 hours.

And if we’re late…

it’ll be night again.

I swallowed.

Chami smiled.

“Your place… is even scarier, right?” 😏

I stayed silent.

Because deep inside…

I knew.

✨ FINAL LINE

The journey to the mountain…

was only the beginning.

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