ALKISAH: Prayer for the World [1001 Indonesian Fantasy Stories]
TALE/Worldly Secret III: The Girl Who Sees the Shadow

Sarah does not know when exactly her eyes began to be able to catch strange things, such as figures that dart in the air, also people who sometimes disappear suddenly, he said, or also see creatures that are really not human. Usually Sarah saw them were in a hurry to get somewhere, or was also fighting against a creature whose body was made of pitch-black fire. But for sure, it's real.

In fact, the worst, Sarah had seen the silhouette of a giant creature shaped like a whale in the clouds. Whales swimming in the sky? Sarah no longer knows how much of a secret this world hides.

In the conversation of the three people, Sarah managed to get a lot of information about the secrets of the world, and of course it is also the answer to all the questions.

However, it was certainly difficult for the girl to digest all of that just like that. They allude to war, to killing, and even to the power that can destroy this country in an instant. Sarah shakes a disco every time she hears something terrible.

The highlight is the time of the accident right on the highway beside them. The collision was so devastating, that a lot of debris was scattered everywhere. But strangely, none of the fragments were thrown at them. It was as if there was a protector protecting the entire area around the tavern wagon.

Because there really is a protector there. There was a green and blue light that sometimes appeared in the air, like the ripples of water, and it appeared when the fat young man snapped his finger.

However, at exactly eleven o'clock in the evening, and when the streets began to quiet, at that time also the conversation of the three people finally reached the final.

“We go to my main house first, there I will explain everything, including my plan to prevent this war.” Obviously the fat boy. “Mas Rizky, I first ya.”

“Sip, China. Careful, yes.” Reply to the shop owner.

“This, Mas, the money.” The orange-eyed young man took out a hundred thousand buckets from his backpack, which might amount to a million, and directly thrust it at Rizky, aka the owner of the tavern cart.

A moment later, four large plastic bags containing drinks and food ordered by the orange-eyed young man suddenly disappeared from his hands, and no one noticed except Sarah.

“Eh... It's like the money's mostly, huh, man... “ Kak Rizky said after counting the money. Maybe he didn't really count it.

“Then the change Mas take aja.” Said the orange-eyed young man while entering the taxi, which was then followed by Mr. Driver. “I'll come back here later.”

“Wait!”

The engine was turned on, and the car began to drive away from the place, heading in the opposite direction, to South Konawe.

Sarah wiped her sweat while trying to calm herself down.

The only thing he had in mind right now was the desire to follow the car, and he would do it no matter what. This opportunity had already arrived, and he was not that stupid to waste it.

The white-veiled girl had rounded her resolve. He got up and quickly buttoned up his jacket, put on a helmet, then got on the bike. But, just before he turned on his motor, Rizky suddenly spoke up.

“You want to follow them, right?” Asked the big fat, white-skinned young man with a flat face.

“Eh..“ Sarah didn't know what to say.

“I heard all their chat... And I'm sane enough to realize all the strangeness that's happened since the accident.” He still has an expressionless face. But, it was obvious that he was also tense and astonished. And for some reason he started closing his wagon in a hurry, and putting the benches in the wagon, turning off the lights, then locking the door.

“I mean... Where was the loss of drinks and burgers? And you saw, right? when they were silent after the accident? I swear it was strange. That's... Unnatural scenery.”

“Yes... “ Sarah has no words but to agree with that. His eyes were fixed on the end of the highway where the taxi had vanished because it was limited by the distance of view.

“I'll come with you.” Rizky's sister packed up, and got on her own bike. His somewhat stale face was squeezed by his helmet. “By the way, what's your name?”

“Oh? My name is Sarah, Kak.”

“Sarah, yes? Alright, come.”

“A-ah, yes.” Sarah replied, and both of them drove quickly to follow the path traversed by the taxi.

After a few minutes of walking, accompanied by a late night, the two of them had finally caught up with the taxi, and from there, they continued to follow the taxi while keeping their distance, of course, not to be suspected.

“May my gasoline be enough.” Sarah muttered an hour later with a wry smile, after seeing the meter of her motorbike. He did not expect that they would go this far, but strangely Brother Rizky did not seem to hesitate at all. He nailed his gaze and continued to follow the car in silence. Either because he was very curious or what. But in hindsight it was natural, because what they experienced earlier was completely out of reason.

“Dek, you still want to continue?” Brother Rizky suddenly asked half-screaming.

“Iya. I'll follow them, brother. Anyway, I have to follow them. That's it for now.”

“Good.”

However, a few minutes after entering the quiet area, the taxi began to slow down, and finally stopped to pull over on the edge of one forest area that looked very creepy when seen at a glance. The car stopped right in front of a path that led deep into the very dark, spooky, and terrible forest.

Shortly after, the orange-eyed young man, the Driver, and the fat young man got out of the car. They went into the forest following the trail, and left the taxi cars by the side of the road.

“They've gone.” Rizky's sister told me.

Right now, the position of the two of them was very far from that car. They deliberately turned off the motor lights and as much as possible hid in the darkness of the night.

“Come, Brother.” Said Sarah who started pushing her bike, then parked it under a big tree around there. Same with Rizky. Then, after making sure their bike is well hidden, they both prepare to explore the path.

“Eh... Are you sure you want to enter the forest in such conditions?” Sarah asked while looking at the astonished big young man. He was wearing only a long-sleeved shirt, and shorts. "A lot of mosquitoes, you know."

“Lah? You yourself wear that robe, kok.”

“Ah... yes also, sih.” Sarah said, turning on the flashlight on her phone, and Rizky did the same thing, and then they started to step into the forest.

The trees that grew in the forest were on average large in size and looked old. The trees grew so tightly, and the foliage above covered the lanes of the moonlight, making the impression even more gripping. And their only light source right now comes from a cell phone flashlight.

However, for some reason Sarah suddenly recalled her life in the past.

Sarah was only six years old, when the father decided to go out of nowhere, and disappeared like swallowed by the earth. Many people think that Sarah's father may have died, and some think that he is actually involved with illegal and dangerous jobs.

Still, Sarah's heart remained convinced that her father was still alive, and she also believed that her father was not a bad person.

Since then, Sarah was taken care of by her father's best friend, Mr. Turino, who had also worked as a manager in her father's company. He was a good man, and he was also one of the few who believed that Sarah's father was not a criminal.

“Daddy has broken the rules, and rather than lose you, it would be better if Dad alone were missing.” That's the last message from the father, which Sarah will never forget.

The memory was still fresh in his mind. His father said those words on the coldest night Sarah had ever felt in her entire life. And in that pitch-black room, her father suddenly appeared out of nowhere, and immediately hugged the still-little Sarah very tightly.

It was very warm and soothing, and it was one of the few good things Sarah had ever felt in her entire life. And that night, it was the last time Sarah got a hug.

“Nby the way... You believe that? If they were beings from another world?” Rizky's voice instantly broke the shadows that filled Sarah's gaze.

Sarah barely knew the young man. He only shopped two or three times. So, this conversation felt quite strange to him, considering he himself was not the type of person who was good at talking, especially with strangers.

“Hmm... I don't know, Brother, I'm also confused.” Sarah answered while looking back, looking at the road that was getting away. “Continue? What's your own brother? I do not know, yes, this brother is just curious or how, to the point of wanting to follow them so far.”

“Well, how are you? That really wasn't right, though. They talked about war, about past potions, what heirlooms, and about taking the lives of others. Absolutely unnatural conversation to hear.”

“So...?” Sarah doesn't understand.

“I need an answer. That'sthat's all. At least for now.” Said Rizky with a serious face.

“But what about that fat kid? My brother knows him.”

“Ah, she does come to my place often. Almost every night even we chat, because it seems he does not have many friends story.” Rizky explained. He looks like he's angry. “But that was, for the first time, I felt like I didn't know him. Absolutely not know.”

Now Sarah understands why Rizky came here. If only the young man did not exist, surely Rizky's sister would probably not care. However, it was another story if he knew her.

“Hey, the one there!”

Someone from behind them. From his voice, it seemed like that person was still far behind. However, how surprised the two men were when they found someone who was now right in front of them when they turned around.

“Eh? You two are human?”

The eyes of Sarah and Rizky immediately opened wide upon hearing the very unusual question. Moreover, the person who said it turned out to be only a seven-year-old boy with short white hair, and had blood-shiny red eyes.

The innocent-faced and innocent child was also wearing strange clothes, just like the old European nobles. But, what was most peculiar about his appearance, was a huge sword hanging on his back. The size of the sword was even twice as big when compared to the boy himself.