CURSED FOREST

Grandma's Weird Story

"If that happens, it will awaken a curse that has been guarded by everyone for hundreds of years ..." the grandmother lay her head back after laying on her pillow for a while.

The grandmother's lungs were flattened, a sign of annoyance, giving the young man goosebumps.

Lusia was nowhere to be seen in the doorway. I don't know where he went. Maybe he couldn't bear to see that terrible sight.

"I do not understand why it happened," Hendra continues to provoke the grandmother's answer out of curiosity.

The grandmother seemed to take a deep breath. His slimy lungs seemed to grow and fall to the rhythm of his breath. "You think I know all that?" the grandmother laughed. Sounds a little cynical. "Fine, if you want to know a little history. But I heard this story from my grandfather too, if you want to know my age is almost two hundred years ... so I think the history of that cursed land has been heard for a long time, but I dare not confirm its truth, "The head complete with innards came back coughing.

His head shifted back towards Hendra. "My grandfather said that the forest kept the body of someone who was believed to be a god who was adored by the people in the past ..."

Lusia was seen stepping back into the hut. He seemed to have overheard the conversation, but because he was interested he came back in.

But he didn't dare to look at the grandmother, who seemed to be having fun telling stories even though she had to endure the pain.

"There used to be a female figure who was said to have descended from the sky through the medium of a rainbow. The people then considered them a god because her arrival was considered miraculous. She was then worshiped. Apart from having high mystical powers, she also has extraordinary beauty. tara. Which resulted in whoever looked at him would fall in love half to death to go crazy. Even willing to do anything to get his love ... "at that point the innards head giggled as if mocking his own story.

"You know what? This is ridiculous I guess! Someone who is considered a god but also loved and wanted to be owned?" The grandmother's lungs were again inflated. "My chest hurts ... I haven't seen my body in a long time ..." he groaned.

Hendra took a deep breath. Stunned to hear the grandmother's story that barely made sense.

"Aren't you tired of hearing my stories?" the grandmother turned her head back towards Hendra. The young man grimaced a little, but he forced a smile. "Yes, yes. Good! So that you are not curious anymore. Well, I continue again...

The grandmother recalled that this beautiful woman who was considered a god for several years continued to spread influence among the population. Little by little his followers continued to grow. And the local people not only worshiped him as a god but also followed his teachings on supernatural powers, various things. However, his teachings are not free, but require sacrifice!

Compensation for the power and prosperity they have.

Residents who had become his followers were required to submit a sacrifice in the form of a small child who would later be beheaded in front of the goddess, to drink his blood and eat his heart. And this must not be violated by them. If they are desperate to violate it then their own lives must be surrendered, which later the goddess herself will take their lives.

"The obligation to give up sacrifices has confused his followers! They kidnapped the children of other residents for not willing to surrender their children, which eventually led to fighting and killing each other!" the grandmother returned, her lungs flattened. He seemed emotional when he told that.

Hendra froze.

For him, the story of my grandmother in my form was like a bedtime fairy tale, but he continued to feel curious to follow the sequel.

"The chaos has long tails ..." the grandmother continued. "Murder after murder continues among all his followers. They slaughter each other, kidnap each other's children, and grudges continue to rage, while the goddess herself takes advantage of the situation by picking up the bodies of those who have died because of the fighting, for her to eat ...! "

Hendra and Lusia froze in horror. For a moment no one spoke between them.

The grandmother adjusted her breath to make it calmer. "You know what happened then?" he hissed. "The chaos that continues to occur, one day makes the followers realize, that they have been being bullied by people they think of as gods, actually that goddess is an incarnation of a devil who resembles an angel ...!"

Kuyang who was lying down again felt short of breath. "I haven't seen my body in a long time ..." he complained. His head turned left and right anxiously. The country girl again drank the red liquid to her grandmother's lips.

"If grandmother can't afford it, I'll continue the story later," said Hendra. A little bit of pity to see the condition of the grandmother who was like exhausted.

"I'm still able to ..." hissed the grandmother. He closed his eyes for a moment. "This is important so you know, the problem may be my age is not long. At least you have to convey to people that the curse must be canceled if it happens ..."

Hendra held his breath.

"You mean ...?" The young man looked tense.

"All the inhabitants will die miserably if that happens, maybe until their seven descendants endure it because the goddess wants to rise again from the dead and take revenge on the people who killed her, including her descendants ..."

Hendra leaned against the wall. His body began to break out in cold sweat. "I wonder, in what way he was killed? Wasn't he very powerful ..?"

"He died being poisoned which was put into the sacrificial body he wanted to eat ..." the grandmother hissed. "And his body was buried with certain rituals and structures so that he could not rise to spread his curse ..."

Hendra nodded. Goosebumps on his neck. His reasoning did not take for granted what the grandmother had told him. But at least there is little evidence that points to the truth of the "fairy tale" that the grandmother told, which she felt was in sync with what she found in the forbidden land.

"Something dead will be resurrected as a tool for revenge ..." The grandmother said softly, then her eyes closed. Still moving, his heart and lungs were still beating.

"Grandma will rest ..." said the country girl in a low voice. He tucked a shabby cloth into his grandmother's stomach. Then got up. "You guys wait, I'll go into the forest to find something for us to eat," he said later.

Hendra hurriedly stopped him. "No need, little brother! We bring our food. Later we can enjoy it together," Hendra immediately opened the backpack he had been carrying. He took out various food supplies that he deliberately brought from the company.

Lusia seemed to leave the room since earlier it seemed that the girl was very nervous.

"There is one important thing I want to ask. Why can't we find our way home? It feels like we are just going around in the same place in this area," said Hendra. After he saw Lusia just standing on the bridge to the area, Hendra said. river. The girl seemed to be struggling too long around the grandmother in my form.

"You are under the curse of the forbidden forest it seems," said the country girl with a smile. "Luckily you didn't get into it. It could be fatal to everyone ..." he continued again.

Hendra was flabbergasted. His mouth opened to say something, but he stopped his intention. Well, they better not know what happened, he thought wryly.

***

Uncle Doni and Rina were tense standings on the edge of the company harbor. The two of them were welcoming the convoy of several motorboats that had just returned from the search for Hendra and Lusia who had not returned home all day.

It was four o'clock in the afternoon. The convoy, driven by police officers, stopped at the edge of the port.

Uncle Doni and Rina widened with pale faces when several officers lifted an orange body bag from the motorboat.

"Oh, God...!" Rina bit her lip. His knees became weak, and almost fell otherwise Om Doni quickly embraced his body.

"Who is she?" Uncle Doni asked impatiently when several company employees helped lower the body bags to the port.

"Martinus, motorboat motorist, sir. We found him in a terrible condition on the edge of the forbidden forest," answered one of the officers. "Two other people along with the motorboat used are still in search," the officer added.

Om Doni gasped, while Rina started to sob.

The company official carried Rina to the company mess with the help of several employees.

"I don't want to go home, Om, before Lusia and Hendra are found!" Rina sobbed.

Om Doni sighed. "Our people keep looking for them, you just rest first. I think they're fine," persuaded the fat man with slanted eyes.

***