Campfire
1429 Words
Chapter 016: Campfire
Rezvan smiled.
Something warm stirred inside his chest.
Pride.
In such a short time, in a situation this desperate, his students had shown remarkable maturity.
Not far from him, Rafandra wore a faint smile as well.
"So kids these days can be mature after all," he murmured, gently patting Rezvan on the shoulder. "Sorry. I honestly thought your generation was just spoiled and addicted to gadgets."
Pak Marta chimed in from behind them.
"They could still improve their manners," he said with a chuckle, "but ever since this started, they've been trying their best not to become a burden to one another. When the two of you went outside earlier, they panicked for a moment... but they managed to calm themselves down. I think that's impressive."
Rezvan turned toward the two other adults, his smile unwavering.
"Yes," he said softly. "That'll earn all of you extra marks on your report cards later... I promise."
Indah, Dina, Kirana, Damar, Bima, Ardi, and the others smiled shyly, yet proudly, after receiving such heartfelt praise.
Despite the danger still surrounding them, awkward little grins spread across their faces.
Rafandra took a deep breath, his eyes drifting toward the emergency exit.
"Pak... I'm going back outside for a moment. I'll check the area and build a fire," he whispered.
Rezvan nodded, resting a hand on Rafandra's shoulder.
"All right. Be careful. Don't slip."
"Seriously? That's your advice?" Rafandra replied, raising an eyebrow.
Rezvan simply grinned.
Rafandra leaned through the narrow opening.
Hop! Hop!
His body moved with practiced agility as he carefully stepped onto the damp, sloping ground.
Every step was deliberate.
The tiny lighter rested in his hand, its orange flame flickering only occasionally as it illuminated the ground before him.
He lowered his head and held his breath.
"So dark... pitch-black. All I've got is this lighter. And the fuel won't last forever... I have to use it wisely."
Roots.
Rocks.
Damp soil.
His breath drifted from his lips in thin white vapor that danced through the cold night air.
Every rustling leaf beneath his boots made him instinctively hold his breath.
He advanced slowly, keeping his eyes fixed on the little flame.
"It's level enough... but still dangerous. A terraced slope, only two or three meters wide."
"We'll have to mark the boundaries, or the kids could slip. People their age are naturally curious... but they're also careless," Rafandra muttered as he evaluated the area's safety and risks.
He began gathering dry twigs, dead leaves, and small pieces of wood.
"I have to be careful... one wrong move and the fire could spread... or... it might attract something we'd rather never meet."
He arranged several large rocks into a circle.
The lighter flared once more, igniting the tinder he had carefully prepared.
A tiny ember glowed.
Moments later, a small flame began to dance.
CRRRR...
A branch snapped somewhere farther down the slope.
Rafandra froze, holding his breath.
Quiet...
His thoughts sharpened as caution took over.
The wind? Leaves?
His eyes searched the mist.
Only the silhouettes of towering trees...
And darkness.
Nothing was approaching.
He fed a few thin twigs into the fire, making sure it stayed small but steady.
Inside the bus, Rezvan held his breath, his eyes fixed on the narrow gap in the emergency exit.
A faint orange glow slowly emerged through the mist.
Little by little, the cabin felt slightly warmer, as though the bus itself had received a temporary promise of safety from the small fire outside.
Rafandra raised his hand.
Two fingers up.
Then he pointed toward the fire.
Rezvan nodded.
The students remained where they were, hardly daring to breathe.
Some pressed themselves firmly against their seats to reduce the risk of slipping if something suddenly approached.
The small campfire began casting warm light through the thin mist, forming a comforting circle around itself.
The scent of burning wood spread gently through the air.
The crackling flames filled the silent night.
Far away, the wind hissed through the trees while leaves rustled in the darkness.
But Rafandra never lost focus.
The fire had to stay alive.
Steady.
Safe.
A few moments later, he waved again.
This time, signaling that it was safe enough for Rezvan and the students to come out.
Carefully, he began marking a safe path between the bus and the fire using simple landmarks—a strip of cloth tied to a branch, stones lined up in a straight row—just enough to guide them.
CRIIIK...
Another branch snapped.
Closer this time.
Rafandra lowered his head, staring into the shadows hidden by the mist.
His breathing stopped.
Nothing emerged.
That was enough to convince him.
The fire had created a relatively safe zone.
Safe enough to begin bringing the students out of the bus, one group at a time.
Rafandra inhaled deeply before looking toward the students.
"All right... we've got one fire going. But we need more."
He raised his voice just enough for everyone to hear.
"Some of you are coming outside with me. We'll build several campfires. That way everyone will have enough light and warmth."
Rezvan leaned toward the emergency exit.
"Bang... are you sure it's safe?"
"I wouldn't say that," Rafandra answered honestly. "But we don't have many options. Personally, I'd rather stay warm and wait until daylight before deciding what to do next."
Rezvan carefully considered Rafandra's explanation while studying his students in the dim light.
"The area outside isn't completely safe," Rafandra continued. "So we can't all go out at once. We'll take turns. Three people first. Gather dry branches and build small fires. At the very least, we'll improve visibility so everyone can move more safely."
Damar raised his hand.
"I'll go, Om."
Bima hesitated before finally nodding.
"Me too."
Darwis interrupted nervously.
"We have to be careful, right? It's completely dark out there. We don't know what's waiting."
Rafandra looked at him calmly.
"That's right. Be careful. Don't rush. Stay close to me. Move slowly, and don't panic."
Rezvan added,
"Everyone staying on the bus remains here. Don't disturb those in critical condition. We'll keep some distance between us, but we'll stay connected. If anything happens, call out from the bus."
Rafandra looked at Damar, Darwis, and Bima.
"All right. You're with me. We're building campfires. Remember..."
"...be careful."
Damar nodded immediately.
"Yes, Om."
The three boys lowered their heads before following Rafandra out through the emergency exit.
Rafandra signaled for them to stop.
"Don't panic. I'm warning you now—you might hear something... or even feel something. Whatever happens, stay calm."
Darwis inhaled sharply.
"It's so dark out here, Om."
Rafandra looked at them seriously.
"Exactly. That's why we don't rush. I think we're standing on a hillside, and there's probably a ravine somewhere ahead. So don't go anywhere near the edge. The ground could be unstable."
Bima swallowed nervously.
"So... we stay toward the middle?"
Rafandra nodded, pointing toward the safer route.
"Exactly. Watch the ground beneath your feet. Roots, rocks, and wet soil can all be slippery. If you fall..."
"...it could be fatal."
"We can't afford that risk."
Damar studied the dark ground before looking back at Rafandra.
"Om... where should we light the next fire?"
Rafandra held up the small lighter.
"Right here, on the flattest section we can find. The fire only needs to be large enough to give us light and warmth. If it gets too big..."
He paused.
"...I'm afraid it might attract animals... or something else. Something we don't understand."
Darwis tightened his grip on one of the removed bus seats he was carrying.
"Understood, Om. We'll take it slow."
"Slow and steady," Rafandra emphasized.
"Watch every step. Don't slip. If anyone feels unsafe, stop immediately and tell me. We stay coordinated."
They slowly left the bus, their boots sinking into the damp ground.
The lighter's tiny flame danced in the darkness, revealing tangled roots and dense undergrowth.
Rafandra always remained in front, carefully reading the terrain.
Damar, Darwis, and Bima followed closely behind.
"Don't get too close to the edge," Rafandra reminded them again, his voice barely above a whisper.
"On a slope like this, even ground that looks solid can collapse if you step on the wrong spot."
Bima nodded, staring into the pitch-black forest ahead.
"Understood, Om. We'll be careful."
Rafandra glanced back one last time to make sure they were still focused.
"Good."
"Now let's find another flat spot..."
"...and start gathering dry branches, dead leaves, and small pieces of wood."
"One small fire will mark another safe position for us here."
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