The First Death
1680 Words
Chapter 009: The First Death
On the Other Side of the Mysterious White Fog
The bus remained tilted on its side.
Soft groans and painful moans drifted through the darkness, mingling with the constant creaking of twisting metal whenever someone moved.
In the faint, wavering glow of a butane lighter, a scene unfolded that shook Rezvan to his core.
Pak Marta appeared more composed.
Perhaps because Rezvan carried a far deeper emotional bond with the children.
But they had no time to drown in shock.
Rafandra took a long breath, suppressing the pain radiating through his own body before looking Rezvan straight in the eyes.
"Pak... listen to me.
"We can get through this."
His voice was calm.
Firm.
Controlled.
Rafandra placed a hand on Rezvan's shoulder, giving him something solid to hold onto amid the bus's steep, slippery floor.
"Don't collapse now.
"If you do, the survivors will lose hope."
His eyes remained sharp beneath the trembling light of the lighter.
Amid the panic, a realization slowly formed inside Rezvan.
Fear would save no one.
But the right actions still might.
"Watch your footing," Rafandra said as he handed the lighter to Rezvan.
The tiny flame danced once more, revealing vague outlines of injured bodies.
"Don't think about the worst-case scenario.
"We'll check them one by one.
"There may still be something we can do."
His voice remained steady, trying not only to calm Rezvan but also to prevent the other students from panicking.
"Especially...
"...if anyone can still be saved."
His voice dropped lower.
He knew even the smallest spark of panic could spread.
"Move quickly—but carefully.
"If someone's still alive and has broken bones, moving them carelessly could make things worse."
Rafandra steadied himself on the nearly vertical floor of the overturned bus.
One wrong move could worsen someone's injuries.
Every step they took now could determine whether someone lived or died.
Rafandra, Rezvan, and Pak Marta began moving slowly.
Their bodies were covered with bruises and cuts.
Every breath was heavy.
Their hands trembled from pain.
Each movement felt like forcing battered bodies to march through an invisible storm raging within them.
Near the top of the pile, Pratama and Kemal began stirring weakly, their faces twisted in pain.
"Tama... Kemal... move slowly...
"I've got you."
Rezvan's voice was gentle.
It was almost swallowed by the groaning metal around them.
With Rafandra's and Pak Marta's help, they carefully moved the students one by one, making sure not to step on those still trapped beneath the pile.
The bus itself remained still.
But the grinding of strained metal never stopped.
A slow, piercing screech that kept everyone's nerves stretched tight.
"Pak Rezvan...
"Let me hold the lighter."
Damar's voice came from near the door.
It trembled, but courage pushed through it.
Rafandra and Rezvan exchanged a glance.
Pak Marta held his breath.
Silence lingered for a moment.
Then Rafandra made his decision.
"Here."
He handed Damar the lighter.
"Stay where you are.
"Too many people moving around will only make this harder.
"Watch where we go and point the light where we need it."
"O-Okay..."
Damar nodded quickly.
His face remained pale.
His lips trembled.
But he stood as straight as he could while gripping the lighter tightly.
One by one, the students piled atop one another were moved.
Some regained consciousness.
Eyes filled with tears.
Some cried softly.
Labored breathing echoed throughout the bus.
For a brief moment...
Relief crossed the faces of Rafandra, Rezvan, and Pak Marta.
At least...
Some of them could still be saved.
But that relief lasted only seconds.
At the very bottom of the pile...
Two bodies lay completely motionless.
Their positions were unnatural.
Even horrifying.
Pak Marta immediately stretched out his arm, blocking Damar's view before the boy could see.
Rezvan froze.
His body trembled.
Guilt struck his chest with crushing force.
Every second felt like another stab.
Meanwhile, Damar only looked confused.
He continued directing the light wherever Rafandra instructed, unaware of what was being hidden from him.
"Son!
"Give me the lighter."
Rafandra's voice rang out sharply.
It cut through the panic filling the bus.
"Huh?!"
Damar misunderstood instantly.
"S-Sorry...
"The driver was blocking me...
"I wasn't doing it on purpose, Om!"
His face turned even paler.
His lips quivered with fear.
Rafandra looked at him for a moment before letting out a heavy sigh.
"You've done your part.
"Wait here and hold on to something."
He gently took the lighter back.
Damar nodded.
His eyes remained fixed on Rafandra, still trying to stop himself from shaking.
Pak Marta crawled toward the two motionless students.
Both were crushed between twisted seat frames and shattered windows.
One body was wedged deep between the seats, its head hanging at an impossible angle.
The other lay draped over a seatback like a discarded rag doll.
Pak Marta gently tapped the first student's shoulder.
No response.
His chest didn't move.
He checked for a pulse.
Nothing.
He moved to the second student.
No response.
No breathing.
Both remained perfectly still.
Pak Marta slowly looked toward Rezvan.
Then quietly shook his head.
Sadness filled his face.
The silent confirmation struck like a blow to the chest.
The thick metallic scent of blood filled the air.
Sharp.
Salty.
It burned the back of their throats.
Rafandra instinctively held his breath.
Pak Marta turned his face away for a brief moment before lowering his head again.
With what little strength remained, the two men gently straightened the bodies beneath the trembling light.
Without a word, Rafandra reached for a torn curtain hanging from the shattered window.
Dirty.
Dust-covered.
Ripped.
But enough to cover their faces.
He looked at the two boys for a long moment before gently lowering the cloth over them.
As though tucking them into bed...
For the last time.
Pak Marta helped with trembling hands.
No words of mourning were spoken.
Only silent prayers.
Heavy breathing.
Groaning metal.
And a silence far more suffocating than before.
Bagas.
And Adit.
Their bodies had suffered terrible injuries.
But Pak Marta still did everything he could to treat them with dignity.
Rezvan stood frozen.
His gaze was empty as he looked at the two students—
Children who had still been laughing together in the back seats that very morning.
His chest felt crushed beneath an enormous weight.
Yet no tears came.
"Pak..."
Rafandra's voice was hoarse.
Quiet.
But he couldn't continue.
There simply were no words for a moment like this.
Pak Marta looked at Rezvan with quiet sympathy.
He recognized that expression.
The look of someone being torn apart between reality...
And denial.
Inside the nearly crushed bus, only restrained breathing remained.
The lighter's flame continued trembling across their faces.
And that night...
Death became undeniably real.
Rezvan slowly sank to the floor.
Silent.
His hand clutched one student's cold arm.
Cold.
Lifeless.
Blood rushed to his head before draining away.
His stomach churned violently.
Adit.
Bagas.
Their uniforms were torn.
Filthy.
Covered in blood and shattered glass.
For nearly two years they had been under his guidance.
Two years filled with laughter...
Exams...
Teenage complaints...
Now reduced to memories.
His students.
His responsibility.
"...I failed."
His voice was barely audible.
"I couldn't protect them..."
He turned toward Pak Marta, his eyes vacant.
"...What am I supposed to tell their parents?"
Nausea rose into his throat.
He forced it back down.
His fists clenched so tightly against the cold metal floor that his own skin split open.
Rafandra and Pak Marta lowered their heads.
There were no words.
The silence itself had become unbearable.
Even their own breathing sounded intrusive.
"They..."
Rezvan's voice cracked.
"My students..."
Rafandra watched him for a long moment.
Pak Marta gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"We understand..."
His own voice trembled.
"Be strong.
"The others are still waiting for you."
"...Don't let the other students see them yet."
Rafandra finally spoke.
His voice was low.
Carefully measured.
Rezvan slowly nodded.
His jaw tightened.
His eyes were red.
Not because he was strong.
His body was simply struggling to contain everything at once—
Fear.
Anger.
Shock.
And grief so overwhelming it threatened to crush him.
But the tragedy was far from over.
Suddenly, frantic cries erupted from the back of the bus.
"Pak! Danang's unconscious!"
"Pak! Rama won't wake up!"
"Pak... Gilang's leg is bleeding!"
Rafandra spun around instantly.
His body reacted before his mind did.
He hurried across the slanted, slippery floor.
Blood and broken glass clung to the palms of his hands.
Three students lay unconscious.
Their bodies were soaked in blood.
Their breathing was labored.
But they were alive.
Rafandra dropped to one knee and examined them one by one.
"Danang still has a pulse...
"Rama too..."
Then his eyes shifted.
"Gilang—"
"Pak! Pak!"
Kirana screamed.
"Gilang's bone...!"
Rafandra looked over.
His eyes widened.
Gilang's leg bent at an impossible angle.
Bone protruded through torn flesh.
Fresh blood dripped onto the metal floor.
"Hold his leg still!
"Don't let him move!"
he shouted immediately.
"Find something to splint it!
"Cloth, belts—anything!"
Several students who were still able to think sprang into action.
They searched through backpacks.
Pulled off jackets.
Even tore down the bus curtains.
Others remained frozen.
Trembling.
Mouths open.
Unable to make a sound.
"Why are you just standing there?!"
Rafandra shouted.
His voice rose sharply.
Half panic.
Half desperation.
The students looked at him with tear-filled eyes.
Some covered their mouths.
Others shook uncontrollably as they fought back sobs.
They were in shock.
Traumatized.
The world they knew had just collapsed.
And their minds had not yet caught up with reality.
Adrenaline surged through Rafandra.
He hadn't even realized how loudly he'd shouted.
He only knew one thing.
They couldn't afford to waste another second.
"Tear off your sleeves!"
he ordered.
"Now!
"If you're still conscious, help those who aren't!
"Don't cry.
"Focus!"
The sound of fabric ripping filled the bus.
Ragged breathing.
Stifled sobs.
Surrounded by blood and darkness, Rafandra forced them to keep moving.
Because if they stopped...
Everything would end here.
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