The Midnight Shuttle

Chapter 16 : Marni 2

"Walk me home, Mas...." Marni whispered.

Slowly, she turned her head all the way around until it rested against her own back. Her face was now staring directly at the young man while the rest of her body remained facing forward.

His hand instantly slipped from her shoulder.

He collapsed unconscious.

But just before darkness completely swallowed him, he felt Marni's icy breath brush against his ear....

"Luuuraaahhh...."

Then everything went black.

The next morning, the villagers found him lying on the roadside. The two young men who had rushed to report the incident to the neighborhood chief were burning with fever, trembling in fear, unable to explain what they had witnessed.

Panic spread throughout the village.

After the story of Marni's ghost asking a night patrolman to escort her home, no one dared wander outside after dark. The patrolman remained bedridden for days, unable to eat, unable to drink, his body consumed by an unrelenting fever.

The village became unnaturally quiet.

Painfully quiet.

As though life itself had abandoned it.

Once Maghrib arrived, every door was locked, every window sealed shut.

Tonight, Bu Asih did the same after her husband left for work. He worked as a security guard and often took the night shift. Alone in their small rented house with their feverish toddler, she had no relatives nearby to keep her company.

Fear wrapped itself around her heart.

She couldn't stop imagining Marni's ghost standing outside, waiting for her child.

Her little one cried without pause after his father left.

The sobs only grew louder.

Bu Asih gently rocked the child in her arms, whispering soft words that failed to calm either of them.

Tok … Tok … Tok ….

Three knocks echoed through the house.

Bu Asih froze inside the bedroom.

"Who's knocking this late? Is that your father, sweetheart? Did he forget something?" she murmured, placing her child carefully onto the bed before walking toward the front door.

"Mas? Was that you?" she called.

Silence.

Had she imagined it?

She turned around, ready to return to the bedroom.

Tok … Tok … Tok ….

The knocking came again.

Three slow knocks.

Bu Asih cautiously stepped closer to the door. Her baby cried even harder, but the knocking sounded unmistakably real. If it was truly her husband, he would surely be upset if she kept him waiting outside.

"Mas...." she called softly through the closed door.

Still...

No answer.

Gathering what little courage she had left, Bu Asih pulled back the curtain covering the small window beside the door and peeked outside. Perhaps it was only some mischievous neighborhood children trying to frighten her.

Or so she hoped.

Standing outside was a woman.

The narrow window made it impossible to see her face clearly.

After all, it was only a tiny rented house.

"Who's there?" Bu Asih asked.

"It's... me...." the woman outside replied.

"Who are you?"

"Mar... ni...."

Bu Asih screamed.

She stumbled backward, sprinted toward the bedroom, grabbed her crying child, and clutched the little one tightly against her chest. Tears streamed down her face as the knocking outside became louder and louder.

Then...

The knocking stopped.

The silence that followed was even more terrifying.

Bu Asih listened carefully.

Nothing.

No more knocks.

But....

Brak!!!

The bedroom window suddenly burst open.

Standing beyond it was a woman she knew.

Her face was rotten beyond recognition.

Her skin hung in torn pieces.

Her body was covered with festering wounds.

She laughed.

A high-pitched, broken giggle that froze the blood.

"Help! Help!!!" Bu Asih screamed.

She refused to faint.

She had to protect her child.

Her cries echoed through the neighborhood until several people pounded on her front door, calling her name. Relief finally reached her trembling heart.

She rushed to unlock the door.

The moment the villagers stepped inside...

Her legs gave out.

"T-There... there... Marni...!" Bu Asih cried, pointing toward the bedroom.

...

One year before Marni's death...

That day, Marni and her classmates were enjoying a school study tour at one of Jakarta's educational recreation parks. Schools from all across the city had gathered there. Besides the excursion, the venue was also hosting an award ceremony honoring outstanding students.

Two weeks earlier, a citywide academic quiz competition had been held among every senior high school in Jakarta.

Marni had emerged as the overall champion.

As one of the top winners, she had been invited to receive both a certificate of achievement and a generous cash prize.

The ceremony took place beneath rows of decorated tents surrounding a large stage. Every award recipient stood neatly in line while distinguished guests—including the Governor of Jakarta, the Mayor of Central Jakarta, and the local Village Head—prepared to present the awards on behalf of the government.

When Marni's name was announced, excitement rippled through the crowd.

Thunderous cheers erupted from every direction.

She had countless admirers.

The honored guests couldn't help turning toward the stage, curious about the young woman receiving such overwhelming applause. It wasn't difficult to understand why.

Marni was beautiful.

Brilliant.

Graceful.

She drew attention without even trying.

The Governor personally handed Marni her certificate and prize. She beamed with happiness as cameras flashed around her. The organizers even gave her a seat close to the government officials, while several distinguished guests quietly slipped her additional cash as a gesture of admiration for her remarkable achievement.

After the ceremony ended, Marni boarded the school bus for the trip home.

Just as she was about to step inside, a tall, broad-shouldered man approached her. Without saying much, he discreetly pressed a tightly folded piece of paper into her right hand.

"What is this, Sir?" Marni asked.

"Read it when you're alone," the man replied before walking away.

Only much later would Marni learn that he was the Village Head's personal aide.

Even after boarding the bus, Marni kept the folded piece of paper clenched tightly in her hand. She didn't dare open it, afraid her classmates might see its contents. Strangely, the paper filled her with quiet excitement. Deep inside, she hoped it contained an opportunity—one that might help her earn enough money to pursue college.

The moment she arrived home, she greeted her parents respectfully before hurrying straight into her bedroom. She shut the door, locked it, then carefully unfolded the note she had been holding all afternoon. The paper felt slightly damp from the sweat of her palm.

Tomorrow. 10:00 a.m. At the town square, near Kang Sulaiman's coffee stall.

That was all it said.

Marni's heart skipped a beat.

Should she go?

Or should she ignore it?

Back then, crimes against young girls were still uncommon. What troubled her wasn't fear of being kidn*pped, but whether this invitation would change her life for the better—or ruin it forever. If someone as important as the Village Head had summoned her, refusing might not even be an option.

And yet...

Opportunities like this rarely came twice.

If she let it slip away, she knew she would regret it for the rest of her life.

So she made her decision.

She would go.

...

At exactly ten o'clock the next morning, Marni arrived at Kang Sulaiman's coffee stall. She simply waited, unsure of who would come for her.

Nearly fifteen minutes later, a black sedan rolled to a stop in front of the shop. A tall man stepped out.

He was the same man who had slipped the folded note into her hand the previous day before she boarded the bus.

He walked over to Marni and politely opened the rear door for her.

She climbed inside.

Alone.

As the car pulled away, Marni couldn't hide her smile. It was the first time she had ever ridden in such a luxurious vehicle. Sitting in the back seat made her feel, if only for a moment, like an elegant lady from another world.

"We're heading to the Village Head's house, Miss," the driver said.

"Please just call me Marni. I'm only seventeen," Marni replied with a bright smile.

"Then you can call me 'Mas,'" the man answered more casually.

"Mas, what's your name? Are you related to the Village Head?" Marni asked, gathering her courage.

"My name is Wijatmoko. Just call me Mas Moko," he explained. "I'm the Village Head's personal aide."

"Why did the Village Head ask to see me?" Marni asked.

"We're here already. You'll find out soon enough," Mas Moko replied. "Let me open the door for you first."

He stepped out and opened the car door.

Marni followed him inside an enormous mansion.

The moment she entered the living room, she was left speechless. The sofa was oversized and unbelievably soft, upholstered in rich shades of gold that looked luxurious rather than gaudy. Every piece of furniture reflected wealth beyond anything she had ever imagined.

She had never stepped inside a house like this before.

"Wait here for a moment," Mas Moko said. "One of the maids will come shortly. If you'd like something to drink, just let her know. There are some snacks on the table too. Please help yourself."

With that, he excused himself to fetch the owners of the house.

Only a few minutes later, an elegant woman entered the room.

She was tall.

Beautiful.

Graceful.

Her fair complexion seemed to glow beneath the afternoon light as she walked over and sat beside Marni.

Marni frowned in confusion.

She had honestly expected to meet the Village Head.

Why had his wife come instead?

"Marni, do you know who I am?" the woman asked.

"I'm sorry... I don't, Ma'am," Marni answered politely.

"I'm the Village Head's wife. You may call me Mrs. Mirasih," the woman introduced herself.

Though she was already forty-three years old, she remained remarkably beautiful. She gently held both of Marni's hands in hers.

The gesture made Marni feel slightly uncomfortable.

Yet oddly honored.

For a fleeting moment, she even wondered if this woman intended to offer her a scholarship.

Sadly...

Reality had something entirely different in store.

"Yes, Mrs. Mirasih," Marni replied.

"You know my husband, don't you?" Mrs. Mirasih asked.

"Yes, Ma'am. Village Head Miftahudin."

"Have you ever actually met him? Or spoken with him?"

"No, Ma'am. I only know his name because it once appeared as a question during a school quiz," Marni answered with an embarrassed smile.

"My husband and I attended yesterday's award ceremony. Didn't you notice us?"

"I'm sorry... I didn't."

Mrs. Mirasih smiled faintly before taking a slow breath.

"Marni, I've heard many wonderful things about you," she said. "You're intelligent, beautiful, polite, devoted to your parents, and you dream of going to university, don't you? I can help make that dream come true. You know very well that twenty million rupiah won't be enough to carry you through college. I can support you... for as long as you wish to study."

"Thank you very much, Ma'am," Marni replied sincerely.

The sweet promise easily reached the heart of a girl who was brilliant...

Yet still innocent.

"But, Marni..." Mrs. Mirasih continued softly. "There is one condition."

An uneasy feeling settled inside Marni's chest.

How difficult could it be?

If the price was too high, perhaps delaying college and working first would be the wiser choice.

"What is the condition, Ma'am?" Marni asked.

"I'm forty-three years old," Mrs. Mirasih said quietly. "But I've never been able to have a child. There's a problem with my womb. I've tried countless treatments, yet none of them have worked."

She tightened her grip around Marni's hands.

"I need your help."

"My... help?" Marni whispered.

"For what?"

"I want you to become my husband's second wife," Mrs. Mirasih answered. "Help me give my husband the child I've never been able to give him."

Marni's entire body went rigid.

Tears welled instantly in her eyes.

How could anyone ask something like this?

To become the second wife of a man she had never even met...

A man she imagined was probably much older than her father.

"Ma'am... that's too much to ask," Marni said carefully. "Besides, isn't it illegal for a government official to have more than one wife?"

"I'll take care of everything," Mrs. Mirasih replied. "You only need to marry him in a religious ceremony, become pregnant, give birth, and afterward I'll send you overseas. You may pursue any degree you desire. I'll make every one of your dreams come true."

Desperation flickered across the older woman's face.

"What about my parents?" Marni asked, lowering her head as tears streamed down her cheeks. "They'll be ashamed of me. What will everyone say?"

"I'll arrange everything," Mrs. Mirasih assured her. "People will believe you've received a scholarship and moved away to study.

You'll marry my husband there and try to conceive quickly. Meanwhile, I'll announce here that I'm the one who's pregnant. When your baby is born, everyone will believe the child is mine. Afterward, I'll send you abroad to continue your education. Your parents will be proud of you, and I'll make sure they're well cared for here in the village."

She looked at Marni hopefully.

"So..."

"What do you think?"

"B-But, Ma'am...."

"Meet my husband first," Mrs. Mirasih said gently. "Only after you've met him should you decide. If you still refuse afterward, I won't force you."

Marni nodded.

She told herself she would decline after the meeting.

She simply didn't have the heart to reject the woman immediately.

Not yet.

Soon afterward, Mas Moko escorted Marni to another location.

A hotel.

Uneasiness crept into her chest the moment she realized where they were going. Why would such a meeting take place inside a hotel?

Mas Moko quickly explained that it was only to avoid unwanted attention. Even the reservation had been made under a different name so there would be no record linking the room to the Village Head.

"Mas... nothing's going to happen to me up there, right?" Marni asked as she and the aide stepped into the elevator.

"Don't worry, Marni," Mas Moko replied. "The Village Head isn't that kind of man. He's only doing this for his wife."

His reassurance eased some of the fear tightening around her heart.

When the elevator doors opened, Marni quietly followed him down the hallway. They stopped in front of a room, and instead of knocking, Mas Moko unlocked the door with his own key.

Marni hesitated.

There were two men inside.

If something happened to her...

She wouldn't be able to fight back.

"Relax, Marni," Mas Moko said. "I have a younger sister. I would never let anyone hurt you."

Somehow, she believed him.

Taking a slow breath, she stepped inside.

A man was sitting with his back facing the entrance.

"Sir, Marni is here," Mas Moko announced.

The man immediately stood and turned around.

Then he extended his hand.

"Little Marni, I'm Village Head Miftahudin. Please call me Mas Miftah," he said warmly. "Come, have a seat."

Marni froze.

She couldn't speak.

She couldn't move.

She couldn't even lift her hand to return his greeting.

"Marni, sit down," Mas Moko reminded her gently.

Only then did she regain her senses.

She slowly took a seat, trying desperately to hide her astonishment.

She had imagined the Village Head as an overweight, dark-skinned, aging man.

She had been completely wrong.

Mas Miftah stood tall with broad shoulders and a commanding presence. His face was handsome and refined, his appearance impeccably clean, while his deep, calm voice carried effortless authority.

He looked like the kind of man any woman could easily fall in love with.

"If you refuse, neither my wife nor I will hold it against you," Mas Miftah said softly. "We're only asking because my wife has always dreamed of having a child, and we're no longer young. As for me... living with my wife alone has always been enough."

His voice remained gentle.

Steady.

Honest.

Marni barely heard a word after that.

She was completely captivated by the man before her.

The fantasy she had created in her mind shattered in an instant, replaced by something far more dangerous.

Desire.

"I want to continue my education as far as I can," Marni said. "Mrs. Mirasih's offer means everything to me. Please... accept me as your second wife."

That single sentence settled the matter.

The meeting ended soon afterward.

Mas Miftah simply shook her hand before saying goodbye. He offered no affection beyond simple courtesy, treating her with the same dignity he had shown since the beginning.

Marni, however, smiled sweetly.

She even tried to charm him before leaving.

It changed nothing.

At least...

Not yet.

Mas Miftah's heart still belonged entirely to his wife.

He had only agreed to this arrangement because he wanted to fulfill Mrs. Mirasih's lifelong wish of becoming a mother. The moment she saw Marni at the award ceremony, she had become convinced that such an intelligent and beautiful young woman would one day bear a child who was equally beautiful, handsome, and gifted.

If another woman had to become the biological mother of their child...

She wanted only the very best.

After all, she had always been proud of her husband—a handsome, successful, and loyal man.

Naturally, she believed the child's mother should possess equally exceptional qualities.

...

Three months slipped by almost unnoticed.

During that time, Marni and Mas Miftah grew closer with every secret meeting.

At first, Mas Miftah had approached everything without emotion.

But Marni possessed an irresistible charm.

She was beautiful.

Intelligent.

Graceful.

Every part of her seemed carefully wrapped in perfection.

And she deliberately pursued his heart.

Eventually...

He fell in love.

Their relationship became a secret hidden from Mrs. Mirasih.

Marni soon began persuading him to move their wedding forward. The original plan had been to wait another six months while preparing legal documents and arranging a home in another city, where they would live together until she gave birth.

But Marni had no intention of remaining merely the second wife.

She wanted Mas Miftah for herself.

Completely.

Mas Miftah agreed to discuss changing the timeline with his wife.

That request immediately raised Mrs. Mirasih's suspicions.

Her husband's sudden change in behavior was impossible to ignore. An intelligent woman by nature, she quietly investigated until she uncovered the truth.

Her husband and Marni had fallen in love behind her back.

Yet she couldn't blame Mas Miftah alone.

She had introduced Marni to him herself.

If there was anyone responsible...

It was also her.

And so she decided she would be the one to fix everything.

That afternoon, she instructed Mas Moko to bring Marni back to the mansion.

Months ago, she had offered Marni a marriage.

This time...

She intended to offer something else.

If Marni was truly as clever as everyone claimed...

She would surely accept.

On that gloomy afternoon, the two women met once again.

"Marni, I know you've been seeing my husband behind my back," Mrs. Mirasih said.

Marni remained silent.

There wasn't the slightest trace of guilt in her eyes.

Instead...

She smiled.

At that moment, Mrs. Mirasih realized something chilling.

Marni had already become a demon long before death could ever claim her.

"I'll still give you the scholarship," Mrs. Mirasih said. "You don't have to marry my husband. I'll support both you and your parents, and I'll send you overseas. All you have to do is leave him. Never contact him again. Never see him again."

"I'm sorry, Ma'am," Marni replied quietly. "We love each other."

"I know you're young," Mrs. Mirasih said patiently. "Your emotions are overwhelming right now. But believe me. In one year, those feelings will disappear. Take the scholarship. Leave for another country within the next month."

"I don't want anything else," Marni answered with a faint smile. "I want your husband."

"If you insist," Mrs. Mirasih said, her voice growing colder, "I'll cancel the prize money from your academic competition. It hasn't been released yet, has it? My father is a high-ranking official. I can make your life—and your parents' lives—very difficult. Accept my offer. You lose nothing."

"No," Marni said firmly. "You're the one who brought us together."

"It wasn't love," Mrs. Mirasih replied. "It was temptation. Leave my husband. You aren't worthy of him. Your beauty can disappear in a heartbeat. You're only a high school girl. My husband would never spend his life with someone who has no education. And don't dream about scholarships overseas. I'll close every door before you can reach it."

"I have Mas Miftah," Marni answered confidently. "He'll always protect me."

"No," Mrs. Mirasih said calmly. "The moment I tell him to leave you... he will."

She spoke with absolute certainty.

A wealthy, educated woman knew exactly how to defeat a lovestruck teenager.

"I'll give him the child you never could," Marni shot back, clinging to the only weapon she had left.

Mrs. Mirasih burst into laughter.

"Marni," she said, leaning closer, "would you like to hear something wonderful?"

She brought her lips near Marni's ear.

"I'm pregnant."

Then she laughed even harder.

Marni's face drained of color.

The world around her seemed to collapse.

Mrs. Mirasih...

Was pregnant.

Marni had known about the endless fertility treatments.

She had convinced herself they would never succeed.

Yet somehow...

They had.

At the exact moment she and Mas Miftah had fallen deeply in love.

"I don't care!" Marni cried. "I'll stay by his side no matter what!"

It was her final act of defiance.

"You've only seen my kindness until now," Mrs. Mirasih said quietly. "Would you like to see the other side of me?"

Without another word, she ordered Marni out.

No car waited to take her home.

No aide accompanied her.

She walked back alone with empty pockets, unable to contact Mas Miftah. In those days, mobile phones were still luxuries reserved for the wealthy.

Marni—the beautiful, brilliant girl everyone admired—fell into complete despair.

The love that had consumed her heart lasted only three months.

She had dreamed of becoming Mas Miftah's second wife, giving birth to his biological child, and one day replacing Mrs. Mirasih entirely.

Instead...

She was the one who had been cast aside.

Only then did she fully understand the rumors she had once heard.

Mrs. Mirasih had financed her husband's political career.

She had built several successful businesses for him.

She was far stronger than Marni had ever imagined.

And she was a woman Marni could never hope to defeat.