The Midnight Shuttle

Chapter 7 : Power

Aditia pushed the angkot to its limits, the speedometer climbing to 120 kilometers per hour. One wrong move and the vehicle could easily flip over. Yet years behind the wheel had turned driving into instinct. His hands remained steady, his eyes sharp, and somehow he managed to reach the Central Jakarta Police Headquarters safely.

The moment he parked, another car screeched to a stop beside him.

Pak Dirga.

Without exchanging a word, both men jumped out and ran toward the station entrance.

“Good evening, Commander. Is there an emergency?”

One of the officers looked startled as Pak Dirga rushed past without warning. Neither he nor Aditia stopped to answer. They continued running deeper into the building, heading straight for Alya's holding cell.

A policewoman was stationed outside the detention area, busy writing a report.

Pak Dirga approached her immediately.

“Where is the female suspect who turned herself in for the hit-and-run case?”

The officer stood at attention.

“She’s inside her cell, Commander.”

She pointed toward the corridor behind her.

Everyone hurried forward.

Then they froze.

The cell door was locked.

The key was still in the policewoman’s hand.

But Alya was gone.

“What?”

The policewoman looked pale.

“She was here just a moment ago!”

Then Aditia looked up.

And his blood turned cold.

“Alya!”

She was pressed against the wall near the ceiling.

Not hanging.

Not standing.

Pressed.

As if some invisible force had dragged her upward by the throat.

Her face was turned toward them, eyes bulging, hands desperately clawing at her neck. Her feet stretched downward like a ballet dancer balancing on invisible strings.

Every second mattered.

“OPEN THE CELL!”

Aditia roared.

For a brief moment, everyone stood frozen in shock.

How could a person be stuck to a wall like that?

Pak Dirga snatched the key from the policewoman and unlocked the door.

He rushed in first.

Aditia followed.

The others came behind.

Yet nobody saw anything.

Only Alya floating near the ceiling.

No rope.

No support.

Nothing.

“What do we do, Dit?” Pak Dirga asked.

Aditia scanned the room frantically.

“I can't see anything.”

His voice shook.

“How did it catch her?”

Then his gaze landed on Alya's hand.

Empty.

The ring was gone.

The ring that should have protected her.

“Excuse me... is this the ring you're looking for?”

The policewoman raised a small silver ring.

“YES!”

Pak Dirga and Aditia shouted simultaneously.

Aditia grabbed it instantly and slipped it onto his little finger.

The world changed.

A towering figure appeared.

Monstrous.

Its body stretched unnaturally high, so tall that even when Aditia tilted his head back, he still couldn't see its face clearly.

Its legs were impossibly long.

Its limbs seemed endless.

Just like the creature from his dream.

“Begu Ganjang!”

Aditia pulled out the small keris he carried.

He pressed it against his right palm, brought both hands together, and began chanting an ancient jangjawokan.

Ka Rama nu ngayuga

Ka Ramana nu ngayuga

Ka Ramana nu ngayuga

Kalawan kanu ngurus jeung ngaluis Si Alya

Parentah Kangjeng Gusti,

Nabi Adam pangyampurnakeun badan awaking,

Sir suci,

Sir Adam,

Sir Muhammad,

Muhammad Jaka Lalana,

Nu aya di saluhuring ala

NYINGKAH SIA IBLIS JAHANAM!

The final words echoed through the cell as Aditia slammed the keris against the wall. A powerful shockwave erupted outward, shaking the entire room and throwing everyone backward, including Begu Ganjang. The creature was blasted several meters away—only a short distance, but enough to loosen its grip. Alya fell hard from near the ceiling, and Aditia couldn't catch her in time. Her body struck the floor face-first, and blood immediately trickled from her temple.

“AL!”

He rushed to her side, pulling her gently into his lap.

“Al... Al...”

His hands trembled as he shook her shoulders.

No response.

“Call an ambulance!”

Pak Dirga barked the order.

Officers scrambled into motion.

Meanwhile, blood continued to flow from Alya's wound.

Begu Ganjang had vanished.

Gone.

At least for now. Aditia never let go of Alya's hand, not when the ambulance arrived, nor when they loaded her inside. He remained beside her throughout the journey, holding the hand of the person he cared about most while guilt slowly consumed him. He had doubted her, accused her, and forced her into a corner before knowing the truth, and now the weight of that mistake pressed heavily against his heart.

He had forced her into a corner before understanding the truth, and now she lay unconscious because of it. If anything happened to Alya, he would never forgive himself. When the ambulance finally arrived at the hospital, Alya was rushed straight into the emergency room, where doctors immediately surrounded her and began treatment. Before they wheeled her away, Aditia carefully slipped her ring back onto her finger, taking every precaution he could, just in case the monster returned.

Now he and Pak Dirga waited outside the emergency ward.

Minutes later, several men arrived.

The man leading them was tall, broad-shouldered, and carried an unmistakable aura of authority.

“Where's Alya?”

His voice boomed through the hallway.

“She’s in the ER, sir,” Aditia replied. “The doctors are still treating her.”

The man glanced toward the curtained treatment area.

“Who are you?” Aditia asked.

“I’m her father.”

Without introducing himself further, he strode forward.

Aditia stepped into his path.

“Sir, perhaps we should wait until the doctors finish examining her.”

Immediately, three large men—clearly bodyguards—moved closer.

Pak Dirga stood as well.

The tension thickened.

“No.”

Alya’s father pointed toward the emergency room.

“I’m taking my daughter to a better hospital.”

His eyes narrowed.

“This place is too small.”

Then he jabbed a finger toward Aditia.

“Can you guarantee she'll receive proper treatment here?” His voice grew colder.

“Do you even know who I am?” Aditia remained calm.

“Alya cannot leave.” The man frowned.

“She surrendered herself to the police.” Aditia spoke firmly.

“She is currently under police custody.”

“If you take her now, it will be considered an escape attempt.” He looked at Pak Dirga.

“Right, Pak?” Pak Dirga blinked, then nodded awkwardly.

“Y-Yes. That's correct.”

“What?” Alya's father stared at them.

“She’s a police detainee?”

“She’s involved in a fatal hit-and-run case.” Aditia's voice was steady.

“The victim has already been buried.” Shock flickered across the man's face.

“No.” He shook his head.

“My daughter isn't a coward.”

“She wouldn't run.”

“There are witnesses,” Aditia said quietly.

“And she surrendered voluntarily.” He leaned closer.

“So the case is already serious.” His voice lowered to a whisper.

“Even money may not be enough to make it disappear.” The man went silent.

For the first time, uncertainty appeared in his eyes.

“Who exactly are you?”

“Alya’s friend.” Aditia answered smoothly.

“We study in the same department.”

“I'll help you.” His voice became softer.

“I didn't want her to surrender either.” The lie slipped out effortlessly.

“But she insisted.” After a long pause, Alya's father finally nodded.

“Fine.” He turned away.

“I'll leave her here.” Then he looked directly at Aditia.

“But remember this.” His gaze sharpened.

“She must get out.”

“No matter what.” After that, he left.

Only when the man disappeared did Aditia finally exhale, the danger had passed.

For now.

Pak Dirga immediately grabbed his ear.

“Ow!”

“What was that nonsense?” Aditia laughed nervously.

“Sorry, Pak.” They sat back down.

Then Aditia's smile faded.

“I saw something.” His voice lowered.

“A shadow.”

“On Alya's father.” Pak Dirga listened carefully.

“It covered his back.”

“His shoulders.”

“His legs.”

“Even his eyes.”

Aditia swallowed.

“It looked attached to him.” Like part of his body, like something that had lived there for years.

“I won't let Alya leave until I know why Begu Ganjang is hunting her.” Pak Dirga nodded slowly.

“I'll support you.” Then he frowned.

“But I don't actually have two witnesses.” Aditia grinned.

“I never said they were human.” Pak Dirga blinked.

“What?”

“My spirit saw it.” Aditia smiled wider.

“And so did Bude Pecel's Qorin.” Pak Dirga stared.

Then burst into laughter.

“So you're planning to bring spirits to court?” Aditia laughed too.

The tension finally broke.

For a brief moment, they simply sat there together.

Like father and son.

Then Aditia turned toward the curtain hiding Alya's bed.

His eyes softened.

Hang on, Al.

I won't leave you again.

Not this time.

Not ever again.