She was already bored to death.
Elena had one hand propping her head up as she hunched over the thick old Mambang manual in front of her. Her ponytail started to unravel and her make up started to wear off as sleepiness kicked in. She stole a glance at the cracked screen of her phone. 2 AM.
Elena stifled a yawn, her eyelids drooping as she stared at the dense text of the Mambang manual. The words blurred together, a jumble of ink on the yellowed pages. Mentally kicking herself for not adjusting to the night shift schedule sooner, she tried to focus on the dry, bureaucratic language that seemed to be a hallmark of all government-issued documents. For a document that was supposed to guide and educate, it was written in a way that could make anyone asleep.
Elena looked around the office. The temperature dropped a few degrees as the late night kicked in. Joe sat hunched over his keyboard, his fingers flying across the keys in time to the muffled beat of whatever music was blasting through his earphones. Despite the late hour, he seemed to vibrate with a manic energy that made Elena's own exhaustion feel even more pronounced. Arif looked bored as he mindlessly scrolled through a document on his computer. His jaw absently chewed on what Elena could surmise was his fourth chewing gum of the night.
Elena sighed, gaze drifting longingly towards the window. When she'd first imagined life as a Mambang agent, visions of action and adventure had danced in her head - not endless hours spent cooped up in an office, poring over long texts.
The sound of a creaking chair broke her thoughts. Arif stood, shrugging on a black zip-up hoodie. Elena watched as he strode towards the door, curiosity piqued.
"Going somewhere?"
Arif turned back with a neutral expression. "Yeah, will be out for a bit."
"Oh, where to?" Elena gave a questioning look.
"Just my usual patrol around town."
Elena perked up, her curiosity piqued. "Patrol? Like looking for Unseen Beings and stuff?" That sounds like a Mambang would do as the protector from Unseen Beings.
Arif's eyes flicked to her, his expression unreadable. "More like just keeping an eye on things. Making sure everything's quiet."
Elena leaned forward, trying to tamp down the eagerness in her voice. "Can I come with?"
The corner of Arif's mouth pursed a little. "Uhm…well…" The hesitation in his voice was clear.
Elena stood up. "Please! I really want to see how a Mambang patrols the town."
Arif sighed, his eyes narrowed slightly. "You know, when I say patrol, I meant just walking around. We are not cops."
"But still, can I come? Some fresh air would be good too."
Arif's gaze raked over her, taking in her jacket, pressed slacks and crisp blouse.
"Fine…you'll stand out like a sore thumb dressed like that. But it's too late to change now…maybe lose the jacket." He jerked his head towards the door, a hint of resignation in his voice.
"Come on, then. And keep your eyes peeled. There's been some weird stuff happening out there lately."
Elena never closed a book as quickly as she did in her life.
*
The city of Kuala Lumpur was a tapestry of lights and shadows as Elena and Arif made their way through the streets. The patrol was uneventful, their footsteps echoing against the pavement as they walked past closed shops and quiet alleys.
As they walked, Elena couldn't help but marvel at the contrast of the city - the sleek, gleaming facades of the newer buildings juxtaposed against the weathered, rustic charm of the older shophouses. It was a testament to the ever-evolving nature of the city.
Their footsteps led them toward the infamous Chow Kit area, known for its gritty reputation and colorful characters. The streets here were narrower, the buildings more cramped and worn down. Neon signs flickered above seedy bars and dingy massage parlors, casting an eerie glow on the pavement.
Despite the novelty of being out on the streets, Elena couldn't shake the feeling of boredom. She glanced at Arif, who seemed content with the monotony of their task. Finally, she broke the silence. "So, is this what you do every night? Just walk around the city?"
Arif shrugged, his eyes scanning the shadows. "Pretty much."
"Every single night?"
"Most nights, yeah. It's not all excitement and heroics."
"Are you not bored?"
"Not really," Arif's voice lowered in a somber tone. "Just trying to pay my dues, is all."
Arif continued walking along, his steps a little faster as if he wanted to leave the conversation at that. Elena fell into step beside Arif, the silence between them broken only by the distant hum of traffic and the occasional flicker of a streetlight. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, trying to read his expression. He seemed lost in thought, his brow furrowed and his gaze distant.
"So, what made you decide to become a Mambang?" she asked, hoping to break the ice.
Arif blinked as if startled out of his reverie. "It's a long story," he said, his voice gruff. "What about you? Why'd you sign up for this gig?"
Elena shrugged, a wry smile tugging at her lips. "Honestly? I needed the money. And I thought it would be exciting, you know? A chance to make a difference, to do something that matters."
Arif snorted, shaking his head. "If you're looking for excitement, you joined the wrong agency. We're a small fish. We're nothing compared to Bayangan."
Elena's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Bayangan. "But that's why I'm here," she said, her voice earnest. "To learn, to gain experience. So that someday, maybe I can join Bayangan too."
Arif's steps faltered at the mention of Bayangan, a flicker of emotion passing over his face. But he quickly regained his composure. "You want to join Bayangan?"
Elena bit her lip, suddenly feeling self-conscious. "I mean…yeah. Money and benefits are good. It's a government job and stable. I can get a better life for myself and my sister. And I still get the excitement from being a Mambang, so…" She trailed off, looking at Arif hopefully.
Arif walked past her but Elena could hear a soft mutter from him. "Is that all to it?"
Elena frowned, confusion and curiosity warring in her mind. "What do you mean? What happened there?"
Arif looked torn as if debating whether to answer. Then, with a sigh, he turned away, his shoulders slumping. "Nothing. Good, you have dreams. While I'm just content doing my boring walks." His tone felt sarcastic and condescending as he continued walking.
"H-Hey, where are you going?" Elena followed her mentor. "I was asking a question back there."
As they turned a corner beside a run-down apartment complex, Arif suddenly stopped. "Do you feel that?" he asked, his voice low.
Elena frowned, confused at the shift in tone. "Feel what?"
Arif shook his head, a hint of disappointment in his eyes. "If you can't sense it, then you're still far from Bayangan level."
Elena felt a flush of indignation at his words, but before she could retort, Arif was already moving towards the apartment complex, his steps purposeful.
"H-hey, wait up! What do you mean by that? What am I supposed to feel?"
"Presence of an Unseen Being."
"Oh?" Her tone was one of confusion. The only thing she felt was the slight chill of the night. She should have brought her jacket. "How do you…feel them?" Her pace quickened to catch up to her mentor.
"Did you read the manual?" Arif asked over his shoulder, ignoring her question. "The section on Unseen Beings and what attracts them?"
"Hey, I…" Elena drifted off, wanting to know the answer to her previous question but brushed it off. "Er…" She scrambled her brain for the information she read hours prior. "Something about negative thoughts, emotions, and energies?"
Arif gave a small huff. "Good enough I guess." Both of them walked deeper into the apartment complex's compound, passing rows of parked cars and old staircases. From the sign she saw earlier, this was one of those public housing projects in the city. And like most public housing projects, their conditions were not as well maintained, and a feeling of withering away hung in the air.
"Why would Unseen Beings come to a place like this?"
Arif's eyes scanned the shadows, his voice low. "Unseen Beings are drawn to places like these. Old apartments in poorer parts of towns. There is a lot of stress, worry, and uncertainty in the air. That stuff attracts them." Arif's pace quickened.
"And like a waypoint, they used that to leak into our world." He suddenly stopped in his tracks, pointing towards a shadowy corner of the complex, clinging onto the rafters.
"Just like that."
Elena squinted, her heart pounding as she made out the shape of a creature clinging to the rafters. It was child-like in size, but there was something inherently wrong about it. Its skin was a sickly, mottled green, glistening with a sheen of moisture. As it turned its head, Elena caught a glimpse of its face - a twisted, malformed thing with eyes that glowed an eerie red. Jagged fangs protruded from its mouth, and its hands ended in wickedly sharp claws that dug into the rafters.
A wave of fear washed over Elena, and she instinctively took a step back and slid into a stance.
"Well, you're looking for excitement for the night right?" Arif crossed his arms across his chest.
"All yours. Let's see what you made off, rookie."
The Being slowly turned its head towards the duo.