Chereads / Forbidden Mountain / Chapter 27 - Face The Truth

Chapter 27 - Face The Truth

The first team towards the peak.

The second team is towards the west.

The third team is towards the east.

"You make sure yourselves are always alert, hopefully, Tissa will be found soon"

"If by tomorrow she still hasn't been found, you immediately go down and we will gather at Post 1 like the beginning until tomorrow night"

They all nodded in agreement with Keenan's orders.

Laras who remembered about the remaining food stock, began to distribute it to the 3 teams so that they would not run out during the search.

Laras and Alya divided some instant food and bread into plastic bags with their spices.

After finishing distributing the food supplies, they prepared to continue the climb.

With feelings of sadness and emotion, they separated and started searching with their respective teams.

Riki embraced Rico, and they tried to encourage each other.

Laras and Hasan climbed to the top because they were the ones who looked fit and healthy, so they felt strong enough to climb and strong enough to go back down.

Keenan, Rengga, and Alya searched westward and continued down the Bima route to reach the initial base camp.

The weather was very bright as if supporting their journey.

Laras walked beside Hasan and looked like she was thinking about something serious.

The birds chirped followed by a gentle breeze complementing the serene atmosphere in the forest they passed.

Hasan, who realized that something was wrong with Laras, asked what was bothering her mind.

"Laras, what are you thinking about? It seems very serious," Hasan asked curiously while still awkwardly being alone with Laras.

"Didn't you realize? Since yesterday, we have never found anyone climbing other than us"

"How could no climbers be climbing this mountain at all?"

Hasan just nodded and indeed realized the strange incident they experienced yesterday.

"Maybe they took another route, because Srinjani is also wide, or maybe climbers are rarely climbing here"

Hasan said so that Laras would not be afraid to think about this, it seemed like that was true.

Laras continued climbing and looked around the forest.

They headed to Post 5 to be able to reach the peak.

Post 5 was marked by a stall that stood guard next to a large tree that stored several offerings under it.

They finally happily found other people besides the two of them at Post 5.

Then they stopped for a while at Mrs. Sugeng's stall, which provided coffee, instant noodles, and even various traditional foods made by Mrs. Sugeng, such as boiled sweet potatoes, boiled cassava, and so on.

It is believed that boiled sweet potatoes and cassava not only contain many benefits but are also believed to be able to make the stomach full all day.

When they approached the stall, Mrs. Sugeng looked at them both strangely, then asked several questions and answers that made Laras and Hasan not believe it.

"Excuse me Mrs. Sugeng, I would like to order coffee and 2 boiled sweet potatoes"

Hasan and Laras sat in front of the stall while enjoying snacks that were hung in front of the stall.

Mrs. Sugeng continued to make coffee while still looking at them both strangely.

Laras, who was curious about Mrs. Sugeng's behavior, did not hesitate to ask.

"Why is Mrs. Sugeng looking at us like that? Is there something wrong with the two of us?"

Before Mrs. Sugeng had time to answer, the ordered coffee and boiled sweet potatoes were ready and given to the two of them.

"Where have you been? It seems like you've been on a long journey" said Mrs. Sugeng while sitting facing them from inside the stall.

Hasan and Laras looked at each other and were surprised by Mrs. Sugeng's question.

"We.. eh.."

Hasan tried to digest the answer that was going to be said.

"Yesterday we were misled on this mountain, when we went down and didn't continue climbing, we were made to circle Post 4 and return to the starting point"

"And below we met scary and mysterious figures, even though I used to climb Srinjani I never felt anything strange like this before"

Mrs. Sugeng continued to ask them questions.

"Are there other women who are menstruating besides you climbing this mountain?"

Laras just calmed her down.

"Indeed, none of us are menstruating.."

"But there is someone pregnant"

Mrs. Sugeng was shocked to hear Laras' answer.

And her face suddenly changed to a panicked face.

"Where is your friend now?"

"No wonder you were misled here, you have been kidnapped by that evil spirit!"

Mrs. Sugeng looked angry and annoyed discussing the spirit figure she meant.

"Since when have you been climbing this mountain?"

Mrs. Sugeng asked with an emotional expression.

"We climbed a few days ago, March 4th. We started climbing Srinjani"

How surprised Mrs. Sugeng was to hear Hasan's answer.

She shook her head as if she couldn't believe all their stories.

"Just so you know, it's now April 1st, 2015! Which means you've been on this mountain for almost a month"

Hasan and Laras were shocked and couldn't believe this incident.

With trembling hands, they tried to look and ask other climbers who were setting up tents at Post 5 near Mrs. Sugeng's stall.

"Excuse me, I want to ask. What's the date today?"

Hasan asked one of the climbers at Post 5. "It's April 1st, 2015, bro. What's wrong?"

Hasan didn't answer the question, he just said thank you and sat back down with Laras.

They still couldn't understand all this, couldn't believe it, were shocked, and didn't understand what had happened to them.

With blank stares they thought about everything that happened, trying to accept the fact that they were trapped in Srinjani for almost a month.

Suddenly Mrs. Sugeng patted them and asked about Alya.

"Where is your pregnant friend?"

"Why did you just leave her like that?"

Before Laras could answer, Hasan explained that it was not only Alya who was pregnant that they were worried about, but Tissa who was missing and had not been found.