After Ethan returned to his hotel room, he dialed his wife, seeking comfort and clarity amidst the chaos. Their conversation was filled with concern, and she urged him to stay safe. Just as he hang up, a sudden knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. When he opened it, he found Mr. Budi standing there, his expression grave.
"Come with me," Mr. Budi said, his tone leaving no room for argument. He led Ethan to his office, where the dim lighting cast shadows on the walls, creating an atmosphere thick with tension.
Mr. Budi leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper, as if afraid to speak the words aloud. "Something strange has been occurring in the pool whenever you're there." He stood up and walked to his desk, opening his laptop with a sense of urgency. "Just wait a moment," he said, glancing back at Ethan, who felt a knot of anxiety tightening in his stomach.
Once seated, Budi quickly navigated through the files, his fingers flying over the keyboard. He pressed play, fast-forwarding through the footage until he found the clips he needed. "You need to see this," he said, motioning for Ethan to sit down as the screen flickered to life. Ethan's heart raced as he watched himself being yanked into the water, not once but twice, like a scene from a horror film.
But Budi wasn't done. With a flick of his wrist, he switched to another video. Ethan's breath caught as he saw the Sundel Bolong gliding just above the ground, a ghostly figure hurrying toward the pool, its presence both mesmerizing and terrifying. The next clip played, revealing Adhwa, her movements erratic and hurried, staggering towards Ethan's room, just 14 minutes apart from the Sundel Bolong's appearance. The chilling connection sent a shiver down Ethan's spine, as he realized the threads of fate were weaving a dark tapestry around him.
Mr. Budi's expression shifted from concern to intensity as he leaned forward, his gaze piercing into Ethan's. "What connection do you have to Adhwa?" he asked, his voice steady but urgent. Ethan hesitated, feeling the weight of the question pressing down on him. "I... I don't really know what you are talking about," he stammered, trying to dismiss the gravity of the inquiry.
But Mr. Budi was relentless. "Think carefully, Ethan. There must be something." With a deep breath, Ethan felt the walls closing in. "Okay, okay," he finally relented. "Adhwa has been following me around... She poses as my wife actually strangely resembles her, and she always cries for help. It's like she's trapped or something."
As he spoke, a story unfolded—Adhwa's tale of despair, a life intertwined with shadows and sorrow.
He felt compelled to share more about Adhwa's tragic story. "She was sacrificed in a dark ritual, buried alive to appease the spirits in exchange for wealth and prosperity. It was a horrifying act, one that left her soul wandering in anguish." Ethan's voice trembled as he recounted how Adhwa had been rescued by the Sundel Bolong, a spectral figure who had emerged from the depths of the forest, taking pity on her and pulling her from her grave. "She told me she was reborn, but she still carries the weight of her past." But before he could finish, Mr. Budi interjected sharply, his voice laced with a chilling revelation. "I was the one who sacrificed Adhwa for wealth," he said, his tone darkening. "She is my daughter." The room fell silent, the air thick with the weight of his words.
Ethan's mind reeled from the shocking truth, as he felt the heat of rage coursing through his veins. In a sudden burst of emotion, he lunged at Mr. Budi, his fist connecting with the man's nose with a sickening crunch. The sound echoed in the dimly lit room, a sharp contrast to the tense silence that had enveloped them. Mr. Budi stumbled back, clutching his face, blood seeping between his fingers and dripping onto the floor. "You murderer!" Ethan shouted, his voice a mixture of fury and anguish. "How could you let that happen to your daughter? Do you have any idea how it feels to be buried alive?" His words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of Adhwa's tragic story.
Mr. Budi, despite the pain and shock, managed a smirk, a twisted expression that only fueled Ethan's anger further. "I partly deserve that," he replied, his voice strained but defiant. Blood oozed from his nose, painting a stark red against his pale skin. "But beating me up won't change anything, son." The calmness in his tone was unnerving, as if he were dismissing the gravity of the situation. "All that is left is to save my daughter. We have no choice. Either way, the Sundel Bolong will still haunt this hotel since it has been here already."
Ethan, his breath coming in quick bursts, pushed Mr. Budi aside with a force that sent him tumbling to the ground. The thud of his body hitting the floor resonated like a drum, a stark reminder of the confrontation's intensity. "Now speak," Ethan commanded, his voice low and menacing, the tension crackling in the air like electricity. Mr. Budi, adjusting his collar with a shaky hand, looked up at Ethan, his expression shifting from defiance to something more vulnerable. The flickering light from the overhead bulb cast shadows across his face, highlighting the desperation in his eyes.
As he began to speak, the words flowed like a dark river, laden with secrets and sorrow. "Ethan," he said, his voice quivering slightly, "the Sundel Bolong is not just a spirit; it's a guardian of the past, a force that demands respect. To ward it off, we may need the help of a shaman. They use artifacts like sacred stones, woven talismans, and offerings of flowers, often accompanied by rituals that involve salt to create barriers against the spirit's wrath." His voice grew more intense, "The shaman would chant incantations, calling upon ancestral spirits for protection, while the salt purifies the space, warding off negative energies. We must gather these items quickly if we hope to save Adhwa."
Mr. Budi continued, his eyes widening with urgency. "The shaman will also require a mirror, a symbol of reflection, to confront the spirit directly. It is believed that the Sundel Bolong can be trapped within its own reflection, weakening its hold on the living. We must find a skilled shaman, one who knows the old ways and can navigate the delicate balance between our world and the spirit realm. Time is of the essence, and we must act before the next full moon, when the spirit's power is at its peak."
Ethan listened intently, his anger slowly morphing into a sense of determination. He knew they had to put aside their differences for Adhwa's sake. Glancing at his watch, he noted it was already 8:30. "Where do we find this shaman?" Ethan asked, his voice steadying as he focused on the task ahead. Mr. Budi, wiping the blood from his face, pointed towards the door. "There's an old temple near the edge of the forest where it touches the beach to an uninhabited island. It's said that the shaman resides there, waiting for those who seek his guidance, I'm sure he already knows we are on our way. We should leave now, ." Ethan felt a pang of anxiety. "What if the Sundel Bolong attacks us? It has always attacked curious souls after all and will stop at nothing to keep us from getting there," he questioned, his mind racing. Mr. Budi revealed a talisman he wore around his neck. "You have to outsmart a demon to live this well, son," he said, stretching to pat Ethan's shoulder, which he instinctively moved back to dodge in disgust.
"Don't be shy colonizer, " said Mr Budi in a jocular tone.
"Keep your jokes to yourself, this is a serious case," Ethan said and turned around to walk out .