"Sergeant, we were attacked by a supernatural being. They kidnapped my students. More than thirty students, police officers, and my friend Mr. Drajat. They all disappeared."
"They're being held in their world—the supernatural realm. We have to act quickly, before they…" Mrs. Yuyun couldn't finish her sentence. She feared the worst had happened to her students—that they had died.
"Mrs. Yuyun, your story is hard to believe. Even so, if our enemy is some kind of supernatural being, then what exactly can we do? We're trained to fight soldiers, not demons," Sergeant Prayogi said, confused by her story.
He was doubtful. Was this woman thinking clearly, or was she hallucinating? Still, since he had been assigned by his superior to ensure her safety, he intended to do his best. At the very least, he would attend whatever ritual she had in mind. In his opinion, there was nothing to worry about.
"Don't worry. We'll be guided by someone with spiritual sight—Nyi Sukma Ambarwati. She'll be here shortly."
"She will show us what must be done."
"Alright, ma'am, whatever you say. I'm only here for security and protection," Sergeant Prayogi replied with a smile.
Truthfully, he found the whole situation a little amusing, as if he had stepped into the plot of a movie. But he had no choice except to go along with the wishes of the mission target.
Some time later, a middle-aged woman appeared from the school hallway.
She was tall and dressed entirely in black—black clothing, black pants, and a batik headscarf. Large silver bracelets wrapped around both of her wrists. A black sling bag hung at her waist, while a long object—about three feet in length and wrapped in black cloth—rested across her back.
She arrived accompanied by a young woman dressed similarly.
The two walked toward where Mrs. Yuyun was standing.
"Mrs. Yuyun, good afternoon. Sorry I'm late. I had something I needed to take care of," the woman said with a faint smile.
Her voice was gentle yet firm. There was something hidden in her words that made anyone who heard them feel a chill and instinctively obey. As though each sentence carried a spiritual influence or hypnotic force.
"Nyi Sukma, please don't say that. I'm deeply grateful that you came to help us," Mrs. Yuyun said as she hurried forward and shook her hand.
"Nyi, I'll explain what happened at our school, just like—"
Mrs. Yuyun stopped when she saw Nyai Sukma raise her hand.
"Mrs. Yuyun, there's no need to explain. I will perceive what has happened."
"We should begin. Mrs. Yuyun, help my student, Rara Kemuning, prepare what's needed for the ritual."
"Come with me."
Nyi Sukma Ambarwati walked down the school corridors until she reached the back area of the school.
The place where events beyond human understanding had begun.
The area near the SMK school's rear restroom.
Following behind were Mrs. Yuyun, Rara Kemuning, and a squad of soldiers led by Sergeant Prayogi.
Suddenly—from a distance, someone came running toward them.
"Wait… wait for me… I want to help too!"
It was Mr. Astar, the principal.
Behind him came another man—Mr. Mamat, the school caretaker.
"Mr. Astar? Why are you here? Didn't you say you didn't believe what I told you?" Mrs. Yuyun asked, surprised and slightly annoyed.
She remembered his response earlier that morning when parents had come demanding answers about their missing children.
"Please forgive me, Mrs. Yuyun. I acted that way because I didn't want the parents to panic even more. And… I didn't want our school to gain a bad reputation," Mr. Astar explained.
"There are also several parents waiting at the front of the school, and some student volunteers have shown up too. They said they want to help."
Mrs. Yuyun said nothing and continued following Nyi Sukma.
Nyi Sukma reached the restroom area and stopped.
She crouched down and placed her right palm on the ground.
Her lips moved quietly as she chanted, eyes closed.
Suddenly—black smoke emerged from the ground beneath her hand.
With her left hand, she pulled a small bottle from her pocket and pushed the cap open with her thumb.
As if by magic, the black smoke flowed directly into the bottle.
Once all the smoke had entered, she quickly sealed it.
From her black bag, she removed four bamboo stakes sharpened at one end.
Nyi Sukma chanted again, then blew over all four stakes before handing them to Rara Kemuning.
"Rara, place these four stakes at the four cardinal directions. About a fifty-meter radius around the back of the school."
"Yes, Nyi Sukma."
Rara immediately ran to carry out the task.
"Mrs. Yuyun, please prepare a brass basin filled with water and seven-colored flowers, just as I instructed."
Mrs. Yuyun arranged everything in an open space near the garden beside a row of pine trees along the school wall.
A large brass basin filled with water and seven-colored flowers.
In front of it sat a smaller container filled with burning incense.
Thin smoke rose from it, and the fragrance spread through the air.
Nyi Sukma took out several folded slips of paper.
"Mrs. Yuyun, I've prepared protective talismans against evil spirits. Hand them to the soldiers—and carry one yourself. They'll protect you from attacks by malicious supernatural beings."
"Alright, Nyai."
Mrs. Yuyun distributed the talismans.
"Do we really have to wear these, ma'am?" Sergeant Prayogi asked uncertainly.
"Just wear it. Follow Nyai Sukma's instructions and don't complain."
"O-okay, ma'am. No problem"
He slipped the talisman into his pocket. He had no choice but to comply.
"All of you! Prepare yourselves! I will open the boundary of the spirit world… and send the Seven-Color Curse against the evil being that kidnapped the people of this school!"
Nyi Sukma sat cross-legged.
She placed the small bottle containing the black smoke into the basin of flower water.
The smoke was the spiritual trace left behind by the Hanako spirit that had terrorized the school.
Nyi Sukma began chanting.
She scooped water from the basin and sprinkled it into the incense burner.
Then she shouted:
"Boundary of the spirit world—open!"
A cloud of smoke appeared and formed a rippling shape in the air like a shimmering mirror.
An elliptical mirror-like surface, about the size of a small window.
Its surface glittered and rippled like moving water.
Everyone present held their breath as they watched Nyi Sukma.
They waited to see what would happen.
Nyi Sukma began reciting the Seven-Color Curse.
Sapta warna, tangi saking suwung.
Manunggala ring teja lan bayu.
Sida pêjah rasa, sirna ing candra.
"With this, I send forth the Seven-Color Curse! Destroy the evil spirit!"
Suddenly—black smoke billowed out from the basin of flower water.
The smoke moved strangely, twisting like a serpent.
Then it drifted toward the shimmering mirror and entered the rippling surface.
Small popping sounds echoed as the smoke disappeared into it.
The black smoke finally stopped rising.
The place became silent.
Still.
***