A week earlier, on Monday morning.
The sky looked so clear. Sunlight filtered through the gaps between the trees and buildings. The flag-raising ceremony field was already filled with students standing neatly according to their respective classes.
The morning air felt incredibly fresh, thanks to the abundance of trees in the area. The oxygen-rich air, produced by the many green plants around, made the atmosphere even more refreshing.
The flag-raising ceremony was about to begin. The flag-raising officers were already in position.
The time showed 07:15.
That day, the students assigned to raise the flag were Andi, Maman, and Nurul. They stood upright near the flagpole.
However, Nurul briefly felt something that made her uncomfortable.
As if she was being watched.
She glanced toward the school building behind the field.
There was no one there.
The students remained in neat rows.
The teachers were already in their positions.
Nurul took a deep breath and refocused.
At exactly seven to twenty, the ceremony began.
"The ceremony for raising the Sang Saka Merah Putih will begin shortly!"
The announcer's voice echoed through the loudspeakers.
The sequence of events proceeded in an orderly and solemn manner.
The line leaders prepared their formations. The ceremony commander entered the field. A unified salute was given in respect.
Until finally, the main event arrived:
The raising of the Red and White flag.
"Ready… move! Straighten up! Forward… march!"
Andi, Maman, and Nurul stepped forward in perfect unison toward the flagpole.
Their steps were steady.
Their movements well-trained.
The Red and White flag was ready to be raised.
The national anthem began to play.
"To the Sang Saka Merah Putih… salute, move!"
The command rang out loudly.
Soon after, the melody of the national anthem echoed from the speakers.
(Song in bahasa)
"Indonesia… tanah airku…
Tanah tumpah darahku…"
Nurul stood upright, saluting as she followed the anthem.
(Song in bahasa)
"Di sanalah aku berdiri,
Jadi pandu ibuku,
Indonesia kebangsaanku,
Bangsa dan tanah airku…
Marilah… ki… ta…"
Nurul continued saluting while singing.
But as the song reached the second verse—
A cold wind brushed against the back of her neck.
It felt different.
Colder.
Heavier.
Nurul flinched.
Suddenly—
someone appeared before her.
She had no idea how the girl had gotten there.
About ten steps away from the flagpole, a female student stood.
She wore a standard white-and-gray SMK uniform.
A white short-sleeved shirt down to the elbows, a skirt reaching her calves, slip-on shoes with high socks.
But her face was unfamiliar.
Nurul was certain she had never seen her before.
The girl had shoulder-length wavy black hair, fair skin, and a rather pretty face.
Her eyes were clear and beautiful.
If observed closely, her features resembled those of an Asian girl or Japanese girl.
Slowly, the girl raised her right hand.
Her lips moved as if she were saying something.
But Nurul heard nothing.
Suddenly—
Something changed in the girl's face.
Her clear, beautiful eyes began to change.
They grew red!
Brighter.
Glowing, as if on fire.
Then—
Zssh!
A flash of light burst forth, filling the space for a brief moment, like lightning in broad daylight.
Nurul felt her body weaken.
Her hands trembled.
She wanted to move, but her body felt stiff.
The sound of "Indonesia Raya," which had been echoing moments before, slowly faded from her hearing.
Everything became silent.
Her mind felt like it was sinking into emptiness.
While in the student formation, Fatheema stood among the first-year SMK students who had just entered the second semester.
She sang the national anthem while saluting.
But suddenly, her gaze shifted to Nurul.
"Hey, what happened to her?" She thought.
The flag-raising student had stopped moving.
Her hand slowly lowered.
Her movements looked strange.
A few seconds later—
"Aaaaaaaah!"
Nurul screamed with a high-pitched, piercing voice.
Her body stiffened.
Her head tilted upward.
Then she collapsed to her knees.
Two students from the nearest row immediately ran toward the field to help her.
But the moment they touched Nurul—
They fell.
And began to scream.
Several other students rushed to help.
But anyone who tried to touch them also collapsed and began convulsing.
The solemn ceremony descended into chaos.
Screams echoed everywhere.
The four students suddenly got up and ran erratically.
One of them ran toward the third-year students near the flagpole.
Her hand stretched forward as if trying to choke someone.
"Groaaahhh…!"
She lunged at a student and grabbed his collar.
Several others tried to restrain her.
But her strength was unnatural.
Even three people struggled to hold her back.
The teachers quickly left their lines and rushed to control the situation.
Nurul was finally restrained by a male teacher and two students.
They carried her to the school's medical room.
The room measured about four by six meters and was located not far from the field.
Inside, there were four patient beds.
Near the entrance stood a table with a sofa chair. In front of it were two long benches. A first aid kit was mounted on the wall.
A large glass cabinet stood in the corner, containing office supplies and several books.
As soon as they arrived, Nurul was laid on one of the beds.
But her body continued to thrash.
"Nurul! Nurul! Come to your senses!" the teacher said, shaking her shoulders.
"What did you see?"
Nurul did not answer.
Instead, her screams grew louder.
"You're all criminals!"
"Groaaahhh…!"
"I'll kill all of you!"
Her voice was high-pitched and shrill.
"I'll kill you all… hehehehe…"
"Huaaaaaaaaaa!"
Suddenly—
Click!
Creak!
The door to the medical room burst open.
A female teacher rushed in along with a student.
"Oh, Mrs. Yuyun! Hurry, Ma'am! She's getting worse!" shouted the teacher attending to Nurul.
Breathing heavily, the middle-aged woman approached.
Her name was Mrs. Yuyun.
In her left hand, she held a bottle of water.
In her right hand were several betel leaves.
"This is blessed water and betel leaves from a spiritual healer," she said quickly.
She opened the bottle and poured some water onto the betel leaves.
Then she approached Nurul.
"Nurul… come back to your senses."
"Oh my Lord, Most Gracious, Most Merciful, grant her healing and goodness."
Mrs. Yuyun said as she gently tapped Nurul's forehead with the betel leaves soaked in the blessed water.
Miraculously—
Nurul's thrashing body slowly calmed.
Her screams stopped.
Her eyes closed.
Her body went limp on the bed.
After a while, she opened her eyes.
Her gaze was confused.
"What happened?" she whispered.
"Why am I here?"
Mrs. Yuyun let out a long breath.
"You were possessed, Nurul," she said softly.
"During the flag-raising ceremony, you were raving… and some of your friends were affected as well."
"Now, you should rest."
"I've already contacted your family. It would be best for you to rest at home today."
"Thank you, Mrs Yuyun," Nurul replied weakly.
Her body still felt fragile.
Her strength had not yet fully returned.
Meanwhile, Fatheema stood amid the chaos.
She looked alert.
And—
***