Mrs. Yuyun and Fatheema returned to the school around five in the afternoon. As promised earlier, Mrs. Yuyun had picked Fatheema up after making some preparations.
That evening, she wore a long-sleeved white T-shirt and dark brown pants that reached her ankles. A small bag hung from her back.
Fatimah also carried two rattan batons, each about sixty centimeters long. She had to be ready in case Hanako was already waiting there—ready for her game.
"Fatheema, we now know that the Hanako spirit most likely nests around the toilet area behind the school," Mrs. Yuyun said.
"We're going to perform a few rituals to drive it away and force it to return your friends."
"I brought a protective charm so it won't be easy for it to attack us."
"I only have one, dear. If I had more, I would give you one too."
"It's okay, Mrs. With the name of God, I'm sure I can protect myself."
When they arrived at the back area of the school—specifically the third first-grade building—Fatheema stood upright, her gaze sweeping across the surroundings.
Doubt crept into her heart. What was she supposed to do? Why had she come back here?
Wasn't this the same as walking straight into the spirit's hands?
There was no guarantee she could defeat Hanako.
Fear began to spread through her.
But what about her friends?
If she retreated or failed, they might never return.
She had already warned the principal. Only Mrs. Yuyun believed her.
"Fatheema, I'll prepare the prayer ritual here. Are you sure about what you're going to do?" Mrs. Yuyun asked hesitantly.
"Please go ahead, Mrs. I'll help. I'll pray too," Fatheema replied as she walked closer.
"I've already sent messages to some of the others, asking them to come help. Hopefully they'll arrive soon."
Moments later, a male student appeared, walking down the school corridor.
"Look! It's Bagas!" Fatheema exclaimed, pointing.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Yuyun," the boy greeted.
"Bagas, where are the others?" she asked.
"Not sure, Mrs. Maybe they're on their way," he answered briefly.
"Alright, let's—" Before Mrs. Yuyun could finish, the back area of the school suddenly went dark, and a hand appeared from behind Fatheema, grabbing her shoulder!
"Watch out!" Mrs. Yuyun screamed.
Fatheema gasped. As she turned around, everything had changed.
She was inside a room.
A vast room.
Its walls were pitch black, absorbing all light. The floor was rough and hard, like dry earth covered in clumps of black smoke.
If you looked closely, the space resembled the inside of a massive sphere split in half, with a high curved dome above.
At the center of the dome hung a ball the size of a basketball, glowing dim red beneath swirling black smoke.
The air was cold and silent. A strange sensation crept through her body, like a thin current of wind rising from the ground and crawling upward.
Suddenly, a swirling black portal appeared in the center of the dome.
From it emerged a high school girl with shoulder-length wavy hair—Hanako, the "Toilet Ghost."
"Ahh… you came, Fatty," she said.
"Welcome to my beautiful home."
She laughed shrilly, her voice echoing throughout the room.
It was terrifying.
The fine hairs on the back of Fatheema's neck stood on end.
"You evil spirit! Release my friends—or—!"
"Or what?" Hanako cut in with a smirk.
"Hehehehe…"
"You came here to offer yourself, Fatty. I'll have some fun with you first."
Hanako let out a sharp cry and slowly raised both hands.
From the ground, shadowy figures began to emerge—humanoid shapes with two horns like buffalo horns, their eyes glowing red.
Two… four… eight… sixteen… thirty-two…
There were so many of them, filling the entire space.
"Let's see if you can survive my hundred soldiers, Fatty… hehehe!"
Hanako vanished into the dark portal.
In the vast chamber, dozens of shadow creatures roared. Their orange-glowing eyes flickered wildly, creating a deafening chaos.
Fatheema stood ready. She spun her rattan batons in both hands.
In a low voice, she whispered a mantra in Kawi:
"Prabhā bhūmi… maring urip."
"Prabhā ākāśa… maring eling."
"Prabhā jiwa… maring bala."
"My intention… the art of Solomon's Whip."
"By the will… of the True Lord."
She took a deep breath and pressed her tongue to the roof of her mouth—an ancient technique to focus spiritual energy.
Then she lunged forward.
With both sticks, she struck the creatures, crushing their heads.
She leapt left and right, smashing through them. Each blow sounded like burning coals doused with water, leaving behind the smell of scorched rubber.
The creatures dissolved into smoke upon impact.
But there were too many.
Despite her agility, some strikes and claws hit her body, knocking her back several steps.
She jumped back, creating distance.
The creatures chased her, growling.
Then, a black vortex appeared among them. From it, black smoke burst forth, forming the head of a serpent with glowing red eyes.
The serpent slithered, hissing.
"Damn… that thing again," she muttered.
"I managed to hit it before."
"I need to conserve energy. I have to find a way to defeat them quickly."
"Oh God… they're endless!"
She ran, dodging, striking, leaping.
Then—rumble.
A hissing sound.
She saw the serpent lunging toward her and jumped aside.
It missed—but instantly coiled and struck again.
This time, it split into two, both attacking her.
She leapt and struck one with all her strength.
A loud crack echoed.
The other head lunged—
She tried to dodge—
But the shadow creatures grabbed her.
And then—
Boom!
Silence.
Her body was wrapped in black smoke and lifted about two meters into the air.
Her vision blurred.
Darkness swallowed her.
Moments later, her awareness slowly returned.
She felt like she was floating in an empty, dimly lit space.
A sense of Deja Vu crept in.
Fear. Loneliness. Despair.
"What happened?"
"Did I lose?"
"Am I going to die?"
"No… no—"
"I can't lose!"
"I don't want to die!"
Black smoke rose from below, slithering over her body, trying to seep into her through her pores.
She wanted to resist—but her body wouldn't respond.
No!
Then—
A faint reddish-white mist appeared before her, slowly forming a figure.
A girl.
With a face—
Exactly like hers.
The girl floated in front of her, just like her.
She seemed to be speaking—but no sound reached Fatheema.
The girl extended her hand.
With what little strength she had, Fatheema reached out.
The moment their hands touched, a gentle, cool energy flowed into her body.
It filled her completely.
Her legs. Arms. Chest. Head. Even her eyes.
As the energy reached her eyes, her vision ignited.
Her irises turned violet, with deep red patterns.
They glowed—soft yet sharp.
Her mystic eyes had awakened.
In an instant—she snapped back.
She saw her body still wrapped in the black serpent smoke.
With a swift, fluid motion, she spun midair like an acrobat.
Then broke free.
And—
She landed firmly on the ground.
Her gaze swept across the dark chamber—Hanako's domain.
Her body felt light.
The strange sensation was gone.
Her vision was crystal clear despite the darkness.
Her strength returned.
Her spirit surged.
Her fear vanished.
All that remained was calm…
…and vigilance.
***