Hanako emerged from the swirling black vortex, her shrill laughter echoing in a way that sent chills down the spine.
Sharp fangs protruded from the corners of her lips.
"Who are you? Are you the one who kidnapped my students?" Mrs Yuyun asked, her voice strained, barely able to come out.
"You're right. I am the one responsible for the disappearance of the students from this school."
Hi hi hi hi!
"My name is Hanako—more precisely, Hanako Miyazaki." "A queen from the dark." "I will take anyone I desire and make them my prey."
"I'm the dark, and I'm the queen!"
"And you! All of you!! Belong to me"
Hi hi hi hi!
"Evil demon! Repent! Return the students you've taken!" Mr Drajat shouted, clenching his fists.
Hanako grinned wickedly at her words.
"It's useless. You will all become my prey as well."
She raised her right hand, her eyes glowing a blazing red.
From her palm, black smoke emerged, forming into a massive serpent with burning red eyes.
The dark serpent slithered, hissing loudly.
Then—
It shot forward toward Mr Drajat with a thunderous roar!
Mr Drajat quickly leaped aside to dodge. The serpent twisted and lunged again. Once more, he evaded.
But while Mr Drajat was still midair—
The serpent split into two!
The second branch struck him instantly.
And—
Bugh!
The black serpent slammed into him, sending his body crashing hard onto the ground.
Mr. Drajat rolled across the dirt before forcing himself back up, steadying his stance.
Slowly, he drew a keris from beneath his black clothing.
"You bastard! Evil demon!" he roared. "I'll kill you!"
Hanako burst into manic laughter.
"DARK OCEAN!"
She unleashed another technique. From her feet, a wave of black energy surged outward, spreading nearly two hundred meters. Thick, dark smoke blanketed the ground.
"RISE!"
From the dense black mist, horned creatures emerged—black as night, with horns like buffalo and eyes glowing red.
They immediately charged at mr. Drajat and Inspector Kamarudin.
Mr. Drajat fought back with his keris, while Inspector Kamarudin struck with his security baton.
After a prolonged battle, it became clear that both men were growing exhausted. Every time the creatures were destroyed, they reformed again as if nothing had happened.
At one moment, Inspector Kamarudin let his guard down. The creatures seized him, immobilizing his body.
Without delay, the black serpent lunged again with a deafening hiss.
And—
Bugh!
A violent impact followed. His entire body was engulfed in thick black smoke.
When the serpent vanished, Inspector Kamarudin—and Bripda Hengki—were gone. Swallowed completely.
Meanwhile, Mr. Drajat struggled to withstand the relentless attacks.
And—
This time, he couldn't dodge.
The serpent struck.
Mr. Drajat vanished.
Now, only Mrs Yuyun remained. She trembled in fear at what she had just witnessed.
Hanako grinned as she approached her, floating eerily above the ground.
A few steps away, she raised her hand again. Another black serpent formed, writhing and hissing.
Then, with a thunderous surge, it shot toward Mrs Yuyun.
She screamed.
And—
SPLASH!
Right in front of her, an impact exploded like fire being doused with water.
A hand grabbed her arm, pulling her up, and immediately ran toward the first-year classroom building—away from the school bathroom.
"What!?" Hanako gasped in shock. She hadn't expected that.
While holding Mrs Yuyun's arm, Fatheema sprayed water from a garden hose toward Hanako.
They kept moving farther away until they broke free from the dark barrier.
"Fatty? So it's you…" Hanako said slowly. "How unexpected.
How did she know and manage to break through my dark veil?" "Interesting… such a clever girl."
"Well then, I suppose that's enough for now. I'll rest and gather my strength. I've collected enough prey as well."
Hi hi hi hi!
She laughed in satisfaction before disappearing back into the black vortex.
The dark veil faded, and everything returned to normal.
"Mrs! Mrs Yuyun! Are you alright?" "Mrs!"
Fatheema shook her gently.
"Yes… I'm alright, dear. Just still in shock." "That was something beyond explanation." "Thank you, Fatheema," she said, breathing deeply.
They walked to the infirmary. Once there, Mrs Yuyun sat back on a sofa.
"Please rest, Mrs. That demon won't attack for now. It seems she needs time to recover after using such powers," Fatheema said, handing her a bottle of mineral water.
"You're right… I never imagined the students would be kidnapped by a demon," Bu Yuyun replied.
"Hanako Miyazaki… so that's your name. A wicked smoke demon…"
"Mr. Drajat and the police officers were taken too?"
"It's hard to believe. Even if I report this to the principal, he probably won't believe me," Fatheema said quietly.
"Do you have any ideas, Fatty?" Mrs Yuyun asked.
"I've fought her before… and managed to escape. I think her weakness might be water—but that's only a guess."
"She must have other secrets."
"Then we must prepare ourselves and try to save your friends," mrs Yuyun said firmly.
"For now, go home. Everyone else has already left—it's already one in the afternoon. It feels like time moves slower outside her barrier."
"Are you feeling better, Mrs?" Fatimah asked, concerned.
"Don't worry, I'm fine. Let's meet here again at five this evening. I'll prepare as well," Mrs Yuyun said, clenching her fist.
"Alright, Mrs."
They left the infirmary and headed home together.
Upon arriving home, Fatheema cleansed herself by bathing in water infused with lote leaves (jujube leaves).
She had heard that such leaves could remove negative influences from evil entities like spirits or dark magic.
"Maybe this will help remove Hanako's influence," she murmured.
"I need to prepare my equipment. I have to help save my friends."
Determined, she lay down on her bed.
"I'll take a short rest… I'm exhausted."
She closed her eyes.
Slowly, her consciousness faded. Her body felt light, as if it were floating, detaching from her physical form.
Moments later, her awareness shifted into a dream.
She stood in a place she had visited before.
A vast, empty space—like being in the depths of outer space.
The ground beneath her resembled a flat, calm surface of water, without the slightest ripple.
From that glass-like surface—
White orbs began to emerge, each displaying different visions.
She approached and examined them.
One by one…
***