Ghost Behind the Mist: Secrets in the Jungle

Rina had been crying since her husband, Danang, returned from fishing the other day. Danang now often became angry and easily offended.

The two of them were a married couple of ten years, and they had an eight-year-old son named Arif. Originally, Danang was supposed to marry the village beauty named Amara, but Amara was found dead mysteriously in the river.

Before going fishing, Danang was a good and gentle man, but he suddenly changed after he left for fishing for two days. Danang claimed he was going fishing with acquaintances from outside the village.

Actually, Rina felt somewhat strange when Danang said he would go fishing that day. Instead of bringing a fishing rod, Danang brought a machete on his waist, as if he was going to gather firewood.

Danang's change was not only felt by Rina, but also by the villagers who often became victims of his anger. Everyone was yelled at by him. Even at home, Arif was often slapped by his big hands.

A week since Danang's return, Rina felt that something had changed in her house. She often heard heavy breathing sounds on the roof of her house at night, even though everyone in the house was sleeping. Rina also several times saw a tall figure standing near the banana tree next to the house, staring towards her house with red eyes.

Strangely, when Rina tried to discuss this strangeness with her husband, Danang instead became angry and shouted at her. Rina became even more frightened when she glimpsed Danang's eyes turning red and his fangs elongating when he was angry. But when she checked again, Danang looked normal.

Terrified, Rina told Maharani, her childhood friend, about it. Maharani was shocked and said that maybe Danang had eaten Mariaban's feathers. Rina dismissed this suspicion, she believed her husband was a good person.

Mariaban is a supernatural creature that lives in the interior of Kalimantan. Many people hunt it to take its feathers, because supposedly the feathers can give power to whoever gets them.

Rina then remembered Danang bringing a machete, it would make sense if her husband actually went to the forest and not fishing. But once again, Rina dismissed it. She believed in her husband.

Rina still often saw strange apparitions and heard strange sounds in her house, making her uncomfortable. Danang's rough attitude also made Rina want to ask for a divorce and leave. Especially when Rina saw Arif being beaten just because he accidentally knocked over a cup causing it to fall.

Unable to bear it, Rina finally decided to return to her parents' house. Danang just snorted annoyed and didn't care, then went back into the house.

A few days later, the villagers were in an uproar because Danang killed someone in the village late at night. The one killed was Pak Marno, a martial arts expert who was known to be good and generous. Pak Marno's wife immediately screamed for help.

The villagers came and captured Danang. He did not resist much and just smiled satisfied. What made the villagers terrified was Danang's eyes turning red and his teeth looking sharp when he grinned.

The villagers shouted, saying that Danang had allied with Mariaban. He was then tied to a large piece of wood, with many piles of wood underneath. The villagers intended to burn Danang.

Rina came screaming asking for her husband to be forgiven. She also didn't expect that Danang was using magical powers. He really was looking for Mariaban that night.

But the villagers ignored Rina, they were already angry. Danang did not deserve to be forgiven. As the fire began to flare up underneath him, Danang laughed loudly and satisfied, his eyes red, his fangs elongated, and his hands covered in dark feathers. He then exclaimed that Pak Marno deserved to die for killing Amara. The villagers were shocked to hear that.

Danang suddenly cried out, screaming, he said that Amara had told him that Pak Marno forced her to be his second wife, but she refused. Amara also said that Pak Marno threatened to kill her if she didn't agree.

Danang had long wanted to kill Pak Marno, but he knew it wouldn't be easy because Pak Marno was a martial arts expert. So, Danang decided to take a shortcut to gain power by eating Mariaban's feathers.

When Danang was finally engulfed by the fire, a large black shadow emerged from the blaze. Large and blood-red-eyed, it screamed like a dying beast before disappearing, leaving behind Danang's burnt body.

The villagers' suspicions about Danang having eaten Mariaban's feathers turned out to be true. Rina cried hysterically, but the villagers said that only that way could Danang die peacefully. Because anyone who eats Mariaban's feathers will not be accepted by the earth, and will become a Mariaban ghost when they die.

The Continuing Story:

Rina's heart felt heavy with grief as she watched the flames consume her husband's body. The villagers stood in somber silence, the crackling of the fire the only sound breaking the stillness of the night. Despite his transgressions, Danang was once a beloved member of their community, and now his life had ended in tragedy.

As the embers of the fire gradually died down, Rina found herself grappling with a mix of emotions - sorrow for the loss of her husband, anger at his actions, and fear of what the future might hold for her and her son, Arif. The revelation of Danang's involvement in Amara's death had shaken her to the core, casting doubt on everything she thought she knew about him.

In the days that followed, Rina sought solace in the embrace of her family and friends, finding strength in their support. Maharani, in particular, stood by her side, offering words of comfort and encouragement during this difficult time. Together, they mourned the loss of Danang and tried to make sense of the tragic events that had unfolded.

However, amidst the grief and turmoil, there was a glimmer of hope. With Danang's demise, the shadow that had loomed over their village seemed to lift, and a sense of peace gradually returned to their community. The villagers banded together, determined to rebuild and move forward, united in their resolve to ensure that such a tragedy would never happen again.

For Rina and Arif, life would never be the same without Danang. But as they looked to the future, they held onto the memories of happier times, cherishing the moments they had shared as a family. And though the road ahead would be fraught with challenges, they faced it with courage and resilience, knowing that they were not alone.

As time passed, the wounds left by Danang's betrayal began to heal, and Rina found herself slowly rebuilding her life. With Maharani's unwavering support, she took on the responsibility of raising Arif on her own, determined to provide him with a bright and promising future.

Despite the hardships they faced, Rina remained hopeful, knowing that with each passing day, they grew stronger together. And as they stood on the threshold of a new beginning, they embraced the challenges that lay ahead, ready to face whatever obstacles came their way.

In the end, Rina's story was not just one of loss and sorrow, but also of resilience and hope. And though the scars of the past would always remain, they served as a reminder of the strength they had found in the face of adversity. As they looked towards the horizon, they knew that no matter what trials they encountered, they would always persevere, guided by the light of hope that shone within their hearts.