I carefully knocked on the cabin door, unsure of who would answer. Moments later, the door slowly opened, revealing an old man in a cloak and an old woman with piercing eyes, grinning like characters from a popular horror series at the time. Despite their frightening appearance, they greeted me with warm smiles. However, I could sense a hidden tension behind their smiles.
"Who are you, out here so late?" the old man asked in a raspy voice.
"I got lost in this forest, sir," I replied hesitantly. "Can you tell me the way back to Semarang?"
The old man looked at me with a contemplative gaze. "This forest holds many secrets, young man. But we will help you. Keep walking to the right and never turn left until you see a red light. That's when you'll be close to the city."
I was confused; how could there be a traffic light in the wilderness? With no other options, I decided to follow their directions. The old man and woman gave me precise instructions to find my way home, warning me not to trust anything I saw out there at night because the forest had unpredictable powers.
The Harrowing Journey Home
That night, the atmosphere around Gondoriyo Forest felt extremely eerie. The sky, usually clear during the day, was now hidden behind dark clouds, adding to the ominous feeling. I, an adventurer always tempted by nature's beauty, decided to explore this forest, despite the eerie stories and warnings people had told about the mystical place.
Though I often traveled out of town, I wasn't the kind of brave soul who enjoys challenging eerie, deserted roads. My venture into the forest was more due to getting lost, and I didn't realize it was the mysterious Gondoriyo Forest, notorious since Dutch colonial times. This incident happened in early 2001.
My car crept along the road flanked by dense trees. The car's headlights were the only source of light, casting menacing shadows of the towering trees. The rustling forest sounds and the whispering night wind sent chills down my spine. I deliberately kept the car window open to save on fuel during this harrowing journey. Yet, my fascination with the forest's mystery was so strong that I remained undeterred.
Suddenly, the forest's atmosphere changed. The previously deserted road was now inexplicably crowded with trucks and buses speeding past my car. I was puzzled, as the narrow road couldn't possibly accommodate such large vehicles. But before I realized it, my confusion deepened when the trucks and buses seemed to vanish without a trace after passing my car.
I continued my journey, ignoring the strange signs that appeared along the way. Eventually, I realized I was lost. The roads in this forest all looked similar, and without a map or compass, I had no idea where to go.
With a sense of relief yet still shrouded in anxiety, I continued my journey home. After an hour, I saw a gate ahead with the sign "Happy Memorial Garden." My God... isn't memorial another word for cemetery? I wanted to scream in fear and cry, but I could only recite prayers loudly as I drove on.
The car's headlights were the only source of light, deepening the darkness. I tried to stay focused, though my heart pounded with fear.
Suddenly, I felt a strange vibration beneath my car. I slowed down, trying to figure out what was happening. But before I could react further, something big and black swiftly crossed in front of my car.
I held my breath, trying to comprehend what had just happened. Was it a truck or bus like the old man and woman had warned me not to be tempted by? Or was it something far more mysterious?
Cautiously, I continued driving, trying not to dwell too much on what I had just experienced. However, the longer the journey, the stronger the feeling of unease that haunted my mind.
Finally, after hours of driving, I arrived in Semarang. I got out of my car with a sense of relief, grateful that I had survived the harrowing adventure in the wilderness.
Yet, even though I had returned to my daily life, the story of that forest continued to linger in my mind. I kept wondering about the mysteries hidden behind the dense trees and what really happened that night.