The next day, rain covered Jakarta from morning until late afternoon. It started as light drizzle, then grew heavier each hour. By the time Adam finished reviewing his early tasks at the office, several workers were already discussing possible flooding in several areas of Jakarta including areas near Adam's office. He checked the group chat from his phone. Multiple alerts appeared. Some streets near the canal area that located in the area of his old house were underwater. The drainage system could not keep up with the volume.
Adam then prepared his raincoat and boots. He knew the area well. He had assisted residents in similar situations many times. He sent a short message to his secretary, then gathered two workers to join him. They moved out fast. The rain continued to intensify.
Traffic slowed to a crawl. Cars stopped in place. Motorbikes struggled to pass between vehicles. Pedestrians held bags or jackets over their heads. Adam parked his car a few blocks away before the flood lcation and continued on foot. Water reached his ankles. It rose quickly near the intersections. He tightened his coat and walked toward the flooded housing cluster.
Residents stood outside their homes, watching the water rise. Children sat on higher steps. Some adults tried to push the water out of their houses with brooms, but the flow was too strong. Adam spoke with a local volunteer who explained which houses still had people needing assistance. He nodded and moved in without hesitation.
He entered the first house and helped an elderly man lift a heavy wooden chest onto the table. The man thanked him repeatedly. Adam kept his reply short and focused on the next task. He guided a mother with two small children toward a higher road. He held one child's hand and carried a small bag for the other. The rain hit his back hard, but he ignored it and stayed focused.
Water reached knee level in some spots. The current increased in strength. Adam and the other volunteers placed makeshift stepping blocks from discarded crates. Residents used them to move to safer ground. A few teenagers joined to help carry furniture and appliances. He coordinated them with direct instructions. He kept his voice steady, which helped reduce panic.
A loud cracking noise came from the canal wall as water overflowed. Adam looked toward the source. The flow pushed debris into the residential area. Buckets, plastic containers, branches, and broken planks drifted past. He warned several residents to move away from the path. People listened. They trusted him because they had seen him assist their neighborhood before.
The rain showed no sign of slowing. Instead, it became heavier. Visibility dropped. The sky darkened earlier than usual. Lights from nearby houses reflected on the water, creating uneven brightness on the flooded streets.
Adam reached another home where a woman stood on a chair. Water had reached halfway up her thighs. "Are anybody still trapped inside?" he asked.
"No, it's only me here," she said. She held a small backpack in her hand. Adam guided her out, helping her keep balance as they stepped around floating items. The water carried small pieces of trash that bumped against their legs. He kept his steps firm so she could follow safely.
They reached a dry patch near the intersection. Adam signaled two volunteers to escort her to the evacuation point. He turned back to check if anyone remained inside the cluster.
A group of people gathered near a big street. They shouted toward something ahead. Adam moved closer. He saw a man standing still in waist-deep water, frozen in shock. The others called for him to move, but he did not respond. He moved through the water toward him.
Before he reached the man, a deep engine noise echoed through the street. Several residents turned toward the sound. A large fuel truck was trying to navigate through the flooded road. Its headlights cut through the rain. The driver seemed to struggle with visibility. The truck rolled slowly at first, then suddenly jerked as it hit a deeper pocket of water.
The wheels lost traction. The vehicle slid sideways. The driver tried to correct it, but the water pushed too strongly. The truck's right side hit the electric pole near the intersection. The pole shook violently. A burst of sparks fell directly into the water.
People screamed. Some ran. Others froze.
Adam moved faster. He reached the man who was still standing motionless. "Let's go," he said and grabbed his arm firmly. The man stumbled but finally moved with Adam's pull.
More sparks rained down as the damaged pole bent further. The truck tilted at an angle. The metal structure groaned under the weight. The sound was sharp and continuous. The tank scraped against the pole again. Sparks hit the fuel leaking into the water.
The explosion happened fast.
A white flash consumed the space around them. Heat hit Adam instantly. It felt like the air itself expanded. The shock pushed water outward. Wooden debris and stones flew with force. Adam shielded the man with his body, but the blast overwhelmed them.
He heard nothing after that. The explosion erased all sound. His ears rang with a deep, heavy tone. His body felt weightless. He could not sense the direction of his fall. The world around him turned into a blur of shapes and colors. Bright light mixed with darkness in rapid waves.
His vision dimmed. He could not see the man he tried to save. He could not see the flooded street. He could not see Jakarta.
His chest tightened. His breath slowed. The heat faded. His surroundings grew colder and quieter. He understood the situation clearly. He had no room for fear. He only felt a need to say one final thing.
"Ya Allah, forgive me."
He did not hear his own voice.
Everything vanished.
Rain. Fire. Noise. Pain. All gone.
Only silence remained.
And in that silence, something else began.
Grass under his hands. A dry surface beneath his body. Air that carried no smoke or rain. A bright sky above him.
Adam opened his eyes.
Apparently he was no longer in Jakarta. But he didn't realize it yet.