Chapter 003: Tumbling
Rezvan held his breath, eyes fixed on Rafandra, who remained alert, scanning the fog outside.
This isn't just an animal… something bigger, something far more dangerous, is out there.
Rafandra muttered silently to herself as she shielded the two girls sitting together and another student seated in front of her.
The air inside the bus thickened, a suffocating mix of heat and cold.
Rezvan's heartbeat thudded painfully in his ears. In an instant, he realized: they were trapped in the midst of something utterly unknown.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
Heavy footsteps shook the ground. The echoes felt almost tangible, driving deep into their chests.
Each impact rattled the bus as though a minor earthquake rippled through its floor and seats.
Rough breaths—deep, harsh, hoarse—accompanied the pounding, punctuated by low growls that made hair stand on end.
The students couldn't see the creature. The thick fog swallowed all sight.
Rafandra repeatedly ordered them to duck and stay still, but the deafening sounds alone spread terror.
A few students quietly wept, stifling their sobs.
Others bit their sleeves, holding their breaths, trying to choke down the fear that crawled into their bones.
BANG! CRASH! THUD! SMASH!
The creature struck the bus repeatedly—perhaps out of curiosity, or maybe it was seeking something they carried inside.
THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.
Heartbeats echoed through the bus, mingling with restrained breaths, thickening the tension as if the air itself had solidified.
Each tremor almost made suppressed screams audible.
Instinctively, they knew: even one sound could be a death sentence.
Every second stretched heavier than the last.
Tears streamed freely.
Cold sweat poured down temples and necks.
Bodies shook violently, as if every muscle refused to contain the fear.
Young faces froze in terror. Their imaginations ran wild, spinning visions of chaos—blood, tragedy, darkness swallowing everything, with no one to save them.
"M-m-mom…"
"Da-dad…"
"I'm scared… this is terrifying…"
"I shouldn't have come… I should've stayed home…"
"Why did the field trip have to be here? Why not Borobudur or somewhere else…"
"This has to be a prank… it's just a prank…"
"I want to go home…"
"This is just a dream. Just a dream…"
"Stupid! I should've gone to high school! Why am I in vocational school—all boys! At least in high school I could've had a crush!"
Regret, complaints, whispered prayers—all echoed through the darkness that threatened to swallow them whole.
On the other side, Rafandra leaned against the bus door, body rigid, eyes sharp, instinctively tracking every movement like a predator.
Rezvan crouched between seats, jaw tight, every muscle tense as he held back his own panic while monitoring the students.
GRRHH… HURRFF… GRRHH… HURRFF…
Heavy breaths echoed again—long, thick, stealthy. The creature had not gone.
And no one knew… what was really happening out there.
CRASH!!
A sudden impact rocked the side of the bus with unimaginable force.
Bodies were thrown.
Screams exploded along with the shriek of bending metal.
The bus lurched violently.
Then…
CREEEEEAAAKKK…
…slowly, it began to tip over, striking uneven ground.
"AAAHHH!!"
"HOLD ON!!"
"WE'RE ROLLING!! WE'RE ROLLING!!"
SMASH!! THUMP!!
Shards of glass flew through the air.
The bus slammed into trees, rocks, dirt.
Each collision felt like a hammer smashing their bones. Young bodies jerked, pressed against seats, clutching each other as screams overlapped in the roaring darkness.
Every second was a gamble.
Every stomp outside could be fatal.
And one thing was clear: the threat was far from gone.
The bus tumbled, rolling slowly over uneven ground. The groan of metal, shattering glass, and the thuds struck ears, making heads pound.
Dust clouded the air, covering the young faces flung in all directions.
Screams erupted as some crashed into seats, while others clung to one another to stay upright.
Tears and sweat mingled; lungs heaved; bodies trembled violently.
Some shut their eyes, wishing it were all a nightmare.
Rezvan, despite being thrown, grabbed the hand of a student flung into the aisle.
"Hold this! Don't let go!" he yelled, bracing himself.
His heart pounded, but his mind worked, seeking ways to protect the children.
Rafandra, upright amidst chaos, steadied several students from flying too far.
Her body absorbed the violent bumps of the rolling bus, each movement extraordinarily heavy yet controlled.
Her eyes continued scanning the fog outside, wary of the lurking creature.
BANG!! THUD!!
The bus struck a large rock.
Bodies were thrown again.
Some students screamed hysterically.
Rafandra shielded a student's head with her body, preventing impact against metal walls.
"Stay calm! Grab onto something sturdy!" Rafandra shouted over the crashing noise.
Rezvan nodded, breath catching.
He guided the students to duck, cling to the sides of the bus, using seats and whatever handholds they could for stability.
He felt their fear, yet he had to channel his courage to prevent panic.
Outside, in the fog, the creature moved slowly, patient, observing.
Every roll of the bus seemed to summon it, though nothing was clearly visible—only heavy steps, harsh breathing, and low growls enveloped everything.
CRASH!!
The bus stopped rolling but now leaned sharply.
The sound outside persisted—heavy, echoing, like something massive pushing against them.
THUD!! THUMP!! CRASH!!
The ground quaked each time the creature touched the bus.
HRRRRGHHH!!
Rough breaths echoed through the fog, creeping into every gap.
Skin crawled. No one dared peek through the windows, let alone approach the doors.
Silence.
No hits, no roars.
Only hiss—rushed breathing, gusts of damp air, or perhaps… the fog itself sneaking in through broken glass.
Darkness.
The bus tilted nearly sideways, wedged between stumps and uneven earth. Gravity seemed inverted: the floor became a wall, seats became barriers. Shards of glass littered the left side, fine cracks appearing across surfaces.
Inside, tension froze.
Passengers dared not move. Their breaths loud amidst the metal groans.
They knew the bus could shift again at any moment, each second the thin line between survival and disaster.
The upper side of the bus remained lodged, bearing some of its weight. But the torque from the impact left the entire vehicle leaning nearly seventy degrees, like a trapped monster. Dust and splintered wood flew; windows rattled; hairline cracks spread.
Inside, fear hung thick.
Passengers clutched seats, bags, or support poles, stiff with tension.
The fog outside swallowed the world, leaving only shadows and muffled sounds piercing the void.
HRRRRUFFFF… The sound returned, low, hoarse, reverberating through the mist.
Passengers held their breaths, some closing eyes, as if blinking it away could make the creature vanish.
Rezvan ducked briefly, eyes seeking Rafandra.
The conductor stood tall, hands gripping the tilted pole, eyes cutting through the fog.
"Don't move," he whispered, quieter this time, firm. "Stay put."
A student bent knees, hands trembling on the seat, eyes wide toward the sound.
Others clasped hands, soothing each other, silent.
Their own breathing, groans, and heartbeats sounded like distant thunder amid the fog-swallowed world.
Rafandra cautiously approached the slightly open door, peeking into the fog without lowering her gaze too long.
The bus felt like a boat ready to capsize at any moment, and outside, the mist hid something incomprehensible yet threatening.
Quiet.
Calm.
Seconds dragged into minutes. Still no movement.
"Bang, can you hear me?" Rezvan whispered, eyes scanning the dark, tracing the dim shapes inside the bus.
"Yes," Rafandra answered, focusing immediately on his direction.
"Are they… calm now?" Rezvan asked uncertainly.
"Which ones?" Rafandra replied flatly, restraining the tension.
Rezvan frowned, almost swearing. "The creature, of course!" he muttered, frustration laced in his whisper.
"How would I know? I can't see anything right now," Rafandra said matter-of-factly.
"Hey, everyone there, feel around you. Find a lighter or anything fallen. We need light to monitor the situation…" he added, voice cutting through the suffocating dark.
"Don't move away from your spot. One flicker is enough," Rafandra warned, eyes still tracking shapes around the bus.
In the darkness, their eyes seemed collectively blind. Bodies aching from pain and fatigue groped for anything to produce light.
A lighter, a tiny spark—enough to regain some control in the consuming darkness.
Click… Click… Click…
The striker broke the silence, and a small flame flickered.
A dim orange point danced, reflecting across the tilted bus floor.
"Om Kenek, here it is… found it," Damar's voice breathed relief, still trembling.
"Use that to check around. Look for anything else…" Rafandra instructed, eyes scanning past the small flame, alert.
He lifted his body slowly, feeling pain radiate through every muscle and joint.
"Probably just bruised," he muttered under his breath, gasping.
Hands inspected limbs one by one for serious injuries.
"Good… just beaten up. Nothing broken…" Rafandra muttered, half relieved, half cautious.
The lighter became a tiny anchor amid the darkness, granting them slight control over a shattered world.
Rafandra moved cautiously, feeling pain radiating from every joint and muscle.
"Probably just bruises," she muttered under her breath, gasping for air.
Her hands checked each limb for more serious injuries.
"Good… nothing broken… just beaten up," she murmured, half relieved, half still on alert.
The tiny flame became their anchor in the consuming darkness, granting them a small sense of control over a world that had gone to pieces.
Outside, the creature—whatever it was—still lurked, patient, waiting. Each motion felt like a direct threat, even if unseen.
The bus, now warped beyond recognition, held panicked students inside. One thing was clear to Rezvan: this was no longer just a field trip. It was a fight to survive.
Rafandra's voice cut through the terror, piercing the hearts of every conscious student.
Some began to move—knees trembling, hands shaking, trying not to be thrown again.
Rezvan finally sat down, leaning against a tilted seat.
His breaths were heavy, each inhale stabbing his shoulders and abdomen.
He closed his eyes for a moment, summoning what little courage he could. Despite the pain and panic that nearly paralyzed him, his responsibility was now to the students who could still be saved.
In the fog outside, the shadow of the creature shifted slowly, patiently, waiting.
Each of its movements felt like a direct threat, though nothing was fully visible.
The bus, twisted and leaning, carried students in panic. One thing was clear: this was no ordinary trip.
Rezvan swallowed hard, trying to calm himself, gathering fragments of logic amid the chaos.
"Are… we under attack?" a faint voice came from the back.
Kirana, one of the girls, barely whispered, her breath caught in fear.
"I don't know…" Rezvan muttered, voice hoarse. "I don't… know. For now… we survive."
CREEEK. THUMP. CRASH.
The sounds outside returned. Unclear, as if retreating, but maybe… they were waiting.
Waiting silently, like terror itself creeping in, leaving no trace.
No one could be certain. No one understood.
What was happening? What kind of creature was out there? Was it… alive? Was it… aware of them?
Soft cries began to rise. From another corner, Damar, Ardi, and several students tried to move—or attempted to.
Someone stifled a sob, another called a friend's name in a hoarse, fearful whisper.
"Pak… Pak Rezvan…"
"Stay calm… keep still… don't move recklessly," Rezvan hissed, voice hoarse, breaths ragged.
Thin fog seeped through broken glass. Cold bit at skin wet with sweat. The metallic scent of blood, burnt rubber, and hot iron filled the air, stinging noses and lungs.
Ciiik… krrkk…
The scrape of metal rang as Rafandra pulled herself from between seats.
One knee bled, left hand clinging to a pole now angled downwards. She gasped, eyes scanning the darkness, unwavering.
"All who can hear me… don't panic!" she half-whispered, firm and controlled.
"Check yourselves… anyone seriously hurt?!"
No immediate answers. But reactions began to emerge, quiet but real.
"My leg… trapped…"
"My hand's bleeding…"
"Chest hurts…"
"Pak… I can't move…"
Whimpers continued, softer, more restrained this time.
They came from bodies beginning to realize: they were alive, but hurt, trapped, fragile.
Rezvan swallowed, ignoring the pain in his shoulder and abdomen, watching students tremble as they moved.
Every motion was a fragile dance between life and injury. Breaths ragged, sweat dripping, blood flowing—a symphony of pain surrounding the bus.
Rafandra remained steady amidst chaos, holding some bodies to prevent slipping, eyes still scanning the fog.
The bus leaned slightly, yet seemed to hold its breath with them. Inside, passengers watched each other silently, aware that each second could change their fate.
CREEK CREEK CREEK
The jarring metal sound pierced the ears.
The bus shifted slightly, then in the next heartbeat, bodies slid violently. Wood cracked beneath them; whatever had supported the bus gave way.
Air inside vibrated; breaths caught; panic crept slowly into every passenger.
The far edge of the bus dropped, smashing onto something solid below. The impact was sudden, hard, like a massive hammer striking the bus floor.
Seats shifted, bags flew, passengers were thrown along with the blow, stomachs jolting, heads bumping lightly. Some screamed, some held their breath, organs rattling as if shaken by giant hands.
The upper side still lodged, bearing partial weight. Yet the torque from the strike left the entire bus leaning almost seventy degrees, like a trapped monster. Dust and splinters flew, windows rattled, hairline cracks spread.
Inside, tension froze.
No one dared move. Their breaths sounded sharp amid the crashing metal and cracking wood.
They knew the bus could shift again at any moment. Each second was the fragile edge between survival and disaster.
The fog outside swallowed everything, leaving only shadows and faint sounds piercing the silence.
HRRRRUFFFF… The sound returned, low, hoarse, echoing through the mist.
Passengers held their breath, some closing eyes, as if shutting out the world might make the creature vanish.
Rezvan ducked, eyes seeking Rafandra.
The conductor stood tall, hands gripping the tilted pole, eyes cutting through the fog.
"Don't move," she whispered, quieter, firm. "Stay where you are."
A student bent knees, hands trembling on the seat, eyes wide at the sound.
Others held each other, soothing, silent.
Breaths, groans, and heartbeats sounded like distant thunder in the fog-swallowed world.
Rafandra stepped slowly toward the slightly open door, peeking into the mist, cautious not to linger.
The bus felt like a boat ready to capsize. Outside, the fog hid something incomprehensible but threatening.
Silence.
Stillness.
Seconds stretched. Minutes passed. No movement.
"Bang, can you hear me?" Rezvan whispered, eyes scanning the darkness.
"Yes," Rafandra answered, focus locked on him.
"Are they… calm?" Rezvan asked.
"Which ones?" Rafandra replied flatly, restraining tension.
Rezvan almost swore under his breath. "The creature, of course!"
"How would I know? I can't see anything," she said plainly.
"Hey, everyone there, feel around. Find a lighter or anything that fell. We need light to check the situation…" Rezvan's voice pierced the suffocating darkness.
"Don't move away from your spot. One flame is enough," Rafandra warned, eyes tracking shadows around the bus.
Hands groped for sparks. A lighter, a flicker—enough to regain some control in the engulfing darkness.
Click… Click… Click…
A small flame flared.
Dim orange flickers danced over the tilted bus floor.
"Om Kenek, here it is… found it," Damar's relieved voice quivered.
"Use that to look around. Check for anything else…" Rafandra instructed, eyes scanning past the flame, alert.