The Arkana: The Demon Hunters
Dalang House

This afternoon Tantra had quite a number of guests. Among these guests, apparently there was Mirna who was Mayang's friend on campus. The girl came for reflection and invited Mayang to lunch outside to discuss their boarding.

However, Mahari is being kind enough to remember the contents of his fat wallet thanks to a mission on the Wates line a few days ago. This afternoon they were all treated to a meal by Mahari in a pendopo located in the backyard of Tantra.

"Mas, my friend is following me?" ask Mayang.

"Follow it," replied Mahari.

"Casual, fat in his wallet again. At least tomorrow if you've deflated back to the factory suit. Telit ampe ubun-ubun," said Bowo.

Perhaps you are wondering how big is this home page? Okay, let's break it down in detail.

In front there is an archway bearing the letters of the Javanese script which means Tantra. Then if you walk to the right there is a large Trembesi tree measuring 30 meters that has large branches. That branch is what Darmanta often uses to sit while reading a book.

Then behind there is a large pendopo that can accommodate ten people. Next to the pendopo there is a fish pond that is not too big. The pond was filled with ornamental fish such as Koi fish.

Finally, if you continue to walk to the left side of Tantra, there is an empty land filled only by synthetic grass. Usually on the left page is used for exercise, or other activities.

Mirna smiled as she arrived at the back pendopo. The atmosphere in this place is so lush and shahdu. He sat right next to Mayang. However, there has been no nudging conversation about their costs. Even the girl was stunned by Darmanta.

"Ehm ...." Hittah cleared his throat like he would not if Darmanta was enjoyed by other girls outside the scope of Tantra. After all, he was on a secret mission as a matchmaker. Hitta tries to bring Manta and Mayang closer.

Mayang and Mirna were now staring at Hitta. Not only the two of them, but also Bowo, Manta, Yasa, and Mahari. All those gazes were as if they were waiting for the words to come out of Hitta's mouth.

"Grand ...." Hitta seemed to be thinking. "The horror story while eating, it's like exciting."

"Okay, you go first" Bowo replied as he sipped iced tea with a straw.

Hitta thought of a horror story while looking towards Wibowo's face. "So .. the cave has a friend who likes girls, he still hasn't shot, but has been rejected. Serem?"

Bowo chokes at the story coming out of Hitta's mouth. Maybe the story is just scary for itself.

"What's the horror?" Yasa let out a heavy breath. "Rather than horror, it's more in the direction of smell."

"I have a horror story" said Mayang.

One sentence from Mayang made both of Manta's eyeballs look at the girl. Previously Manta was only busy staring at the pool beside the pendopo, but once Mayang touched on the topic of horror, the man immediately stared at Mayang who was in front of him a few meters away.

"More to the dream anyway, but it's like a real taste," continued the girl.

Mahari and Manta already know the direction of the story, but they need the details and are silent listening.

"Red pesinden?" ask Mirna.

Mayang suddenly looked at his friend with squeaking eyes. "Well, how?"

"Almost one month of this I dreamt of you, May, but ...."

"But what?" ask Mayang.

Mirna shook her head slowly, she was reluctant to tell a story, but on one hand she felt her experience needed to be told.

"What I thought was a dream, it wasn't a dream" explained Mirna. "Eatya for a few days I have been living in Pakde's house in Solo. I don't dare to tell you for fear of making you feel the same fear as me and finally keep thinking, May."

Mayang and Mirna kept quiet, until Manta's heavy voice broke the stillness.

"What does the red pesinden do?" ask Manta.

"She always bullies almost every night using Javanese chat. Every time the kidungnya appear, it feels like we've been brought to another world that is," replied Mirna. Mirna looked at Mayang. "May, later my mallem sleeps in your room, yeah."

"Newly the cave wants to ask for cementin," replied Mayang.

"May, if there's anything, don't forget to tell me, okay?" manta timpal.

All eyes were staring at Manta. The first time in the history of the earth, the cold man spoke in a caring tone to others, especially a girl. Mayang nodded slowly with a embarrassed face in response.

Seeing the two men's behavior makes Mirna smile and retreat from the hunt for Darmanta's heart. Friendship is more important than feelings of romance. What else is just a momentary romance that only stops for a moment until it will go again somewhere.

After lunch, Mirna left. While Mayang still have to go back to work until later in the afternoon. Hittah could not drive her today, so the girl asked Manta to take Mayang home. Manta doesn't mind. He was intended to take Mayangsari again, because he had a secret task from Mahari.

...****************...

This afternoon is a little different. Because the empty house next to the Maya boarding house is opening the fence wide. The house was filled with people of all ages and ages.

Manta parked the bike in the post, then looked at Mayang. Mayang seemed to know the meaning of face Darmanta and shook his head not knowing. In the end, the two of them were swallowed with curiosity and decided to go there to see what was going on.

"Remember dawuh malam, abot ireng nyeluk semrawut kaya wayang. Saka in the abyss of the earth, demon niwiji karo eyes angel and smile godha. Padha sing dalang ing urip, nglamuneni shock lan godhaning manungsa."

(In the dark night, darkness envelops like a shadow in a puppet. From within the abyss of the earth, demons surged with fiery eyes and seductive smiles. They mastermind life, inspiring human fears and temptations)

Seen a puppeteer who was playing a puppet on the veranda of the house. He is Suratno, one of the famous puppeteers in Jogja.

In his game, the middle-aged man constantly looked towards Mayang who had just arrived with Darmanta.

Being stared at like that makes Mayang uncomfortable and want to leave. However, his intention was scrapped when he found the figure of Mirna sitting to the left of Pakde Suratno.

In the end, I laid down the qira'at before the maghrib of the mosque toa finished the short performance. Slowly the people dispersed themselves. Leave Manta and Mayang together with the owner of the house.

Broke already the Mayang daydream. "Well, where's Mirna?"

The man frowned. "Myrna?"

"Yes, there was Mirna here" replied Mayang.

"Ehmm... You guys haven't come home?" ask the owner with a friendly smile. He approached the young kawla who was still standing on the porch of his house.

Mayang looked around, but he could not find Mirna anywhere.

"Who's looking?" ask Pakde Suratno while frowning.

"E-no, sirde."

"Is there a friend of yours here?" The man's question seemed to make Mayang depressed. He gulped, before answering the question.

"It was a good game" Manta said. "Can I learn from Mr Suratno? I've been following you for a long time and feel inspired."

"Thank you for the compliment" Suratno replied. "By the way you know me?"

Manta smiled as if he were a different person. "Anyone doesn't know the same mastermind as the father?"

Suratno. "It could be you. Be able. Play at home sometime. If I'm here, it means I'm free."

"Good, Sir. So I said it first." Manta grabbed Mayang's hand and held him. "Eat malem yuk, keep coming home."

"L-mayo." Mayang's face flushed with embarrassment. A faint smile was etched on his face. The girl glanced at her hand that was joining Manta.

As soon as Darmanta turned his back to Suratno, his expression suddenly turned very serious as if it had no transition.

'This house is too obvious as if it is challenging. Either Suratno or whoever's behind it, it's not good'. Think Manta.

...****************...

Now Manta and Mayang eat together at the soto stall. Manta invited the girl to dinner outside so she would have a longer time to talk.

"It's nothing, don't forget the news," said Manta.

Mayang smiled. "Yes, if there's anything I'll tell you. But for example there is nothing, can not ngabarin, Ta?"

Manta nodded in response. The man was worried, because in the house owned by the mastermind had a very strong negative aura. The main problem is, Manta can not take action because there is nothing that has been the starting point of his movement. There is no trigger to attack.

After dinner, Manta drove Mayang back to his boarding house. When passing through the house again, his hair had goosebumps. Darmanta is a ghost hunter, but that doesn't mean it can't creep. Horror is not something that can be controlled easily even though you are used to it.

"Thank you, Ta. You be careful going home. Later until Tantra takarin."

"Okay, you're careful too. Don't forget to tell me if anything happens" replied Darmanta.

"Don't worry too much, Ta. I'm not your boyfriend."

"Am I not supposed to worry about people who aren't girlfriends?" ask Manta in his distinctive flat voice.

Mayang smiled. "However, that's fine."

"Yes, I'll go home first." Darmanta pulled the gas away from the place.

As far as Manta, Mayang went into the cost and went up to the second floor. However, as soon as it got to the top, the two uppermost rooms which were her room as well as Mirna's room looked dark. It's only natural that Mayang's room is dark, he's only coming home at the moment, but what about Mirna?

The girl gulped. He ventured into stepping up not too late. Mayang knocked on Mirna's room door.

"Ma."

Tok .. tok .

A hand patted her on the shoulder, making Mayang shocked half to death until a small jump away from her shoulder.

Mirna laughed at Mayang's frightened behavior. Apparently he just came back just like Mayang.

"Eh, you, Na. Gua kira who. Shocked to know!"

"Why are you standing in front of my room?"

"Mastiin cave ...."

Mirna's bedroom door suddenly opened. Sontak Mayang looked up and looked towards the room. Mayang squealed in surprise, because Mirna was currently staring at him from inside the room with a waking face. Mayang's reflexes turned back to the side, but there was no one where Mirna had stood.

"The cave fell asleep from noon" said Mirna. He turned on his room light, then out of the room and leaned on the balcony accompanying Mayang who was still silent. "Lu why, May?"

"Eh." Mayang looked confused. Just now there was a figure of Mirna next to him, then from inside the room there was another Mirna who appeared, then Mirna who was next to him disappeared. "Lu ... Mirna's a real, right?"

Hearing Mayang's question made Mirna snuggle towards him. "Ih, what are you doing? Abis see what you are?"

"Udah, lupain deh. Have you eaten yet? The bawain soto cave. Shower in a cave room, yeah."

"OK," replied Mirna.