The full moon cast its gentle glow over the campus sky, shaping strange shadows across the tall trees surrounding the courtyard. At the campus gate, Dio stood firm with a serious expression, arms crossed over his chest. Arya and Rika faced him with completely different looks—Arya seemed exhausted, while Rika pouted, clearly annoyed.
"The cilok incident yesterday was embarrassing," Dio said sharply. "As punishment, you two will investigate the humming that's been heard every night in the art hall."
Arya sighed, knowing there was no point in arguing. "Why us? This campus is huge. Plenty of other people could—"
"Because you're the ones who caused the embarrassment," Dio cut in. "If you don't want to do it, I'll take care of it myself... in a way that won't be pleasant." A thin grin spread across his face, sending a shiver down Rika's spine.
"Fine! Fine! We'll go!" Arya quickly replied, tugging Rika's arm before she could protest.
On their way to the art hall, the campus grew eerily silent. The dim streetlamps stretched long shadows along the corridors. Rika, usually full of energy, began to feel uneasy.
"Arya, why do we have to listen to Dio? He's so mean!" she grumbled, inching closer to him.
Arya only shrugged. "He's got Nagini. And I don't want to find out what she'd do if we disobeyed."
Rika puffed her cheeks. "Nagini's not actually bad, you know! Honestly, she feels more like a mom than some scary spirit."
Arya chuckled. "A mom? Seriously, Rika? You're terrified of her but say she feels like a mom?"
Rika stopped walking and looked at him seriously. "Yes. She's frightening, but she has this aura... it makes me feel safe. Strange, isn't it?"
Arya nodded slowly, but before he could answer, Rika suddenly screamed, "AAAAA! Look!"
Arya nearly jumped out of his skin. "God, Rika! Could you not yell like that out of nowhere? It's the middle of the night, it's already creepy enough—"
Rika bent down, picking up a crumpled two-thousand-rupiah bill from the ground, then turned to him with a scowl. "Just two thousand. I still don't get why I'm being punished over a plate of cilok."
Arya shook his head and kept walking. "Forget it. Let's just focus."
When they reached the art hall, silence wrapped around them. The old building looked elegant, yet unsettling under the moonlight. Its wooden doors creaked faintly as the night breeze brushed past.
"Come on, let's get inside," Arya said, trying to sound brave.
But before they could move further, Rika grabbed his sleeve with a trembling hand. "Arya... look over there," she whispered, pointing at a large tree near the hall.
Behind the tree, a towering shadow emerged, its glowing red eyes fixed on them.
"AAAAAAAA!" they both screamed in unison, bolting into the hall.
They slammed the doors shut, gasping for air.
"What was that?" Arya's voice shook.
"How should I know? I'm just a ghost, not some paranormal detective!" Rika snapped in panic.
But before either could calm down, the once-silent hall filled with the sound of soft humming. The melody resembled a traditional Javanese song—haunting, emotional, carrying a melancholy that made their skin crawl.
In the center of the hall, a woman appeared. She wore a brown kebaya, her hair neatly tied in a bun, her face graceful. Sitting on the floor, she smiled faintly at them.
"Thank you for coming," she said softly.
Arya and Rika exchanged a wary glance. "Who are you?" Arya finally asked.
The woman sighed, her voice no louder than a breeze. "I am a sinden. Long ago, I sang here often. But now, no one wishes to listen. Before I leave, I want to perform my final song. Yet... no one came."
Rika's eyes lit up as she stepped forward. "So, you just want to sing? You're not here to hurt us?"
The woman nodded. "I only wish for someone to hear my last performance."
Arya exhaled deeply. "Alright. We'll listen."
The woman smiled, then began to sing. Her voice filled the hall, wrapping them in a melody both beautiful and heartbreaking. Arya felt as if he were witnessing the woman's entire life—her love, her loss, her sacrifices—all carried in her song.
When the song ended, she looked at them with deep gratitude. "Now, I can leave in peace. Thank you."
Her form slowly faded, dissolving into a gentle glow that vanished into the night.
Rika wiped her eyes, realizing she was on the verge of tears. "That was... so beautiful."
Arya nodded quietly. "Let's go. Dio won't believe a word of this anyway."
Together, they left the art hall, their hearts lighter, carrying with them the memory of the sinden's final song—a memory that would never fade.