That night I really couldn't sleep. Every time I tried to close my eyes, shadows from the past kept appearing in my head. I saw myself as a child, running while holding Andaru's hand in the middle of the woods. Behind us, a series of gunshots rang out, followed by the shouts of armed men in pursuit.
Back then, Andaru and I had been kidnapped by a group of armed men. It felt like it happened yesterday, even though years had passed. Then a man named Surya came , an agent from BIN , and saved us. He cleared out the kidnappers without hesitation, then took us home. All those memories came back tonight, leaving my chest tight and aching.
I got out of bed. My body felt sore and cold. I walked to the desk, turned on my laptop, and opened a hidden folder. Inside was a photo of Andaru's corpse that I'd secretly taken from the police station. I stared at the wounds on his body , the cuts were very neat, exactly like those I'd seen in old news stories about organ-smuggling syndicates. This wasn't an ordinary robbery wound; this was the work of demons after human parts.
I zoomed in on the cut in Andaru's abdomen. The pattern matched the wounds I'd seen on victims of the syndicate years ago. They didn't kill Andaru for money, but for what was inside him. My rage flared again. I had to find who they were, and I would make them pay dearly for all of this.
Suddenly there was a loud crash followed by the sound of breaking glass from the living room. My heart instantly pounded. This was no longer a threat over the phone; it was a real attack. They came this fast? I grabbed the folding knife I'd left on the desk that morning and stepped slowly out of my room.
I froze at the doorway, holding my breath. I looked down at the floor in front of my front door, which was ajar. There lay a fresh goat's head, blood still dripping, staining the porch. The metallic smell of fresh blood hit me, making me nearly vomit. This was not a joke , it was a gruesome warning.
Beside the goat's head was a scrap of white paper weighed down by a small stone. My left hand trembled as I took the paper, afraid of what I would read. I unfolded it and read the message written in capital letters, mocking me.
"Shut up, or you'll join your brother. This is your first and last warning. If you still dare to play around, we'll send your head to your boyfriend. Think carefully, puppy."
My eyes burned and my breathing was heavy. Threatening Aisyah? Bastards. They weren't only targeting me but also the people I loved most. They wanted to destroy everything until I had no one left. I clenched my right hand as hard as I could, my fingers stiff with rage.
I knew this wasn't mere terror tactics. This message came from the same group that killed Andaru and that used to stalk us when we were kids. They were still out there, watching, waiting for the right moment to strike again. I would not remain silent.
I crushed the paper in my left hand, my teeth clenched. They'd gone too far. I knew this was not an empty threat , this was war. And I, Gamali, would be the frontline soldier in this war, even if I had to fight alone.
I had to confront Uncle Jaya.
I went back inside, kicked the goat's head away, and shut the front door. I ran straight to Uncle Jaya's study. The light was off, and I couldn't smell Uncle Jaya anywhere. He was gone , fled to save himself like a coward.
I searched the room for clues. Why had Uncle Jaya left in such a hurry? Was he really threatened, or was he the mastermind behind all this? My eyes landed on an object on his desk: a small leather-bound diary locked with a padlock.
I tried to open it, but it was locked. Damn. I had to find the key. I rummaged through the drawers, checked under piles of papers , nothing. I had to force it open. I took the small crowbar usually used for fixing cars and struck the diary's lock.
Kring!
The lock popped, and the diary opened. My heart raced. I began reading the first page, hoping to find something that would explain the inverted spiral tattoo, or why he had left me. His handwriting was neat, but the contents were shocking.
May 24
Another nightmare. The face of Surya, that false hero, keeps haunting me. He saved Gamali and Andaru, but he also planted a seed of fear in their hearts. He is no savior; he is a devil who finds ways to manipulate us.
I froze. Surya? The man who'd rescued us? My childhood hero? He was called a "false hero" and "devil" in Uncle Jaya's diary? I remembered Surya as a charismatic BIN agent, but there was something strange about his gaze. His eyes always looked empty, as if hiding some enormous secret.
I flipped the pages faster, wanting to find the truth about Surya and his relationship with Uncle Jaya.
May 28
Surya contacted me again. He asked me to watch Gamali. He said the child had potential , a very dangerous potential. He needed Gamali for his grand plan. I refused, but he threatened to expose all my secrets, including the murder in Bali ten years ago. I had no choice; I had to comply.
I jolted. A murder in Bali? Uncle Jaya a killer? And Surya pulling his strings? Nausea rose. I didn't know who I could trust anymore. My brother was dead, Uncle Jaya had betrayed us, and my hero turned out to be a devil. My life was shattered.
I flipped further, searching for Surya's grand plan.
June 1
The inverted spiral tattoo. A symbol of obedience to the organization 'Shadow'. I was forced to get that tattoo as a mark that I belonged to them. They said, if I dared remove it, I'd die. 'Shadow' isn't only in the organ trade; they deal in power, too , using past trauma to control influential people.
'Shadow.' So, that's the name of the syndicate. Not just organ smugglers, but a large criminal organization vying for power. And Uncle Jaya, the uncle I love, was one of them , forced by Surya, the man I'd considered a hero.
I kept reading, trying to find out what Surya wanted from me.
June 5
They have begun to move. Andaru has already become a victim, and Gamali will be next. But not for organs. They need her alive, to make her the main pawn in their dirty game. Gamali has connections we didn't realize. Surya said Gamali is the final key to open our family's secret weapons cache.
Secret weapons cache? Our family? A final key? I knew nothing about a weapons cache. My father was only an antiques collector. What else had been hidden from me? Uncle Jaya, Andaru, Surya , they all knew something I didn't.
The last page contained handwriting that was hurried and frantic.
July 12
I already told Gamali about the danger, but she's too naive to understand. I must go; I won't die in vain. But I must leave her a clue. The clue is in the bank safe deposit box in Jakarta. I hid the spare key behind our framed photo in Gamali's bedroom. I hope she finds it before it's too late.
The diary slipped from my hand. Uncle Jaya hadn't truly betrayed me. He'd left because he was scared, but he still managed to leave me a clue , the spare key to the bank locker.
I ran to the bedroom, knocked the framed photo of Andaru until it fell from the table. Behind the frame was a small hole in the wood, and tucked inside was a small golden key. Now I knew , he wanted me to find everything.
Suddenly my phone buzzed. It was the mysterious number that had saved me from the attack last night.
A message from Another Number (Unique Code):
I know you've read the diary. You know who Surya is. But you don't know who I am. Tomorrow night at the old bridge, don't bring just the locket. Bring the bank locker key too. You'll need me to open it. Don't worry, I won't kill you. I want to cooperate. I'm an enemy of your enemy, Gamali. I'm a former henchman of Surya who wants revenge. Don't be late.
I gripped the golden key tight. A former henchman of Surya? So he knew about the diary? He'd been following me without my knowledge. Now I was caught between two hostile sides: the 'Shadow' syndicate and this mysterious man.
I had to go to the old bridge tonight. I needed to know who this man was and why he targeted our family's weapons cache. I looked out the window. The night darkened and the air grew colder.
I went back to Andaru's room and searched his jewelry box for the inverted spiral locket. It wasn't there. I remembered Andaru never wore jewelry. I rifled through his wardrobe, searching the most hidden places, and finally found it.
A silver locket shaped like an inverted spiral. Etched on the back were initials: A.D. + N.S.
I stared at the initials. A.D. , Andaru. N.S. , Surya! Andaru had a connection to Surya? Was Andaru forced to join Shadow as well?
A sharp flash shot through my eyes. The locket felt cold and heavy in my hand, as if bearing a huge secret. This was far more complicated, darker, and more personal than I'd imagined.
I pressed the locket, searching for a hidden mechanism. Nothing. But when I turned it over I saw my reflection in the silver surface. A strange shadow moved quickly behind me in the reflection.
I swung around in a flash.
Empty.
I looked back at the locket. The strange shadow still flickered in the silver, but it wasn't in the room. It felt like the shadow was trapped inside the locket.
A cold shiver ran down my spine. This was no ordinary piece of jewelry.
I had to take it. And the key. I had to meet the mysterious man. This was my only chance for revenge and to uncover the hidden truth.
I walked toward the door, holding the key and the locket tightly. I had to know who Surya was, who Shadow were, and who the man on the other end of the phone was.
I took a deep breath and turned the doorknob. I knew, after this, my life would never be the same. This old wound had just been ripped wide open, and I would let revenge pour through it.
I opened the door. Suddenly footsteps sounded at the end of the alley. The tap of leather on asphalt drew closer and faster. They hadn't left.
I froze in the doorway, peering into the darkness. I couldn't see anyone, but I could hear them. Three people, maybe four. They'd come to finish me.
I had to run. But I couldn't run anymore.
Across the street, a black car had just parked. Its window was slightly open, and I could make out a silhouette inside. I knew , it was my mysterious savior.
I had to choose. Run to his car, or fight the attackers alone.
I looked at my hand, the small folding knife. I had no other choice. For now, I would trust Surya's former henchman.
I bolted across the street toward the black car.
Suddenly a gunshot cracked the night. Not at me, but at the men at the end of the alley.
The black car door flung open. "Get in! Quick, Gamali!" a deep voice shouted from inside.
I jumped into the vehicle. Just as the door closed, the car sped off, leaving my ransacked home behind.
I glanced back and saw my house in darkness, and two figures collapsed at the end of the alley, bloodied.
In the driver's seat, a large man with a black mask glanced at me. His eyes were cold and calculating.
"You're late, little rat. But luckily you brought what I asked for," he said in a very low, threatening voice. "Now give me the locket and that key. Or you'll die right now."
I held my breath, looking into the masked man's eyes. He'd just saved my life, but his threat was more dangerous than the Shadow syndicate.
I knew I'd stepped into the predator's den. I had to be careful.
The locket in my hand felt hot. I wasn't going to hand it over easily.
"You want this?" I said, holding the locket high. "Tell me first who N.S. is, and what his connection to my brother is!"
The man smiled behind his mask. "N.S.? That's Surya, and he's the man who destroyed my life. He will also destroy you unless you work with me. Now give it! Don't waste time , the cops will be on us any minute!"
I looked out the window. The car roared through the city. I was alone with the man who'd just claimed to be my hero's enemy. I looked at the locket and the golden key. I knew these were the key to uncovering the truth, and I couldn't let them fall into the wrong hands.
I kept silent. My lips were sealed.
The man slammed on the brakes suddenly, tossing me forward. He pulled off his mask, revealing a face full of scars. Rage poured from his eyes.
"Listen, you little bastard! I don't have time for your drama! Give me that thing now or I'll break your neck!" he shouted, his face close to mine, smelling of smoke and sweat.
I swallowed hard, terrified. I knew he wasn't joking. But I couldn't give in.
"No," I replied. "Tell me first,what is Surya's plan for me? What does he want with the secret weapons cache?!"
The man laughed, a growl like a wolf. "You're bold, huh? Think you can intimidate me? Fine. I'll tell you. But you'll give me the locket and that key. Deal?"
He held out his big scarred hand. I looked at it, then into his eyes filled with hatred.
I had to make a sacrifice.
I placed the locket and the key in his palm , the betrayal necessary to survive.
The man smiled with satisfaction. He pocketed the locket and the key into his jacket.
"Surya wants you to be his heir. He wants you to replace him, to become the leader of Shadow. And that weapons cache... it's not ordinary, Gamali. It's a dangerous legacy of your family that will make you king of this world."
I froze. Become leader of Shadow? King? Me? I only wanted revenge!
The man put his mask back on and started the car. "Now we're allied. And you'll help me kill Surya. Welcome to hell, Gamali."
I watched the locker key now in his possession. I knew I'd lost everything. I'd sold my soul to another devil. But I had no choice.
I looked through the car window into the waiting darkness. Among the trees, there was a small flash of light. Someone was still watching me. Someone who knew everything.
I closed my eyes and heard the man's voice again , cold and threatening.
"If you betray me, I'll shoot you in the head, no mercy. Remember that."
I opened my eyes and stared at the dark road. There was no way back. I only had revenge. And a very dangerous ally.
"I understand," I said, my voice very low and resolute. "But remember this too. If you betray me, I will repay you in cruelty. I have lost everything; I have nothing left to fear."
The man laughed , an unpleasant laugh. "I like your guts, Gamali. Let's see who's left standing till the end."
The car sped faster, taking us away from the city toward a dark, bloody fate.
The bruise on my right hand from last night still hurt. I knew it was only a small wound. There was a larger wound that would never heal. An old wound, now stoked into a burning flame of vengeance.
I glanced at the masked man beside me, then at the locket and key in his pocket. I had to get them back. I had to take my life back, and I would kill Surya. Whoever dared stand in my way would regret it.
For some reason, I felt something changing inside me. It felt like... a strange vibration, something that had always been there and hidden, suddenly realizing it was alive. Maybe Uncle Jaya was right. I am dangerous.
And now, I won't hold back.
The car kept racing. The air was cold, but my chest felt hot and aflame. This was my first night as a hunter , and from this moment on, I had to be ready for anything that came.