Agung and Arip never imagined their routine hike would lead them into the heart of a chilling mystery. As they ventured deeper into the dense forest, Agung, always the more adventurous of the two, strayed from the path, drawn by an inexplicable urge to explore. Before long, he found himself standing at the edge of a village that seemed to be swallowed by the shadows of the trees—The South Meraung Village.
The village was eerily silent, its dilapidated houses whispering tales of abandonment. Agung's curiosity piqued, he stepped into the village, unaware of the danger that lurked within its forsaken streets. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the village transformed; shadows stretched and twisted, and a cold wind whispered warnings that Agung couldn't hear.
Meanwhile, Arip, realizing Agung was missing, set out to find his friend. Armed with nothing but a flashlight and his determination, Arip followed the faint trail Agung had left behind. The deeper he ventured, the more the forest seemed to close in around him, as if trying to keep him from reaching the village.
As night fell, Arip finally stumbled upon The South Meraung Village. The air was thick with an oppressive sense of dread. He called out for Agung, his voice echoing through the empty streets. A faint response led him to a crumbling house at the village's center. Inside, he found Agung, but something was wrong. Agung's eyes were glazed over, as if he were in a trance.
Suddenly, the door slammed shut behind Arip, trapping them both inside. The walls began to close in, and ghostly whispers filled the room. Arip realized they had stumbled upon a village cursed by the spirits of its former inhabitants, who sought to claim new souls to wander its streets forever.
With time running out, Arip fought to break the curse. He remembered an old legend about the village, a tale of a ritual that could free trapped souls. Desperate, he began the ritual, chanting ancient words he barely understood. As he spoke, the spirits grew restless, their whispers turning to screams.
Finally, with a burst of light, the curse shattered. The walls receded, and the ghostly presence vanished. Agung snapped out of his trance, and together, they stumbled out of the house, gasping for air. They fled The South Meraung Village, vowing never to return.
As they emerged from the forest, the first light of dawn broke through the trees, a stark contrast to the darkness they had just escaped. Agung and Arip knew they had narrowly escaped a fate worse than death, forever haunted by the memory of The South Meraung Village.
