The fog still hung low over the ground when Bima stood in the schoolyard with five other friends: Riko, Tama, Lina, Bayu, and Sari. Backpacks hung from their shoulders, filled with minimal equipment but full of hope and anxiety. Their faces mixed nervousness with curiosity that was hard to hide.
In front of them, an old turquoise bus stood proudly. The writing "SD Ceria" on the side of its body had faded, as if it had gone through many similar journeys. But this journey... felt different.
Mrs. Rani stood near the bus door, wearing a thick jacket and a field hat. Her eyes were sharp, but her gentle smile remained.
> "Children, remember. This camp is not only for learning about nature. But also about who you really are."
The sentence floated in the air, but for Bima, the words went deep into his chest—like an echo looking for a place to settle.
---
Inside the bus, Bima sat next to the window. Riko—with his casual style—immediately took the seat next to him.
> "Why do you think we were the only ones chosen?" Riko muttered as he twirled the strap of his bag.
> "I don't know either," Bima replied, his voice low. "But it feels… like something is waiting for us there."
The bus slowly began to move. The familiar village scenery began to be replaced by dense forests and misty hills. Inside the bus, Tama and Bayu's laughter could be heard softly from the back seat. Lina was busy reading a small book about forest plants, while Sari drew the scenery with colored pencils on the misty window.
Everything seemed normal. But to Bima, the air around him felt heavy—too heavy to be just a coincidence. The heirloom necklace on his chest warmed up again, pulsing softly, as if detecting something invisible.
---
After two hours, the bus stopped at the foot of Mount Kunci Hill. An old wooden gate stood welcoming, with a sign that read:
> "Welcome to the Secret Nature Area of Mount Kunci"
Without warning, the air around them changed.
The teachers began to divide into groups. Mr. Arman, in his typical style, immediately eased the tension in the air:
> "Okay, guys... eh, I mean kids! Hurry up and set up the tents, but don't forget... don't damage nature. Nature can 'retaliate' too, you know... hehehe."
A small laugh was heard. But the wind blowing through the trees seemed to whisper: Nature is watching you.
---
While exploring the surrounding area, Bima's steps stopped. Behind the bushes, a soft rustling sound was heard from the north. Not the sound of an animal... more like a whisper from behind the fog. He turned quickly. There was no one there. But at that moment, the symbol under the selection paper he had kept glowed faintly, as if responding to the presence of something.
He quickly put it back in his pocket. But his chest couldn't calm down.
> "Is this... a reaction to this place?"
---
The first night arrived. The students sat in a circle around the campfire, surrounded by the sounds of the forest and a sky filled with stars.
The teachers began to tell their stories. Mrs. Rani spoke up, her voice calm but deep:
> "It is said that Bukit Gunung Kunci is where the guardians of the earth's spirits reside. Many come to seek answers, but not all return with what they seek."
> "Some say," she continued softly, "on this hill, everyone will find the deepest side of themselves."
Bima stared at the fire, letting the flames dance in his eyeballs. But behind the light, there was a shadow that refused to go away. The necklace around his neck felt heavy that night—heavier than before.
---
After the bonfire ceremony, the students entered the tent. But the night was not over yet. Riko woke up, and found Bima sitting outside, staring at the cloudy sky.
> "Can't you sleep too?" Riko asked softly.
> "Something's strange. This place… seems alive."
Riko sat down too. "You know, I feel it too. Like… this place knows who we are."
Silence. Only the sound of leaves rustling softly. Then, the sound of bushes moving. Both of them turned their heads. Nothing. But they knew... that night, they weren't the only ones awake.
---
The next morning, the group began exploring the eastern side of the hill. However, curiosity led Bima, Riko, and Lina a little off the main path. They followed a small stream that wasn't marked on the map. At the end, they found a flat stone covered in carvings.
> "This... is the same as the symbol on the selection paper," Bima whispered.
Lina touched one of the carvings. Her eyes widened.
> "This... is not an ordinary language. It's like a spirit symbol... or maybe... the language of blood."
The word "blood" seemed to knock on something locked in Bima's mind. Something he wasn't ready to remember.
---
The second night, a dream came without invitation. Bima stood in front of a large stone gate. In front of him, two silhouettes of creatures towered. One gleaming white as snow, the other dark as the shadow of night.
> "We... are waiting for you," they whispered together, their voices echoing in his head.
He woke up. Breathless. Body covered in cold sweat.
This time, the necklace on his chest was not only warm. But it was beating—rhythmically—as if a second heart had come to life inside it.
*****
End of Chapter Quote:
> "Sometimes, the world does not greet with a voice... but with a whisper in a dream, and only a sensitive heart can hear it."