The story begins in outer space, a space ship hurtling at high speed across Earth's orbit.
Inside the control room, the atmosphere is tense. Monitors glowed with data monitoring the situation on Earth.
"Sir, it looks like the planet is safe with no sign of the Guardians," said an alien with metallic gray skin, with small cracks along his body that emitted a purplish-blue glow. Its face was half-covered by a metal mask-like plate, revealing only one staring human eye. On his left arm, there were a series of thin armor plates that moved like living insects, adjusting to his every move.
"Are you sure?" asked the alien boss, hesitation lurking in his tone. He folded his arms, looking at the alien skeptically.
"Yes, sir! There are only creatures called humans here. They look stupid and harmless," the alien replied confidently, though it trembled a little in its heart.
"So, what's the name of this planet?" the alien boss asked, turning his gaze to the monitor screen.
"The name of this planet is Green#124, otherwise known as Earth by its inhabitants," the alien replied, excitedly.
"Alright, send monster number 63 to the planet," the boss ordered, a sly smile gracing his face.
"Yes, Captain," replied the alien.
The ship began to open the large doors on its hull, preparing monster number 63 for release. But in a dark corner of the control room, something-or someone-was watching them silently.
... (On Earth)
On a sunny morning at an elite school in Indonesia called Sekolah Jaya Bangsa or (SJB)I sat in the classroom, staring out the window. The sunlight shone through the schoolyard, reflecting the bright colors of the flourishing plants.The low noise of the children playing outside seemed far away, as if I was in another world.
My mind drifted, flying away from the books scattered on my desk. I was eager to explore the world out there, find new adventures, and maybe... even explore outer space. In my imagination, space ships traversed the stars, carrying messages from other lives, unimaginable entities.
In my heart, I knew today was the start of something big, perhaps an adventure that would change more than just my life.
Suddenly, my daydream was interrupted by my best friend Fatimah's voice calling my name.
"Oi, Rina, are you listening to me?" asked my best friend, Fatimah, in a slightly annoyed tone.
"Uh, yes! What's up, Fatimah?" I replied, waking up from the daydream that had transported me to another world.
"So, we're going to the library to study together, right?" asked Fatimah, her eyes sparkling with hope.
"Hmm, yes, of course we will," I replied weakly, drifting back into far-flung thoughts. In my mind, images of outer space and adventures that might come filled my head.
Fatimah looked at me, as if she could read my wandering thoughts. "Rina, are you daydreaming again? Focus dong! We're taking an exam now!"
I nodded, trying to drive away the wild imaginations of aliens and starships. "Sorry, Fatimah. I was just... thinking about something."
"Don't daydream too much, you'll get possessed," said Fatimah, who advised me not to daydream too much.
"What the hell, no way," I replied, still unwilling to stop daydreaming.
"Why are you Rin?, what are you actually daydreaming about?, remember we have exams" asked Fatimah who advised me not to daydream.
"Yes, yes, I know this is our last exam. But, it feels like something big is going to happen, I don't know when," I answered, trying to explain without revealing all the wild thoughts that were spinning inside my head.
Oh yeah I forgot to introduce myself, Hello, let me introduce my name is Karina Putri Maheswari, usually called Karin or Rina. I'm 15 years old, I'm in 3rd or 9th grade.
I'm one of the luckiest kids because I'm albino or albinism. My hair is long and white, my skin is white, everything is white from head to toe.
That's why my parents gave me the name "Blanche," which means white in French. But I'm not French, I'm Indonesian, and I was born in Indonesia.
Usually, people with albinism have slightly deformed eyes like they can't shut up or they're staring, but not me at all. It feels like a gift from God to me, even though my eyes are myopic. Oh yes, I forgot to tell you that when I was 7 years old, there was a strange incident when I was playing dolls with my best friend, Fatimah. At that time, I was busy playing and without realizing it, a basketball flew towards me. Suddenly, a male voice appeared in my head and said, "Watch out, there's danger, Miss Karina!"
At first, I looked around and saw the basketball flying towards me. Quickly, I managed to dodge the ball a few seconds before it almost hit my head.My best friend, Fatimah, stopped playing with her dolls and approached me with worry. "Are you okay, Rina?"
"I'm fine, Fatimah. I managed to avoid it," I replied, still in shock from almost being hit by the basketball.
"Are you hurt, Rina?" asked my other best friend, Rafa, who came over to me.
"Hey! Be careful when you play ball!" said Fatimah in an annoyed tone.
"Sorry, Fatimah. The ball bounced on its own, hehe," said Alan, my best friend who was standing next to Rafa, with a smile.
"You think it's funny, Alan!? After all, how can a basketball move on its own? Admit it if you're not careful when you play!" Fatimah reprimanded Alan and Rafa.
Alan's smiling face suddenly turned frightened when he heard Fatimah's scolding. "Yes, yes, we apologize," he said in a scared tone.
"Hey, apologize to Rina, not to me!" Fatimah said, pointing at me.
"Forgive us, Rina," said Rafa with an apologetic expression.
"It's okay. Besides, the ball didn't hit my face," I replied, smiling at their faces after being scolded by Fatimah.
"Look at Rina all right. You're the one overreacting, Fatimah," Alan taunted.
"Ih, you bummer!" said Fatimah while sticking her tongue out at them.
Even though the atmosphere had become cheerful again, I was still curious about the man's voice. I looked around, trying to find out who the voice belonged to, but it was just me and my friends.
Since that incident, the voice kept appearing in my head. I told my parents about the voice. They took me to a pediatrician and several other doctors, but they always said it was just a child's imagination. However, the voice is still in my head today. It even helps me when I have trouble learning or feel confused. When I was in danger, the voice would warn me and alsowake me up when I fell asleep. That's when I started to think of it as a friend, a brother, or maybe my imagination. I didn't know what to call it. The voice was like an "AI" in my head, always there to help me and tell me important things.
That's when I knew that the male voice in my head wasn't something annoying or scary. I named it SageMind. I didn't know where it came from, but as long as it didn't bother me or harass me, I didn't mind. In fact, he often helped me when I was confused or needed help.
Oh yes, I forgot to introduce my best friend Fatimah, or her long name is Fatimah Anindira Nabila Syahira, she is my best friend, she is the same age as me 15 years old, she is a very smart, kind, and friendly child, she wears a blue hijab, blue sweater, and blue syall.
Fatimah lives in a poor family, both of her parents have passed away, now she lives with her grandfather.
She can go to this school because, my family pays all her school fees, so that I can continue to be with her.
Oh, I'll show you around my school. My school consists of four large buildings, each with five floors. In the middle of the school, there is a large and beautiful garden, a favorite place for students to study or relax. In this garden, a large banyan tree stands majestically, which is often used as a shelter on hot days.
The first building is for junior high school students. It contains various facilities that support teaching and learning activities, including:
Classrooms: Comfortable spaces equipped with interactive whiteboards.Science Laboratory: Where students conduct experiments and learn various science concepts first-hand.Computer Laboratory: Equipped with the latest computers to support information technology lessons.Hall: A spacious gathering space, often used for meetings, events, and extracurricular activities specifically for junior high school students.Canteen: a place for junior high school students to eat.
The second building is specifically for high school students, and has similar facilities to the first building:
Classrooms: Larger learning spaces equipped with various teaching aids.Science Laboratory: A more complete experimental space, supporting scientific research and projects. Computer Laboratory: Can be used for technology and programming classes.Hall: A gathering place for high school students, often holding seminars and other important events.Canteen: A place for high school students to eat.
The third building is the center of school sports activities. Each floor has different facilities:
First Floor: A large swimming pool, often used for swimming practice and water sports activities.Second Floor: A futsal room equipped with a standard court.Third Floor: Basketball court which is a favorite place for fans of this sport.Fourth Floor: Volleyball room which is often used for training and matches.Fifth Floor: Badminton court which is always busy being used by students during breaks.
The fourth building is entirely dedicated to the library. The library is a book lover's paradise, with a diverse collection and cozy reading rooms. Students can find a wide range of books, from fiction to textbooks, as well as quiet study areas.
Our school is the most expensive and best school in the entire world.
Oh yes, I forgot to mention that Fatimah had an accident while saving a little boy who was almost hit by a car. Unfortunately, she was the one who was hit by the car. Fatimah survived, but both her legs were paralyzed forever.
"Ringg!" (The school bell rang)
"Where are Rafa and Alan? The exam starts soon," asked Fatimah again.
"Mostly in the field, practicing basketball," I answered while glancing out the window.
"Oh yeah, forgot. Next week there is a basketball match so they won't take the morning exam," said Fatimah while tapping her forehead.
"Hey, look, there's..." came a loud voice from outside the classroom.
"What is that sound?" asked Fatimah, who was curious.
"I don't know, there seems to be something" I replied curiously and looked out the window again.
All students began to enter the classroom. A teacher entered wearing a black coat, carrying a laptop and textbooks. It was our math teacher and homeroom teacher, Mr. Robert. We often called him Mr. Rob, he was known as a strict teacher. he walked to the teacher's desk and put down his books.
"Good morning, children," greeted Mr. Rob in a firm tone.
"Good morning, Mr. Rob" we replied in unison.
"Alright, this time we have a transfer student from France. You can come in," Mr. Rob said as he looked at the classroom door.
I looked out the window again, not really paying attention to what was happening in the classroom.
"Alright..." The male voice came from outside the classroom door.
"Hello, my name is..." I caught a glimpse of the man's voice introducing himself.
"Alright, kids, let's start the exam. Please close your books and prepare your stationery" Mr. Rob ordered.
We took the exam
... (In Jakarta City)
Meanwhile in the city, a bird-like monster came from the sky destroying several buildings.
"AaAa!!!" many people screamed in fear and ran away from the monster.
... (at Jaya Bangsa School)
"Ringg!" (school bell rings)
"Alright, kids, you can take a break and prepare for the second exam after the break" Mr. Rob announced before leaving our class.
"Come on, Rina! Let's meet Alan and Rafa at the basketball court," exclaimed Fatimah who was waiting at the classroom door with her wheelchair.
"Wait! Don't forget to bring the books," I said as I reached into my bag to find some textbooks for the exam later that afternoon.
"Oh yeah, I forgot!" said Fatimah who forgot to bring the books. "Rina, can you bring my books too?"
"Okay, these are your books!" I replied as I ran over to her and handed her the books, then I pushed her wheelchair.
I walked down the hallway while pushing Fatimah's wheelchair, looking around at my surroundings filled with students.
We went to the elevator door and I pressed the elevator button and waited.
"Hey, Karina. If we get into the elevator and go to another dimension, what will we find?" asked Fatimah, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"What do you mean?" I asked, confused by her sudden question.
"Ah, it's okay. Never mind," Fatimah replied, looking doubtful and averting her eyes.
The elevator doors opened, and we stepped inside. I pressed the first floor button, and the elevator doors closed. In the silence of the elevator, there were only the two of us. Soft music plays, adding to the tranquil atmosphere that is unlikely to last long. The elevator began to move, and when the tranquility was suddenly shattered.
"Be careful, there's danger, Miss Karina!" SageMind's voice echoed in my mind, full of urgency.
I quickly checked my surroundings, but without further warning, the elevator began to shake violently. With no way to avoid it, the elevator fell at high speed, as if we were falling hundreds of stories.
"AaaAaa!!!" we both shouted in panic.
And suddenly, the elevator came to an abrupt stop. "Dumpp!!!" the sound of the elevator stopping echoed in the elevator. Fatimah and I fell to the floor hard, and the books Fatimah was carrying were scattered on the elevator floor.
I opened my eyes slowly and saw Fatimah who had fallen, I slowly stood up and approached Fatimah.
"Are you okay, Fatimah?" I asked, approaching Fatimah with worry.
"Yes, I'm fine," Fatimah replied, her voice still shaking, clearly shocked by what had just happened.
"What just happened?" I asked, helping Fatimah back into her wheelchair.
"I'm so scared, Rin," Fatimah said, holding my hand tightly.
"We'll be fine," I said, trying to calm her down while hugging Fatimah, I didn't expect the exciting adventure I was looking forward to would be like this, I hoped everything would be fine.
Suddenly, the elevator doors opened, as if nothing had happened. Outside the door, many people walked casually, looking at us who looked scared.
I quickly picked up the books scattered on the floor and pushed Fatimah's wheelchair out of the elevator. With quick steps, we moved away from the elevator doors, relief starting to flow even though my heart was still pounding.
"What just happened? Did the elevator break down?" I asked, while continuing to push her wheelchair.
"I don't know what really happened either. Let's talk about this later," Fatimah replied, trying not to want to discuss it. "But certainly, we must immediately go to the sports building, Rafa and Alan. They must be waiting for us.
We continued our journey, trying to calm ourselves while forgetting the tense moment in the elevator. Our pace quickened, our minds still frightened by the frightening events we had just experienced.
we left the junior high school building towards the sports hallbut on the way Fatimah realized something
"Wait a minute, how do we get to the basketball court? I can't take the stairs" asked Fatimah who just realized that there is only one way to the basketball court, which is the elevator.
I paused for a moment, realizing the problem Fatimah had raised.
We had indeed headed to the gymnasium, but the basketball court was located upstairs, and the elevator had just experienced problems. we didn't want to experience that scary thing again, Fatimah's face looked worried, her lips trembled slightly as she stared at the stairs that led to the court.
"You're right," I said as I racked my brain, looking for a solution. "There's no way we can use these stairs."
Fatimah sighed, bowing her head, looking frustrated. "So... what do we do now? I can't get there at this rate."
I stared at the stairs again, thinking hard. "Maybe there's another way," I said, trying to remain optimistic.
"What if we ask the building guards? Maybe there's a staircase for wheelchairs that we can use, or maybe there's an alternative way."
Fatimah nodded slowly. "Alright, let's try asking first."
We walked back to the building guard post near the entrance. Upon arrival, I asked an officer who was sitting behind the desk.
"Excuse me, sir. Is there any other way to get to the basketball court besides using the elevator? The elevator seems to be in trouble," I asked politely.
The officer frowned, deep in thought. "Hmm, the elevator is indeed the only access to the upper floors for wheelchairs," he said after a moment.
"But, I can try to get a technician to fix the elevator. It might not take long."
"No, sir, I'll find an alternative way" I replied, frantically, afraid that the strange incident in the elevator would happen again.
Fatimah looked at me worriedly. "What if we're late? Alan and Rafa must be waiting."
I returned to the stairs in the ohlaraga building.
I bit my lip, thinking hard. "Fatimah, we can wait here, or..." I looked at the steep-looking stairs.
"Well, you can just call Alan or Rafa to come down to you," replied MindSage, with a clever solution that I had not thought of.
"oh yes, that's a very good idea, thank you MindSage" I said thanking MindSage.
I also told her the solution that MindSage gave "I can ask Rafa and Alan to come."
Fatimah smiled a little. "You're really smart Karina, alright, then we'll call them."
I immediately sent a short message to Rafa, to come to our place on the first floor.
...
A few minutes later, I saw Rafa and Alan emerging from the stairs, their faces slightly confused.Meet my two best friends Alan Wira Atmadja and Rafa Adinata Mahendra.
Alan is an annoying and sometimes fun kid, Alan is tall, and dresses a little messy, he wears a brown hoodie and school uniform, his hair is random like he hasn't bathed and is brown.
And Rafa is kind, understanding, and also smart, Rafa is tall like Alan, it's like if I'm near the two of them, my head is on their chest, Rafa has green hair and is neatly dressed, he wears a black vest sweater, and school uniform.
"Why didn't you guys come to us?" asked Rafa.
"The elevator is broken, and Fatimah can't take the stairs," I answered quickly.
"Ting" but suddenly the elevator door close to the stairs opened and several students came out.
Rafa and Alan looked at the elevator that had just opened, then looked back at me and Fatimah with confused expressions.
"Wait," Alan said as he pointed at the elevator, "You guys said it was broken, but that... well, someone just got out of the elevator."
I scratched my head, feeling a little embarrassed. "Yeah...we took another elevator and it was really broken, I swear! We almost felt like we fell hundreds of stories, we're both scared to take the elevator again"
Fatimah added in with a dramatic whisper, "It was horrible, Alan. I almost felt like the protagonist in a horror movie."
Rafa chuckled. "Are you sure it wasn't your imagination from watching too many mystery movies?"
Alan approached with a mischievous smile, tapping me on the shoulder. "Karina, maybe the elevator is having trouble lifting your...heavy body," he taunted, his eyes flashing nosily.
I glanced at him sharply and snorted, "If the elevator could talk, it would say, 'Eh, Alan, you're the heaviest! You eat the most every day, you're a glutton!'"
Alan chuckled and immediately replied, "Well, obviously, basketball players like me need a lot of energy!" he said in a wise-ass tone, as usual.
I chuckled and interjected, "Yes, you do need energy. But don't you eat more non-nutritious food?"
He immediately put on a muscle show, "Uh, Rina, don't you see these muscles?" he said as he rolled up his sleeves, showing off.
I pretended to frown, "Where are the muscles, all I see is... fat," I replied with a sardonic smile.
Alan immediately rolled his eyes, his face slightly reddened, "What the hell, Karin!" he protested half embarrassed.
Our laughter broke out, making the atmosphere much more cheerful. Even Fatimah, who had looked tense, now began to smile, calmness returning to her face.
We left the field and walked towards the library.
... (On the Way)
"Wait, it's Rafa!" exclaimed one of the student council members in a hurry.
Oh, I think I forgot to mention that Rafa is the student council president-a respected person in the school, smart, and always knows how to control the situation.
"What's wrong?" asked Rafa while raising his eyebrows, though his face looked a little tired.
"Rafa, did you forget? We have a student council meeting today," said one of the members with a surprised expression.
Rafa sighed lightly, still busy with some files in his hands. "You guys go ahead, I'll follow. I still have things to finish here."
"Alright, bro," replied Alan, who watched Rafa for a moment, realizing how busy he was these days.
We continued on our way without Rafa, although it felt a little strange without him at this important meeting.
... (At the Library)
Finally, we reached the library and stopped in front of the elevator.
Alan pressed the elevator button, and the doors opened. We were all about to get in, but Alan stopped me.
"Rina, you take the stairs. Let me and Fatimah take the elevator. Pity about the elevator, it must be heavy carrying you," Alan mocked while pointing at the stairs in a teasing tone.
I was immediately annoyed and poked his head.
"Ouch, it hurts, Karin!" complained Alan, holding his head that was hit by my pinch.
"Eh, who told you to say that?" I said in a furious tone.
"Ih, Karin, you have no sense of humor!" retorted Alan, his voice full of annoyance.
He retorted with anger, as if I was the guilty one. There was no apology or understanding from him, you freak!
I stepped into the elevator, and we exited on the third floor. Quickly, we headed to the place where we used to study together.
Our steps took us down a hallway lined with neatly arranged bookshelves. A tranquil atmosphere surrounded us, where the students seemed to be immersed in the world of reading and learning.
After walking for some time, we stopped at a bookshelf that was rarely visited. We pulled out one of the books. Instantly, a secret door opened behind the bookshelf. This secret room is the result of Fatimah's creativity, who cleverly created this place and got permission from the principal.
Fatimah was amazing; her brilliant idea to create a secret door in this quiet place showed her intelligence. Only me, Fatimah, Rafa, Alan, and the principal knew about the existence of this room. The principal also promised to keep it a secret, not to tell anyone, neither teachers nor students.
We stepped into the room, and automatically, the bookshelf closed behind us.
Inside was a bright and spacious study room, with a round table, surrounded by four comfortable chairs for us. This place was always the center of our meetings to discuss, share ideas, and devise study plans together.
In the corners of the room, several drawers are neatly arranged, perfect for storing stationery, notebooks, and other supplies. Each drawer is carefully labeled, ensuring that we never have trouble finding what we need. With this organized system, our time could be spent learning and experimenting instead of searching for things.
One wall of the room was lined with tall bookshelves, towering like a wall of knowledge around us. The shelves are filled with a variety of books, from imagination-provoking novels to information-rich reference books, ready to be explored. The smell of books and papers adds to the warmth of the atmosphere, while a gentle room deodorizer wafts through the air, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere for anyone who wants to learn. The gentle sound of the air-conditioner running adds to the freshness, making every moment in this space feel more productive.
In another corner, a dedicated area for our science projects awaits with enthusiasm. Spacious workbenches are equipped with a variety of science equipment - test tubes, microscopes and measuring instruments - all ready to be used for thrilling experiments. Nearby, a gleaming white whiteboard awaits fresh ideas and sketches of experiments we want to realize. Every scribble on this board was a step towards a new discovery.
Not far away, our mading became a showcase for valuable information. Here, we displayed everything we learned, from project posters to important notes, creating a kind of ever-changing knowledge gallery. There was one wall that had a round glass leading out; inside the glass was a sofa and cushions where I used to read books and daydream. Every time I entered the glass room, I felt like I was in a hamster ball. There were also several windows to let fresh air into the room.
We all sat at the table, opened our textbooks, and started studying together. It was quiet at first, but the silence didn't last long.
Half an hour later, Alan glanced at the clock in his hand. "Uh, where's Rafa? It's been half an hour, how come he didn't come?" he asked in surprise.
Fatimah, who remained focused on reading, responded with a shrug. "Maybe there's a sudden student council assignment, I think."
Alan nodded, and changed the topic. "Eh, by the way, what was wrong with you guys in the elevator?"
Fatimah stopped reading, and recalled the strange incident earlier. "Oh, we took the elevator in the middle school building. When the elevator went down, it suddenly fell really fast! Then, when the elevator stopped, there was a loud BUMP! When the doors opened, everyone seemed to not hear the loud noise we heard in the elevator. I don't know what happened, but the elevator just suddenly fell."
Alan grinned, "Then the elevator objected to carrying Karin," he teased with a chuckle.
I immediately grabbed the study book in front of me and threw it at him. "That's not funny!" I protested, but Alan deftly dodged while laughing even harder.
"Hah, you missed! Haha!" taunted Alan while laughing at me.
I was getting annoyed. "Eh, you want some more?!" I retorted as I prepared another book to throw.
And just like that, the book war began. Books flew all over the room. Alan continued to throw at me, while I tried to retaliate with more force. Fatimah just shook her head, trying to mediate between us who were getting hysterical.
"Stop already!" said Fatimah, trying to break it up.
However, Alan didn't seem to want to stop. He was still throwing books, and accidentally, one of his books flew into Fatimah's face.
"Ouch!" Fatimah exclaimed, holding back the pain.
But Fatimah, with a sly smile, took the book in her hand. "Here, taste this!" And in that instant, Fatimah threw the book at Alan's head. but Alan managed to dodge again.
Alan was stunned for a moment before laughing loudly. "Ouch, your accuracy is really bad, haha! Surely no one can be an archer here!"
I glared as I picked up the book in front of me. "Oh, yeah? We'll see," I retorted while targeting Alan's face.
Fatimah, who got involved, laughed slyly. "Alan, are you ready for a counterattack yet?" she said while preparing her own book.
Alan grinned, as if challenging us. "Come on, try it! I'm the invincible Alan!"
With full force, Fatimah and I threw our books at Alan. But Alan with nimble movements managed to dodge both of them and shouted triumphantly, "Haha, another miss! You guys should study harder, maybe read an archery book first!"
And we all laughed, but the joyous mood was instantly lost when I threw a book so hard that it shattered the window glass and the book flew out the window.
"Huh?!" exclaimed Alan, instantly stopping laughing. We were all transfixed, staring at the window.
The look on Fatimah's face that had been laughing turned to worry. "Eh... whose book is that?"
I swallowed, panicking. "Wait, maybe it's my book" I immediately looked for my book around me but it wasn't there.
Alan immediately approached the window, and tried to see the direction of the book's fall "Yep... I think it landed around the garden"
"If it hits someone's head, what do we do, maybe the book fell on the teacher's head!" said Fatimah anxiously.
"Never mind, there's no need to panic, can it get any worse?" asked Alan who was trying to dispel the panic.
"Wait a minute, I think I see Mr. Rob downstairs," said Fatimah who also looked out the window.
Instantly we all panicked, afraid that Mr. Rob would find my book, later he would think that I threw away my textbooks.
This is all Alan's fault, he just made this a problem, why did he have to say that, we all know that those words made the problem much worse.
I stood up nervously. "We have to get the book, hurry!"
"Wait, who's going down? I don't want to be a suspect!" replied Alan, stepping back as if he was going to take the blame.
"I don't want to either!" replied Fatimah, shaking her head.
Finally, the three of us looked at each other in silence. The learning situation turned into a book rescue mission and a great hope that there would be no casualties from this unexpected action.
"Come on, you two are my best friends aren't you? Please help me get my book!" I asked in a hopeful voice, my eyes pleading for them to understand how important this was.
"Alright, we'll help," replied Fatimah, her face looking sorry to see me in a state of panic.
"Uh, wait a minute! Us? You two go look for the book!" protested Alan in a casual tone, as if the situation wasn't important.
"Alan, you can't do that! Karin is our best friend. We have to help her!" Fatimah hissed, her eyes blazing with anger.
"Well, yes, yes, I was just joking," Alan replied, his wide smile never fading, even though I sensed that this was a serious matter. Why is there someone like him who can still joke around in the midst of trouble?
"Don't talk so much, let's hurry! There's not much time!" I exclaimed, terrified. We had to move before Mr. Rob saw my book and punished me for throwing away a textbook.
Alan pushed Fatimah's wheelchair swiftly and quickly, we rushed out of our secret room towards the elevator. Our feet ran as fast as they could, almost bumping into things all around us. Every second was precious, and we couldn't afford to waste any time.
As we ran, angry voices could be heard from the library patrons. "Hey! Don't run in the library!" someone shouted, but we didn't care. Alan pushed Fatimah's wheelchair swiftly, while I focused on the road ahead.
Suddenly, within seconds, I felt my body hit something hard.
"Ouch!" I exclaimed, falling to the floor in pain. Books scattered around me.
The man I bumped into, a young man with a worried look, fell down with me. Instantly, he got up and immediately extended his hand. "Are you okay?" he asked, his eyes full of worry.
"Oh, sorry! I'm sorry, I was in a hurry!" I replied, panicking, while trying to gather his scattered books. It felt like time was slowing down, every wasted second could mean more severe punishment.
"It's fine," he replied as he helped me gather the books scattered on the floor. His face looked calm, but my heart was pounding. Will this stop me?
I stared at him for a moment, feeling the tension in the air. "Sorry!" I said quickly before continuing to run to the elevator, leaving the noise behind us. Inside my head, there was only one thought: I had to find my book before it was too late.
Arriving at the elevator, we immediately went down to the first floor and rushed towards the park. Along the way, we bumped into many people.
"Move, move! It's an emergency! There's a student with a broken bone who needs help! Just fell down the stairs, broke his leg! Give way!" Alan shouted dramatically while running. Fatimah joined in, holding her leg as if in pain, adding to the drama.
"What a pity, that child," said a teacher who happened to hear Alan's shout.
"Mom, he doesn't have broken bones, he's paralyzed from the start," said a student who leaked the truth.
Finally, we reached the park. Breathless, we saw Mr. Rob sitting on a bench, engrossed in a book.
"Where's the book?!" I asked frantically, afraid that Mr. Rob had found it.
"Found it!" exclaimed Alan with a bright face. But suddenly his expression turned tense. "But..."
"Yeah, I saw it too..." said Maya, initially excited, but her face immediately turned grim.
"Where? Why are you all so tense?" I asked, curious.
Alan pointed at Mr. Rob. Our brains all seemed to stop working. The book was lying... right next to Mr. Rob!
"Well, we tried, Karin. The rest... we'll leave to fate," Alan said, almost leaving us in despair.
"Hang on, Alan! We can still help Karin!" Fatimah suddenly said in a confident tone.
"WHAT?!" Alan and I turned our heads in unison, confused.
"How? The book is clearly next to Mr. Rob! He must have found it and will keep it to give to Karin later," Alan said incredulously.
Fatimah smiled mysteriously. "That's exactly it. You see, Mr. Rob didn't touch the book at all. He hasn't even realized that the book is next to him."
We were both stunned. "What do you mean?"
"Take a look," Fatimah began to explain while pointing. "Look at the way she's sitting. His focus is on the book he's reading, not the one next to him. Besides, the book fell there by accident. She didn't realize it at all."
Alan and I looked at each other. "But how come she didn't see?"
Fatimah continued calmly, "Simple. Mr. Rob is always very focused when reading a book. Besides, look at the position of the book. It's covered by his bag. If we're lucky, he might think it's just a leaf."
"Are you sure?" asked Alan, looking tempted by this crazy plan.
Fatimah smiled broadly. "Trust me. She hasn't seen the book yet, and this is our chance to take it before she realizes."
"So what's your plan...?" I asked, still skeptical.
"We wait for the right moment. Mr. Rob is bound to stand up or move away for a while. Once he's caught off guard, we'll grab the book quickly," Fatimah answered confidently.
Alan and I were silent, amazed by Fatimah's courage. "Alright... let's try it," I replied finally, despite not knowing what would happen.
"First of all, I have to go to Mr. Rob's place, distract him. Meanwhile, Alan gets the book," Fatimah explained her plan in a serious tone.
Fatimah rolled her eyes and looked at Alan. "Because you're the only one with the fastest reflexes here. Karin? She's so slow, she might even trip before she gets to the table."
I looked at Fatimah with a frown. "Hey, I'm not that bad," I protested.
Fatimah smiled slightly. "Okay, okay, you're not that bad. But, your job is more important-you're the one who's going to feed us after everything is done."
I paused, and Alan immediately glanced at me while raising his eyebrows. "Seriously? That's her job?!" he asked in a shocked tone.
Fatimah nodded with a serious face. "Obviously. The perfect plan always ends with a free meal. So, yes, Karin paid for the meal."
I chuckled, although I still found this task a little strange. "Alright, I agree... but why do I feel like a victim here?"
Fatimah clapped her hands once, confidently. "Okay, everyone knows the task? Alan, you get the book. Karin, you get the treat. Me? I'll distract Mr. Rob."
Alan and I exchanged glances, still unsure. "Smooth sailing or chaos?" muttered Alan with a frown.
Fatimah patted Alan's shoulder. "Don't worry, I have a feeling this will be a big success."
I let out a long breath. "Alright, we'll try. But if we get caught, I'll blame you, Fatimah."
Fatimah chuckled. "Trust me, if we get caught, we can just blame Alan."
"Why me?" asked Alan, who was shocked because he wanted to be a sacrifice.
"Eh, the boy is protecting the girl" said Fatimah while smiling
"lah, he threw it, why am I the victim" said Alan who protested
"Yes, yes, we were just joking Alan" said Fatimah who felt sorry for him.
I chuckled. "Relax, if we survive, I'll treat the most expensive one."
"Deal," Alan replied, finally smiling.
We began our plan carefully.
Step one, Fatimah approached Mr. Rob while distracting him in a planned fashion.
"Excuse me, Mr. Rob, I have some questions about yesterday's lesson. I don't really understand that part," she said with an innocent smile, even though I knew she had memorized the material by heart.
Mr. Rob, as usual, couldn't resist such a diligent-looking student. He stopped his reading and looked at Fatimah. "Oh, sure. Which part do you not understand?"
Fatimah immediately made a small gesture towards me-a sign that the time had come. I immediately turned to Alan who stood a little stiffly behind me.
"That's the signal, Alan. Come on, get my book now," I whispered quickly, while pushing his back slightly.
"Be patient, I know. Don't push!" replied Alan half-irritatedly, but he started walking sneakily like a character in a spy movie.
Honestly, I was really impressed. Alan's movements were so smooth, almost silent. I couldn't even feel his presence, like an invisible shadow. He really did look like a professional ninja-I don't know where he learned that from, but Fatimah definitely didn't choose him wrong for this task.
Carefully, Alan approached the park bench occupied by Mr. Rob, where my book lay beside his bag. His face was serious, full of concentration, as if he was on the most important mission of his life.
Mr. Rob was still busy explaining something to Fatimah, who kept nodding in feigned confusion. Fatimah was really talented at this-pretending not to understand while keeping Mr. Rob's full attention on her.
Meanwhile, Alan made his way to my book, picking it up with quick but calm movements. In just a matter of seconds, the book was already in his hands. Without making the slightest noise, he walked back towards me.
"I got the book," he whispered as he gently slipped it into my hand. I let out a relieved breath, smiling at him.
I immediately signaled to Fatimah. She caught the signal quickly and instantly changed her face, as if suddenly everything made sense.
"Oh! Now I understand, Mr. Rob! Thank you very much for the explanation," she said quickly, pushing back her wheelchair with a big smile, ready to run away.
Mr. Rob gave her a puzzled look. "But, I haven't finished explaining..."
Fatimah was halfway away, but still waved and said, "Oh, it's okay, sir! I totally understand. Thank you!"
We soon gathered a few meters away, our breath coming in gasps even though we weren't actually running.
"Awesome, Alan!" I exclaimed. "You really are like a ninja!"
Alan grinned, a little proud. "I know. If you need help with these kinds of things, just call me."
Fatimah chuckled, looking satisfied. "There, I told you what. Perfect plan."
We all laughed, although we were still a little nervous. This plan may seem simple, but the thrill of successfully executing it smoothly made my adrenaline race. Even though it was just
small step, but it felt like a big victory.
"So, do we eat now?" asked Alan with an expectant face.I laughed, then nodded. "Okay, since we did it... I'll pay for the big meal!"
Fatimah patted Alan on the shoulder. "And look on the bright side, Alan. You don't have to be the scapegoat today."
"Yes, fortunately," Alan muttered, though he smiled with relief.
As we walked away, I couldn't help but smile. It may have been a small adventure, but for us, it was a moment of triumph-and the free food at the end was certainly an added bonus.
Afterwards we celebrated the success of our little plan in the cafeteria,
... (In Jakarta City)
Jakarta in the distance is experiencing unimaginable chaos.
A giant bird-shaped monster, with pitch-black wings and a beak like steel, rampaged through the city. Buildings collapsed in an instant, streets caught fire, and the strong winds generated by the flapping of its wings shattered the windows of skyscrapers. The screams of civilians echoed through the air.
From the sky, five fighter planes appeared, piercing through the dark clouds that hung over Jakarta, led by a stern commander.
"Fighter Unit Alfa-1, prepare for attack!" the commander ordered over the radio.
"Ready, Commander," replied the other four pilots in a tone full of tension, but confidence.
"Target locked. Attack!"
Five fighters launched a barrage of missiles from their wings, each bomb aimed right at the body of the giant bird monster. A loud boom shook the air, a huge explosion shook the sky, and flames engulfed the monster's body.
"NGAAAAAARGHHH!!!" The bird monster's roar of rage and pain echoed out, enveloping all of Jakarta in the sound of terror. Its body jerked back, feeling the attack, but it did not fall. Its red eyes glowed with unstoppable fury. The monster flapped its wings, creating a windstorm that devastated the buildings below, and it flew straight into one of the fighter planes at a terrifying speed.
"Alpha-2, he's targeting your plane!" the commander shouted.
Alpha-2 gave it his all, pulling the airplane's levers hard to dodge. However, the giant bird monster was so fast, it was already too close, only a few meters away from Alpha-2's plane. But before those deadly claws could come, the other plane unleashed a barrage of bullets, hitting the bird monster to distract it.
"Nice shot!" shouted Alpha-2 in relief.
However, it only made matters worse. The monster became even angrier. Its body began to tremble, expanding to twice its original size, and its jet-black feathers turned a fiery red, as if enveloped in flames from within. Its beak opened wide, and from its mouth, deadly blue flames gushed out-not just any flames, these flames were hot enough to melt steel.
"CAUTION! AVOID THE FIRE!" the commander ordered frantically.
The pilots immediately maneuvered wildly, trying to avoid the terrifying burst of fire. But one of the planes, Alpha-3, wasn't fast enough. The blue flames hit his plane directly, and in an instant, it began to melt in mid-air, disintegrating into falling debris like ice cream melting under the sun.
"Alpha-3 is down! Alpha-3 is down!" screamed one of the pilots, his voice breaking with fear and anguish.
"It's too dangerous!" the commander growled, staring at the increasingly chaotic scene.
"We're retreating! We need reinforcements with more power! ALL UNITS, RETREAT NOW!"
The four remaining planes immediately withdrew, trying to escape the increasingly dangerous monster. But the bird didn't let them get away with it. Its wings flapped powerfully, creating a stormy wind that sent the planes tossing. The bird flew with incredible speed, chasing after them as if they were just small prey.
"We must split up!" the commander shouted, his voice trembling between fear and determination.
"ALL UNITS, SPREAD-" The commander didn't have time to finish his sentence when the monster had already chosen one plane to chase-Alpha-4. The bird swooped down ferociously, its blast of fire again destroying everything. Alpha-4 could not dodge. The burst of blue flames burned the airplane to the ground, melting the entire body like a burning candle.
"ALPHA-4 DESTROYED! ALPHA-4 CRUSHED!" shouted one of the pilots, his voice choked with fear.
With heavy hearts, the commander and the two remaining airplanes finally made it out of the monster's reach, but they left their two lost comrades in ruins.
In the sky, the bird monster roared once more, as if warning the world that this was only the beginning. Jakarta, already in chaos, now faces a threat greater than ever.
The monster bird flew ferociously towards Jaya Bangsa School, its shadow covering the sky that slowly darkened under its giant wings. Each flap of its wings produced a storm of wind that shattered rooftops, sending trees swerving and cars flying.trees swaying and cars being blown away.
Meanwhile, far out in space, an alien craft hovered quietly in Earth's orbit, invisible to anyone.
"Sir, it looks like this planet is hopeless against that bird monster," said one of the aliens, his eyes focused on a monitor displaying the horrific scene below.
An image appeared on the screen: the giant bird let out a mighty roar, "NGAAAAARRRRRHHHH!", as if collapsing the sky and earth below it. Schools, buildings, and streets were destroyed in one strike.
The captain of the plane furrowed his brow, his voice calm but alert. "Oh... So, this place is safe from and there are no Guardians?"
"Yes, Captain," the alien replied, his voice confident. "So far, there is no sign of them."
The captain stood up from his chair, watching the monitor for a moment before finally giving the order. "Let's wait a little longer. Let's not be rash. Who knows, the Guardians could be waiting for us there, ready to strike at a moment's notice."
Silence filled the control room for a moment. The crew knew well the reputation of The Guardian, the legendary protector who shielded the universe from threats like them. Although the planet looked fragile under the threat of the bird monsters, worry still lingered in the captain's mind.
"Ready all our weapons," the captain continued. "We won't back down, but we won't let our guard down either. We can't underestimate anyone... even on a small planet like this."
The spacecraft remained floating outside the atmosphere, like predators waiting for the right time to strike. Beneath them, the planet shook, oblivious to the far greater threat waiting out there.
... (Sekolah Jaya Bangsa)
"Uh, Karin, does that mean I can buy snacks as I please?" asked Alan, confirming the promise I had just made.
"Yes, you can buy as many snacks as you like," I replied with a faint smile.
"Hooray for eating!" Alan exclaimed happily.
However, the atmosphere that should have been warm suddenly felt strange.
"But, how come it's quiet in this classroom hallway?" asked Fatimah, observing the deserted surroundings, not a single student in sight.
"Wait a minute, maybe the exam has already started?" Alan began to panic.
"No, the exam is still a long time away," replied Fatimah while glancing at her cellphone screen.
Suddenly, I heard a strange voice, too faint for me to ignore.
"Eh, do you hear a sound?" I asked, turning to Alan and Fatimah, feeling something was wrong.
"What sound?" asked Fatimah in confusion.
"Great danger is approaching, leave quickly, Miss Karin!!! RUN!!!," MindSage's voice echoed in my mind, frantically
"There's no-" Alan didn't have time to finish his sentence. Suddenly his face turned pale, his eyes widened, as if seeing something frightening.
I turned my head to follow the direction of Alan's gaze, and my heart stopped. In front of me, a giant bird monster appeared with its beak gaping wide, ready to pounce on us.
"WATCH OUT, KARIN!" Alan shouted as he pushed my body to the side, just before the monster swooped down on us. In the chaos, I came to my senses-Fatimah! I wanted to scream, but my body felt heavy.
"Alan, wait! Fatimah-!" My voice was choked. Fatimah couldn't move! Her wheelchair was locked in place, and she had no time to escape.
We both fell to the floor, while the roar of the giant bird's beak approached faster and faster. My eyes widened, unable to believe what I was seeing. Right before my eyes, the monster's beak snapped shut, tore through the air... and swallowed Fatimah whole.
"D-For God's sake... no..." I whispered in a trembling voice.
A terrible silence fell over the room. There was no screaming, no resistance. Fatimah... our friend... just vanished, as if she had never existed.
"Karin, run!" Alan shouted, his terrified voice ringing out in the hallways.
My tears flowed endlessly. My knees were weak, my body trembling uncontrollably. Terrible thoughts rushed in: What just happened? Why couldn't Alan save her and save me instead? Why did everything happen so fast?
In the midst of the chaos, Alan pulled my hand and led me to run away from the bird monster.
Alan and I looked at each other with wet eyes and a feeling of dread.
Continued...