The rain poured heavily again that night, relentlessly, as if it never intended to take a break. Dinda sat by the window of her rented room, staring at the raindrops falling endlessly. Her mind was filled with thoughts—about Arya, about the incident at the railway tracks, and about the black cat that had left her feeling uneasy. Her body was tired, but her mind was even more weary.
Dinda finally moved to her bed, hoping she could close her eyes and forget everything, even if just for one night. But as soon as her eyes shut, a terrifying nightmare began to unfold.
In her dream, Dinda found herself standing alone in the middle of the pouring rain, in a place she didn't recognize. The street was wet, filled with puddles, yet there was no one around. The air was cold, piercing through her bones. She tried to walk, but her legs felt incredibly heavy, as if something was holding her back.
From a distance, Dinda saw the shadow of someone—a man standing with his back to her. Arya. She recognized him by his distinct posture, by the way he stood so still yet burdened. Dinda wanted to call out to him, to approach him, but no sound came from her. Only the roar of the rain drowned out everything.
As she tried to move forward, Arya's shadow slowly began to retreat, walking towards the dark railway tracks. "Arya!" Dinda finally managed to shout, but her voice sounded tiny, swallowed by the rain. The shadow continued to walk, growing farther, until it was enveloped by darkness. Then, a bright light appeared from the direction of the tracks—the headlights of a speeding train.
Dinda ran, trying to stop Arya before it was too late, but her steps felt increasingly heavy. It was as if invisible forces were holding her back, making it impossible to move forward. "Arya! Stop!" She shouted again, louder this time, but the shadow kept walking. The sound of the train's wheels grew louder, the noise deafening.
Just as the train passed, Dinda saw Arya vanish, disappearing without a trace. There was no body, no sign of him. Only darkness and the rain that continued to fall. Dinda collapsed to her knees, tears mixing with the raindrops. The feelings of guilt and despair hit her like a storm. Why couldn't she save him? Why was she always too late?
Suddenly, another sound came from behind her—the sound of heavy footsteps, slow but sure. Dinda turned around, her eyes widening. There, standing in front of her, was a woman with the yellow umbrella, now torn. Her face was obscured, but her hollow eyes stared directly at Dinda, as though they were piercing her soul. The umbrella dripped water, but not rain—it was something darker, thicker.
The woman took a step forward, slowly but inevitably. Dinda tried to rise, to back away, but her body wouldn't move. The atmosphere shifted, becoming darker and colder. The rain stopped, and all that remained was the sound of footsteps echoing around her.
"Why didn't you save him?" The voice was soft, but cold, piercing down to her bones. The woman stopped right in front of Dinda, leaning in slightly until their faces were almost level. Dinda wanted to scream, but her body had frozen.
"He needed you… but you stayed silent..." The voice echoed in Dinda's mind, repeating the same words. The woman smiled faintly, then stood up straight, turned around, and slowly disappeared into the darkness. But before vanishing completely, she left something behind—a wet and torn yellow umbrella, lying in front of Dinda.
Dinda awoke with a gasp, her breath coming in short, erratic gasps, her body drenched in cold sweat. However, as she tried to rise from her bed, she realized something terrifying. Her body couldn't move. She lay stiff, as if something was holding her in place. Her eyes darted around the dark room. She tried to scream, but her voice was caught in her throat.
In the corner of the room, there was a faint shadow. The figure of a woman with a yellow umbrella, standing and staring at her. Dinda felt her heart race so violently, it felt like it might explode. The woman slowly disappeared, but before completely fading, she whispered softly.
"Don't be late again..."
When Dinda finally regained control of her body, she sat up in bed, gasping for air, tears streaming down her face. The rain continued to pour outside, as if beating against her window. Feelings of guilt and fear plagued her thoughts. What should she do? What did the dream mean?
Dinda looked out the window, towards the rain that never ceased. The shadow of Arya, the woman with the yellow umbrella, and the sounds from her dream continued to haunt her. For the first time, she felt truly scared. But more than that, she knew she had to do something.
Something that could change everything.