The night air hung heavy over the Alister family mansion's back garden.The sky looked like black fabric, scattered with faint stars hidden behind thin clouds.A soft breeze carried the scent of damp earth and freshly watered grass. From the house, warm golden light spilled out from the living room windows, casting faint lines of light across the ground.
Yohanes stepped quietly outside through the glass door, closing it without a sound. The door clicked shut behind him, leaving only a faint chime — then silence.He took a deep breath, letting the cool night air fill his lungs. The humidity felt calming, yet it brought an odd chill — a coldness that didn't come from the air, but from something pressing inside his chest.
He walked toward the stone bench beneath an old flamboyant tree, its leaves swaying gently in the wind. Around him, the garden was silent. Only the chirping of crickets and the rustle of leaves could be heard — like soft whispers in the shadows of the night.
Yohanes sat down.He leaned forward slightly, his elbows resting on his knees, fingers clasped together in front of his face. His eyes stared blankly at the small pond before him, where the reflection of the moon trembled with the ripples on the water.
He tried to think — to piece together the puzzle that had been spinning in his mind all day:The key engraved with the letter "P," Uncle Burhan's vague words, and his father's note that said, "That key will lead you to the answer, but not without a price."
It all felt like a never-ending loop.
"What did he mean by 'price'?" he muttered softly. "A life? Time? Or something I don't yet understand?"
He looked down at the small key in his hand. It gleamed faintly under the moonlight, cold and heavy in his palm. At first glance, it seemed ordinary — but Yohanes knew it was far from that. This key was a symbol of something much greater. Something that could shake his entire life.
The more he thought about Uncle Burhan's words, the less sense they made. The man hadn't said much, but his eyes earlier — sharp yet sorrowful — seemed to hide something he was too afraid to speak aloud.There was pity in that gaze, but also a warning.
"You must be ready when the key opens its door, Han," Uncle Burhan had said heavily."Ready for what, Uncle?""To lose something."
Those words kept echoing in Yohanes's mind. He bit his lower lip gently, his body trembling slightly with a worry he couldn't explain.
He looked up at the sky, hoping to find an answer among the stars — but found only a suffocating silence. His thoughts drifted everywhere: to the vague memories of his childhood, to his father's face now fading from memory, to that deep sense of loss that had never truly gone away.
It made his chest ache.
He closed his eyes.In the darkness, faint echoes of the past whispered to him — his father's voice, once warm and full of laughter.Then, the sound of footsteps… fading away.And then — a faint explosion.He didn't know if it was a real memory or just his imagination, but it was enough to make his heartbeat quicken.
He opened his eyes suddenly, breathing hard."No… it's just my mind," he whispered, trying to calm himself.
But the uneasiness stayed. It felt as if he was standing on the edge of something — between past and future, between truth and lies. He knew he had to move forward, but where? What should he do next?
Maybe, he thought, he could visit Uncle Burhan again tomorrow. But then what?What more could he ask when even the simplest questions were answered only with riddles?
Or… maybe he should search on his own. Maybe the key opened something — a box, a room, or another clue his father had hidden.But where should he start looking?
He rubbed his temples slowly, frustration building inside him."Why does everything have to be this complicated…" he muttered, almost angrily.
He looked around the garden — the roses on the west side, the neatly trimmed hedges, the stone path leading to the small greenhouse at the far end.Everything looked calm. But inside him, a storm was spinning without direction.
He tried again and again to make a plan — writing notes, analyzing his father's writings, searching for a pattern connected to the letter "P" on the key. But each time, his thoughts hit the same dead end.No clue was clear enough. No answer explained everything.
The wind blew again, making the leaves rustle softly. Water rippled as a fish jumped from the pond. The world around him kept moving, but Yohanes remained still — trapped in his own whirlpool of thoughts.
Time slipped by unnoticed.From inside the house, the clock chimed three times — nine o'clock. He realized he had been sitting there for almost an hour.
His eyes felt heavy, but his mind refused to rest. He knew if he kept pushing himself like this, his body would break down. Yet how could he sleep when his head was full of unanswered mysteries?
He looked down again at the key in his hand. This time, he examined it more closely.There was a faint engraving on the back — a thin curved line, like a crescent moon.He hadn't noticed it before.
"This…" he whispered softly. "This could mean something."
But before he could think further, a sudden gust of wind made him shiver. He looked around — no one was there.Yet for a brief second, he felt as though someone was watching him.
Moonlight poured over the quiet garden, but the flamboyant tree's shadow looked darker than usual. He stared at it for a while, convincing himself it was nothing more than an ordinary shadow. Then he took a deep breath and stood up.
"It's late enough," he murmured. "If I stay here any longer, I'll lose my mind."
He walked back toward the mansion. Each step felt heavy, as if the ground itself tried to hold him back. But when his hand touched the glass door handle, he turned one last time toward the bench where he had been sitting.
For some reason, he felt as if something there was staring back at him.But when he blinked, there was only darkness and the rustling of leaves.
Yohanes exhaled slowly, then went back inside.The door closed tightly behind him.
Outside, in the quiet garden, the wind moved softly again. The small key in Yohanes's hand trembled ever so slightly — as if reacting to something unseen.
And that night, the stars seemed to bow lower, watching over a young soul caught between the secrets of the past and a fate that had not yet revealed its face.
Premonition Beneath the Clouded Sky
That morning, the Alister family mansion was once again filled with its usual warmth.The smell of toasted bread and fried eggs drifted from the kitchen, mixing with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Sunlight streamed through the large dining room windows, casting a soft golden glow over the long oak table filled with plates, glasses, and cheerful smiles.
Una was chattering about her schoolwork, Deon was busy checking his college schedule on his phone, and Nadine occasionally scolded Jovian for joking too much during breakfast.Amid all of this, Yohanes sat quietly, staring at the bread on his plate. His eyes looked tired, but he forced a smile so no one would notice anything strange.
"Yohanes, would you like more juice?" Nadine asked gently, pouring some for herself."Oh, no thank you, Aunt. This is enough," he replied, his voice a little rough. He tried to eat his bread, but his mind was clearly elsewhere.
Then, as he sipped his water, something flashed in his mind — that old building. The one with the sign that read Pointless.The word suddenly appeared vividly in his thoughts, along with fragments of a dream — and the small key still hidden safely in his room pocket.
He froze.The water went down the wrong way, making him cough hard. Yohanes bent forward, clutching his chest.
"Yohanes! Are you okay?" Nadine cried, standing up and patting his back.Deon quickly came over, looking worried. "Han, take it easy when you drink!"
Yohanes raised his hand quickly, trying to calm them down. "I… I'm fine," he said between coughs, forcing a small laugh. "Just choked on water, that's all. Hehe."
"I told you not to drink too fast," Jovian said, half joking, half worried.
Yohanes nodded quickly, trying to act normal, but his heartbeat was racing faster than ever. Inside him, something had just locked — or maybe, just unlocked.
A sudden thought crossed his mind: What if I go back there… to Pointless?He didn't know why the idea came so strongly, but there was an urge deep inside him. As if the key — and the mystery surrounding it — wouldn't stop calling him until everything was revealed.
Breakfast went on with Una's laughter and Deon's light comments. Yohanes only nodded, smiling faintly. But his eyes often stared blankly into space. His thoughts had already drifted far — beyond the mansion walls, to that old building that now refused to leave his mind.
Later that day at school, Yohanes walked slowly toward his class. His mind was still full of the plan he had secretly decided on.After school, I'll go there again.The sentence repeated again and again in his head.
But something felt off that day. The usually bright sky suddenly turned gray. Thick dark clouds gathered above the city, hanging low and heavy, as if ready to fall. The wind picked up, shaking the trees in the school yard. The rustling leaves grew louder, making some students glance upward nervously.
Yohanes watched the sky from his classroom window. A strange chill ran down his spine — it wasn't just the weather. It was a feeling.That sky… felt like a warning.
Meanwhile, far away at the mansion, Effendi was walking down the corridor toward his study. He carried a stack of documents, but for some reason, his steps slowed.His chest felt heavy — as if something unseen was shifting beneath the calm surface of their daily life.
He stopped in front of the large window facing the back garden. The sky above was dark — too dark for a late morning. The clouds moved quickly, and faint flashes of lightning could be seen in the distance.Effendi took a deep breath. A strange weight pressed against his chest.
For some reason, his thoughts turned to Yohanes.Ever since that boy arrived, the mansion had felt different. There was new energy, yes — but also something invisible, like the echo of the past quietly following him. Effendi had long suspected that Yohanes was hiding something. He didn't know what, but he could always see a quiet restlessness behind the boy's calm eyes.
And now, seeing the darkening sky, his feeling grew stronger.It was the same uneasiness he had felt on nights long ago — the kind of feeling that came before losing someone. A sense that something bad was slowly approaching.
Outside, thunder rolled faintly, echoing across the sky.Effendi looked out the window and whispered softly, "Please… don't let anything happen this time."
Back at school, Yohanes sat at his desk. The light from outside was dim, coating the classroom in a dull gray shade. The teacher's voice sounded distant, almost like an echo from far away.His mind was filled with images of the Pointless building — the faded brick walls, the dusty windows, and that "P" symbol that seemed to be calling him.
His hand trembled slightly under the desk. Not from fear, but from anticipation — a mix of curiosity and unease tightening in his chest.
"Yohanes, are you okay?" asked Arka, the classmate sitting beside him, frowning in concern.Yohanes turned slightly, forcing a small smile. "I'm fine… just got a lot on my mind."
Arka was about to say something, but before he could, thunder boomed outside — so loud that the windows rattled. The entire class turned in panic, a few students letting out small screams.
The thunder was followed by heavy rain pouring down suddenly, drenching the schoolyard. Within seconds, everything turned gray.
But for Yohanes, staring out at the storm, it wasn't just rain.There was something behind it — a sign, perhaps — that the path he was about to take after school wouldn't be an ordinary one.
He gripped the edge of his desk tightly.
And elsewhere, in the mansion now touched by rain, Effendi stood on the balcony, staring toward the dark horizon, his eyes sharp — as if trying to read a hidden omen."Don't do anything foolish, son…" he murmured softly, though it was unclear whom he was speaking to.
Lightning flashed again.And in two separate places, two hearts — both restless and uneasy — felt the same thing.This storm was not just a storm.Something was waiting behind it — something that would test truth, courage, and perhaps… the fate of them all.
The Shadow Lurking Behind the Cloudy Sky
That day, the atmosphere at school felt different. The rain from last night left behind the smell of damp earth, the morning sky was covered by thick gray clouds, and the air in the classroom felt colder than usual. Inside, students spoke quietly, waiting for the teacher to arrive, while Yohanes sat by the window—staring outside, unfocused.
Arka, who sat next to him, watched his friend closely. He had known Yohanes for a long time—long enough to tell when something was wrong. Yohanes was never good at hiding his feelings. Even small things—like the way he looked at his pencil or tapped his fingers on the desk—were like a secret language Arka could read.
But lately, Yohanes had become harder to understand.There was something heavy behind his smile, something he was clearly hiding deep inside.
"Han," Arka called softly, nudging his arm. "Are you okay? You've been spacing out since earlier."
Yohanes turned quickly, his eyes a bit blank before forcing a smile. "Ah, I'm fine, Ka. Just didn't sleep much."
"Didn't sleep?" Arka tilted his head, sounding doubtful. "You look more like someone who just saw something weird."
Yohanes let out a small laugh—too flat to sound real. "You're imagining things again."
"But seriously, Han," Arka looked at him intently. "You've been acting strange these past few days. Quiet, distracted, leaving class without saying anything. If there's something you're hiding—"
"There's nothing, Ka." Yohanes cut him off quickly, his voice a little too sharp. He lowered his head and pretended to write in his notebook.
Arka stayed silent for a few seconds, confused. He knew Yohanes was lying. The way he spoke too fast, the way he avoided eye contact—it was too obvious.But he also knew forcing Yohanes to talk would only make him close off more.
"Alright," Arka muttered finally, leaning back in his chair. "But if something happens later, don't blame me if I get involved."
Yohanes smiled faintly, saying nothing. But behind that smile, his chest felt tight. He didn't want to drag anyone into this—especially Arka. The more people knew about Pointless and the key, the greater the danger would be.
Still, Arka was not someone easily fooled.
The school day seemed to crawl by.Every tick of the clock sounded loud in Arka's ears, not because he was bored—but because he couldn't stop thinking about Yohanes. He glanced sideways at his friend, who sat calmly beside him, yet his fingers gripped his pen tightly, as if holding something inside.
When the bell rang to signal the end of class, Yohanes quickly packed his bag. His movements were rushed, but deliberate—like someone heading somewhere he already planned to go.
"Han, want to walk home together?" Arka asked casually.
"Ah, sorry, Ka," Yohanes replied quickly. "I need to stop by somewhere first. Got something to do."
"Somewhere? What kind of thing?"
"It's nothing big. I just… need to take a walk. Alone."
Yohanes gave a small smile, then hurried out of the classroom without looking back. Arka watched his friend's back disappear down the hallway, unease growing in his chest.Something was wrong—his instincts screamed it. Yohanes wasn't the type to suddenly leave without a clear reason.
Arka grabbed his bag, slung it over his shoulder, and without thinking twice, decided to follow him.
The afternoon sky was growing dark. Clouds rolled like fog over the city. The wind picked up dust and dry leaves as Arka followed Yohanes at a safe distance. He moved quietly, careful not to make a sound, trailing him through alley after alley.
Yohanes walked fast, like he knew exactly where he was going. His face was tense, eyes focused ahead. He never once looked back.
"Where is he going…?" Arka whispered under his breath.
After nearly half an hour, Yohanes finally stopped in front of an old building at the end of the street. From a distance, it looked abandoned—its walls peeling, windows covered in dust, and a rusty sign hanging crooked above the door.
The faded letters read: POINTLESS.
Arka froze.The word felt strange—and unsettling. He had never seen Yohanes go to a place like this before.
Yohanes stared at the building for a long time, then took a deep breath and stepped inside. The metal door creaked loudly as he pushed it open, the sound echoing like a painful scream.
Arka quickly hid behind a concrete pillar across the street. His heart pounded fast. He had no idea what Yohanes was doing there, but his gut told him—it wasn't something good.
Minutes passed.Arka kept waiting.
The sky grew darker, thunder rumbling faintly in the distance. The wind turned colder as night crept in. One by one, the streetlights flickered on, casting dim yellow light around the old building.
But Yohanes didn't come out.
Arka bit his lip, eyes fixed on the door. He looked at his watch—almost an hour had passed.
"Yohanes… what are you doing in there…" he murmured, anxiety rising.
He took a step forward, ready to check inside, but stopped at the edge of the sidewalk. A chill ran down his spine. From inside the building came a faint noise—metal scraping, or something falling.
Arka stepped back quickly.The sound stopped. Silence returned.
The wind carried a damp, rusty smell from the building, and an uneasy feeling crept over Arka's entire body. He stared at the door again, hoping Yohanes would appear—but no one came out.
Only a dark shadow lingered behind the broken glass—like eyes watching from within the darkness.
Arka swallowed hard, barely breathing.He knew he should leave and get help—but his heart refused. This was Yohanes. His best friend. He couldn't just leave him there.
But his feet wouldn't move. Fear rooted him to the spot.
The rain began to fall softly, droplets hitting the asphalt. The yellow light from the streetlamps blurred through the rain, making the old building look like a shadow from another world.
And in the pouring rain, Arka still stood there—alone, waiting for his friend to come out of the darkness that refused to let go.
But Yohanes never came out.
Arka looked at the door one last time, his lips trembling. "What are you hiding from me, Han…?" he whispered.
A flash of lightning tore across the sky, lighting up the world in a blinding white for a second—revealing the silhouette of the Pointless building, looming like a secret that should never be uncovered.
And when the light faded, only one small figure remained under the rain—waiting, uncertain—on the edge of a deepening mystery.
Footsteps Dragged Into the Dark
The air inside the Pointless building was thick and suffocating, as if time itself had stopped there. Light from outside barely touched the walls, which were coated with layers of dust. Yohanes walked slowly, every step creaking against the fragile wooden floor. His hand gripped a small key that Uncle Burhan had given him — heavy not because of its metal, but because of the mystery it carried.
He turned on the flashlight on his phone. The pale beam flickered through the dusty air, revealing walls covered in old scribbles, most of the paint already peeling. Among the stains, he noticed faded black letters. Yohanes leaned closer, squinting.
"...P...O...I...N...T..." he read softly, stopping when the light caught a familiar mark — a small circle with a diagonal line through it. The exact same symbol engraved on the head of the key he held.
His heart pounded."This... is this the place Dad meant?" he whispered.
He walked faster now, following the narrow, dim hallway. The walls were lined with rusty metal shelves and stacks of wooden crates. Yohanes opened one — only damp papers and splinters of wood inside. He tried another — empty.
Until finally, at the far end of the room, he saw a metal door secured with an old, rusty padlock. His heartbeat quickened. He looked at the key, then at the lock again.
"Is this... the place?" he murmured.
With trembling hands, he slid the key into the keyhole.Click.The soft sound froze him in place.It fit.
But before he could turn the key, a heavy sound echoed behind him.Footsteps.Not his.
Yohanes froze. His breath caught. The steps grew closer — slow, steady, echoing through the hollow room.
He swallowed hard, turned off his phone's light, and quickly hid behind a pile of crates. Darkness swallowed everything. He could hear nothing but the pounding of his own heartbeat.
Someone had entered the room.Through a crack between the crates, Yohanes saw a shadow move. A tall figure wearing a long coat, head covered by a wide hat. His movements were calm but threatening. In one hand, something gleamed — metal, maybe a knife or some kind of tool.
"It's... that man again…" Yohanes held his breath. He recognized that way of walking, the way the head tilted — the same man who had followed him one night after he left Uncle Burhan's shop.
The figure moved around the room, scanning every corner.Yohanes crouched lower, praying the darkness would hide him. But then, without realizing, his knee pressed against a loose wooden plank.
Crack.
The tiny sound echoed like a scream in the silence.The man's footsteps stopped.Quiet again.
Then a deep, rough voice spoke softly, "So you finally came... the boy…"
Yohanes's blood turned cold. He wanted to run, but his body wouldn't move. The figure turned and started walking toward the crates. The beam of his flashlight grew brighter as it came closer.
In a split second, Yohanes jumped out, knocking over the crates with a crash, and sprinted toward the hallway without looking back.
Heavy footsteps thundered after him, followed by a terrifying shout: "Get him!"
There was more than one.Now he could hear multiple sets of footsteps — they were surrounding him.
Yohanes ran as fast as he could, through darkness and narrow corridors, past half-open doors. His breath came in gasps, his chest burning. He didn't know where he was going — he just needed to get out.
Suddenly, a large dark figure appeared in front of the doorway he was about to take. Yohanes turned around, searching for another escape, but a strong hand grabbed his shoulder from behind. He screamed, struggling, but another hand grabbed him from the side.
"Let go! Who are you?!" he shouted, his voice echoing off the empty walls.
He thrashed wildly, but they were too strong. A rough cloth was pressed over his mouth, silencing him. The world seemed to spin, fear and adrenaline flooding his mind.
"Quiet," a hoarse voice whispered near his ear. "You won't understand... not yet."
They dragged him into another room. The metal door slammed shut behind them.
Outside, Arka — who had been waiting all this time — was growing frantic. The rain poured harder, hitting his face with cold drops. He checked his watch — more than an hour had passed since Yohanes went inside.
"This isn't right," he muttered, pushing through the rain toward the building. But just as he reached the front door, a loud noise came from inside — something heavy falling, followed by a muffled scream.
Arka stepped back, his face pale."Yohanes?" he called out, voice trembling.
No answer.
He looked up at the second-floor windows, and for a split second — saw three shadows move across the glass. One of them was being dragged by the other two.
Arka's breath hitched. "No...!"
He ran to the side of the building, searching for another way in, but every door was locked, every window sealed tight. He tried kicking a wooden door, but it didn't budge. His hands shook, his hair and clothes soaked through by the rain.
"YOHANES!!" he screamed, voice breaking, swallowed by the roar of the storm.
Then, through the sheets of rain, he saw an old black car pulling out from behind the building, its headlights dim in the downpour. Arka ran after it, but the car sped away, tires hissing over the wet road.
He stopped in the middle of the street, gasping for breath, trembling under the rain. His tears mixed with the water streaming down his face.
"Why... why couldn't I stop them..." he whispered, voice hoarse and small.
He stared blankly at the empty road — only puddles and faint tire tracks remained.
Inside his chest, fear turned into crushing guilt.The friend he once promised to always protect — was now gone, taken by people whose faces he never even saw clearly.
The rain poured harder. Arka stood there, clutching his bag tightly, and whispered into the cold air that smelled of iron and dust:
"Wait for me, Han... I won't stay silent this time. I promise."
Thunder rumbled in the distance, answering his words, while the Pointless building stood silent — holding the dark secret that had just swallowed another soul.
The Storm of Rage at the Mansion Gate
Rain poured down on the city with a fury that knew no mercy. The dark sky seemed to echo its anger, and every flash of lightning cutting through the clouds only made one thing clear — this was no ordinary night. Arka ran through the heavy rain without an umbrella, without a jacket — only with determination and a chest burning from exhaustion. The wet streets made him slip several times, but he always got back up. He refused to stop.
His body trembled from the cold, yet fear and guilt burned even hotter inside him. He didn't know exactly where he was going — only following the faint memory of when Yohanes had once taken him to the Alister family mansion, a grand place surrounded by tall iron gates and old trees. That night, everything looked like black shadows swallowing the world. But Arka's decision was firm: he had to get there. Now.
"Don't be too late..." he muttered between breaths, rain slapping his face. "Wait for me, Yohanes..."
Meanwhile, inside the mansion, the atmosphere was just as tense. The Alister family's dining room, which was usually warm and bright, felt cold and lifeless. Lightning flashed again and again, making the chandelier's shadow dance across the walls. Gibson stood by the large window, watching the storm outside. Nadine stood near the stairs, her face filled with worry.
"He's still not home?" Nadine asked in a trembling voice, holding a cup of tea that had long gone cold.
Gibson slowly shook his head. "No... I've been waiting in the living room since dusk. His phone's off too."
Efendi, who sat on the couch near the fireplace, sighed heavily. "Maybe... maybe he's just late. Maybe he's taking shelter somewhere." But even he didn't sound convinced.
Deon glanced at the ticking wall clock. "If it's just the rain, he would've sent a message," he said quietly, then turned to Gibson. "Are you sure we shouldn't send someone to look for him?"
Gibson met Deon's eyes — a rare sign of deep worry in the usually calm man. "I've thought about it... but we don't even know where he went."
Another flash of lightning struck, closer this time, shaking the entire room. Everyone turned toward the window as the wind whipped the trees in the garden, branches slamming against the gate.
Nadine covered her mouth, trembling. "Oh God... don't tell me something's happened..."
Before Gibson could answer, a loud crash came from outside — the sound of metal clashing and a faint cry mixed with the roar of rain.
BRAAAK!
Everyone turned their heads. Gibson rushed to the front door, followed by Deon and Efendi. Nadine shouted from the stairs, panic in her voice, "What was that?!"
"I don't know! Stay there, darling!" Gibson called back.
The moment he opened the large door, cold wind and rain burst inside. At the iron gate, someone was desperately trying to push it open. The figure was soaked, clothes clinging to his skin, hair covering his face. His voice was weak, nearly drowned by the storm.
"Please... open... the gate!"
Gibson squinted through the rain. "Who's out there?! Who are you?!"
"Please... it's me... Arka! Yohanes' friend!" the young man shouted, barely able to breathe.
Nadine froze at the name. "Yohanes' friend?"
Gibson and Deon exchanged glances before Deon dashed toward the gate. He unlocked the heavy, rusted latch and pulled Arka inside. The boy nearly collapsed from exhaustion.
Gibson caught him by the shoulder. "Come inside, quickly!"
They dragged Arka in, water dripping from his clothes and leaving a long trail on the marble floor. Nadine hurried over with a towel and blanket, worry written all over her face.
"Oh my God, you're drenched! Sit here!" she said, helping him to the seat near the fireplace.
But Arka weakly pushed her hand away. "No... no need, Auntie. I... I have to talk now... it's about Yohanes..."
The room fell silent. Only the sound of rain filled the space.
Gibson's eyes sharpened, filled with dread. "What happened to Yohanes?"
Arka lowered his head, breathing heavily. "He... he—I followed him after school... because he's been acting strange lately. He went to an old building on the edge of town... the one everyone said was abandoned."
"The old building?" Deon interrupted quickly. "The one near Pointless?"
Arka nodded fast. "Yes! That's the one! I saw him go in... I waited... but he never came out!"
The room grew even quieter. Efendi stood slowly, his face tight with concern. "Are you sure?"
Arka looked up, eyes red and full of fear. "I'm sure! I waited for a long time... then I saw someone—no, a few people—dragging him out! They put him into a black car! I ran after them but... I couldn't catch up..."
Nadine gasped, tears welling up. "Oh no..."
Lightning struck again, lighting up the room for a brief moment. In that flash, Gibson's face looked grim and haunted. He stepped toward the window, staring into the raging storm.
"A black car..." he muttered. "I've seen a car like that before... back then, before..." He didn't finish his sentence.
Arka looked at him desperately. "You have to help him! They took Yohanes! I don't know who they are, but they looked dangerous!"
Efendi slammed his fist on the table, startling everyone. "We can't just sit here!"
Deon turned to Gibson. "We have to find him now, Father."
But Gibson remained silent. He looked at Arka, who was still trembling, then spoke in a heavy tone, "You need to calm down first, son. Tell us everything — every detail."
Arka's voice quivered. "I... I'm scared, Sir. I'm scared something terrible has already happened."
Nadine held his hand tightly, trying to calm him though tears had started to fall. "It's okay, dear. You're safe here now... just tell us slowly."
Outside, lightning flashed once more, casting brief light on the tense faces inside — faces filled with fear and a growing sense of dread.
That night, under the furious storm, the Alister mansion was no longer a place of warmth — but the beginning of a search that would change everything.