Chapter 009: The First Death
On the Other Side of the Mysterious White Fog
The bus remained tilted, its strained groans blending with the constant creaking of twisted metal whenever anyone moved.
In the dim, wavering glow of a cigarette lighter, the sight before him shook Rezvan to his core.
Pak Marta appeared more composed.
Perhaps because Rezvan carried a far deeper emotional bond with the children.
But they had no time to drown in shock.
Rafandra took a deep breath, suppressing the pain throughout his own body, then looked straight into Rezvan's eyes.
"Sir, listen to me... We can get through this."
His voice was calm.
Firm.
Completely under control.
Rafandra placed a steady hand on Rezvan's shoulder, giving him support on the bus's steep, slippery floor.
"Don't fall apart now, or the ones who survived will lose hope."
His eyes were sharp beneath the trembling flame.
And amid the chaos, a realization slowly settled inside Rezvan.
Fear wouldn't save anyone.
But the right actions still might.
"Watch your step..." Rafandra said as he handed one of the lighters to Rezvan.
The tiny flame danced once more, casting faint light over the injured bodies.
"Don't think about the worst-case scenario. We'll examine them one by one. There may still be something we can do."
His voice remained steady, calming both Rezvan and the other students.
"Especially... if there's still someone we can save."
He lowered his voice.
He knew even the smallest panic could spread like wildfire.
"Move quickly, but carefully. If someone's still alive and has broken bones, moving them carelessly could make things worse."
Holding his breath, Rafandra carefully maintained his balance on the nearly vertical floor.
One wrong move could worsen everything.
Every step they took now could decide someone's life.
Rafandra, Rezvan, and Pak Marta began moving slowly.
Their bodies were covered in bruises and cuts.
Their breathing was heavy.
Their hands trembled from pain.
Every movement felt like forcing themselves to walk through a storm raging inside their own bodies.
At the top of the pile, Pratama and Kemal began stirring weakly, their faces twisted in pain.
"Tama... Kemal... come on, move slowly... We'll help you," Rezvan called gently.
His voice was almost drowned out by the groaning metal.
With Rafandra's and Pak Marta's help, they carefully moved the students one by one, making sure not to step on those still trapped beneath.
The bus itself remained still.
Yet the constant grinding of twisted metal continued, shrill enough to keep everyone on edge.
"Mr. Rezvan... let me hold the lighter."
Damar's timid voice came from near the door.
It shook with fear, but courage pushed through.
Rafandra and Rezvan exchanged glances.
Pak Marta held his breath.
Silence.
Then Rafandra made a quick decision.
"Here."
He handed the lighter to Damar.
"Stay right there. Too many people moving around will only make this harder. Watch where we're going and point the light wherever we need it."
"O-Okay..."
Damar nodded quickly.
His face was still pale.
His lips trembled.
But he stood his ground, gripping the lighter tightly.
One by one, the students piled atop one another were moved aside.
Some regained consciousness.
Their eyes watered.
Some cried quietly.
Heavy breathing filled the bus.
For a brief moment, relief appeared on Rafandra's, Rezvan's, and Pak Marta's faces.
At least...
There were still people they could save.
But that relief didn't last long.
At the very bottom of the pile...
Two bodies lay perfectly still.
Their positions were unnatural.
Even horrifying.
Pak Marta immediately stretched out an arm, blocking Damar's view before the boy could see.
Rezvan froze.
His entire body trembled.
Guilt struck him like a hammer.
Every second felt like another stab to his chest.
Meanwhile, Damar simply looked confused, continuing to shine the light wherever Rafandra instructed, unaware of what was being hidden from him.
"Son! Give me the lighter."
Rafandra's firm voice cut through the panicked breathing filling the bus.
"Huh?!"
Damar misunderstood immediately.
"S-Sorry... but the driver blocked it! I didn't do it on purpose, Mister!"
His face turned even paler.
His lips quivered in fear.
Rafandra stared at him for a moment before letting out a heavy sigh.
"Your job's done for now. Stay here and hold on."
He gently took the lighter back.
Damar nodded quietly, still looking at Rafandra as he struggled to stop shaking.
Pak Marta crawled toward the two bodies.
Both were crushed between the seat frames and the shattered window.
One body was wedged beneath the seats, its head hanging at an unnatural angle.
The other lay sprawled across a seatback like a discarded doll.
Pak Marta gently patted the first student's shoulder.
No response.
His chest didn't move.
He checked the neck.
No pulse.
He moved to the second student.
Still nothing.
No breathing.
No response.
Both remained still.
Pak Marta slowly turned toward Rezvan...
...and quietly shook his head.
His face was filled with sorrow.
The confirmation hit like a direct blow to the chest.
The thick smell of blood filled the air.
Metallic.
Salty.
Sharp enough to sting the throat.
Rafandra held his breath.
Pak Marta briefly turned his face away before lowering his head again.
Using what little strength they had left, the two men carefully straightened the bodies beneath the trembling flame.
Without saying a word, Rafandra picked up a torn curtain that had come loose from the shattered window.
Dirty.
Dusty.
But enough to cover their faces.
He looked at the two boys for a long moment before slowly pulling the fabric over them.
As if tucking them in for one final sleep.
Pak Marta helped with trembling hands.
No words of mourning.
Only silent prayers.
Heavy breathing.
Groaning metal.
And a silence far more suffocating than any scream.
Bagas.
Adit.
Their bodies were badly damaged.
But Pak Marta still did everything he could to preserve their dignity.
Rezvan stood frozen.
His empty gaze rested upon the two students—
The boys who had still been laughing together only that morning.
His chest felt crushed beneath an enormous stone.
Yet no tears came.
"Sir..."
Rafandra's voice came out hoarse.
Quiet.
But he couldn't finish.
There simply were no words suitable for a moment like this.
Pak Marta looked at Rezvan with sympathy.
He recognized that expression.
The look of someone being torn violently between reality and denial.
Inside the nearly destroyed bus...
Only restrained breathing remained.
The lighter's flame continued trembling across their faces.
And that night...
Death became painfully real.
Rezvan slowly collapsed to the floor.
Silent.
His hand clutched the cold arm of one of his students.
Cold.
Lifeless.
Blood rushed to his head before draining away.
His stomach churned violently.
Adit.
Bagas.
Their uniforms were torn.
Dirty.
Covered in blood and shattered glass.
For nearly two years, they had been under his guidance.
Two years filled with laughter, exams, complaints, and teenage mischief.
His students.
His responsibility.
"...I failed."
His voice was barely audible.
"I couldn't protect them..."
He turned toward Pak Marta, but his eyes were empty.
"...What am I supposed to tell their parents?"
The urge to vomit rose into his throat.
He forced it back.
His fists clenched so tightly against the cold metal floor that his own skin split.
Rafandra and Pak Marta could only lower their heads.
There were no comforting words.
The silence was too thick.
Even the sound of breathing felt intrusive.
"They..."
Rezvan's voice cracked.
"My students..."
Rafandra watched him quietly.
Pak Marta gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"We understand..."
His own voice trembled.
"Be patient... Stay strong. Your other students are still waiting for you."
"...Don't let the others see them yet," Rafandra finally said.
His voice was low.
Carefully considered.
Rezvan nodded slowly.
His jaw tightened.
His eyes were red.
Not because he was strong.
His body was simply struggling to contain everything at once—
Fear.
Anger.
Shock.
And an overwhelming grief that threatened to crush him.
But the tragedy wasn't over.
Suddenly, frantic screams erupted from the rear of the bus.
"Sir! Danang passed out!"
"Sir! Rama won't wake up!"
"Sir... Gilang's leg is bleeding!"
Rafandra spun around immediately.
His body moved before his thoughts could catch up.
He hurried across the tilted, slippery floor.
Blood and shattered glass clung to his palms.
Three students lay unconscious.
Their bodies were covered in blood.
Their breathing was labored—
But they were still alive.
Dropping to one knee, Rafandra checked them one by one.
"Danang still has a pulse... Rama too..."
His eyes shifted.
"Gilang—"
"Sir! Sir!"
Kirana screamed in panic.
"His bone... Gilang's bone!"
Rafandra turned instantly.
His eyes widened.
Gilang's leg was bent at a horrifying angle.
The bone had pierced through the skin.
Fresh blood dripped onto the metal floor.
"Hold his leg still! Don't let him move!"
he shouted.
"Find anything to make a splint—cloth, belts, anything!"
Several students who could still think clearly immediately sprang into action.
They searched through backpacks.
Pulled off jackets.
Even tore down the window curtains.
Others remained frozen.
Trembling.
Their mouths hung open without a sound.
"What are you standing there for?!"
Rafandra barked.
His voice rose.
Half panic.
Half desperation to keep control.
The students looked at him with tear-filled eyes.
Some covered their mouths.
Others trembled, struggling to hold back sobs.
They were in shock.
Traumatized.
The world they knew had just collapsed...
...and their minds hadn't yet caught up to reality.
Adrenaline completely consumed Rafandra.
He didn't even realize how harshly he'd shouted.
He only knew one thing—
They couldn't afford to waste another second.
"Tear the sleeves off your shirts!"
he shouted.
"Now! Those of you who are still conscious, help the others! No crying—stay focused!"
The sound of fabric ripping filled the bus.
Labored breathing.
Stifled sobs.
Amid the blood and darkness, Rafandra forced them to keep moving.
Because if they stopped...
Everything could end here.