Yandi stared sadly at Felix, who was now sobbing before him. His heart shattered seeing his once-strong friend crying with severe wounds covering his body. Gently, Yandi tried to comfort Felix.
"Hmm... Felix, it's okay... I'm fine." Yandi said, softly patting Felix's back. "You don't need to cry anymore."
"But... I...!" Felix stammered, unable to hold back his tears as he leaned his face against Yandi's shoulder, seeking a bit of comfort amidst his fear.
Yandi took a deep breath and then asked softly, "What exactly happened in that hut that left you so badly hurt?"
Felix stayed silent for a moment, trying to calm himself before beginning to speak. His voice trembled as he revealed what had happened.
"At first, I only heard knocking at the door. The voice... it sounded like Angga. He was calling for me, asking for help to open the door. He said Agung was injured and needed assistance. I hesitated, Yandi... I felt something was off. But after thinking it through, I finally opened the door."
Yandi nodded, listening intently to every word that left Felix's mouth.
"When I opened it... I saw them. Angga, Agung, Nano, and Krisna. They all looked perfectly fine, not injured at all." Felix continued, his voice full of pain. "I felt deceived. I was furious... and I asked why they had lied."
Felix lowered his head, recalling the event bitterly. "Angga said he lied just to fix our relationship... But I refused. I told him I didn't want any relationship with him anymore."
"What happened after that?" Yandi asked, his voice filled with growing worry.
Felix looked at Yandi with reddened eyes. "I tried to close the door, but... Angga forced it open. He pushed me until I fell. Then he ordered his friends to drag me to the bed."
Yandi clenched his fists unconsciously. His rage boiled inside him, but he restrained himself, wanting to hear Felix's story until the end.
"After that... he... he tried to hurt me, Yandi..." Felix trembled. "He tried to rape me. I fought back with all my strength. The other three Nano, Agung, and Krisna just stood there, not really helping me. Krisna did try to intervene, but Angga threatened him."
Felix paused for a moment, trying to steady his breathing before continuing.
"Fortunately... I found the small hammer in your bag that you had left behind. I used it to hit Angga on the head. He bled, but it only made him angrier. He said horrible things... He wanted to kill me, Yandi. He said if I died, it would be his way of getting revenge on you."
Yandi felt his chest tighten hearing all of this. But he remained silent, allowing Felix to release all the pain in his heart.
"I tried to run, but he struck me with a wooden plank." Felix continued, his voice growing weaker. "My body hurt so much... I could barely move. When I thought that might be my last moment alive, suddenly a tall, giant figure appeared inside the hut."
Felix looked at Yandi with wide eyes, recalling how strange and miraculous the event had been.
"That creature... it was so tall... it even touched the hut's ceiling. Angga and the others panicked. They all ran away, leaving me behind. Then the creature... just vanished into thin air."
Felix lowered his head. "After that, I passed out. When I woke up, I was already beside you."
Yandi remained silent for a long while. In his heart, he started to realize that the mysterious figure was most likely the same being he had encountered under the great tree. The being who had given him the strange pendant that healed Felix's wounds.
'What exactly is that creature?' Yandi wondered silently.
However, what mattered most now was ensuring Felix's safety. He knew exactly who the culprit was, Angga. A fiery rage burned within his chest, but Yandi forced himself to stay calm.
If he let himself be consumed by rage, he would be no different from Angga.
Yandi looked at Felix, who still appeared fragile. He gently caressed Felix's head with deep affection.
"Don't worry, Felix... I promise, I'll get you out of this forest. We'll get out together." he whispered.
Felix looked at Yandi with tear-filled eyes but managed a faint smile. For the first time in the past few hours, he felt a little safe.
(45 Minutes Earlier)
A soft knock echoed at the hut's door.
"Knock-knock!"
Felix, who was alone inside, turned his head in surprise. Who would be knocking on the door deep in the forest like this?
"Who is it?" he called out.
From behind the door, a familiar voice answered.
"It's me, Angga! Felix, please open the door. It's urgent. Agung is hurt. I don't know where else to take him."
Felix hesitated. He hadn't heard anything about Angga planning to go anywhere today. Yet Angga's voice sounded so convincing, so desperate.
After thinking for a while, Felix finally opened the door.
But what he saw made his blood boil. Angga and the others stood there, perfectly healthy, without a scratch.
Felix felt betrayed. "What's the meaning of this lie, Angga?" he shouted angrily.
Angga just smiled coldly. "Come on, don't be mad. I just want to fix our relationship. This is all for us." Angga said nonchalantly.
Felix shook his head firmly. "I don't want anything to do with you anymore, Angga. We're finished."
Angga's face darkened with impatience. "Who is he? The one who changed you? Is it that Yandi guy?" he demanded.
"That's none of your business!" Felix snapped, trying to close the door.
But Angga shoved the door hard, causing Felix to fall to the floor.
"That's what you get for defying me." Angga said coldly.
Quickly, Agung, Nano, and Krisna grabbed Felix and dragged him to the bed. Felix, still conscious, fought back, but he was too weak. He could only cry and scream.
Angga, with eyes full of anger and lust, approached. It was then that Felix spotted the small hammer inside Yandi's bag. With all the strength he had left, he smashed the hammer into Angga's head.
Blood flowed. Angga roared in fury. "You dare betray me!" Angga yelled, his face twisted with rage.
Felix struggled to run, but his body was already too weak. A wooden plank struck his back, sending him crashing to the floor again.
And then the strange being appeared. A towering figure that nearly touched the ceiling.
Everyone froze in terror. "A demon! A demon!" Nano screamed in panic.
Angga, Agung, Nano, and Krisna fled in terror, leaving Felix lying on the floor.
The creature simply stood still. Then, in an instant, it vanished.
And darkness once again swallowed the small hut.
(Back to the Present)
Yandi took a deep breath, trying to calm his mind.
"Felix." he said softly. "I promise. We'll get out of here. And Angga... will face justice. But not through dirty means. We'll face everything with our heads held high."
Felix only nodded weakly, his eyes slowly closing from exhaustion.
As he embraced his friend, Yandi looked toward the hut's entrance. The night breeze whispered around them, carrying the promise within his heart: that no matter what happened, he would never let anyone hurt Felix again.