02. Resurrection

Loneliness, I felt the loneliness that was so boring as if it was killing me slowly. Poets say that even boredom can kill an immortal witch. And it feels like their words are true.

 All this time there was only the sound of insects and the old banyan tree on which I was resting that willing to accompany me for a long time. Its leaves became my blanket, and its trunk was my leaning place. Meanwhile, its canopy-shaped branches sheltered me from the heat and rain.

 Even though this place was comfortable for me, it was a shame that I couldn't go anywhere. Because it was only this banyan that could protect me. If I ever got out of the farthest root boundary of this tree, I probably would have died for the second time.

 It was that young boy who got me stuck in this place. If only he had been willing to walk closer to me.

 But never mind, without this place I'd probably be dead. I don't know which is better, being trapped in this place for eternity, or dying a second time.

 I know at least this place keeps me away from those horrible figures. Those who desire me and those who are after my death. My current situation was also complicated by the absence of any memories within me, but at the very least that young boy gave me hope. If only I could bring him closer, then the blood flowing in him would be the answer to my problem.

 Within my mind now there is only a desire to continue to maintain my survival by sucking human blood, and also my survival instinct. That was all I had left in me.

 Tonight was a brightly shining moon. It was the perfect time for me to comb my long hair with my fingers. However, it was at that moment that I noticed a shadow that appeared to be moving among the grass. Did that young boy finally decide to come closer to me?

 Damn it, if he was attracted to me, why did he come to offer himself to me just now?

 It seemed like it was really hard to get a few drops of blood from that boy.

 I revealed myself, smiling in the darkness, and sat leaning against one of the branches while playing with my long hair. That innocent boy emerged from the dark shadows of the night. It seemed to me that he was nothing like most people. The look in his eyes was easy to read, and I was somehow convinced that he wasn't someone who wanted to take advantage of me.

 He just looked at me with a look of admiration in his eyes. His face was very innocent with short black hair and dark brown eyes. Seeing her lovely eyes made me envious. My own eyes were no less beautiful, as black as black pearls. But like the shell of a clam that only contains one pearl, I only have one eyeball in my right eye.

 If I were to transform myself into a human form, I might be able to cover it up. But still, I couldn't lie to myself.

 The young boy walked over, looking at me with a hesitant gaze. I never knew what his name is because all this time I always called him without getting an answer. But not tonight, tonight he came to give his body to me.

 Ah finally, my long wait is ended.

 Come here young man, I only need a few drops of your blood to heal my wounds.

 I whispered those words for the wind to carry them to his pair of ears, hoping that he would immediately hurry to step closer to me. Even so, I somehow felt that there was something different about him that night.

 No, what I mean is not his appearance tonight. Although normally, I saw him in his pajamas, now he was wearing a warm jacket and long pants.

 His figure was getting closer, walking through the grass. And that's when his face came into clear view under the moonlight.

 I sent my message to him, constantly to make him braver to approach me. Slowly he kept coming closer, although his steps felt heavy. I know he must be afraid of me, but I will never give up and keep whispering my words. Tonight I need him, I don't have much time left. If someone were to find me right now, I wouldn't be able to fight them in my current state.

 The young boy is now right under my feet, standing on the roots of the banyan tree. Looking at me with a shy gaze, I saw his face turning red. Something I had never seen before from my other victims.

 I jumped then let the air hold my body, I slowly floated in the air before touching down and standing in front of him, His face flushed even more. He probably didn't expect that I dared to come down to approach him, but he tried to remain calm without taking his eyes off me.

Right now I was right in front of him, my dress and my black hair being blown by the night breeze. I moved closer to the young boy, feeling intimidated he took a step back. But I held him back with both of my hands. I will not let him go.

 For he was my prey.

 I tightly gripped both of his shoulders, then I slowly drew my face closer to his neck. Surprisingly, unlike the rest of my victims, he didn't struggle. Her body just stood still without even trying to escape, but why? My doubts began to grow, but I had no choice.

 I decided to make him feel less pain. I buried my fangs into his neck swiftly, then quickly pulled them out. Without wasting any time I immediately sucked up every drop of blood that came out. His fear of me seemed to start crawling up his body when my cold tongue touched his warm skin. I felt his body trembling like he was freezing, and at that moment I hugged his body to calm him down.

 Don't be afraid, I won't take more than this.

 However, it was at that moment when his right hand moved, at first I didn't pay attention to it. But when I realized what the young boy was about to do, it was too late.

 A reddish-black Nail Relic quickly pierced through my head. It went in with ease as if the top of my head had a hole and the nail was the key.

 I felt my body become heavy, my feet began to touch the ground, and my body lost its balance. Then, I collapsed into that young boy's arms.

 With my consciousness fading away completely.

 #############

 I tried to open my eyelids, but it felt very heavy and painful. My entire body, which was normally numb, now started to feel something unusual. I begin to feel cold and extreme pain all over my body.

 Gradually my eyes began to open, my body is now lying on a bed with clean navy blue sheets and blankets. My very long hair hung down to the bottom corner of the bed.

 My head felt dizzy, I touched the tip of my head with both hands. I groaned in pain, as I suddenly felt my fingers being burned by something.

 That nail, right? An instant flash of memory sprung up just before I lost consciousness. I checked my fingers, a blackened burn mark appeared there. No way! Ordinary Kuntilanak nail would never leave a scar like this, could it be that the nail that he used to seal me was not an ordinary one?

 A sudden knocking sound came from the door of the brown oak door. It made me instantly realize who the person coming through the door was.

 " May I come in?"

 I kept silent without answering anything because I knew that the young boy must have realized that I had woken up, my little moan in the quiet night like this must have immediately caught his ear. The door slid open, and just as I imagined, the boy appeared from behind the door carrying a glass of water on an aluminum tray.

 However, I saw a different look on his face from what I saw before I collapsed. He looked calmer now, so calm that I found I'm lost in his face. That young boy, was he playing a trick to lure me down from the tree?

 "...My name is Aji, I'm sorry to have done such a bad thing to you. But don't get me wrong, there was someone who asked me to do it."

 After trying to explain the situation to me, he placed the glass on the small wooden table beside me. I cast a glance at the room I was lying in. Judging from the furniture and belongings in this room, it seemed like this room was the room of the young boy.

 "Don't worry, this is indeed my room, use it as you, please. I'll sleep in my sister's room."

 I fell silent, Aji seemed to be able to read my mind. But that was not what I was thinking, it was his previous words that made me think of something.

 The nail he stuck in my head was no ordinary relic that could be obtained easily. If so, who was the person who asked him to seal my power?

 "An old man, about 70 years old. Judging by his clothes, he looks like a shaman" Aji suddenly answered the question in my mind.

 "His name is Slamet, actually he didn't ask me to drive that nail into your head. He just said that this nail is for your good."

 Slamet? My head was spinning as soon as I heard that name, even though I didn't have any memories within myself, it sounded familiar and kept buzzing in my head.

 I let out a long breath and then followed it up with a bittersweet smile.

 "It seems like because of that Nail, I've become your Slave. Not only did you confine my body, but you could even read my mind with ease."

 But speaking of which if that old man named Slamet asked to give me that demon-killing Nail, why did you stab it into my head in the first place?"

 Aji fell silent, leaning against the wall while crossing his arms in front of his chest. For a few moments, he just looked down while closing his eyes as if he was thinking about something.

 "Why did I hammer that nail into your head? I don't know, I know more or less about that nail, and for some reason, I wanted to try it."

 Huh? My mouth dropped open at her absurd answer. I have heard the excuses of hundreds of people who tried to hunt me down, they have a myriad of reasons. From the pursuit of wealth to power. But, I can't believe this young boy's reasoning. Trying to? Does he see me as a guinea pig?

 "Look, young man, if you don't intend to do anything to me, remove this damn nail from my head!"

 "Then put you in danger? Sorry miss, I've become involved in your troubles by automatically sticking that nail in your head.

 Do you know how much a kuntilanak that has been successfully transformed into a human is worth? Millions! And in a country where people still believe in mystical things like that, your existence is highly sought after!"

 "That's none of your business! I'm nothing to you!"

 "Too bad miss, because of that Nail you are now someone to me. Because from now on you are under my responsibility!"

 "Stop calling me miss like I don't have a name! My name is Aya!

 Aji was silent, she then walked out of the room after shaking his head without saying a word.

 I tried to sit up to accustom myself to my new body. The nail not only sealed my power but also turned me into a human. Now I couldn't float or fly anymore.

 I looked at the water in the glass that was gently condensing on the glass wall. I picked up the glass with both hands, glanced at it, and then tried to take a sip.

 The glass of water fell over, its contents spilling over my white dress before crashing to the floor. My throat felt like it was being pricked by needles, and I felt liquid wanting to come out of my stomach.

 "Bleargh!

 I vomited, spitting out thick blackish-red blood. Aji appeared not long after just then. Of course, he came, because I threw up in his room. That young boy would never worry about me unless it benefited him.

 Without being asked Aji immediately massaged the back of my neck and helped me get all the foul-smelling blood out. After all the blood was out, Aji lent me his blue handkerchief. I leaned my body against the wall while Aji went out of the room and returned with sand to clean up my vomit.

 My eyes caught something moving among the thick blackish blood. It was a white creature the size of my thumb, there were seven of them.

 My eyes widened, and Aji who knew about it acted indifferent. Wait, if there are maggots inside my body, does that mean my body is rotting again?

 Does that mean, this time I will die?