That day, the campus was quieter than usual.
The semester had come to an end, and the long three-month holiday had finally begun. The university had also officially closed its new student admissions.
Some students had already returned to their hometowns, while others chose to spend their holidays with friends, planning trips or simply enjoying their freedom after surviving the final exams.
However, for Laras, Rengga, Riki, Keenan, Alya, Tisa, and Hasan, this holiday was about to become something entirely different.
That afternoon, the seven third-semester students gathered at the campus cafeteria.
They were all native residents of Bandung, a city nicknamed the City of Flowers because of its beautiful scenery and charming gardens.
Their university was located in the heart of the city and was known for its highly competitive admissions process. It was no surprise that most of its students came from other regions, and even from overseas.
Among the many students who had managed to secure a place at the university, the seven of them were among the few local students fortunate enough to study there.
Laras, Rengga, Riki, and Hasan majored in English Literature.
Alya chose French Literature, while Tisa and Keenan majored in Japanese Literature.
They all had different personalities, but there was one thing that always brought them together: their habit of spending time with one another.
More importantly, they all loved adventure.
Well, at least most of them did.
Keenan, for instance, had been passionate about mountain climbing for years. Ever since middle school, he had explored various hiking trails, starting with small mountains that could be climbed in a single day before moving on to taller peaks that demanded greater physical endurance and mental strength.
He had even claimed to have reached the summit of Puncak Jaya, one of the highest peaks in Indonesia.
His passion continued into college, where he joined the university's Nature Lovers Association, an organization dedicated to outdoor activities such as mountain climbing, forest exploration, and other adventures in nature.
For Keenan, nothing was more satisfying than standing on a mountain summit, breathing in the crisp air, and gazing at the vast landscape stretching as far as the eye could see.
That was why, when the holiday season arrived, he immediately came up with a plan.
A plan that he believed would become the most unforgettable experience of their lives.
"So, we're really going to Mount Srinjani, just like you told us about, Keenan?"
Alya broke the silence, leaning back in her chair.
Across from her, Keenan flashed a wide grin.
"Of course! That's why I asked all of you to meet here. We need to start planning everything now."
He raised both hands enthusiastically.
"I can't wait to breathe in that fresh mountain air!"
Rengga chuckled at his excitement.
"We're only talking about the plan, and you're already acting like a little kid."
"Obviously! You all know how much I love climbing mountains."
"If you could, you'd probably live on a mountain for a whole week," Riki teased.
"If the mountain is beautiful enough, why not?"
Their table erupted in laughter.
Laras, who had just received a plate of seafood fried rice with extra chili sauce, laughed along with them.
She wasn't particularly experienced when it came to mountain climbing, but Keenan's enthusiasm was beginning to make her interested.
"Wait, wait," she said, raising her spoon. "I've never climbed a mountain before. Is it actually safe?"
Keenan turned toward her.
"It is, as long as we prepare properly. But you need to remember that Mount Srinjani isn't a mountain we can take lightly."
Laras raised an eyebrow.
"Is it really that difficult?"
"Pretty difficult. The trails are steep, some sections are slippery, and there are plenty of large rocks along the way. If we're not physically prepared, the journey could become dangerous."
"Oh, don't worry. I exercise regularly!" Laras replied confidently. "Besides, I won't be asking you guys to stop every ten minutes just so I can take a break."
"You haven't even started climbing, and you're already bragging," Hasan remarked.
They burst into laughter again.
However, unlike his friends, Keenan did not laugh this time.
Instead, he looked at them with a serious expression.
"There's one more thing you need to know."
His tone had changed. The playful mood from earlier was gone.
"What is it?" Tisa asked.
Keenan glanced toward the cafeteria window before looking back at his friends.
"Mount Srinjani isn't famous only for its difficult trails. There are a lot of strange stories about that mountain."
"What kind of stories?" Rengga asked, growing interested.
"Some hikers have reportedly disappeared. Some were found after being lost for days, but others were never found at all."
Laras's smile slowly faded.
"Seriously?"
Keenan nodded.
"Seriously. The locals even have certain taboos that must be respected when entering particular areas of the mountain."
Alya frowned.
"What kind of taboos?"
Keenan took a deep breath before answering.
"Don't speak carelessly, don't damage anything, and don't do anything that could be considered disrespectful to the place."
"Are we going into a forest or visiting someone's house?" Riki joked.
"Riki, I'm serious."
Keenan's words made Riki raise both hands in surrender.
"Okay, okay. Go on."
Keenan fell silent for a moment.
Then he said something that made Laras stop chewing.
"And there's one particular restriction for women that is quite well known among local hikers."
"What is it?" Alya asked.
"According to local beliefs, women who are menstruating, especially on the first day, should avoid climbing that mountain."
The atmosphere at their table suddenly changed.
Laras put down her spoon.
"Why?"
"They say that apart from the possibility of feeling physically unwell, there's something in certain parts of the forest that might become disturbed."
"Disturbed by what?" Tisa asked quietly.
Keenan shook his head.
"I'm not entirely sure. The mountain ranger I once met didn't explain everything either. He only warned us not to violate the taboos associated with that place."
Hasan folded his arms on the table.
"If it's just about health, that makes sense. But if it has something to do with the supernatural…"
He let the sentence trail off.
No one immediately responded.
Keenan leaned back in his chair.
"Actually, I've heard a story about a female hiker who disappeared there."
That immediately drew everyone's attention back to him.
"Her name was Rina."
Keenan spoke her name more quietly.
"And ever since that incident, her name has always been associated with the Forbidden Forest on Mount Srinjani."