I was terrified.
As I stood inside the cave, holding that ancient book in my hands, my entire body trembled. My fingers shook so badly that I almost dropped it. The air inside the cave felt heavier than before, as if something invisible was pressing down on my chest.
The words written in the book refused to leave my mind.
They were clear. Too clear.
The book stated that if I wanted to obtain this power, I would have to follow a strict ritual.
"You must come to the forest every night at exactly twelve o'clock. For twenty-one consecutive days, you must remain inside this cave for one full hour in worship. Each night, you must bring one kilogram of chicken meat. After completing the worship, you must place the meat in the forest and leave immediately."
I swallowed hard as I continued reading.
Then came the final rule.
"If you turn around and look back after placing the offering, you will never obtain this power — even if you complete all twenty-one days."
My heart pounded violently.
I closed the book and leaned against the cold stone wall of the cave. My breath was uneven, my mind spinning. Everything about this ritual felt dangerous… unnatural.
"This is madness," I whispered to myself.
But then reality hit me.
I was poor. I was alone. I had nothing left to lose.
There were nights when I went to sleep hungry. Days when I worked until my body ached just to earn enough to survive. No future waited for me in that village. No miracle would come unless I chased it myself.
Even if this book was a lie, my life would remain the same.
There was only one problem.
I was too poor to buy chicken meat every single day.
One kilogram of meat every night for twenty-one days was impossible for someone like me. I didn't even have money for proper meals, let alone meat.
I spent the entire night thinking.
By morning, only one name remained in my mind.
Jimmy.
Jimmy was my friend. We grew up in the same village of Jamu, but unlike me, his life was slightly better. His family owned a small business, and while they weren't rich, they weren't starving either.
Asking for help humiliated me, but I had no choice.
I went to Jimmy's house that morning.
When he saw me standing at his door, he frowned in concern.
"Jack? What's wrong? You look terrible."
I hesitated, then said quietly, "Jimmy… I need money."
He studied my face for a long moment.
"How much?" he asked.
"As much as you can give me," I replied honestly. "I promise I'll pay you back soon."
Jimmy didn't press for details. He went inside, returned with some money, and placed it in my hand.
"Take it," he said. "Just don't disappear."
Relief washed over me.
"Thank you," I said sincerely. "I won't forget this."
That night was the first night.
When the clock struck twelve, my heart began to race. Darkness covered the village like a black blanket. The forest looked more terrifying than ever, its shadows stretching endlessly between the trees.
I picked up one kilogram of chicken meat, wrapped it carefully, and stepped outside.
The forest path felt longer than usual.
Every sound made me flinch. Leaves rustling. Branches cracking. Distant animal cries echoed through the darkness, sending chills down my spine.
"This is insane," I muttered, gripping the meat tightly.
But I kept walking.
Eventually, I reached the cave.
It stood there silently, waiting.
I entered and sat on the cold stone floor, just as the book instructed. The moment I opened it again, a strange pressure filled the cave. My throat tightened as I began to read the chants written inside.
The words were foreign, heavy, and difficult to pronounce. My tongue struggled, but I forced myself to continue. I kept my eyes closed and focused on my breathing.
Minutes passed.
Then more.
The air grew colder.
At times, I felt like something was watching me. At other moments, I heard faint whispers, though I couldn't understand them. Fear crawled through my veins, but I refused to stop.
An hour later, my body was soaked in sweat.
My muscles ached. My head throbbed.
When I finally opened my eyes, I felt exhausted, as if something had drained my strength.
I stood up slowly, picked up the chicken meat, and stepped outside the cave.
The forest was silent.
Too silent.
I placed the meat on the ground, just as instructed.
That was when I felt it.
A presence.
Something was behind me.
My entire body froze.
My instincts screamed at me to turn around. My heart pounded so hard it felt like it would burst out of my chest. I could feel breath — or something like it — close behind my neck.
Every fiber of my being wanted to look.
But the words from the book echoed loudly in my mind.
"If you turn around and look back, you will never obtain this power — even if you complete all twenty-one days."
My fists clenched.
My legs trembled.
I took one step forward.
Then another.
I didn't look back.
No matter how strong the urge was… I didn't turn around.
I walked away from the cave, my back stiff, my senses screaming danger. I didn't know what followed me. I didn't know if it was real or imagined.
I only knew one thing.
If I turned around…
Everything would be over.