After a brief discussion in the Main Building courtyard, the atmosphere began to feel lighter — if only for a fleeting moment. One by one, people started to disperse, as if each of them needed space to breathe after such a heavy discovery.
Zayn and Bima headed toward Stone Mountain, perhaps wanting to vent their tension by searching for a way out. Dion went toward the Harbor. Rian disappeared somewhere, maybe back to the dorm to tinker with something. Sinta and Zahra walked toward the back of the dorm, talking about the small plot Zahra had worked on that morning. Lira walked slowly toward the Sacred Forest, perhaps wanting to sing alone to calm her heart. Nova and Krisna vanished into the shadows of the corridors, as usual.
I myself walked toward the small garden behind the Main Building, my mind still spinning hard. My feet moved automatically along the moss-covered stone path, but my head was full of questions. The secrets underground, the documents of sins, the dangerous liquids, the mysterious panels… and Vina's words still hung in the air like thick smoke.
"Not a few think like me…"
Was the Double Disaster truly natural? Or had someone planned it? Krakatau II erupted, the tsunami followed, chaos exploded at exactly the right moment and destroyed everything. It was too perfect to be a coincidence.
From behind, light footsteps sounded. Aulia caught up with me, her batik scarf waving gently in the wind.
"Reno," she called softly.
I stopped and turned. "Aulia."
She gave a small smile, though her eyes still showed exhaustion.
"Most likely… the secrets are indeed hidden on this island. A truth about everything. I feel… the more we dig, the more we will find that everything is so clear."
I nodded slowly, my voice low.
"I think so too. Is it really possible that the Double Disaster was planned? The mountain eruption, the destruction, the division… everything happened at the perfect time."
From behind, no footsteps were heard at all — suddenly Selena appeared beside us, her two-toned hair swaying lightly. She smiled playfully, but her tone was full of doubt.
"How could the eruption of Mount Krakatau II possibly be caused on purpose? Only a madman with god-like power could do that. It's a volcano, not a button you can press."
Aulia smiled faintly and nodded in agreement.
"That's true too. Maybe I'm being too paranoid."
Selena looked at the two of us, slowly twirling her small mirror in her hand.
"By the way, where are you two going? You both look so serious."
I answered softly.
"I want to find Rian. I need his help with the control panels in the underground room earlier. I'm curious where all the circuits are connected."
Aulia nodded.
"I'm also looking for Rian. I want to try to figure out the mechanism of the ship at the secret beach — the ship that brought Reno to this island the first time. Maybe there's a navigation system or something we can use."
Selena chuckled softly, her eyes sparkling mischievously.
"You two really seem connected to each other, huh? Always thinking the same thing."
She continued in a light tone.
"Earlier I saw Rian heading toward the beach. I don't know why he went there. Want me to show you the way? I'm also curious what kind of secret beach you found."
Aulia and I exchanged a quick glance, then nodded.
"In that case, let's go together," I said.
The three of us walked along the stone path leading to the secret beach. The afternoon wind carried the salty scent of the sea and the faint aroma of wet seaweed. The sky was still blue, but its light felt dimmer today, as if even the sun was reluctant to witness what was happening on this island.
During the walk, our conversation never strayed from the Double Disaster.
"Do you think… the Double Disaster really just happened like that?" I asked softly, my steps matching Aulia's beside me.
Aulia looked ahead, her batik scarf waving gently.
"I'm starting to doubt it too. Everything was too… perfect. The mountain eruption, chaos everywhere, then the wars that exploded right when the chaos peaked. It was as if someone had orchestrated it all."
Selena, walking on the other side, shook her head, her two-toned hair swaying.
"But it's impossible for everything to be arranged. A disaster that huge."
We finally reached the beach. Small waves lapped gently against the coral rocks, but something immediately felt off. The warehouse door was now wide open.
Aulia stopped, her hand gripping her scarf tighter.
"…someone went inside."
Selena also stepped back, her face slightly pale.
"I… I don't want to go in. I'm still haunted by Yusuf, by his death…"
I looked at the two of them for a moment, then stepped inside alone.
"Let me check first."
Inside the warehouse, light coming through the gaps in the roof made the room feel even gloomier. I immediately saw Rian climbing on top of the container, his hands poking around something on the shelves.
"Rian?"
Rian turned, his thick glasses glinting faintly.
"Reno? What are you all doing here together?"
I climbed onto the container with the help of a wooden box. The blood that had been on top of the container had been cleaned, but not perfectly — there were still faint brownish stains clinging to the metal. I walked over to where Yusuf had once lain. His body was gone. Only the black cloth lay crumpled, stained with dried blood that had turned black.
"I actually came here to check on Yusuf's body. I intended to give him a proper burial, even if it was just around here. But… when I arrived, his body was already gone. Only the black cloth and these stains remained. It was as if something… or someone had taken it."
Selena and Aulia finally entered, standing near the pile of wooden boxes. They examined the black cloth with tense faces.
"…Maybe MonoGaru took it," Selena said softly.
I climbed down from the container and approached Rian.
"What are you actually doing here?"
Rian shrugged, tucking several small parts into his work vest.
"Looking for parts to tinker with the panels in the underground room. Maybe I can find the circuit pattern. What about you?"
I explained.
"I need your help to map the circuits from those control panels. I'm curious where all the cables and power are connected."
Aulia added in her gentle voice.
"I also want to ask for your help. I want to figure out the mechanism of the ship at this secret beach — the ship that brought Reno to this island the first time. Maybe there's a navigation system or something we can use."
Selena chuckled softly from behind.
"I'm just tagging along because I'm curious. What kind of secret beach did you find?"
Rian raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"Secret beach? Ship? Show me."
Aulia nodded.
"Come on, follow me."
The four of us passed through the coral gap, waves occasionally spraying our feet. After passing the pile of rocks, the hidden small beach stretched before us — fine white sand, palm trees swaying gently, and a small wooden pier jutting into the sea. At the end of it, the old wooden ship that had brought me to this island the first time still lay silent.
Selena was immediately amazed, her eyes sparkling.
"This beach… looks like a private beach that used to be rented out to officials and important people. Look at that hut — it really looks like a small beach resort."
While Aulia and Rian immediately approached the ship to examine its mechanism, Selena and I walked toward the beach hut on the edge of the sand.
The hut door was unlocked. Selena pushed it gently, and we stepped inside.
The interior of the hut was like a miniature faded luxury resort: teak wood floors that still gleamed despite the dust, a king-size bed with slightly rumpled white sheets, a small leather sofa in the corner, a mahogany coffee table with a vase of dried flowers, a small crystal chandelier that had dimmed, and large windows facing the sea. Abstract beach paintings hung on the walls, and in the corner was a mini bar with several intact crystal glasses. The faint scent of wood and salt still lingered, as if the place had only been abandoned a few months ago.
Selena immediately looked very pleased. Her eyes sparkled like a child who had found a new toy.
"Wow… this is exactly like the private villas I used to rent for shoots! Look at the bed — it's so soft!"
She immediately climbed onto the bed, bouncing lightly on the soft mattress, then lay down dramatically, arms spread wide.
"Reno, come here! It's so soft! Like a cloud!"
I stood near the door, my face slightly flushed at the sight — Selena lying with her two-toned hair spread across the white sheets, her skirt slightly riding up from her movements. I quickly looked away, embarrassed.
"…No need. I just want to look around."
Selena laughed softly, then stretched more comfortably, her voice becoming softer, almost dreamy.
"Seeing this hut… reminds me of my past as an actress. Back then I always had to pretend. Playing someone else, having to look perfect without flaws. Smiling in front of the camera, but behind it… I just wanted to cry. I had to hide my real feelings, had to always be beautiful, always cheerful, always 'on'. That trauma is still with me even now. Sometimes I'm scared… if I stop acting, people will see how fragile I really am."
She paused for a moment, then looked at me with her two-toned eyes that suddenly looked very tired.
"Here… I don't have to keep acting, right? At least… for a little while."
In the quiet beach hut, only the faint sound of waves could be heard from outside the window. I stood stiffly, still feeling awkward after seeing Selena lie down on the soft bed. She finally sat on the edge of the mattress, her two-toned hair slightly messy, but her eyes were no longer cheerful — there was something deeper, more fragile.
I took a slow breath, then asked in a low voice.
"Why did you tell me all that? I mean… your past as an actress, that trauma… why tell me?"
Selena looked down for a moment, her fingers playing with the edge of the white sheet. When she lifted her face again, her smile had completely disappeared. Her voice was soft, almost trembling.
"Because I envy you, Reno."
I frowned, not understanding.
"Envy?"
"Yes," she said, her voice growing more emotional. "You can be yourself. You dare to fight everything even when everyone doubts you. During the trial yesterday… almost everyone accused you. Including me. I was so sure you were behind Yusuf's murder. I… I even almost voted for you. But you still stood. You didn't waver. You remained Reno — tough on the outside, but gentle on the inside. I… I can't do that. I always have to pretend. Always have to be 'beautiful Selena', 'cheerful Selena', 'perfect Selena'. If I stop… I'm scared people will see how empty and fragile I really am."
Tears began to well up in her two-toned eyes. She quickly wiped them away, but her voice remained broken.
"I'm tired, Reno. Tired of always having to act. Here… I feel like I can be myself a little. That's why I told you. Sorry if I burdened you."
I was silent for a moment, then slowly walked to the mini bar in the corner of the hut. I sat on the high stool, my hand touching the cold mahogany surface. My voice came out softly, full of burden.
"I'm not as brave as you think. Actually… I'm a coward. I also feel like everyone looks at me like that — like a failure, someone who can't be trusted. I don't want everyone to believe in me. Even… I don't believe in myself."
Selena looked at me, her eyebrows rising slightly.
"Why? Even though many seem to believe in you. Aulia, Adi… they always defend you."
I looked down, my hands clenching in my lap.
"Trust… takes lives. It makes me careless. It also makes others careless. Because of their trust in me, and my trust in myself… I once caused many people to die. Back then, in the refugee camp, many people believed in me. They said 'Reno can build a safe place.' But the building I made collapsed when the storm came. Many were buried under the rubble. I… I killed them with the 'hope' I built."
Selena was silent for a long time. Her beautiful face turned into a truly fragile expression, without the actress's mask.
"I… I'm sorry. I didn't know you carried such a heavy wound. I shouldn't have dug into your past."
I shook my head slowly, giving a faint, bitter smile.
"It's okay. At least… now we both know that behind each of our masks, we're all scared."
The atmosphere in the hut became awkward and silent. Only the sound of waves could be heard from outside.
Suddenly the hut door opened gently. Aulia entered, her hair slightly messy from the beach wind. She saw the two of us sitting in silence, then gave a small smile, as if she understood something had happened.
"Sorry to disturb you. But Rian already found something on the ship. You two should come see."
The three of us immediately walked to the small pier. Rian was standing on the deck of the old wooden ship, his hands dirty, his face full of concentration.
As soon as we boarded, Rian immediately explained.
"This ship can indeed move, even though it looks like an old wooden ship that only uses wind. But its control and mechanical systems… seem to be controlled from outside. There are signs of cables, hidden control panels behind the wood, and mechanisms that are too advanced for a normal ship. I don't know from where, who, or how it can be controlled from a distance."
Aulia drew the conclusion in a soft but firm voice.
"It seems there really is someone watching us on this island. This ship… was probably deliberately sent to bring us here."
Selena interrupted, her voice slightly nervous.
"Maybe it was MonoGaru."
Rian immediately denied it, shaking his head firmly.
"Impossible. There's no technology advanced enough to implant such crazy intelligence into a mere robot doll. This… is more than that."
I stood silently on the ship's deck, the sea wind blowing my work jacket. My mind grew more suspicious of everything. Most likely there was a mastermind behind this crazy game — someone watching us from the shadows of this island. Not just MonoGaru. There was a human behind it.
After the discovery at the secret beach and the brief discussion about the remotely controlled ship, the atmosphere among us felt heavier. One by one, people began to part ways again to their own activities. Rian returned to the underground room to try cracking the panels, Selena disappeared toward the dorm while holding her small mirror, and the others slowly vanished to various corners of the island.
The day drew closer to evening. The orange light began to fade, replaced by the usual gray that blanketed the Akademi sky. My stomach had been rumbling since earlier, so I decided to head to the cafeteria.
As I walked along the stone corridor lit by eternal torches, light footsteps sounded from behind. Aulia caught up with me.
"Reno," she called softly. "May I join you?"
I nodded. "Of course. Let's eat together in the cafeteria."
Aulia gave a small smile, but immediately shook her head gently, her eyes looking down for a moment.
"I… I probably won't join for the meal."
I stopped, frowning.
"Why? You must be hungry too."
Aulia looked down deeper, her hand gripping her batik scarf tighter, her voice soft and somewhat embarrassed.
"During the escape plan yesterday… I sacrificed my meal tickets for two days to supply goods. But… all that food sank in the sea when the big waves came. I don't have tickets left for the next few days."
I was shocked, my eyes widening.
"What have you been eating all this time?"
Aulia gave a faint smile, but it was extremely fragile.
"I've just been holding back. Sometimes eating a few coconuts I found on the beach. That's all. The water is enough to drink, the flesh to fill my stomach."
I immediately shook my head firmly, my voice resolute.
"I'll give you my tickets. Eat first today. Tomorrow I'll find another way."
Aulia immediately refused, her hand reaching out as if to stop me.
"I can't, Reno. I can't take what's yours. You need to eat too. I… I'm already used to holding back hunger. I often did that in the past too."
"I insist," I said, my voice softer but still firm. "You've sacrificed enough. Now it's my turn to help you. Don't refuse."
Aulia was about to argue again, her lips moving, but suddenly a cheerful, slightly mischievous voice came from behind us.
"Hey! What are you two doing? You look so serious, like you're debating the fate of the world!"
We both jumped in surprise. Zahra appeared from behind a small tree by the path, her hands full of black soil, her clothes dirty with mud and wild grass. Her work hat was crooked, but her smile was as wide as ever.
Aulia clutched her chest, her voice half annoyed, half relieved.
"Zahra! Don't scare us like that. I'm bad with surprises."
I also scolded her gently, though there was a small smile.
"Yeah. I almost had a heart attack."
Zahra only laughed wider, her hands patting her dirty clothes, trying to brush off the clinging soil.
"Sorry, sorry! Where did you two come from? You both look so tired."
Aulia answered in her gentle voice.
"We just came from the secret beach earlier. Examining the ship that brought Reno here."
Zahra raised an eyebrow, curious.
"And? Did you find anything?"
I answered briefly.
"The ship is controlled from a distance. And the hut on the beach looks nice, still usable for relaxing."
Zahra patted her soil-covered hands, then wiped her clothes.
"I was trying to plant seeds with Sinta in the small plot behind the dorm earlier. It just needs more work tomorrow. Reno, I still need your help to make a water channel from the well in the Sacred Forest. So the plants can grow well."
"I'll think about it again."
Zahra insisted, her voice fiery.
"It's important, you know! The plants can feed all of us here. Don't wait until we starve to realize. Full stomachs first, then we can think about the future!"
Suddenly Aulia's stomach growled loudly. She immediately blushed, her hand covering her stomach in embarrassment.
"Sorry…"
Zahra immediately laughed softly, but her eyes were full of concern.
"There, that's the example! I also overheard about Aulia's meal tickets running out. That's why I'll also give half of my meal to you today."
Aulia immediately shook her head, her face growing redder.
"I feel bad about that…"
I joined in.
"No need to overthink it. We help each other here."
Zahra nodded firmly, her soil-covered hand gently patting Aulia's shoulder.
"If a friend needs help, we help each other. That's all. I don't want to see you starving, Aulia. You're the one who always helps all of us with your words and patience. Now it's our turn to help you."
Aulia finally smiled, though still somewhat embarrassed. Her eyes were slightly teary.
"Thank you… both of you. I… I really don't know what to say."
The three of us walked together toward the cafeteria. Zahra walked in the middle, her hands still dirty with soil, enthusiastically telling stories about the seeds she had planted that morning with Sinta — how the soil was quite fertile, her hope that they could harvest vegetables in two weeks. Aulia walked beside her, occasionally laughing softly at Zahra's spirited stories. I walked on the other side, feeling a little lighter seeing the two of them.
Even though today was full of wounds and secrets, at least for now — we could still help each other, even if it was just about simple food.
The cafeteria was already starting to get crowded when we arrived. Some people were already sitting on the long benches, exchanging tickets with the automatic machine. The faint smell of fried rice and satay wafted, reminding us of the normal life that had long been lost.
Zahra immediately took out her ticket, smiling widely.
"Come on, let's order a lot today. So Aulia can eat well!"
Aulia smiled warmly, her eyes full of gratitude.
"Thank you… really."
We sat together on the long bench, warm food in front of us. For a moment, the atmosphere felt almost normal — like three ordinary teenagers having lunch after school.
-o-
The next morning came with the usual faint gray light, like always at Akademi Harapan. I woke up earlier than usual, my body still feeling sore after yesterday's long day. But the promise I made to Zahra last night couldn't be broken.
"You have to help me," she had said with a fiery smile, "we have to finish the garden today."
So, after a quick breakfast with my remaining tickets, I walked to the back of the dorm. The morning air was still cold, dew clinging to the wild grass growing between the stone cracks.
Zahra was already there, her clothes already dirty with soil even though it was still early morning. Beside her, Sinta was tidying her woven bag full of seeds and potions, while Dion stood in his captain's jacket, holding a small machete he had gotten from somewhere.
"Reno! You finally came!" Zahra waved with her soil-covered hand, her smile wide even though her face was already sweating. "I thought you were going to run away."
I scratched my head, smiling wryly.
"I already promised, what else can I do. Let's start. What do you want me to make first?"
Zahra immediately pointed toward the edge of the Sacred Forest visible from their garden.
"We need a water channel from the well in that forest to here. The soil is good, but very dry. Without enough water, the plants will die before they grow."
"I've prepared the seeds. Fruits and fast-harvest vegetables. But without enough water, everything will be useless." Sinta added.
Dion lifted his small machete.
"I'll help cut wood and bamboo for the channel. We'll connect them with strong fibers and roots so it doesn't leak in the middle."
I nodded and immediately sat on the ground, picking up a small twig to draw a simple blueprint on the damp soil.
"Like this… we make the main channel from the well to the garden. Use split bamboo as gutters, connect them with strong fibers so the water doesn't spill in the middle. The slope has to be right — too steep and the water flows too fast but wastes a lot, too gentle and it won't flow at all."
We immediately got to work shoulder to shoulder. Dion and I cut several bamboo stalks and hard wood at the edge of the forest. Thanks to the knowledge Yusuf had left behind — he used to often talk about plants and natural materials — we knew which wood was water-resistant and which root fibers were strong enough to tie them.
"Thank you, Yusuf…" Dion muttered softly as he tied the bamboo gutter with flexible root fibers. "You taught us about this before. This wood won't rot quickly, and the fibers are strong even when wet."
I only nodded, my chest feeling tight. "Yeah… he really was a good person, so fond of plants."
While the men were busy making the water channel, Zahra and Sinta worked in the garden. They arranged leftover wood and bamboo into a simple fence around the small plot, protecting it from small wild animals that might be on the island. Zahra moved quickly, her hands skillfully digging small ditches for the water to enter, while Sinta planted the seeds carefully, occasionally watering them with the growth potion she had made.
After the main water channel was finished, I stood up and wiped the sweat from my forehead.
"Now we need a simple pump so the water can rise to the higher gutters. I'll ask Rian for help."
I explained our needs. Rian nodded without many questions, immediately gathering whatever parts he could find — scrap iron, metal from the warehouse, small gears, and rubber hoses he had discovered.
"With this… I can make a simple manual pump. Using the principle of pressure and gears. No electricity needed, just hand power."
In less than an hour, Rian managed to assemble a small but functional pump. Rian, Dion, and I then carried the pump together toward the middle of the Sacred Forest, where the well was located.
Along the way, we chatted lightly about the forest itself.
"This Sacred Forest is really huge," Dion said while carrying the pump on his shoulder. "Very lush. The trees are tall, the leaves dense. But it's strange… even though there are many plants and trees with fruit, we don't know if they're safe to eat or not. Because we've lost Yusuf, who knew the most about plants, so we're a bit worried."
Rian nodded, his voice soft.
"Besides that, this island is in the Pacific Ocean, so it should have a tropical climate, right? There should be lots of animals or insects. But… there's almost none. Even birds don't fly around the island. It's so quiet."
I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
"Yeah… that's what I feel too. It's as if everything on this island has been removed, just for all of this."
When we reached the well, we immediately got to work. We installed the pump at the edge of the well, connecting a long pipe down until it touched the water. Rian activated it first — the pump creaked softly, then water began to rise through the pipe.
Dion and I immediately connected the pipe to the main water channel we had made earlier. Water flowed slowly but steadily toward the garden.
We returned to the garden with lighter steps. Zahra and Sinta were already waiting, their faces full of hope.
As soon as water started flowing into the small ditches in the garden, Zahra shouted with joy, her hands raised high.
"The water is flowing! Look! The plants will grow well now!"
Sinta smiled widely, her eyes slightly teary.
"Thank you… all of you. This… this is the small hope we made ourselves."
Zahra immediately hugged everyone who came — first Sinta, then Dion, Rian, and finally me. Her hug was strong and warm, even though her hands were full of soil. I felt awkward, my body stiff, but Zahra didn't care.
"Reno… thank you so much! You kept your promise. With this, we can secure our food source later. I promise… when we harvest, I'll cook delicious food from the vegetables and fruits we successfully grew. For everyone!"
I smiled faintly, though my cheeks felt a little warm from the hug.
"No need to thank me too much. We worked on it together."
Zahra released her hug, but her smile was still wide.
"Yeah, but you made the channel. Without you, the water wouldn't have reached here."
We all stood around the small garden. Water flowed slowly through the channel we had made, moistening the soil that Zahra and Sinta had prepared. The small green seedlings began to look fresher. For the first time since Vina's execution, we felt there was something we had built together — not just to survive, but to live.
After the small garden behind the dorm began to show signs of life, I cleaned the soil from my hands and walked toward the Main Building with Rian. My work jacket was still full of soil and grass stains from the garden earlier, my hands rough from cutting bamboo and tying fibers all morning.
Along the way, I asked Rian.
"Where did you see the others? Since morning I was busy in the garden, I didn't have time to talk to anyone."
Rian adjusted his glasses while walking.
"Since morning I was with Adi, Aulia, and Anya in that new room — the Archive Room. They're still busy reading the old documents. I saw Krisna go to the third floor alone, I don't know what for. Bima was wandering around the Main Building, but I don't know exactly where he went. Selena and Lira are most likely in the Entertainment Room."
I nodded slowly. "They're all still trying to find answers, huh…"
As we entered the Main Building and went up to the top room, Adi was already there. He was standing in front of a tall bookshelf, a thick book open in his hands. When he heard our footsteps, he turned and gave a faint smile.
"Reno, it's you."
Adi looked at my clothes covered in soil, raising an eyebrow.
"What have you been doing? Your clothes are full of mud."
I wiped my hands on my pants, smiling faintly.
"I helped Zahra and the others make a garden behind the dorm. The water channel is finished. We worked together this morning."
Rian added with a proud tone.
"According to Zahra, the garden might bear fruit in another week."
Adi was skeptical, shaking his head slowly while closing his book.
"Plants can't possibly bear fruit that quickly. It usually takes months."
Rian and I exchanged a glance, then nodded together.
"We said the same thing at first. But Zahra herself confirmed it. The seeds she got from here are special seeds — engineered seeds. I don't know what kind of research they came from, but she's sure the plants can grow and bear fruit much faster."
Adi smiled faintly, but his eyes were still full of doubt.
"If that's true, that's good. At least we have a small hope for food."
The two of us then went downstairs, heading to the Lab Room. There, Aulia was standing in front of one of the long tables, several notes and folders open in front of her. Rian immediately excused himself.
"I'll go to the Control Room first. There's still a panel I want to try cracking."
I nodded, then approached Aulia.
"Aulia, what are you doing?"
Aulia turned, wiping the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand.
"I'm trying to examine every note and research record from the researchers here. Even though most of it is heavily censored, I'm starting to understand little by little."
She pointed to several open documents.
"Here they tried to research several biological weapons with different effects. Some cause deadly diseases within days, some cause permanent disabilities, gases that kill animals and insects on a large scale, even liquids that can disrupt the human brain — making people lose their memory or become aggressive for no reason."
I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
"Isn't that very dangerous? What were they researching all this for?"
Aulia let out a long sigh, her voice soft but full of concern.
"It's not explained at all what for. But I'm sure… this island is a facility for a dangerous organization that deliberately spread destruction in various directions. Maybe they were behind the Double Disaster, or at least took advantage of it. All of this… is too organized to be a coincidence."
I was silent for a moment, staring at the scattered notes on the table. The smell of old paper and faded ink mixed with the faint chemical scent from the bottles on the shelves.
"…the more we dig, the deeper into the hole we go."
The two of us walked out of the lab together, until we arrived in front of the Archive Room. The iron door opened automatically. As soon as we entered, the atmosphere immediately felt different — colder, quieter, and heavier. The smell of old paper and faded ink filled the air.
In the middle of the room, Anya stood alone. She was focused on opening shelf after shelf with very careful movements. Her hands took a thick folder, opened it slowly, then copied the contents of the document with special ink she had made herself from a simple mixture. Her writing was neat, small, and used a simple encryption code that only she and a few people who understood could read — old symbols she had rearranged into irregular sequences of numbers and letters. After copying, she folded the thin paper very neatly, put it into a small waterproof envelope she had made from resistant paper, then hid it in a small archive box concealed inside her clothes. She even marked each envelope with a small symbol only she understood, like a secret map that wouldn't be damaged even if wet or burned. She repeated this method over and over, shelf by shelf, so the information wouldn't be lost or fade with time.
Aulia and I approached slowly. Aulia spoke first, her voice full of admiration but also concern.
"Anya… what have you managed to find?"
Anya didn't answer immediately. She finished one more document, folded it carefully, then stored it in a safe place before finally turning. Her face remained calm, but there was a deeper darkness in her eyes.
"I found many facts that… are very heavy," she said softly. "Many important people we thought were familiar — even those we thought were clean and innocent — were actually involved in crimes that can't be called light. All the names that were once considered sacred… apparently had been involved. Vina's family, for example, weren't just ordinary traders. They organized large-scale human trafficking after the tsunami, selling desperate people to warlords to be used as slave labor or worse. And Bima's syndicate… wasn't just ordinary dealers. They were the largest illegal weapons kingpins. The weapons they sold caused dozens of small wars on remote islands, thousands of people died in vain just because of the ambition for power."
Anya paused for a moment. Her voice, usually cold, now sounded heavier, almost trembling.
"I… found names that are even higher. Officials we thought had disappeared because of the disaster, actually deliberately disappeared after selling all international aid. Military generals who split the troops into factions to control territories. And many others…"
I felt my chest tighten. Aulia beside me gripped her batik scarf tightly, her eyes teary.
"Why were you silent earlier, Anya?" Aulia asked softly. "Is there something even heavier?"
Anya looked at the two of us for a long time. Her eyes, usually cynical, were now full of an unspoken burden. Her voice was soft, but every word felt like a stone pressing on the chest.
"The information I'm about to share… will be very heavy for everyone. I'm not ready to reveal it now. But when the time comes… I will reveal everything. All the sins hidden on this island."
She took a deep breath, then continued in a lower voice, almost like a will.
"If I die first… please open the information I have stored. I have organized it neatly. Everything is in a place only the two of you can find."
I frowned, my voice full of confusion and concern.
"Why us? Why not Adi or the others?"
Anya looked directly at me, her eyes unblinking.
"Because only the two of you can be trusted. I have read every archive in this room. Reno and Aulia… your sins are not as many as the others. The two of you still have relatively clean hearts among all this chaos. I don't trust the others. There are too many stains in their archives."
Aulia was silent, her eyes teary.
"Anya… you can't talk like that. You can't die first. We can all still survive together."
Anya smiled faintly, a cold smile but full of pain.
"I know the risks. But I won't stop. I will continue to be here, not moving at all, until I have recorded and stored all the archives safely. Because I will reveal them to the world someday… even if I don't survive. This truth is too big to be buried. And if I die… the two of you must continue it."
I looked at Aulia beside me. Her eyes met mine, full of the same concern. We knew… whatever Anya was storing, it wasn't just the past. It could be the key — or a bomb — that would blow everything apart.
Anya slowly closed one folder, then turned to Aulia. Her voice was cold as usual, but there was something sharp behind it — like a knife hidden under cloth.
"Aulia… may I ask you something?" Anya asked softly, her eyes narrowing behind her veil. "You were quite close with your own brother, right?"
Aulia frowned, her slender body tensing slightly. Her wavy black hair fell to cover part of her face, but I could see her usually calm eyes beginning to change.
"Why?" Aulia replied, her voice still calm, but with an unusual wary tone.
Anya shrugged lightly, as if reading an unimportant historical note. "It's nothing. It's just that… I'm sure your brother, Haris Vermana — the Ultimate Ideologist — never disappeared or died as the public was told. Everything was covered up. Most likely… he is still alive."
Those words fell like a stone into an empty well. Haris? Aulia's brother? I remembered Aulia had mentioned that name in the Main Building — the brother who disappeared since the disaster, whose ideology had become hope for many people. But this… was such shocking news even for me. The news of the disappearance of the revolutionary figure who had united everyone right after the country collapsed had been shocking enough. Until now his whereabouts were being searched for by many people, though not a few said he had died.
Aulia's eyes changed completely. What had been filled with empathy now sharpened like the tip of an ancient robot spear. She stepped forward quickly, her hand immediately grabbing Anya's collar and pulling her closer. Her batik scarf swayed roughly, her usually soft voice now full of restrained anger.
"What do you know about my brother?! Tell me everything! Right now!"
Anya didn't budge. Her face remained cold, cynical, even as her collar was pulled until the fabric wrinkled. Her voice was flat, without any fear.
"I don't know much. Only a few old notes I found in these archives. Notes that seem to have been deliberately hidden… about a big plan before the Double Disaster. But if you force me like this, I —"
I stepped forward as fast as I could and gently but firmly held Aulia's shoulder.
"Aulia… calm down first," I said, "She won't lie. Let go first. We can talk properly."
But Aulia turned to me with a sharp gaze — her idealist eyes that always looked for the good side of people now full of blazing fire. She slowly released Anya's collar, but her hands were still trembling.
"I have to know everything about my brother, Reno," she said firmly, her voice trembling even though she tried to hold it back. "I have to find him. No matter what happens. He… he is the only family I have left. If he is still alive… I have to know why he chose to disappear."
I was silent for a moment, my mind spinning like a broken gear in an old machine. Why was Aulia like this? She was always patient. But now… it was as if there was a crack in her that she had never shown. Trauma? A secret? Or was there something deeper, something she herself didn't want to admit? Maybe Aulia also had a similar wound. But I didn't dare ask now.
Anya calmly released Aulia's hand from her collar, her thin veil returning to neat. Her face was expressionless, but her eyes glinted like when she read fake historical notes.
"I will tell you anything about Haris Vermana, Aulia," she said coldly, full of firmness. "If I find it in these archives. I'm not lying. But now… I have to continue my work."
Aulia and I exchanged a quick glance. Her eyes were still sharp, but there was fragility behind them. I nodded slowly, then we left there heading to the last room.
The Control Room was darker than the others, the dim red neon lights flickering like a weak pulse. The large generator in the center of the room hummed lowly, thick pipes snaking like mechanical veins. Rian was already there, his hands dirty with oil, his thick glasses glinting under the red light. He was squatting in front of the main control panel, his fingers carefully touching cables and levers.
"Rian," I called softly. "Do you already understand its function?"
Rian looked up, smiling faintly even though his face was tired. "A little. I've been tinkering with this panel since earlier. It turns out it's not just ordinary switches. Everything is connected to the island's central system."
He took a scrap of paper from his vest pocket, then drew a simple circuit with a blunt pencil. I approached, our shoulders touching. His drawing was rough but clear — the island layout with cable lines connecting the Main Temple Zone, Sacred Forest, Stone Mountain, Ancient Harbor, all the way to the Trial location. Control buttons were listed there: Power Distribution to each zone and Masterkey to turn off the torches.
"If this is activated," Rian explained while pointing to the lines, "we can control the electricity flow to each zone. Turn off the torches, making the entire area pitch black. Or redirect power to a specific place at maximum. The question is how an island this small can supply power to every place without problems. The power being distributed is too stable."
Aulia approached, her eyes still sharp but now full of questions. Her batik scarf slipped slightly off her shoulder.
"How does this island have so much electricity?" she asked softly, her voice idealistic but full of suspicion. "We're in the middle of the open sea, and after the Double Disaster, it's impossible for there to be such a large energy source still intact."
Rian scratched his head, his glasses slightly askew. "I'm confused too. At first I thought it was wind or solar power — this island is open to the sea, strong winds, enough sunlight. But… there are no solar panels, no large wind turbines. The electricity output… is also huge. Almost the same as a small nuclear reactor, from what I calculated manually earlier. Very stable, never drops even though this island has been used for years."
He looked at the large generator with eyes full of curiosity, but also concern.
"I'm sure there's a hidden place deeper underground — inside this island. An electricity generator with unknown power. Maybe deeper than this bunker. Because… the power plant must use something unusual. Not solar, not wind. The big question is: what does it use? How does it work? And… who made it?"
I left the Control Room with heavy steps. Aulia was still standing at the doorway, her eyes staring blankly down the cold concrete corridor. Her mind was clearly no longer here — she was lost in the name of her brother that had suddenly appeared like a ghost from the past. Her batik scarf hung limply on her shoulder, her wavy black hair slightly messy from the bunker vent wind.
"Aulia…" I called softly.
She turned, smiling faintly, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. "Sorry, Reno. I… need a moment alone. My brother… if he really is still alive… I have to know why he never looked for me."
I nodded slowly. There was nothing I could say to comfort her now. "If you need to talk, just find me."
She nodded slightly, then turned and walked toward the dorm. Her steps were slower than usual, as if a new heavy burden had just been placed on her shoulders. I watched her until her back disappeared around the corridor corner, then let out a long sigh.
I decided not to return to the dorm immediately. My feet moved on their own toward the small garden beside the Main Building — an open area with short grass that was still green, neatly arranged small trees, and a stone fountain pond in the middle. The water was clear, flowing slowly without disturbing sound. This place felt too peaceful compared to the chaos in my head.
I sat on the stone bench by the pond, my work jacket full of soil stains from the garden earlier feeling heavy on my body. My rough hands rested on my knees, my eyes staring at the water reflecting the faint light of the eternal torches.
Today we had discovered too much.
The documents in the Archive Room — Vina's family name, Bima's syndicate, corruption of aid funds, human trafficking, illegal weapons. Everything was too neat, too complete, as if deliberately collected here for a purpose. Then the Lab Room with poisonous liquids similar to Sinta's failed potion, notes on biological weapons, deliberately created viruses. The generator in the Control Room producing power equivalent to a nuclear reactor without any visible energy source. The old wooden ship controlled from a distance. And now… Haris Vermana, Aulia's brother, who supposedly never died.
This island was built too perfectly. Explosion-resistant materials, eternal torches that never went out, automatic food systems, an underground bunker complete with secret archives. Why did an "Academy of Hope" need a biological weapons research facility? Why was there an archive room storing the sins of powerful people before the Double Disaster? Who had the access to build all this in the middle of the sea, after the country had completely collapsed?
The more I thought about it, the more convinced I became — there was someone orchestrating everything from behind the scenes. Not MonoGaru. That teddy bear doll was just a tool. The real mastermind was watching us from some place on this island, or even from outside. We weren't hope. We were lab rats in a giant laboratory called Akademi Harapan.
I rubbed my face with my hand. If this island had been designed from the beginning to destroy hope… rather than build it. We had all been trapped from the start.
Suddenly, the surface of the pond rippled gently.
"Pupupu~ You look like you're thinking about something heavy again, Reno Adi~"
That familiar flirtatious voice appeared out of nowhere. I immediately looked up. MonoGaru stood across the pond, its black-and-white split body slightly bent, its torn mechanical wings fluttering gently. Its red eyes glowed, its crooked smile wide like a crack in broken porcelain. It was holding a small rod with a string floating in the pond water, as if fishing for something.
"Why did you appear in front of me?" I asked harshly, my hands clenching in my lap. "You're the one who caused all this, right? You're the mastermind of the destruction. You're the one who brought us to this hellish island."
MonoGaru chuckled softly, its voice flirtatious but piercing. It raised one finger to its lips as if asking for silence.
"Wah~ Reno is so mean accusing me without evidence, you know~ I'm just your supervisor~ How could I be powerful enough to create a giant volcano eruption, chaos, trillions in corruption, and military coups? I'm just a cute bear with torn wings~"
I stood up slowly, my voice low and full of restrained anger. "Little by little the evidence will be revealed. Me and the others will definitely find out every truth behind this island. We won't play your crazy game. We won't kill each other like you want."
MonoGaru tilted its head, its red eyes blinking cutely. Suddenly its small bait caught something in the pond. With a quick movement, it lifted a still-living fish — its scales gleaming silver under the torch light, its tail flapping.
It casually threw the fish toward me. I caught it by reflex. The fish's body was slippery and warm in my palm. I froze.
A fish? In this pond?
I was absolutely certain this pond was empty. Even since we arrived on the island, I had never seen a single animal — birds, insects, fish, anything. The island felt dead. But now… there was a live fish in my hand.
"MonoGaru…" my voice trembled between shock and anger. "Where did this fish come from? There isn't a single animal on this island!"
MonoGaru giggled, its voice becoming more flirtatious and terrifying. Its torn wings creaked softly as it lightly jumped to the edge of the pond.
"Fufufu~ You're still so shallow, Reno Adi~ Young people's minds are indeed innocent, they need to be sharpened again and again to become sharp. This fish is just a small example~"
It jumped back a step, its smile widening until it looked like an even deeper crack.
"I will look forward to the next murder with great anticipation, okay~ Hopefully this time you guess the killer correctly… or everyone will die together~!"
Its flirtatious laughter echoed loudly in the small garden, growing more distant even though its body was still visible. Then, as usual, it vanished into the darkness, only the creaking of its mechanical wings echoing briefly before disappearing completely.
I stood silently by the pond, my right hand still holding the fish that was still weakly flapping. Water dripped from its scales onto the stone ground. My chest pounded hard, my head full of increasingly big questions.
This fish was real.
This island that should have been dead… still had secrets we didn't know. And MonoGaru… it knew exactly what I was thinking.
I looked at the fish in my hand once more, then released it back into the pond. The fish immediately swam to the bottom and disappeared among the shadows of the stones.
Then I sat back down on the stone bench by the pond, my right hand wet from the pond water I had used to release the fish back into it. I stared at the sun that was sinking lower, signaling that night was approaching.
I let out a long breath, leaning my back against the cold stone. My mind was still spinning — Haris Vermana, secret documents, the mysterious generator, and the island that was too insane to be called an "academy of hope".
Suddenly, from the hidden speakers in the Main Building walls, a soft voice floated gently through the night air.
"Under the cracked sky… we still sing… even though hope fades…"
That voice was Lira's. It sounded so beautiful. Soft, clear, as if it could heal wounds like she always said. I closed my eyes for a moment, letting the notes sink into my tight chest. For a moment, the burden on my shoulders felt lighter — like when I used to hear lullabies, before everything fell apart.
The speakers in the Main Building should have been tightly locked when night approached. Lira must have asked for help again. And the most likely ones to do it were Bima, who would do anything as long as it pleased her, plus Nova who could sabotage anything in a simple and clever way. The two of them must have cut cables or redirected the signal so Lira's song could be heard throughout the island. Granting her request, even if it violated MonoGaru's rules.
I smiled faintly, bitterly. Even in a place like this, there were still people willing to help each other, even if the request was so small. But behind the beauty of Lira's voice, I knew this was also a reminder — we were still trapped. A song that soothed the heart, but couldn't heal the cracks that were growing wider between us.
Light footsteps sounded from behind.
"Good evening, Reno…"
Selena appeared, her two-toned hair faintly sparkling under the torch light. She smiled cheerfully as usual, but the smile didn't reach her eyes that were always hard to read. She sat on the stone bench beside me, close enough that our shoulders almost touched. Her small mirror hung in her hand, slowly twirling.
"You're alone for once?" she asked softly, her voice playful but with a hidden note of tiredness. "I heard Lira's voice from the speaker. It must be Bima and Nova causing trouble again, right? They can't refuse Lira's request to sing at night."
I nodded slowly, not denying it. "Yeah. The three of them really…"
Selena laughed softly, but her laughter was short. She stared at the pond whose water was still rippling gently. "Her voice is really nice though. Sometimes I envy her. Just using her voice can unite people without having to pretend. Unlike me… who has to keep pretending."
We were silent for a moment. Lira's singing still floated softly from the speaker, its notes like a warm embrace in the cold night air.
"I still remember… what happened in the secret beach hut that time," I said softly, breaking the silence. "You said you were tired of always having to act. Always being 'beautiful Selena', 'cheerful Selena'. You're scared if you stop pretending, people will see how fragile you really are."
Selena twirled her small mirror more slowly. Her beautiful face paled slightly, but she still gave a faint smile — a smile trained by an actress.
"Yeah… I am scared, Reno. Back then outside, I had to be someone else every day. In front of the camera, in front of fans, even in front of my own family. If I cried, people said I was weak. If I got angry, people said I was dramatic. So I chose to pretend to be cheerful all the time. But here… in this crazy island… I'm starting to be scared if my mask slips. If all of you see the real me — a girl who just wants to survive, who doesn't have the courage to die for hope like you. Or the courage to act to escape, like Vina. I just… want to live. That's all."
She turned to me, her two-toned eyes slightly teary.
I looked at the pond water, Lira's voice still floating softly in the background. My chest felt tight again.
"I'm the same, Selena," I said honestly, my voice rough but soft. "But. I'm also scared of one thing. That the truth will kill us someday. Because the more we dig, the clearer it becomes that this island is not just an academy. A biological weapons research facility, archives of the country's sins, a generator that doesn't make sense… none of it makes sense. I myself am so sure that there is someone orchestrating everything from behind the scenes. Not MonoGaru. Someone watching us like rats in a lab. If all this is true… if the Double Disaster was also planned… then the hope we're holding is just an illusion. I'm scared… someday, we will all start killing each other not because of force, but because we have lost trust in each other."
Selena was silent for a moment. Her right hand stopped twirling the mirror. She gently touched the sleeve of my jacket, an unexpectedly warm touch.
"You're not alone, Reno. I'm scared too. But… at least tonight, we can still sit together, listen to Lira sing. Maybe that's enough for now."
I was about to reply, but suddenly —
All the lights went out.
The eternal torches across the entire island went out instantly. Lira's voice from the speaker cut off abruptly, like a cassette tape being cut. Total darkness swallowed everything. I couldn't see my own hand, let alone Selena's face beside me. Only the sound of our ragged breathing, and our hearts pounding in our chests.
"Selena…?" I called softly, my hand reaching out to the side by reflex.
"I… I'm here," she answered, her voice trembling. "Reno… what… what happened?"
"Why… did the lights suddenly go out?" I muttered loudly, my voice almost lost in my throat from shock. "Don't tell me… Rian touched something wrong when he was tinkering in the Control Room. If so, maybe that's what made all the lights go out!"
Selena beside me began to move restlessly.
"R-Reno… I can't see anything…" her voice trembled, her playful tone completely gone, replaced by pure fear. "It's so dark… I'm scared. And where is Rian? We have to find him…!"
I fumbled to the side, my fingers finally finding Selena's arm. Her skin was cold and trembling. Without saying much, I gripped her hand tightly.
"I'm holding your hand," I said firmly, even though my voice was also slightly shaky. "Don't let go. We should head to the Main Building immediately. Either to find out the cause or directly look for Rian and ask what he did earlier."
Selena nodded quickly, I felt her head nodding near my shoulder. "Yes… let's go."
We started walking in the pitch darkness. Nothing was visible — only intuition and rough memory of the stone path we usually took. Our feet touched short grass, then slippery stone, then back to hard ground. I led in front, my left hand reaching out to feel the air, my right hand gripping Selena's hand tightly. Occasionally she stumbled, and I immediately pulled her so she wouldn't fall.
We passed path after path, only following our rough memory of the route we usually took every day.
Suddenly —
BRUUUKKK!
A loud and terrifying sound echoed in front of us — the sound of a heavy object falling from a height, accompanied by the rough tearing of fabric, the cracking of bones like dry wood being smashed with a hammer, and the splash of thick liquid hitting the stone ground with a disgusting wet sound.
The two of us jerked violently. Selena let out a small scream and immediately clung tighter to me, almost hiding her entire face in my shoulder, her body trembling uncontrollably.
"What was that—?!" I shouted hoarsely, my voice almost lost in my throat from shock.
In the pitch darkness, I only managed to see a large shadow falling from above like a broken doll thrown in anger — from the direction of the boarded-up window on the highest floor of the Main Building. The object plunged quickly, then slammed into the stone ground in front of us with a deafening KRAAAKKK sound, followed by a horrifying wet sound as its body shattered on the hard surface. The air was immediately filled with the sharp, piercing smell of blood, mixed with the smell of wet soil and something worse — the smell of death that immediately made my stomach churn.
I stared in the direction of the sound with wide eyes, trying to pierce the thick darkness.
Then… I saw it.
The body of a girl lay unnaturally on the stone ground, her limbs twisted strangely like a doll stepped on by a giant foot. Her long straight black hair was disheveled and wet with blood flowing heavily from her cracked head. The thin veil that usually covered her face was now splattered with dark red that was almost black in the darkness. Blood flowed heavily from her nose, from her mouth, forming a pitch-black puddle that slowly seeped into the cracks in the stones, dripping slowly like an hourglass counting the final seconds.
Blood flowed heavily from her nose, from her mouth, forming a pitch-black puddle that slowly seeped into the cracks in the stones, dripping slowly like an hourglass counting the final seconds.
Anya Kurnia Putri. The Ultimate Historian.
She had jumped from the highest floor of the Main Building — and landed right in front of us in the most horrifying way.
I felt my breath stop completely. The world seemed to stop turning. The hand gripping Selena trembled violently, my knees almost gave way. Old trauma immediately surged — images of buildings collapsing, screams under rubble, blood that had once stuck to my hands. This… was too similar. Too real. This already cracked hope… seemed to have just cracked even deeper.
Beside me, Selena began to sob uncontrollably, her body trembling violently while clinging even tighter to me, almost as if she was afraid of letting go and falling into the same darkness.
"Reno… that… that's Anya… she… she fell… no… Anya… Anya!!!"
The darkness around us felt even thicker, as if the island itself was swallowing our screams, swallowing our hope, swallowing everything.
And in the distance, the sound of the generator in the underground room was still humming lowly — as if mocking us, as if saying that tonight had only just begun… and the worst was still to come.