"Leave the car now and walk toward Mount Puntang to reach the Malabar Radio Station."
Isabel's breath quickened. Walk? Through the forest? At night? Danger lurked in every shadow. But there was no other choice.
"We have to go on foot from here," she whispered.
Raphael glanced at her, then silently pulled the car to the side and turned off the engine. They stepped out. The cold night wind greeted them, biting against their skin, ushering them into the first steps of a darker journey.
The outside world felt different, alive and watching. The trees loomed tall, whispering through the wind, their shadows stretching like silent witnesses. The damp soil beneath their boots reminded them that this night would be long, and unforgiving.
Raphael pulled his hoodie up, hiding part of his face, while Isabel tightened her jacket. They were alone, walking into a darkness neither fully understood.
The forest looked like a sleeping beast, its branches reaching out like claws. The night breeze carried faint murmurs, as if the forest itself breathed.
Isabel inhaled deeply, chest rising and falling, trying to steady herself. She frowned at the narrow path and muttered, half annoyed, "Ugh, this is ridiculous… I've never done anything like this before."
Raphael, walking a few steps behind, looked at her cautiously. The moonlight caught the sharp lines of his face, casting shadows that hinted at the man he used to be. "You've never done this before, have you?" he said quietly. "It's dangerous, Isabel. If you're unsure, you can wait in the car."
There was hesitation in his tone, as if he didn't quite trust her ability. But Isabel simply tilted her head up and smiled faintly, determination lighting her eyes. "No, I'm coming. I have to help them."
Her steps grew firmer as she moved forward into the forest. Raphael paused, surprised by her resolve. He realized he had underestimated her. A strange feeling stirred, something like respect… maybe admiration.
With a faint smile barely visible under the hood, Raphael followed. They walked side by side, the path ahead rising into darkness, as if leading them straight into the heart of a secret waiting to be uncovered.
In the damp underground chamber, Radit, Ethan, and Frans slowly regained consciousness. Their heads throbbed, necks aching, the remnants of drugs or a blow. The air was heavy, thick with the smell of rust and soil, making every breath feel suffocating.
A dim yellow light flickered from an old bulb, casting eerie shadows across the stone walls. Frans opened his eyes first, lids heavy. As his vision cleared, fear crept into his chest.
"Where… are we?" he rasped.
He tried to move, but thick ropes bound his wrists and ankles. His struggling only deepened the cuts.
Radit turned his head, breathing uneven. "Looks like we've been kidnapped." His tone was flat, but tension coiled within it.
Ethan, tied up in the corner, examined the ropes at his wrists. "Who did this?"
Radit let out a bitter grin. "If I'd known this would happen, I'd have finished the leftover tomahawk steak."
Frans clicked his tongue. "Seriously? Now?"
"Hey, we need calm. A little humor helps," Radit shot back.
Ethan sighed, eyes scanning the room for any chance of escape.
Meanwhile, Raphael and Isabel reached the foothills of Mount Puntang. A thin mist wove through the towering trees, creating illusions between shadows. The forest felt alive, watching. The cold wind pierced Isabel's jacket, making her shiver.
"Are there lions or tigers here?" she asked nervously, eyes darting around.
Raphael shook his head. "Big animals, probably not. But snakes… maybe. We don't know what's waiting."
They continued walking. In the distance, the ruins of the Malabar Radio Station came into view, an ancient structure standing solemn, its roof collapsed, its walls cracked and dusted with time. The remnants of an era long gone.
Isabel stared at it, her chest tightening with both fear and hope. She carefully opened the Tome Omnicent. A faint light pulsed from its pages, forming floating words above the worn parchment:
"Once you enter the underground, take the room on the left side of the corridor."
She swallowed hard, heart pounding. "Okay," she whispered, trying to steady her voice. "We need to go underground, find the corridor on the left, "
Raphael covered her mouth swiftly. His eyes sharpened. "Keep your voice down," he whispered.