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“Never dare to swim in the middle of the Bagendit River before Maghrib,” the village elders say. This saying is like a prohibition passed down through generations, but some people still disregard it and consider it a myth.
That night, Riki (I) was sitting with two of my friends, Sena and Joni, at the edge of a coffee shop not far from the Bagendit River. A gentle breeze carried a fishy aroma from the lake.
“Ah, it’s just a story our parents told us not to go into the river,” Sena said, lighting his cigarette. Smoke billowed, mixing with the cool night air.
Joni nudged his arm and whispered, “Don’t talk nonsense. I once heard a sound like someone crying coming from the middle of the river. It was a woman’s voice. Seriously, the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end.”
I remained silent, sipping my half-cold black coffee. Honestly, I believed such things. The Bagendit River has a long history; It's said that in the 1970s, a group of schoolchildren drowned there. Their bodies were found several days later, their faces apparently... changed.
Sena, naturally stubborn, suddenly stood up. "Come on. Tonight, we'll prove it. I'm going to cross the river by boat, so you all believe it's just a myth."
I instinctively grabbed his arm. "Are you crazy? It's almost nine o'clock, Sena. Even locals don't dare walk near the river at this hour."
Sena just laughed, "That's exactly it. So we won't be considered cowards in the future."
Joni looked hesitant. "Riki, what do you think? Come with me?"
I shook my head quickly. "I'll come with you, but not to cross. I just want to keep an eye out, in case anything happens."
Finally, the three of us walked to the small pier on the edge of the Bagendit River. Our footsteps were audible on the quiet path, accompanied only by the sound of crickets.
The river water looked pitch-black and calm, but it was precisely that calm that felt eerie. An old wooden boat was tied to the dock. The paint was peeling, and moss was clinging to its sides.
Sena untied the rope. “Look, this. It’s easy, right? I’ll go to the middle for a bit, then come back. Nothing.”
Joni whispered to me, “Riki, I swear I feel bad. Can you hear me? It sounds like there are voices coming from the water.”
I strained my ears. In the distance, I faintly heard a low voice, like someone whispering, “Go home… not here.”
I choked, “Sena, enough! Don’t continue!” But Sena had already pushed the boat and climbed aboard.
The boat began to move toward the center, propelled by her oars. Joni held my arm tightly. “Do you see? The water is rippling on its own.”
I stared intently. It was true. Even though the wind had died down, the surface of the water was making small waves, swirling around Sena’s boat.
“Sena! Turn back now!” I shouted.
But Sena just laughed, “I’m halfway there! It’s safe!”
Joni suddenly grabbed my arm tightly, his face pale. “Riki, do you see that? There… behind Sena’s boat!”
I squinted at the water. Faintly, I could see small ripples forming a circle. Then, slowly, something appeared, its long, jet-black hair covering its pale face, which was only partially visible. The head rose from the water, staring straight at Sena’s boat.
“Oh my God!” My voice choked, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end.
Joni nearly wet himself. “That… that’s a woman’s head!” Joni said, his legs trembling.
Unconsciously, I shouted loudly, “Sena! Turn back! Hurry up and turn back! SOMETHING’S COMING OUT OF THE WATER!!!”
Sena looked confused, looking left and right. “What?! I don’t see anything!” he exclaimed, panicked but still trying to laugh it off.
“Sena! I’m serious, turn back now!” Joni joined in the shouting, waving his hands.
However, Sena only became more confused. “Your voices are so low! You’re not speaking clearly! Don’t scare me!”
Meanwhile, the woman’s head became more visible. Her hair was dripping with water, her face was pale, and her eyes stared intently. Slowly, her body rose, as if she were walking underwater toward Sena’s boat.
“Oh my God… it’s getting closer!” Joni said, almost hysterically.
I joined in shouting at the top of my lungs, “SENA! QUICKLY, COME BACK!!!”
But Sena only glanced briefly, still seeing nothing. “What?! I didn’t,” he was cut off.
The old boat suddenly rocked violently, as if something had struck it from below. Thud! Thud! Thud! The water around the boat rippled, a small vortex appeared, shaking the boat until it capsized.
“WOOY! What is this?! Who’s rocking my boat?!” Sena screamed in panic, trying to grab the oars. But the oar slipped, swept away by the slight current.
The woman was right beside the boat. Her wet hair clung to her face, and her long, pale hands grasped the edge. Water dripped from her fingers, making a ticking sound that was clearly audible in the silent night.
“SENA! LET ME GO! LET ME GO!!!” Joni and I screamed at the same time. But strangely, Sena didn't see the woman there.
But it was too late. The boat shook even harder, as if something from the water was shaking it. “AAARGH! HELP! RIKI! JONI!” Sena screamed hysterically, trying to hold on, but her body was thrown.
With a loud BYUUUR!, she plunged into the water. Within seconds, her body felt like it was being pulled down by something invisible. Her voice was still faint, full of panic, “HELP! HELP ME! DON'T LET ME GO!”
Then… silence. The water returned to calm, as if nothing had happened. The boat floated upside down. And Sena sank under the current. In the distance, a faint sound of laughter could be heard from the middle of the river—women's laughter mixed with intermittent screams.
The river returned to calm. No eddies, no ripples. Just dark, silent water. The wooden boat floated upside down. Sena… gone.
Joni collapsed limply onto the pier, his face pale. "Riki... did you see that? That's really a human hand... but not a living one."
I was still trembling. "We have to report it to the locals. Right now," I said curtly. We ran helter-skelter from the pier.
Since that night, Sena body has never been found. People say his spirit has become one of the "guardians" of the Bagendit River. Legend has it that the laughter of a young man can sometimes be heard from the middle of the lake, as if mocking anyone who dares approach before sunset.
And to this day, every time I pass the Bagendit River at night, I get goosebumps. It's as if someone is calling softly from the water, "Riki, stay with me below."
The End.