LOGINOn the way to vacationing, Ava and Anna get stuck on the road and encounter a strange man. This man, Beck, offers to shelter them as it was dangerous to be where they were with no contact to the world for help.During their stay, Beck tells Ava and Anna a story, which they believe to be fictitious. However, while preparing to get back on the road, tragedy strikes, making them realize the story wasn't fiction and there was even more to it than they were told. Now, they all have to deal with the partially broken curse of an unknown ghost town and his malevolent dead wife.
View MoreTubuh Bella telentang di atas ranjang, bersinar keemasan diterpa lampu tidur. Kulitnya halus, lembap, dada naik-turun, titik kecil di tengah dadanya mengeras oleh udara dingin dan hasrat yang belum tersalurkan. Rambut panjangnya menjuntai di bantal seperti aliran tinta di kanvas. Kaki terbuka lebar, mengundang.
Indra ada di atasnya, telanjang, berkeringat. Tapi tidak panas karena gairah. Justru… karena panik. Ia menekan pinggulnya perlahan. Tubuhnya ingin bergerak. Bella menggigit bibir, bersiap menyambut. Tapi… Miliknya lemas. Sekali lagi. Bella membuka mata. Tatapannya turun ke bawah tubuh Indra, lalu kembali ke wajahnya. “Astaga… lagi?” Indra menunduk. “Maaf…” Kata itu begitu sering keluar, sampai rasanya hambar. Ia berguling ke samping, membelakangi istrinya, mencoba menyembunyikan wajah. Bella menarik napas panjang. “Indra… Aku udah panas banget barusan.” Ia tak menjawab. Tubuhnya tegang, bukan karena syahwat, tapi karena malu. Bella mendengus. “Ck! Pantas aja bukumu nggak laku.” Indra menahan napas. Ucapan itu menusuk lebih dari sekadar ejekan. “Isinya cuma omong kosong soal pria jantan yang bisa bikin wanita jerit tiap malam. Nyatanya, penulisnya sendiri nggak bisa bikin istrinya basah.” Ia tahu Bella tidak asal bicara. Indra dulunya penulis buku erotis. Judul-judulnya laris di toko daring, isinya dipenuhi pria perkasa, tahan lama, jago membaca tubuh perempuan. Tapi itu dulu. Sekarang? Tak satu pun dari fiksi itu tercermin di dirinya. Ia bahkan tak sanggup bertahan dua menit. Ironisnya, makin parah performanya, makin turun pula angka penjualan. Seolah pasar tahu: semua kejantanan itu cuma khayalan. Ia sudah coba semuanya—obat kuat, ramuan herbal, sampai video panas—tapi tetap saja, saat Bella membuka kaki, tubuhnya malah layu. Dan Bella? Semakin hari semakin tak sabar. Semakin tajam. Semakin kehilangan respek. “Penulis cerita seks,” gumam Bella, berdiri dari ranjang. “Tapi kalah sama mainan plastik.” Bella melangkah ke arah laci, dada bergoyang pelan. Ia membuka laci, mengambil alat ungu berkilau yang kini lebih sering menyentuhnya daripada tangan suaminya sendiri. “Kalau kau nggak bisa menyelesaikan, biar dia saja yang ambil alih,” ucap Bella datar. Ia kembali ke ranjang. Tanpa malu. Tanpa basa-basi. Tubuhnya menyandarkan diri ke dinding, kakinya terbuka, dan getaran halus dari vibrator mulai mengisi kamar. Bzzzt. Tangannya lihai. Jari telunjuknya meluncur ke antara pahanya, mengarahkan alat itu tepat ke pusat gelombang hasrat. Nafasnya mulai memburu. Dada naik turun. Pinggulnya bergerak perlahan. “Ahh…” Indra tidak bisa tidak menatap. Tapi semakin dia lihat, semakin ia merasa seperti sampah. Tak ada yang lebih menghina harga diri pria daripada melihat istrimu mendesah puas oleh benda elektronik—sementara dia hanya bisa terbaring, gagal, seperti boneka rusak. Bella menegang. Tubuhnya melengkung. Rahangnya terbuka sedikit, suara tertahan. Lalu hening. Satu menit. Dua. Ia selesai. Ia meletakkan alat itu di meja samping, bangkit pelan dan mengambil tisu. Tanpa memandang Indra, ia berkata, “Aku bisa gila kalau ini terus berlanjut. Setidaknya satu dari dua harus kau penuhi: uang atau kepuasan.” Indra menggenggam selimut. Telinganya panas. “Aku… akan cari cara lagi.” Bella menoleh. “Kau sudah coba semuanya. Jus entah apa, film biru, bahkan hipnoterapi. Gagal semua. Aku bosan lihat kau ngotot pakai cara aneh. Sekarang dengar aku—ke dokter.” Indra memejamkan mata. Membayangkan dirinya menceritakan masalah ini ke orang asing, membuka celana, diperiksa seperti pasien impotensi tanpa harapan. “Harga dirimu udah jatuh, Ndra. Kau cuma belum sadar,” lanjut Bella, tajam. Ia mengambil baju tidur dan masuk ke kamar mandi. Bunyi air menyala. Indra berguling ke samping, menatap alat getar itu di meja. Alat kecil itu… sudah tiga kali lebih memuaskan Bella dalam seminggu terakhir. Sementara dirinya? Tak satu pun. Malam itu, Indra tidak tidur. Ia menyalakan ponsel dan membuka halaman demi halaman pencarian. Sampai akhirnya ia melihat satu link mencolok: KLINIK VITALITAS LELAKI – Terapi Langsung, Bukan Obat, Hasil Terbukti. Dokter Wanita Berpengalaman. Testimoni di bawahnya seperti ditulis oleh pria-pria yang hampir bunuh diri, lalu kembali jadi alfa. Semua menyebut satu hal: Dokter Salsa. Namanya misterius. Ulasannya konsisten. Indra tak tahu kenapa, tapi tangannya mengklik. *** Keesokan harinya… Indra berdiri ragu di depan bangunan tua di pinggiran kota. Catnya kusam, jendelanya buram, dan di halaman hanya tumbuh semak liar serta pohon besar yang menaungi nyaris seluruh fasad. Klinik? Dari luar, tempat ini lebih mirip rumah terbengkalai yang cocok jadi lokasi syuting film horor dibanding pusat pengobatan. Papan namanya kecil, nyaris tak terlihat: “Klinik Vitalitas Lelaki – dr. Salsa” “Kenapa sepi sekali?” gumam Indra, melirik ke sekeliling. “Kemana pasiennya yang katanya ribuan itu?” Ia menarik napas. Tangannya menyentuh gagang pintu kaca. Kriet. Deritnya nyaring, mengiris udara pagi yang sunyi. Saat pintu terbuka, aroma kayu tua dan bunga kering langsung menyeruak. Tidak ada suara. Tidak ada langkah. Tidak ada antrean. Dan tiba-tiba… “Selamat datang.” Suara serak terdengar dari balik meja tinggi. Indra nyaris tersentak mundur. Bukan perawat muda dengan seragam ketat seperti di bayangannya—melainkan seorang wanita tua, rambutnya putih disanggul, wajahnya seperti guru matematika dari neraka. Indra menelan ludah. “Tempat ini benar-benar horror…” Matanya menangkap bagaimana tatapan si nenek langsung turun ke arah bawah perutnya—terang-terangan, tanpa sopan santun. Tatapan itu seperti menilai potensi… atau kerusakan. “Saya antar langsung ke ruang dokter.” Tanpa konfirmasi data. Tanpa tanya nama. Ia langsung berbalik. Indra mengikuti, seolah terhipnotis. Langkah mereka menyusuri lorong sempit yang pencahayaannya remang. Jantungnya berdebar tak karuan, antara takut dan penasaran. “Dokter, ada pasien baru...” Tirai terbuka. Sosok wanita itu muncul dari balik ruangan. Rambutnya panjang, hitam, dan bergelombang jatuh di bahu. Kulit wajahnya bersih, riasannya tipis, hanya mempertegas bentuk alis dan bibirnya yang penuh. Bibirnya merah alami, basah, dan tampak lembap. Tatapannya langsung menusuk—dingin tapi intens. Jas dokter putih melayang terbuka, memperlihatkan tubuh yang sangat tak biasa untuk profesinya. Di baliknya, kemeja putih ketat menempel rapat pada dua bukit dada besar yang hampir tumpah keluar. Dua kancing teratas terbuka, membiarkan belahan dadanya terlihat jelas. Bukan sekadar mengintip—tapi menyambut mata siapa pun yang berani menatap. Rok span abu-abu tinggi menyatu dengan pinggulnya yang ramping dan padat. Kakinya jenjang, mulus, dan ditopang oleh heels hitam berkilau yang membuat setiap langkahnya terdengar mantap di lantai. Indra terdiam. Jantungnya memompa keras. Untuk pertama kalinya setelah berbulan-bulan, ada gerakan nyata di bawah perutnya. Spontan. “Selamat pagi,” ucap wanita itu dengan nada rendah dan tenang. “Saya dr. Salsa.” Indra berdiri kaku. “I… Indra.” “Santai saja,” katanya sambil tersenyum singkat. “Silakan duduk.” Indra menuruti. Tangannya terasa dingin. Nafasnya pendek-pendek. Salsa berjalan pelan menghampirinya. Tumitnya mengetuk lantai tiap langkah. Tatapannya mengarah ke wajah Indra… lalu turun. Matanya menelusuri bagian dada, lalu perut, lalu berhenti di pangkal paha. Ia tidak berpaling. “Masalah ereksi?” tanyanya tenang. Indra mengangguk cepat. “Iya. Belakangan… gak bisa keras, bahkan kalau sudah coba macam-macam.” Salsa tetap diam, hanya menatapnya. Lalu ia mendekat. Sangat dekat. Tangannya terulur. Ia menelusuri bagian jasnya, lalu menyentuh kerah Indra, merapikannya sedikit—kontak ringan yang tak berarti apa pun secara medis, tapi membuat tubuh Indra menegang. Napas Salsa terasa di wajahnya. Aroma parfumnya hangat dan tajam, seperti vanila bercampur kulit panas. “Kalau kau ingin hasil cepat,” bisiknya, “aku perlu lihat langsung kondisi dasarnya.” Ia melangkah ke arah pintu. Tanpa bicara. Klik. Pintu dikunci dari dalam. Salsa menoleh lagi. Tatapannya tak berubah. “Bukalah celanamu. Kita mulai sekarang.”AVAAva raised her head and opened her eyes. She removed her hands off Anna and Bruce while looking in the direction where Sara, Beck, and Annika were.Sara was seated on the ground at their heads in a meditation style. Getting close to her, she noticed her face was scrunched up.The sound of faint voices caused Ava to look around. Some of the people were already on their feet holding and murmuring to each other while others were getting up as they looked around.Ava joined in looking around to see a messy environment. Pieces of paper and plastics, that looked like were trash littered the area. There were also tree parts littered: leaves, branches. As she turned around, observing, she finally settled her eyes on Dylan. He was taking pictures of the environment with his camera. She frowned: displeased that he was still going on about his story.Then she turned to face her siblings.J
AVAAva, who was seated on the bed beside Beck, looked away from the dark sky through the window, glancing at him. Anna had said this was the room she slept in when she was brought for the ritual.As Ava watched him take his rest after the fight with Annika, several thoughts ran through her mind: she wondered why the universe let her car stop at that point on the road. If they hadn’t stopped, she and Anna would be planning how much fun they’d have in the second and last week of their spring vacation.She also thought that she wouldn’t have met Beck if they’d never been stranded. She knew she had only known him for a week but the effect he had on her has never been like any of the guys she had a crush on or dated. There was something special about him, she knew that, nonetheless she couldn’t tell what it was or why she was so attracted to him.She was supposed to be upset with him for his deceit and his recent atroci
AVAShe wanted to be with him at the moment, and yet she didn’t want that. She would seem desperate and weak if she ventured into his arms instead of strong and upset, which she was supposed to be.Ava had tussled on the bed, over and over since she and Anna retired to bed, thinking of being with Beck just like those nights when Anna was missing. Then she thought of his soothing voice whenever he comforted her. She needed to hear that voice; she needed that assurance that by the following day she and her siblings would go back to their normal lives.She got up, feeling that it was better she was yearning for him and not mad at him. After all, he had a good reason to have lied.As she got to the door of his room, she felt a hand cover her nose and mouth while a sharp blade was placed at her neck. Before she could muffle or tug at the hand on her face, a man whispered, “Make a noise and you’re gone,” in her ears. Then
BECKThe ride back to Strangeville was deadly silent. The radio of Ava’s car wasn’t even on and that made the atmosphere in the vehicle more awkward that it was supposed to be.Beck could still feel bad energy coming from Bruce. The young man, even as he drove, had been upset with him, and even though he knew why he felt it was uncalled for.He was grateful that Strangeville was not so far from Knightdale as it was about half an hour when Bruce got to the very spot Beck first met his sisters. They had to take a walk towards the town as there weren’t modern roads leading to it.They went to Beck’s house and settled in, barely talking to each other. Ava and Anna retired to the room Ava once used, while Bruce took that of Anna. Sara had gone to her place to prepare for the ritual, though she was unsure if the townspeople would participate or not. It would take a lot of convincing, especially now that the outside world
AVA“Beck, wait!” Ava said, stopping him from leaving, which would haunt her for a very long time. She knew that people would say she was stupid for trying to be a hero, but she couldn’t help it; she loved helping people.She stepped in front of Beck. “Don’t go.”“Ava,” Bruce said, “don’t tell me you gave in to his sob story. That’s what guys do to get what they want.”She glanced behind Beck, eyeing Bruce. “Bruce, shut up.”She looked back at Beck. “Look, I’m still mad at you, but I can’t let you leave like this. I remember telling you I would help you start fresh; I’m not going back on my word. We’ll help you with the Annika situation.”“We?” exclaimed Anna and Bruce.“Yes, we,” she said firmly,
BECKSince Ava had been allegedly attacked by Annika, Beck had tried to be by her side as much as he could. That was impossible as Bruce wouldn’t let him to get close to her. Then there was the fact that guilt couldn’t let him show his face to her.Why did Annika have to ruin his life? Her death should have been his chance of freedom. However, it imprisoned in the worse way he could ever imagine. He had finally found a woman he was sure he could love if they had the time to build their relationship and hopefully start life afresh with, but Annika’s haunting was going to cost him his chance at love and freedom.Right after Dr. Bernard left Ava’s ward, after she’d discussed with him that she needed to be with her sister for an hour and didn’t want any disturbance, he lied beside her on her hospital bed, reading to her the novel Bruce had gotten for her from home.Tho
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