Chapter 13: The Awakening

That morning, Kluang looked as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened the night before.

The sky was clear, and the clouds drifted slowly. From a small hill on the edge of Mount Lambak, the five of them sat together, facing the city that was once again breathing. No sirens. No tremors. No green flashes. Just birdsong and the calm whisper of the wind.

"It still feels like a dream," Nico said, scooping up a bite of nasi lemak from a brown paper wrap. "Last night we were running like we were in a PS2 game, and today we’re having breakfast at a warung like it’s nothing."

Zara chuckled. "In PS2, you can restart after a game. Us? There's no restart."

Leaning against a tree, Liam held his phone. "We’ve got proof. Photos, recordings, files on the pen drive. But who’s gonna believe a bunch of college kids with a conspiracy theory?"

"We'll report it to a journalist," Risa said calmly. "But not yet. Let’s compile everything, write it clearly. If needed, Aiman can publish it in the school magazine."

Aiman nodded, holding a worn black folder. It contained the last of Dr. Johan’s notes from the lab. Questions still lingered. Why had the system remained active? Who reactivated it? And the one he couldn’t shake-what was Mokhtar’s real motive for stealing the data?

He looked up at the sky. “I used to think all this weird stuff only happened in movies. But now… I know reality is way stranger.”

Suddenly, Aiman’s phone buzzed. A new text.

Sender: Unknown

Message: You think it’s over? This is just the beginning.

His face changed. He showed it to the others.

Liam shook his head. "Who is this? Don’t tell me… The Watcher?"

Zara grabbed Aiman’s phone and reread the message.

Risa placed a hand on Aiman’s shoulder. "Whatever’s coming, we’ll face it together."

Aiman looked at each of his friends. Nico with sambal on his lips. Liam still glued to his phone. Zara gripping her water bottle like a weapon. And Risa, calm as always.

"I don’t know what’s waiting for us next. But one thing I’m sure of."

"What’s that?" Liam asked.

Aiman smiled.

"We didn’t come to Kluang to save the world. But it looks like… the world came to find us."