CHAPTER 2: MOUNT LAMBAK AND THE FIRST SIGNS

That morning, the sky over Kluang was clear. After a breakfast of toast and Milo at the homestay, the five students got ready for an outdoor activity organised by the conference committee. Today’s programme was a hike up Mount Lambak, a leisure activity considered a must for out-of-town visitors. As usual, Mr. Azmi delivered his briefing with the energy of a motivational speaker, though no one was truly paying attention.

“Our activity today is a hike, alright? Don’t mess around. Wear proper shoes, no flip-flops! Stick with your group, and... no wandering off on your own,” he instructed, adjusting his cap.

Liam nudged Aiman. “Feels like he’s giving a briefing for a Pokémon Go camping trip.”

Aiman smiled faintly. Zara shook her head. “This is not a video game.”

Risa didn’t speak much that morning. Her eyes were fixed on the peak of Mount Lambak. There was something in her gaze that caught Aiman’s attention.

“You okay?” Aiman asked as they checked their water bottles and supplies.

Risa answered softly, “This mountain… feels like it’s watching us.”

*****

The climb began around 9:30 a.m. The trail was a bit slippery from the rain the night before, but the clear weather helped. The air was fresh, filled with the scent of forest and damp earth. They moved in small groups, and naturally, the five of them were in one team.

“Whoever reaches the top first treats everyone to Mamee Monster!” shouted Nico, picking up his pace. Zara chased after him with a playful grin.

“Not fair! You started first!” she called out.

Liam, Aiman, and Risa hiked at a slower pace, soaking in the quiet stillness of the forest. Occasionally, the sounds of crickets and insects filled the air. But after about thirty minutes of hiking, something changed.

The once-clear sky was suddenly covered by dark clouds. A strong wind began to blow, and from the right side of the trail, a strange sound emerged. It was like an electric hum mixed with a metallic vibration.

“Are you hearing what I’m hearing?” Aiman asked, slowing down.

Liam nodded. “Sounds like… a generator? Who the heck puts a generator in the middle of a forest?”

They stopped for a moment. Risa crouched down, inspecting the forest floor. She found something–a torn piece of cloth stained with black oil, and a bundle of frayed wires.

“Looks like it came from some kind of electronic device,” Risa muttered.

Suddenly, between the trees, a greenish light began to blink slowly. The light pulsed, as if it were breathing. Aiman instinctively pulled out his small digital camera and snapped a photo.

Nico and Zara, who had started to descend after hearing the strange noise, joined them.

“I saw that thing just now,” said Nico, holding up his flip phone with its grainy VGA camera. “I recorded it from afar, but the video’s all blurry.”

“What is it?” Zara whispered.

“No idea. But I think we should follow that light,” Liam suggested.

Aiman shook his head. “We don’t know if it’s safe.”

“Which is exactly why we should find out. We came here for answers, didn’t we?” Risa replied, her tone firmer than usual.

In the end, they agreed to follow the light, cautiously. They veered off to the right of the main trail, pushing through some brush and small trees. As they got closer, the light began to dim… until it vanished completely, as if it had been sucked into the ground.

Before them now was a small clearing, strangely clean for a forest. It looked like someone had swept the leaves and tidied up the place. In the middle stood a large rectangular stone that resembled a door.

They fell silent.

Aiman stepped forward and tapped the surface of the stone. Suddenly, there was a click. The stone vibrated slightly and opened just a little, revealing a metallic structure underneath. But before they could react further, a voice echoed from Mr. Azmi’s walkie-talkie, which Zara had been carrying.

“All students are to return immediately to the assembly area. Hiking activities are suspended due to unstable weather conditions.”

They had no choice but to retreat, but Aiman managed to take a photo of the metal door before they left. On the way back down, no one said much. But their minds, especially Aiman’s, were already filled with questions.

That night, back at the homestay, Aiman transferred the photos to his computer. In the last photo he had taken before they left the clearing, there was a faint figure standing behind a tree. The figure wasn’t moving, but it was clearly watching them.

Aiman zoomed in.

The silhouette had a human shape. But something about it was... off.