Kunti's instincts felt bitten by something, there was a feeling of horror that spread on her back, a sweat dripped with a little fear, while her feet began to slowly retreat backwards.
The man was still standing, his thin smile that felt dark still radiated without stopping, his eyes were pitch black, empty.
Kunti turned to try to run, but suddenly her steps stopped as soon as the figure of the man was behind her. His smile broke out wide, his sharp teeth were visible... Horrifying.
Kunti jumped, she stepped back again, trying to get away. The man's hand reached out, holding Kunti's shoulder gently, but... It felt cold.
"Long time no see, my daughter, how are you?" He said softly and vaguely.
Her fear peaked, the corners of her eyes shed tears in despair, her knees weakened and fell.
And at that moment... A piece of memory... Faint, penetrating, her head throbbed, a scream of pain was shouted by Kunti, as the terrible feeling hit her head.
The man was silent, his gaze fell coldly, his eyes black, his expression flat without any expression at all.
"It seems true what she said, you can't remember anything."
The man's smile widened, and at that moment, his hand gently stroked Kunti's head, and in a soft giggle... Slowly it gripped her tightly.
Kunti was unable to react, her tears continued to fall, now she was staring at the terrifying face of the figure in front of her, dark... Cold and familiar.
"Well... Father just has to make you obedient again... Right? Father's beloved child?" He said in a tone that was played sweetly.
The poor girl's tears still didn't stop, the man crouched in front of her, looking at her with both hands supporting his cheeks, his thin smile was dark and... Cold, felt like it penetrated her soul.
"Come back home dear... Mother misses you... Father misses you."
His words were soft... Warm, but the look in his eyes... Different, black with an aura of thick darkness that made it suffocating.
BLARR!!
The man dodged a sudden attack, as soon as a puff of smoke began to thin... Tirta's figure was visible, his eyes were deep red, his horns tapered clearly, his claws looked sharper than swords.
"How dare you hurt Kunti!!!" Tirta said with a growl that sounded almost like a roar.
"You're disturbing, I just want to meet my child again."
Tirta's sharp teeth gritted hard, his emotions peaked.
"What kind of parent would hurt their child!!"
The man fell silent, then his hand rose... Holding his mouth that felt like it was about to explode. Then... Everything could not be held back, he laughed loudly, a laugh that felt like it was collapsing all the bones.
Tirta blinked, and in that short time, the figure of the man had disappeared, crouching back in front of Kunti while rubbing her head.
"My beloved father's child... You don't mind that, right?"
Kunti was pensive, her eyes continued to look down tremblingly. The rough and cold hand grabbed her chin, lifting it to see.
"Look at father's face, when father is talking to you."
It was not a suggestion, an absolute order, his face was flat, his eyes were round black, no expression... Only horror.
"Bastard!!!" Tirta screamed with a quick whip towards the man.
His claws tried to hurt him, but... They couldn't touch him at all, they went through.
His cold smile broke out, then slowly his body floated up.
"Kunti... Sooner or later you will return to us... Because you are our flesh and blood, hopefully we can be a harmonious family... Like before."
His body was swallowed by black mist, and in an instant, he seemed to disappear.
***
Loneliness accompanies... The day that should have been the turning point of Kunti's downfall, now makes her even more silent, pensive, and almost unable to speak.
For several days, all she did was stay silent, looking at the sun, then at night she stayed silent again at the window frame, staring at the moon.
Tirta too... He was always alone, feeling something big, the desire to tear himself apart, for his inability.
Astri couldn't get close, even with her mischievous aura and comforting him, she was silent... Just letting time bury the feelings inside them.
Tirta... Now walking in the city, during the day, where his body looked increasingly transparent.
His eyes were withered, dim, all the light... Gone.
"F-f-f-dad?" The voice came from another direction, with a broken voice and a messy mixed tone.
Tirta lazily turned his head, saw a small black lump... A contaminated spirit, a spirit that had been thrown away.
"So sad, huh, even though you're still young." Tirta said slowly and faintly.
He turned around, starting to walk away. The moment the cold air touched his palm, the small lump stretched out, stopping him from leaving.
"F-f-father."
Tirta clicked his tongue, then pulled his hand away tightly.
"Disgusting spirit, get away from me, I'm not your father!!"
Annoyance filled his heart, with quick steps he started to leave. He sighed again, when he found himself being followed by the spirit again.
"What do you want? I'm not your father!!" Tirta said in a slightly high tone.
"F-f-father?"
The lump of spirit did not obey, dangling back and holding Tirta's hand tightly.
"Huh... Whatever," Tirta said lazily.
Even though he said that... His heart felt warm, like holding a small hand that missed something.
He gave in to that feeling... Starting to walk wherever something would demand them.
Their journey continued, accompanied by the sound of vehicles... The hustle and bustle of the city, and human activity.
"Father?," the creature pointed with his body, in every direction they walked.
"Quite far, huh, if only you knew exactly where you wanted to go," said Tirta in a slightly annoyed tone.
The journey continued, twisting, turning, sometimes even returning to the previous path, with no clear direction.
Now the two of them sat freely on the road, Tirta stared at the lump of spirit silently beside him, unmoving, and speechless.
"Is this the place? You're no longer pointing in a direction."
Silence answered, Tirta could only be silent, looking at the night sky that was starting to turn orange.
Footsteps approached, a middle-aged figure appeared carrying a flower, crying... And placed it on the ground slowly.
"Forgive me, father, for not being able to protect you." He said.
Tirta was stunned, silent, motionless and speechless, then after a few prayers the middle-aged figure left again, moving away, not seen again.
"... Father."
The voice came from the dirty spirit lump, Tirta glanced, then sighed softly while scratching his head.
"I'll take you there."
With both hands, he took the spirit lump, then approached the flowers that were placed on the road just like that.
A small touch, a spark of light came, and the figure of the spirit lump... Became an innocent little child, without sin.
"Thank you, brother, thanks to you, I can meet my father again. Now I can rest in peace."
His body glowed weakly, then became mosaic pieces, flying into the air. Tirta was pensive, staring silently.
"Am I strong enough to protect Kunti? Why do I want to protect her so much?"