The dense, silent forest came alive with the roar of luxury vehicle engines. That late afternoon, thirty families arrived at the newly developed residential area, a government initiative towards modernization. The project, named New City, was located far from the main town, deep in what was once a preserved forest. Its purpose was to help rural communities and establish an exclusive neighbourhood.
Merilton parked his vehicle in front of the three-story house that now belonged to them. The dim glow of the streetlights illuminated the house’s windows. Marlina stepped out of the car, carrying her beloved cat, Kelabu, a thick-furred grey feline. The cat, resembling a British Shorthair, had been rescued by Marlina when it was small enough to fit in her palm, found near a drain. Sitting calmly in its carrier, Kelabu seemed at ease, but Marlina couldn’t shake off the unsettling feeling the eerie atmosphere gave her.
“These houses are beautiful, but why does it feel so quiet and eerie?” Marlina asked, glancing at the neighbouring houses. Some homes had already turned on their lights, yet the surroundings remained unnervingly silent, no sounds of insects, birds, or nocturnal creatures. It was as if the wildlife had fled when development began.
“We just need to get used to it. Besides, this place is still new,” Merilton replied while unloading bags from the car. The stillness didn’t bother him, he preferred peace and quiet. His eyes wandered to the tall security fence at the back of the house, beyond which lay the dark, endless forest. The sturdy fence seemed sufficient to keep anything outside from getting in.
“Marlina, look at that house next door,” she whispered, tugging at her husband’s sleeve. They turned to the first house in the row, belonging to their neighbour, Tenuksia, as listed in the resident directory given to each family upon arrival. The house looked like the others, yet something felt off. Its windows were dark, like watching eyes. In the front yard stood wooden carvings, small statues, and scraps of red cloth hanging from a large tree in the centre.
“Nice decorations, but odd. It reminds me of that song Tie a Red Ribbon on the Old Oak Tree,” Merilton remarked casually, trying to lighten the mood.
“Odd or creepy? It feels like we’re being watched,” Marlina murmured, clutching Kelabu tightly. Suddenly, the cat let out a sharp meow, its fur standing on end. Marlina, startled, tried to calm it, but Kelabu remained fixated on Tenuksia’s house. Eventually, she let the cat be until it settled down.
From inside the house next door, a deep voice spoke. “Don’t let your cat enter my property. My child is allergic to cat fur. Oh this tree is called an old oak tree, just like in the song.”
The voice belonged to a tall, muscular man standing at the door, Gaja, Tenuksia’s husband. His piercing gaze lingered on the young couple.
“Oh, I see. I’ll make sure my cat doesn’t go near your yard. And yes, we know the song and the tree,” Merilton responded, signaling Marlina to remain polite. She simply nodded, holding Kelabu tightly. Without another word, they went inside their home.
Inside, Marlina couldn’t shake off the feeling of Gaja’s intense stare and the eerie presence of their neighbour’s yard. Kelabu, who usually played around, perched atop a cabinet, staring out the window toward Tenuksia’s house.
“Why won’t Kelabu stop looking at their house? We have other neighbours on the right, but it’s only fixated on their home. Merilton, I think something’s not right,” Marlina whispered.
Merilton shook his head, securing the doors and windows before bedtime.
That night, after unpacking, Marlina sat in the living room with a cup of tea in hand. Unpacking was quick since they had only brought personal belongings, Merilton had arranged for the house to be fully furnished beforehand. Kelabu rested on her lap, but its eyes never left the window. Curious, Marlina peered outside and gasped.
In Tenuksia’s yard stood a large black bird, possibly a raven, holding something shiny in its beak.
“Merilton, look! That bird—it’s carrying something!” she called to her husband, who was heading upstairs.
By the time Merilton looked, the bird had flown onto Tenuksia’s roof and disappeared.
“It’s probably just looking for food. Don’t let animals trick you, darling,” he reassured her.
But that night, Marlina couldn’t sleep. Strange sounds echoed outside, twigs snapping, the wind whispering, and occasional thuds. Kelabu, sleeping at the foot of the bed, suddenly stood up and let out a chilling meow.
“What is it now, Kelabu?” Marlina sat up, following the cat’s gaze toward the window.
In the dim moonlight, she saw a shadowy figure, a woman standing at their gate. Her long hair cascaded down her back, and she seemed to be holding something. But the poor street lighting made it impossible to see her face.
“Merilton! There’s someone outside!” Marlina shook her sleeping husband.
Merilton sprang up, rushing to the window. But when he looked, there was no one there.
“Marlina, are you sure? I don’t see anything.”
“I swear she was right there! Long hair, and she was holding something.”
“You’re just tired. Let’s sleep. We have a lot to do tomorrow, you still need to buy groceries since I haven’t had the chance. Our fridge is empty,” Merilton said, coaxing her back to bed.
Still, Marlina couldn’t erase the woman’s image from her mind. Who was she? A neighbour wanting to introduce herself? Or was it just her imagination?
She kept thinking about the mysterious woman until she finally drifted off to sleep, Kelabu nestled beside her.
The next morning, the neighbourhood remained eerily quiet. Marlina stepped outside to water her plants—ones Merilton had brought from their old home before the move. In the middle of the yard, she found a small twig with a piece of black cloth tied to it, giving off a foul odour. Her heart pounded, but she quickly tossed it into the trash.
Just as she turned to go inside, a rustling sound caught her attention. Looking up, she saw the same black bird staring straight at her, something shiny hanging from its beak.
“Oh, a bird with a strange hobby, collecting shiny things. I’ll name you Buyung,” Marlina chuckled.
She grabbed some glittering keychains from her handbag and placed them on the windowsill. In an instant, Buyung swooped down, snatching them before flying back to its nest, inside the roof of Tenuksia’s house.
Marlina watched the bird with fascination.