Page 16 - JEJAK ENIGMA

Chapter 8: Hostages and Hard Choices

The five friends now stood before five different corridors, each marked with a distinct
symbol above it. The atmosphere was tense and silent, as if the city itself awaited their
decision.
“We part ways here,” said Nayla, clutching the pendant her mother had given her. “Whatever
happens, we have to trust each other.”

They separated—each entering their respective corridor.

Corridor of Courage (Farel)
Farel stepped into a passage bathed in dim red light. The walls around him showed scenes
from his past—moments when he feared speaking in public, when he ran away from
responsibility.
“If you're a coward, turn back,” a mysterious voice echoed.
Farel clenched his fists. “I'm here because I want to change.”
Flames roared across the final path. Without hesitation, Farel leapt through the illusionary fire
and found a red crystal. Inside it, his own face was reflected—brave.

Corridor of Honesty (Tiara)
Tiara walked through a corridor filled with mirrors. Her own voice echoed from every
direction:
“Why do you always hide your feelings?”
“Why do you pretend to be strong?”
Her hands trembled. She remembered her childhood—constantly pretending to be happy so
as not to burden her family.
One final mirror appeared—reflecting her tearful self.
“This is your true self,” whispered the voice. “Accept it.”
With tears falling, Tiara touched the mirror. It cracked, revealing a blue crystal—Honesty.

Corridor of Loyalty (Raka)
Raka limped into a dark corridor. Shadows of his friends appeared.
“Are you sure you're reliable, Raka?”
“Haven’t you always wanted to give up?”
Suddenly, the ground beneath him cracked. Raka fell and faced a choice: save himself or pull
a rope that would rescue an unknown figure.
Struggling, he chose to pull the rope. A young child appeared and smiled, then vanished—
leaving behind a golden crystal—Loyalty.

Corridor of Knowledge (Gilang)
Gilang’s corridor looked like a library, but all the books were blank. A riddle glowed on the
wall:
“What’s the point of knowing, if you refuse to learn?”
Gilang stood still. He had always been smart, but arrogant.
“Knowledge isn't for pride... it’s for service,” he muttered.