Kidnapping the General's Daughter

CHAPTER 5: The Midnight Run

Barra sat at the dining table, head bowed, staring at the untouched rice in front of him. His mother watched him with eyes full of pity.

"Bar, eat something. You can't keep locking yourself in your room like this," she said gently, nudging a spoon toward him.

Barra shook his head slowly, his voice nearly breaking. "I can't, Mom... Alma left me without a word. Suddenly she's unreachable, she's not at campus... I'm scared... The General has locked her up."

His mother let out a long sigh and sat beside him. "Son, sometimes parents make decisions we don't understand. But believe me, there is always a reason."

"What reason, Mom? Why did she have to disappear like that?!" Barra let out a desperate groan, running his trembling hands through his hair. "Why didn't she talk to me?"

Before his mother could answer, there was a faint knock at the door. They looked at each other, confused and wary. When the door opened, Barra's body went rigid. Alma was standing on the threshold. Her face was pale, her eyes swollen, and she was panting as if she had just run a great distance.

"Alma..." Barra's voice caught, half in disbelief.

Alma immediately threw herself into his arms. Sobs broke out, uncontrollable. "Papa... he won't give us his blessing."

Barra stiffened. "Why? What's the reason?"

Alma only shook her head, her fingers repeatedly wiping away the tears. "Sit down first, Al." Barra's mother guided her to the table. "Drink this. Calm yourself," she said softly.

"I don't want us to break up, Bar..." Alma stammered.

"Neither do I, Al... Why did your father suddenly change?"

Alma held her breath, then whispered shakily, "Papa... Papa has already arranged a match for me. The son of his friend, another General. I refused, but he was furious... I escaped secretly. I'm afraid he'll lock me in the house. I want to go far away. I don't want to go back."

"Where do you want to go, Al?" Barra asked, bewildered.

"Let's just go, Bar. Anywhere. I trust you."

Barra stood paralyzed. "But..."

"Go, Barra..." His mother's voice made him snap his head around. "Go to your grandfather's house in Jogja until things settle down."

"I'm sure if I leave, Papa will give in," Alma said with hope.

Barra looked at his mother, then at Alma. He finally nodded. He gripped Alma's hand tighter. That night, his fear remained, but his determination began to overshadow everything.

***

Pasar Senen Station that night was a chaotic symphony of noise. For Barra, the chaos felt suffocating. Every announcement echoing through the station rafters sounded like a sentence being passed. He kept glancing over his shoulder, he felt like a high-profile fugitive.

They took the Economy Class train to stay under the radar. As they stepped into the carriage, the blast of the air conditioner hit them, but it did little to ease the tension. Even with the AC running, the air felt thick because the carriage was packed to capacity.

Barra busied himself stowing their bags, his hands trembling. He turned to Alma to apologize for the discomfort. But he stopped short. Alma was already settled, her face pressed against the window. She didn't mind the cramped quarters. For a General's daughter, this crowded, air-conditioned carriage was the ultimate symbol of her freedom.

"Are you okay with Economy like this, Al? It's going to be a long, stiff night," Barra whispered.

Alma turned, her smile so genuine it finally allowed Barra to breathe. "Bar, this is the first time I've ever traveled without Papa's people controlling everything. This is perfect."

The train lurched forward with a violent jerk. Already eight hours into the journey, Barra had barely closed his eyes. He enjoyed every vibration of the train cutting through the southern track.

***

Yogyakarta, Central Java

Dawn had already broken by the time they stepped onto the platform of Tugu Station. Even at this early hour, the station was pulsing with energy-filled with tourists dragging rolling suitcases and ride-hailing drivers staring intently at their smartphones. The aesthetic streetlights of Yogyakarta were still glowing, a sharp contrast to the deep blue sky turning bright.

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee from modern kiosks inside the station mingled with the distinct metallic scent of the tracks. The sound of Gamelan music, played through digital speakers, offered a traditional touch amidst the city's modern bustle.

Barra led Alma toward the exit. Yogyakarta was no longer the quiet town of the past, but for Alma, everything felt brand new. She couldn't stop smiling, her eyes sparkling as she took in every corner of the street.

"Want to take a Becak, Al? There are plenty of ride-hailing cars if you prefer the AC," Barra offered.

Alma shook her head quickly, heading straight for one of the becak, a traditional cycle rickshaws parked nearby. "Let's take this, Bar! I want to feel the breeze and hear the sounds of the city properly," she said excitedly.

It wasn't that Alma had never seen a Becak before, but sitting in an open-air of becak without a single bodyguard in sight, she was like a child discovering a new playground. She took deep breaths of the morning air, pointing at the colonial buildings along Malioboro with genuine enthusiasm.

But beneath Alma's joy, Barra remained vigilant. He knew that within this modern, crowded city, CCTV cameras were everywhere, and General Bratha Yudistira's digital reach could track them down at any moment.

***

That afternoon, in the quiet of his grandfather's house on the outskirts of the city, Barra had just finished a call with his mother when he heard sobbing from inside the room. He found Alma crying.

"I don't want to go back, Bar," she sobbed.

"Did your father call?" Barra approached, uneasy.

Alma shook her head. "Mama called. Papa is still overseas, but Mama said Papa is demanding I come home, or he'll send people to find me."

"Does your mother know I'm with you?"

"I told her I went alone. I said I'd only come back if they blessed us." Alma looked at him desperately. "Mama supports me. She wants me to come home first so she can persuade Papa. But I'm not sure, Bar. If I go back, we'll never see each other again."

"Calm down. We'll find a way." Barra gently rubbed her shoulder.

But Barra couldn't hide his own anxiety. He was terrified that Alma's parents would track down his home in Jakarta and put pressure on his mother.