Chapter 3 – The Spirits of the River

Every river in Indonesia carries more than water.
It carries memory — and something else that moves beneath the surface, unseen yet ever-present.

In many regions of Java, Sumatra, and Kalimantan, people believe that rivers are the dwelling places of spirits — guardians, messengers, or lost souls that never found their way home. Fishermen, villagers, and travelers tell countless stories of figures rising from the mist that floats above the water at dawn. Some appear as women in white, others as dark shadows gliding across the current.

There are places where locals still refuse to bathe or wash clothes after sunset. They say that the river belongs to “them” once night falls. Even the bravest men avoid whistling or laughing loudly near the water, fearing it might draw unwanted attention from the unseen.

In one village in Central Java, there is a story that has been passed down for generations. A young man went fishing at night despite repeated warnings. When he threw his line into the water, something pulled back — stronger than any fish could be. The rope tightened, and when he tried to cut it loose, a pale hand emerged from the river, gripping the line tightly. He ran, leaving his net behind. The next morning, the villagers found the net tangled in roots — and a single strand of long black hair caught between them.

Many say that such encounters are signs of penunggu sungai, the river guardians.
Some are protectors — ancient spirits watching over the balance of nature. Others, however, are cursed beings: souls of those who drowned, forever trapped between two worlds, reaching out for anyone who comes too close.

Even in modern times, rivers still take lives mysteriously. People slip, disappear, and are never found again. Locals whisper that the river “asked for something” that night — that the debt of the earth had to be repaid.

Those who live near the water know this truth well:
The river remembers.
It listens.
And when the world grows quiet, it begins to whisper back.

That is all for tonight’s story.
Stay curious — and share your thoughts in the comments below.
The next chapter of Those Who Walk at Midnight will be revealed next Friday night.