7 Days with God

By Tony Tanglei

Embrace seclusion in a breathtaking villa for a seven-day 'purification' quarantine—a passage to a celestial island resort off Bali's coast. Immerse yourself in this secluded haven, where sun-kissed mornings and gentle sea breezes rejuvenate. Delight in the enigmatic hosts' gastronomic offerings—refreshing juices and delectable seafood delicacies add luxury to your stay. Be captivated by the Maya blue ocean, sun-bleached green forests, and the pink carnation sky.

But beware the lurking shadow beneath your villa's locked door. An ethereal and primeval menace slumbers, patient in its malevolence...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tony Tanglei
• Release date: Sep 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223775850

Book preview

CHAPTER 1 An Arkansaurus in Bali

HELLISHLY HOT! That was Jane Milaca's first impression since she landed outside a private gate at the Ngurah international airport. Well, she amended herself almost immediately, I shouldn't think the 'H' word. A young girl from Arkansas and a second-generation immigrant, Jane had never had any means to travel far. In fact, she was never even outside her state before this trip. Her mother's side hails from Central America, and her dad, a local anachronistic Arkansense, or Arkansaurus? She always debates which is the more accurate description of her folks, and is once again distracted by this internal dispute as she walks through a VIP customs tunnel.

As Jane makes her way through the airport, she can't help but notice the many Muslim travelers pausing to pray in the designated areas. She watches as they kneel and bow their heads in reverence, their feet and socks facing the roof, murmuring words of devotion under their breath. This is a site she never witnessed in real life, something she only saw in those relevant movies. For her, religion is synonymous with the Bible and 10 o’clock morning Sunday services. Though she never felt like she fully belonged to her religious upbringing, always been drawn to the mysterious and the unknown; a type of spirituality that could not be esteemed in her local church, or churches. At the age of eight, she wrote in her drawing papers from Sunday school, If God is one, omniscient and omnipresent, why does ‘He’ have to have a penis? This was the first or second time she was spanked by her dad, though she doesn’t remember the accurate count now.

Now all she can discern is the scorching and intolerable heat of Bali, the Island of gods.

As Jane claimed her luggage and nervously changed out of her black cotton sweatpants and plum polyester hoodie into navy shorts and a beige tank top, and found time to actually look around, she was immediately enchanted by the vibrant scenery of the arrival hall. Local people dressed in their colorful ethnic clothing adorned in exotic jewelry, and the indigenous architecture of the buildings were complemented by the surround sound speakers playing traditional music. A sense of excitement and pride swelled within her as she immersed herself in the exotic atmosphere. The excitement needs no explanation, but the pride? She had won this trip through an Instagram lottery, and on top of the 14-day trip, she would be paid in full — 30,000 USD, half of which had already been wired to her account. For a small-town religious American girl who had packed sweatpants and flannel shirts for a tropical destination, the offer seems like a dream come true. She's been raised to believe that good things will come to those who uphold a good faith. Though a small part of her wonders if this is too good to be true, she can't help but feel that it's a sign from above, a chance to experience something greater than her world.

Miss Milaca! A young man waves at her while holding a name board, bowing as she extended her palm for a handshake. Embarrassed, she retracts her palm and imitates a similar bowing movement, which she had in fact practiced dozens of times before. Reaching for her outdated suitcase, he proceeds to push it toward a fancy van. She notices the young man is tall and handsome compared to the other locals she has seen so far. Assuming he may not speak much English, she communicates with him through smiles and head movements.

As the van weaves through the moderate traffic on the left side of the road, Jane can't help but feel a sense of exhilaration as she takes in the breathtaking and exotic scenery outside her window. The golden rays of the sun illuminate the lush greenery of the tropical foliage, casting a warm glow over the bustling streets below. Motorbikes whiz by, each one packed with locals dressed in colorful garments, their hair blowing in the wind as they grin from ear to ear. The sight of a family of four, helmet-less and carefree, precariously balanced on a single scooter with four pairs of flipflops, draws a smile from Jane. She watches in amazement as the scooter disappears into the sea of motorbikes, only to be replaced by a group of giggling teenagers on another overloaded moped.

As the van slows down to navigate a narrow alleyway, Jane notices the intricate details of the local architecture. Traditional stone temples adorned with ornate carvings tower over the streets, while wooden houses with thatched roofs exude a sense of rustic charm. Colorful market stalls line the sidewalks, their vibrant displays of handmade crafts and exotic fruits enticing passersby. The fragrant aroma of street food fills the air, making her stomach growl with anticipation.

The van emerges back onto a wider street, and she catches a glimpse of the stunning coastline in the distance, its crystal clear waters shimmering in the sun. She can hardly contain her excitement as she realizes that this is only the beginning of her adventure in this magical place.

The only distinctive aspect failing to attain her appreciation remotely is the various statues of the deities local people worship here, which are ubiquitous, coming in every shape, size, and form: from an elephant man to a nine-headed snake to an eagle-headed lion. Although she perceives herself to be an open-minded spiritual person and not enticed by just one religion, she still finds these gods very unusual compared to the one she is used to, if not disturbing. It's understandable she feels this way given her upbringing; she was used to seeing God as a light brown-haired Caucasian man in his 30s with well-groomed facial hair, and now she sees a purple-faced monkey that looks like it is about to gouge out her eyeballs! She could almost feel a sense of resentment, but before panic can set in, the driver who had picked her up earlier and is now driving turns around with a warm smile and reminds her: Miss, there is bottled water under your seat. Would you like some music?

She is pleasantly surprised that he speaks English and willing to converse, making her feel safer and reassured that her innate sense of civilization still exists among these monstrous deities.

The van rumbles out of the city and the green-blue ocean appears alongside her. Astonished, she takes in the sight - something she had only seen on her 42 inch LED TV at home. Documentaries, movies, and dating shows set on beaches around the world had been her only exposure to the beauty of the sea, but now she can smell the ocean breeze through the aircon ventilator and experience it with her own eyes. Nothing could be more surreal and fantastic.

Hi! Am I the only guest? Sorry but it seems like I am the only one you picked up! Ha-ha, she can’t help asking. The driver doesn't answer, but smiles at her in the rear-view mirror. By this point, she must admit: her adventurous journey has already gone too far and too scenic for her to acknowledge any solid regret.

It could be the tranquil local music, the fresh sea breeze, or even her 12-hour shift at the local supermarket before she boarded the plane; Jane, now in full sleep mode, failed to notice that all the windshields on the van had turned entirely black, blocking any possible view of the paths that had brought her here: a traditional Balinese-designed hotel right on the edge of the cliff.

Miss, Miss Milica! We are here!

Ah? Oh! Sorry...I was so tired... She tells him and herself.

As Jane steps off the van, a slightly colder sea breeze mixed with the tropical scent awakens her immediately. She can feel the breeze rustling through her hair and lifting the edges of her clothing. It's a refreshing change from the stuffy interior of the van and the oppressive heat of the day.

Before her, she sees a building with a unique and striking design. The architecture blends Balinese tradition with futuristic elements, creating a hybrid structure that seems almost alien in nature. The building is adorned with a simplistic blending of three colors, each one chosen to complement the others in a perfect balance of hues, green, blue, and yellow. The materials used in the construction of the building are sleek and modern, with a glassy texture that reflects the sunlight in dazzling patterns. Intricate decorations and carvings adorn the surfaces of the building, showing a visual platter that is both mysterious and captivating.

Despite its exquisite design and spectacular view, the building is small, consisting of only one reception hall that is no larger than 300 square feet. Additionally, an ultra-modern park/garage occupies a significant amount of space, yet with only the capacity to hold no more than three vehicles. Having taken some economics classes back in her community college, Jane finds this type of space utilization and cost ratio to be nonsensical.

A soothing, low, and calming female voice summons her back from her observation and analysis. Almost simultaneously, tranquil Indigenous music begins to play from an unseen surround sound system in the parking lot garden. As Jane gazes upon the woman walking toward her, she is dressed in a beautiful purple Balinese dress imprinted with lilac purple and fern green. Her bronze skin glows, and her mesmerizing eyes captivate. With a warm smile, the woman greets her, So happy you have made it here! Welcome! Even though Jane didn't struggle with having thoughts toward other girls, she now feels something unfamiliar toward Suyata's sui generis essence. Barefooted, Suyata towers over the 5 foot 6 American with exaggeratedly elongated limbs as she performs a traditional Balinese Buddhist bow. Jane bows to Suyata, finally able to appropriately perform the gesture she has practiced countless times.

She had started practicing this movement ever since she was sent a flight ticket as a compensated VIP testing guest at an exclusive 7-star hotel on an island off Bali. Although she doesn't consider herself a gullible person, she couldn't help but to believe it is genuinely her luck when half of the money was effectively transferred to her account after filling in a simple poll with her name, age, blood type, and a few other standard details.

Jane flashes a warm smile as she asks, Thank you so much, and you are the one who contacted me, right? Miss...Suyata? Her eyes widen in admiration as she adds, You look amazing in real life, I have to say!

Suyata responds with a mechanical smile, the muscles beside her lips barely forming two curly lines on her wrinkle-less facial skin. Please follow me, she says. Jane is somewhat surprised by the slightly emotionless answer from someone with such friendly expressions, but she follows Suyata's direction, reminding herself that this may be due to a cultural difference.

Ah, sure! Jane responds. But what truly strikes Jane more than Suyata’s tone is her appearance. Her physical features exude youthfulness with all caps, but there's something else about her that makes Jane sense she's much older than her age. It's a subtle feeling, but one that Jane can't shake off as they begin to make their way inside the building.

After a simple check-in and about