"Monsters are real, ghost are real too; they live inside us and sometimes, they win"

                                -Stephen King

"So, what did you get?" Hoseok asked seeing the stacks of old pale papers in Jungkook's hand which he was taking out from his huge backpack.

"Founded that Grandma's favourite pastime was to collect stories and papers of supernatural, ghost and histories.

"Jungkook, sorry but are we seriously doing this?" Hana asked sceptically.

"See for yourself" he laid the semi-damaged parchments in sequence.

"In 1472, a small city was completely wiped out mysteriously. An unknown illness spread among the people.

In 1550, the large town of Australia was covered in dark mist resulting in hundreds of deaths after they started Salem witch trial.

"It was seen that some particular cities where witches' presence were rumoured, would magically led to people massacres. South Korea was also affected after the changes of tectonic plates.

"What? I am not catching it" Hoseok asked bewildered. He was not very bright in geography since highschool.

"Look, it's incident of 1472 and 1550, the cities was a part of south America and Australia but the next massacre took place in a Russian old town whose location changed after the tectonic plates"

"This paper shows that this city and the surrounding areas had largest presence of witches and later the whole town was burnt in ashes upon suspicion" Hana confirmed.

"Actually the massacre of people toned down a bit when many witches were suspected and burnt. Their population brought down to almost and Yeah, here comes the next shocking part. That Russian town's tectonic plate changed numerous time and currently it is under South Korea, after the partition. It is none other than Man-eater Valley" Jungkook finishes off his speech and as expected, everyone put on shocking expressions.

"What? So you are saying that t-this town is that town. It impossible!" Yoongi can't help but stuttered out.

"It seemed ridiculous to me too but then explains the missing cases around the forest?"

"It could be due to anything like wild life, steep caves o-or some gang-"

"Yeah absolutely! with almost low rate of wild-life on surveys, and zero activities of gang stuff in the south part of our country" he couldn't help but huffed sarcastically on Yoongi's words which angered the later. But before testosterones could hype up, Hana intervene.

"But you said that the witches were wiped out and there hadn't been any reports of their activities.

"Yes, I knew you would ask that. Here comes the most prize possession of Granny who was a former curator of museum. She found this while working in Russia, an old lady was throwing it from her antique shop claiming that it destroyed her family peace and business because of its dark energy. Grandma is multi linguist and these papers are translated version" he distributed the paper among them and put down the book with a loud thud.

The book was definitely old, on the verge of rotten. The black leather book was torn, binding was hand-done and loosen.

Hana delicately touched the book's front which doesn't had any title but a coal scribble portraying a image.

She could swore that her hand suddenly felt heavy, something was restraining her from opening it. She was so focused in the spiral of binding that she didn't notice Yoongi and her breath hitched when he tap her shoulder.

"This book is called - The other side" Jungkook noticed Hana's dazed expression, reminding of his own when he had attempt to open the book first time. The book didn't had any title in front to maintain it's anonymity. The shapes of spooky drawing, branches and shades depicts hidden letters of Latin, which says other side. It raises question that how did the book end up in Russia.

"You know how we have Bibles, Quran and other holy books reciting the will and story of God but did we ever think what about the other side of story. We have God's one but where's the devil part? What about the devil's side of story, his perspective. There are only few books which sympathizes with devils. But this book tells what Devil thought when he was kicked down from his own home"

"There wasn't the mention of writer but strangely it only explains the dark side but didn't glorify it. Just stated, the devil's origin and journey, history of Witches and all"

"Our country, never had any reports of witches since historic time but after the changes of tectonic plates, their community suddenly arise in Southern part. These are the list of last names of important witches' clan"

"Oh let me see" Hoseok took the paper and scan it thoroughly. "There isn't any ancestors of Kim Seokjin. Just a few people of same last name residing in this town but their family trees were wiped out almost a decade ago"

"What could had happened?" Jungkook muttered while thinking. "According to grandma, the livestock's incidents had been in this town forevermore but it suddenly ceased down since last  years twenty years. It could mean that forest's devil is dormant. But it didn't connect with Hoseok's report of missing people. Why the devil only attacked animals and if it's not killing them anymore then who is killing innocent people" Jungkook scratched his scalp in annoyance. He isn't reaching anywhere just like one year where he wander like homeless in search of his sister.

"Jungkook listen, massacre couldn't be the work of witches as they can't kill whole town with their outnumbered population which could mean that Devil must be behind it. And as per this legends says that God himself took care of him, implying that Devil either was dead or didn't had enough power to free himself from the restraint he was put in given that he only took the life of animals lost in forest. Something must have happened to that devil or he could be free for all we know proving by the increasing death rate which cops are hiding from general public. No offense Hoseok" Hana offered apologetic gaze but the mention man didn't take it to heart, knowing the extent of accuracy.

"I can't believe in witches' shit-" Yoongi was elbowed by his girlfriend to stop him from 

"Wait Yoongs. We have searched the family tree of Kim Seokjin but never found anything suspicious"

"Yes, because there's nothing wrong with it" he answered coolly and she find it hard to control herself to not kick him on butt.

"But what if the female side of family was associated with witches or brought something unusual with them l-like dark energy. I was looking at these surnames and the among the powerful clan there's smith which is unusual for Korean name, meaning it comes from somewhere else, helping with Jungkook's theory"

"And Kim Seokjin's mother last name before marriage was Smith, it could be related to primeval witch clan"

"So you're saying she's witch?"

"Was. She died ten years ago" Hoseok corrected the couple, eyeing the file of town members.

"Okay so we can't confirm it as she's already dead. It could mean she was the last offspring related to Smith clan witches"

"What? We are going nowhere" Jimin said restlessly.

"I think we should continue our search. Meantime I'll read this book's translation to understand it better" Hana proposed.

Jimin was being restless. He knew his friends were being helpful and trying everything they could do but it not enough. What if Aera was held hostage and they were late in saving her? Even if she was not his responsibility, he felt guilty to drag her here unintentionally.

He was pacing back and forth, trying to come up with something. He knew the better decision would be getting help with his friends or Hoseok but they will only held him back, reprimanding to not get in any dangerous situation.

Making minimum noise as sneakily as he could, he opened his room's door and navigate in dark to get out from cottage. He put his phone on silent mode before making his way in Kim Seokjin's house. The first time he came here was in broad day light, but now the dark night gave more dangerous vibe, the odd silence was creepy him, the haunted look of the house didn't help him either. Like it was silently saying him to go back but he didn't want to look like a coward. He was determined to save the hostage held inside the house.

Yoongi was feeling uneasy ever since he came from Jungkook's cabin and learnt about the witches. He didn't fully believe him but didn't want to be ignorant fool either. Dealing with bad people is one thing and dealing with supernatural on the other hand was outright atrocious.

"Baby?" Hana hummed while brushing her tangled hair, prepping for night routine.

She noticed her boyfriend's lost expression. He was definitely thinking about something. The day itself was too much for them. They found out that Kim Seokjin's family had witch connections. And no one knows about it in the town and who would believe them anyways. They were the outsiders whereas Seokjin's family was living here for decades.

"What do you think about Jungkook's theory?"

"I think we should give it a shot. Not like we have any else to do and Jungkook is the most dedicated one in our group, he wouldn't waste time on something trivial"

"Yeah, you're right. But I was thinking about what he told us about the forest being dormant for several years and only occasional losses of livestock before but now suddenly people began to disappear since twenty years. Don't you find it odd?"

"Umm thinking about it, you are probably correct. Like a switch on, the forest began to killing people. Can devil's hunger change or did it enter into something. I don't believe this but if there are books abou-" she was suddenly cut off by a pair of soft lips which left her wordless.

"Baby. You are so fucking intelligent" he kissed her lips again confirming his theory in his head.

"What? What? What did I do?"

"Nothing, you are just a blessing. Come on we have to meet Jungkook"

"At this time. But it lat-"

"It can't wait"

"Should I wake up Jimin?"

"No, let him sleep. He is tired from all these. We can tell him about it in morning"

"It better be something important" Jungkook threatened him, in his disheveled state. Rubbing the unruly hair and fixing his robe, he ushered the couple in his small cabin.

"Yes, it's mportant and not like you were sleeping anyways" Yoongi pointed out the antique book in his hand.

Jungkook clicked his tongue and pushed his reading glasses upward throwing a lazy smile at Hana who was busy tightening her flimsy white night gown.

"So, how much have you read?"

"I just read manuscripts but it had nothing save just spells and devils origin and features"

"Oh so what can a devil do and don't?" Yoongi asked, trying to get a lead for his made-up theory.

"Umm they can kill, possess and do anything in their real form"

"Okay but what a devil's restrained soul could do"

"What are you saying?" For Pete's sake, it was 2 in the morning and she didn't have energy to answer his questions.

"What i mean is that devil couldn't have opened himself up if he was retrained all these years and only fed on livestock"

"Because they have weak souls" Hana finishes

"Correct! And somehow the forest starts killing people, indicating that devil is now free"

"I thought you didn't believe me. Look I don't believe in supernatural myself until I see it from my own eyes but the facts we are displaying gave some solid proof. Devil is real" Jungkook established.

"They can't do much in their wavering form and needed blood of livestock by attracting them in forest. But in this para, see" Hana showed them the line which was roaming in her head for a while.

"When a foolish human or desperate lost soul seek refugee from the ultimate in any form, ignoring the bless of God, the humanity would doom. Every small particle and pieces of nature would pay the price, condemn by the lost soul"

"And in this page it mentioned that good souls can transferred with the blessing of God to visit their loved ones after death for a short time without any aftermath but a devil's or bad soul can only possess a body with a deal and will leave the vessel on his own or after the intervention of God or their method"

"A curse devil would never harm its vessel nor it can show his true form. It doesn't take the body of evil as it won't last with it's already deteriorating soul. The threat of being used as vessel is on an innocent soul " Jungkook read the other page.

"Are you saying-"

"Yes maybe someone had free the devil by some deal unknowingly"

"Which explains - why the devil didn't use its full power and destroy the town or country after being free"

"Yes, because he is in someone's body. Silently doing his jobs with the acknowledge of the host body or not "

"But who could be the host?"

"It is the one and only Kim Seokjin "

~by dork