save y(our) soul

Jungkook drives smoothly, changing lanes from one line to another, overtaking other drivers, leading them to discontent. Taehyung is surprised that, being a demon, he drives a car like a simple person who has been on Earth since birth. And getting a license, learning the rules, practicing on the road and getting a feel for the car takes quite a bit of time. So Jeon’s been on Earth for quite some time. Just wonder what the purpose is. Arriving at the right place, they get out of the car, closing it, and move towards the man, who is already sitting near the lake in a familiar manner, looking into the distance. He pays no attention to the angel and the demon, who come up to him and say hello. “We apologize, but will you have a chance to answer a couple of questions?” Taehyung asks cautiously, not wanting to disturb an already poor man who has experienced the death of two of his children. “I’ve had enough questions. Just stop it. My children died and this is the worst thing in the world, the most painful thing”, he turns to face them, showing with his look the fatigue and pain he has experienced all these days. “Go away. I’ve had enough” Jungkook and Taehyung turn around and walk away to the car, while thinking about what to do next and where to go. They understand his state of mind and his reluctance to answer any questions that will send him back to the days when his children suffered a cruel fate. He was still reeling from the death of his daughter when his son died. It’s like a bolt out of the blue. But they agree and think there’s definitely something he’s not telling them. They almost climb into the car as the demon stops and looks at the house, which clearly has someone living in it, judging by the open door and shoes. He’s obviously seen him somewhere. A couple seconds pass as he manages to remember where he’s seen this dwelling. Jungkook pulls the drawing of Bogyeon out of his pocket, unfolds it and puts it in front of him, comparing the two. “Let’s go.” Jungkook walks ahead, and Taehyung follows him, trying to keep up. The demon’s back and shoulders are quite broad, well, and attractive. Angel admits this to himself. He doesn’t know what it has to do with it, but the men’s broad shoulders and backs create a sense of protection, comfort, reliability, and support. It feels especially so when you’re coming from behind, or being hugged from behind. Angel shakes his head, trying to clear away the naughty thoughts that are filling him more and more with each passing second. They walk into the open house, having never waited for a response to the knocking they replaced the bell’s operation with. Lia comes hurriedly down the stairs, pulling on her high ponytail, apologizing in passing for the long response on their arrival. The girl nervously asks a question and wonders if something’s wrong, but the two men look at each other and refuse, saying they’re just here to talk to Bogyeon. She only runs her eyes from one to the other, doubting the rightness of their actions, but gives in under their pleading looks and words, which seem convincing enough to her. All three enter the room of the boy, who again draws incessantly, paying no attention and not even raising a glance at the guests. “Bogyeon, thank you for the drawing. You really helped us, but I think we’ll need your help again,” Jungkook says, squatting down in front of the boy, hoping he can hear him. “I know you’re scared. I felt that way when something terrible happened to my mom. I didn’t want to talk to anyone then, I didn’t want to see anyone. But I know that my mom wanted and wants me to be strong and brave,” Bogyeon continues to draw, giving the impression that the words don’t reach him. “Maybe your dad wants you to be brave, too.” The boy stops and raises his gaze for the first time, looking directly into the eyes of the demon, who turns to see Taehyung and Lia standing there with surprise on his face. He holds out a sheet with another drawing on it, one that was pre-drawn before the demon and angel arrived. Jungkook accepts it, thanking him once again for his help.

***

The drawing the kid gave them showed a house and a church next to it. According to their data, there are quite a number of churches here, but they decided to look at the nearest ones, because it was pointless to go any further. They drove, slightly over the speed limit, to the right places, each time comparing them with Bogyeon’s drawing. Taehyung and Jungkook occasionally exchanged some phrases, not really needing much in the way of constant dialog. “About your mom…” The angel genuinely sympathized with Jungkook, who had to go through something he said was terrible with his mother at such a young age. He of all people could understand that. “Just don’t give me any sympathy or pity. I don’t need it, okay?” the demon roughly nips in the bud, forcing Taehyung to silence and feel awkward. Angel only apologizes quietly, turning away to the window with the urge to just disappear. Apparently, Jungkook doesn’t like to be pitied or sympathized with. But that is no reason for rude behavior on his part. Whatever his past is, it shouldn’t affect him in such a way that just the mere mention of it makes Jeon himself or the person talking to him feel unimportant. There’s another church on the bill, and they’re hoping that this is the one. Jungkook tells Taehyung to sit in the car while he quickly checks the similarities between the drawing and where they are now. As the door slams shut, Taehyung exhales through his nose, wanting to get rid of that weird feeling as soon as possible after the very small run-in with the demon. Not that he’s vulnerable, but it clearly made him a little sad and put off in his mind. Angel sits in complete silence and after a few seconds, Jungkook taps on the glass, showing himself through the window and calling for him to get out. He steps out of the cabin, slamming the door shut and looks to where the demon is pointing his finger. Where he pokes is a house that looks mostly like the one in the picture. Jungkook closes the car without saying anything and moves towards that house, leaving Kim a little dazed. Taehyung is already regretting agreeing to have Jeon hang around with him. They knock on the door, wait briefly for an elderly lady who opens the door to them with slight apprehension and from the threshold they ask a question, before saying hello, that left her stunned and dejected, causing tears to start dripping from her eyes from the memories and pain that to this day has not subsided. “Tell me, does the boy with the blue cap and red bicycle live here or did he live here?” Jeon asks a question, looking at Bogyeon’s drawing and stands in front of the old lady who brought them into the house and sat down. “Yeah, I mean, no. My boy disappeared 35 years ago. He just disappeared, and the police never found out,” a woman with eyes red from tears looks at the photograph on the table that causes both pain and joy every time. “You just don’t know how much it hurts. The worst, the most painful. He was supposed to ride his bike after school, but he didn’t show up.” After the woman stopped talking, only continuing to cry quietly and suffer her loss, Taehyung picked up a picture from the table showing 12-13 year old boys hugging each other and smiling. He turns the picture over and sees the caption, “Kim Myungsoo and Hwang Jimin.” And Hwang Jimin is the father of the drowned girl.

***

“I’m sure that Jimin is hiding something. The people he loved are just being punished.” Taehyung voiced his thoughts, looking straight ahead at the road. “So he did something to him. Maybe he killed him and the ghost wants revenge.” Taehyung only nods in response to his speculation. The silence used to be comfortable and even enjoyable, but now it’s uncomfortable, and Kim can’t even lie down. He’s ashamed and embarrassed that he’s thinking about Jungkook more than the boy he has to save. He realizes that any minute now, a black star could burn on his back, signifying that he has failed in his mission. They drive up to the lake where Jimin usually spends his time, bored and mourning his children. Slamming the car shut, the two of them started down the narrow path, trying not to fall. Nettles grow along this path, into which there is no desire to fall, as well as itching after its bite. But damn Taehyung, who stumbles over a small pebble as if on purpose, plowing his nose into Jungkook’s broad back. From the surprise and pain in his nose, he clutches at it with both palms, staggering slightly. In addition to his nose hurting, he can’t get his vision back to normal, agonizing over the fact that everything is going round and round. The demon, on the other hand, is breathing raggedly, frightened by this sudden collision and maybe for Taehyung. “How could you pump up your back like that,” Kim scolds, running his palm over her nostrils, checking for blood. “Should I take that as a compliment?” Jungkook smirked, discreetly holding a swearing Taehyung by the waist to keep him from falling into the nettles. “Be quiet for a while.” But no sooner had they taken a few steps than they saw Jimin get into the boat and leave the shore. Angel and Demon jumped up, trying to run as fast as they could to stop him, but all they could do was shout in the hope that he would listen and turn the boat around. But it doesn’t happen, because Jimin stubbornly ignores their voices, reaching the middle of the lake, where a second later his boat is thrown seven meters up and he falls into the lake, completely disappearing into it and not even surfacing. Minutes later, it’s as if the man never existed. He was completely submerged, leaving behind a broken boat in pieces.

***

The sheriff enters the department, walking nervously with some papers in his hands, and leads Taehyung and Jungkook, who are shocked by what they’ve seen and want to report everything to the precinct, hoping that it will help somehow. On their way to the office, they meet Lia and Bogyeon, who stops them and says she heard what happened with Jimin and the boat. She asks something about the lake, maybe there’s something going on with it. To which the sheriff tells them to go home and they will deal with what happened next, trying to figure out what kind of craziness is going on. Just as they’re about to move on, Bogyeon rises sharply and grabs Jungkook’s palm, crying and refusing to let go, as if it’s his salvation. Mom tries to pull him away from the demon, but he won’t budge, still clinging to the demon. But with a sharp tug, she manages to pull him away from Jeon, pulling him to the side. Taehyung looked at Jungkook, puzzled by the boy’s behavior as he tried to say something with obvious fear, but all he could do was cling and shake his hand. “Did you see something throw Jimin seven meters up and then disappear into the water?” with obvious disbelief, the sheriff interrogates them after their testimony because he can’t believe it. “Yes! That’s what we mean.” Taehyung answers him, starting to get annoyed that he doubts their words. “Look, we searched the lake from top to bottom, but we didn’t find the body. We’ve got almost everyone involved in this,” the sheriff walks up to them, leaning on his desk. “Also, I’ve been looking into things, and it turns out there is no “you” in the FBI. I’m giving you a choice: either you leave this place, forgetting it exists and what’s going on here, or, I’m bringing you two to justice, certifying you as the only witnesses, and you become suspects involved in Jimin’s death.” “We like the first option better.” Jungkook replies, getting up from his seat and picking up Taehyung, who was also attracted to the same option.

***

“Look, maybe the spirit got what it wanted and left. Jimin’s dead.” Taehyung says, watching the town get farther and farther away from them. “I don’t think so. Bogyeon was too scared. That’s why we’re not leaving until we check if everything’s okay.” Jungkook turns around at a stoplight and drives back, changing their route. Taehyung thought his decision was the right one, so with a new burst of energy, he decides to finish the job. They drive quickly down the empty road, since it’s nighttime, speeding and squeezing the most out of the car. Kim is slightly startled at the speed they’re traveling, but still catches the pleasure of the wind blowing against his face with the window open. Jungkook turns his head to look at a satisfied Taehyung, and smiles slightly as he watches Kim enjoy such small things. His gaze is again directed to the road, leaving the angel to further enjoy the gusts of wind. They get to Bogyeon’s house pretty quickly, park and get out of the car. Of course it’s awkward that it’s nighttime and they’ll wake up the people living there, but they’d rather check on them by disturbing their sleep for a while. Jungkook no sooner presses his finger on the bell than the door is opened by a boy who waves hysterically, beckoning them inside. They immediately realize something is wrong when they run to the second floor and see water pouring out of the gap between the door and the floor, flooding the whole place. Bogyeon knocks on the door, trying to get through to his mom, but she shows no sign. Jeon hurriedly takes the boy behind his back and breaks down the door on the second attempt. They run into the bathroom, noticing Lia drowning in water whose color resembles exactly that of the lake. Taehyung grabs hold of the girl and pulls on her, using all his strength to pull her out. But she’s being pulled with such force that Kim himself almost falls into that tub. He manages to get her head to the surface so she can breathe, but she is pulled in again with even more force. Taehyung rests his feet on the floor, clinging harder with his arms around her waist and pulls her, giving it his best effort. Finally helping to pull the girl out is Jungkook, who latches onto the angel’s waist and pulls them towards him. The three of them fall to the wet floor, soiling their clothes and themselves. The girl tries to breathe in as much air as possible because she didn’t have it underwater. Jungkook hands her a robe, trying not to look at her naked body and leaves the bathroom, waiting for Taehyung to help her up. After a long recovery, Lia tells how it all happened. She had put Bogyeon to bed and wanted to take a bath to wash away the remnants of a hard day and relax, not thinking about anything. There was no sign of trouble, she just lay in the water and closed her eyes, enjoying the silence that was broken only by the pressure of the water. Lia decided to just reach for a washcloth, and as she opened her eyes, she noticed that the water had turned a swampy color. It didn’t take a second before abruptly something began to drown her with immense force. The last thing she heard was Bogyeon pounding hard on the door with his hands, trying to reach her. During the time she was underwater, she heard someone talking to her. Asking her to play with her. She tells Taehyung everything, while Jungkook searches for something among the shelves. Since this is the sheriff’s house where Leah and Bogyeon moved to, there must be something here to help them, because they think the sheriff is hiding something since he was so insistent on them leaving town, being upset about Jimin’s death. Jungkook finds a photo album and flips through it, noticing Jimin and Myungsoo in some of the pictures. He walks over to the girl talking to Taehyung and puts the album in front of her. “Do you know anyone here?” Jeon asks, showing a group photo of the kids. “My father, there he is.” The girl hesitates a moment, looking at the photo, and then points to another boy standing in the middle between Myungsoo and Jimin, throwing both arms around their shoulders. “So Jimin, Myungsoo, and the sheriff were all connected. Then Lia’s father is next,” says Taehyung to Jungkook, who’s been watching Bogyeon stare incessantly out the window for a long time. Then he abruptly steps away from the window and walks towards the exit, causing everyone to be perplexed, jerk up and follow him. The boy walks quickly somewhere, as if leading everyone behind him, and stops near some place covered in grass and no different from the rest of the lawn. He looks at them as if telling them to do something. Taehuyng asks Lia for the shovels, catching a confused look from Jeon. They ask them to step back, and they start digging up the ground themselves. Because it was wet everywhere, the ground didn’t dig as easily as it looked, so it took them about ten minutes to dig a little deeper. Jeon and Kim often bumped their shovels, getting in each other’s way, and because of this, they hit the other’s shovel with their shovel on purpose each time, sometimes laughing because of the absurdity of the situation. They were digging up the ground exactly until they came across something iron. Starting to dig even faster and harder, and stumbling upon some sort of handle and swinging their shovels away, they pull on it. They pull out a red bicycle that is rusty, covered in earth and worms, and has lost its color. “Who are you guys really?” the two of them hear a familiar voice behind them and turn around, seeing a gun pointed at them. “Put the gun down,” says Taehyung, seeing Lia and Bogyeon running up to them. “How did you find this bike?” “That’s not important. What’s important is that you killed Myungsoo by drowning him in the lake and then burying the bike.” Jungkook reproduces his guesses, turning around and watching the girl’s changed expression. “You can’t hide anything. The truth will come out sooner or later.” Kim adds, watching the sheriff lower his gun. “The spirit is very angry and will soon take your loved ones away. He will drown them and then take their bodies to some unknown place so that you will feel the pain that Myungsoo’s mother feels. Later he will take you too, just like he did to Jimin,” Jungkook tells, hearing Lia from behind asking to tell her father that it’s all a lie. “To exorcise him, you have to find his remains and sprinkle salt on them and set them on fire. I hope you didn’t just dump the body in the lake.” “Dad, tell the truth.” Lia asks in a trembling voice, absolutely unable to believe her father could do such a thing. “Me and Jimin were at the lake, Myungsoo was the youngest and we used to joke about him all the time, but this time was brutal and we didn’t expect this. We held his head under the water, we didn’t want to kill him but we held it too long and he drowned. We got scared, we didn’t know what to do, so we threw the body into the lake.” The sheriff began his story after a long silence. “We need to get you away from this lake as soon as possible.” Jungkook voiced his thoughts, about to turn around and walk to the car. But this could not be done, because Leah began to call Bogyeon, who went to the lake unnoticed by everyone. The girl says that perhaps someone started calling him, because she was called the same way. The boy is kneeling on a wooden platform, reaching out with his hand to touch the water. All four of them run to him, yelling his name and praying that nothing happens. But Bogyeon continues his attempts to reach for the lake until a blue hand grabs his arm, pulling him into the water. Taehyung and Jungkook take off their outer clothes on the fly and jump in after him. Lia is about to dive in after them, but Kim prevents it, saying it’s too dangerous for her. They all take turns calling out for Bogyeon, who is not seen at all. Angel and demon are constantly diving, trying to find the boy who is in the embrace of the water. Lia screams, almost breaking her voice every time they swim out, shaking her head in denial. But then a near-miracle happens as Taehyung emerges from the water, holding Bogyeon in his arms, greedily gulping for air. Mother, Jungkook, and the sheriff exhaled in relief when they saw him. The miracle doesn’t last long though, because Taehyung and the boy are abruptly and quickly pulled back under the water. “Taehyung!” Jeon shouts loudly, diving after them, but they seem to have evaporated, even after opening his eyes in this muddy lake, he still can’t see them. Not even a shadow. Jungkook makes several dives in hopes of getting Taehyung and the kid, agonizing that his eyes hurt because of the lake. But nothing comes out. The demon calls out for an angel in parallel with Lia, who calls out for Bogyeon. Jeon screams with all his might not giving up hope. “Myungsoo, if you can hear me, then forgive me,” The sheriff walks into the water while talking to a spirit that is holding two innocent people under a layer of water. He ignores the screams of his daughter, who tries to stop him by going deeper and deeper into the water. “It’s not their fault. We were stupid kids. Forgive us. Take me and let it all be over.” A couple seconds after the sheriff finished speaking, expecting some sort of reaction, he is grabbed by the leg and carried underwater, leaving only the waves behind him. He disappears without a trace, taking all the agony of the innocent people. Meanwhile, Taehyung and Bogyeon swim out, trying their best to lie on their backs to allow themselves to breathe and get air into their lungs. Jungkook and Lia exhale with relief seeing these two swim out, being alive and after experiencing the horrible excitement for them. They help them out of the water, after which the girl takes the weakened Bogyeon in her arms and Jungkook takes Taehyung, who quietly curses that he can walk himself.

***

Jungkook and Taehyung stand outside the car, having changed into dry clothes, waiting for Lia and her son, who asked them to wait. Demon tells Kim several times that he looks scary because of the burst capillaries in his eyes, which were traumatized while he was pulling the girl out of the bathtub, and because of being underwater for so long without air. He just rolls his eyes, showing his displeasure. “There they are!” shouts the girl to Bogyeon, who was the first to see them and ran joyfully toward them. “Thank you so much again. You saved my son and I don’t know how to thank you.” “It’s okay. Just be safe and sound.” Taehyung answers her, watching as Jungkook chats with the boy. “All right, fighter, bye! Behave yourself and protect your mom, okay?” “Yes, sir!” Bogyeon laughs, handing Jeon the pre-made sandwiches and watching him get into the car. They say their goodbyes, wishing each other the best, and drive off, leaving this city and history behind. Taehyung, comfortable in his seat, feels a slight burning sensation on his spine and smiles, happy for the successful completion. There is no better feeling than knowing that you were able to help someone, keeping them alive and giving them the opportunity to pursue their dreams, goals, and just a peaceful life. From a withdrawn boy who only drew and played without saying a word since his father’s death, they brought back an energetic, talkative kid. That’s the kind of ending he likes. “Listen,” Jungkook and Taehyung speak at the same time, intending to say something separately, but it turns out they said it together. “You talk.” Jungkook concedes to him. “Thanks for helping me with this case. A lot of it was you taking matters into your own hands and figuring it out. I feel bad that I didn’t have much of a hand in it.” “No, Taehyung, you did just as good a job. Don’t belittle yourself. We both did a good job.” Kim only nods her head, hiding an embarrassed smile, still convinced that Jeon has done much more than that. “About the mom situation. I didn’t mean to snap, and I certainly didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. Let’s just not bring it up, okay?” The angel nods again, taking his words as a kind of apology, and already smiles openly. Tired of the events of these days and overexcited, he leans back and goes to bed, leaving Jungkook to drive the car to the airport in almost complete silence. He turned out not to mind this scenario, although he would also prefer to fall asleep, but he continues to drive calmly. And a little later, when the sun hides behind the clouds and it rains a little, he will take his jacket from the back seat and cover the sniffing Taehyung with it so that he is warmer.