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This all started as all good bets did, with a challenge to his honour. Which simply could not stand. Jungkook was a lot of things, but he was not a coward.
Really though, it started with a conversation about ghosts and somehow led to an absolutely foolish decision. But like any foolish decision, why make smart choices when your honour is challenged?
Jungkook and his friends were sitting outside their school for lunch. Jaehyun had brought them the news which he heard from one of his senior friends that the abandoned house down the street from the school was going to be torn down.
“They say no one would buy it,” Jaehyun relayed. “Because it’s haunted.”
Jungkook scoffed. “There’s no such thing as ghosts. They probably just want to tear it down to build a bigger house to make more money because capitalism.”
“Or,” Yugyeom countered, “They’re tearing it down to get rid of the ghosts.” There was a pause. “So they can build a new house and make money because capitalism.”
There was a pause where the only sound was the chewing of food. Jungkook thought they would move on from the soon to be torn down house, but the slowly growing smirk on Yugyeom’s face told him that was a fool’s wish.
“Jungkook,” Yugyeom said nonchalantly. Jungkook braced for whatever was coming next. It could be nothing good. “If you don’t think ghosts are real, I dare you to spend an hour in the haunted house.”
“First off, it’s not haunted.” Jungkook put down his chopsticks and stared at his best friend. “and secondly, no way! I’m not breaking into a house.”
“I heard that the door isn’t locked,” Yugyeom sat up straighter in his seat. Jungkook could see the mischief in his eyes. “So it’s not breaking in, just simply entering.”
“Still, I’m pretty sure it’s illegal,” Jungkook picked his utensils to start eating again.
“I bet you’re not doing it cause you’re scared.” The taunt was clear in Yugyeom’s voice. Curse his best friend for knowing what buttons to push to get him to do something. “Poor Jungkook. Such a scaredy cat he won’t spend an hour in a house he’s sure isn’t haunted.”
And there was the challenge to his honour. “I’m not scared,” Jungkook slammed his utensils back down and glared at his friend.
“I would be. That house is 100% haunted,” Mingyu paused mid bite of food to shutter. “I heard the last person to go in there couldn’t last 5 minutes before they were running out.”
“I’m not scared,” Jungkook declared. He wasn’t. Jungkook could hear the challenge in Yugyeom’s voice, and well, Jungkook was never one to back down from a challenge.
Which led to him standing outside the definitely not haunted house, heavy backpack weighing on him, face determined. His friends watched him from across the street with various levels of concern.
The house did not look haunted and it was never proven to be. They just heard it from someone in the class above them, who heard it from the class above him, who heard it from the class above him and it was definitely haunted and that anyone who tried to enter the house would be cursed for life.
The path leading to the house was overgrown, and Jungkook had to push himself through the tall grass and weeds to make it to the front door. The paint on the house was peeling, and the house creaked with the wind, but other than that, the house did not look menacing. Then again, the sun was still high in the sky casting its cheery glow.
The stairs creaked as Jungkook climbed up the front steps. Taking a deep breath, he tried the knob. Surprisingly it was unlocked; the door swung open easily.
Jungkook turned back to cast a smirk and give a little wave to his friends before entering the house.
The house didn’t seem scary, sunlight filtered through the windows making the room seem bright and welcoming. If the house was haunted, it certainly didn’t look that way.
Jungkook jumped at the sound of the door banging shut behind him. And that was it. Alone in a potentially but probably not haunted house. All he had to do was survive an hour in the house and forever prove to his friends that he, Jeon Jungkook, was not a coward.
However much Jungkook felt like the house was not haunted, he still came prepared.
Jungkook took off his backpack and pulled out a bundle of herbs and a jar of salt from his bag. From the books he read, they were supposed to protect him from evil spirits. The herbs themselves Jungkook bought from the grocery store, then whispered the words read from his grandma’s magic book to... fill them with magic? He wasn’t really sure what the words were supposed to do, but the book said it would protect him. The salt was raided from his mom’s pantry. The book didn’t say anything about magic words, so he hoped normal kitchen salt would be enough.
Jungkook’s grandmother had magic, or so his mother told him. You would think that his grandmother being magic would be enough for Jungkook to believe in ghosts. If he could believe in magic, then it certainly was not a far stretch to believe in ghosts. But Jungkook could see his grandmother’s magic. It wasn’t strong, but enough that always gave her cooking a little something extra. Something that always made Jungkook better when he was feeling sad or sick. Jungkook’s mother had none of her mother’s magic, but when Jungkook started showing signs, she pulled out the old stack of magic books from their storage for Jungkook to read.
Jungkook had never seen a ghost, and in all his reading (which admittedly, was not a lot), he never read anything about ghosts being real.
For a self-taught witch, Jungkook thought he was pretty good. At least good enough to keep himself safe in the questionably haunted house. His friends, however, did not know this and were probably waiting for him to re-emerge. They probably set a timer, seeing how long Jungkook could last.
Jungkook tucked the jar of salt under his arm to free his hand for his phone. He snapped a selfie and sent it to his friend’s group chat showing them that he was still alive, before pocketing his phone and continuing deeper into the house. He had no plans of leaving the house before the hour was up.
He wasn’t really sure what he was supposed to do with the herbs and the salt. He did not get to that part in his grandmother’s books. Hopefully just having the herbs and salt in his hands would be enough.
The floorboards creaked as Jungkook wandered through the house. Sunlight played with the dust floating through the air.
Jungkook was surprised to find the house in pretty good shape for something that had been abandoned. Other than a whole lot of dust, and white cloth covering most of the furniture, the house was like any other house. Jungkook didn’t know what all those rumours were all about. There was nothing at all haunted about the house.
Jungkook circled the main floor, taking a moment to look at the faded pictures of the wall. There were no people in any of them, but scenery. When Jungkook found nothing of interest he made his way to stairs leading up, and slowly started to climb them.
The whole vibe of the house suddenly changed once Jungkook reached the top of the stairs. There was a sudden chill, and the air seemed thicker. The sun still shone through the windows in the hallways, but that bright light that seemed so cheery downstairs now seemed muted.
With the sudden change in atmosphere, Jungkook could see why people thought the house was haunted.
Jungkook almost turned around to head right back down. He could spend the hour in the nice sunny downstairs and exit the house with his honour intact.
That would be what any sane, non-horror movie protagonist would do. However, his curiosity was getting the better of him, and Jungkook was never one to make smart decisions when a mystery was present. Jungkook only had two brain cells and both were telling him to investigate further.
Jungkook held his bundle of herbs in front of him like a sword. “Ghost if you’re here, I’m peaceful but armed.” Jungkook felt a bit silly but ventured into the closest bedroom, herbs in front of him all the same.
The door to the room opened silently. A chill passed through Jungkook, and his heart beat faster in his chest. The room was… normal. Jungkook cautiously stepped through.
There was a flicker in his vision, and Jungkook suddenly got the mental image of a man he’d never seen before. The man was tall, dressed in a simple blue t-shirt and with a rope necklace around his neck with a talisman looking thing hanging from it. The man also had herbs in his hand, they were smoking, but not on fire. The man smiled at him, and Jungkook’s mind was able to process the man’s dimples before the image was gone.
Jungkook blinked a few times, trying to make sense of the weird image his mind created. Was this the universe’s way of telling him his herbs should be on fire? That seemed like a waste of herbs, but maybe cooking them may make them more… effective?
Dropping to the floor, Jungkook carefully placed his salt jar on the floor and unslung his backpack. He remembered packing a lighter when preparing for today, reading it was good to have from his grandmother’s books.
Jungkook was so busy searching his bag that he did not see the furniture float off the floor, only looking up when he heard it crash into the wall.
Jungkook’s pulse jumped, and he stood up looking for the source of the sound. He stared at the pile of broken chairs in the corner, his mind taking a moment to process what just happened. He was pretty sure nothing was broken in this room a moment ago.
Then the screaming started.
Jungkook covered his ears with his hands, but that did little to block out the high-pitched screams. It sounded like it was coming from all around him. Another piece of furniture crashed into the wall. A lamp this time, shattered glass from its light bulb now littered the floor.
Still trying to cover one ear, Jungkook pushed his still open backpack back on his back. He needed to leave. His friends could call him a coward all they wanted, but he was not sticking around. No way. This house was haunted, he would admit it, let them call him a coward, and try to block all memories of this house from his mind.
The herbs that had been in his hand must have dropped because Jungkook trampled them as he made for the exit. Jungkook had the brief thought to pick them up so they could protect him from whatever was in the room, but the idea of leaving as soon as he could was much more tempting.
Before Jungkook even got close to the door, he was pulled back into the room with a force that caused him to land back on the floor.
Jungkook’s head whipped back and forth trying to find the cause of his tumble back to the floor, but there was no one but the bodiless screaming voice.
The ghost was yelling at him. He could just make out the words.
Help. Help me! Let me out. Let me out!
Jungkook’s grandmother’s books hadn’t told him about this. “I can’t help you,” Jungkook yelled back. “I don’t know how.”
Another piece of furniture flew across the room, crashing worryingly close to where Jungkook still laid on the floor. “I’m sorry,” Jungkook yelled. He tried to stand once more and make a dash for the door but was pushed down again. “I don’t know how to help you. Please. Let me go, I can’t help.”
The ghost kept screaming, and it took a moment for Jungkook to notice that he was screaming as well.
Jungkook didn’t know what was going on, or how long he sat in that room, the ghost intermittently throwing furniture at him. Tears were falling from his eyes. Jungkook pushed himself back against the wall and curled himself into as small a ball as possible. He was scared. Jungkook couldn’t remember ever feeling this scared before. He was shaking so hard that he couldn’t even pick up the phone to call for help.
This was how he was going to die. He would be killed by this ghost throwing furniture at him, and for what. To defend his honour. Well, he couldn’t have any honour if he was dead.
Suddenly, a voice cut through all the noise.
“Oh, you’re not supposed to be here.”
Jungkook’s head shot up as he found the source of the voice. Blinking through his tears, he saw a man standing at the threshold of the door. He was tall, with a mop of silver hair. He looked so confused, and Jungkook didn’t blame him. The room was a mess of broken furniture and shattered glass and Jungkook was the sole person in the room crying his eyes out.
“No,” Jungkook’s voice cracked with the word. “Get out.”
The man took a step forward, hand forward as if trying to placate a wild animal.
“No don’t” Jungkook tried again. “Leave before it tries to keep you here too.” The man could go get help. Bring back a whole army of people. The ghost couldn’t keep an army in this room. But if this man got stuck, then what.
A look for understanding flooded the man’s face.
“Hey no, it’s okay,” The man’s voice was low and soothing. “Everything is going to be okay.” The man pulled out a bundle of herbs from a satchel sung across his body. They were similar to the ones that Jungkook was holding earlier, but the man brought a lighter to them and they started to smoke. The memory of the image that flashed through Jungkook’s mind struck him. This was the man he had seen. How did he know that his man was going to be here? What was this man doing here?
“I’m going to help our friend here move on, then we can get out of here.”
It took Jungkook a moment to realize that he was talking to him. Jungkook watched wide-eyed as the man walked around the room, chanting in some unknown language. Jungkook expected the ghost to throw a chair or two at the man, but no such thing happened. Instead, the yelling got quieter, until it was barely a whisper.
Then a feeling of release.
Jungkook couldn’t put it into words, but the room felt lighter. Warmer? The sun that had been shining through the windows of the room seemed cheery once more, counterbalancing the scene of destruction of the room.
Jungkook didn’t notice the man had moved in front of him until he began to speak.
“Kim Namjoon,” he introduced, offering Jungkook a hand up.
Jungkook took it and was helped off the floor. “Jeon Jungkook.”
“Well Jungkook,” You had quite an adventure today, didn’t you.” Namjoon looked around the room, and Jungkook saw his eyes land on his trampled pile of herbs. Namjoon bent down to pick them up, as well as his jar of salt. “It was a smart idea for you to bring these,” Namjoon held out the herbs and Jungkook took them. “But they’re only effective if you burn them. And salt is good to draw boundary lines, but probably won’t do much for you in a jar like this.”
Jungkook felt his cheeks redden and he accepted his items. “I didn’t know that. I just read that I should have them with me and bought some from the grocery store”
“Ah,” Namjoon’s tone was friendly, and not the chastising tone that Jungkook was expecting. “Then they are doubly ineffective. Grocery store herbs are usually stripped of their natural energy, probably from spending so much time between ground to the store.”
“I tried speaking magic into them,” Jungkook didn’t know why he said that. The man must think he was crazy. But then again Namjoon did just vanish the ghost. Jungkook looked down at the limp herbs now clutched in his hands. “Thank you for saving me.”
Namjoon put a comforting hand on Jungkook’s shoulder. “You weren’t really in any danger. Spirits like that are all bark and no bite. They do kick up a big fuss though.” Namjoon looked around the room and let out a chuckle. “They are dramatic things aren’t they?”
Jungkook nodded, but the ghost - Sprite? - Whatever was in this room certainly seemed dangerous to him.
Namjoon was making another lap around the room waving around his still smoking herbs. “I had a friend that came to this house and met our ghost friend a few days ago,” Namjoon explained as he walked. “He promised he would send something to help them move on. And well, here I am. But the ghost probably felt your energy and thought you were me.”
“My energy,” Jungkook questioned.
Namjoon nodded. “Yeah, you have a pretty strong magic aura. What’s your specialty?”
“My specialty?” Namjoon’s words were confusing. He didn’t remember his grandmother ever talking about a specialty. “I don’t think I have one.”
Namjoon paused his walking. “All witches have a specialty. Who is training you?”
“No one,” Jungkook admitted. “I’ve been reading through my grandmother’s books.”
It took a moment for Namjoon’s words to fully register in Jungkook’s brain. Jungkook blamed the near-death encounter. No matter whatever Namjoon said, Jungkook was pretty sure he was going to die.
“Wait, witches?” Jungkook’s mother had never said anything about witches. “Like pointy hats, flies on brooms, big black cauldrons witches?”
Namjoon let out a laugh and went back to his lap around the room. “Definitely no pointy hats or flying on brooms. But Jin hyung does have a bunch of big black cauldrons.”
“Cool,” Jungkook breathed out. This was so cool. WITCHES! Like real magic people! “So there are more people with magic?” Jungkook was practically bouncing with excitement. “That’s so, so cool! I only know of my grandmother, but she just cooks things. Nothing that exciting.”
Namjoon had finished his herb waving and was now back in front of Jungkook. “Would you like to come meet the others with me?” Namjoon asked.
“The others? I can meet more witches! Wait - that means you’re a witch! Super cool.”
“You’re a witch too Jungkook,” Namjoon answered calmly to Jungkook’s rambly excitement. Namjoon was digging around his bag for something. “I’m part of a coven. There are six of us and - oh!” Namjoon pulled out a thermos from his bag. “It’s hot chocolate. Always nice to have something sweet after an encounter, especially if you’re new. You’re probably why Jimin gave me this on my way out the door.”
“Thanks?” Jungkook took the thermos. “How would they know I needed this?”
Namjoon smiled. A kind smile. A smile you could trust. “Let’s meet the others, and we can explain.”
“Okay!” Jungkook agreed easily. “This is so exciting! People with real magic!”
As they made their way out of the house, Namjoon asked Jungkook the question that would change the rest of his life. “Jungkook, do you want to train to be a witch?”