Chapter 1. Lore

"are we close? " asked khushi while she gazed outside the window of the SUV. The road, and the trees seemed endless. The car was moving and yet it felt as if it was going nowhere. The winding road through the thick forest now seemed like an infinite loop to her.
" Gopal…?" she asked again,  still looking outside.
There was no answer. There was only silence.
With her eyes still transfixed at the passing trees she reached out with her left hand for Harshita who was sitting right next to her. She felt Harshita's hand. It was cold wet and sticky. A chill ran down khushis spine.
"Harshu...? " she called out. An intense urge of not looking inside flooded over her.  For some reason khushi was scared to look inside. She drew her hand back. She knew what the sticky fluid was. She was a doctor. She recognized it almost immediately. The car kept moving. And apart from the humming engine,  all was silent. Every instinct she had,  screamed to not look inside. But finally,  she gathered all her courage and looked.

Harshita sat next to her looking straight ahead. She was covered in blood. Her eyes were missing and she had a hideous smile on her face. Next to Harshita on the far end of the seat was Aman. At least what was left of him. If it was not for his yellow T-shirt,  khushi wouldn't have recognized him without his head. Gopals wrists held the steering wheel tightly,  but that was all that was left of him. Josie who sat in the passenger seat remained seated with an axe dug deep into his head with streams of blood running down his face. Khushi froze with terror.  She let out a scream...  And that was when the pain hit her. She felt weak as she looked at her own belly. There was a dagger stuck deep in it. Tears streamed down her face as she such her eyes tight.
"Nooooooo" she yelled as her last breath escaped through her lungs.

"and that's all that is known of that story" said Angelo staring deep into the flames of the campfire. " you see Geeta,  this forest is haunted... All the stories say so... "
" well I don't believe in ghosts" said Geeta " The only evil that I know of is corrupt politicians and criminals... And why would a ghost kill with an axe or a dagger!? …"
" Because it's a ghost,  it does what it likes... " said Angelo crossly " besides, we are reporters,  we should be open to all sorts of information."
" There is a difference between information and misinformation Angie. A reporter should know that! " said Geeta.
" what do you think new guy? " asked Angelo completely ignoring Geetas statement.
" well,  where I come from,  people do believe in ghosts and demons but they also believe that good always defeats evil." said the new guy as he adjusted his glasses.
" I'm stuck with a bunch of morons" said Geeta with a sigh as she got up to leave.
"wait" said the new guy.  "should you be going alone?"
" yes" said Geeta annoyed. " I prefer to go to the bathroom alone."
"sorry... " said the new guy as Angelo burst out into laughter.
" hey new guy,  why don't you tell me a scary story till she comes back... " said Angelo as he reached for a marshmallow.
" It's dangerous for her to go into the dark alone" said the new guy with a grim expression on his face.
" she is a black belt is some martial art bro" said Angelo casually. " Im actually worried for the ghost if  it shows up! "
" I'm serious angelo" said the new guy. " This place...  It doesn't seem right. "
" more than fifteen mysterious deaths in this forest.  Fifteen on record that is. This place is sure as hell not right!  But hey,  she reported from wars...  I guess. Bathroom run in a forest won't really harm her. " said Angelo.
" hmm I hope not." said the new guy as he gazed in the direction that Geeta had gone.
" well stop worrying." said Angelo. " now, about that story.  You got a good one? "
" as a matter of fact I do." said the new guy.
"so what are you waiting for? " asked Angelo with a smile. "tell me! "
" long ago there was a temple in this very forest. A cult temple that belonged to the God of demons. The high priest was a powerful necromancer who made a deal with the God of demons that if he consumed human flesh and drank human blood, the God would grant him immortality. The God agreed and made the necromancer a demonic creature with long dark hair and teeth and fangs like nails. The  necromancer then began hunting people from the nearby villages. The fear grew so much that the villagers prayed for a saviour. And then one day a hermit came along and decided to help the villagers.  The hermit searched the entire forest until he found the necromancer. After a bloody fight,  the hermit finally defeated the necromancer and turned him to a stone statue. " said the new guy as he munched on some marshmallows.
" interesting... " said Angelo
" the fight had worn the hermit down and he could only muster the magic to bind the necromancer for a hundred years." said the new guy.
"that sucks..." said Angelo. "continue…"
" that was a hundred and one years ago." said the new guy.
" oh,  so you mean the necromancer is back?  And those people,  he killed those people? " asked Angelo.
" yes! " said the new guy. " I have been researching it.  And frankly that's why I agreed to come here with you guys. To see if it was all true"
" and you call yourself reporters! " said Geeta as she emerged from behind a tree.
"woah. You scared me there! " said Angelo
" No you guys are scaring yourselves! " said Geeta. " I've heard those stories too and I don't believe one bit of them"
"you should Geeta ji" said the new guy. "If God exists, so do demons! "
"And what makes you think I believe in God? " asked Geeta with a smile. "Get some sleep guys,  we have a long trek tomorrow if we are to reach the latest crime scene in time"
"Isnt she is more bossy that she appears to be?" asked Angelo with a frown.
"Get some sleep" said the new guy. "I'll be on guard. I'll wake you up when I'm sleepy. "
" very well then" said Angelo as he stood up. " I hope that necromancer doesn't show up. And if he does,  do me a favour and run slower than me will you? "
" don't worry,  he won't get you on my guard! " said the new guy with a smile.
" before I go to sleep though,  I'm curious...  What was the name of this demonic necromancer?  Asked  Angelo.
" I don't know for sure,  but the people called him...  Something that starts with a k...  I can't quite remember... "said the new guy adjusting his glasses.
" was Ekta Kapoor the villager that named him!? " asked Angelo bursting into laughter.

"sleep angelo" shouted Geeta from her tent. " and you,  stay close to the tents and don't sleep before waking one of us up... You got that... Ugh.. What's your name again? "
" Gangadhar, Geetaji...  Gangadhar mayadhar vidhyadhar Omkarnath shastri. "
" I'm stuck with morons" sighed Geeta as she drifted off to sleep.

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Epilogue:

The foul stench of death filled the ruins of the temple as J.J. stood before the hulking demon creature.
" I sense a powerful presence in the forest. " he said.
The creature growled in acknowledgement.
" Could the Suryavanshi really be here? " J. J. Whispered to himself.
The creature growled again.
" it does not matter former priest,  as the new priest I assure you that you have all my power at your disposal. As far fetched as it seems,  even if the Suryavanshi is here,  you shall easily defeat him. Only two sacrifices left and you shall be completely immortal and command my army in the name of the tamraj."
The creature turned and began to leave.
" may the powers of evil guide you former priest." said J. J. " the world shall bow down to the tamraj and I Will be the king of the human realm. Along with my trusted commander,  you...  The ruthless kapala."

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