Samhain

chapter fourteen: with an idea

"What in the name of god took you so fucking long?"

"Fall break," Jongho answers Hongjoong with a sigh. "All the kids are out of school so there was a lot of traffic on the way back from hell."

Wooyoung shifts uncomfortably in one of the plastic folding chairs Jongho brought out for the meeting. Thankfully, no abominations attacked them on their way into the church this time.

"I have news. I went down to the ninth circle to search for your shadow creature - that area is usually where critters like that hang about."

The nine hells are a popular vacation spot. Wooyoung remembers visiting the infernal realm on school field trips as a kid. The third circle is a stunning winter destination complete with gourmet restaurants and crowded casinos. The sixth circle has enchanting, steamy hot spring spas and luxurious hotels. The second circle - the only age-restricted one - is well known for its red-light district.

There are some layers of hell that no one goes to. The fifth circle is notorious for its den of pirates and nonstop brawling in the streets. Many kings throughout history have trained their armies there. But the worst one?

The worst one is the ninth circle. Very few have the privilege to make it out of there alive.

"What's with that reaction?" Jongho looks amused by the stunned silence that fills the room. "Do I look like the kind of man who dies?"

Yunho leans forward with interest, resting his elbows on his knees. "What did you see down there? How bad are we talking? Snow white? Maleficent? Wicked witch?"

San groans with frustration. "Will you stop it with your fairytale references? No one here knows what you're talking about."

Yunho looks offended. "Wooyoung knows them too."

"Yeah, well, Wooyoung is a dork."

"I like Wooyoung more than I like you."

Jongho looks at them with raised eyebrows and crossed arms, leaning back in his chair. "To your point, this is unlike any history you've ever read. The last time someone bore this curse, they were executed. That was centuries ago. Be glad that times have changed."

At his words, Wooyoung's gaze settles to the floor. Death is not an option.

"The fact that you cast your spell on the full moon means that you have until the next one to fix this. If you don't, this curse will kill you and everyone you've cast magic on, and it will bring eternal darkness to this realm."

Well, that's a problem.

At least they have an idea of when this will happen. Wooyoung isn't exactly comforted by the fact that the fate of the realm is in his hands. If he saves the world, he better get extra credit in his classes.

Wooyoung's eyes flicker up towards Jongho, watching dust float through multicolor god rays that beam through the church's stained glass windows. "What did you see when you were there? Did you find it?"

"Well, it was a little hard to find, but it's definitely down there. They almost wouldn't let me in because it's pitch black." Jongho looks in his direction. "The only reason I was able to identify this curse is because the creature looks like you, Wooyoung."

San becomes alert at these words, confusion written all over his expression. "Wait, so you're saying Wooyoung is the shadow thing? When was this?"

"Last night."

"That doesn't make sense," San says, disgruntled by the revelation. "I was with Wooyoung all night."