THE BLOOD BATH

EPISODE 7: ECHOES OF THE PAST

### Episode 7: Echoes of the Past

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**Setting: BTS dorm, the day after the confrontation at the cemetery.**

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The members of BTS and Lee Y/N were back at the dorm, physically and emotionally drained from the previous night's events. Despite their victory, a sense of unease lingered.

Namjoon was on the phone with the police, ensuring that the captured cultists were securely detained. "Thank you, officer. Please keep us updated on any new developments."

Yoongi paced the room. "I can't shake this feeling that we're missing something. The leader said the ritual was almost complete. What if there's more?"

Y/N, sitting on the couch with the journal in her lap, nodded. "There might be more to the ritual that we don't know about. We need to go through this journal thoroughly."

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**Later that day:**

**At the dorm:**

The group gathered around the table, the journal open before them. Jin read aloud, "There's a passage here that talks about a hidden artifact, a 'key' to the final ceremony. It says it's hidden in a place 'where the past and present collide.'"

Taehyung frowned. "What does that mean? A museum? An old building?"

Jungkook leaned forward, excitement in his eyes. "There's an old historical museum in town. It's built on the ruins of an ancient temple. That could be the place."

Namjoon agreed. "It's worth a shot. We should check it out."

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**That evening:**

**At the historical museum:**

The group arrived at the museum just before closing time. The curator, a kind elderly woman, welcomed them. "Can I help you with something specific?"

Namjoon explained, "We're looking for any artifacts related to an ancient cult. Specifically, something that might be described as a key."

The curator's eyes widened with recognition. "There is an old artifact we recently acquired. It's said to have mystical properties and is believed to be part of a larger set. It's in the restricted section."

Y/N's heart raced. "Can we see it?"

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**In the restricted section:**

The curator led them to a small, dimly lit room. In a glass case sat a strange, ornate object. It was a small, intricately carved stone, pulsating with a faint, eerie glow.

Hoseok shuddered. "That's it. I can feel it."

The curator hesitated. "Be careful. There are legends that say it's cursed."

Namjoon nodded. "We'll handle it with care. Thank you."

As they examined the artifact, Yoongi noticed something engraved on it. "These symbols match the ones from the journal."

Y/N read the inscription. "It says, 'The key to the shadows lies within the light.' What could that mean?"

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**Back at the dorm:**

The group sat around the table, the artifact in the center. They were deep in thought, trying to decipher its meaning.

Jin suggested, "Maybe it has something to do with light. Should we shine a light through it?"

Jungkook grabbed a flashlight. "Worth a try."

As he shone the light through the stone, it cast a complex pattern of shadows on the wall. The shadows formed a map, revealing a hidden location in the town's outskirts.

Namjoon's eyes widened. "That's it. That's where the final ceremony is supposed to take place."

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**The following night:**

**At the hidden location:**

The group arrived at the outskirts, guided by the map revealed by the artifact. They found themselves at the entrance of an old, abandoned building, overgrown with vines and surrounded by an eerie silence.

Yoongi whispered, "This place gives me the creeps."

Taehyung shivered. "We need to be careful. There could be traps or more cultists."

They cautiously entered the building, their flashlights cutting through the darkness. The air was thick with a sense of foreboding.

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**In the depths of the building:**

The group descended deeper into the building, the sense of unease growing stronger. They found themselves in a large chamber, similar to the one under the church but even more ominous.

Namjoon held up the artifact, which began to glow brighter. "This is it. This is where the final ceremony was supposed to happen."

Suddenly, they heard a noise behind them. The group turned to see a shadowy figure emerging from the darkness. It was the cult leader, his eyes filled with malice.

"You may have stopped the ceremony, but you haven't stopped us. The shadows will rise again."

Jungkook stepped forward, determination in his eyes. "Not if we have anything to say about it."

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**A tense confrontation:**

The cult leader raised his hands, chanting in a dark, ancient language. The air grew colder, and shadows began to writhe and twist around him.

Y/N, holding the journal, began to chant the counter-incantation. The air crackled with energy as the two forces clashed.

Namjoon and the others formed a protective circle around Y/N, their resolve unwavering. "We're with you, Y/N. We can do this."

The cult leader's voice grew louder, more desperate. "You cannot stop the darkness!"

With a final, powerful chant, Y/N finished the counter-incantation. The shadows around the cult leader dissipated, and he collapsed to the ground, defeated.

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**Aftermath:**

The group stood in silence, the weight of their victory sinking in. Namjoon helped Y/N to her feet. "You did it. We did it."

Y/N smiled, though exhaustion was evident on her face. "I couldn't have done it without you all."

As they made their way out of the building, the first light of dawn breaking through the horizon, they knew that while the immediate threat was over, the echoes of the past would continue to haunt them.

But they also knew that together, they could face whatever darkness lay ahead.

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**To be continued...**