(A/N):
Drop a meme here that you find funny. Or reflects your mood.
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The two cannibals in Ghost Rider's grip shrieked until their throats tore,
Their twisted bodies writhing as fire ate through their souls.
And then—
"____"
"____"
"____"
Silence.
Their forms collapsed into glowing embers,
Their ashes sifting through his skeletal fingers and scattering across the bloodstained cave floor.
Ghost Rider slowly lowered his arms, the chains clattering against his burning ribs.
His gaze shifted.
"____"
The third cannibal—
The one he had kicked—
Still clung weakly to the stone wall, his body bent in ways no normal man could survive.
Gra...
A bubbling, ragged sound rattled from his throat.
His jaw quivered, but no words came—
Just broken grumbles.
Any ordinary man would have been dead.
But these creatures… they endured.
They lingered in agony, crawling shadows of humanity.
Ghost Rider didn't even walk toward him.
He simply tilted his flaming skull, a low growl reverberating from the hollow chest cavity.
GRRR...
"PATHETIC."
With a lazy wave of his hand, the air itself ignited.
Hellfire surged across the cave, coiling like a serpent, wrapping the deformed cannibal in blazing chains of flame.
The creature's eyes bulged as the fire sank into him—
Not burning flesh first, but soul.
"____"
He tried to scream, but the crushed chest from Ghost Rider's earlier kick silenced him.
Only a strangled wheeze escaped as his body convulsed against the wall.
The fire climbed higher, consuming him piece by piece until nothing remained but blackened stone and drifting ash.
Ghost Rider lowered his hand.
The cave returned to its oppressive silence, the stench of charred flesh mixing with the coppery reek of old blood.
His flaming sockets turned back toward the boy by the statue.
The boy pressed himself against the cold stone, trembling.
"____"
Even freed, his fear only deepened under the suffocating weight of the flaming skeleton before him.
Ghost Rider didn't look back.
His burning sockets were fixed on the grotesque statue—
The frog-headed demon, clutching a child in its claws, tongue frozen mid-slither.
The thing reeked of corruption and sins.
Not just carved stone,
But something older… something wrong.
"YOU DO NOT BELONG HERE."
His skeletal fist clenched, chains rattling.
Then—
CRACK!
With one devastating punch, the statue exploded into shards.
Dust and stone fragments rained down, scattering across the gore-stained floor.
The silence that followed was heavier than before.
"____"
"____"
"____"
Then—
HOOOOOOO—
A guttural roar ripped through the cave.
From the shattered pieces of the idol,
A black smoke erupted, writhing like a living thing.
It coiled together, forming the vague outline of a monstrous figure with glaring eyes that glowed deep crimson.
The smoke's voice echoed, vibrating against the walls.
"YOU DARE MEDDLE IN WHAT IS MINE… FLAME-BORN."
Ghost Rider tilted his head, unshaken.
"SPEAK."
The smoke swelled larger, its presence pressing down like a storm before lightning.
"I AM BOUND, BUT NOT FOR LONG. THIS STATUE WAS MY VEIL, MY GATEWAY. YOUR HAND HAS BROKEN THE SEAL."
The boy whimpered, covering his ears, but the voice drilled into his skull like nails.
The smoke's eyes locked onto Ghost Rider, burning with pure hatred.
"WHEN I AM BORN INTO THIS WORLD, THE FIRST I SHALL DEVOUR… IS YOU."
The cave quaked with the declaration, the black mist thrashing violently before dispersing into the shadows, leaving only a lingering chill and the stench of sulfur.
Ghost Rider stood silent, flames licking higher across his skull.
GAGAGAGA~
"TRY."
Puff...
With a sharp puff of black smoke,
The Ghost Rider's blazing form vanished, leaving Jojo standing there in his human body once again.
The oppressive heat of hellfire faded, and silence returned to the ruins.
"____"
"____"
Jojo turned, his eyes landing on the boy who was still frozen in place, staring at him with wide, worried eyes.
For a moment, the kid didn't seem to know whether to run or bow.
Jojo let out a weary sigh and scratched the back of his neck.
Sigh~
"Relax, kid. I don't bite—well, not unless someone really deserves it."
The awkward joke slipped out, clumsy but enough to break the tension.
The boy blinked, then gave a nervous, almost shaky laugh.
Haha...
"Come on,"
Jojo said, starting to walk ahead.
His tone was firm but not unkind.
"It's not safe here. Stick close."
The boy hesitated for only a second before nodding quickly and hurrying after him.
"____"
As they moved through the shadows, he awkwardly introduced himself, tripping over his own words.
"T-thank you… for saving me,"
He said, his voice small but genuine.
Jojo glanced sideways at him, his expression softening just a fraction.
He didn't reply right away—
Just gave a small nod, his boots crunching against the broken stone as he led the way forward.
Nod~
"____"
As the boy stumbled through his introduction,
Jojo slowed his pace, his eyes narrowing.
Frown~
"What really happened back there?"
He asked.
"Why did it look like the whole village was being controlled?"
The boy shook his head quickly, fear flashing in his eyes.
"I… I don't know,"
He whispered, voice unsteady.
Jojo studied him for a beat longer but didn't press.
The kid was lying, fear had its reasons.
If he was telling the truth, answers would come another way.
With a short grunt, Jojo turned back to the path.
They emerged from the cave mouth,
The cool night air rushing in like a wave after the suffocating stench of stone and smoke.
The forest stretched before them—
Dark, endless, and whispering with unseen movements.
"Stay close,"
Jojo muttered, setting his boots on the dirt path.
The boy nodded, hurrying to keep up as they pushed into the woods, heading toward the distant direction where the village's gate waited.
Nod~
"____"
The boy's foot caught a root and he stumbled forward—
Straight toward a taut steel chain strung low between two trees, glinting faintly in the moonlight.
One misstep and his head would've rolled.
Jojo's hand shot out, gripping the back of the boy's collar.
He yanked him backward just in time.
The chain sang with a faint metallic twang as the boy froze, eyes wide in terror.
Twang~
"Watch your step,"
Jojo growled, steadying him.
"These woods are rigged with deathtraps. Those cannibals knew what they were doing."
The boy nodded frantically, unable to speak.
Nod~
"____"
Jojo gave the chain one last glare before guiding him forward, every footstep careful, deliberate.
They weaved past hidden snares, pressure spikes,
And other cruel contraptions until the trees thinned and the looming outline of the village gate appeared.
It wasn't locked.
Jojo pressed a hand to the wood, the hinges groaning as the gate swung open with a long, eerie creak.
Creak~
He stepped through, scanning both directions, then motioned for the boy to follow.
Beyond the gate lay the Hobbs Spring restaurant, still and silent,
Its shadowy windows watching like empty eyes.
Jojo didn't even glance back—
He led the boy straight past, deeper into the tree line, avoiding the open road.
"Too many eyes out there,"
He muttered.
"We don't need trouble finding us."
The forest thinned, giving way to the low hum of distant traffic.
Soon, the glow of the highway broke through the branches.
Jojo exhaled, pulling out his phone.
"Sheriff Richards,"
He said as soon as the line picked up.
His voice was calm but edged with steel.
"Come get us. I've saved the boy."
Sheriff Richards was already waiting at the shoulder of the highway, headlights cutting through the night like twin beacons.
He stepped out the moment Jojo and the boy emerged from the treeline, relief softening his otherwise weathered face.
"Over here!"
Richards called, waving them forward.
Jojo gave the boy a reassuring nudge before leading him across the gravel.
Richards opened the back door, helping the boy inside, then slid into the driver's seat while Jojo settled in beside him.
The cruiser hummed to life, rolling down the dark stretch of asphalt toward the settlement.
"____"
"____"
"____"
The sheriff finally broke the silence.
"You actually found him… thank God. The whole village will be shocked—"
Jojo cut him off sharply.
"Don't tell anyone."
Richards glanced at him in the rearview, startled.
"____"
"What do you mean? His parents—"
"They're not themselves,"
Jojo said flatly, his eyes shadowed by the glow of the passing streetlights.
"Not the villagers. Not anyone. Until I find out what's controlling them, the boy stays with me. Understand?"
Richards tightened his grip on the wheel.
"You're asking me to lie to the whole settlement. They'll notice—"
"Better they don't know he's saved than put him back in danger,"
Jojo interrupted, his voice carrying an edge of fire beneath the calm.
He glanced over his shoulder at the boy, who sat quietly, gaze fixed on the floor mats, still shaken.
"I'll keep him safe,"
Jojo added, softer now.
"But for that, no one can know. Not yet."
The sheriff's jaw flexed as if he wanted to argue,
But in the end,
He nodded grimly and pressed harder on the accelerator, headlights carving their way through the night.
Nod~
"____"
Because even he couldn't escape the control.
The front door shut with a dull thud as Jojo, Richards,
And the boy stepped inside the quiet house.
Midnight had blanketed the streets outside, leaving the settlement eerily still.
Freya was the first to rise from her seat on the couch, her sharp eyes immediately catching sight of the boy half-hidden behind Jojo's side.
"____"
"____"
Beside her, Inadu leaned forward,
Her expression unreadable but her curiosity evident.
Jojo met Freya's gaze, ready for a barrage of questions,
But instead she simply arched a brow.
Her tone was calm—
Too calm.
"You should freshen up,"
She said, already moving toward the kitchen.
"I'll heat the food."
Jojo blinked, slightly taken aback, but he didn't protest.
"____"
He could tell by the subtle flick of her gaze toward the boy that she'd saved her questions for later—
Questions she'd expect answers to.
The boy lingered awkwardly near the door, eyes darting between the unfamiliar faces, his shoulders tense.
Richards gave him a reassuring pat before slipping off his coat, trying not to intrude too much in what was clearly Jojo's circle.
Inadu finally spoke, her voice low and edged with curiosity.
"You've brought back more than you left with."
Her eyes flicked to the boy.
"Did you solve the problem."
Before Jojo could answer,
The faint clatter of dishes came from the kitchen as Freya began preparing the table.
The warmth of homey sounds contrasted with the heaviness in the air,
As if the house itself knew something unspoken lingered between them all.
Jojo exhaled slowly, loosening his collar.
"I'll explain,"
He muttered.
After a few minutes,
Freya returned with steaming plates, Inadu close behind her, and together they laid the food across the table.
The scent filled the house, breaking the silence that had settled like a heavy curtain.
Jojo and the boy sat down.
The kid wasted no time, devouring the meal as if he hadn't eaten in days.
His hands trembled slightly as he shoveled food into his mouth, but the relief in his eyes was unmistakable.
Jojo ate slower, quietly watching him, noting every twitch and glance.
"____"
When the plates were nearly empty,
Jojo leaned closer to Inadu.
His voice dropped to a whisper only she could hear.
"Take him upstairs. Give him the spare room. And lock the door from the outside."
Inadu's brows rose slightly, but she didn't question him.
Jojo shifted his gaze to the boy.
"It's just for tonight. Trust me,"
He said.
The boy paused, then nodded slowly, his tired eyes showing a mix of confusion and acceptance.
Nod~
"____"
He let Inadu lead him away, up the creaking stairs.
A faint click of the lock followed.
Sheriff Richards cleared his throat.
"I'll take my leave. Got to make sure no one gets curious."
He shot Jojo a knowing look, then headed out into the night.
The door shut, and silence settled again.
"____"
Jojo turned toward Freya and Inadu, ready to finally explain—
Thud. Thud.
When the soft pad of bare feet came down the staircase.
Hope appeared, her hair a little messy from sleep, eyes sparkling with mischief.
She walked up to Jojo, leaned close, and whispered in his ear with a playful wink,
Wink~
"You really don't make it easy to stay out of your business, how about a long drive?"
Before Jojo could reply, Freya smirked, folding her arms.
Smirk~
"Careful, Hope. If Klaus could hear this, he'd be having a headache—and if his dead heart still beat, it would be pounding out of his chest."
The corner of Jojo's mouth twitched at Freya's jab.
Let out a chuckle.
Chuckle~
He knew what he had to say next wasn't going to be lighthearted at all.
Jojo leaned back in his chair, his eyes distant as he began explaining.
About how he found out the whole village they were currently staying is being conrolled including sheriff Richard.
He spoke of following the van into the woods, the brutal traps laced with old blood, the cave filled with rotting heads,
And the grotesque statue of the frog-headed demon.
Freya's expression hardened as he described the how the demon pledged it would return soon and killing him is he first thing it will do.
But when Jojo explaiend in details how the controlled villagers—
All of them moving like puppets under some unseen control—
Both Freya and Inadu stiffened.
"____"
"____"
Freya's brow furrowed, her lips thinning into a sharp line.
Frown~
"I felt no spellwork. No enchantments in the air, no wards in the ground. Nothing that would explain that kind of mass control."
Jojo nodded grimly.
Nod~
"That's what unsettled me. They didn't act cursed in the normal sense… more like they were switched off and someone else was driving their bodies."
Inadu's eyes narrowed thoughtfully, and she leaned forward, her voice dropping lower.
Frown~
"That's because it isn't the kind of magic used on the target directly. This is black magic—not woven directly into their souls, but tied to something external. A medium."
Freya turned to her, confused.
"External?"
Inadu's tone sharpened, her words cutting clean.
"Yes. A nail. A strand of hair. A piece of clothing. Anything that carries their essence. With the right ritual, you can bind the subject's body and will through that medium. The victim becomes a hollow shell, obeying as long as the link remains intact. But to do that extreme control needed with hatred."
Jojo's jaw clenched.
"So if we want to free them…"
"We have to destroy the object holding the curse,"
Inadu finished.
"Find it, break it—and the strings controlling these people snap."
Freya's frown deepened as her gaze flicked toward the ceiling where the boy slept.
Frown~
"Which means whoever's behind this has a collection. A hoard of these mediums hidden away."
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(Author's POV)
(A/N):
Thanks for reading the chapter!
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