"This is such a dumb plan," Yoongi sighs with a shake of his head. He sits there on Namjoon's couch with Taehyung next to him.

"We don't know exactly what we're up against," Namjoon further explains.

I know he doesn't like it anymore than my brother does, and I want to back him up, but even I have to agree, running away won't fix anything.

"Joon," I call to him, placing a hand on his. He's seated at the edge of the coffee table, leaning towards me from where I am on the recliner. "He's going to find us one way or another. We should stay. Fight."

Namjoon flips his hand around to intertwine our fingers. His grip pulses, tightening and loosening. He's worried. Not just about the people we care for, but for me. He doesn't want to lose me. Not again.

"Please, Joon. Ignoring it before didn't change anything. We need to put an end to this." Even as I say it, I'm still frightened, but we're back where we were when Jungkook had truly been alive.

Now that he's in some reincarnated form of a drawing of mine, it's all returned to that nightmare we all had forgotten once Jungkook died. I can't go through that again. I hate not remembering everything. The memories that resurfaced every time I put myself in a similar predicament aren't enough, but the feelings are there. That betrayal, my broken heart, finding refuge in Namjoon.

Up until recently, it had been a distant pull but they've settled. It's all I can really rely on to know that all of this isn't just some horrible dream I can wake up from.

Namjoon exhales with a huff, giving into my pleas. "Okay, we'll stay. I'm not even sure how we should defend ourselves, but you're right. Running away solves nothing. It - they - will just keep finding us."

Taehyung readily nods his head. "I'm sure we can find something on the web. Anything to give us some sort of leverage. There's a ton of lore on demons. There has to be some truth to the stories."

We all turn our heads to look at Taehyung as if there's suddenly two of him sitting there.

"What?" He shrugs his shoulders. "I don't why you all are so surprised. I am an artist. I've seen more depictions of Hell than the average person."

Yoongi averts his gaze to me and Joon's clasped hands. "I guess it's settled then. We research and find all we can about incubi. Aside from the obvious, of course."

"We should focus on how they can be killed," I add onto without a second thought.

"I'm not against murder, but," Namjoon pauses, studying me carefully, "are you sure that's what you want?"

"They wouldn't hesitate to do it to us," Yoongi chimes in. "I'm with Y/n. If one of us has to die, I'd prefer it if it were the guy who wants to fuck my sister."

A blush creeps up my neck to my cheeks, and Namjoon awkwardly clears his throat.

"Just because we don't say it aloud doesn't mean it's not what he's trying to do." Yoongi's expression hardens. His lips purse into a thin line, eyes narrowed into slits. "There's no fucking way I'll let him lay his hands on her."

"He'll have to get through us first," Namjoon adds on. "I'll do whatever I have to do to keep your sister safe."

"Ditto," Taehyung agrees.

×××××××

"Are we ready?" Namjoon asks all three of us.

We're currently locked in his bedroom, the only space we deem safe enough for us to be in. There are only two exits. The fire scape outside the single, tall window and the door boarded shut.

On his dresser beside it, there's a large, plastic container full of oil and another filled with water. Both blessed by a priest. I didn't bother asking Taehyung how he was able to convince the man to do it when he came back with the bottles. Just that I'm grateful he had.

Exorcising an incubus is impossible to do when the body they have is their own. They aren't possessing anyone. I don't know what's more terrifying. That they're a demon and human hybrid, or that when they die, they simply go to hell and wait to be born again.

Scratch that, knowing that this incubus could just come back and terrorize us all over again is definitely more scary.

There's only one way to permanently get rid of him, and we need Jungkook to do it. Since we have no idea where he is or what happened to him, we've stocked up on the things that are supposed to deter incubi.

Hence, the holy oil and water. Each of us is also wearing a cross somewhere on our bodies. Mine is hanging around my neck. Yoongi and Taehyung both have bracelets. Namjoon's cross is etched onto a ring around his middle finger.

We also have a bag of salt, which doesn't quite make much sense to me, but Taehyung insisted that it acts as a repellent to unholy creatures. I know next to nothing so who am I to question his knowledge.

I wish there was something to reign in my fear before my heart burst out of my chest from how hard it's pounding. Up until a few minutes, I was fine. Well, as fine as one can be knowing they're a demon's intended target, but there's a sinking feeling in my stomach, like I'm just setting myself up to be trapped.

My next breath lurches in my throat as I hear something crash outside. Footsteps follow soon after so I can only assume that the front door has been destroyed, and that the intruder has no intention of playing nice.

It suddenly becomes quiet as whoever it is pauses their movement. I can't tell where they are in Namjoon's apartment. Only that it's just a matter of time before they find all four us in this bedroom.

"Y/n?"

I freeze from where I stand behind Yoongi. Namjoon and Taehyung are positioned by him, acting as a shield.

A shield meant to protect me.

But, the person in the apartment isn't the incubus, it's Jungkook.

No one lets up though.

"Guys, it's just Kook," I mumble.

Yoongi glances over his shoulder. "Is it? There's no telling what's out there."

"Don't be ridiculous. He left to figure out how to save us," I argue.

"Oh, yeah?" Yoongi turns to face me. "Then why didn't he just ring the doorbell instead of breaking in?"

"I...," I trail off. Because my brother is right.

He points a stern finger at me. "Stay right here."

But, Jungkook calls for me again. "Where are you? What happened to the door?"

"See, Yoongs? It wasn't him." I don't know why I protest. Maybe because I feel guilty for being unfaithful. For a lot of things, actually, but after everything, I just want this one thing. For Jungkook to be here safe and sound.

"Don't patronize m-"

Any other words Yoongi plans on saying get promptly cut short as the doorknob to the bedroom starts to rattle.

"Y/n, are you in there?"

Yoongi presses a finger to his lips and shakes his head at me to not answer. I careen towards the door, but my brother swiftly pushes me away.

"Y/n?" Jungkook asks again. The door rattles against the frame. The boards shutting us in strain against every push.

"Taehyung, I thought you bolted the planks into the wall?" Namjoon frantically whispers.

Taehyung looks at him with wides eyes. "I did..."

Jungkook is strong, but even I know he's not that strong. Who in the world is standing out there?

I get my answer when the boards finally fall to the floor. The nails used to keep them upright are still stuck in the walls, and they've been stripped of their grooves.

Shit.

Unlike the front door, the one leading into Namjoon's bedroom swings softly on its hinges. At the entrance, with a crooked grin and eyes ablaze in a dark red, is the incubus.

Wearing Jungkook's face.

a/n: life has been hectic lately but FINALLY the long awaited chapter before things get even more intense. i think one of the reasons i put it off for sinking was because i'm sad to finish posting all the parts and for this book to marked complete. i don't want it to end, but i can't keep asking you wait either. soooo, here we are. i plan on making this book my focus until it's done. hopefully, quicker updates coming soon!