Baak : The water demon

After three days in Berchal, Charan and Bharath reached Vagur, a serene lakeside city with dense forests and a mysterious aura. Vagur was their mother’s hometown, a place filled with stories and secrets. Upon arrival, they encountered Ayra, a skilled hunter whose father had once fought alongside their father. Ayra revealed she was investigating a series of mysterious drownings in the nearby lake.6B9FC7

Charan offered their help, and though Ayra hesitated, she eventually agreed. When Charan asked about a place to stay, Ayra invited them to her home. Bharath, however, seemed uncomfortable and reluctant to accept the offer. After some persuading from Charan, he reluctantly agreed, though the tension between Bharath and Ayra was palpable.

The Investigation Begins

At Ayra’s home, Charan noticed her methods were remarkably similar to theirs—fake IDs, aliases, and meticulous research. Over dinner, they reviewed the drowning cases. Charan found it strange that all the victims were trained swimmers, with one even being a champion capable of swimming against strong tides. It didn’t add up—something was luring them to their deaths. They speculated that possession might be involved, but there was no sulfur residue, a common sign of ghostly activity.

During their discussion, Charan noticed a photo of his father with a man Ayra identified as her father. Curious, Charan asked Bharath about the strained relationship between their families. Bharath reluctantly explained.

A Painful Past

Ayra’s mother was killed by a demon, leading her father to become a hunter. He teamed up with Charan and Bharath’s parents, and together they hunted countless paranormal entities. After Charan left for university, their parents often brought Ayra’s father along. During these hunts, Bharath was tasked with training Ayra as a hunter. The two grew close and eventually fell in love.

However, tragedy struck during a hunt when Ayra’s father was killed by a vampire while sacrificing himself to save Charan and Bharath’s parents. In her grief, Ayra blamed their family for her father’s death, severing all ties and breaking up with Bharath. Though years had passed, the pain lingered on both sides.

Charan later confronted Ayra and apologized for his parents’ role in her father’s death. Ayra, in turn, apologized for her accusations and misunderstanding. The reconciliation eased the tension between them, though the memories still hurt.

Piecing the Puzzle

That night, Charan’s research led him to a key discovery: all the victims were connected to the same school and had once been part of a notorious bullying gang. They had tormented a girl named Jenny, mocking her inability to swim and forcing her into the lake, where she drowned.

Charan theorized that Jenny’s ghost might be responsible. Bharath was skeptical. "Why would they willingly go into the lake to face her? To apologize?" he joked.

Charan responded seriously, "If you saw someone you thought was your friend in trouble, wouldn’t you go to them?" Bharath nodded, understanding. They concluded that Jenny’s ghost must be using the victims’ guilt to lure them into the lake.

Ayra informed them that the last surviving member of the gang, Mr. Stuart, was at the lake with his daughter. Alarmed, the group rushed to save them.

The Baak Emerges

At the lake, Bharath gave Charan and Ayra sigil-inscribed coins to destroy the Baak, a malevolent spirit formed when a ghost lingers in water for years. Baaks could mimic the appearance of their victims, luring others to their doom. The group split up to search for Stuart and his daughter.

Charan found their lifeless bodies deep underwater, but as he ascended to warn the others, his leg was trapped by swarming locust-like creatures. Meanwhile, Ayra encountered what appeared to be Stuart’s daughter. Bharath realized it was the Baak and shouted a warning, but Ayra had already lost her coin in the confusion.

Bharath swam toward the Baak, freeing Ayra but losing his own coin in the struggle. Injured and unable to fight effectively, Bharath was dragged underwater. Charan, seeing his brother in danger, swam furiously. Distracting the Baak, he threw his coin to Bharath with pinpoint accuracy. Bharath caught it and pressed it against the Baak, which burned with supernatural fire and reverted to Jenny’s ghostly form. Her vengeance complete, Jenny’s soul was freed, and the Baak dissolved into the lake.

Exhausted and bleeding, Bharath began to sink. Charan and Ayra rushed to his aid, pulling him to shore.

A Bittersweet Farewell

After Bharath recovered, he asked about Ayra. Charan handed him a note she had left, apologizing for the past and thanking them for their help. Without a word, Bharath drove to Ayra’s home, leaving Charan behind.

At her house, Bharath found Ayra preparing to leave. He confronted her, apologized for the past, and expressed his feelings. Ayra reciprocated, and the two shared a passionate kiss. From a distance, Charan watched through the window, smirking before turning to leave them in peace.369DB9

As the Contessa roared to life once again, Charan and Bharath hit the endless road, ready for the next hunt, with the radio softly playing, “She Stole My Heart.”