Bakshak : An abomination

After dealing with the ghost haunting the highway, Charan and Bharath found themselves heading toward a remote village named Berchal. Surrounded by dense woods and a flowing river creek, the village seemed peaceful at first glance. Yet, their father’s diary marked this location, which meant there was something lurking beneath the surface.

A Night in the Forbidden Woods

Elsewhere, two young men, Archit and Ajay, decided to camp in a section of the woods locals called "forbidden." That night, Archit sent a video message to his sister via satellite phone, saying they'd arrived safely. The brothers drank, laughed, and eventually retreated to their tents. But as the forest grew quieter, Ajay noticed movement in the trees. Thinking it was a wild animal, they grabbed their hunting rifle and went out to investigate. They found nothing and returned to their tents, but moments later, a massive creature ripped through their camp and dragged them into the woods. Their screams faded into the night.6ECBAB

Arriving in Berchal

The next morning, Charan and Bharath reached the village. Everything seemed normal, but their instincts told them something was amiss. They visited the forest department, introducing themselves as Sam and Bobby, interns studying environmental science. When they asked if anything strange had been happening in the woods, the ranger initially dismissed their concerns. However, when they pressed, he mentioned that two boys had gone missing the previous night.

“Two boys?” Bharath asked sharply.

“Yes, poor kids. Archit and Ajay,” the ranger replied. Bharath convinced the ranger to let them see the case files. Under the pretense of browsing, they quickly took photos of the documents and left.

At a nearby motel, Charan analyzed the missing persons cases and discovered a chilling pattern: every 12 years, disappearances occurred in the same region. They continued for a year before stopping abruptly. Determined to investigate further, the brothers visited Archit and Ajay's house, where they met their sister. Posing as rangers, they asked her about the boys.

“They messaged me yesterday,” she said. “I got their location through the satellite phone. I’m going to rescue them tomorrow. I’ve already hired an expert ranger.”

The brothers offered to help, but the sister was reluctant. Despite her protests, they joined her rescue party the next morning.

Into the Woods

As the group ventured into the forest, the ranger accompanying them grew suspicious of Bharath and Charan. “You don’t even have proper boots for this terrain,” he remarked. But Bharath proved his worth when he saved the ranger from a bear trap.

When they reached the brothers’ campsite, claw marks on the trees caught Bharath’s attention. The ranger dismissed them as the work of a bear, but Bharath was skeptical. “Why would a bear drag its prey such a long distance without killing it?” he wondered aloud.

From the distance, Archit’s voice suddenly rang out, pleading for help. The ranger rushed toward the sound, but Bharath stopped him. “It’s not Archit. It’s the creature mimicking his voice.”

The ranger scoffed at the idea and pressed on. Bharath followed, keeping a close eye. Moments later, a massive creature ambushed the ranger, but Bharath drove it away with fire. Back at the campsite, Bharath explained everything.

The Legend of the Bakshak

Bharath revealed the creature’s true identity: a Bakshak, also known as a Wendigo in folklore. Charan added, “It’s a human turned into a predator. When someone consumes human flesh to survive, they transform into this monstrous being—taller, faster, and capable of mimicking voices to lure victims.”

Bharath nodded. “They hibernate for 12 years, hunt for a year, and stock their supplies. Fire is the only way to destroy them.”

Together, they prepared to survive the night. Using traps and fire, they managed to keep the Bakshak at bay until dawn. The next morning, they tracked its hideout to an abandoned mine.

The Showdown

Inside the mine, they found Archit and Ajay alive but trapped in a cage. As Charan, the sister, and the ranger worked to free the boys, the Bakshak returned from its hunt. It attacked, capturing them all. But Bharath, hidden nearby, sprang into action, wielding a flare gun. The Bakshak swatted him aside before he could fire.

Charan, despite a severe leg injury, engaged the creature with his knife. As it pinned him and prepared to strike, Bharath regained consciousness and distracted it, giving Charan just enough time to stab it again. Bharath fired the flare gun directly into the creature’s head. The Bakshak ignited, its monstrous form consumed by flames. With a final blow from Bharath’s silver-edged knife, the creature was destroyed.

Aftermath

Charan collapsed from blood loss, and the sister's family took him to the hospital, covering all expenses. When Charan recovered, the brothers prepared to leave. The sister offered them money in gratitude, but Bharath refused. “You didn’t hire us,” he said with a smile. “Just promise to keep your brothers safe.”142A91

As they said their goodbyes, the sister kissed Bharath on the cheek. “Thank you for everything,” she whispered.

The brothers climbed back into their car. As the Contessa roared to life, the radio played “She Stole My Heart.” The endless road stretched before them, and they drove off once again, ready for the next hunt.