Devil in the Fog
This article is focused on Janus, the foggy planet with strict adherence to law.
Don't go out in the fog.
If you do, don't go alone.
If you must, don't follow the red eyes.
If the Devil finds you, may it be painless.
If you do, don't go alone.
If you must, don't follow the red eyes.
If the Devil finds you, may it be painless.
Fact?
The Devil in the Fog is a ghost-like creature that lurks in the Janian fog when it's thickest. No form can be seen except for its glowing red eyes. According to the stories, this creature snatches people it finds wandering in the fog alone. No hint of the person will ever be found. Even their footprints abruptly end, with no sign of a struggle or any other footprints around.Many stories claim the Devil is the tormented spirit of those who died in the fog, and each person lost to one becomes a Devil themselves, doomed to haunt the fog as a ghost. The idea remains strong in Janian culture, spawning numerous books, films, plays, costumes, pranks, and more over the centuries.
Evidence
Since the planet's colonization, there have been reports of unexplained red lights in the fog. Some saw such lights right before they disappeared, or around the time of other strange and deadly events. The lights have long been associated with unexplained occurrences during the thickest fog.Variations
Regional myths attribute other malicious acts to the Devil, not just disappearances. It might drain compad batteries to prevent people from calling for help, or manipulate navigation equipment to send people to dangerous areas. One tale even says the Devil will cut climbers' ropes, plunging them to their deaths.Or Fiction?
Skeptics are quick to suggest that the Devil, like many folk creatures, was invented to frighten children into staying indoors during fog storms. Most reports are anecdotes - easily fabricated, misremembered, or exaggerated. What events have been proven, such as unexplained disappearances, must have answers we haven't uncovered yet. Jumping to supernatural conclusions makes it less likely we'll find them.Most would agree these arguments are well reasoned. After all, despite innumerable investigations, none have found evidence that supports the Devil's existence. Yet most Janians have personal stories of strange happenings during thick fog, and few are convinced the Devil, or something like it, doesn't exist.
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Author Commentary
NotspirationThe last line of this article always gets Devil Inside by Utada stuck in my head. The song's chorus has the lines "Maybe there's a devil / or something like it inside of me".
A very fun ghost story ^^ I can understand both why people do and don't believe it
Thanks! <3
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