The fog was impenetrable. It had been surrounding the ship like a curse for God knows how long. No matter how hard Siwon peered into the murky depths, he could make out nothing.

No landmarks, no other ships, not even the sea itself. Everything was blotted out by the un-Godly fog.

"It's a curse I tell you," Donghae whispered to his companion Hyukjae. "A terrible curse. We're going to die in these waters." 

"Hae be still, hush now." Eunhyuk murmured taking the trembling smaller sailor's hand. "Don't speak such nonsense,"

"It's true Hyukkie, we've been cursed by a sea witch I am sure of it." 

"Hush. Don't be silly, we'll be fine, we have Captain Choi guiding us, he's the best navigator in the land, we'll get home safe."

"But - "

"There's no such thing as a sea witch Hae."

"That's what they all say, right before they die." Donghae fretted.

"Ssh you're just tired and imagining things," Hyukjae soothed holding the other close. "All is well."

Kyuhyun threw a scornful look their way before shaking his head, snorting as he ascended the stair to the helm, and their Captain, who was still trying unsuccessfully to squint through the fog.

"What time is it?" Siwon enquired.

"Hard to say." Kyuhyun murmured. "This fog is so thick, it's impossible to tell if it's day or night, let alone which direction we're heading in. We could have been going in circle for days."

"Indeed." Siwon sighed. "What is causing it to linger so?"

"Donghae thinks it's a sea witch curse, the idiot." Kyuhyun scoffed.

"Hm." Siwon frowned. "I wouldn't mock such powers Kyu, it's bad luck, and we have enough of that already."

"You can't be telling me you think he's right?" Kyuhyun balked. "You think a sea witch may have cursed our ship? Don't make me laugh, they don't exist,"

"I'm not saying anything, simply that I wouldn't rule it out. Stranger things have happened at sea," Siwon replied.

"Ships disappearing along the coast, survivors claiming they were swallowed whole by leviathans, dragged down by the devil himself to meet Davy Jones," Jongwoon murmured from the wheel. "Evil rules these waters gentlemen, mark my words, we will not escape her unscathed,"

Siwon felt a shiver run down his spine. Jongwoon was an odd man, he dressed only in dark clothing, and half his face was covered by a white mask, the derivative of a frightful incident when his ship was set upon by pirates, the resulting battle permanently disfiguring his face.

Kim Jongwoon had sailed much of the known parts of the sea, and had horrible and terrifying tales to tell, ones that seemed unbelievable, but the uncanny way he described the events made them life-like, as though you were there witnessing the horrors yourself.

Most of the crew was afraid of him, superstitious men like Donghae believed him to be a shaman or an ill omen for seafarers. Siwon asked him to joi