𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓 | (𝐆)𝐈-𝐃𝐋𝐄

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

If there was one thing my cousin Miyeon was good at, it was panicking on my behalf.

“Soyeon, please. Don’t even think about going there. I’m serious.”

I blinked at her from across the cafeteria table, straw between my lips. “Going where?”

“You know what I mean. The mansion. The one behind the old gym building? The one everyone says is haunted?”

I tried not to laugh. She looked so dead-serious about it—eyes wide, hands fidgeting with her sleeves. “Miyeon, do you actually believe those stories?”

“They’re not just stories,” she hissed. “People have heard screaming. Lights flickering. Doors creaking open on their own.”

“Sounds like poor electricity and a squeaky hinge to me.”

She groaned. “Soyeon!”

“What?” I shrugged. “It’s just a house. People are always exaggerating.”

“You’re seriously thinking about going, aren’t you?” Her eyes narrowed, and I knew I was busted.

“...Maybe,” I said, trying to sound casual.

“Unbelievable. You always do this—get curious, and next thing we know, you’re knee-deep in something wild and regretting nothing.”

“Sounds like a good time to me.”

“Sounds like a good way to get haunted.” Her voice dropped. “Promise me you won’t go alone.”

I smiled and leaned back in my chair. “I promise I’ll be careful.”

But honestly? That was a lie. I’d already made up my mind the moment I heard about the place.

---

So here I was.

Alone. Standing in front of the mansion.

The gate was open. Not just unlocked—wide open, like it was waiting for me. Great start.

I glanced back once. No Miyeon. Good. She would've dragged me home by the collar. I didn’t want to risk her getting scared or, worse, actually hurt.

I stepped inside. The moment my shoes touched the marble floor, the door creaked shut behind me.

“...Okay, creepy,” I muttered.

The weird part? It wasn’t that creepy.

The place was gorgeous. Antique furniture, chandeliers still glowing with warm light, vases with fresh flowers—even the air didn’t smell musty. This was supposed to be abandoned?

I walked deeper in, my footsteps echoing. The silence was thick, but not suffocating. It was... peaceful.

And weird.

I hadn’t seen a single speck of dust. No cobwebs. No creaky floorboards. The place looked lived in.

“Okay, this can’t be right...” I murmured, trailing my fingers along the polished banister of the grand staircase.