stairs | jaeyong

# thirteen !¡

7:15 AM | Seoul, South Korea

A loud bang on the door woke Taeyong up. He blinked his sore eyes and squinted it, to get a clear view. The lights were all off, and the only source was the sun rays passing through the white thin curtains of the windows located on the left.

He tried to sit up, but something or perhaps someone prevented him from doing so. It was his roommate, holding him tightly by his waist.

He let out a giggle, admiring the younger's face. His hair looked like a bird's nest and his soft pink lips were split up a little. But another wild bang on the door brought him back to reality.

He tried to wiggle out of Jaehyun's grasp but the other one just groaned and pulled him closer. Sighing, he lightly patted the taller's cheek to wake him up.

With another low whine, he fluttered his eyes open and what he first saw was Taeyong's smile. It immediately made him grin, flashing his dimples.

Seeing his dimples made the older smile even more. He has opened his mouth to wish a 'good morning' but the door banged yet again.

Taeyong glared at the door, while Jaehyun chuckled seeing him murdering whoever was banging the door by his eyes. He lets go of the other's waist as he sits up straight and ruffles his hair while yawning.

The shorter following suit. He climbed down the bed and lazily strolled towards the door. He grabbed the knob, closing his eyes to compose himself before opening the door.

There stood a panicking Mark, who was snatching his hair out of his head. That immediately made the older worried. Mark was about to knock once more but stopped when he noticed the door had been already opened.

He quickly ran into the older's embrace, letting out his tears making Taeyong's shirt wet. Despite being confused about what the actual fuck happened, he hugged him back.

Shortly Jaehyun appeared from behind, furrowing his brows on the scene in front of his eyes. Taeyong rubbed the Canadian's back, whispering comforting words in his hair.

Soon, the youngest calmed down and pulled away. He sniffed, wiping his tears. His nose and eyes were red, breaking the heart of the pair.

"Mark, what happened?" The tallest raised a question.

"Hyuck i-is missing." He retorted, voice sore from crying.

"What!?" Both of the oldest shrieked with big eyes at the same time. Mark could only nod, as a big lump in his throat prevented him from speaking.

"Jaehyun, call the rest in the living room. We need things to discuss." The oldest ordered, pointing a finger towards him as Jaehyun nodded and headed to call the rest of the housemates.

As soon as he left, the silver head face's soften as the side hugged the Canadian and started to go down the stairs along with him. By the time they reached, everyone else was already present there.

They filled the empty spots on the couches. He glanced at everyone. Half of them were either sleepy or had dark patches under their eyes. He sighed, rubbing his palms together.

"As you might know... Hyuck has gone missing just like Sicheng and Taeil, and I think it's time to confront the cops about these all. It's getting creepier day by day." He announced, his voice calm and deep. But everyone knew how fearful he is from inside.

Judging from his sore eyes, anyone could tell he has cried buckets last night. Jungwoo raised his hand, wanting to tell something. Taeyong noticing that, nodded his head, a signal for him to tell whatever he wants while he leaned back.

"Three have already gone missing, I think there will be also another one whom we may find missing the next day." He said lowly, fear obvious in his tone.

"You got a point. I'm pretty sure whoever is doing this, has a pattern. They won't just kidnap random." Johnny said, crossing his arms.

"And also I noticed that this happens during the night time. Everyone goes to sleep and the next day when they wake up they find someone is missing." Jaehyun explained, keeping his arm on Doyoung's shoulder.

Silence filled the room. Everyone was either thinking about the pattern and who could be the next one or who the hell is doing this all.

Taeyong felt his throat go dry. He stood up and walked his way to the kitchen, everyone too engulfed in their thoughts to even notice him.

Entering the kitchen, he grabbed a glass by the counter but just then he noticed a small square shape paper in yellow colour kept on the counter. He picked it up and tried reading it.

Realising it was written in English, he kept the glass on the counter and ran to the living room.

"Guys I found this note in the kitchen!" He exclaimed, raising the note in the air.

"What does it tell?" Yuta asked, shocking the others. They didn't expect him to say a word yet but right now, it didn't matter. What mattered was the note found.

"I don't know it's something written in English. Johnny, can you read it for us?" He asked giving the note to Johnny, who gladly accepted it.

"I'm someone who neither belongs to hell or heaven. God helps those who help themselves." He translates it, as they all had their eyebrows scrunched.

"Is it some sort of riddle?" Doyoung asked looking at the American as Johnny nods in yes.

"It's so confusing..." Mark said, throwing his head back in frustration.

"I don't think we will be able to crack this riddle up that easily. So let's keep it aside and focus on what will we do to prevent another one to go missing." Jaehyun suggested and they all nodded.

Johnny kept the paper on the table and then glass over it so that it doesn't fly. Taeyong took his seat where he sat before, completely forgetting about the water he wanted to drink.

"Guys..." He muttered, his brows knitted. He glanced at Mark who was looking at him, waiting for him to say whatever he wants to say.

"Mark, do you remember about that empty pot?" Mark's brows creased before remembering what happened two nights ago.

He slowly nods in yes, confused on why will Taeyong bring this topic up.

"The pot was empty again." Mark's eyes widen as the others look at them in confusion.

"Wait, what empty pot?" Jungwoo asked, brushing his soft, fluffy brown hair with his hand.

"Despite the housemates going missing, I was still making their dinner in hopes of them to return. But later on, when I check, the pots are empty when they shouldn't be because they didn't eat!"

"And neither of us are eating more than we eat.." Jaehyun added, eyeing them all who were blinking with wide eyes.

"Does that means whoever is doing this is living in the dorm?" Doyoung asked on which Johnny shook his head.

"No that's not possible because we've been searching the whole dorm for a while and found no one except for us." He explained his point of view.

"What if there's a secret room we aren't aware of?" Mark proposed using his movie's knowledge.

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