The Sound of Silence ||| Jongwoo (Ateez)

1

Safety. Peace.

That's all Wooyoung wanted from life now.

No more bustling cities, no more overwhelming situations.

He was ready to get away from it all, which is why he found himself smiling up at a small cottage by the sea that he could proudly call his own.

It was a quaint, simple thing, made of sandy siding and decorated with white stone around the bottom. The same white stone made up the chimney coming from the roof, and all the windows and doors were painted white.

Inside had been decorated with a very stereotypical seaside theme, full of seashells and sea glass and multiple shades of blue.

And Wooyoung loved it all. He hadn't hesitated to accept the offer for it to come fully furnished when the real estate office offered.

He looked around while setting down his two pieces of luggage filled with the only possessions he deemed worthy to keep. Clothes, shoes, some jewelry, nothing special, for he had nothing he felt could be special anymore.

But that is exactly what he was hoping to change.

A new start.

With one last look at his new home, Wooyoung left to walk into town. He loved that it was close enough that he didn't need to worry about owning a car if he didn't want to, but just far enough away that he wouldn't be bothered.

The fresh, salty air ruffled his blonde, wavy hair. It was filled with thousands of hopeful tomorrows, whispered promises, and mischievous clues as to what his new life would bring.

All he had to do was listen.

Once he arrived, Wooyoung instantly fell in love with the little town as well. It consisted of a small, four block radius filled with shops and restaurants, then houses were built around it going up and down the coast and into the mainland. There was only one grocery store, two gas stations, and one school that taught every grade.

He couldn't help but smile when he saw a mother walking with her two children, both holding ice cream cones that dripped messily over their tiny hands. Yet they had the brightest smiles on their faces.

Wooyoung spent the rest of the day exploring his new home while keeping an eye out for 'Help Wanted' signs. A job was the last thing he needed to make his move here official. He had a little money saved up, so he had time, but he wouldn't be able to support himself forever.

In the center of town, there was an elegant fountain that had been built with a beautiful stone mermaid perched in the center. Whoever had carved her had been a master because every detail, from each individual scale to the way her hair flowed over her shoulders, was immaculate.

She was sitting with her tail curled beneath her so she could hold both her hands out, palms facing up, which allowed water to bubble playfully from them.

A few different seating areas had been set up around her, designating it as a place for people to come and spend their time.

And there was something even better.

A bulletin board!

Wooyoung made his way over to start scanning for any kind of local posting for a job. There were a few for odd jobs like mowing, cleaning houses, and walking dogs. They would do if he couldn't find anything else.

Then another flyer caught his eye. It was tucked behind a few others and turning brown and yellow due to age.

'Beware the Siren' was written in large, hasty letters.