𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐎𝐟 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝 || 𝐭𝐚𝐞𝐤𝐨𝐨𝐤 ✓

EP21: Shrouded in mystery

The dusky light filtered through the curtains, lending an air of mystery. Taehyung clutched his sleepy daughter tightly to his chest, seeking solace in her innocent embrace. His heart pounded with fear, his mind haunted by the horrifying scene he had witnessed in the kitchen earlier.

Hyun-Joo's lifeless body sprawled on the cold wooden floor of the kitchen, her unseeing eyes fixated on some unknown, distant point.

He gently rocked Taehee back and forth, as if hoping her presence would chase away the nightmarish images that threatened to consume him, his heart heavy with guilt and regret. His daughter, still half-asleep, blinked groggily at him.

"M-my doll," he began, his voice trembling, "I need to tell you something." He took a deep breath, his voice quivering with dread. "Earlier today, when I was angry, I said something really terrible to Hyun-Joo. I told her to... go die."

His daughter's eyes grew wide in curiosity, the remnants of sleep slowly dissipating as she processed his words. "Ma-ma… y-you said w-what?" Her voice was filled with confusion.

Taehyung shut his eyes tight, his heart aching. "I-i jinxed it and I deeply regret it. But… you know what, sweetheart? Our maid... she's gone..."

The young girl's brow furrowed, as she looked up at Taehyung with a mixture of sadness and confusion. She couldn't understand why Taehyung looked so distressed. "J-inxed what? gone? I don't understand."

Taehyung's eyes glistened with tears as he continued, "I didn't know that my words would affect so much. I can't help but feel that I have cursed her in some way. I never imagined anything like this would actually happen. I'm a very bad person. You're mama is a very bad person."

His daughter reached out and hugged him tightly, her small arms offering comfort to a troubled Taehyung. "It's okay, mama," she whispered, her voice soothing. "Y-you are not bad. You c-can never be a-a bad person to me… I love you, ma-ma."

Taehyung held his daughter close upon hearing her innocent words. Taehee sure had no idea what was happening around her. He couldn't shake the feeling that he needed to confront the demons of his own regret.

As time passed like a cruel eternity, the sound of tires screeching to a halt outside their house shattered the silence. Jungkook's car pulled up, accompanied by the arrival of another vehicle. Taehyung's heart raced even faster as he heard rushed footsteps approaching the front door.

Jungkook burst into the house, his heart pounding with a mixture of dread and determination. He rushed inside the gloom filled dwelling, leaving the forensic team to their grim work. He knew he needed to find Taehyung and bring him some semblance of comfort in this nightmarish situation.

As he made his way through the shrouded corridor of their home, anxiety gnawed at his insides. The knowledge that something was terribly wrong weighed heavily on him. He had to find his husband and their precious daughter, and ensure their safety, as the dark cloud of uncertainty hung overhead.

Finally, Jungkook burst into the bedroom, his footsteps echoing through the quiet space. His breath caught in his throat when he saw Taehyung sitting at the edge of the bed, eyes wide with fear, as he put his daughter back down on the bed. Without hesitation, he traversed the room and enveloped Taehyung in a tight, reassuring embrace.

Taehyung clung to him desperately, his body trembling with fear. "Jungkook," he whispered, his voice quivering, "I-I don't know what's happening. I saw her... Hyun-Joo. In the kitchen. She's... she's lying on the floor. I even tried to wake her up!"

Jungkook's heart ached as he gently stroked his back. "Shh, tell me what happened. Clearly."

Taehyung's voice shook as he recounted the chilling events. "I woke up to get a glass of water," he began, his words slow and deliberate, as if reliving the nightmare. "But as I entered the kitchen, I felt this... strange presence around me. The air felt heavy, suffocating."