Ephemeral Shadows: Whispers Beyond the Bakery ||Woosan smut||

Chapter 8

The night terror's relentless grip loosened, and San found himself back in the unsettling theater of dreams. The haunting reel of Wooyoung's injuries continued, each scene unfolding with a painful precision.

This time, the memories led to a moment that seemed more recent—an incident in the bakery where what looked to be Wooyoung's grandpa was absent. The atmosphere in the dream shifted, carrying the weight of an unspoken absence.

In this fractured reflection of reality, Wooyoung's hand reached for a tray, and a sudden misstep sent it crashing to the floor. The sound of shattering echoed through the bakery, and a piece of broken glass lay dangerously close to his foot.

The absence of what looked to be Wooyoung's grandpa left a void in the dream—a void that echoed with a profound silence. As Wooyoung gingerly stepped over the broken glass, the vulnerability in his eyes mirrored the shadows that danced on the bakery walls.

The dream became a canvas of missed moments and unattended wounds, where the absence of guidance left its mark. San, now aware of the fractured reflections in Wooyoung's past, grappled with a sense of helplessness, unable to intervene in the dreamscape that replayed the untold chapters of pain.

The dreamscape twisted again, this time into a haunting tableau that resonated with the echoes of suffering. What looked to be Wooyoung's grandpa, a figure of strength and wisdom, stood in the familiar setting of the bakery, but the atmosphere had shifted.

As he worked alongside Wooyoung, an unsettling pallor hung over his features. The warm glow of the ovens dimmed, casting long shadows that seemed to dance with a morose rhythm. The scent of flour and baked goods mingled with an underlying bitterness, and the air became heavy with unspoken sorrow.

In the dream, what looked to be Wooyoung's grandpa coughed—a deep, resonant sound that carried an ominous weight. Each cough seemed to echo through the bakery like a somber drumbeat, leaving behind a chilling sense of foreboding. With each convulsion, a disturbing reality unveiled itself—dark splotches of blood staining the handkerchief he pressed to his lips.

The realization unfolded in a haunting silence. The once-vibrant figure, now weakened and ailing, struggled to maintain composure. Wooyoung, beside him, gazed with a mixture of concern and helplessness, the stark contrast to the memories of a grandfather who had once been a pillar of support.

The dream became a symphony of suffering, the rhythmic coughs punctuating the air with a mournful cadence. Shadows clung to what looked to be Wooyoung's grandpa, as if the bakery itself mourned the impending loss of a beloved presence.

As San witnessed this spectral display, the weight of the unspoken truth pressed upon him. The echoes of suffering, once concealed in the corners of Wooyoung's subconscious, now reverberated through the dreamscape—a poignant reminder that even in the realm of dreams, shadows could not be easily dispelled.

The dreamscape plunged deeper into melancholy as Wooyoung, gripped by concern for what looked to be his ailing grandpa, rushed forward with a heart heavy with worry. The echoes of coughs lingered in the air like a haunting refrain, each one a reminder of a fragility he hadn't fully comprehended.

In the dream, Wooyoung's voice quivered as he called out to his grandpa, desperation etched in his eyes. "Grandpa, are you okay?" he pleaded, but the response was swallowed by the cavernous silence that enveloped the bakery.

With each step forward, the shadows seemed to close in, amplifying the sense of impending doom. And then it happened—the floor beneath Wooyoung gave way. He stumbled, the weight of his emotions and the uncertain ground beneath him causing his footing to slip.

As Wooyoung fell, the world around him became a chaotic swirl of shadows and stifled sobs. His hands reached out, grappling for stability, but the ground betrayed him. The act of slipping mirrored the fractured descent of his emotions—a cascade of fear, uncertainty, and an overwhelming sense of powerlessness.

In the heart-wrenching collision of dreams and nightmares, Wooyoung's sobs harmonized with the dissonance of the scene. His tears fell like rain, merging with the shadows that enveloped him. The bakery, once a haven, now held the weight of unspoken sorrows, and the dreamscape bore witness to the unraveling emotions that lay beneath the surface.

As Wooyoung grappled with the dual torment of witnessing his grandpa's suffering and his own physical descent, the dreamscape became a symphony of anguish—a testament to the complexities of emotions that found expression even in the fractured realm of dreams.

The dreamscape shifted again, this time to a somber setting—a funeral, where what looked to be Wooyoung, now 16 years old, stood dressed in a dignified black suit. The air hung heavy with grief, and the muted sounds of mourning surrounded him.

Wooyoung's usually vibrant eyes were cast downward, the weight of sorrow etched into his features. His suit, a stark departure from his usual lively attire, seemed to mirror the solemnity of the occasion. The funeral's atmosphere mirrored the dreamscape's shift, each step heavier than the last as he approached the casket.

As he stood before the somber scene, a sense of loss permeated the air. The identity of the departed figure remained shrouded, but the impact on Wooyoung was palpable. His gaze, though focused on the casket, seemed to gaze through it, as if seeing not the physical form within but the echoes of memories and unspoken words.

The dream played out like a silent film, the poignant imagery conveying a story of grief and farewell. What looked to be Wooyoung, in his mourning attire, became a vessel for the emotions that lingered beneath the surface.

The bakery, now transformed into a funeral parlor, held within its walls the shadows of a loss that transcended the boundaries of the waking world. In this dreamscape of mourning, the silent symphony of sorrow played out, leaving Wooyoung to grapple with the weight of an emotional burden that extended beyond the realm of the conscious mind.

The dreamscape intensified as Wooyoung, dressed in mourning, stood before the casket. The air seemed to constrict with sorrow, and the weight of grief pressed down upon him like a heavy shroud. In the dream, his composure crumbled, and the walls he had built to contain his emotions began to fracture.

With a heart-wrenching cry, Wooyoung sank to his knees beside the casket. His shoulders shook with each sob, the echoes of grief reverberating through the solemn space. The black suit, once a symbol of formality, now clung to him like a cloak of despair.

"Grandpa, come back!" he pleaded with a voice cracked and raw, the anguished words hanging in the air like an unanswered prayer. The name echoed through the funeral parlor, each utterance carrying a weight that mirrored the depths of his pain.

The dream became a tableau of vulnerability, as Wooyoung's tears fell upon the polished wood of the casket. The shadows of the bakery seemed to dance with his grief, a macabre waltz of mourning that transcended the boundaries of the subconscious.

As Wooyoung's tears mingled with the echoes of grief, two figures approached from the shadows. Dressed in mourning attire, they stood silently beside him, offering a quiet solidarity that transcended the need for words. Wooyoung, recognizing the unspoken presence of Hongjoong and Seonghwa, addressed them without mentioning their names.

"Thank you for being here," he whispered, his voice carrying the weight of gratitude and sorrow. The dream's atmosphere, heavy with grief, seemed to respond to his acknowledgment, creating an intimate bubble within the funeral parlor.

Hongjoong's eyes held a mixture of empathy and understanding, his hand remaining a steady comfort on Wooyoung's shoulder. Seonghwa, standing close, offered a supportive nod, his gaze a silent reassurance in the face of shared sorrow.

In the dreamscape's muted palette, the trio formed a tableau of companionship—a moment where grief was shared without the need for explicit names or explanations. The bakery, now a sanctuary of solace, cradled within its walls the unspoken connections that bound them together.

As Wooyoung leaned into the support of these veiled companions, the dreamscape became a testament to the power of silent understanding. In the midst of grief's shadows, the trio forged bonds that defied the constraints of language, offering each other the solace that only true companionship could provide.