SMILE: A Terrible Night.

Bloody Notes & Thuds.

Chapter 5: (Scarlet's POV)

After taking a few sips of my tea, I felt the warmth spread through me, and the tension in my shoulders began to ease. The unsettling phone call seemed like a distant memory now, replaced by the soothing ritual of sipping tea in the quiet of my home. I set the cup down on the counter and glanced at the grocery bags still sitting on the table. They couldn’t stay there all night.

Scarlet: They need to be shifted.

I muttered to myself, shaking off the lingering unease. There was something oddly calming about focusing on small tasks—unpacking the groceries, organizing everything neatly—it kept my mind from wandering back to the uneasiness that the phone call had stirred. With a sigh, I stood up and walked over to the bags, determined to finish this simple chore and put the strange evening behind me.

With a deep breath, I made my way to the kitchen, the dim light casting long shadows across the room. I set the grocery bags on the counter and began unpacking them methodically. The mundane task offered a welcome distraction from the unsettling events of the evening.

As I unpacked the grocery, placing items methodically in the pantry, a faint, persistent tucking sound reached my ears from just outside the kitchen door. I glanced up briefly, assuming it was merely the rain tapping against the windows, its rhythm steady and insistent.

But as the noise grew louder, almost resembling the methodical strikes of a hammer nailing something into place, a shiver ran down my spine. I shook my head, dismissing the thought as a product of my frazzled nerves.

After all, my imagination had already run wild tonight. With a deep breath, I forced myself to focus on organizing the groceries, trying to ignore the unsettling sound that seemed to echo ominously in the background.

I placed the instant noodles on the pantry shelf, aligning them neatly. Next came the chips, followed by the bread and a few pastries from the bakery section. As I reached for the final bag, a sudden sound broke the silence-a soft thud from the corridor.

My heart skipped a beat. I froze, my hand hovering over the grocery bag. I listened intently, the house's usual creaks and groans amplified by my heightened anxiety. Slowly, I walked to the kitchen door, peeking out into the corridor. It was empty, the door still securely locked.

Scarlet: Calm down, Scarlet. It's just the house settling.

I whispered to myself, trying to quell the rising tide of fear. I forced a smile, reminding myself that I was safe. Shaking off the lingering unease, I returned to the kitchen and continued putting away the groceries.

As I reached for the last item, a carton of milk, I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. I glanced over my shoulder, my eyes scanning the dimly lit room. Nothing. With a sigh, I placed the milk in the refrigerator and closed the door.

I took a step back, resting my hands on the counter and taking a few deep breaths. The night's events replayed in my mind-Kim Taehyung's sinister smile, the puppy, the hospital visit. It all felt surreal, like a twisted dream I couldn't wake from.

The tapping sound grew more insistent, now coming from the Sofa room's window. My heart skipped a beat, but I steeled myself and moved to investigate. Through the rain-streaked glass, I saw a small figure standing just outside.

A child, no older than ten, was throwing small stones at the window, his face contorted into a pout. Relief washed over me at the sight of something so innocent. I opened the window, the cold rain splattering against my skin as I leaned out to talk to him.

Scarlet: Hey there.

I said, forcing a smile.

Scarlet: What is it, child?