SMILE: A Terrible Night.

Through The Grate Blood.

Chapter 14: (Scarlet's POV)

The dim light of the small room barely illuminated the space, casting eerie shadows on the walls. My breath was still coming in ragged gasps, and the cold had seeped into my bones, making every movement painful. As I took in my new surroundings, I was met with an overwhelming sense of uncertainty. I had no idea where I was within the house or where this room might lead.

My first instinct was to find a way out. I moved cautiously towards the door, hoping to find some means of escape. As I reached for the door handle, I discovered, to my dismay, that it was locked from the outside. The realization hit me hard-Taehyung had anticipated this move and had secured the room to ensure I wouldn't easily escape.

Panic surged through me, but I forced myself to stay calm and think. My eyes darted around the room, searching for any other means of escape. The small window on the far side of the room seemed like my best bet. I stumbled over to it, my movements slow and unsteady due to the lingering effects of the cold and exhaustion.

I tried to push open the window, but it was jammed tight. The wooden frame was old and stubborn, and no amount of force seemed to budge it. Frustration and fear bubbled up inside me as I realized that this too was a dead end.

Just as despair began to set in, I heard a shifting sound coming from above. The noise was faint but unmistakable-the sound of someone moving in the vent. The realization hit me like a punch to the gut. Taehyung was conducting a room-to-room search, and the vent was his means of accessing different parts of the house.

I had to act quickly. My instincts screamed at me to find a place to hide. I scanned the room for potential hiding spots, and my eyes landed on an old wardrobe in the corner. It was dusty and decrepit, but it might provide some cover. Without a moment's hesitation, I darted behind it and crouched low, trying to make myself as small as possible.

The shifting sounds grew louder, and I could hear Taehyung's footsteps above me. His movements were deliberate, almost methodical, as if he were taking his time to ensure he'd covered every inch of the house. My heart raced, each beat echoing loudly in my ears. I had to stay silent, but the fear and adrenaline made it nearly impossible to control my breathing.

Taehyung's voice suddenly cut through the silence, a chilling call that seemed to echo through the walls.

Taehyung: Scarlet, darling, are you hiding from me?

His voice was taunting, filled with a sadistic pleasure that made my skin crawl. I clamped both hands over my mouth, trying to stifle any involuntary sounds of fear that might escape. My eyes were fixed on the vent opening in the ceiling, the only sign that Taehyung was still up there.

I could see the faint outlines of his silhouette moving above, the vent cover shifting as he continued his search. The sound of his footsteps grew louder and more insistent, as if he were becoming frustrated by the lack of immediate results. I held my breath, my heart pounding in my chest as I waited for him to leave.

Taehyung's voice returned, this time carrying a note of frustration.

Taehyung: I know you're in here somewhere, Scarlet. You can't hide forever.

His voice was growing fainter, indicating that he might be moving away from the room, but I knew better than to let my guard down. The search was clearly ongoing, and Taehyung's patience was wearing thin. I could almost feel his frustration radiating through the walls.

The sound of the vent cover being adjusted became more pronounced, and I could hear Taehyung muttering to himself. His footsteps grew quieter, indicating that he might be moving to another part of the house. I held my breath, the tension in the room almost unbearable.

I stayed hidden behind the wardrobe for a few more minutes, my body trembling with the combined effects of cold and fear. The silence that followed was almost deafening, and I dared to peek out from my hiding spot.

The silence seemed to stretch on indefinitely, my nerves on edge as I waited for any sign of Taehyung's return. My body was cold and shaking, the fear I felt palpable and overwhelming. I knew I couldn't stay hidden forever, so I cautiously began to emerge from behind the wardrobe, hoping to get a clearer view of my surroundings.

Just as I was about to step out into the open, a sudden and sharp headache hit me like a bolt of lightning. I staggered, my vision blurring momentarily as I tried to steady myself. my heart nearly leapt out of my chest when I saw a head slowly appearing from the vent's frame. It was Taehyung. It was in that disorienting moment that I saw him again.

His face peeked from the vent, his eyes glinting with a chilling satisfaction. His smirk was wider than ever, his expression almost ghostly as he seemed to float through the darkness of the vent. He hadn't seen me yet, but the way he peered into the room with that unnerving grin made my blood run cold.

A wave of panic washed over me, and I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes. My breath hitched painfully in my throat, each sob was a desperate struggle to keep silent. I pressed my hand over my mouth, trying to muffle the sound, but it was no use. The tears were relentless, streaming down my face despite my efforts to stay quiet.

I could hear Taehyung's low, taunting laugh echoing from the vent, his voice a cruel reminder of the danger I was in. The sound of his laughter was a stark contrast to the heavy silence of the room, and it made my fear feel even more palpable.

My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing louder and louder in my ears. I could feel my strength waning, the cold and exhaustion taking their toll. I had to find a way to keep Taehyung from discovering me, but the panic and the tears were making it hard to think clearly.

Taehyung's head was still visible, his eyes scanning the room with a predatory glint. I held my breath, praying that he would move on, that he would decide the room was empty and leave me behind. But his smirk told me he was enjoying the chase, savoring the fear he was instilling in me.

I pressed myself against the wardrobe, my back against the cold, dusty wood. My tears continued to fall, I tried to steady my breathing, focusing on controlling the sobs that threatened to escape.