Monster Underneath The Bed✓

십사

Chapter 14: Shadows Unveiled

The drive back to the city was fraught with anxiety and unanswered questions. YN's mind raced as she replayed the events at the abandoned house over and over again, each time uncovering new layers of fear and confusion. The journal sat heavily in her passenger seat, its worn leather cover hiding secrets that were now beginning to surface.

As the city lights came into view, YN felt a mix of relief and dread. Relief to be back in familiar surroundings, away from the oppressive darkness of the house, but dread at the thought of confronting Namjoon with what she had discovered. She knew she couldn't avoid him forever; sooner or later, they would have to face each other, and the truth would have to come out.

Pulling into the parking lot of her apartment complex, YN took a moment to collect herself. She leaned back in her seat, taking deep breaths to calm her racing heart. The events of the day had left her exhausted, but she knew there was still work to be done. She needed to go through the journal thoroughly, piece together the clues, and prepare herself for whatever confrontation lay ahead.

Grabbing the journal and her bag, YN made her way up to her apartment. The familiar surroundings provided a small measure of comfort, but the shadows seemed deeper tonight, and every creak and groan of the building set her on edge. She double-checked that the door was locked behind her before collapsing onto the couch.

Flipping on a nearby lamp, YN held the journal in her hands, tracing her fingers over the embossed initials on the cover: "K.R.M." The initials didn't match Namjoon's, but there was an undeniable connection. Determined to uncover more, she opened the journal to the first page, where a date was scrawled in messy handwriting: March 15th, 1995.

As she began to read, the words painted a vivid picture of a young boy's life filled with fear and isolation. The entries detailed nights spent sleepless, haunted by whispers in the dark and shadows that seemed to move on their own. The boy wrote about his parents dismissing his fears, chalking them up to an overactive imagination. But as the entries continued, the events described became more sinister and tangible.

One entry, dated April 2nd, 1995, caught YN's attention:

"Last night, the shadow man came again. He stood at the foot of my bed, watching me. I tried to scream, but no sound came out. He whispered my name, over and over, until I thought I would go mad. In the morning, there were scratches on my arms, but Mom and Dad said I must have done it to myself in my sleep. I know it was him. He's real, and he's getting closer."

A chill ran down YN's spine as she read the words. The description of the "shadow man" mirrored the presence she had felt in the house earlier that day. Could it be the same entity? Was Namjoon connected to this in ways she couldn't yet comprehend?

She continued reading late into the night, each entry drawing her deeper into the boy's torment. The entries became increasingly frantic, the handwriting more erratic, as if the boy's sanity was slipping away with each passing day.

Then, an entry from May 10th, 1995, provided a breakthrough:

"I saw him today, not just in my room but outside, in the daylight. He was talking to my father, and they were laughing together. But when he looked at me, his eyes were dark, empty. I tried to tell Mom, but she wouldn't listen. She said Mr. Kim is just a friend of the family, someone who wants to help us. But I know better. He's the shadow man, and he's coming for me."

YN's breath caught in her throat. Mr. Kim. Could this be Namjoon? Or perhaps a relative? The initials on the journal, K.R.M.—Kim... something Namjoon? She tried to recall Namjoon's full name. Kim Namjoon. But the middle initials didn't match. Frustrated but undeterred, she grabbed her laptop and began searching for any records that could tie these pieces together.