Hidden Desires (YiZhan)

chapter 15

The days following the horrific message were marked by a tense silence between Zhan and Yibo. Zhan had retreated into himself, haunted by the image of his parents' mutilated bodies, the sight of which had torn open old wounds that he had long tried to forget. Yibo, true to his word, stayed by Zhan’s side, offering support in whatever way he could. But even with Yibo’s comforting presence, Zhan felt a creeping sense of dread that he couldn't shake off.

Zhan's mind was a storm of thoughts—who could have sent that photo? Why now? And what was the message behind it? His parents had died years ago, in what was officially ruled an accident. But this image seemed to suggest otherwise, as if there were something much darker behind their deaths.

One evening, Zhan finally broke his silence. He and Yibo were sitting on the couch, a movie playing on the television that neither of them was watching. Zhan turned to Yibo, his expression grave.

“We need to find out who sent that picture,” Zhan said, his voice trembling slightly. “There’s something about my parents’ deaths that doesn’t add up. I thought I had buried it, but now… I need to know the truth.”

Yibo nodded, his gaze unwavering. “I’ll help you, Zhan. Whatever it takes, we’ll uncover the truth.”

The next day, they began their investigation. Zhan decided to start by revisiting the place where his parents had died—a secluded cabin in the mountains, far from the city. The journey there was long and filled with an oppressive silence. Zhan stared out the car window, his thoughts racing, while Yibo kept his focus on the road, occasionally glancing over at Zhan with concern.

When they arrived at the cabin, it was exactly as Zhan remembered—quiet, desolate, and filled with memories that Zhan had tried to leave behind. The air was thick with the scent of pine and decay, the surrounding forest eerily silent as if it was holding its breath.

Zhan hesitated at the door, his hand trembling as he reached for the handle. Yibo stood close behind him, his presence a reassuring weight on Zhan’s shoulder.

“Are you sure about this?” Yibo asked softly, sensing Zhan’s hesitation.

Zhan nodded, steeling himself. “I have to do this.”

Inside, the cabin was just as he remembered—dust-covered furniture, faded curtains, and the lingering scent of old wood. But something felt off, a subtle wrongness that Zhan couldn’t quite place.

They spent hours searching through the cabin, opening old drawers and sifting through yellowed papers. But nothing they found seemed to offer any clues. The frustration was starting to wear on Zhan, and he was about to give up when Yibo called out from another room.

“Zhan, you need to see this.”

Zhan hurried to where Yibo stood, holding an old, tattered notebook. The pages were filled with messy handwriting, some of the words smudged and illegible. As Zhan skimmed through the pages, his heart began to race.

The notebook was his mother’s, and it detailed her fears and suspicions in the weeks leading up to her death. She had written about strange phone calls, shadowy figures lurking around the cabin, and an increasing sense of dread that something terrible was about to happen.

One entry, in particular, caught Zhan’s eye. It was dated just days before the accident:

“I’ve found out something I wasn’t supposed to know. They’re watching us, waiting for the right moment. If anything happens to us, it won’t be an accident. Zhan, if you ever find this… know that we love you. Be careful who you trust.”

Zhan’s hands shook as he read the words, a cold fear settling in his chest. His parents’ deaths hadn’t been an accident after all. They had been murdered.

“Who could have done this?” Zhan whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

Yibo gently took the notebook from Zhan, his expression grim. “Someone who didn’t want your parents to reveal whatever it was they found out. We need to figure out who they were and what they knew.”

But as they were about to leave the cabin, a noise from outside made them both freeze. The sound of footsteps, heavy and deliberate, echoed through the stillness of the forest. Yibo immediately stepped in front of Zhan, his body tense, ready to protect him at all costs.

The door creaked open slowly, revealing a man standing in the doorway. His face was shadowed by the brim of his hat, but there was something about him that struck fear into Zhan’s heart.

The man took a step inside, his gaze cold and calculating as he looked at Zhan. “I see you’ve found something you shouldn’t have,” he said, his voice deep and menacing.

Yibo squared his shoulders, his expression hardening. “Who are you? What do you want?”

The man ignored Yibo, his attention focused solely on Zhan. “You should have stayed away, Zhan. Your parents’ deaths were just the beginning. If you continue down this path, you’ll end up just like them.”

Zhan felt a chill run down his spine. “Who are you?” he demanded, his voice shaking with fear and anger.

The man gave a twisted smile, his teeth gleaming in the dim light. “You’ll find out soon enough. But for now, consider this a warning. Leave the past buried, or you’ll regret it.”

Before Yibo could react, the man turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Zhan and Yibo standing in the doorway, their hearts pounding with a mix of fear and determination.

Zhan turned to Yibo, his eyes wide with panic. “What do we do now?”

Yibo clenched his fists, his mind racing. “We find out who he is and what he wants. We’re not backing down, Zhan. We’re in this together.”

As they left the cabin, the ominous words of the stranger echoed in Zhan’s mind. The past was no longer buried, and whatever secrets it held were about to come to light. But as long as Yibo was by his side, Zhan knew he wouldn’t face it alone. Together, they would uncover the truth, no matter how dark or dangerous it might be.
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Do y'all like this🤨? And who do u think this is and who sent the pictures and all? What are ur thoughts?
-yizhan_BJYX