Belonging Season

7: Melody Of Solace

Haunting silence filled the room, slow breaths mingling in the air, as dark as the thoughts roaming in his head, screaming for him to run. The sound of feet stumbling and bodies tumbling echoed in the back of his mind. Life felt like an endless void of agony. Maybe this was who he truly was, his thoughts roared, but those trembling hands clutched behind his back, eyes losing their focus. Saliva coated his tongue, a sign of his rapid heartbeat and the panic creeping in from the loneliness and the terrifying monster staring him down with dark, menacing eyes. The monster's huffed breaths and fingers clenching into fists made it clear-it was ready to pounce on him at any moment.

Taehyung's body seemed numb, frozen even though he wanted to fight, claw, maybe even kill the monster. But every time, his body betrayed him, rendering him incapable of any action. The place suffocated him. Tears clung to his eyes, his throat tight, desperate for air. He wanted to fill his lungs, to breathe, but the suffocation wouldn't let go.

He was like a servant to his destiny and fate, too terrified to react, but too brave to accept defeat. Like a game of hide and seek, he was trapped again in the closet of his fears, the monster haunting him with its ghostly voice.

He wanted to save himself in this moment, maybe fly away like those birds that leave whenever they want, if only he could. He had been through this before, yet the booming voice still made his insides tremble with fear.

The shadow of the monster loomed over him, pinning him against the wall. He wished he could bury himself deep within the cement and disappear.

Feeling the monster draw closer, Taehyung squeezed his eyes shut, his hands turning into fists as if preparing to fight to his last breath. The moment came sooner than expected when the monster pounced on him, drawing a loud scream as he pushed back with all his strength.

"AAAAAAHHHH!!!"

His trembling hands clutched at his hair, trying to silence the voices screaming in his head.

N-no, no.

G-go a-away.

P-please, d-don't c-come back again.

L-little Taehyungie w-wants to s-say-

M-monster, monster. N-not again...

After a moment of stillness, he opened his eyes to the sight of his father lying on the floor, blood staining the ground beneath him. Shocked, his gaze shifted to the door, noticing the same red splattered across the walls. His father must have hit his head on the walls.

But what should I do now? Should I save him? I should-he's my father. But what about-

His thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the sound of his mother's footsteps, followed by a shrill screech.

"OH HONEY! WHAT HAPPENED?! Y-YOU PATHETIC PIECE OF SHIT! YOU DID THIS, DIDN'T YOU?! YOU WANT US TO DIE?! AFTER EVERYTHING WE'VE DONE FOR YOU?!"

Not again.

Do people really think I'm a fool?

I may not be able to defend myself, but I do have a brain, okay.

With great effort, he struggled to lift his father, his mother's curses adding to the chaos in his mind. Trying to keep his composure, he asked her to call an ambulance and take him to the hospital.

The peaceful atmosphere in the Jeon mansion was long gone; the older boy was chasing the younger with his pink slippers while Mrs. Jeon laughed, watching their Tom and Jerry antics. It wasn't unusual to see the crazy bond between the two brothers. Everyone knew that one moment they'd be at each other's throats, and the next, gossiping like best friends catching up after a long day.