"The Forbidden Mansion" 18+

3 - 1

Chapter One:

Jungkook awoke early, sunlight spilling softly through her small bedroom window, casting a warm glow on the neatly packed boxes stacked beside her bed. Each one held her favorite things—carefully wrapped memories she couldn’t bear to leave behind. Her room felt almost empty, stripped of the familiar trinkets that had once decorated every corner, but she held onto the hope that these small pieces of her life would bring comfort in her new, mysterious home.

Her room was a cozy sanctuary with pastel walls and a white bookshelf where she’d displayed her favorite novels and keepsakes. Delicate fairy lights lined the edges, casting a soft, golden hue in the evenings. Her bedspread was light blue, adorned with tiny floral patterns that matched the innocent, delicate personality her family always adored in her. She took one last look around, brushing her fingers over the well-worn desk where she’d spent countless hours drawing and writing. With a sigh, she picked up her journal, clutching it close as she left the room for the last time, her heart aching a little as she stepped into the hallway.

Downstairs, her parents were busy with the last-minute packing, chatting as they sealed boxes. Her father noticed her and smiled. “Morning, Kook! Ready for the big adventure?”

She returned his smile with a shy nod. “I’m ready, Dad. Just…nervous, I guess.” She hesitated, glancing at the packed boxes. “Will it feel like home there?”

Her mother came over, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. “You’ll have your things with you, honey. You’ll make it yours, bit by bit.”

They had breakfast together, the three of them filling the room with warm conversation and laughter as they tried to lighten the atmosphere. Jungkook cherished these moments. Despite her usual shyness, she felt most at ease with her family, and the thought of being in such a grand, unknown place made her cling to their familiar presence even more.

Finally, with everything loaded up, they made their way to the car. The drive felt surreal as they left behind the small neighborhood where Jungkook had spent most of her childhood. Rolling hills and tall trees lined the road, thickening as they approached the new house. Her heart raced as they finally pulled up to the mansion.

The gates towered before them, heavy and wrought with dark metal twisted into intricate patterns. Jungkook’s gaze swept upward, taking in the mansion’s gothic architecture, the ivy clinging to weathered stone walls. The building loomed like a shadowy figure, ancient and intimidating, with arched windows that seemed to peer back at her with a silent watchfulness.

Once inside, her family began unpacking. Jungkook carried her belongings up the winding staircase, each step echoing as if the house itself was whispering her arrival. She opened the door to her new room, her breath catching as she took in the space. The ceilings were high, with an arched window framed by thick curtains that blocked most of the outside light. Dust motes floated in the shafts of sunlight that managed to seep through, illuminating the deep, old wooden beams in the ceiling.

The room felt enormous and slightly eerie, but she immediately set about filling it with her belongings, arranging her treasures just as they’d been in her old room. She draped her pastel bedspread over the bed and lined up her favorite novels on a small shelf by the window. Her desk was set up near the arched window, with her sketchbook, pencils, and notebooks stacked neatly. Bit by bit, the room softened, the familiar items taking some of the chill out of the ancient space.

Just as she was starting to settle in, she felt an odd sensation, as if she were being watched. She looked out the window, and her breath hitched. Down by the iron gates stood a tall figure with broad shoulders, leaning against the fence in an easy, almost casual way. His dark hair caught the sunlight, and he wore a knowing smirk, as though he were well aware of the effect his gaze was having on her.

Even from the distance, she felt his intense, unwavering stare, and an unexpected shiver ran down her spine. She didn’t need anyone to tell her who he was—this had to be Kim Taehyung, the neighbor everyone had warned her about.

As she backed away from the window, pulling the curtain closed, her cheeks were warm, but her heart pounded not with excitement but with a prickling fear. He was everything she’d heard about and more—a mix of charm and something darker, a hidden danger that sent a thrill through her even as it unsettled her deeply.

That night, as the house settled into silence, Jungkook lay in bed, the room’s shadows stretching across the walls. She clutched her blanket, her doe eyes wide as she listened to the ancient creaks of the house. She thought about Taehyung’s piercing gaze, how it felt like he saw past her innocent exterior, as if he already knew more about her than she’d ever want him to. She tried to sleep, but the weight of his presence seemed to linger, casting an unsettling feeling that no amount of familiar belongings could chase away.