I'm Coming || EXO AU

Shlosha Asar

As the boys make their way into the house, Ms Lee and the investigation team jump into the hallway, smiles on their faces as they welcome the boys home. After greeting one another, they begin talking at the kitchen table.
"Thank you for doing all of this for us, Ms Lee." Junmyeon says, eyes crinkled in a genuine smile.
"It was no problem, boys. Although, this place was a real bother to clean up - those spirits aren't messing around. I advise that you try your best to get away from here. Do you have enough money to move?" She asks kindly. The boys look at Junmyeon.
"Yeah. Thank you for your kind offer, and for everything that you guys have done for us. We really don't know how to thank you."
"Well, just make sure that you guys stay safe. And if you ever need anything, don't be scared to call." One of the men from the investigation team speaks up. After Ms Lee and the investigation team leave, the boys all gather in the living room to talk about finances.
"Alright, we only have to get another thousand dollars and we'll be out of here. We can do this, guys. If we just work together, then we can get this done, and we can move past this, simple as. We're almost free from this place." Yixing speaks, his voice carrying a serious tone.
"But what about Min?" Jongin asks, looking up at everybody else.
"We'll move his stuff in with us, don't worry. We won't leave him behind, wouldn't dream of it." Chanyeol nods after speaking.

After visiting Minseok again - this time there was little twitches in his fingers, which is a good sign - they return home again.
"I forgot to tell you guys this, but I managed to get a job. I'm working at one of the restaurants just slightly out of town." Kyungsoo says while serving dinner. He lays out the plates with Jongdae and the two dish out the salad, bread and spaghetti onto separate plates for everyone.
"That's good. I've started working overtime so that we can get the amount of money that we need. Listen, guys. It's gonna be a struggle for a while, until we settle down. But we'll get through this, together. We are only just going to have enough money to move out, so we might struggle with paying the bills and food and stuff for a little while. Just a forewarning because it is highly likely that that could happen." Baekhyun explains. The boys sigh, sweeping their hands over their faces or tilting their heads back while groaning. Nobody likes the idea of having to scrounge or scrimp for money but none are willing to ask their parents for money when they should be completely independent. Chanyeol is still trying to show his parents that he is mature, Baekhyun is trying to show that he is money-smart while Sehun is trying to show that he is invested in his studies, and that he is trying hard to achieve his dream.

A few weeks later and once again it is a blessed period of time where no activity happens - there is no thudding of gum boots on hardwood floors, no eerie childlike laughter, no screams of agony or shattering of glass, nor have there been any physical incidents. So far, nobody's life has been endangered apart from Minseok, but the question that is constantly hanging over everybody's heads is; 'how long will this so-called peace last?'. Jongin wakes up first, large bags hanging beneath his eyes and skin a slightly paler colour than usual. But then again, everybody looks this way. Jongdae and Sehun have been trying to look for jobs, but the others are strictly refusing since the two need to focus on their studies. Chanyeol has also gotten a job since he is afraid of being left alone with the unwanted inhabitants of the house. He now works in a store inside of the Seoul City Mall, in one of the sportswear stores. Not a single person has energy and they haven't felt this low since they had all of their assignments to do for their last year in high school. Seven of the boys wake early to the sound of two raised voices shouting at one another.
"Look, can you just listen to me? We almost have enough money-"
"For almost seven months we've had 'almost enough money'! Let's face it, you've lied to us all this time, haven't you? We're nowhere near the mark! And where has all of this money been going, huh?! We've saved for months, putting it into your bank account for safe keeping. And where has it all gone, huh, Jun? Where is the fucking money?! Lives are at risk and we are sitting on our asses, stuck in this fucking hell, while you could ask your parents for a fucking loan!" The two voices continue shouting, and so the boys leave their rooms to investigate.
"What is going on?" Kyungsoo asks, eyes lidded from an insufficient amount of sleep. Junmyeon and Jongdae stand in the hallway, mid-argument.
"Why don't you tell them, Jun?" Jongdae snips, glaring in disdain at the older, face ablaze with anger. His stance radiates fury and when Jongdae is angry, he is a force to be reckoned with. Junmyeon stands like a deer caught in headlights, staring at the anxious eyes that seem to bore into him.
"I-I . . . Um, I don-don't have the money." He whispers, face tilted towards the floor. An agonising silence washes over them, and he winces.
"You what?" Baekhyun croaks almost silently. Junmyeon doesn't dare repeat his sentence before, knowing that everyone heard. Sehun slumps into one of the seats at the kitchen table, face in his hands. He sniffles quietly, and soon tears begin to collect on the surface of the table.

Not one of the boys have uttered a word since this morning, all of them too upset and disappointed in their friend to say anything. Finally, Chanyeol knocks on Junmyeon's bedroom door and quietly shuffles in. He sits at the edge of the older's bed and sighs softly, putting into order what he wants to say.
"Hey, Jun? I wanted to talk to you." Chanyeol speaks softly. Soon enough, Baekhyun appears from around the corner and also sits in Junmyeon's room while Jongin sits on his own bed, listening intently to the conversation that is about to unveil the older's intentions.
"Where did the money go?" Chanyeol starts off simply, gazing softly at Junmyeon.
"It was in my account. My older sister, she's struggling to pay rent for her family but didn't want to ask mom and dad for help. She recently got laid off from her job and has to look after three young children. Since she struggled to pay for rent for some time, she also struggled to feed her family properly. We haven't seen each other in so long, so I just assumed that she was doing well. At least, that was until I got her phone call. It's been tough on her and her family guys. I'm sorry. I should have asked you guys first but I thought that I'd be able to make up for it somehow without you guys noticing, but then, Jongdae did." Junmyeon struggles to keep his emotions in check, voice wobbling and eyes painfully pricking with tears. He swallows the thick lump in his throat and wipes at his running nose. Jongin walks across the room and lays a hand over the smaller's shoulders. Junmyeon then breaks down and sobs loudly and painfully into Jongin's chest. Baekhyun's eyes swim with tears as he too understands what it is like to be tight for money, although with his family, it wasn't as severe as Junmyeon's sister is experiencing now.
"It's ok, we will just have to work up from the start again." Baekhyun tries his best to stay positive, but even he feels like this is hopeless. All of the hard work they put in, the amount of hours sacrificed to make enough money, having to eat less to save more, working overtime feels as though it was for nothing.

Jongdae lays down on his bed and curses at himself for how he handled the situation. He couldn't help it, he was angry, but now he thinks that instead of demanding for the money, he should've asked where it went. After hearing Jun's story he feels increasingly guilty, but there is still some sort of anger left within him, one that says that the older should have asked permission to use the money that they worked tirelessly for. That he should've valued the safety of their lives and the fact that whatever goes on in this house is trying to get rid of them. And in all honesty, they have every right to be angry. But this should spur them on to work harder and although it will be another eight, nine months until they earn their money again, they will just have to try harder to earn it in a shorter period of time.

Hi guys, thank you so much for reading and I hope that you are enjoying this book. I have decided that there will be a sequel and have also added in another little plot twist for you guys to keep you satiated for now. For goodness sake Junmyeon, you guys almost escaped the hands of the evil that lurks inside of your house, but alas you are once again trapped in their domain. Anywho, I hope that you are all having a wonderful day/ night (get to sleep for those of you who are reading this at 2/3/4am)! Love you, my peanut butter cookies ❤️🍪

Word Count: 1636