haunted, the forest // nct [3]

{4}

   Chunja and Jungwoo were leading the way with cameras in hand. I strayed behind, ready to capture something and get back as soon as possible. Chunja snapped a couple of different ones, and the same with Jungwoo, to see which one they ended up liking the best.

"How about we take some pictures of the trees in the forest?" Chunja suggested, examining the scene in front of us.

"We would probably find a lot in there. Right, Chanmi?" Jungwoo looked back in my direction.

"I should really get back soon," I told the two. "Not that I'm having a bad time," I forced a small laugh, "but really I need to organize everything and get ready for the rest of this excruciating week."

Chunja sighed, lowering her camera. "Fine, if you want to be boring then let's just find a random flower, take a picture of it, then call it our project. All this walking around with a couple of friends and taking pretty pictures is time-consuming anyway."

   I opened my mouth but quickly closed it, hurt from her words. It looks like my actions did the same to her. My mind jumped back in forth while Jungwoo glanced at us with a bit of worry. Maybe I was a little too uptight about the situation. I just didn't want to start off this year badly because I'll fall into that habit.

After a couple seconds of thought, I drew in a deep breath and straightened myself. My pace quickened past both Chunja and Jungwoo as I began to head to the forest.

   "I'll show you that I'm more than an uptight, OCD college student," I called back to them.

The line of freshly cut grass ended to unkempt growth as I stepped past the first trees.

Chunja caught up to me and smiled a bit. "Sorry that I got irritated. If you really don't want to have fun with this project that's fine. I just wanted to hang out with you more without you going on about school."

I nodded, smiling as well. "No, I understand that I need to loosen up a bit."

"I remember back in middle school when you were this crazy kid that would do spontaneous things like spin around on top of desks and make funny skits with us for projects." Chunja smiled, looking at the forest floor we walked over. She then leaned closer to me and whispered, "Maybe you loosening up will impress Doyoung." She wiggled her eyebrows.

"Impress who?" Jungwoo asked as he quickened his pace.

I pushed my glasses back up and started to blush a bit at the mention of his name. "No one," I told Jungwoo.

   "No, no, no." He laughed. "Chanmi is blushing. This isn't a no one."

   "Come on," Chunja whispered. "Jungwoo is one of our best friends. Plus, he's friends with him."

   I sighed. "IlikeDoyoung," I stated quickly, hoping he wouldn't catch it.

   "Doyoung!?" Jungwoo gasped, stopping in his tracks. "You mean... Kim Doyoung? Really?"

    "Would you shush!?" I hid my face. "Your words may carry back to the campus and someone might hear you."

   Jungwoo's mouth still hung open as he looked at me to Chunja. I sighed and spun around to continue deeper into the forest.

Doyoung's P.O.V

   As a way to relax after the first day, I met with my group of friends to talk. We all grouped together outside and sat under the same trees I was relaxing under earlier.

   Johnny, Ten, and Jisoo were already there when I arrived. I sat down to wait for the others as well.

   It seemed a bit odd because usually Chanmi was there at a good time because she scheduled everything so perfectly. There wasn't a single time she was late. Though, she seemed to be missing along with Chunja and Jungwoo.

   "Hey, Gina," I started, "did you see Chanmi on your way over?"

   Gina shook her head. "No, I've been with Daerin and Jihwan."

"That's weird," Johnny muttered. He slipped his phone out of his pocket and typed on his phone.

"Are you texting Chanmi?" I asked.

Johnny gave a short nod. "I'll also send one to Jungwoo and Chunja, but I'm guessing they're all together right now."

"Oh, Chanmi, Jungwoo, and Chunja?" An unfamiliar guy asked as he walked by. "I think I saw them walking around with cameras earlier. I'm guessing they take a photography class."

"Wait." Haechan studied the guy. "You're Vernon, right? We went to school together."

The guy Haechan referred to as Vernon chuckled. "Oh, yeah! I remember you having to drag your friend away when I was talking about the haunted forest behind my house. Actually, speaking of that forest..." Vernon looked back to the trees in the distance. "I live on the other side of that forest, so it's the same one I was talking about."

   I studied the trees that I always got a weird feeling from. I never really thought too hard on it, but still didn't feel like entering them on my own.

   "What exactly do you mean by it being haunted? What's the story?" I asked Vernon.

   He let out a small huff and sat down with our group. "I've had my share in experiencing the supernatural. Once in high school, I played with an Ouija board with my friends and it was hella scary. I don't want to mess with that kind of stuff anymore unless it's something on TV or I read it online, but I won't physically come into contact with that side again. I went into that forest once before the Ouija incident and it definitely was twisted. Going in during the day isn't as bad, but when it gets to night everything gets at least ten times worse."

   "What makes it haunted?"

   "That's where it gets messed up." Vernon leaned forward, giving us all a look to set the mood of the story. "There was a satanic cult that held meetings in the forest. Already, that tells you there were a lot of sacrifices that went down and gives you a handful of vengeful spirits. The cult was tracked down by the police, but they didn't want to be defeated by some cops. They all created a suicide pact and killed themselves in the forest. Now, they live forever in the trees and mess with people's minds. Just a whole lot of manipulation. Once you get in and it becomes night, there's about no chance of you leaving."

   "Damn, I'm not going anywhere near that forest," Johnny scoffed. "I've dealt with enough ghosts. The first one that hid Jisung in the wall was enough for me."

    "A ghost hid someone in the wall?" Vernon asked.

   Johnny nodded.

   "Usually when a ghost kidnaps someone like that it means they want to keep them forever. It's almost like their way of fancying someone."

   Haechan burst into a fit of laughter, lying down on the grass. "The ghost had the hots for Jisung!"

   "What if they possess someone?" Ten followed up.

   "Usually that means they're either the biggest threat or the weakest. If they're able to kill the ghost, the ghost with try to possess them to prevent it from happening. If not, they take the weakest because they can easily enter the body without struggling and people might not notice. That makes it easier for them to lure you away and eventually kill everyone."

   "How did you learn so much about ghosts?" I added.

   Vernon shrugged. "Mostly because I get bored at night and read random things online. Plus, from this show I watch often."

   "Do you watch Supernatural, too?" Mark whispered.

   "Hell yeah."