Apocalypse ✦ Nomin

28

Jaemin glances around the familiar, dark hallway. He stands in front of the front door of the house, not knowing how he got there. He takes cautious steps forward, turning his head to his right whilst craning his neck to see into the living room.

"Jeno?" Jaemin calls out softly, but there's no answer.

He begins taking bigger strides down the hall as it narrows, funneling into a staircase that leads up to the second story. He extends his hands out to grip onto the wooden railings as he proceeds with even more hesitance than before.

But why?

Why did he feel more cautious than all the other times before?

The wooden steps below his feet creak loudly as he steps down on each one, the next being far more obnoxious than the last. A chill runs down Jaemin's spine. Aside from the creaking, it was dead silent.

Upon reaching the top of the stairs, Jaemin furrows his brow. His eyes land on a door to his right and he slowly approaches it. He tries to turn the knob, but it only clicks. It refuses to budge as he tugs harshly on it.

Why was this particular room sealed off? Hadn't he been in there before?

It's then that Jaemin realizes something extremely alarming.

What was that room? And why did he not remember what it looked like?

Jaemin gets a feeling that he had been in every room in this house, but he doesn't seem to remember this particular one. Perhaps another door will work.

Jaemin turns to the one directly to his left, trying his best to open it, but it's locked all the same. He frantically charges towards the door next to it, but it's also impossible to enter. He begins pounding at the door with his fists balled up as his heart races faster and faster.

Why can't he remember?

What's going on?

Where's Jeno?

"Jeno!" Jaemin screams out.

Just then, the door behind him swings open, hitting the adjacent wall with a loud bang.

It startles Jaemin severely.

He drops to the ground and begins to breathe erratically. His chest constricts the faster he breathes, and it feels as if someone had allowed an elephant to sit on him. His head begins spinning faster than a globe you could find in any grade school classroom. He places his head in his hands, squeezing his eyes shut tight. He holds back tears as he struggles to get a grip on his surroundings.

"Jaemin!" he hears a voice cry just before something takes his wrists into their soft, warm hands, "Jaemin, baby, it's me. I'm here. I'm here."

Jaemin reluctantly opens his eyes, finding a wide-eyed Jeno staring back at him. His hands slide up so that he holds Jaemin's hands in his.

Jaemin focuses on him as much as possible as he attempts to calm himself down. Jeno keeps his distance, but actively watches Jaemin as if to gage how to approach the situation.

"What do you need? Is there anything I can do?" he asks quietly.

Jaemin shakes his head frantically, unsure of what he needs. Not that he could express it verbally, anyhow.