Haunted - NCT OT21

19

He woke up, panting heavily. Everyone was still asleep, the only sounds heard were the snoring of certain people.

He checked the time. it's midnight yet he felt so awake. He slowly crept out of his bed and out of the room. The boy walked out and down the stairs of the house, creating the smallest of creaks. There was the sound of static, followed by talking.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure there's something in there."

"It doesn't look safe yennie..."

"Oh, yongie you're such a coward."

He peered to the living room as he saw a  person with his back to him, watching the TV. On the screen was a young girl -- probably in her teens -- looking at the person holding the camera. Before them was a building that seemed awfully... familiar.

"Come on then!" The girl ran over to the building, the cameraman following behind her. The camera turned to behind them, a boy with sandy hair following them.

"Hyung, wait up!"

He could sense the familiarity of the boy, but not sure where.

The girl went into the building, waving at the camera. The cameraman followed her in. As he took a step in the camera glitched and the screen was replaced with static.

The person on the couch sighed as he turned off the TV. "What has happened, has happened I guess," he murmured.

The boy had his back against the wall. He tried to hold himself from breathing too loud. He was confused. Who were the people in the video? What happened? Dozens of questions flooded his mind, making his head spin.

"Lee Taeyong."

His breath hitched upon hearing the voice. He risked it all to take a look at what was going on. A figure walked towards the boy on the couch. He couldn't make out the face with the TV being the only light source there is.

"How long have you been sitting there?" Another voice said.

"Not too long. So you knew about this the entire time?" 

"Yes, I wasn't sure at first."

The sound of a thud followed by a groan can be heard.

"You idiot! If you told us sooner it would've been less bad!"

"I wasn't sure, okay?! The signs are different!"

A long silence hung between them. The boy still managed to remain hidden the entire time, still wondering what were they talking about.

"But..."

He peered out again, trying to see who was with... Taeyong?

"I think the dreamies are in danger."

"Yeah, no kidding," the other spat.

Taeyong bowed his head. "This is all my fault..."

A scoff came from the other. "Obviously, you failed to protect them."

He sat down. "What should I do? I don't even know if they took something."

"Search their quarters? Interrogate them?"

"Then they will start to point fingers, I know how this will all go down."

Johnny: "Jae, you okay?"

Jaehyun snapped his head up when his name was called. It's an early morning and everyone are eating breakfast. Johnny stared at Jaehyun, his face showing concern. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

Jaehyun waved his hand as he took another spoon of his cereal. "I'm fine, really."

"You're not," the older deadpanned. Jaehyun couldn't help but steal a small glance at Taeyong, who was busy with his phone, as if nothing happened last night.

"I'm fine, Hyung," he groaned as he finished his cereal, walking to the sink to wash it. He says he's okay when in reality, he wasn't.

Johnny eyed the younger, curious of his behaviour. Jaehyun avoided eye contact with everyone. A 'ping' sound came from his pocket. Jaehyun fished out his phone to see a message.

Jaehyun: "Hey Hyung, I'll be going out today."

Johnny: "Where?"

Jaehyun: "'97 liners at the arcade."

Johnny raised a brow for a moment, unsure of him. Her sensed that Jaehyun was hiding something. He decided to not think of the worst and gave him the benefit of a doubt.

Johnny: "Okay then."

As the group of friends laughed and played around in the arcade, Mingyu approached Jaehyun.

Mingyu: "You seem rather down. Something up?"

Jaehyun looked up and shook his head.

"It's nothing."

"Oh come on valentine boy, don't give us a look like that. We're all here to have some fun, right?" Dokyeom said as he wrapped an arm around the other's shoulder.

"But seriously though, you shouldn't bottle up your problems. It's not good for your health."

Jaehyun waved his hand, dismissing him. "I just had a lot of assignments last night."

"If you say so." Dokyeom shrugged.

The8: "I know wht'll cheer you up. Let's go for ice cream! My treat!"

The others whooped as they headed to the ice cream parlor. Jaehyun forced a small smile as he tailed behind them, not wanting to tell them.

Jaehyun pulled his jacket closer to his body. They spent almost the entire day out, mostly because some of them were looking for new clothes. The streets were empty despite the time only showing 8 pm. Jaehyun wondered why no one was still out at the hour.

As Jaehyun walked past an alleyway a faint whisper was calling his name. Jaehyun furrowed his eyebrows as he squinted into the alleyway. "What the..." he took a step forward, followed by another. Soon, he was engulfed in the darkness.

And that night, he never came back home.