𝙏𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙠 𝙤𝙧 𝙏𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩 || 𝙆.𝙏𝙃 + 𝘾.𝘽𝙂 ✓

II

Chapter 02;
A Plethora of Autumn

|~[𝖙.𝖙]~|

That night, after Soobin found the two boys, he drove Taehyun home. The car ride was filled with music and Beomgyu singing at the top of his lungs. He wasn't terrible in Taehyun's opinion - just loud.

Taehyun couldn't help but think the whole ride. He wanted to call the police, but for some reason, he felt too scared or unwilling to do so. It was as if the moment he was about to call, he felt a surging shock through his head and body from guilt.

He wasn't sure why so instead of telling anyone, he kept it to himself. It probably wasn't the most sensible idea on his behalf, but it was the only one that felt somewhat comforting.

When he got home at nearly 2:00 am, he found out that his parents were home. Anxiously, he hesitated at the front door, wondering if he could climb to the window of his room.

After a moment of contemplation, he sighed, pressing the buttons on the lock and opening the door. Almost immediately, his mother spoke, "where have you been?! Why are you just now coming home?"

Taehyun was about to speak when his mother walked over to him, "are you hurt? We went to Kai's house, but his poor, tired mother answered and said you weren't there!" She pulled down the hem of Taehyun's collar, checking his neck.

"Mom, I don't have any hickeys! I was just out doing a project at a friend's house," he gently pushed her hands away. His father came into the room, "you were doing a project at 2:00 am?"

The blonde nodded, "we lost track of time and fell asleep a few hours ago. I just woke up and told him I needed to go home."

His father sharpened his gaze, running a hand through his short, dark hair. He slowly walked over to the boy, meeting his height, "just because we're not home, doesn't mean you can go out without telling us."

Taehyun nodded, "I didn't know I would be there for so long." With an exhale of shaky breath, his mother hugged him, "I'm glad you're alright. Go get some sleep, you still have school tomorrow."

"Okay," Taehyun let her wrap her arms around him before walking away. "And you have to wash the dishes and rake leaves tomorrow!"

Without responding, Taehyun headed up the stairs and into his bedroom, closing the door. He tore off his shirt and pants but reclothed himself with pajama pants and a hoodie. After brushing his teeth and washing his face, he dove into his bed, burrowing into the blankets.

The night went normally at first.

He was sleeping peacefully, only changing positions occasionally, when suddenly, he heard his window open. His eyes snapped open and his body felt numb all over. When he touched the skin of his neck, his fingertips became doused in sweat.

He pulled off his hoodie, throwing it to the floor, and clumsily stood up. Looking to his left, he saw his window was halfway open. There was no way he would've opened it in the middle of autumn.

Cautiously, he crept closer to the window. He peered down at the ground that was usually lit by the streetlamps. At that moment, the lamps flickered on, revealing a dark shadow on the street. Stumbling back, Taehyun rubbed at his eyes and lightly smacked his face a few times.

Looking once more, he didn't see anyone or anything except for the dim-lit streets. It must be some sort of trauma or suppressed fear that is making me see things, Taehyun thought.

He shut the window and locked it, closing the curtains as well. Shivering, he walked back to his bed and carefully sat on the edge before laying down. For what felt like an hour, he stared at his ceiling, afraid that if he closed his eyes, something would take him.