The Crooked Man - Tumblr Posts

wow, the crooked man surely changed in all these years

a normal museum visit

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙲𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝙼𝚊𝚗 | 𝙿𝚛𝚘𝚕𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚎

| 𝘈, (𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵) 𝘍 | 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳, 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳, 𝘚𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘎𝘰𝘳𝘦 

| 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘪 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 |

↳ 𝘗𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 - 𝘑𝘦𝘰𝘯 𝘑𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘬𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘹 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳

↳ 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘺 - 𝘠/𝘕 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦. 𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘥𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘠/𝘕 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘥𝘥 𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘵.  

𝘏𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦.  

𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘠/𝘕 𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴.

(𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 "𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘯" 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴)

𝘛𝘢𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 - 𝘖𝘱𝘦𝘯 (𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘴𝘬)

𝘞𝘒 - 6.4k

𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘷 | 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵

𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘔𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 | 𝘔𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘔𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵

There was a Crooked Man

And He walked a Crooked Mile

He found a Crooked Sixpence

Upon a Crooked Stile

-

Y/N groaned and threaded her fingers through the locks of her hair when getting the last stuff put away. It wasn't all much, especially with a girl like her, but she didn't move into this apartment empty-handed. She still had a few boxes to bring after selling the little furniture she had when moving out of her previous home. She couldn't keep up with rent, and the landlord was a bastard. Either she agreed with his deal of pleasure or to get out. And she chose the latter. Even if she was depicted as a "people-pleaser," she knew her place. She thinks. But that's why she was in the small apartment, on her knees and placing the last cleaning supply under the sink. A loud groan left her mouth when closing the door and leaning her head against it. Her best friend, Kim Jane, released an exaggerated moan and stretched her arms high up in the air. "Finally!" she yelled out, making her newlywed husband, Kim Namjoon, flinch at her loudness. "Things look tidy in here." 

"Don't yell so loud," Y/N covered her ears jokingly and got up to her feet. She slightly stumbled back but caught her balance and walked up to the newlyweds to get so close to them.

But when she got close to them, Jane punched the tired girl's arm slightly. "That should be that," Namjoon brought himself in the middle before Jane could say anything to make the two childhood friends bicker that'll, possibly, last for ten minutes. A small ability the two shared for growing up together since diapers. Jane always ends it by saying she's older. A funny inside joke between them as they were both hours apart and being born across the hall from each other. And their mothers made sure they had millions of playdates to stay connected as excuses for wine and the little girls running around. "Is there anything else we can help with, Y/N?"

There were a few seconds of Y/N thinking if she did need something from them. It wouldn't hurt, as he did offer. But her mind drew to a blank. "Nah, I'm fine," she shook her head with a slightly crooked smile. "Sorry for making you guys help me move. . ." she rubbed the back of her neck. "And thanks for showing me the place, Jane. I'll have to pay you back sometime!" 

Hearing the last sentence, Jane jumped on Y/N and tangled her arms with Y/N's. "We could go out drinking then!" she suggested in a heartbeat. "Go to a karaoke bar and sing our lungs off while Namjoon can show his rapping skills."

"I look forward to the drinking," Namjoon chuckled, ignoring the last part his wife had mentioned. Though he couldn't help but blush at the mention, it was something he loved to do and had only started making music from the push of the two girls telling him that he was amazing. When he blushed, he looked out of one of the two small vertical windows to see the moon coming up and the red and orange sky kissing the ground goodbye. "Would you look at that. . .it's getting late." the two girls looked out the window to see that it was getting late. "We'd better get going." he pinched his wife's top and pulled her away from her best friend. 

"Yeah, you should probably get home," Y/N agreed when seeing the sky now fully dark. "Be careful, you two." after one last hug with the newlyweds. They left with goodbyes.

She was left with silence, having her look around at this new home. It was mainly a studio room with a tiny hallway that passed the door to a computer room and a bathroom across each other. Y/N can't lie but wished that the computer was brought into the big room and had a small bedroom where her full-sized bed would most definitely fill almost half of the room. But it was furnished by the past tenant, so she only messed with it a little. A sink in the far left corner connected to a countertop that extended out, allowing her small stove to lay with little surface to let her cook. Next to the countertop was her old minifridge and an old pantry cabinet that was already here with dishes. Same T.V. that was kept. A dresser in the opposite corner with her landline phone and small decorations. And her bed was in the right corner closest to the door, and two sofas faced each other with a table in between to take up some space in this lonely apartment. The only thing that bothered her was a large crack in the wall between the T.V. and dresser that could knock the clock off if it extended more. 

Something caught her eye. "Huh?" Y/N had to do a double-take to realize there was an item on the table that wasn't hers. And it made her sigh. "Of course, Jane forgot her license." it was always a habit of Jane to do such a thing. Fortunately, it was always her forgetting stuff at Y/N's place, wherever she lived, Namjoon's workplace, or their apartments. So she hasn't gotten anything stolen. . .yet. "Let's hope they haven't left yet." 

Y/N grabbed Jane's license and began to jog lightly to the door, opening it up and jogging again through the small hallway. Her hand cupped the doorknob. "What's with that place, seriously?" Jane's voice was heard clearly through the space under the door. "It's filthy! It's practically falling apart!" she could hear Jane moving her arms around and hands smacking her thighs. "What were you thinking?! She wanted to move for a change of pace, and that will not help her, you hear?"

"Look, what can I do?" Namjoon didn't raise his voice or show any tone of arguing. "She's not the richest person, y'know? And not many places come with furniture. . .besides, you told me to look for a place, right? Don't come complaining to me now."

The top rows of her teeth captured her bottom lip so she wouldn't make a sound. ". . .you're right," Jane spoke quietly. "I'm sorry. I just wanted to help Y/N out. . ."

A few sounds of movements, and it was known to Y/N clearly that Namjoon went in for an embrace. "I know," he also spoke quietly. Quietly, but softly. "Look, I should be sorry. We'll pay her a visit sometime."

The sounds of steps went away, and Y/N slowly let go of the doorknob. "The license can way, I guess," she told herself, placing it in her wallet once fishing it out. Her tired eyes showed presence. "Should sleep this off. .maybe I'll feel better in the morning." she let out a sigh, walked back into the room, changed into her pajamas, and placed her old outfit into a small basket she had placed next to the dresser. Before she could think of raising herself to her feet, the landline phone rang. Her eyes moved up to see the thin wire hanging off, giving her a moment to stand up, pick up the white phone, and place it against her ear. "Hello?" Nothing, but there was a breath. "Hello? Who is this?" she leaned closer to the green screen to show that similar number that made her heart almost stop beating and clench up. "Jeongguk?" but he was the one to hang up the phone, and she slowly placed it back in its spot. Stumbling back slightly, Y/N placed a hand on her forehead and tried to take a deep breath, but it failed. "Sleep. . .I need to sleep and call it a day. I should take it easy for my first day in the new place." 

And that's what got her into bed after turning off the lights. Once her head hit the pillow, tiredness was now in control. So tired. . .in so many sorts of ways. She thought with a yawn coming out loudly. Her eyes closed, but it wasn't long that caused no entry to dreamland when a man's cry appeared loudly. As if it was in the apartment. . .but at the same time, in her head. Really. . .is that somebody crying? she let out a loud groan of annoyance, trying to cuddle into her blanket. But the crying wouldn't go away. Is it one of the neighbors? It wouldn't hurt to ask. . .

Getting out of bed, Y/N placed her feet through her slippers and left the apartment. Light knocks down the row of doors for her, only to get a response from the last door on the floor. "Yes?" A tired woman's voice called out through the door. "Who is it at this hour?"

"Pardon me," Y/N tried to speak politely without the annoyance tunneling through. "It's just. . .I can hear you from my room, even. It's making it hard to sleep. . .would you stop?" her face cringed lightly at the request. Maybe she could've worded it nicely. 

"What're you saying?" The woman's voice was already irking in with her annoyance. "I was asleep until you woke me up! You trying to start something?" Y/N raised her hands in surrender, even if the woman couldn't see through. "You're the girl who moved into 204, right? There's no way you'd hear from there!" 

One of Y/N's hands fell, and the other lay on her shoulder. "I guess so. . ," she agreed slowly, looking down at the ground with a blush of embarrassment. Y/N looked back up at the door. "S-Sorry for waking you! Bye now." she took steps back, trying to bring back to her head what had gone down since the crying. "She's right. . .the rooms are pretty far apart." she looked at her door at the far end before walking down toward it. "More importantly, it was a man's voice." She realized something. When she had left the apartment, the crying had stopped. "Was it just my imagination?" the hand on her shoulder raised to knock her temple lightly. "Think about it in the morning; I need to get some sleep."

Opening the door, she stopped at the sound of water running. Her brow rose in confusion. Walking into the apartment and closed it behind her. Locking the door without looking, Y/N made her way into the bathroom. There was nothing there. Her eyes went to the faucet, and she turned the handle back. Is the faucet busted? She asked herself when feeling the handle was already back. Y/N moved it closer to her to make the water run faster and back in default to stop the water running. Something pushed her chin up like a string, and she noticed how foggy the mirror was. And something was written messily. Under the bed? She read in confusion. Is. . .Is Jane trying to prank me? She was never one to prank.

Walking back out of the bathroom, Y/N went into the main room and walked up to her bed. But she stopped herself from going in. ". . .Under the bed. . .what's down there?" She spoke her thoughts into the air, the writing on the mirror getting the best of her. Y/N got on her hands and knees to look under the bed. And that's when she found something. A ripped piece of paper. Her hands held it delicately as she read. 

-

"Ever since she went away, I've spent every night clutching my sweaty pillow and writhing. I can't say goodbye. What other choice do I have?"

-

"Did the former tenant leave this?" She couldn't help but wonder about the question. But that had to be something for the next day, and she needed sleep.

That's all she wanted.

Sleep.

So, she placed the paper on the table, crawled into bed, and tried to enter dreamland. But the crying back. That sound still? she complained with a slight whine. Where is that coming from? Give me a break, please. I only want sleep.

It was a rough night, and the morning had her being woken up by the ringing of the landline phone. "Why not my cellphone?" she complained, but the ringing of the landline seemed to have gotten louder. "Alright, I'm coming. . .I'm coming." she got up from her bed, went to the landline, and answered. "Hello?" Her tiredness went away, most of it from the doctor's sound. "Oh. . .yeah, thanks for all the—" the doctor cut her off and kept rambling, almost as if judging her for not stopping by in a while. "No, no, I didn't mean. . .just. . .I'm busy with work, so—" and she was cut off again, trying to stay with the doctor of what he was saying. "Yeah, I'll come to visit today." it was her turn to cut off the doctor. "Tell her that for me. Okay, bye."

Y/N changed into a white T-Shirt and worn-out blue jeans, sliding her feet into low converse shoes that were pre-tied, so she didn't have to bother. She grabbed her black jacket and her cross-body bag with her wallet, cell phone, and necessary needs. I really did sleep in till noon. She thought when looking at her phone to see the time. Yeah, I need to go. So much for taking it easy. Y/N jumped when seeing Jane walking down the hallways. Jane seemed to have also jumped at the sight of Y/N's apartment door opening and having her name called out. "I. . .forgot my license yesterday," Jane admitted after calming her racing heart. "Was it on the table?" Y/N nodded, grabbing Jane's license after fishing out her wallet.

"Sorry, I was going to bring it to you, but—"

"Thanks." Jane cuts off Y/N at the sight of the object in question. Y/N gulped lightly, deciding to stay quiet about what she had heard yesterday. The license was returned to its rightful owner, who sighed in relief before taking in Y/N's outfit of the day. "So, you going somewhere?"

"Yeah, to the hospital,"

They stayed silent. "I see," Jane mumbled. "Take care of yourself, love."

Jane patted Y/N's arm before leaving. Well, attempt to leave. "Hey, Jane," Y/N called out, making the said woman turn around with a hum. "Did you. . .did you write something on the bathroom mirror?"

That question made Jane almost take a step back from such a question. "Write on the mirror?" she repeated, wondering if she heard her best friend correctly. "What kind of prankster kid do you take me for, Y/N?" then she said goodbye when getting a text message from Namjoon. Y/N stayed in her stance a little longer, waiting till Jane was out of view before she moved. 

At the hospital, Y/N checked herself in and asked who she was going to see. The doors in front of her made it hard for her to take another forward. But that's what she did, pushing them through to see her ill mother lying in bed in comfort. Y/N took a deep breath and walked to her mother. "Mother. . .it's been a while," she spoke softly, dragging a chair against the wall to sit next to her mother's bed. "Are you doing okay?"

Sound of Y/N's voice, her mother turned her head with a smile. "Oh my," her fragile voice cracked through. "If it isn't, little Miya. You've certainly grown." she had delight in her eyes, and Y/N gave a strained crooked smile the best she could. 

"Good, you look healthy," Y/N commented, leaning back in her chair. Eyes never left her mother. "Sorry I can't see you very much. . .I've been busy with work. But I took a few days off. . .and I moved to this great room, with furniture and everything!" her hands moved around at her explanation. "It's near your favorite cake shop, too! So when you get better, we can live together." 

"My. . .that's wonderful," Her mother hummed in delight. "Get along with Mihyun, will you? All that fighting you do worries me so much. Maybe I can come to visit you sometime? You like apple pie, don't you? I'll make the best I know how. . ." Y/N's smile faltered as her mother turned to look back up at the ceiling. "Oh yes, they opened a bakery the other day! It smells so wonderful! Maybe I should buy from there." Y/N called out to her mother. At the sound of Y/N's, her mother turned with a confused look. "Oh? Who would you be? Why are you here?" she rose into a sitting position, flinching when Y/N reached to try and lay her back down. "This is my room. . .do you have the wrong room?" Y/N couldn't find anything to say. "Who are you?! Say something, will you?!" she flew out of her bed, going toward Y/N. The daughter stood up and took steps back, almost falling with the chair against her knees. "Get out! I'll have you thrown out!" she began yelling for help. "There's a strange woman in my room! Get rid of her, now!" 

"Mrs. L/N!" a female voice called out, and Y/N turned around to see the main nurse caring for her mother. The nurse came in with a male nurse following along, the two trying to get Y/N's mother back in bed. "Mrs. L/N, don't strain yourself. . .please, go to sleep, okay?"

"Who are you?!" Y/N's mother called out, dragging her arms out of the grasp both nurses tried to do. "Don't touch me! Away!"

The male nurse stayed calm. "Now, calm down, miss," he spoke calmly. "Let's get you into bed. . ."

"I'm sorry, Y/N," the female nurse turned around with a sympathetic gaze. "Leave your mother to us. . .you'll have to leave for today."

Y/N licked her lips and slowly nodded her head in understanding. "Understood," she mumbled, nudging her head toward her mother. "Take good care of her."

She made her way to the door. "Y/N? Is that my sunshine?" Y/N's mother called out, having Y/N turn around in shock. "Where are you going? Why are you leaving me?" Y/N had stuttered out to her mother, but it didn't seem to come out loudly as she thought. "Your flight school exams are coming up. You want to be a pilot, don't you? Your mother has your back." she was shaking in her stance, looking as if she'd fall to the ground. "Please, don't leave me alone. I don't want to be alone here. Sunshine, please. . ."

"Mommy. . ," Y/N teared up, a smile of hope and taking hopeful steps forward. "It's me! Remember? Mom!"

But the first nurse strides toward Y/N to interrupt whatever hope of Y/N's mother's remembrance. "Y/N, please leave for today!" she instructed, pointing at the door. "She's very confused right now."

"But she said my—"

"I said leave!" The nurse pushed Y/N out of the room.

The screams of Y/N's mother echoed through the crack of the doors and into the hallway. Y/N's hands balled into fists, and she relucent walked away. She kept going till she noticed her mother's doctor standing in the middle of the hallway. "Hello, Y/N," he greeted. "Did you see your mother?"

Y/N kept herself from yelling the obvious, as the doctor was there to witness her kidding and kicked her out of her mother's hospital room. "Yeah," she nodded instead. "Though I guess she still doesn't know me." 

The doctor gave her a sympathetic smile. "She's forgotten many things, and she's having trouble controlling her emotions," he informed, and Y/N wanted to bitterly chuckle out. She didn't have to be informed about what she knew. Or she wanted to avoid being informed of what she knew to keep it untrue. "I ask you to be patient. She may get better, so you can live with her again." 

"Thank you," 

The ride home was quiet; the music wasn't entering her ears as she was in too much thought. Y/N was too tired for any of this. And when she entered her apartment to hear a screech from her computer room; she took a deep breath. Trying to channel whatever she had to deal with, whatever it was right now. She walked into the computer room and saw the chair moved in front of the trash can, not in its spot in front of the computer. I know I didn't move the chair. She told herself to keep herself sane. 

But the slight opening of the second drawer caught her attention. 

Opening the drawer, she noticed a leaflet. Y/N picked it up and moved it around to get every detail she could find. It looks pretty old. . .these LL.M. courses are circled. Was somebody shooting to be a lawyer? she heard her tired brain go through ideas. I guess this must be the former tenant's. . .he sure forgot a bunch of stuff. Maybe no furniture is better after all, huh? It definitely would've given her the peace she needed without this happening. 

Going into the room, the landline phone rang. Can the phone not ring once? Even if this was the second day in the apartment, she didn't want to answer the phone or hear the phone ring. Y/N answered it. "Hello?"

"Hey, Y/N," Namjoon's voice spoke through. "How are you doing?"

A voice that made her calm had her shoulders going down in relaxation. "You saw me just yesterday," she sighed with a chuckle. "I'm doing fine, thanks."

"Good, good," Namjoon joined her in the light chuckle. "Call if you're ever lonely, okay? I can come to visit with Jane." 

"By the way," Y/N spoke up after a few seconds. "I got a call from Jeongguk yesterday. We didn't really talk, but. . ." 

Namjoon was silent. "Sorry, I told him your number," he admits. "He said he was so worried about you." 

Y/N's heart warmed up. "It's okay," she assured. But memories reminded her of being here alone. "Tell him I don't need her worry. He should just look out for himself." 

"Alright," Namjoon huffed out. "Well, I'll hang up now." 

The phone was placed back on its spot, and she changed into her pajamas. She spent her evening reading all the books she had brought and the book the previous tenant had left behind. Y/N even made herself some tea to relax to hopefully get herself to sleep. Luckily, it had gotten her to the point of being tired. Too tired to read anymore and not done with her third cup of tea. Y/N moved the blanket to let herself in, but she jumped at the sound of the statics of the bed. She looked over, walked up to the T.V., and tilted her head in confusion. "Why did it turn on by itself? Is it broken?" Her hand reached for the remote, but she yelled when red letters popped up one by one. "What the hell. . .what's going on." 

Y/N walked to the sink and the word that was written on the T.V. screen. Looking around, she noticed something in the faucet. She swore she was able to use the sink when making her tea. Removing what looked like a scrap of paper, Y/N lifted it and flattened it to see if she could read it. 

-

"There was a crooked man, and he walked a crooked mile.

He found a crooked sixpence upon a crooked stile.

He bought a crooked cat, which caught a crooked mouse,

and they all lived together in a crooked little house." 

-

Y/N licked her lips when reading the mother goose. But she was confused about how it was there. She wanted to question if the previous tenant had placed it there, but she reminded herself that she had made tea three times. "So much strange stuff," she tossed the paper on the countertop. "I should just sleep and forget." she made her way to the bed and placed her head on the pillow. "Moving for a change of pace, huh. . .guess that's not working so well. I appreciate Jane and Namjoon's help, but. . ." 

She closed her eyes, and a little later. . .she heard a kid crying. Is that a kid, I hear? she furrowed her brows, eyes still closed. This late at night? And what kid would live in these beat-up apartments? Her eyes opened up with a few blinks. Maybe they're lost. I should go check.

Y/N got up from her bed and exited her apartment. Looking around, there was no kid, and the crying had stopped. ". . .'Course there are no kids here," she grumbled under her breath, starting to think that she was going crazy. She was repeating in her head to go to bed. 

Walking into the apartment, Y/N paused after hearing a broken glass. She entered the room and saw the tea on the ground, shattered with the liquid sprawled up. Kneeling, she chuckled lamely at herself. "Just a broken cup. . .that startled me a little too much." And her eyes wandered more to find details of the broken cup, but the blood drained out, feeling cold when her eyes caught a detail. "W-Wait, what?!" The liquid was dragged out, spelling "Help Me," making her shake lightly into the ground. Y/N stood up and took steps back in fear. "The tea's spelling out?! Y-You gotta be. . ." she looked around the room and wrapped her arms around herself. "This room is strange. With its voices. . .and T.V.s turning on. What is this?" 

The morning after, Y/N dialed Jane's number on the landline. "Hello?" Jane's tired voice spoke through the phone. 

"Hi, Jane," Y/N greeted, messing with the wire connected to the phone. "It's Y/N."

"Yeah, what's up?" Jane mumbled, the sound of the bed moving. "You sound sleepy. So why wake me up, too?"

Y/N grimaced. "Sorry," she apologized. "I was up all last night. I got to ask you something, is now okay?" she heard Jane hum in a rhythm to let Y/N continue. "Do you know who the previous tenant is?"

"Nah, I don't know," Jane slurred lightly. "You ask the landlady? You curious?"

"Well," Y/N teethed her bottom lip. "Seems like he forgot a lot of stuff. But I'll ask the landlady, sure. Later." she ended the call before Jane could say anything, reminding herself of where the landlady would be. Her outfit was presentable enough. A black oversized graphic-designed hoodie that was lightly falling off her shoulders, leggings, and sneakers. Y/N grabbed her cross-body bag with the needed stuff before leaving the apartment. 

She took quick steps down the stairs and took long strides to the end of the first floor, knocking on the door. "Hello?" An elder woman, the landlady, opened the door quickly after the knock. "Oh, it's miss Y/N. What seems to be the matter?"

"Good morning," Y/N bowed her head lightly. "I just wanted to ask something, you see. . .about the room I'm in. . .can you tell me anything about the person who used to live there?"

Landlady hummed in thought. "Well, you know, these apartments always have people coming and going," she stated, trying to think of the years of tenants in the past. "Now, what was that boy's name. . .I believe he was a man about your age. . .he suddenly left a month ago. Said to leave the furniture and use it, however!"

"You wouldn't know where he went?" Y/N asked with a little hope. 

"I never heard that, no," the landlady shook her head with a sad smile. "Just up and left out of the blue!" she was closing her eyes tightly to try and get deep in her thoughts. "I just can't remember that name! I could rummage through my documents to find the previous tenant if you'd like?" 

Y/N raised her hands before the landlady could turn to enter her apartment. "N-No, there's no need," she assured. "I was just a little curious." she bowed her head at the landlady with a small smile. "Thanks, I'll see you around."

"Alrighty!" Landlady beamed brightly. "Sorry I wasn't useful!" 

She couldn't reassure the landlady as the door was closed in front of her. "A man about my age," she hummed in thought, digging her hands into the hoodie pocket and making her way to the stairs. "I can only wonder what he was like." Y/N removed one hand from the pocket but stopped when noticing black markings under the door. Barely there but noticeable. "Already?" she tightened her eyes shut and took a deep breath to prep herself for whatever was going to happen in a few seconds. 

Y/N opened the door and saw the black markings in a path to the main room. Steps followed into the room to see the markings going into the crack in the wall. At the crack of the wall, she noticed something shining inside. Reaching in, she felt the small item and dragged her arm out before feeling it getting stuck. A brass key. It seemed way too fancy for any locks in the complex. No offense to the landlady. 

Nothing happened for a while as she sat at the table, trying to think of what had happened. "Voices of a man and a kid, the mirror writing, the T.V. turning on, the tea," she listed off one by one, letting out a hasty chuckle. "It's like a poltergeist or something." Y/N leaned back into the sofa and brought her head back to hit the top. "The landlady would've mentioned this kind of thing. . .I think. What's going on here?" her eyes closed, trying to think deeply. "Not that I'd much care if there were ghosts here. Nobody'd be too bothered if they haunted and killed me, either." her hands reached up and covered her eyes. "But I wonder about that scrap of paper—what was the man who lived here like? Did this stuff happen when he was here?" Nothing came to mind, and she swung forward and groaned. "Not much use thinking about it. I'll call it a day. . ." 

Maybe if she took a nap, it would get her mind to function better. Changing into her pajamas, still with the hoodie, Y/N got into bed and snuggled her head into the hoodie. The scent never left, even after washing so many times, which lulled her to sleep. And it seemed to have helped her fall asleep. 

However, it did a little more than needed, as she was woken up in the middle of the night by a strange noise. Y/N got out of bed, looking at the clock. She was confused about the sound, knowing it wasn't from the clock and why it sounded like it was in the house. 

It took her a while to look around, but she could find it in the closet next to the computer desk in the computer room. Was there a radio there? Y/N didn't remember there being one when hanging her tops. But not only did the sound catch her attention but there was also a piece of paper underneath. Not only that. . .but it was an address. "Our Special Place" was titled at the top. 

Y/N sighed, folding the paper and placing it in the hoodie pocket. She closed the closet and went through the door to the main room. But she froze on the spot. No movement in her bones. Finally, her right foot took a step forward, and she was shaking hard in fear. Y/N wanted to scream at the top of her lungs. She -couldn't talk anymore if she did, but she couldn't. 

-

I M   W A I T I N G   F O R   Y O U

-

Blood was written on the wall, and Y/N almost fell to her knees because she felt weak. She was stuttering out questions of what this meant and why it was there. But she wasn't able to complete sentences. Nothing was clear to her. The only clear thing was now that she got her voice back. And from that, she ran out with a scream. 

The first place she thought of going was Jane's and Namjoon's apartment. And she did. They took her in without questioning. After calming her down, the newlywed couple had her sleep on the couch. Feeling safe with the scent of the hoodie, Y/N slept with ease. No voices, no glass breaking, no electricity turning itself on. . .peace. 

Morning came around, and Jane woke Y/N up before she slept through the whole day. The two ended up starting a conversation when settling at the dining room table. "Did you sleep well?" Jane asked. "Sorry, you had to sleep on the couch."

"Nah, I should be sorry for coming over so late," Y/N apologized instead, trying to take the blame for waking them up so late. 

Jane laughed. "Wasn't expecting it, but don't sweat it," she waved off her best friend. Jane looked at Y/N more. She was taking the detail of the bags under the eyes, paler and tiredness in Y/N's eyes despite having almost eight hours of sleep. "Did something happen? You don't look too hot."

"There's no particular reason," Y/N mumbled, trying to keep it away from Jane. They already saw her panicking, but she never explained what had happened. "Maybe I felt like intruding into the newlyweds' love nest."

"Why you!" Jane raised a hand, threatening to slap Y/N. But the girl only chuckled. She sighed and leaned into her chair. "Seriously, though. You can tell me if anything happens, okay? I'll do whatever I can for you!"

Y/N smiled warmly, even if it was crooked. "I'm glad to know a gal who looks out for her friends," she teased more. 

"You making fun of me?!" Jane growled, controlling herself. She took a deep breath to calm down. "I heard from Namjoon. Sorry about the Jeongguk thing. I told him off for that." Y/N tried to ensure Jane that it wasn't Namjoon's fault and to not worry about it. "It's not about whose fault it is. . .I'm just not happy about it. Don't let it get you down, alright?" She had a look of annoyance, but not at Y/N. "I know you've got your mother to look after, but I think it's time you move on and look for new people!"

The last sentence made Y/N chuckle in pain. "As if a girl like me could find a date," she spoke melancholy. "I'm just some clerk with a mom in the hospital. . .and the guy I wanted to marry ran from me."

Jane rolled her eyes. "Don't be such a sissy," she lightly insulted. "You keep up that moping, and you'll have your own personal rain cloud!" 

Y/N snorted at her best friend. "I'll be careful then," she promised playfully. Her thought went back to the piece of paper with the address. Reading that felt like it was tugging her to it. Something about this previous tenant wouldn't leave her. She wanted to know so much about this tenant. She wanted to find out about this guy, even if it was random. "I'm going to go on a little trip." her eyes went to Jane. "Don't want to waste my vacation, you know." that piqued Jane's attention, asking Y/N where she was going. "Just somewhere I was wondering about. I'll call you when I get there."

"Sweet, send a postcard!" Jane asked but quickly took it back. "Nah, but don't, actually."

The door opened to show Namjoon. "Breakfast's ready, Jane," he informed, looking a bit nervous. He wasn't one to cook. It was mainly Jane who cooked, but he offered so she could check up on Y/N. "Y/N, will you be eating too?"

"Nah, I'm not hungry," Y/N rejected. "I'll be going."

"Come by anytime,"

Even if she dreaded going back into the apartment, Y/N knew she had to. She had to find out about the address and where it was located. Looking through many books and maps, she finally spotted where the address would lead. It was supposedly a place in the mountains, and it would take her about five hours to get there by car. 

Maybe the former tenant went to the place in the mountains. Y/N only wanted to ask him about the room; maybe he'll know something. "Hell, why not just go now," she mumbled her thoughts. "I can't stand this place, anyway." 

Y/N changed her outfit to be more comfortable. White long-sleeve turtleneck that hugged her body and the oversized black hoodie. Ripped light blue sailor jeans that covered her black combat boots. Y/N grabbed her cross-body bag and her galaxy-themed small backpack with snacks and drinks.

After double checking she had everything, she left the damned apartment.

-

Prologue

"Y/N's Room"

End 

𝚃𝚑𝚎  𝙲𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝙼𝚊𝚗  𝙼𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚝

| 𝘈, (𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵) 𝘍 |  𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳, 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳, 𝘚𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘎𝘰𝘳𝘦, 𝘔𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦, 𝘚𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘈𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘵, 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘰𝘳 𝘋𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘚𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘛𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘴

| 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘪 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 |  

↳   𝘗𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 - 𝘑𝘦𝘰𝘯 𝘑𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘬𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘹 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳  

↳ 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘺 - 𝘠/𝘕 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦. 𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘥𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘠/𝘕 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘥𝘥 𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘵.  

𝘏𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦.  

𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘠/𝘕 𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴.

(𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 "𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘯" 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴)

𝘛𝘢𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 - 𝘖𝘱𝘦𝘯 (𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘴𝘬)  

𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘶𝘦 - 𝘠/𝘕'𝘴 𝘙𝘰𝘰𝘮

𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘖𝘯𝘦 - 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘭

𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘛𝘸𝘰 - 𝘉𝘪𝘨 𝘏𝘪𝘵 𝘓𝘢𝘸 𝘚𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭

𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦  - 𝘊𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘏𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭

𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘳  - 𝘊𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘏𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭

𝘌𝘱𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘶𝘦

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙲𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝙼𝚊𝚗 | 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙾𝚗𝚎

| 𝘈, (𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵) 𝘍 | 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳, 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳, 𝘚𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘎𝘰𝘳𝘦

| 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘪 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 |  

↳   𝘗𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 - 𝘑𝘦𝘰𝘯 𝘑𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘬𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘹 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳,  𝘚𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘒𝘪𝘮 𝘛𝘢𝘦𝘩𝘺𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘹 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳  

↳ 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘺 - 𝘠/𝘕 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦. 𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘥𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘠/𝘕 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘥𝘥 𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘵.  

𝘏𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦.  

𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘠/𝘕 𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴.

(𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 "𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘯" 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴)

𝘛𝘢𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 - 𝘖𝘱𝘦𝘯 (𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘴𝘬)

𝘞𝘒 - 10.8k

𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘷 | 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵

𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘔𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 | 𝘔𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘔𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵

He bought a Crooked Cat

Which caught a Crooked Mouse

And they all lived Happily

In a Crooked House

The drive to the place was way too long when going through with it. Y/N had to make many stops so she wouldn't fall asleep. Well, she wouldn't sleep even if she wanted to. She took a deep breath to prepare for whatever she was going to go through and exited her truck. "Wow, it's so dark out," Y/N huffed out a chuckle. It felt as if the sky was way darker than when she moved into her apartment. the piece of paper and back up at the hotel, Y/N nodded to herself. "This is the place. . .no doubt." she placed the paper back into her bag and looked at the large doors of the place. "Huge place. . .looks like a hotel. Would he be here?" There was a board next to the door, and she leaned back to read it. 

Hotel Ruhenheim

Giving you a serene stay.

Y/N pushed the large doors, and the first thing she saw was a reception area. It was abandoned, but it didn't look abandoned. Though when she went around the reception desk to open the door, it was locked. Y/N tried to open the other door on the right, there was wiring that she couldn't get rid of. She blew a slight raspberry, looking at the "Staff Room" sign next to the door. ," she muttered, moving away from the reception desk. 

Y/N walked into the left hallway with a line of doors, lightly shaking the handles to see if any of them would open. The fourth door was the first door to open, and she looked around when slowly walking in. Her eyes caught a piece of paper on a dresser, having her automatically move toward it. Y/N chuckled to see a childish drawing of nine tables with a crown over the top right desk. 

-

"* Treasure hunt *

Dear     Mom          Dad"

-

A drawing in the bottom right of a little girl that was labeled "Me" above with an arrow pointing at the little girl. "Treasure hunt, huh," Y/N licked her lips. "I guess some kid staying here drew this. " she let out another chuckle with a shrug. "Sure, I'll look for your treasure." Y/N folded the paper and placed it in her bag before looking around the room for anything. But there was nothing. She exited the room, closing it behind her, and tried to open the remaining doors. The last door at the end was a metal blue door that was locked with a passcode, making her hum in confusion why a door was locked with a passcode. It was labeled "STAFF ONLY," so maybe that was why. But a passcode?

Y/N walked up the stairs after leaving the hallway. Two main doors. The one on the left had the label "Rec Room," and the one on the right was labeled "Cafeteria". this room looked like the drawing. And if the top right table in the drawing had a crown. . .then. . . "The far right," Y/N guessed, walking fast to the far right table at the end of the room and looking around. She got on her knees, raised the cloth, and noticed a key. Not just a regular key, but a gold key. And a piece of paper lay beside it. 

"You found the treasure! Congrats!"

She smiled and placed the paper in her bag. Maybe it wasn't something she needed to ensure her that she wasn't crazy when she told Jane about this trip.

Y/N left the cafeteria while looking at the key. She went into the nearest hallway, seeing a bigger pair of doors than the other doors. Walking down, she saw the "bar" label beside the door. Y/N attempted to unlock the door. "Wait. . .how did a kid get a key to one of the locked rooms?" She couldn't help, but question when pausing at the point of removing the key when understanding this key wasn't going to fit . "Maybe I am crazy." 

A quick attempt to unlock all the doors, but nothing. Y/N went across the building to the hallway further down. No doors would open until the third showed movements. It was way different than the first hotel room. far right corner, a table the same size as the ones in the cafeteria in the middle with six seats surrounding, and a candlelight. A desk against the left wall. There is a cabinet in the far left corner with a big mirror dresser beside it And there was a scrap of paper on top. 

-

"It was our special place. She loved the pretty room with its big mirror. She would wonder what to wear for dinner.

But now it's just me. I thought it might help to come here, but it didn't. There's only emptiness."

-

Y/N frowned, feeling as if this was talking about her. As if it talked about the memories of her and Jeongguk. They didn't have a special place. But her special place was  him , cliché or not. to get out of her head, looking back down at the paper. Something caught her eye.  The rule on this page. . .it matches the one from my room.  Y/N dug into her bag for the paper from her apartment.  I wonder if he's still here . She chuckled with no humor.  So he got dumped. . .the note at home also mentioned that. And "our special place. . ." he came here with her.  , wondering where he could be. 

She placed both pieces of paper back in her bag and made her way to the door. Y/N jumped at the sound of glass cracking, turning quickly to see the mirror broken. And she isn't going to deal with that. 

So she walked out of the room, not looking back. There is no way she is going to investigate that. She isn't that much of an idiot. . .kind of. Ignoring the fact that she is going out on a whim for a person she only was around her age. 

Y/N closed the door behind her and continued down the row of doors, none of them open. Many of them were painted over, so she couldn't use the key. The last door was the same design as the pair of doors of the "bar," and it was labeled "Library." An attempt with the key and the doors were successfully unlocked.  

A tiny fist bumped into the air, and Y/N entered the library, briefly looking at the note to pass by. 

"Due to employee incompetence and lost keys, the library is temporarily closed. We apologize for the inconvenience."

"Well, a somewhat reason for these locked doors," Y/N spoke with her lips barely separating. Then again, she still needs an explanation for these painted doorknobs. When she entered, a table to her left already had a key lying on. top. It was attached to a label to show it went to room 108. 

Well, at least she knows where to go. 

The only hallway she hasn't gone as the hallway to the left was rooms 101 to 106. But she didn't leave just yet. A book on another table lay lonely as if it wanted to be read. her to walk to the table and then leave for room 108. Her fingers stroke the hardcover of the book, reading the title. "Cry of the Unseen."

-

"Do you consider yourself kind? You don't get to decide that. It's decided in the unconscious.

Even if you believe you are cold-hearted, you may be warm and emotional inside. . . .And  they  will sniff it out.

They will be lured by your unconscious kindness, and they will drag you away."

-

Maybe being called to it was not worth it. It was some kind of occult book. Y/N blew a raspberry, "I bet Jane would love this. She's way into this stuff for her age." She looked around the library for more . No other books have caught her attention. But that seemed to be enough for when she heard footsteps running down the hallway on the other side of the door. Her eyes jerked in the direction of the doors, questioning her sanity if she had heard that. or not. Could it be the previous tenant? 

Y/N ran out of the library but saw nothing down the hallway. 

She frowned but continued her way through the hallway in hopes of seeing a male around her age. And another set of running feet made her slightly pause in her steps. "Is someone there?" her voice echoed through the building, but no response. 

She hoped she wasn't going insane. Her adventure had just started. 

Y/N exhaled deeply through her nose and continued her way to go back downstairs and into the hallway to the right, going straight to the second door to unlock it. The room was small, like the first room, and she looked around the room . But there was nothing. Y/N's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. She looked through the cabinets and the closet, but nothing—went as far as looking at the tables and under the beds and deeply looked through the bathroom, but nothing. Could there be something on top? That's a smart move. Good thing she thought about that. Her mind went straight to the chair and dragged it to the cabinet. There was nothing on top, but she saw a wire cutter on top of the closet. /N had to drag the chair in front of the closet to grab it, but she had it. 

A wire cutter. . .

Oh! There was wire around the staff room behind the reception desk. 

Y/N walked out of the room with the wire cutter in her hands. It wasn't a key, but she was still able to get into a room that might get her closer to the former tenant. 

Entering the main room of the hotel, notes from a piano were echoing out. Was it the former tenant? Y/N smiled big and ran up the stairs. Okay, there wasn't a piano in the library or the cafeteria. bar is locked along with that staff-only metal door. That would only mean the Recording Room. Y/N opened the door and ran in. "Who's there!"

Her yell may have been a little too much, as a male yelped and turned around at her voice. "I'm sorry," he quickly apologized, his deep voice bouncing off the walls. "II just came in and. . .and the piano looked nice."

Y/N realized her mistake, seeing that her yelling may have seemed like she was a staff. "Wait, wait," she held her hands out to the man, walking up to him. "I'm not a staff for the hotel or anything—sorry I yelled at you." 

The man kept a distance from Y/N. A suspicious stare stayed in his eyes. "Who are you, then?" he asked. 

"I'm Y/N," she introduced herself with a hand on her chest. "I'm sort of. . .looking for a guy. What about you?"

He didn't answer for a few seconds. "I'm Taehyung," he finally introduced himself. Y/N will not lie. This Taehyung guy looked very handsome. Very tall, brown eyes, very fluffy black hair. a cream sweatshirt tucked into black pants and a long brown coat. Taehyung looked. . .soft. 

And she wondered why someone beside her would be here. The hotel is abandoned, no? "Taehyung, then," Y/N bowed her head lightly. "What brings you here? It could be dangerous, you know." It may seem a bit strange for a girl to say that to a guy, but anything could be dangerous for anyone. 

"I stayed at this hotel once," Taehyung stated to her. "But I forgot something important, so I came back to get it."

"I see," Y/N hummed, fiddling with her fingers. "Did you find it?" 

A sad look on Taehyung's face when he shook his head. "No, I'm still looking," he answered. "It's just this little box decorated with rubies. . .but I'm not leaving until I find it."

"Right," Y/N removed one hand from the other to cover her mouth as she coughed lightly. "Well, again, sorry shouting. I'll probably be here for a while longer, so I could help you find it."

"Oh, that'd be great," Taehyung showed a small smile that looked a bit like a box. "Please help." 

What if his smile was the box? Y/N almost spoke that out loud but reminded herself not to creep the guy. "Just do me a favor, too, though," she requested. "If you see a man. . .about my age, would you tell me?"

Taehyung gave her a weird look but nodded nonetheless. "I'll be going, then," he moved his body from the piano. "Uh. . .Y/N, you be careful too."

He walked around her and left the room. Y/N breathed out, which turned into a light chuckle of disbelief. "What am I doing yelling at people," she scolded herself lightly, placing her hand on her forehead. "I feel like the shady one here." she shook her head and tried to prep herself up. 

She walked out of the room and looked around to see where Taehyung might be. But he was nowhere to be seen. Did he get to a room so quickly? Either way, it wasn't her business. 

Y/N quickly went down the stairs to head to the door with the wire. After a few tries of messing up, the wire was fortunately cut to let her in. And, well, it looked like a standard staff room. thing is the door next to a bookcase had a missing doorknob. 

A small red book was laid on the table in the middle of the room, so that could be another odd thing. But there was a key on top. it was information on how the bathroom door in room 106 needed fixing. Y/N looked back at the door with no knob, and that concluded that her next place to go was the room. 

Before she left, she looked at the board hanging next to the door. She wanted to explore more of the room before she went to 106. It wasn't much information for her to know. The only thing that stayed in her head was the main note pinned at the front. 

-

"Four chapters of the book have mysteriously gone missing. Should you find the pages, please report to the owner."

-

Y/N nodded to herself to keep the information in her head, but she flinched with a light jump at the sound of crying on the other side of the door. "Is someone in there?!" Her eyes widened, and she placed her ear against it to make sure she heard it right. And she was. She looked to see the label "Owner's Room," which made her wonder if this was the owner. "Uh. . .don't worry! I'll find some way to open the door and get you out!" 

She ran out of the staff with the key to 106 in hand. Running down the left hallway, she unlocked the door to room 106. If it were mentioned as a door repair, hopefully, it would be useful. Fortunately, it was when she opened the door to the bathroom that she saw a doorknob on the ground in front of a door to, most likely, the bath. What luck this is, as it looked like the same kind as the other door without a knob. Y/N ran back to the staff room and didn't take her time to enter the knob into the door. 

Entering, the crying had stopped. And it looked like a normal office. Y/N wanted to call out, but there was no one. And she could see about everything. Investigating everything, she saw another board. 

-

"Book of the Month: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"

-

"Congratulations, but what about the—" In the corner of her eye, she noticed a loose tile on the floor next to the trash can. "Owner." she stalked up to it and placed one foot on top. Nothing happened when she placed her weight on the tile. Y/N stomped on the tile, and she let out a small scream when hearing metal flying. Holding herself as a reaction, she took a deep breath of relief to discover that the metal door against the far wall had opened. "Just some mechanism in the floor." 

Speaking the statement out loud, she felt calm again and went down the ladder.  So dark. She complained her head and felt for the lighter in her bag. Lighting it up, she saw as much as she could and moved it around for her surrounding. Boxes, cabinets of unused items, drums of gasoline, random chairs. Definitely a storage room Going around, she heard a groan. Turning, she saw a figure of a man against the wall. Was this the owner? "Hey, are you okay?!" she asked, tilting her head. " but the figure only ground. "Wh. . .what? Are you. . .okay?" she brought her lighter towards the figure, and she felt the color in her cheeks leave. Bones were cracking at movement, and Y/N realized there was blood covering this man. But that wasn't what made her feel sick. This man had a long neck that was crooked, his head was hanging, his black hair was falling, and his eyes were cut out and blacked out. It was as if he hung himself and came back to life. 

He was like. . .a Crooked Man. 

Y/N gulped down the vomit that was trying to come up. She let out a yell when Crooked Man took a step toward her. "S-Stay back!" she warned. "Don't come near me." 't listen. He took another step and blasted into a full run. Y/N ran off, becoming the chase. She climbed up the ladder, but her right ankle was grabbed. "Let go!" she pleaded, tears forming, shaking him off. "Let go!" she kept shaking her leg and trying to get Crooked Man away, kicking his limp and bumpy neck. Y/N was shaking and kicking wildly, and the monster cried out when she finally kicked him away. didn't look back and kept climbing up. 

Finally out, Y/N closed the door and leaned on it. A few seconds later, there was a pounding that made Y/N's body bounce from the impact, but it slowly died down. She panted and shook in fear  . . . .all crooked. Was he even a human?  She immediately registered the figure as a male, but from what she saw, this figure was most likely an "it" after the incident.  Everything is proving that I'm going crazy. . .that thing. . .it couldn't've been real.  She groaned and rubbed the temple of her head  .

Taehyung.

At the thought of the new acquaintance she had made, Y/N stood up and walked out of the room. "I. . .should at least check what he's up to," she muttered to herself. know that he's okay. "Hopefully, he found what he came for." Even if this were just her imagination. . .it'd be best if he left soon. 

Y/N kept telling herself it was in her head, but she couldn't get rid of the filling of its rough skin on her ankle despite it being covered by her jeans. It was as if its touch melted through her jeans and came in contact with her skin. 

She looked around the first floor, but there was no sign of Taehyung. It was clawing at her stomach that the monster had found Taehyung.   No  , no, no .

Going up the stairs, Taehyung wasn't in the recording room or the cafeteria. So that left it with the two upstairs hallways. Y/N ruffled her hair to keep herself sane, but she stumbled with the hotel shaking and a screech following after Y/N ran into the left hallway and went into the hotel room she was in near the beginning, pausing at sight .  Taehyung  was at the large window, and the ground caved around him, and the floor left out was about to break with his weight. "Taehyung!" she called out, running around the table in the middle to him. "What happened?!"

"II went to the window, and the floor gave away," Taehyung stuttered out, trying to stay still as stone. "What. . .what should I do?"

Y/N gulped, knowing the possibility of the risk. But it was the only option. "Taehyung, jump over," she tried to speak calmly, opening her arms out. "It's dangerous over there."

Taehyung shook his head, trying to keep his feet from slipping off. "N-No, I can't," he was too scared to jump. "I'm slipping!" he was moving too much despite trying to stay still as a stone. "And I can't possibly jump that far! A gap this big—"

"This is no time for pessimism!" Y/N cuts him off in urgency, shaking her hands. "It's going to crumble soon! Hurry, I'll catch you." Her arms were out, and Taehyung didn't have to be told for a third time. He jumped into Y/N's arms, having the two fall back. Y/N cushioned Taehyung's impact as her head and upper back hit the table behind her. She moaned slightly in pain after grunting. "Way too close. . .that was—are you okay, Taehyung? Hurt?" she had to cut herself off when reminding herself that it wasn't just her. But he didn't say anything. "Taehyung?"

"Scared," his deep voice came out, slightly breaking. "I was. . .scared." he held onto Y/N, slowly cuddling into her. "No more. . .I don't like the dark." he was slowly going into stutters, not able to create words with his shoulders shaking and warm tears forming and dropping onto Y/N's turtleneck when he brought his face into the crook of her neck. 

Y/N hesitated but raised a hand to lay across Taehyung's fluffy locks. "It's okay, Taehyung," she murmured. "I'm sorry, I know you were scared. . .but it's fine now. Please don't cry. "

That must've gotten Taehyung to realize their position, and he removed himself from her. The two were now sitting across from each other on the floor. "Sorry," he apologized. 

"It's alright," Y/N assured with a light chuckle. "I'm glad you're not hurt." she rolled her shoulders back to get the pain away. But while doing so, she remembered something. "Did you find what you were looking for?"

"No, not yet," Taehyung answered. "It wasn't in the room we stayed in." her brought his hands up to his face and let out a slight groan. "I wonder where it could be. . ."

Her eyes lingered on him a little bit. "It must be important if you came all by yourself," she commented. "You could always just give up on it. It's not entirely safe here."

"I can't give up on it!" Taehyung yelled, making Y/N flinch slightly. "I have to find it."

Maybe it wasn't the best thing to say. And Y/N didn't know if she should mention what had happened earlier. "What exactly is it?" But if what she saw wasn't her imagination, still trying to tell herself it was, then maybe Taehyung shouldn't be here. "Sorry to ask, but I've been wondering. . .was it a present, or?"

Taehyung stared at Y/N for a little longer but looked away. "It's a present from my girlfriend," he muttered. "It's the most important thing to me, after my own life. . ."

"I see," Y/N gave Taehyung a look of sympathy. "Sorry if I was rude. I'll keep looking for it too."

He didn't say anything in response, but he did look back at her. "You're looking for someone, right?" he asked. "I haven't met anyone yet, but. . . can you tell me more about them?"

"Er, well. . ," Y/N grimaced lightly when he mentioned it. "I don't know that much either. Just that he's a man about my age."

"Huh?" Taehyung blinked a few times. "You know that little about the person you're looking for?" Y/N gave him a  crooked  smile, not knowing what to do as he now knew the only details. "You' re a strange girl, Y/N."

"I'm not," Y/N weakly defended herself, but he had a point. "There are just some things I want to ask, and I don't know how he looks because, um—"

"Strange, but very kind," Taehyung cut her off with a warm smile. "I would've been hurt badly if you weren't here. I'm grateful to you for saving me." he stood up from his spot, holding his hand out to Y/N. It took her a moment to realize what he was doing, and she grabbed it. The two stayed in their spots until Taehyung let go of her. "I should get going. Take care, Y/ N." he nodded at her and walked off. "I'll see you!"

And he was gone. 

Y/N didn't like how this had happened a bit after what she had gone through in the basement. And that's where she had gone first. Opening the door and into the owner's room. And like that, she felt fear. "The basement door's open," she whispered to herself, slowly walking around. Y/N looked down, but it was dark. Every fiber in her body was telling her not to go down. But she still went down. Her curiosity was too much to ignore. Her lighter was quickly fished out so she could look around for the monster. 

There was no monster. 

Only a key was in its place. 

She left after there was nothing, and she closed the door. Hopefully, there will be nothing else for her to go back to. Looking down at the item in her hand. It was a bronze key labeled "bar." Y/N calmed herself down before leaving and heading up to the bar. 

The key fit the lock, and she entered the room. Not much to expect from a bar. Tables with abandoned drinks of beer. And one table had a book. The closer she got to it, it looked to be more of a journal. The handwriting was sloppy, and it looked as if whoever wrote this was rambling on. 

And Y/N read the last page. 

-

"A toast to our owner, who left his employees and fled into the night! We'll drink all the beer we've got— hell, it's the only good thing here!

Being out of a job's no good, but at least we don't have to see his mug anymore! We were SO sick of that egghead always trying  to flaunt his intelligence!

Installing weird stuff for the basement door, having a number lock on the food storage. . . All his silly crap made the place impossible to run!

Plus, the passcode was this thing with a book which he changed up every month! What the hell do you do if you forget?! Maybe it 's good for him, but sure as hell, not us!

Ah, whatever! Once we're done with the booze, we're out of here! A toast to our bright futures!"

-

Y/N leaned on the table with a bite of her lip. "Passcode," she was beginning to think of the doors. "The door is at the far end of the first floor, right? A passcode on food is pretty absurd. " she pushed herself off the table and looked around more. Still, there was nothing off. Every bottle was empty besides these two giant wine bottles that were full but opened up. Very. . .Brandy. It has a lot of alcohol in it "I might catch on fire if I drank both." She did have her lighter, after all.

But that made her think. 

There was a thought in her head.  The passcode was related to a book the owner changes every month.  And that made her think of the books she had thought of when in the staff room and owner's room before going down to the basement.  The Strange Case, wasn't it?  Y/N made her way to the other side and went into the library. Her fingers gleamed across the spines of the books in a hurry to find that one book. She slowed down when in the "S" titles. And she found it. Pulling the book out, she had to think about what would be the passcode. The chapters? Y/N remembered reading how four chapters were ripped out of a book and reporting it to the owner. this book? Skipping through, she noticed missing chapters, as the board had mentioned it. 

3, 6, 7, 9 

Okay, that has to be the code. If this is the same book both journal and board had mentioned, then this has to be the passcode. Y/N nodded to herself and put the book back. hallway. But she froze at the sound of a growl. Her eyes stayed staring ahead, and she gulped in fear. No, no, no. It can't be. It was her imagination. It had to be her imagination. 't real. 

But it was. 

The same figure walked into her vision, showing itself at the door of the hallway. "The monster. . .did it really—" Y/N cut herself off as it had its upside-down smile widen at the sight of her. She gulped and took a step back. As far into the hallway, she was next to the room she had saved Taehyung and the library behind her. It slowly stalked up to her.  It 's coming this way.  ran into the room, and the first thing in sight was the candle, and she grabbed it. Even if she closed the door behind her, it was opened up seconds after. Running around the table, she tripped on the leg of a chair, almost falling into the hole. 

Y/N looked at the hole, wondering what would've happened if she had fallen. What would've happened if it fell through? The monster was coming up to her. It reached out for her, and Y/N slammed the candle into the monster's side. Not much impact, but it did stumble to give her time to raise her arms, slam them both into its side, and push it into the hole. 

The yell echoed in the hole, and Y/N dropped the candle for her fingers to rake through her locks. "What is that monster?" her breath was staggering when everything was pouring into her mind. "What. . .what I saw earlier." she brought herself up to her feet, telling herself to calm down. "To think that thing actually exists." Y/N turned to look at the hole. "But still. . .there's no way it's coming back from that fall. And the room under here's locked tight." she realized the best opportunity she had with Taehyung. She groaned to herself. "I should warn Taehyung when I see him. I knew it would be dangerous for him."

It wasn't time to scold herself and hit her forehead. She had to get to the food storage. Y/N walked out of the room and down the hallway. It was hard to get the image of the monster out of her head in the light. Somehow, it was more creepy in light than in the dark. Push it to the side. . .push it to the side. After another deep breath, Y/N was already in front of the metal door. Her eyes blinked a few times to realize where she was. 

3, 6, 7, 9

The door unlocked, and Y/N entered. Well, it looked like a food pantry—nothing interesting in this room besides a knife on the countertop in the corner with a sink. Something shunned in her eyes, and she looked in the area to notice something was on top of the boxes. Y/N turned to see a ladder next to the door. She probably wouldn't've been noticed if she didn't swoop around. She brought the ladder to the stack of boxes and climbed up. It was a key, and it was for room 209. 

Another room to unlock. 

"How many rooms do I have to unlock?" Y/N asked herself with no humor, going down the ladder. Her way to the room was normal. No growls or yells. And the room was normal when entering it. paper near the two beds. No, it wasn't paper when Y/N walked up to it and kneeled down. "Was this a photo?" she picked up the burnt pieces but couldn't figure out what the photo was. But there was something under the pieces—a scrap from a notebook. 

-

"I don't need her memory anymore. Because I know she won't come back.

I have to erase everything, good and bad. And all the memories inside of me, too."

-

A ringing in her head began to play, and Y/N dropped the scrap and burnt pieces of the photo to bring them up to the temples of her head. She was shaking in pain, trying to get rid of it. A few seconds and it began to ease up. But tiredness was taking over. "Sheesh, I'm exhausted," Y/N spoke, getting to her feet after picking up the scrap and burnt pieces. "So he burnt this photo to mend his broken heart , huh." she chuckled at the fact that this previous tenant could do this. "I know I couldn't do that. I'll never forget. . .never." the memories of her and Jungkook taking so many pictures played through her mind. "According to Jane. . .that makes me a pansy." 

The sound of a door creaking made Y/N turn around and see Taehyung at the door. "Oh, there you are, Y/N!" he smiled with a greeting, walking up to her. 

Y/N smiled back lightly. "Did you find the box?" she asked. 

"No, I can't find it," Taehyung's smile lightly turned sad. "There are a lot of rooms I can't get into, so it might be in one of those." he stayed silent, taking in the details of Y/N's face. And his smile fell with concern. "What's wrong, Y/N? You look kind of pale." 

"Oh, it's nothing," Y/N tilted the pieces of photo and scrap of paper, so Taehyung didn't notice. "But Taehyung, you should really leave soon." she took a deep breath. "You may not believe me , but. . .there's some kind of bizarre monster around. I found it in the basement." it was a reminder to herself, and the feeling of the monster's hand on her ankle came back. "I was attacked by it earlier. You 'd definitely be in danger too. . .so I think you should go."

Silence endures them both. It was hard to figure out what expression was on Taehyung's face. "Look, I don't like the dark, scary places either," he spoke, making Y/N flinch. "But there's no need to tease me like that. I'm not a kid afraid of the Boogie Man, okay?"

He didn't believe her. 

"Sorry," she apologized. "But I'm not trying to tease you! I'm telling the truth!" 

Taehyung let out a laugh before Y/N could ramble on about how she was not lying. "Don't worry, I'm not mad," he assured. "You don't seem like a dishonest guy, so I'd like to believe you, but. . . .a monster?" he placed a hand on her shoulder. "Maybe you mistook something in the dark? You could be susceptible to seeing things when you wander around in the dark like this."

"I'd like to think you're right," she admits. "All right, if you insist." Even if she admitted it, she pushed his hand off her shoulder. "But be careful, okay?"

"I know," Taehyung smiled at her. "Well, I'll go looking elsewhere." he waved her goodbye. 

Y/N waited a little longer to follow Taehyung out. She put the pieces of the photo and scrap of paper into her cross-body bag. While she went down the hallway, a crash made her stop in her mid-step and look at the doors of the bar. Did Taehyung stop by the bar and drop something off? Y/N walked into the bar, but Taehyung wasn't there. There was writing on the far end when she looked around for what caused the crash. went down on her knees to lean down to read the smears. 

Was this here before? Y/N didn't even want to know if this was written in blood from how red this was. 

-

Leave me           alone Please leave     me alone Come to me  I'm waiting        for you

-

Sounds pretty inconsistent.  Y/N commented in her head.  Taehyung couldn't have written that. . .so who could've?  As if her thoughts were a cue, a growl made Y/N jump to her feet and turn around at the sight of the monster opening the doors with its arms widened out. "W-Why?" She stuttered out with a whine. "I dropped you down a pit!"

Y/N slowly walked to the table on her left, grabbing the wine bottle for protection. It walked up to her. They stared at each other, wondering what would be the first action. moved to the side for it to run forward. It almost ran into a chair, but it turned again for her. The hand reached out for her and grabbed her arm. Y/N slammed the bottle on the monster's arm to bring it to the ground.

But its grasp on her brought her down with it. The monster was on the bottom, and her on top. Y/N was trying her best to get off the monster, but it kept its grasp. An attempt to bring her down as its mouth was wide open. Sharp teeth were shown, blood staining nipping into its mouth. She had attempted to dragged her arms away, but it was dragging her close to its face. It was covered with the wine, drenching her as well in the process . Y/N got a bit on her, but with her straddling the monster and being pulled with her body against it, she might as well of be the one to have gotten hit. 

Her right arm was favored for being closer to its mouth. Which meant it let go of her left arm so it could have both hands on her right arm. Y/N grunted, trying to pull her arm back and her free, holding his to let go. Come on, think!  She was telling herself, but it was hard to think. Covered in wine with flammable alcohol—

The wine. 

She did have a lighter in her bag. But it was a possibility that the fire could trail onto her as she was drenched in the wine. What choice did she have? Y/N licked her lips and let go of the arm. The struggle became harder when she let go and dug her free hand into her bag. Her arm was brought closer and close to the mouth of the monster. With the advantage, the monster brought its sharp teeth into her arm. Y/N yelled in pain but tried to focus on fishing for the lighter. It was like the monster was chewing on her arm as if it was food. She had to turn down all her instincts to remove her arm right at the point of feeling the lighter in her hand. 

Y/N grabbed the lighter and ignited the light. It was breathed onto the monster, and the fire began to roar loudly. Roaming to every bit of the monster. And her arm was let go for the monster to yell in pain. It pushed Y/N off of it before getting to its feet and running out with cries of pain. The fire had extended to Y/N, but she was able to pat it down. A breath of relief left her, but the pain in her arm wasn't being nice. She looked at her arm to see holes in the sleeve of the hoodie. Well, that's unfortunate. "I should be glad that he ran away," she told herself as a reminder, getting up from the ground. "What the hell is that thing. . .why is it changing me?" so many questions were going through her head that she didn't know what was real. "How did it survive before?" that was a good question. She locked it in the basement. It somehow got out. She pushed it down a hole into the first floor of locks, and it still somehow got out. "I might need something to defend myself. . .even just a knife could help. Was there one of those around?" thinking deeply, she now remembered. There was a fruit knife in the kitchen. 

Her mind wasn't around the bite as she went straight to the kitchen. And there it was. She told herself to take it and that it was just for self-defense. Her life felt a bit safer now that she had a weapon. Y/N placed the fruit knife in her hoodie pocket and left the kitchen. A smell of something iron hit her nose, and she looked to her left. "Blood?" there was a trail of blood ahead, a path out of the hallway . "This. . .wasn't here earlier." 

Did something happen to Taehyung? 

With that thought in mind, Y/N began to worry about the other person in this hotel. She followed the trail of blood to the right hallway of the hotel and saw it leading into a room. Wasn't it locked before? it unlocked now? Y/N opened the door to see Taehyung's back facing her. He was sitting on a bed and looking at his arm. Was he hurt? Did he get hurt when the monster ran away? She jogged up to Taehyung, and with the sound of her feet, she got Taehyung's attention. "Taehyung, what are you doing here?" she looked right at the arm he was looking at before she came in. "Your arm's bleeding. . .so it was your blood. Were you hurt?"

Taehyung was quiet. He was looking as if he was piecing together what to say in his mind. "My arm caught on something," he finally said. "It's not that big of a deal. Don't worry about it."

"It's bleeding a lot, though," Y/N commented, trying to push more into it. "And you've been resting here, right? What if you get anemia?"

"I'm just a little tired," Taehyung avoided the questions. Y/N easily caught it, but he probably didn't want to talk about it. "I've been walking around a lot. Really, don't worry .” and she’ll respect that. 

Still, he was bleeding. Y/N did have something in her bag. "Give me your hand, Taehyung," she gently instructed. Getting down on one knee, Y/N took off her bag and backpack. She dug through her backpack for the first-aid kit she had stored at home. It was unfortunate she had to use it. There was no plan for her to get hurt and chased by a strange monster covered in blood and inhumanly sharp teeth that used to bite on her arm . But here she is, in that scenario. 

Y/N looked through her kit to see the low supply of bandages—and her lucky handkerchief. Well, it could be used for her arm. If she were to use the bandage, there wouldn't be any left for her wound. handkerchief wouldn't be much useful. . .but she didn't want to be selfish. "Here, I have a bit of bandage left—"

"That's okay. You can use the handkerchief," Taehyung spoke over her, looking at the first-aid kit. 

Y/N wanted to argue lightly that he may need it more, but he did insist. Also. . .why was her handkerchief there? Maybe it really was a lucky handkerchief. but loud for Taehyung to hear. Y/N grabbed Taehyung's hand and cleaned his wrist before wrapping the handkerchief around. An easy fix as he had already taken off his coat, and his sleeve was rolled up. "Doesn't hurt?" 

"It's fine," Taehyung attempted a smile. "Thank you. You're so kind, Y/N." 

Again, Y/N had noticed it. Maybe she should comment on it. "You. . .don't seem so well," she let out after thinking. "Did something happen?"

"It's nothing," Taehyung tried another attempt at a smile. "I've just been so silly."

"Silly?"

"It's silly that I'm wandering this dark place all alone, falling in holes, cutting my arm, all to find some measly box," he let out. Y/N widened her eyes for a second before letting go of his hand. 

"Measly?" Y/N repeated again. "But it's important, right? A memento from your girlfriend?"

He looked at his wrapped arm before looking into Y/N's eyes. "Well, she's my ex, to be exact," he corrected. Y/N let out a sound of slight shock. "She left me quite a while ago. . .but while we were dating, this hotel was our special place. That was when I lost the box. . .I've been worried abotu it ever since, but I only just worked up the courage to come look. forget everything about her. . .but it was no good. Coming here just brought back all these memories."

"Why did you break up?" Y/N asked. It may've been a sensitive question. . .but she was curious. 

"I don't know," Taehyung shrugged. "Maybe that's why I won't give up. She said she appreciated my kindness, but when we broke up, she said it was 'all I had.' And she was exactly right , so I couldn't reply. . ." his arm dropped to the bed, eyes turning into a sad emotion. So melancholy. "I really am a wimp. No wonder she'd break up with me. Even I'd hate a guy like me." he looked back up at Y/N and cleared his throat at the realization of her being there. "Sorry, I know I'm just annoying you. I'll rest her a while longer. I'm a little dizzy." he made a third attempt at a smile, and, fortunately, the ends of his lips twitched up the slightest bit. "Thanks for your help, Y/N. Oh, and here. "he reached his good hand into his coat and brought something in front of Y/N. "I found this. I'm not sure where it goes, though."

"Thanks," Y/N wasn't able to say anything. She felt like she was in Taehyung's shoes when he spoke the short story of how he and his girlfriend broke up. "Uh, don't strain yourself, okay?" 

"Be careful," Taehyung called out, watching her clean up the first aid kit. "It's dark. And make sure to wrap up your arm." 

Y/N looked at Taehyung and at her arm. She guessed it was noticeable that she was hurt with these bite marks on her hoodie. "Thanks, I will," she nodded at him. "I'll look for your treasure, too " 

She stood up and paused when hearing Taehyung let out a slight chuckle. "You sure are nice, Y/N," he complimented again. "You might be growing on me." Y/N's cheeks had a light red brushing against it. 

A forced chuckle came out of her, not knowing how to react. "I. . .don't know if such a wonderful guy would suit a loser like me, sorry," she denied the compliment. Taehyung wasn't able to say anything as Y/N ran out of the room. Her heart was racing, and she leaned against the door. But it didn't last for long as the memories were flooding in. 

-

"Why are you always like this?"

Kuu looked up from the table and at her fiancé. "Like. . .like what?"

"You're always such a yes-woman. Just go with the flow," he continued on. "Do you even have a personality." he let out a sigh and sat across from Y/N, leaning into his hand. 

"I. . .don't mean to," she spoke quietly, trying to read his facial features. "I mean, I try to think for myself. "

"I don't see it that way," he spoke honestly, still not looking into Y/N's eyes. As if he was hiding from her. "You're not kind. You're just indecisive. You'd treat anyone else the same way, right? That's why I can't trust you."

Her heart was breaking more and more at every word he spoke. "Look, please, just listen," she was ready to get down on her knees and beg. "I'm always thinking of you, I promise. Please. If I 'm a pain, then I'm sorry." her hands went together and intertwined. 

His head jerked up, finally looking into Y/N's eyes. Hand towards her as if motioning to her body. "There you go again," he almost raised his voice but kept it balanced. "Thinking you can just apologize and everything will be fine. You don't understand a word I'm saying."

"Then what should I do?" Y/N asked. "You just don't trust me, is that it?!"

They kept eye contact, but he let go first by hanging his head. "Maybe it's hopeless for us," he whispered. "I hate for it to end this way. . .but I think we would both be worse off staying together any longer." he stood up and went for the front door. Why did the front door have to be right there? "Thanks for everything, Y/N." his hand was on the doorknob, and he opened it without hesitation. "Goodbye " 

Y/N got up from her seat and ran for him. "W-Wait! We can talk this out!" she begged, but he closed the door before she could chase after him. A sob left her, and she fell to her knees. "Jeongguk!" 

-

"Kindness is all you have," Y/N repeated Taehyung's words, staying leaning against the door. "Taehyung and I are the same like that. Timidly refusing to forget. The moment I realized he didn't love me, I felt like I was nothing but worthless. . .I wonder if Taehyung felt that way, too?" she let out a sigh and looked at the key in her hand. "I think this key goes to the door by the receptionist desk. . .the only locked door I can remember." 

Y/N walked out of the hallway and placed the first aid kit on the desk. She rolled up her two sleeves to see the bite. It somehow didn't hurt anymore. It did when he ran away. the memory with Jeongguk made her forget about it. It just stung now. Y/N cleaned the bite marks and blood and wrapped the bandage around it.  Note to self, get more supplies.  she mentally noted, closing the kit and putting it in her backpack. 

Once she had everything and her backpack on, Y/N walked around the desk and insert the key into the doorknob. It was to the back of the hotel. The night sky and gentle wind were something she needed. the fresh air and let out a light smile. 

Such fresh air. 

Y/N closed the door behind her and walked to the fountain in the middle with benches around it. Something shining caught her eye when walking around the fountain. Her eyes blinked a few times before realizing it was a brown box in the clear water. "A box?" she questioned. However, it didn't take long to put two to two together. "Maybe this is the one Taehyung lost." she shivered lightly when her hands entered the cold water. Inspecting it, Y/N noticed the details. "It has to be. It's decorated with rubies. Did someone throw it away or what?" 

It didn't matter. She had Taehyung's box.

She ran into the hotel and ran fast to the hotel room, but Taehyung wasn't there. "Did Taehyung leave already? But he's wounded," she spoke her question out loud, putting the box into her backpack with a quick slide off one shoulder. And that's when she heard the same yell as before. "Taehyung?!" Running out, she looked through every door that was open, and she finally got into the recording room to see the monster stalking up to Taehyung. "

Taehyung was slowly walking backward till his body hit the wall. "No. . ," he was shaking in fear. "Stay away!"

Y/N ran around the monster and stayed in front of Taehyung. "Stop right there!" she held her arm out to the monster. "Back off, monster!" 

"Y/N?" Taehyung looked at Y/N in surprise. 

The monster only had its smile and grew in response. "Damnit," Y/N cursed under her breath, her hand moving slowly into her hoodie pocket. "Taehyung, get out of the hotel." Taehyung tried to call out to her, but Y/N talked over him. "I said run away—I'll take care of this." She brought out the fruit knife. "Hey, monster!" she pointed to the monster with the fruit knife. t know what the hell you are, but don't you lay a finger on Taehyung!"

Taehyung gulped and ran around the two with an easy exit from the room. It wasn't surprising that the monster didn't leave to chase Taehyung. It was after Y/N, for some odd reason. Y/N took a deep breath and tried to swing at the monster, but it dodged. She swung her bad arm behind her to hit it away with a kick. It hissed out at her, trying to grab her.  Keep him away.  told herself mentally, backing into the couch when the monster tried to swing at her. Y/N looked back at the table and grabbed a flowerpot with fake flowers, and threw it into the monster.

She watched the monster run into the piano, the pieces of the flowerpot sticking into its body. It went after her again, but she went towards it as well. The fruit knife stuck into the monster's shoulder, having it yell at her. She pushed her body against the monster, ripping the knife out of its shoulder. And she kicked it into the piano, ran after it, and raised the knife high. Slamming it down into the back of the monster, hearing the loud cries of pain. 

Y/N didn't want to give it any chance of getting away from her. 

It was swinging back to elbow her off. But she brought the blade with her to stab more into him. And again and again. She kept him from struggling and getting him down to the ground. Y/N straddled the monster's back, trying her best to stay on, and stabbed again. Going and going until the blade of the fruit knife broke apart. It wasn't as if she was doing it so many times. She really only thrust the fruit knife a few times. 

That is probably what a psychopath would say. 

But the monster wasn't moving. Y/N raised her arms lightly to make sure she wasn't moving them. She stayed still for a few minutes before getting off the monster. Y/N didn't want her eyes to leave the monster. If it escaped locked rooms, she was scared it would come back. So did the thought of her killing this thing. But she'd rather do that than have it come back and terrorize her and Taehyung.

Taehyung. 

He was probably worried. Y/N walked backward till she hit the doorknob. It still wasn't moving. Maybe that was a sign. She got out of the room and ran down the stairs—bursting through the front doors. too rough as she stumbled down the steps. Luckily, she caught her balance. "Y/N!" Taehyung's voice called out. "Y/N, are you okay?!" 

Y/N huffed out a breath, catching it from the run. "Yeah, I don't think it'll chase us anymore," she assured, turning around to look at Taehyung. He was on top of the staircase. N wondered if she hit him with the doors when passing through. "I'm fine. . .I'm not hurt." she gave him a tired smile. "But never mind me, are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I'm not hurt," Taehyung responded quietly. "But. . ."

After a few moments, Taehyung fell to the steps. His eyes were leaking out tears, raising one hand to try and wipe them away. "Taehyung! What's wrong—are you not feeling well?!"

"Why. . .why did this happen?" he whispered. "Why did I have to go through this? Why did that monster attack me?" he was digging himself into his arms. want to forget her. I just wanted to have my memory of her, at least!" Taehyung's body was shaking with the sobs passing through. "Is it because I'm such a wimp? Is that why this happened? Can I. . .can I not even love her?!" his head was shaking. "No, I hate it. Someone. . .somebody, help!" 

"Taehyung," Y/N weakly called out to him. Memories flooding of them that had only happened tonight. She wanted to tell him not to cry, but was that something he needed to hear? "What's wrong with being a wimp?" this would have to be a start. That had caught Taehyung's attention, his head moving up from his hands. "You may feel like a sissy for not being able to forget him, but. . .is that such a bad thing?" her chest rose and fell deeply. "You know, I was dumped a few months ago, too. . .I was sure we were going to get married."

"You. . .too?"

Y/N gave him a  crooked  smile. "I was rejected," she told him before looking down at her hands. "Even now, it still pains me. I don't think I can truly forget it. I've. . .always hated how I was such a coward. I'm a terrible excuse for a woman, especially in romance." her fingers fiddled with each other. "I couldn't even be happy when my best friend got married. And it made me hate myself more and more." Y/N looked back at Taehyung. "But looking at you, I've come to think. . .maybe it's not bad to keep thinking of someone? In fact, maybe it's a wonderful thing. I decided. . .I wouldn't give up, either. And it's thanks to you, Taehyung. Thank you."

"Y/N. . ," Taehyung called out her name. 

She walked up to him, grabbing the box out of her bag. "This is your treasure, right?" she asked, relieved to see that it was not damaged midst of her fight with the battle. 'd be a shame to throw it away." she placed it in Taehyung's hands when he held them out. "Take good care of it, okay? I'm sure the one you love will understand. And I know I'll always support you."

He brought the box close to his chest and hugged it dearly. "Thank you, Y/N," he bowed his head to her. "I. . .I'll try a little harder. I hope things go well with you too " Taehyung moved the box around, and his eyes turned to confusion. "Hey, Y/N. Did the box come with a key?"

"A key?" Y/N repeated in confusion with him. "No, I didn't see one."

"Strange. The box needs a key to open, so. . .though I didn't lock it,"

"A key. . ," she repeated to herself again. An idea hit her head. "Wait, hold on." she dug into her bag for the key she found in the crack in her room. "Maybe this brass key. . .” she then laughed at herself from the stupidity. “Nah, of course not—”

"Yes, that's the one!" Taehyung exclaimed with glee, grabbing the key from Y/N's hand. "Where did you find it?"

Y/N was shocked, not knowing how to form words. "Wha—r-really?" she looked at the key and the box and repeated before telling herself to answer Taehyung's question. "Er, I picked it up. . .around here." it was best to lie. 

A key from my house opens Taehyung's box. . .so the former tenant's involved with the box? What does that mean?

"I wonder why it's locked," Taehyung hummed. "Let's open it!" he inserted the key into the lock, and he raised the lid. "Oh? There's a piece of paper."

That caught Y/N's attention really fast. "That's—Taehyung, can I look at that?" she asked quickly. Taehyung nodded and handed it to her. Y/N grabbed the other scraps of paper to compare. . .it matches with the notebook pages. . .which means he. . .”

"I don't get it, but I guess the guy you're looking for put this paper in here?" Taehyung guessed, making Y/N look up at Taehyung. 

She looked back down at the papers. "Yeah," she agreed. "He wasn't here. . .so I'll check there next."

"Okay," Taehyung hesitated in his word. "Be careful." 

Y/N nodded at him, placing the papers in her bag beside the one from the box while walking toward her car. She heard footsteps behind her. As if he was staying near her to be safe. "I'll escape you home, Taehyung," she turned around, seeing him flinch. "It's dark out, after all."

He stared at her for a few seconds before clearing his throat. "I'll be all right," he assured. Somehow his voice had gotten a bit deeper and more confident. "Thanks, though, Y/N." he looked behind her and took a breath. "Well. . ." Y/N chuckled lightly and moved out of the way for Taehyung. He walked down the path but stopped. N was about to call out to him, but he turned and walked up to her. Taehyung gently cupped Y/N's face and placed his lips on her cheek. "I'm really thankful, Y/N." he separated for their faces to be close. "Let's see each other again sometime!" 

"Oh. . .uh, sure!" Y/N agreed, giving him another  crooked  smile. He waved her goodbye and walked away. "That. . .surprised me." Y/N let out a chuckle, blushing madly. " But he seems happier now. That's good. I feel a little more relaxed myself." she looked down at the paper to read it off. "Lingering Scent of Dreams. . .and is this an address? Maybe that's where he is now. " she licked her lips, deciding if it was worth it or not. . .but it was an obvious answer. "I'll go check it out. I've come this far. . ."

Until I find him. . .I'll go anywhere.

-

Scene 1

Hotel Ruhenheim - Taehyung -

end

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙲𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝙼𝚊𝚗 | 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚃𝚠𝚘

| 𝘈, (𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵) 𝘍 | 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳, 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳, 𝘚𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘎𝘰𝘳𝘦

| 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘪 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 |  

↳   𝘗𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 - 𝘑𝘦𝘰𝘯 𝘑𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘬𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘹 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳

↳ 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘺 - 𝘠/𝘕 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦. 𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘥𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘠/𝘕 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘥𝘥 𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘵.  

𝘏𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦.  

𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘠/𝘕 𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴.

(𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 "𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘯" 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴)

𝘛𝘢𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 - 𝘖𝘱𝘦𝘯 (𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘴𝘬)  

𝘞𝘒 - 11.3k  

𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘷 | 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵

𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘔𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 | 𝘔𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘔𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵

But the Crooked Man was sad

And once he had a thought

Why should he be crooked

When others, they were not?

"Man, this place was far," Y/N lightly whined to herself, getting out of her car. "That took almost an entire day." she grabbed her backpack and bag, feeling the familiar weight. There were multiple stops, making sure she got more supplies for her first aid kit this time and drinking many energy drinks, and one stop at a fast food place. Y/N looked up at the building in awe. "So this is the place. . .looks like this school was abandoned." she looked around for any sign of life. "No one around. Though I guess they'd be inside anyway. Let's see if I can even enter." Y/N walked to the sign in front of the door.

-

"Julius Stone Law School Set for Demolition - No Entry"

-

"Hey, this is the school from the leaflet," Y/N commented, remembering what she had read from her apartment. "Then maybe he is here after all." Y/N entered the school easily. Well, I guess there's no reason to have the entrance locked. She shrugged to herself in thought, looking around in the darkness. It wasn't that dark—she could see everything, so it was doable. 

She tried to go through the door ahead of her, but it was locked. Her hope for this building to all be unlocked was crushed. Just like the hotel, she will need to find keys. Puzzles will most likely be a thing, too, if this is going to be the hotel all over again. Accepting that she'll need to find a key for this later, she went to her right down the hallway, passing by two restrooms and messing with the door of the Janitor's room. It was unlocked. Maybe the doors won't be locked in here. That was something to hope for, at least. Y/N looked around the room and noticed a scrap of paper on a counter next to one of the two closets in the corner. 

-

"Deep fissures in the wall behind the easter bookshelves in the basement storehouse. Repairs needed."

-

Well, that's good to know. Y/N looked to her right and saw a notebook under the window showing how dark it was. At the front, it was a book to show a list of the faculty. 

-

"Criminal Law: John Keith Civil Law: Andrew Robinson International Law: Cyndi Peterson Criminology: Franz Moore Philosophy of Law: Leftie Lewis Legal History: Ray Twain Comparative Jurisprudence: Euge McGuire Doctor: Stacie Lizzie"

-

Y/N felt her headache form from all the knowledge of the names. Maybe it'd be best if she took the book to remember the names. It wouldn't hurt, would it? Then again, maybe she didn't need the knowledge of these names. And if she did, it would be easy to come back and remind herself. Y/N walked out of the room and tried to go into the infirmary, which was the last door on this side of the wing. It was also locked. 

She walked down to the other wing of the building and went into the other wing. Y/N entered the first door and realized the whole wing was a classroom. The desk closest to her had a nameplate, Stacie Lizzie, with a key next to it. And it was for the infirmary. The doctor. Maybe it was a good thing she did read the faculty book. And she should probably grab it. And looking around, she noticed a piece of paper hanging on a whiteboard. 

-

"Notice About Keys. Room managers for the month. Don't lose the keys. Parlor: Stacie Lizzie - Reference Room: Ray Twain Lecture Halls: John Keith - Computer Room: Franz Moore Lecture Room: Cyndi Peterson - Storehouse: Euge McGuire

-

The other desks didn't look to have anything important, so she left the classroom to go back to the other wing. Unlocking the door, everything seemed normal. Y/N hummed, looking through the two beds and the desk. She looked at the bookshelf of medical references, but nothing seemed to yell out to her. She checked the top drawers, but there was nothing. But in the bottom right drawer, she found a parlor key. 

These were all the doors she could go through, and there was nothing else. . .so she needed to go upstairs. Y/N walked the set of stairs to reach the second floor and jumped at the sight of a shadow running off. She ran fully up the stairs and down the hallway where the shadow went. "Was there someone there?" she questioned out loud. "I couldn't really see them in the dark. . ." It wasn't dark for her to need her lighter, but she could probably mistake something like that for her head messing with her. 

She followed into the hallway, but there was no figure or shadow of a figure. It could've been her imagination. Y/N shrugged, telling herself it was, and messed with the first door closest to her—seeing the nameplate "Leftie Lewis" before entering. If she remembered, he was on the faculty list for philosophy. Y/N looked around, but there was nothing but a box of tools that caught her eye. In the box of tools, she grabbed all the tools she could fit in her backpack: a screwdriver, crowbar, and hammer. 

This side of the floor didn't have anything to help her out besides the tools. And all the doors were locked until she reached the end of the other hallway to unlock the parlor. And behold, nothing captured her eye. Well, there was some type of thing on this desk. "I guess it's wire art or something," she answered her own question. "Not sure what it's supposed to. . .be, though." she looked at the name on the desk. "Apparently, it was made by Ray Twain. Wasn't he the lecturer for Legal History?"

Y/N sighed that she didn't find anything. But that would probably be best to give her less time to explore and more to find an answer. 

On the next floor, she found Ray Twain's room first on the right. Y/N noticed some sort of diary on the table in this office. It was already opened when she went closer to it as if it was opened to a specific spot for her to read. 

-

". . .Indeed, law too, needs a numeric representation. After all, basic things such as on or off, zero or one can represent much more complex numbers.

Using the smallest elements to produce new things is a way of thinking I hold in high esteem. Though perhaps it's more the artistic notion that captivates me more than the mathematics. . ."

-

She scratched her head, being fortunate that she didn't go into law school. She probably would fail the first week. Y/N left the book and turned around to a glass bookshelf, opening it to look through the books. It was more things that might hurt her brain if she continued. "Why does this law school have math books? Boy, I'm terrible at math. . ." After skimming through five books, she noticed a page in the sixth book—something about binary numbers being made up of binary digits. 

Y/N gasped and realized she saw something that might be a clue to what was on his desk downstairs. It wasn't art. It was a clue. Yeah, she's definitely keeping this book straight in her backpack. Looking around some more, she saw a locked safety box with a passcode next to a desk with a turned-off computer. Was it possible that the code is something with the binary number in the other room? It was too much of a coincidence for it not to be. And it wouldn't hurt to try. 

It didn't take long for her to go down to the office and read through the binary numbers to find the passcode, so it really didn't hurt to try. 

2515

And there was a key to the reference room inside the box. 

The next room to the other room was Franz Moore's room. And behold, another diary was on the desk with a box needing a passcode. Y/N didn't want to find a code, but if it had a key, she would need it or a place to go next. She opened the diary and kept going through it until it was the last few pages of the diary. 

-

"I lost the note with my security box passcode... So I couldn't get into the computer room, and the headmaster got angry at me. This is the worst.

I thought I had it when I was  writing for a seminar in the reference room... Maybe I left it in a book somehow? I should go look.

If I used my ID as a password like Andrew does, then I wouldn't forget, but that's risky. Of course, if you just use a random number, then you have my problem..."

-

"Uh. . .so this helped me with nothing," Y/N sighed, closing the diary. "And I doubt a passcode for the box is in here." it was a lost cause in this room, looking through every bookshelf and drawer and desk for a key for something different, but nothing, having her leave the room and go to the other wing after one last search of the place. 

Going into the next room, Cyndi Peterson, it was way bigger than the other. Two sets of bookshelves in each corner far end. More bookshelves across the right wall and another in the corner on the left wall. Y/N went out of the room to check the nameplate next to the doors to see if this was her office or a mini library. When seeing the name for a double check, Y/N let out a whistle of shock. "Someone likes to read," she murmured, returning to the room. 

She went to the table in the middle to see an open book, another diary. And the last pages of the diary for the remaining pages being blank. 

-

"Michel's dissertation made it into an academic journal! I'm so happy for him! I knew when he joined my class he'd be a prodigy!

I also realized he and I have the same birthday! I used my birthday as a security code, so I feel like maybe I should change it...

-

Y/N went through the journal again to try and find a birthday, but she didn't find anything. That is kind of surprising—nothing of a complaint about teaching on her birthday or being given any birthday wishes. It was more of a work diary than a personal diary, with barely anything of praises or complaints as the last pages. 

Well, she tried. 

Going out into the other wing of this floor, Y/N saw the door for Andrew was locked with a passcode. This was the one who had his ID as a passcode. Would it be considered dumb of this lecturer to have his ID as a passcode? If he lost his passcode and a student found it, they could easily enter and get answers for anything. 

The next room was John Keith's. Very spacious with four bookshelves at the far end left corner. Two desks, one in the middle and another against the left wall. There really wasn't anything. Full storage boxes surrounding a lock box with a passcode. "Was he trying to pack?" Y/N asked herself. They weren't even taped down. It looked as if John attempted to pack before the school shut down and said, "Fuck it," when he missed the due time to get it out. 

However, if Y/N could get in easily without a key, they could've returned for their stuff. 

Ah, well, it's none of her business. And luckily, there was a key to this room on the desk against the wall. Unlike the other rooms with huge diaries, there was a small notebook on the middle table. 

-

"...Times are changing. Our existing laws cannot serve us anymore. We must surpass the 'father' of our law to find the true answer..."

-

"Should I be worried about this?" Y/N asked herself, going through the writing multiple for any hints of a clue for this passcode. "The father. . ." she tried to think of the "father" of the law, but nothing came to mind. She had never once studied anything similar to this, so she would have to look around for who the "father" was. 

Other than that, this was the last floor for her to look around so she could go back downstairs to look for clues of these passcodes she stumbled upon. And she has a key to the reference room from one of the storage boxes. If she remembered correctly, the reference room was on the second floor. One floor down. Y/N closed the door behind her and walked toward the staircase. 

Not even stepping down, a pair of hands were placed on her back and pushed down the flight of stairs. Y/N yelled and slid across the floor when landing, whimpering in pain. A light fit left her while bringing herself up to her forearms to look at the staircase to see a male with orange hair and brown eyes. He wore a light blue T-Shirt under a white jacket, dark jeans, and plain tennis shoes. What's with tonight and meeting good-looking people? Despite his good looks, he had a harsh glare across his face, looking very defensive. "Who'd you be?" he asked coldly. "What are you doing in this school, you shady punk?"

"Shady?" Y/N repeated in shock, getting up slowly to her feet—stumbling a bit but nothing bad. There was no feeling of a sprain or a twisted ankle. "I'm just looking for someone!" 

The male was still defensive. "Gimme a name, or I'm calling the police on you,"

"Y/N L/N!" Y/N spoke her name, raising her hands as a surrender. "I'm looking for a guy who I think was here. I'm not a robber or anything."

"You sure?" The male asked, looking her up and down. "As if a robber would say they were one? And you have blood on you. You could also be a killer." 

Y/N looked down at her clothes to notice the blood stains, wine stains, and slightly burnt parts of the fabrics. She couldn't really avoid the blood and flames if she could. It was a guaranteed thing from stabbing the monster multiple times and setting it on fire while covered in wine. "W-What do you want, a permit?" she fought back, looking up at the male. "Now, you tell me who you are if you're going to ask me!" 

He looked at her a little longer. "I'm H," he introduced himself. "I graduated from this school, so I came to bring back some memories."

"H?" Y/N repeated, giving "H" a look. "That's your name? Not actually the oddest one I've heard, but—"

"It's a nickname, dummy!" H cut her off, adding an insult. "You think I'd tell some shady girl my real name?" Y/N clinched her fists in annoyance. What a little brat! she growled in her mind. "But I guess you ain't stolen anything yet. I'm just wandering around, so don't mind me. Cya."

H walked all the way down the stairs and went down to the first floor, not giving Y/N a second glance. "What the hell's his problem," Y/N huffed out. "Didn't even apologize. . .he pisses me off." 

She sighed, telling herself to calm down. H wasn't worth it. They both had a bad first impression of each other, and she couldn't change that. Plus, she'll try not to bump into him much. If this is like the hotel, she won't see H much like she hasn't seen Taehyung much until the monster's attack.

Y/N walked in place a few times to shake off the pain and walked to the left wing of the building to unlock the reference room. And apparently, they call a library a reference room. Understandable, she thinks. In the first row on the left were bookcases on criminology, international law, legal history, and so on. Looking at the themes of the bookshelves, Y/N saw a book on the fair table in this corner of the reference room. 

So much reading on this trip. Y/N will probably not read for a while when she heads home. 

-

"They say that people despise those who think similarly to them or who are in similar circumstances.

But humans are curious in that they can hide any outward appearance of goodwill or hatred. Though they are two-faced deep down, they can make that idea seem unthinkable.

You may despise someone much like you,

but you may in your heart have affection for them.

The improbable is not impossible."

-

The book was closed, making Y/N think about what she had read. "I never understood this philosophy stuff," she admits to herself, even if she didn't need to. "Wouldn't you just dislike people you don't like?"

Y/N stayed there in deep thought but shook her head to get herself out of it. She went through the bookcases and to the desk. There was a checkout book, but there was no hidden key. Nothing on the board hanging besides announcements of new arrivals and top likes. She shuffled to the hanging picture of a man staring off with a description on the bottom.

-

"George Wythe (1726 - 1806) A signatory of the Declaration of Independence. He is sometimes called the father of American law for teaching the first classes in jurisprudence."

-

"Father of the American law, huh?" Y/N read, thinking of the notebook she read in John Keith's room. Was this the father mentioned in the notebook? Y/N knew this had to be a hint about the storage box in his room. Maybe the years could be a code. She pushed on the frame to try to see if it moved. It was securely attached to the wall, but there was a slight movement on the bottom left. Y/N grabbed the left side of the frame and pulled, but the screw kept it in place. 

She did have a screwdriver from the toolbox. Taking off her backpack, she dug out the screwdriver and loosened the screw a little more so she could pull the frame a little more to look behind it. 

1647

Y/N pushed the frame back against the wall to try and put it back and placed the screwdriver back in her backpack. It was slung back over her shoulders, leaving when there was nothing left for her to find. 

There were no crossing paths with H yet as she made her way to John Keith's room. Y/N tried to unlock the door, forgetting it was unlocked already. She shook her head tiredly and entered the room, the key now in her hoodie pocket. Unlocking the passcode with ease, there was a key to the lecture hallway. "Isn't that the locked door across the entrance?" she asked herself, trying to remember the doors. It would make sense as the rooms she's been entering or seeing were offices, computer rooms, or reference rooms. There was only one classroom that took the whole right wing on the first floor. 

Putting the lecture hallway key in her crossbody bag, Y/N made her way to the door. She grabbed the handle and pulled it toward her, but a force pushed the door into her making her trip backward. Fortunately, she caught herself when her back hit the desk to not fall. But, unfortunately, a same sneer of a growl entered the air. Her breath hitched, and she looked up to see the monster in the doorway, hand on the door to keep it open wide. "H-How. . ," she whispered to herself, slowly moving to the other side of the desk to keep space. "I. . .I set you on fire—I thought I killed you!" The cling against the desk made her hand go into her pocket to feel the key. 

Well, she knew what to do. 

Clicking the top of her mouth, she used her other hand to grab the notebook. Dammit. . .think about it later. She told herself. It was time to escape. The monster was closing in on her while she was in thought, and she raised the notebook to chuck it into the monster's crooked head. Blindsighting it, Y/N ran around the desk and monster and was outside the room. She closed it, leaning against it with her weight, and inserted the key in the lock. The monster was pounding on the door, making it hard for her to lock the door. 

But fiddling with the key to finally lock the door, Y/N took steps back, hitting the wall, as the monster kept pounding on the ground with loud yells. 

Her hand went up to her ear with a winced look at the loudness. It was way louder than in the hotel. "Surely that'll keep it in," she breathed out, calming her racing heart with deep breaths. One last deep breath calmed it, but she still breathed slightly heavily. "This is way too bizarre. I mean, I. . ." she dropped her arm to her side and leaned against the wall. "And the hotel's hours away, isn't it? Could it really be. . .following me?" her hands raised palm up before rising higher to clench her hair. "Why? How?" Y/N had memories of the hotel running through. "Then again, it did attack Taehyung. So it can't be my imagination. It exists. . .monster that it is." she let go of her and looked down the path that she'd be going down. "H. . .if that monster's here, I have to warn H. Tell him he's gotta get out of here."

Well, if she passes by him. Y/N probably won't bump into H unless he bumps into her. 

As much as she wanted to go looking for him, Y/N needed to do what she needed. And this place is huge so they could miss each other easily. So she could only hope they bump into each other. Y/N looked at the door one last time, still getting pounded on by the monster, and walked to the staircase. 

Down to the first floor, Y/N unlocked the lecture hallway and went through. Stepping one foot in, she heard applause. She paused at the sound but walked forward to see three doors, and the sound was coming from the far-right room. Y/N walked to the lecture room and went in to see H watching something on the wall with a turned-on projector hanging on the ceiling.

Speak of the devil. 

Friends, faculty, and staff. I thank you for coming today. Today is, for us, the best day of our lives. Because today, we leave the nest of our school and begin our climb to adulthood. 

People applauded, but the camera stayed. Y/N walked up quietly, not wanting to disturb H, and watched it with him.

Those who passed the bar exam, those who didn't, those becoming clerks or notaries or teachers. . .all of us will be graduating from this school. And we owe a big debt to it. Though even if they managed to graduate, some of us may need to put a little more time into their studies. . .

Laughter in the background.

But these graduates have one thing in common. They're filled with hope for their future. They're ready to challenge what lies ahead. A toast to our dreams! To our yet-unsure futures! And may we have God's grace!

More applauds. And before the person on camera went on to call students for their degrees, H turned off the projector without looking. Y/N slowly walked up to him and tried to find his face. "H," she called out. But he kept looking at the blank wall. "How did you get into this lecture room? Wasn't the hallway locked?"

H looked at her with a slight turn of the head, humming in confusion. "You forget I'm a graduate here?" he asked. "I know all the secret ways, dummy. 

Point taken. "Well. . .what were you listening to? A tape?" she asked, clearing her throat and not wanting to admit he was right.

"Yeah," H nodded, looking back at the wall. "From my graduation day. Man, has it really been three years?" a small smile lay across his face. "I was getting nostalgic for the place. . .and even abandoned; it really hasn't changed. It's just like it was when I was taking classes. Studying was wearing me out. . .so I came here for a breather. It's nice to have places full of memories like this."

"You graduated, but you're still studying?" Y/N furrowed her brows together. 

"Hey, lay off it," H glared at her, finally facing her fully. "Yeah, I couldn't pass the bar exam. . .so I'm cramming at home now. Next up's gonna be my sixth attempt. There were lots of great guys in my class. Most of 'em passed it in one shot." his eyes faltered to the ground. "Being a lawyer's been my dream since I was a kid. So I was so happy when I got accepted here. Felt I was one step closer to making it come true. The work was rough, and I just barely managed to graduate. . .I think it's my kind, helpful professors that did it." H paused, looking at the white wall with determination in his eyes. "I'll pass next time for sure. I mean, it's my sixth time. . .any more, and I'll be way behind my classmates." 

Y/N licked her lips, telling herself to warn him. "Well, it's good to be motivated, but it's dangerous here," the words went out after pushing herself. "You should get out of here soon." 

H turned to her, looking at her as if she was going crazy. "Dangerous?"

"It's sort of hard to explain," Y/N moved her hands around as if it'd explain better. "There's kind of a. . .monster here. It'll attack you if it finds you."

That didn't help her; H only looked at her a little longer. "I thought you were just some weird old woman wandering an abandoned school, but damn, you really are nuts," he remarked. "Seriosuly, a monster? Even little girls don't believe that stuff! You're being a total doofus." 

Her fingers rolled into a ball again with a clench. "Do you enjoy making fun of people?" she fumed, voice wavering slightly. "And I don't think I'm much older than—"

"Don't try and debate with me, alright?" He spoke over her, testing her. "I'm a talented soon-to-be lawyer! You'd be no match for me!"

It was hopeless. "Do what you want," she surrenders, straightening her hands out. Y/N had to take a breath to calm herself down. "But don't say I didn't warn you."

"Yeah, I will do that, thanks," he responded snarkily. "Like I need a shady punk like you telling me what to do around my alma mater." H bumped his shoulders against hers and left the room. 

"Hey Jane," Y/N called to her best friend. "I. . .I got in."

Jane's eyes widened in shock and happiness. "Wha?! Really?!" she smiled brightly, grabbing Y/N's arm. "You got in? To flight school?!" Y/N nodded with slight tears of happiness peeking through. "That's crazy, Y/N! I can't even do a handstand! You can really do it if you try, man!" 

"Thanks," Y/N chuckled, almost sobbing. "But it doesn't make me a pilot yet. Still have to pass the exam."

"Man, dude! You totally will be!" Jane assured with hope. "And make sure to gimme a ride! I'd love to fly above a city sometime."

"Jane," Y/N called her friend's name, grabbing her arm with both hands to try and get her back. "I'm not going to fly passenger planes! It's not that kind of school!"

Jane used her free hand to cover Y/N's mouth. "Don't sweat the details," she shushed. "I'm glad for you! You did good. Hey, I'll take you to lunch today!"

Y/N stared at the blank wall, getting back to now. "Back then, I wasn't really thinking," she remembered aloud. "I was just going wherever I wanted. Maybe H is like that, too."  she realized what she was doing and lightly slapped the temple of her head. "Stop thinking about the past—" 

Hyping herself up, she looked around the room for anything. It was a standard room, but something caught her eye on a small pinboard. A ripped piece of newspaper was pinned in front of everything. The topic of the week. . .and there was a picture of a male. Michel Statham. His birthday was June 19th, twenty-years-old, and he lived in Marvel Hill—birthday!

This was the student who shared the same birthday as Cyndi! 

After checking out the lecture hallway, she'll be going to Cyndi's room straight away. Y/N nodded to herself after repeating the birthday over and over till it was tattooed on and left the lecture room. The doors in the middle were painted over, and the doors on the far left were locked. Heading upstairs, Y/N stopped in motion when seeing a scrap of a notebook page lying in the middle of the hallway. She slowly walked up to it and knelt down. "The rule matches the other pages," she uttered. "So he was here. . ."

-

"Many hopes were fulfilled here. Many youths were blessed. But I didn't receive that blessing.

What's the problem with me?  Who refused to pick me and left me in the dust? I loathe those meaningless days."

-

Y/N stood up, reading the paper again. "He had a leaflet for this school," she remembered. "It was in the desk. . .felt like it was important. Was he trying to be a lawyer like H was?" she frowned, putting the paper in her crossbody bag. "I guess this would imply he didn't become one." zipping the bag close, she attempted to open the left doors. Painted over. But she was able to go through the right door. 

Nothing there. 

So she made her way to Cyndi's room and unlocked the safety box after having to think a few seconds about what the birthday was despite repeating it a million times in her head when reading it. 

A key to the lecture rooms.

Her lips blew a raspberry, and she walked out of the room. "What a waste of time," she grumbled, jogging down the steps. "Why couldn't this key be with the key to the lecture hallway?" She kept complaining about it, but she knew it wouldn't fix anything. She grumbled under her breath until it went away the second she unlocked the door to the left. It was the only locked door in the lecture hallway. It was the same as the other lecture room, but a piece of paper was on the blackboard. 

-

"Seminar at 9/21 in the Auditorium 'Crime Among the Impoverished and Its Prevention'

Ivan Abelitsev's 'Criminal Behavior: A Psychological Approach' will be referenced, so be sure to read it before coming!                    -Franz Moor, Professor of Criminology"

-

She shrugged, thinking it was nothing, before looking around some more. Y/N jumped slightly when hearing something fall to her right, turning to see a scrap of notebook paper under a board with a calendar and small announcements. Was it there before? That was strange. She slowly walked to the notebook paper and picked it up. "Same as the others," she said, furrowed eyebrows when looking back and forth at the board and paper. "Did it actually fall, or am I just crazy? Too much of a coincidence to fall the moment I stopped reading the announcement." 

-

"I knew there was something I lacked. But I didn't want to admit it. My ambitious youthfulness wouldn't let me.

I wanted someone to say it. I wanted to be woken up. . . To be told I'm a have-not."

-

"Something you lacked. . .a have-not," she reread the words that came to her the most. Her fingers lightly touched the page, moving it through. "It's true. . .there are haves and have-nots. People whose dreams can come true, and—" She was cut off by her head ringing, hands instinctually going up to her temples. A-Again?! she whimpered in pain, pushing into her head more to try and get it away. Fortunately, it only lasted a few seconds, making her slowly let go and sigh in relief. "Finally, it—" something didn't feel right, making a cold shiver go down her spine. But it wasn't feeling that caused the shiver. It was a breath. 

Y/N really didn't want to turn around. . .but she did. And the monster was standing inches away from her, sending an attack, a hand gripping around her neck and tightening more, causing her to bring her hands up and wrap around its wrist.

"D-Damn. . .monster!" she was trying to pull its hand away. "Why. . .are you. . .chasing. . .me?" Her vision was getting hazy, and she was trying to keep one eye open. But the monster was squeezing tightly. 

And she fell. Vision blackened when she fell forward—faceplanting the ground. Y/N groaned, coughing to get oxygen back. Her mouth was open, and saliva was dripping down. She coughed some more, feeling like she was going to hurl. Back moving like a cat in an attempt to puke out a hairball. 

But nothing was coming out. 

I'm. . .I'm alive? Y/N raised her head up and looked around the monster. The monster's gone. . .I thought it would kill me. . .but it left? She cursed in her mind, staggering up to her feet. "My neck," she moaned, attempting to touch her beck. But she recoiled her hand when a bare touch stung. "I feel so. . .sluggish." she shook her head to keep herself up. "I haven't really slept since yesterday. . .I should try and rest somewhere."

The steps were slow, but she kept herself going to the infirmary room. The doors had taken a lot of her energy, needing to pull with her whole body or push her side into the door of the infirmary. But she had gotten into the bed, molding against the mattress and pillow. "I'll take a little nap," she whispered, more for herself. "Pushing myself wouldn't be a good idea." the bed or pillow wasn't comfortable, but it was all she had. 

It wasn't hard going into dreamland. 

"Mom?! Are you. . .crying again? Sorry, I can't do a thing. . .I can't even console you."

Y/N opened her eyes, blinking a few times to get the blurriness away from her vision. Yeah. . .mom always cried in the living room. She responded to the dream in her mind. After I'd gone to bed at night. . .that was when I was a kid, though. She rolled to her back and pushed herself up into a sitting position, raking her fingers through her hair. Well. . .I'm feeling better now. Should get going again.

Thinking through what she had done before the attack of the monster, she remembered the paper on the blackboard. A book on Criminal Behavior was mentioned, so that might have to be where she needs to go next. Y/N stayed a few seconds on the bed before getting out and walking to the reference room. She already knew where the books on criminology were. She just needs to look through the books for the one reference book. Her finger went across the spines of the books a couple of times before seeing the title.

She took out the book and opened it from the beginning. It was hard to understand any of it, but she was flipping page by page till there was a flop of multiple pages at once, making her stop—going back to the pages to see a slip of paper, causing the pages to fall from under her thumb. 

9981

No doubt this was for the security box in Franz's room. 

Y/N put the book back into the bookcase, keeping the slip of paper in her hand, and walked out to the room on the top floor. Fortunately, her prediction was correct, and it opened without a problem. She raised the top and saw a key to the computer room. Great, she is almost done getting all the doors unlocked. 

The key stayed in her hand when she made her way down the stairs and to the doors of the computer room. Unlocking it, she noticed two rows of six computers with a walkway in the middle. None of them were turned on, even if she tried to. In the far left corner, there was a black laptop. Y/N tried to turn it on, but it had no power. Was there really nothing in here? The last thing she could check was the trashcan in the opposite corner. She fished through crumbled papers reading each carefully, and stopped at a familiar name. Andrew Robinson. The lecturer with the ID as a passcode. And luckily, the ID number was under his name. It should be the room next door, too.

This room wasn't useless after all. 

A hum of satisfaction left her lips, and she stood up. Y/N placed the key back in her bag with the paper, staring at the essay example while walking to the door. 

Ahem. . .Friends, faculty, and staff, I thank you for coming today.

The room had somehow gotten darker than it already was. Y/N turned around in fear, seeing the laptop turned on and changing different colors crazily. Why was it playing a familiar voice in her past?

We're glad to have a sunny graduation to start off the rest of our lives. The future may be uncertain for some, but the persistence we learned here will make us resolute!

A round of applause for my fellow graduates!

Y/N slowly took a step forward when hearing the applause, wondering what was going on. The laptop had no power—she couldn't turn it on!

However, as valedictorian, there's something I can't help but lament. . .

It's about Y/N L/N.

She was highly skilled, kind to us all, and admired by pupils and teachers alike.

We all expected she would be proudly stand with us this morning to graduate.

But our hopes were dashed. . .

By none other than the woman herself!

Hiding behind an innocent face, she's been fooling all her pupils and professors!

Let me ask you all this. Should she be forgiven?  Can she escape punishment for betraying her friends and mentors?

The crowd booed at the question. "No," she whispered, unconsciously moving her hand slowly to unzip her backpack with little space. "Stop."

I didn't think so.

She should forever be punished for what she has done to grant her selfish dreams!

Walls around here dripped red, inking down to the floor and rising up to the computers. Y/N spun around fast, trying to get away from the color, but now she was covered in red. Her free hand went up to her head, almost falling to her knees. Bones were shaking inside her, not wanting to hear this anymore. "Please. . .stop."

You're the lowest of low. . . Your dreams will never come true.

What are you even good for?

. . .Go off and die somewhere!

Coward!

The yells and applause were getting louder, not leaving her head, and the word "DIE!" surrounded the room. Even closing her eyes wouldn't get rid of it. 

"Stop. . ," Groaning in frustration, she ran to the computer, and the hammer in her hand swung into the screen of the laptop as a baseball bat. "I said stop!" her shoulders were rising and falling with her breaths. "No! I'm. . .I'm not a coward!" liquid welling up in her eyes and dripping down. "I. . .I just."

Her head came back to what was around her, and she realized the hammer in her hands. Y/N looked around her to see the room back to normal. Her hands shakily pulled the hammer off the laptop and dropped it into her backpack, zipping it up with slight trouble. Now she was only staring at the screen. "I heard a scream. . .that was you?" H's voice appeared, but she didn't flinch. "Geez, you made me freak." the door closed, and footsteps walked closer to her. "What's the big idea, huh? Did something happen?"

"Forget about it," Y/N shook her head, not thinking it was worth telling him what happened. He already thought she was crazy for the monster thing. "Sorry to startle you. . .it's nothing." 

"H-Hey, dude. . .you okay?" H stuttered for a split second, walking up to her. "You're super pale." 

"I'm just kind of tired," Y/N said honestly, raising her hands to her face to try and rub the tiredness away. "I came a long way. . .and I haven't slept. Leave me alone. I can't be bothered to talk." her voice was muffled through her hands. 

The silence made her feel a bit better. "Have this," H offered, but Y/N didn't remove her hands. "I already had a little, but it's an energy drink. Drink up."

Y/N removed her hands to see H holding out a drink. "Seriously?" she looked at the drink and up at H. "I don't need this. . .I told you, leave me be."

"Drink it!" H exclaimed, holding the drink closer to her. "Geez. You really look like you need food and drink! And I'm being nice, so at least accept it, will ya?"

She sighed, taking the drink after consideration. "Alright, thanks," She now looked at the drink in her hand. "But what's all this from the guy who was calling me a shady punk?"

"Mostly 'cause you look like crap," H answered with no hesitation, getting a look from Y/N. "Come on. It's not like I'm heartless. I mean, I am trying to be a lawyer. Besides, maybe it's fate! Tell you what, I won't call you shady anymore. Now cheer up. You could be my client once I'm a lawyer!"

A small chuckle left Y/N. "That's a quick turnaround," she commented. "I'm grateful, at any rate." Y/N opened the cap and took a sip, feeling better. A thought entered her head. "Say, have you seen anyone else around? Particularly a man about my age?"

H watched her take another drink before answering, "Nope, nobody. He's who you're looking for?"

"Yeah," Y/N nodded, removing the rim from her lips. "Though I don't really know how he looks. . .tell me if you see him, okay?"

"You got it," H promised. "Doubt anybody'd be around here, though." his eyes showed a reminder to himself. "Oh, but can I ask something too?" Y/N nodded again, taking another swig of the drink. "Professor Andrew, he always helped me out—his room's on the third floor. But it's got a number lock, so I can't get in. I was thinking the professor might still have some lecture notes for me around something. . .but, yeah, tell me if you get it open, okay?" 

That's doable. "Alright, got it," she agreed. She was going there next, anyway. 

"I'll wander around some more, then," H informed. "You look like hell, so don't push yourself."

"Yeah, well. . .you be careful too," Y/N pointed at him with the now empty bottle. "If you see any monsters, get away!"

H rolled his eyes. "Not this again," he waved her off. "Yeah, yeah, sure. I've got a knife to defend myself anyhow. Cya." 

And gone he was. Y/N looked at the door and down at the empty bottle in her hand. "Maybe he's not as bad as I thought," she smiled lightly, walking to the other corner and tossing the bottle in the trash can. 

Y/N went to the top floor and punched the ID into the passcode. Looking around, there was nothing but a diary on the desk against the wall next to the bookcase. Well, even if there was nothing, she still had this door open for H to come in when he needed to. 

-

"Finally done with the finals! I'm glad everyone got their appropriate grades. Of course, there's that lone H. . .

I teach him so much, but he doesn't even get the basics. He's lagging behind everyone else.  And yet he's so intent on being a lawyer. . . 

That nickname 'H' stands for 'Hope.' Apparently, it was given to him for having such an impossible dream. . . But if you ask me, it's for hopelessness.

I hate how he fawns over me, too. I practically have to act nice to him, and he always comes for lessons after school. . . I wish I'd never let him in my class."

-

Y/N stared at the diary. Especially at the word "Hopelessness." A frown stretched across her lips. "This is about H?" she asked the obvious. "It's awful that he'd say this about a student. Though maybe H really is that bad." her hand placed on the page. "If H saw this. . .it'd be a big shock for him. He said he respected his professor and always tried so hard. . ." and the page was ripped off. "There. . .wouldn't want H coming in and finding this."

She walked out of the room and placed the paper in her bag when walking down the hallway, stopping at the sound of another footstep with her. Looking up, she froze at the sight of the monster walking down the hallway. Its back was facing her. That monster's still wandering around. . .is it looking for me since it couldn't kill me? She thought, watching it enter a room. 

Her feet quickly ran down the stairs to the first floor to avoid the monster. Y/N leaned against the wall next to the staircase. She had unlocked every room she could. So the only place she hadn't checked was the basement. It wasn't as if she didn't notice it. She never had a reason to go down there. But now she has a reason. And going down the stairs, the air felt different than the rest of the building.

The door to the right was unlocked, but she couldn't help but have a bad feeling about this the moment her hand wrapped around the doorknob. She prepped herself up and opened the door for whatever she'd seen. 

And there laid H in the middle of the room, and there was heavy fog. "H!" she ran into the room and knelt next to him. "Hey, H! What's wrong?!" she tried to shake him. "Get up!" 

H tried to get up. "My. . .head," he groaned, falling back to the ground. "Feel like. . .crap."

"Now that you mention it," she brought her hand to her mouth, covering a forced cough, looking around the room. "It's a little hard to breathe—what's going on here?!"

"It's. . .gas," H hacked out. Y/N felt stupid asking this question the moment he answered. "The floor's. . .leaking gas.  ..you gotta. . .get out."

"As if I'm leaving without you," Y/N reached out to H, helping him up to his feet. "Get up; lean on my shoulder." H leaned his whole weight onto her, making her grunt. She dragged him to the door, trying to open it. But when it was cracked open, it got pushed shut. Y/N tried to open it, but it was locked. A chuckle on the other side made her grit her teeth. "It's here?! Not gonna let us go?!" she let out a heavy cough. "This gas is pouring in. . .I have to be quick." she set H down on the wall. 

She looked around, trying to find anything to get them out. The breaker was no use, and the security box wouldn't open. What was this room even? A storage room? Very spacious for a storage room. Another cough left her body when she tried to push boxes to the side. In the corner of the room were random items, only an iron pipe that seemed to be deemed the only thing useful right now. There really wasn't anything to get them out the door, even if she tried to hit the iron pipe into the door. Y/N was pulling everything off the wall to try and see if she could do anything. 

And she pulled the third closet away from the wall and saw a crack in the wall. Y/N raised the iron pipe and pounded it into the wall five times before it broke apart enough for both her and H. She dropped the iron pipe and ran to H. Y/N pulled her shirt over her nose before she grabbed him and helped him up to his feet. "Come on," she uttered, getting him through the hole. The gas had leaked into the other room, another reference room, maybe. Y/N thought about going through the door, but the monster was most likely roaming around. That's a death wish. 

So the answer is the elevator. It would go to the reference room on the second floor, the only elevator she noticed in the school. Y/N placed H against the wall and tried to open it with her hands. But it wouldn't budge. She took off her backpack and rummaged through, taking the crowbar and inserting it between the doors. Y/N began to pull hard until she opened the elevator enough for the two. A tough fit, but enough. The crowbar was left on the ground as Y/N picked up her backpack and grabbed H. 

Inside the elevator, it showed no power. But boxes were stacked up to guide her eyes to a door in the ceiling. An emergency escape. "H, you're going to have to help me," she coughed out, helping him up the stacks of boxes. Her hands went around his foot and pulled him up, staggering too much, and pushed up from her chest when he was having trouble getting himself up. Y/N shook her arms and jumped up, hanging for a few seconds, and pulled herself to the ceiling. 

And her next challenge was climbing the ladder with an almost passed-out H. She got herself up to her feet and pulled H up drowsily. "We're almost there," she spoke hopefully, trying to keep a cough down. "Can you climb up?" H let out a groan but nodded nonetheless. "Climb first, I'll be. . .underneath." she brought H to the ladder, seeing him miss the ladder a few times before grabbing it. Y/N waited a split second before getting on the ladder, hovering behind him. She ignored her body and head against his lower back, keeping him from falling back. Maybe a bit dangerous, but this is how it is. 

Fortunately, the elevator opened from the inside when Y/N reached over H's shoulder. Very dangerous to do, two people in the same spot on the ladder, but it was at the back of her mind. She had H get to the floor first, and she climbed out on her hands and knees. Her shirt was dragged off her face, panting and gasping for the somewhat fresh air; moving back to sit between her calves. "We. . .managed to e-escape," she declared to herself, sighing in relief between deep pants. Her attention went to H. "Hey, H! Are you okay?" she crawled to him and shook him, but he wasn't moving. Breathing but not moving. "I'll get you to the infirmary. . .hang in there." 

Y/N dragged a rolling chair from the desk next to H, who lay in the bed. "Are you sure you're okay?" she asked, looking over him again. "You don't want to go to a hospital? What if you got poisoned?"

"I'm fine," H let out a breathless laugh but groaned while placing a hand on his head. "Head hurts like hell, and I feel gross, but I'll get better." he let his arm fall on the bed and moved it under the blanket before looking over at Y/N. "Thanks, man. I'd be screwed without you around. . .I owe you my life!" H turned his head back flat on the pillow when grimacing in pain. "There's water storage in the basement, and I once heard about it leaking gas. . .only just remembered that now. It was after I graduated, so I dunno for sure, but I think there was a dispute over the property. So the school moved, and this got abandoned."

So that's why the school is abandoned. "I see," Y/N looked out the window to see the dark sky. "But you really shouldn't have come if you knew it was dangerous."

H looked at Y/N and away with a blush. "Sh-Shut up," he weakly said. "I just sort of forgot, okay?" His chest raised highly and lowered back down. "Man, to think all this'd happen when I just came here to relax. . .shoulda just stayed at home studying."

"It's good to get a breather, sure," Y/N nods to his idea of being here. "Just not in abandoned ruins, okay?" she paused a little before going on. "That's really something something, though. You're still studying three whole years after you graduated?"

"Well, I always wanted to be a lawyer. . .ever since I was a kid," H murmured his small story, turning to have his back facing Y/N. "No matter what, I will be a lawyer! So I kept studying, and I still do. . .and there's no changing my mind!" he moved slightly as if thinking to turn but stayed facing away. "You're awesome yourself. . .climbing the elevator with my weight on you? You're buffer than you look."

"I. . .never thought to be that strong," Y/N softly said. "But I did go to flight school."

"Serious?" H quickly turned to face her, pain covering his face, but he ignored it. "That's awesome! Really can't judge a book by its cover. . ."

Y/N shook her head, not wanting to talk about it anymore. "But anyway," she was on her way to change the subject quickly. "It's all kinds of dangerous here. . .and I'm not looking after you anymore."

H chuckled. "I know, I know," he said. "Well, it was nostalgic and refreshing while it lasted. I'll just rest here a little and go."

"You do that," Y/N nodded at him, getting up from her seat. "I'll be going."

She waved him goodbye and went to the door. "Hey! Wait a sec," H called out, making Y/N turn to see him getting out of bed. "You dropped something!" He walked to the paper and picked it up. "Here, you—" his eyes went to the paper and began to read. "Wait, what? This looks like Professor Andrew's writing. Why'd you have this?" Y/N tried to reach out to him and tell him not to read it. H turned around to keep her from grabbing the paper if she tried to. "Hope? It's for. . .hopelessness?" his body still faced away from Y/N. "Hey. . .what's this about? How. . .why did the professor. . .this is. . .how he really felt?" Y/N stayed in her spot, but she heard the crumble of paper. "But you. . .supported me. You said I'd be a lawyer someday. . .that's what you told me!" she slowly walked up to him, hands raised out. But H turned around, tears down his cheek, and ran out of the room. 

"That guy," Y/N breathed out through her nose. "He's in no condition—and that monster is bound to find him." 

That's when she knew she had to go after him. 

Y/N ran through the first floor in an attempt to find H, but he wasn't there. She ran through the lecture halls and tried to see him in the two lecture rooms on the first floor, but he wasn't there. On the second floor, he was in the auditorium. Relief dreaded through, and she jogged up to H, whose back was facing her. "H. . .thank goodness," she let out, about to reach and touch his shoulder. 

"I always knew," H spoke softly, making Y/N freeze in her movement and bring her arm down. "At least that I wasn't a genius or anything. . ." he turned to face Y/N, tears still going down from his eyes, but his facial features were blank. "But why didn't they just say it? I respected Professor Andrew. 'Cause he always supported me." his emotions were slowly flooding in. "Sure, I'm kind of dumb. I've been teased constantly for it. I failed the damn test five times! I'm a failure!" Y/N looked down at his hands, which were turning into fists. "But aren't I free to hope?! I've always dreamt of being a lawyer! That's why I still study so hard. . ." his head lowered, turning away from Y/N, but his nails still dug further into his palms. "Why did it have to be like this/ Was everything I did. . .for nothing? I don't know what to do anymore."

"But that's life, isn't it?" Y/N responded to him with a question, not stopping or thinking about what she was saying. 

"What?" H turned back around, looking at Y/N with a glare.

"Just looking at you kind of irritates me," Y/N admits, more to herself than to H. But she was already going down this road of her words. Might as well push it. "Maybe it reminds me too much of myself." her eyes sent a similar glare, but softer. "You need to wake up. Aren't there enough hopeless idealists in the world as it is?"

"You shut the hell up!" H cried out. "Yeah, I'm stupid, but I'll keep studying!" 

"Everyone's lacking in something or another," Y/N pushed more. "In your case, it was intelligence." she didn't think about it when reading the notebook, but she knew it reminded her too much of her past. 

"You. . .goddamn," he grits his teeth. "You want a piece of me?!"

"In my case," a hand raised to one of Y/N's E/C eyes. "It was my eyes." H stopped and looked at Y/N in confusion about her words. "Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to be a pilot. I studied hard and made it to flight school. But. . .I was colorblind." she removed her hand and stared at it. "Strange, isn't it? Just a few colors you can't see, and suddenly you have no right to fly. . ." her hand dropped, looking at H. "It seems obvious to me now. But. . .back then, I just couldn't accept it. So I. . .I faked my vision results to get into the school. I spent three years playing innocent. Even managed to be an honors student. But. . .I was found out. On the day of the pilot exam, no less. That day, I was reduced from an honors student to a filthy traitor. I dropped out, and. . .now I'm just a nobody clerk. I don't mind if you still want to be a lawyer. But I just want to say something. Don't trap yourself by narrowing the road."

"Ain't it rough?" H asked, voice going in and out. "Wasn't it. . .your childhood dream?"

"It certainly was hard," Y/N confirmed. "It still is. But looking at you. . .I realized it's not much, but I make my own money. I got a boyfriend—" she hopes, at least. "—I drink with my buddy on weekends. . .and I enjoy my life for what it is. I didn't want to recognize I'd been set back. But I can't deny where I am now. Nor all the work I put in back then."

"Are you happy with what you have now?" H asked more, looking more curious each second. 

Y/N thought about the question and ended up nodding. "Yes, though I didn't quite notice it," she said after thinking more about his question. "My life is how I choose it to be. So I shouldn't regret it. How about you?"

H kept staring at her and around the room as if he was in his head. However, he turned away from her to keep her from seeing his emotions. "I won't give up," he declared. "Becuase. . .because it's always been my dream. . .to be a lawyer."

"I see. . ," 

"I'll. . .I'll," H tried to find his words, letting out a sigh. "Just one more time. I'll try the bar exam." he still wouldn't look at her, as if he was more talking to himself. "But if I fail, that's it! I made up my mind! I'll give up for good then, but it won't mean those three years were a waste." he finally looked at Y/N. "Right, Y/N?"

"Is there any point in staying here?" she answered with a question instead. "Let's go. I'll take you home if you want."

"Yeah, thanks," H walked up to her, finally ready to go home. Y/N gave him a crooked smile, him smiling back at her with ease, and Y/N turned around to walk toward the door. But she stopped with one step, seeing the door open and a familiar figure. "Y/N? What's up?" he looked around her, and he as well froze. "W. . .what? H-Hey, Y/N!" 

"H, get out of the school," Y/N instructed, keeping her eyes on the monster. "I'll keep him away, got it?" she brought her arm behind her to unzip her backpack. "He's chased me. . .who knows how many miles. It's me this monster is after. I'll take care of it."

"A-Alright,"

Y/N finally gripped whatever it was in her backpack and pulled it to. The hammer. "You just won't die, will you," she spoke up for the monster to hear. "I'll finish you off this time!" the monster roared back at her and ran at them. Y/N raised the hammer like a bat and swung it into the monster's arm. "Go, H! Now!" 

H stared at Y/N a little longer and ran out. 

Outside the school, H walked back and forth for so many minutes, worried about who will come out. from the two. "Y/N," he uttered into his hand, stopping and looking at the door. "You're so damn slow. . .Are you sure you're alright?" he grumbled to himself, trying to make a decision in his head. "Dammit." he made up his mind. "Hang on, Y/N! I'll save you!" He started a jog to the door, but it swung open with Y/N coming out with blood staining her face lightly and staining more on her clothes. H stumbled back at the image. "S-Startled me, dude!" he gave her a glare and stepped back for space. "You okay? Did you finish that thing off?" 

"Yeah, I hope I did. . .I kept using the hammer till it stopped moving," Y/N briefly described what had happened. "Probably shouldn't have dropped it, though. I don't want to go back in there. I don't think it's done for yet. . .I feel like it'll come back."

"What do you mean again?"

"Didn't I tell you already?" Y/N raised a brow, using a bloody hand to push a piece of hair out of her eyes. "It followed me all the way from a distant hotel. . .I don't think this is over yet."

H blinked a few times. "I-I don't get it, dude," he admits. "But, er, you going somewhere now?"

"I'd like to, but I don't have a destination," Y/N shrugged. "The guy I'm looking for wasn't here, so I don't know where he could be. . ." her adventure just might be over. 

"Hey, hold on," H dug into the pocket of his white jacket. "I actually found this earlier!" he brought out a folded piece of paper, bringing it out to Y/N. "Any help?" Y/N grabbed it and unfolded it to see an address. "I found it in the basement." she looked back up at H after reading it three times. "The paper looks pretty new, so. . .thought you just dropped it."

"Place of regret," Y/N read for the fourth time, looking back down at the paper. "And an address?" And now at H again. "Do you know what kind of place this is?"

"No clue," H shook his head. "But I think it's pretty far from here. It'd take about a day to drive." this handwriting looks the same as the scraps in her bag and the other pieces of papers of addresses she's gotten before. "I think I'll check this out." she gave him a slight bow of her head. "So long." 

Y/N walked around him and to her car. "H-Hold on!" H called out, running to her before she got to her vehicle. "You said you're looking for. . .who, exactly? Ain't it dangerous driving around this late? Why you wanna meet him?"

"To be honest, I'm not sure myself," Y/N folded the paper and pushed it into her hoodie pocket. "Though. . .I have sort of an excuse. My point is it doesn't matter why I want to meet him. It's just. . .right now; it feels like I have to. I have to go." she turned her head to H. "Is your house far? I'll take you there."

"Don't worry about it," he waved her off. "I can handle myself fine."

"Okay," Y/N tried to wave him goodbye this time. "Be careful, then." 

And she walked around her car to grasp the handle. "Hoseok!" H called out, running to her again. Y/N looked at him in confusion. "My name. It's. . .Hoseok. I trust you now. . .so you know my name." 

"Well, thanks for trusting me," Y/N gave him another crooked smile. "Nice to meet you, Hoseok." 

Hoseok gave her a tight smile. "If. . .we meet again," he went on before Y/N could pull the handle. "You wanna. . .have a drink or something?" 

"Of course," she accepted the offer without a thought. "I look forward to it. "

-

Scene 2

"Julius Stone Law School - H -”

End

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙲𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝙼𝚊𝚗 | 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚃𝚑𝚛𝚎𝚎

| 𝘈, (𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵) 𝘍 | 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳, 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳, 𝘚𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘎𝘰𝘳𝘦, 𝘔𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦, 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘰𝘳 𝘋𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘚𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘛𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘴

| 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘪 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 |  

↳   𝘗𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 - 𝘑𝘦𝘰𝘯 𝘑𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘬𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘹 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳

↳ 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘺 - 𝘠/𝘕 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦. 𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘥𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘠/𝘕 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘥𝘥 𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘵.  

𝘏𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦.  

𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘠/𝘕 𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴.

(𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 "𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘯" 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴)

𝘛𝘢𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 - 𝘖𝘱𝘦𝘯 (𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘴𝘬)  

𝘞𝘒 - 11k  

𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘷 | 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵

𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘔𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 | 𝘔𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘔𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵

Everything was worthless

He heaved a great big sigh

And he went and found a rope

And tied it to the sky

Y/N opened her eyes slowly at the sound of a phone ringing. Was that my phone? She looked to her right to see her phone in the passenger seat. Her hand reached to the other side, not looking with her head lying back. The phone was in front of her face, wincing slightly at the brightness hitting her eyes. It was Jeongguk. . .he called me again. . .What could he want this late? she looked at the top of the screen to see the time—almost midnight. I really fell asleep for a long time. 

It took her a day to get to this hospital, and she decided to take a quick nap before heading in. But it looked like the nap turned into a five-hour sleep. She let out a sigh, turning off her phone. Y/N didn't want to use her phone much, never using it in the first place, but she didn't want it to die. Despite having a charger, it was useless if all these places she was going didn't have electricity. "Maybe he'll call again tomorrow," she spoke out loud, putting her phone in her jean pocket. "I need to get going." she reached the back of the car for her backpack and crossbody bag. 

She exits her vehicle, puts on her two bags, and looks up at the building. "A hospital," she hummed, walking to the door. "Must be abandoned, or else it's got terrible upkeep." Y/N was able to get in with ease through the front door. "What's with him and these creepy places. . ."

The place was very rundown, so hopefully, it was abandoned. It looked like it was. Lights were out, and nobody was there. Very abandoned to her. Y/N looked to the right and saw a reception desk. She walked up to it and saw a pile of maps, grabbing one for future keep. There was an elevator to her right, in the corner, but she couldn't get it to work, and the arrow above it pointed to four. It must be stuck on that floor. 

Going around the desk, Y/N entered the staff room for anything, but she didn't see much. She could open all the lockers, besides the fourth being locked, something to be easily unlocked, and she saw a box lying against the wall. Opening it up, a wooden square piece lies on top. Normally she wouldn't normally stare at this thing for so long, but she felt like it was something she needed to grab. And she did. But there is something she can do besides staring at a wooden piece. A key box is locked with a passcode. Not any passcode, a puzzle. Something she liked to do in her past time, even if it condemned her to be a slight nerd. Y/N pressed the middle button for the buttons around it, a plus sign, and pushed in. And pressing each corner till they were all pushed for a click to tell her it unlocked. 

Inside were an elevator trunk key and a cafeteria key. 

Y/N guessed she was going to the cafeteria on the second floor and the elevator on the fourth floor. But she wanted to explore first instead of going straight to the fourth floor after the cafeteria. She didn't want to think about having to do this key thing again. It was too much pain back at school, but she wasn't surprised at this point. Still a pain, though. 

She left the staff room and tried to open the two doors, but it was locked with a number lock. With not much left, Y/N walked up the staircase to the second floor, starting her way to attempt to open the doors. The first two doors were painted over, but Y/N noticed a nameplate of the cafeteria across the doors. So it wasn't weird looking at the map. The walls in the middle were the cafeteria and not just there for a pathway. She unlocked the cafeteria and entered. 

Two long brown tables against the wall on each side of her. A stack of dirty plates and so many dirty glass cups around. Y/N noticed a dirty teacup with the same wooden square piece with a letter she found in the box. "What?" Y/N mumbled, picking it up and dropping it in her bag. "Could be a puzzle." 

The sound of something falling made her turn around quickly in defense, but she only noticed one blue can standing and red now lying with a slight rolling from the reaction of falling. Or was the standing can green. . .Y/N looked around for any clue, but nothing. She slowly stalked up to the can and crouched down to pick it up. Tilting it, a wire fell out. Thinking back, there was a locked locker in the staff room. A very simple lock she could unlock if she picked it easily with the wire. 

Y/N walked out of the cafeteria and tried to open more doors. All the doors were painted until she stumbled to the two connected doors next to the elevator. Blood was in front of the doors, and a light streak was in the direction of the room. She didn't try to think much of it and went through the doors to see moveable curtains. Separating the ones closest to her, it was a normal bed. The other one hid another normal bed, but the last one hid a bed with writing in blood. 

-

"Do not mourn them. Do not avert your eyes. It is happier for them. . . I have saved them."

-

"Them? Who's them?" Y/N questioned, looking away. She didn't want to look at the blood anymore. 

Walking out, the remaining doors were painted over. Y/N most likely didn't need to stop by this room if needed. Walking to the third floor, the first three doors were also painted over. And, according to the map, the room across was the day room. 

Inside the dayroom, fortunately, unlocked, there was nothing strange but an opened book at the far corner table. Y/N blew a raspberry, not wanting to read. But from past experiences, she most likely needs to read as well in this place. 

-

"If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain;

If I can ease one life, the aching, Or cool one pain, Or help one fainting robin Unto his nest again,

I shall not live in vain

                     - Emily Elizabeth Dickinson"

-

"That's. . .an interesting quote," Y/N left the book alone, not wanting to think much of it, and looked around the room some more. Magazines seemed normal; the only other thing was the tables and non-working beverage stations. 

Opening the door, one footstep out, there was a really loud yowl from a cat. Y/N walked out more and looked to her right at the door in the corner. The three doors across from her were painted over, so it had to be from that door. She quickly went through, but her skin went slightly green at the sight of a dead cat with two stillborn kittens around it. The mama cat had its stomach cut open, and Y/N slowly walked up to it. "Poor kitty," she mumbled, not being able to look away. "Were these her. . .no doubt. Were they cut out of her stomach? Who could—" she couldn't finish, going down to one knee and letting out a low vibration from her throat. "Poor thing. . .why would you do this?" Y/N wanted to look away, but she really couldn't. But she noticed something in her cut stomach. Was there? Something in the cat's stomach? "Sorry." she reached forward to grab the shape, finally looking away when she felt vomit coming up. 

She had to leave the room quickly, the smell of blood too much. In her shaking, bloody hand laid a blood key. Was this even worth it? Y/N smeared the blood on her jeans, rubbing the key after. She tried to see if there was a label, but it was smeared off. 

Keep going. she told herself. 

Y/N gave herself a few breathers before she continued. And the remaining doors were painted over. That only gave her the fourth floor. Her first notice was dried fluid next to the first door, looking like vomit. Not much thought was given to it as she walked around it to move the handle. It was unlocked, so she walked through.

It was a room with a dirty bed, dresser, and a seat. For a split second, Y/N swore to herself that she saw a shadow sitting on that chair. But there was nothing, and a scrap of notebook paper lay in the corner. She looked at the seat a little more before going to the paper, getting back up to her feet. 

-

"I sat in the chair and watched the bed like always. Only there was no one in the bed anymore.

What have I accomplished? I could only watch my family scream. . . I still can't answer that question."

-

"It's. . .his notebook," Y/N confirmed to herself, looking at the rule that was the same as the others. "No doubt, he was here. But is he still here now?" she looked at the bed and then the chair. "Was this the room someone close to him died?"

It's possible. She still believed she saw a shadow, even if it was for a split second. 

Y/N left the room while placing the paper in her bag, looking for more doors. The door across the three was the counseling room, but it was locked. And the next three doors were painted over. But it was the fourth floor, so she could finally enter the elevator. Using the elevator trunk key, Y/N found an AED.

And the remaining doors were painted over. How surprising. Y/N jogged down the staircase to the third floor. She was about to go to the second floor but heard a kid singing. "What—" Y/N made her fast walk into the dayroom, and there really was a kid. He was dancing around to his little song. She didn't want to alarm him, so she slowly walked up to him. But he noticed her already and jumped back away from her. Y/N went down to one knee to try and meet his height. "What are you doing here?" her head tilted lightly. The kid stayed quiet. "Are your mom and dad not around? Did you. . .come here alone?" the kid stayed silent. Y/N looked at him a little more, seeing how he looked so much like Jeongguk when he was a kid. "Are you. . .mute, perhaps?"

"Mama said. . .not to talk to strangers," his gentle voice spoke out. 

Very adorable, but this isn't really the time to fond over this kid. "Well, then I'll introduce myself," Y/N placed her hand on her chest. "I'm Y/N. I'm twenty-six years old. I live kind of far from here. My hobby is. . .watching baseball, I guess."

The boy lightened up at the mention of the sport. "I like baseball too!" he gleamed. It would explain his baseball cap and "Cardinals" jersey with black pants and sneakers. "Mama gave me a glove, so I play every Saturday."

"Whoa! I'm jealous," Y/N smiled back, trying to match his emotions. "So, what's your name, little guy?"

"Bunny!" 

Y/N blinked, wondering if she heard him correctly. "Bunny? That's your name?"

"Yeah," Bunny nodded. "Mama says my smile remembers a bunny!" he gave her a wide smile. "See?!" 

Wow, this kid really does resemble Jeongguk. A secret love child of some sort? She wouldn't be shocked. "I see," she accepted the fact of this kid's name. "Where is your mama, Bunny?" the kid shrugged after a few seconds. "You don't know? Did you not come here with her?"

"Well," he extended the word out, rolling on his feet. "We were going back home, and I was walking right by mama, then she went to get something she forgot. I didn't want to wait outside, so I came in here to sing. But mama hasn't come back."

"So you got lost," Y/N declared, more for herself than for Bunny. "Is your house close to here?"

Bunny let out a sound in thinking. "My house is close to school, but you can't see school from here. . .so I guess it's probably far. . ."

"Right," Y/N blew out a little air. "You're really something to have waited here all alone." she looked at Bunny before at the ground. Great, a kid lost late at night. She thought. I think there's a sheriff's office nearby. . .maybe I should take him there. "Hey, Bunny. It's scary in the dark, isn't it? How about you go with me to Mr. Policeman?" the kid stayed quiet, and Y/N moved up to her feet. "Okay, let's go."

"No!" Bunny rejected the idea, taking a step back. 

Y/N gave him a look of confusion. What does he mean no? "What's wrong, Bunny?" she asked. "I'll have Mr. Policeman show you a patrol car! Don't you want to come along?"

"I'm not scared of the dark!" Bunny yelled, giving her a pouty face. "I'm a big boy! You're the scaredy-cat, aren't you?!"

And he ran out. "Bunny!" she reached out for him and sighed. "Better go chase him—then again, maybe his mom'll find him. I don't wanna be questioned by the sheriff anyway. . ."

She went out of the room and ran down to the first floor, and she walked to the staff room and messed with the lock with the wire she got from the can from earlier.  The only thing useful here was a note about a number lock. Well, wasn't that a coincidence? Y/N kept the note in her hand and walked out of the staff room and to the locked door. Looking over it, she noticed something when about to put in the passcode. "Is this lock battery operated? It's not working, so the batteries must be dead. Well, the place is abandoned." she dug for the AED in her bag. The battery shows it at about half a charge. She opened the lid and took out the battery, and replaced the old battery in the lock with it. 

After a few moments of its functioning, Y/N pressed in the code.

4489

Y/N walked through the day, trying to prepare herself to explore more space. It was too good to be true when she unlocked all the doors besides the counseling room. But she thought that room was just locked with a key thrown away. She went into the first room she saw, one of the three staff rooms, and noticed something right away on two of the desks. The table to the left had a very heavy-looking hammer, something heavier than what she had at the school. There's no way she'd carry it around. But it definitely would be useful. Y/N walked up to the other table, and it was the key to the counseling room. I really need to stop thinking. She scolded herself. The moment she thought there was no key or if the key was thrown away, she found it a minute later. 

Well, now she is walking up the stairs to the fourth floor and unlocking the counseling room. Through the curtains that she stumbled upon, she saw shadows of two people. She quickly walked around, but there was no one there—only a table with two chairs across each other. Looking through the room, only two diaries were in the far bookcase. 

-

12/3, 3:35 PM Tape 15 Subject: Visitor A (Guarantor for relative in room 409)

Contents: A visited after sudden change in patient's condition. Patient was hospitalized upon identified brain illness. Surgery deemed necessary due to declining health.

The patient still thinks herself healthy, which causes A a great deal of distress. Her memories of A are also vague. A sought counseling on how to cope.

The patient misunderstands it as A abandoning her. She cries and screams, her mind unstable. Counseling will likely continue for both.

-

12/10, 8:20 AM Tape 16 Subject: A (Guarantor for relative in room 409)

A visited after the patient's death. He lamented that, given she was going to die, he couldn't watch over her at home.

He stated that living in itself is not happy.  So if life is agony, then wanting death is unavoidable.

. . .Should I refuse him as a doctor, or tolerate it as a person of dignity? I wish he would come back here, but unfortunately, I can't force him."

-

"I wonder if this kind of thing happens a lot," Y/N spoke to herself, closing the diary after picking up the psychiatry key that lay on top of the page and putting it back in the case.

There was nothing left in this room, so she went back to the clinic side of the hospital and checked the other two doors she didn't check when unlocking the door. The door in the middle was the director's office, which looked very nice despite being messy. Dirty curtains slightly divide the room of the first half, with a table decorated with artificial flowers and sofas on each side and empty shovels on each side. Very pretty.

On the other side, there was a desk with a small table and a locked safe on the other side. on top of the desk were a wooden box with six empty square holes, a folded piece of paper, and an open diary next to it. 

-

"I received a puzzle box the other day. Rather interesting thing; to open it, you have to arrange letter pieces to form a word.

Of course, I made the keyword my favorite word. That irreplaceable thing which always makes me happy just to say. . . In fact, I should show the box to my daughter.

Unbelievable! When I showed my daughter the puzzle box, she hid all the pieces! But what's inside isn't something you use every day, so it's not a huge deal. . .

She actually gave me hints on where they are, but I can't find any. Maybe when I have time."

-

"Is that this paper?" Y/N picked up the paper and unfolded it. 

-

Flowers are nice Wash your hands! Where do you have lunch? Give me a call The nurses know Get close to the sky!

-

Thinking about it. The third hint had Y/N grabbing the piece she found in the dirty teacup. Putting it near the box, Y/N saw how the wood was the same. Placing it in a random spot, it matched the hole with ease. But the first hint, there were artificial flowers in this room. She quickly went around the curtains and moved the flowers around gently, seeing the same wooden piece.

An A piece. 

Y/N placed the piece in a random spot in the box and left the room, folding the paper and setting it in her bag. Between the doors of the director's room and the elevator was a green board with a map of the outpatient clinic hanging. Score. Y/N grabbed the map and folded it up, and stuffed it into the bag. 

The elevator, emergency escape, and bathrooms were locked with broken locks. It didn't give her much choice but to go upstairs. She saw the staircase to the basement but automatically avoided it from recent experiences. Y/N entered the first door to her left, the pediatrics room, and stopped to see Bunny dancing around. "There you are, Bunny," she breathed out in relief, walking up to him as he turned around to her voice. "Don't you know not to wander off alone?"

"I can handle the dark fine!" Bunny pouted, crossing his arms. "I told you, I'm a big boy! I'm not gonna cry like some baby!"

She started at him a little more, going down to her knees. "Wow, you sure do seem brave, Bunny," she praised lightly. "I have to admire that!" Bunny's face lightened with a giggle. "You're as brave as Iron Man! I'm kind of scared of walking in the dark, but here I am looking for someone." she put the back of her hand on her forehead with drama. "If only there were someone here I could depend on! Just my luck—"

"Okay! I'll go with you, miss Y/N!" Bunny cut her off. 

"Whoa! Really?!" she placed her hands on her chest. "Wow, what a relief! Thanks! I feel so much safer with you here, Bunny!"

Bunny jumped a little on his feet. "I'll protect you miss Y/N!" he promised with another giggle. Y/N gave him a smile. We'll stick together until his mother shows up. If she doesn't. . .sheriff's office it is. Y/N stood up and held her hand out to him. Bunny grabbed her hand, hands somehow like a puzzle piece with the two. "Miss Y/N! I measured myself the other day!" he pointed at the height measurer that lay against the wall. I'm up to three feet! What about you, miss Y/N?"

"I think I'm. . .around Y/H," Y/N answered, trying to think about her last visit to the doctor besides her mother's appointments. 

The two exit the room, hand in hand. The other two rooms were painted over, and the bathrooms were busted. There was a hallway with their rooms, but they were all normal, but she'll probably look at them again if they were all unlocked. Every unlocked room had something. Going up to the third floor, a public phone was right next to the staircase. "Miss Y/N! There's something in there!" Bunny pulled her to the public phone when she tried to get to the door. 

Y/N reached her finger into the change slot and felt something. Taking it out, it was an F piece. "Thank you, Bunny," Y/N ruffled Bunny's hair, being careful with the piece, and dropped it in a small pocket in the bag. 

She continued to look through her bag for the hints and read through them again. Maybe the bathrooms had something when she read, "Was your hands." The men's bathroom was unlocked, and Y/N looked at the sink. "I'm really thirsty," Bunny whined lightly, shaking Y/N's arm. "Can I have a drink?"

"Not this," Y/N shook her head, letting go of Bunny's hand to remove her backpack. "Here." she took out one of the many water bottles she stored and handed it to Bunny. She drank a little but didn't want to open another in case she needed it. Bunny grabbed the bottle and raised took a long sip. He almost dropped it, but Y/N caught it, keeping it leveled and removing it when noticing he was drinking too much. "Better?" 

"Waaaay, better," Bunny wipes his mouth with the collar of his jersey. The water bottle was placed back into her backpack and putting it on. Y/N grabbed Bunny's hand before leaving and going into the women's bathroom, and she looked straight into the sink. "Hey, there's somethin' over there!" 

He was right; there was an A piece. "You have such eyesight," Y/N lightly complimented, dropping the piece into the small pocket with the other. There were five in total and one more. But the one with the stars may take her a while if it's hidden outside. 

Bunny shook Y/N's arm again. "Miss Y/N, I have to go," he told her. 

She looked at him. "Did I give you too much water?" she asked him. "I'm sorry." she looked over at the stalls. "This is the girls' room, so you should technically go to the boys' one. Not sure if it'll flush, though." Y/N helped him out of the bathroom and opened the boy's bathroom door for him to enter. "Come out once you're done, okay?"

"Okay!" Bunny nodded, closing the door for Y/N. 

Y/N leaned against the wall, waiting for Bunny. But he was taking a little too long for a kid. "Hey, Bunny!" she called out. "You okay in there!" 

"Hang ooon!" Bunny yelled back. And after a little bit, there was a jiggle of the door. "Huh? I can't open the door!" 

"What?" Y/N was holding the handle of the door in a split second, trying to pull it. "I-It really won't open." she tried to open the door a few times. "Did that door just break or what?"

The sound of Bunny crying entered the atmosphere, Y/N's heart clenching a little bit. "Miss Y/N. . .I can't get out. Am I going to be stuck here forever?" he asked through his sobs. 

"It's okay, Bunny!" Y/N quickly ensured, not wanting him to have any more negative thoughts. "I'll get you out right away—" she cut herself off, putting her hands on the wall all around to see if anything was hollow and easy to break. None. Y/N ran into the girls' room and did the same thing before seeing a crack in the middle of the wall that divided the two bathrooms. "There." 

If she remembered correctly, there was a very heavy hammer in the first room she entered on this side of the hospital. She ran down, almost falling to the ground from how fast she was going, and burst through the doors to pick up the hammer she saw already. Damn, this really is heavy. She grunted, picked the hammer up more over her shoulder, and went as fast as she could up the stairs with a heavy hammer. A screech in the air made Y/N almost fall back down the stairs at the shock. "Bunny?!" she didn't hesitate to enter the girls' room. "Bunny! Get away from the wall. I'm going to break through!" she slammed the hammer so many times on the wall until it finally broke down. Going through, Bunny was nowhere. She looked to the left at the door of the only stall, opening it to see Bunny crying. "Bunny? Hey, what's wrong? What happened?"

"No, no, nooo!" Bunny huddled himself more in the corner, eyes still shut tight and arms hiding his face. "Don't come near me! I'm scared!"  

"Bunny!" Y/N called to him gently, going to her knees. "It's okay! It's me, Y/N!" 

At the name, Bunny removed his arms from his face and opened his eyes. "Miss. . .Y/N?" tears formed more, and he sobbed heavily, running into her arms. 

"Bunny, are you okay?" She slightly removed him from her to look over him. "Are you hurt?" Bunny didn't give her time to look as he clung himself onto her again. "Seriously, what happened?"

"I-I. . .I was waiting for you, miss Y/N," he began, still crying with heavy tears, stuttering through his sentences. "A. . .and then I-I turned around. . .and there was a guy there! And he. . .he tried to get me!" Y/N paused from rubbing his back but kept going to let him go on. "His neck was. . .all I'm. . .and he was grinning! He looked at me and said, 'found you!' I was so scared; I hid in here!"

It's him. Y/N bit her lip to keep herself from shaking in anger. So he followed me here, too? Dammit. . .why Bunny and not me? She can't think right now. She has to calm Bunny down, who keeps repeating how he was so scared. "It's okay now, Bunny," she hushed, patting his back comforting. "You did well for yourself. I'm proud of you." she kept patting his back, hushing him gently. If he's here, then I can't let Bunny stay here. I'll have to take him to the police. Y/N tried to remove Bunny from her, but he didn't let her. "Bunny, shouldn't we go to Mister Policeman? It's dark and dangerous around here. I'll take you there. It'll be okay. . ."

"No!" Bunny dug himself more into Y/N. "I'm staying with miss Y/N! I'm waiting for mama!" 

"Bunny," Y/N said with a slightly scolding tone. "Please, don't be selfish. I'm sure your mama went to the police too—"

"No!" he yelled again. "Mama said to wait here! So I know she's going to come to find me! And I'll wait for her 'cause I'm tough!" 

Y/N huffed out a breath. If I can't find him here soon. . .and if Bunny's mom doesn't show, then I'll have to take him to the sheriff. She thought. Bunny sure won't like that, though. . .boy, this is getting troublesome. I hope she just shows up soon. Her hands moved to rub his arms, comforting him. "Alright, Bunny," she surrendered. "We'll wait to get a little longer, okay? So hey, don't cry. You're a big boy, right?

Bunny sniffled and rubbed his eyes. "D-Don't tell mama. . .that I cried," he asked lowly. "Mama hates when I cry. . .she gets mad."

He finally separated from Y/N, who crossed her heart. "I won't tell a soul," she promised. "We should get going now—"

"Can you carry me?" Bunny's big E/C eyes widened with a plead. Y/N's breath hitched, trying not to coo at how cute he was. "Mama sometimes carries me to cheer me up. And. . .you look like mama." Y/N's heart clenched a little more. 

"Alright, come here," Y/N caved in easily, putting her hands under Bunny's armpits and picking him up while getting up to her feet. Bunny easily melted into her body, head on her shoulder and his small hand on her chest. Y/N kept in a grunt from picking Bunny up, his weight adding onto her backpack and bag. But she already did it—don't want to put him down already and have him complain. 

She adjusted him and went into the second door when the first one was painted over. Right as they entered, Bunny pointed at an embryo model. "A baby?" he guessed and then giggled. "It looks like a monkey!" 

"Well, babies are kinda like that," Y/N muttered, moving around the room for anything. 

There was nothing much but machines and books. On the other side of the bed, she looked over at the wooden small shelves and noticed something in the back of the top left shelf. It was a small key.

And every door was painted over beside the three rooms in the small hallway and a locked door that contained a three-number code. Y/N made her way upstairs, and right away, a scrap of notebook paper lay on the ground. She put down Bunny, quietly telling him that she'll pick him up in a second so that she could grab the paper and read. 

-

"My mother told me I was born here. She called it a place of happiness. . . But for me, it's a place of regret.

I wish I could kill my child self. Back when I was pure. . . When I still thought everyone loved me. . ."

-

"What does it say, miss Y/N?" Bunny asked, looking at the paper. 

Y/N quickly tilted the paper away from Bunny's eyes. "Something not needed for your cute eyes," she spoke fast, placing it in her bag with the other papers and picking Bunny back up. The first two doors were painted over, but the third was the psychiatry door she unlocked after fishing out the key. 

She went around the curtains, and the first thing she saw was an open diary. Most likely a psychiatrist's diary.

-

"John Smith is dead. It appears he hung himself.

I was no help at all, it seems. . .

All I got, in the end, was his suicide note."

-

The book was closed before Bunny could lean down and look at the book. Though there was a note on the page, having her grabbing it before the book closed fully.

-

"It's chasing me. No matter where I go. I can't ever escape. So I've decided to die.

But I realized. . .It's grinning. In fact, it's grinning behind me right now.

It's been waiting for me to do this. This is what it was chasing me for. But now, I'll be free from it.

Doctor, please take care. It might start to follow you next. There's no point in running. Because it's always at someone's back.

Goodbye. Thank you for everything, doctor. You were the only one who showed sympathy."

-

Y/N felt heavy, slowly putting the note over the book and flipping it upside down. Her breath was shaky, and she tried to keep the tears back from blinking them out. She had to take a few seconds to pick herself back up and go over to the board under the unmoving clock. A memo. 

Three rows, all three made into three boxes. 2, 3, 4. The one under the number two had the second box circled, labeled "bed." The middle one under the number three had the first box circled and labeled "trash." And the last row, under the number for the last box, was circled and labeled "board." And that's when Y/N snapped her finger the moment she looked over this a couple of times. The thin hallways on every floor looked normal. "Can you hold this for me?" Y/N asked, ripping the memo off the board and handing it to Bunny. 

"Of course, miss Y/N!"  Bunny was quick to grab the memo in his hands and kept it in Y/N's view. Y/N chuckled at the little boy's silliness and walked out of the room and into the hallway. 

Looking at the paper, the three boxes most likely meant the last door at the end. She still looked at all the rooms to see they were identical. No wonder this was a memo. Y/N noticed the board in the last room to be the most filled up. She looked through the paper one by one, tearing them down till there was nothing. And there was nothing but a big number six on the board. Y/N looked back at the memo Bunny was still trying to keep shoved into her face and saw the third floor next. 

Closest room, knocking over the trashcan, a number one was written on the bottom. 

In the middle room, under the bed, the number seven was written on the ground.  Bunny didn't like that Y/N put him down, but she grabbed his hand. A kid has wants despite the situation they're in. Kids are weird. Y/N commented in her head, embedding the numbers right after. But again, we were all like this before. Once or twice. 

But what was "716" for? 

She could only think of that locked door leading to the emergency. It was a three-digit code, but this is a bit fast to figure out the code. . .right? Well, nothing seems to make sense. And it was a good thing Y/N decided not to hold Bunny because they had to go back up the stairs. Of course, she was currently pulling him back up to his feet from tripping on the stairs up—she doesn't know how he did that—but it beat her tired arms. 

The door unlocked after taking a bit long to register the code to be correct, and it was only a staircase to the top. Y/N wasn't allowed to think about going downstairs with it being covered by heavy bags, and she wasn't able to unlock the doors from the inside into the floors above. So she was only able to get to this door that was tightly covered by thick wires. Not even pliers would be strong enough. Not that she has pliers. "What now, miss Y/N?" Bunny asked, tapping on Y/N's thigh. 

"I guess we find something strong enough for these wires," Y/N answered. She didn't see any rooms to have chemicals. Maybe that room with the hammer had some chemicals in those drawers. She still had a small key. It could be something to unlock those. And there was a basement she still had yet to see. After what she went through in the hotel and the school, Y/N really wanted to stay away from basements, but it looks like she has to do it for a third time. "Come on, Bunny." Y/N held her hand out for Bunny, and the little boy grabbed it without a thought. 

They went down the stairs and down to the first floor into the staff room. Y/N dug out the small key to try and unlock the top two. They did unlock, but nothing. After another two attempts, Y/N could only find a key to the chemical room. Which, without a doubt, was in the basement. "Another key!" 

"Yep," Y/N sulked, getting up to her feet and exiting the room. Bunny followed after her with his fast legs to grab her hand. He gave her a little glare. Y/N chuckled, giving him a sorry glace. She helped him down the stairs to the basement, and the first door showed the label of the chemical room. 

Did she mention that she didn't want to be down here? "There was a crooked man, and he walked a crooked mile!" Bunny randomly sang out, having Y/N turn to face him. Well. Now she doesn't want to be in here anymore. "He found a crooked sixpence upon a crooked stile! He bought a crooked cat! Which caught a crooked mouse! And they all lived together! In a crooked little house!" 

"There Was a Crooked Man, huh?" Y/N spoke up when Bunny finished singing, which was the moment they stepped into the basement. 

Bunny nodded. "Mama taught it to me," he informed with a happy glint in his eyes when he mentioned his mother. "I like to sing, so I sing lots! And I like that song!" 

"I actually learned it as a kid, too," Y/N told him, seeing his excitement double. "But I didn't like it very much." And the excitement dropped, the boy asking her why. "It just. . .felt like a sad song to me. The guy's been crooked his whole life, and all he's got around him is crooked stuff. I was scared to think, what if I was a crooked man?" she had a hand brought up to her hand unconsciously and realized it when Bunny was giving her a confused look. She was ranting to a child. "Only when I was a kid, of course." she removed her hand to cover her mouth with a cough. 

"I don't get it, miss," Bunny admits softly. "But sorry for singing a sad song."

"N-No, it just reminded me of that," Y/N shook her hand toward him. "You're a good singer, Bunny. Do you sing with your mama?"

"Yeah!" And the happy, excited Bunny was back. "Mama likes to sing too! It's fun to sing with her! Do you sing too, Y/N?" 

She thought about the time she would sing with. . .No, not now. "No, I'm no good," she said. Y/N didn't know if that was a lie or not. Her friends would say she was good, and so did he, but she personally didn't know. Only went by what others thought. "You're better off not hearing me try." she looked over at the door with the label. "Let's continue."

Y/N unlocked the door and had to take a double step back from the strong smell of chemicals hitting her in the face. Bunny reacted a little more dramatically, yelling out loud how it smells and digging his face into Y/N's leg after making loud sounds of gagging. Drama queen. Y/N hid her face from Bunny's view to keep a laugh and finally entered the room to have Bunny ripped away from her leg. He grabbed her hand again when she walked up to an open book lying on the small desk tucked in the corner by the door. 

-

"That newbie Steve made a fine mess!  He spilled some hydrogen bromide made a hole in the wall! I TOLD him that stuff could eat through iron. . . He'd better pay me back for this!"

-

"Hydrogen bromide it is," Y/N muttered.

"Let's go find some hidey-gen!" Bunny said, tugging Y/N to look through the chemicals. 

There was no heart in her to tell him the correct pronunciation and let him drag her around till she took control and looked at the back left corner of chemicals when there was no luck on the other shelves. "Zin, ethanol, oxy dol, mercury," Y/N mumbled, reading through and her free hand pointing at every chemical she saw to not get lost. "Even I know these names. . ." and that's when she saw what she was pointing at. "Oh, here we go! Hydrogen bromide!" her hand grabbed the chemical, staring at it before closing the safety glass. "Have to be careful with this."

Looking over to the kid, she told herself to be extra careful. 

And she successfully brought the chemical to the door. Bunny stood back from her instructions as she opened the bottle and carefully poured it over the thick wires. The sizzling was showing her that it was working. This is kinda fun. She admits to herself, enjoying the reactions in front of her eyes. It reminds me of a science experiment. There was no way she would say this out loud in front of Bunny in case he wanted to come close and try to see it. 

Bunny did make the sound when the wire melted, and the remaining fell to the floor. 

The bottle was now empty, so she set it by the door, not needing it anymore. "It's safe to come out," Y/N told Bunny, opening the door wide for Bunny to run through. 

And he did. 

"Yay! We're outside!" Bunny cheered, running around the roof with his arms out and flapping them like wings. Y/N stared at him with a warm smile, feeling like she was watching herself when she was a kid. 

"Don't run too fast, Bunny," Y/N finally called after him, walking to him when he got near the edge with iron fences that are very low for a kid like Bunny to easily jump over. "You might trip."

But it was like Bunny didn't hear her. "I can't see mama from here," he had a hand above his eyes and looked around. "She must still be looking for that thing she lost. I hope she comes to find me soon. . ."

"She'll be here soon. I'm sure," Y/N was quick to ensure, walking beside him to place a hand on his cap. "You sure love your mama, huh, Bunny?"

"Yeah," and at the mention of his mother, Bunny looked up at Y/N with a happy look in his eyes and bunny teeth peeking through. "Mama's the best! Do you like your ma'am, miss Y/N?"

"Yeah, I've got to love my mama," Y/N said after a few seconds but quickly corrected herself. "I mean, my mother." this kid was really rubbing off on her. "Family is important."

"My mama's nice, but she's scary when she's mad. . ," he shivered dramatically. "Is your mama nice?"

"I'm home!" Y/N yelled out, entering the house. "Are you feeling better, mom?" she noticed her mother sitting in her favorite chair in the living. Watching whatever came on. "Did you go to the hospital?"

"Welcome home, Sunshine!" Her mother greeted her when looking over at the open door. "It's just a cold, don't blow it out of proportion." Y/N sighed, placing a hand on her mother's shoulder and calling her name in a scolding manner. "I feel a lot better after getting some rest. There's really no good side to being feeble. . .I'm sorry to always cause you trouble."

"Don't worry about it," Y/N shook her mother's words, kissing the top of her mother's head. "We're just a family of two. . .of course, we have to help each other."

Her mother let out a gentle laugh. "You're so kind," she complimented, not seeing Y/N's worried look. "Say, how is it going with Jeongguk? He hasn't come by here lately."

". . .We haven't met much because of work," Y/N answered, going simple with the question. "Though I'd like to talk with him more about the future and all that."

"He must be anxious," Her mother declared after a thought. "It's a big event in a man's life. Make sure to support him, will you?"

"What about the woman?" Y/N deadpanned, and the two let out a laugh together. But she stopped when hearing her mother wheeze after laughing. "Are you sure you're not in pain, mom? You don't look very well. . .get some sleep. I can make my own meals."

"I'm glad to have such a kind daughter," Her mother reached and cupped her daughter's cheek. "Thank you, Sunshine."

"Yes, she's very kind," Y/N spoke, realizing she was back in reality after reminiscing about her mother. "She always cared about me. . ."

"You better get home soon, miss Y/N!" Bunny giggled. "Your mama must be really worried!"

Y/N felt the tips of her lips go up in a tight smile. "I suppose you're right," she said. "Same reason why yours will show up soon. So just wait with me until then."

Bunny nodded at her and kept running around. He is enjoying his time out here before Y/N brings him back inside. Y/N shook her head at the kid and noticed an old newspaper slightly moving from the light breeze of the night sky. She picked it up and saw the main title. A psychiatrist had taken their own life. 

-

"Early this morning, a doctor employed at the general hospital was found dead by a nurse from the same hospital. He was hanged, so police are deeming it a suicide. . ."

-

"Dark," Y/N commented, dropping the newspaper and rubbing her thighs to keep the bad luck from the newspaper from her. 

She looked around the flat roof, remembering the hint for the last piece, and noticed a leader on the side of the wall. It was climbable. Y/N climbed to the small roof and saw the last piece. "Okay, Bunny! We can head back down." 

"Already?!" Bunny yelled back, waiting for Y/N to climb back down. He had stopped in his tracks of running around when she called out his name. 

"Already," Y/N repeated, opening the door for Bunny to go through. 

As much as he didn't want to go back in, he went through by the look Y/N gave him. 

Y/N pat his head before holding his hand, the two going to the third floor and leaving the hallway quietly. But it wasn't quiet when going through the door to the main hallway of the floor. "Miss—"

He was hushed, Y/N focusing on the sound of something being eaten. As if it was chewy and wet from the sound of the item getting torn apart by someone's teeth. Y/N knew the only unlocked door was the room with the embyro model. She pulled Bunny behind her, and the two slowly trailed to the door, slowly opening it to keep the attention off of them. 

Looking around the curtains to see the similar bloody back of the crooked neck figure. The head and shoulders were bouncing, but it was no doubt this thing was eating something. But what was—Y/N's face paled up. "It's. . .eating the embryo model," Y/N felt sick. 

But she didn't know she said that aloud. The monster stopped and turned around, tearing a piece of the embryo model and dropping it. The piece hung from his lip until it fell out after roaring at them. Y/N let go of Bunny to cover her ears from the loudness, but that only gave the monster an advantage. It ran up to her at lightning speed, grabbing her and throwing her against the wall between the dirty whiteboard and metal desk. 

He seriously threw me across the room! Y/N was shocked but only focused on the sight of the monster. "Miss Y/N!" Bunny yelled out, running around the corner to look at Y/N in her current state. The monster turned to look at the kid, now between him and Y/N. "N-No. . .no! S-Stay away!" 

Bunny ran off, but the monster chased after him. "Bunny!" Y/N moved to get to one knee but groaned. "N-Not now. . .I got to. . .chase that monster!" Y/N staggered up to her feet, almost falling. "My head. . ." she reached up but flinched at the slight touch to her head. "I'm bleeding. . .so. . .dizzy." she went as fast as she could with a possible concussion she had gotten seconds ago by the monster. Going against the wall for support, she opened the door and went through. 

Y/N kept using the wall for support as she slowly got to the staircase and went up to the fourth floor. Almost fell a few times, but she successfully got up again and saw the monster between her and— "Bunny!" she yelled, ignoring the sting of the head from how loud she spoke. 

It crept up to Bunny, who was sniffing with light sobs. "No. . ," he cried. "I don't want to. . .stay away—stay away!"

She had to do something quickly, turning around to find something quickly. Y/N saw a fire extinguisher by the staircase. This will have to do for now. The vision was hazing colors, but she kept going to grab the object. Y/N tried to be fast, getting close to the monster. The fire extinguisher was raised over her head. "Get away from Bunny!" Y/N yelled, slamming the fire extinguisher onto the monster. 

"Miss Y/N!" Bunny called out, the monster stumbling away from them. 

Y/N moved to Bunny, hiding him behind her. The monster growled at her and ran off. She kept her eyes on the monster until it was out of view. She knelt at Bunny's height, facing him. "Bunny," she called out. "You're not. . .hurt?"

"I'm not!" Bunny shook his head, trying to get rid of the tears. "I'm sorry, miss Y/N! It, it was my fault. . .that you. . .you got hurt, miss Y/N!"

"It's okay," Y/N gave him a painful smile. "Not your. . .fault. . .didn't do. . .anything wrong—"

And the vision blackened. 

".It's not your fault. Don't be distraught. Maybe I shouldn't say this, but. . .This kind of thing happens all the time. If we had noticed a little sooner. . ."

It wasn't known how long she was out, but she woke up to Bunny sobbing loudly. Y/N groaned, fluttering her eyes open and pushing herself between her calves. Her first instinct was to grasp her head, but she winced. "Head still hurts," she spoke, voice slightly breaking. "Stupid monster. . ."

"Miss Y/N!" Bunny yelled, running into Y/N. She groaned but didn't push him away. "Are you really okay?!"

"I'm fine, Bunny," Y/N said, rubbing Bunny's back. "You're not hurt?" he shook his head against her collarbone. "I'll be fine too. Sorry for worrying you. . .looks like that monster went away." she tried to push him away to look at his face, but he stayed against her. "Bunny?"

His sobs went loud again. "I. . .I want my mama," he sobbed. "I don't like the monsters. . .I don't like the dark. . ."

"Bunny," Y/N sighed, rubbing the boy's back again. "Should we go to the police? I'm sure your mother's there. . .so. . ."

Another shake against her collarbone. "I. . .I told mama I'd wait. Mama said she was proud of me. . .so I'll. . .I'll wait for her," he kept staying close to her, tightening his arms around her neck. "Mama wouldn't lie. . .she's going to come for me! So I have t wait here!"

He really should be with the police. Y/N thought to herself, keeping her hand moving to soothe the boy. But he just won't listen. . .and if I try to force him, he'll just run. . .I'll give it a little more time. Then I'll force him to go if I have to. I do wonder what his mom's doing, though. Leaving her son behind like this. . .I can't believe some people. . .and what's that monster up to? He was chasing me before, but now he's just after Bunny. I don't think I can possibly know. I just need to protect him from being attacked. Maybe I should find a weapon somewhere. 

"You're a good kid, Bunny," Y/N praised. "Putting up with all this. . .you're really great. I bet your mama's really glad. Hold out a little more, okay? I'll stay with you."

"N-No more monster?" Bunny asked, separating from Y/N a little to look up at her. 

"I. . .can't say," Y/N spoke to him in honesty. "But I'll protect you if there are. So don't wander away from me, okay?"

"Okay!" Bunny removed his arms from her neck and grabbed her hand. "I'll stay with you, miss!"

Y/N smiled at him and got up to her feet. Hands connected, they walked down to the first floor and into the director's office. She put the last piece with the others and looked between all six to figure out what word this all made. Something that was important. . .

Family.

That word felt a little foreign to her, but she put them in the order they had to be. Reminiscing right now isn't what she needs. And thinking hurts. The box unlocked, and Y/N opened it to see a key to the safe. Y/N walked over to the safe and unlocked it. Opening the safe, a loaded revolver with more ammo. Now she has something to protect Bunny. 

She got up to her feet and loaded it fully, only a few bullets inside while walking to the door. Y/N pushed the door open with the side of her arm, still looking at the gun. But that wasn't ideal, as she got pushed down to the ground. "Miss Y/N!" Bunny yelled, turning around at what pushed her. "M-Monster!" that was the reason?! "M-Miss Y/N, help!" 

Y/N growled, grabbing the gun that had skidded a few inches away from her. "This monster's persistent," she commented under her breath, pointing the weapon at the creature. "Bunny! Over here!" 

"Noo," Bunny shook in his shoes, not looking at Y/N. His eyes on fixated on the creature. "I'm scared of monsters! I don't want to. . .I don't want to. . ."

And he ran off. "Bunny!" she reached out but chased after. They had gotten out of her view a little bit, but she kept up to see them up on the roof. The monster walks close to Bunny. 

"No, no, no, no, no!" Bunny was walking backward, holding his arms out. "Stay away! Miss Y/N, help!" 

Y/N raised the gun at the monster. "Over here, Bunny!" she called out. "Don't let it get near!" Bunny tried to walk around the monster, but it kept staying between the two. Bunny cried out for Y/N for help. "Dammit. . .it really is after Bunny! Why?" she licked her lip, keeping the gun pointed at the monster. "Bunny! Listen! Don't let it catch you! Run away! I'll take care of it!"

"Okay!" 

Bunny began to run around, but the monster kept going for the chase. Y/N had to move around, too, shooting carefully at the monster. Even if it was shot and roaring out, it kept going after Bunny. It kept going as if it wasn't shot, only slowing down and chasing with blood pouring out of its body. Ten shots in, it still wouldn't slow down.

Until she was able to reach for Bunny and pull him behind her, the monster tried to go after it, but Y/N pointed the gun at its head. "This is the end," Y/N promised the monster, moving the gun around to keep it at bay. "Don't come near Bunny again, monster!" She shot at the monster before pushing him over the low iron fence. The adrenaline left her when the monster was no longer heard from its echo yells and the sound of something hitting the ground. "I don't know how many times I shot it. . .but not even it could survive that." she dropped the gun beside her, not wanting to push anything, and turned to Bunny. "I'm sorry you had to go through that. . .but it's all okay now." she saw tears falling heavily down his cheeks. "Bunny? What's wrong? Were you hurt?"

"Why?" Bunny asked, voice quiet. "I-It's so scary. But I. . .I keep hanging in there. . .and. . .I just want to go home. . .so why won't mama come?" he raised his hands in an attempt to get rid of the tears, but more replaced. "Does mama. . .hate me?" he choked out a sob. "Mama hates me. . .so she'll never come back for me. . .I'm just an unwanted kid." Y/N's eyes widened at his words. She took a step toward him, but he took a step back. "I'm going to Mister Policeman."

She stayed in her spot, not wanting to do anything wrong. "I see, okay," she finally responded. "I'll go with you—"

"I'm fine!" he yelled over her.  "I can go there myself!"

"Bunny, you shouldn't be alone late at night," Y/N tried to reason, but Bunny faced away. 

"I'm a tough kid," Bunny huffed. "I can make it on my own even if mama isn't here. Even if mama isn't there, I won't cry."

He walked off. Y/N tried to go after him, but she stopped when feeling the pain in her head, just like in the hotel and school. "It feels like it's gonna explode!" she brought her hands to her head for a soothing. When it went away, Y/N noticed that Bunny was gone. She looked around for him, but he was gone. "On his own?" she brought her hand up to her head, shaking it. "No, Bunny. . .you're mother didn't hate you. It was you. . .who lost faith in her." she dug her head into her hands. "What have I been doing here? Wandering these ruins. . .looking for a man I don't know. I should go home. There's. . .no point to this. Nothing. . .nothing will change."

Y/N walked into the hospital and quietly walked down to the first floor. 

It was quiet walking to the front doors, but a sound of a woman crying stopped her. Y/N turned in hope, thinking it could be Bunny's mother. "She did come for him," she breathed out in relief, walking back to the clinic side of the hospital. "I must have passed Bunny by." 

The sound of a woman was from the basement. 

She walked down the steps and saw the door at the far end slightly open. Y/N walked through, hoping to see a woman and Bunny, but only a shadowy figure stood at the end of this room of tubs filled with water to the brim. This isn't. . .Bunny's mother. "Who are you?!" she yelled to the figure. 

The figure turned around, and Y/N took a step back. "Sunshine, why do you abandon me?" Y/N's mother asked. It looked like her mother. . .but the face looked like a stranger. 

"Th-that's not," Y/N gulped. "Mom, how can you be here?"

"I hate hospitals," her mother continued. "You're my family. . .yet you abandon me?"

"No!" Y/N lightly reached out. "You were sick, mom!"

"So you left me?" her mother's voice slowly raised with a firm tone. "My own family couldn't stand me anymore?"

"No! No, you're wrong!" Y/N yelled, trying to get the lies out of her head. She ran up to the woman and wrapped her hands around her neck. Slowly tightening them. "Who are you?! My mom couldn't possibly be here! Why are you pretending to be her?!" 

"It hurts, Sunshine," the woman choked, holding onto Y/N's wrists. But it wasn't as if she was pulling Y/N's arms away. Her head was tilted up for more access. As if she wanted this to happen. To worsen Y/N mentally. "Just like it did then. . .are you going to try and kill me again?" Y/N automatically let go of the woman and took steps back slowly. "It hurts so much, Sunshine."

"Who are you?!" Y/N's mother asked, holding a glass vase in her hand. She stared at Y/N down hard, who was sitting at the dining table. "Why are you in my house?! What did you do with my husband?! Answer me!"

"Mom, please stop," Y/N pleaded, leaning on the table with her head in her hands. "You keep saying things like that. . .dad left a long time ago, okay? Did you forget?" 

Her head was already hurting all day. "Shut up!" Her mother yelled, attempting to throw the vase, but she missed Y/N from the wild throw. "Intruder! I don't know anyone like you! I'll call the police on you!" 

Y/N sighed, removed her hands, and faced the woman. "Stop it," she tried to plead again. "Don't tell me you're already going senile? Please. . .take a rest for today. I'm tired from work. Just tell me if I'm a bother—"

"Shut up!" Her mother yelled again. "Keep your mouth shut! Do you think I know you?! Get out of here!" 

"Stop!" Y/N yelled back, the pain in her head worsening. "What are you saying? Did I do something wrong? Please, just tell me if I did something wrong! Are you teasing me?! Because it's not funny! Please, mom!"

"Quiet! I'm not your mother! I don't know you! Get out!" 

"Enough. . ."

One second to another, Y/N was suddenly straddling her mother on the ground, chair abandoned and fallen to the ground, hands around the woman's neck.

"M-Murderer!" Y/N's mother yelled out for help. "S-Somebody! Murderer!"

As if her voice was heard, Jane opened the door to see what was going on. "Y/N? Hey! What are you doing?!" she ran to Y/N and used her strength to pull Y/N off. But even she was struggling. "Hey, stop! Let go! Are you trying to kill her?!"

"It appears to be a brain tumor," The doctor told Y/N hours after the event. "It's putting significant pressure on her brain. Sudden changes in behavior, violent action and memory loss can be signs of brain disease. In some cases, counseling to resolve friction in a family can uncover an illness. Maybe I shouldn't say this, but. . .This kind of thing happens all the time. If we had noticed a little sooner. . ." he cleared his throat. "Back to the topic of your mother. She appears to be very weak. We'll have to postpone the operation for now. We've hospitalized her for the time being, and her condition will influence our decision. Hopefully, it won't last long. Please, come by to see her often. Even if she doesn't seem to know you. . .she is family."

"No," Y/N whispered, seeing the figure gone when getting the memory away.

"We're not family anymore. Don't. . .don't say we are. If I hadn't been stopped. . .just like that, I would have—I would never have been forgiven for it. There really was hatred in me. . .and it's true I've abandoned her in the hospital.

She was my only family.

My precious mother who cared for me after my father left, and yet I. ..my wishes never come true. My dreams, love, and even family all go awry. . .I can't have anything that's not crooked​​​​​​. What have I been searching for? I don't have to anymore. . .it's obvious now.

There was only one way from the very beginning."

-

Scene 3

“Central Hospital - Bunny -”

End

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙲𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝙼𝚊𝚗 | 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙵𝚘𝚞𝚛

| 𝘈, (𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵) 𝘍 | 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳, 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳, 𝘚𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘎𝘰𝘳𝘦, 𝘔𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦, 𝘚𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘈𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘵, 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘰𝘳 𝘋𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘚𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘛𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘴

| 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘪 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 |  

↳   𝘗𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 - 𝘑𝘦𝘰𝘯 𝘑𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘬𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘹 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳

↳ 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘺 - 𝘠/𝘕 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦. 𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘥𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘠/𝘕 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘥𝘥 𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘵.  

𝘏𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦.  

𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘠/𝘕 𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴.

(𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 "𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘯" 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴)

𝘛𝘢𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 - 𝘖𝘱𝘦𝘯 (𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘴𝘬)  

𝘞𝘒 - 3.1k  

𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘷 | 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵

𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘔𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 | 𝘔𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘔𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵

Upon a chair, he stood

His eyes were blank and dead

Without another thought

He went and hung his head

𝘑𝘢𝘯𝘦'𝘴 𝘗𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘝𝘪𝘦𝘸

"Dammit," Jane cursed when the call went straight to voicemail. "Y/N hasn't answered a single call. . .what is she up to, and where?!" she looked down at her phone to see her call history full of Y/N's contact name, "Waifu Material" filled up even with three swipes of her finger. 

"Jane," Namjoon called out quietly, looking down at his phone. "What do we do? I knew we shouldn't have left Y/N alone."

"Namjoon, get a hold of yourself," Jane quickly said, exiting the call history and tapping on Y/N's contact again. 

"How can I be calm about this?!" Namjoon yelled, turning to look at Jane. The wife lightly flinched at the sight of tears pricking from his eyes. It was a bit rare to see him in this state. . .but his friend had gone off the radar from them without any contact or knowledge, just that he was going on a little trip. But after the first day of Y/N not calling Jane, despite saying she would when she got to the place. "Y/N is so worn out from things with her mother and Jeongguk. . .she's even suffering over old wounds. I was always scared for her. Scared that she'd do something, there was no turning back from. I suggested moving to get her mind clear, but that didn't help, now did it?!" 

Jane knew that he was feeling a lot of guilt. He introduced Jeongguk to Y/N in college, which didn't end well, and he suggested she should move for a change, and it obviously didn't end well with the situation they are currently in. "It wasn't a bad idea," Jane whispered, hoping he would think that too. "It was a mistake for me to give the idea of that place to you." it really was Jane's idea as she helped look too. It was Namjoon who pitched the place to Y/N. So where did the fault lie? "Dammit." another curse left through her teeth and tapped on the call button. "I'll call again. If she doesn't answer, we're calling the police." the phone was placed up to her ear, listening to the rings. 

"What do you mean?" Namjoon asked, looking confused. "Why would the room be. . ." he soon realized what she meant, turning his head away from his wife. It didn't take him long to know what she meant, and he groaned in frustration. " Don't tell me ghost stories at a time like this! Always talking about how you 'see things,' and—"

"Y/N?!" Jane stood up from her chair, the other hand on the table to keep her balance. Half a second after hearing her best friend breathe, Jane knew it was Y/N. "Y/N! Where are you?!"

"Central. . .hospital," Y/N whispered into the phone. The sound of wind brushing through almost took over her voice. "It's. . .a state over."

Jane's brown eyes blinked, not thinking she would hear this. "W-Why are you way over there?!" She stuttered out. "Listen, I'll find you, so wait for me!" 

Y/N let out a sob. "Don't come," she pleaded. "Please, don't. . .leave me alone." 

And a few beeps came after. "Y/N? Hey, Y/N!" Jane yelled and removed the phone from her ear to see the Y/N ended the call. She grits her teeth before taking a breath to calm herself down so she doesn't do anything. "He's in another state? It'd probably take about a day to get there on my motorcycle." Jane looked at her husband and walked up to him. "I'm going to get Y/N."

She tried to give Namjoon a kiss goodbye, but he placed his hand on top of hers when she cupped his face. "I'm going with you," he declared, having Jane stop leaning in. "Y/N is my friend, too! I can't just ignore her at a time like this!" 

Jane looked into his eyes for any other emotions, but the same guilt and worry stayed with an additional determination to find his friend. "Alright," she surrendered. "Let's go."

Now the story's not yet over

For this tale is mythed and old

Go hide under the cover

There's something not yet told

After leaving in the morning, they had gotten to the hospital Y/N mentioned in the call. "Y/N's car," Jane pointed at the lone vehicle. "She's got to still be here." she reached over for Namjoon's hand. "Come on, Namjoon. It's dark. Let's stay close together."

The two went to the door and opened it, entering it. The moment they entered, Jane stopped walking, Namjoon bumping into her, and she looked around at what she heard. "Were those footsteps?!" she looked around some more before her eyes saw the staircase. "They were from upstairs. . .is that you, Y/N?!" she looked back at her husband. "Come on." she dragged Namjoon to the staircase and jogged up. 

Everything felt normal, but the sound of a cat mewling had changed Jane's route to the third floor. She brought Namjoon to the room she heard the meow from and felt sick to her stomach at the sight of a mama cat dead with her kittens stillborn. "My god," Namjoon brought his hand up to his mouth to keep himself from gagging.

"Don't look, Namjoon," Jane spoke, not being able to rip her eyes from the dead cats. "It's not good for your health. . ."

"That's awful," Namjoon wasn't able to look away, even if Jane tried to turn him. "You don't think Y/N—"

"Why would he do something like that?!" Jane was quick to defend her friend. "Must've been some crazy dude." the smell was getting too much for her, so she pulled Namjoon out. There was nothing in that room. Curtains were opened, but there was nothing special, nothing written on the mattress. 

On the fourth floor, Jane saw a dark figure. "Who's there?!" she called to the figure, holding Namjoon's hand tighter. "What're you doing there?!" the figure turned around, and it showed a tall male with fluffy hair. A bit dressed up for an abandoned hospital like this place. "A-A boy? Hey, what're you doing in this old place?"

"You hate sissies like me, don't you," he guessed, his deep voice echoing into the walls. "But your friend. . .she's important to you, right?" 

The male walked around the newlywed and was stopped by Jane. "Hey!" she yelled at him, glaring at this man. "Who the heck are you? What's this about?" He knew about Y/N. Why did he know about Y/N? And how did he know they were friends?

"Go see her," The male said, not looking at them, and walked down the staircase. 

Jane huffed, still glaring at the sight where the man used to be. "Man, what the hell was that?" she shook her head, looking up at Namjoon. "Some people." Namjoon only looked at where Jane was looking but didn't say anything. Jane found that a bit odd but pulled Namjoon back down to the main floor. There was nothing, so maybe the other side of this door would lead her to Y/N. And when she opened the door, she saw another figure down the small hall. "Someone else? Y/N?!" she took steps closer to the figure with Namjoon. "Hey! Who're you?!"

The figure turned around, and it showed another male with orange hair and brown eyes. "Yo!" he greeted with a wave and walked closer to Jane and Namjoon. "Hey. . .she's your friend, right? Go on and save her. Tell her the truth."

"The. . .truth?" Jane repeated slowly. "What?"

"I'm counting on ya!" the male smiled and walked away. 

"Uh," Jane looked around Namjoon to watch the male open the doors and walk through. "Why are there so many people here? I don't get it." she grabbed Namjoon's hand and pulled him to the staircase. But she never noticed the look on Namjoon's face as he followed her. It went on till they got to the third floor and heard a kid singing. 

"There was a crooked man, and he walked a crooked mile!" the kid sang. 

Jane peaked over the corner. "A kid?" she had to be going crazy. "D-Don't tell me a kid's wandering here?"

They walked down the hallway to see a kid dancing around. "He found a crooked sixpence upon a crooked stile!" The kid kept singing. "He bought a crooked cat! Which caught a crooked mouse!"

"K-Kid," Jane called out to the child. "What're you doing?"

"And they all lived together! In a crooked little house!" The kid continued. "Then he had a crooked thought: Why is crookedness my lot? Why must I be crooked instead of being not? So the crooked man would cry, and he couldn't fathom why! He was sad all the time, and he sighed! And so he—" the kid cut himself off and turned to look at the married couple. "Miss Y/N's waiting for you! Go see her!" 

And the kid skipped away. "What was with that kid? Why'd he know Y/N?" Jane looked up at Namjoon. "Did he meet her?" she sighed and shook her head. "Forget about it! Let's go, Namjoon." she took steps away but noticed her husband wasn't following her. "Namjoon?" she turned around to see his fists clenched. "What's up?"

"Stop it," his arms were shaking, showing his frustration with her. "Are you teasing me?! Don't you know this isn't the time for that?!"

"Teasing?" Jane raised a brow, crossing her arms. "What do you mean, teasing you, Namjoon?" this is not something she'd make up. Why would he think that?

"Just who do you keep talking to?!" Namjoon raised his voice. And that's when Jane figured out what was going on. "Stop trying to spook me. . .I know there wouldn't be anyone here! We just need to find Y/N, no jokes."

"So that's it," Jane spoke under her breath. "Namjoon. . .go and leave the hospital." She gave him a smile. "Sorry for, uh, trying to spook you. Don't worry. I'll find Y/N." 

Namjoon realized what had gone down. "W-Wait! I'm staying with you!" he rejected her idea. 

"If anything happened to you, I'd be putting two family members in danger," Jane walked up to him and wrapped her arms around him. "Please, just trust me."

Namjoon wrapped his arms around his wife in response. "Alright," he gave in, placing a loving kiss on top of Jane's head. "Please, come back quickly."

And they separated. "Just wait for me, Y/N," Jane rolled her shoulders, went into the hallway the kid was standing next to and continued down the small hallway to see emergency stairs. She walked up till she was at the top to see two closed doors. And she saw something through the windows. "Y/N! What are you doing out there!" she ran through the door and saw her best friend standing at the edge of the roof, back facing her. "Y/N."

"Jane?" Y/N responded with her broken voice, not turning or moving her head. "Why. . .why are you here?"

"Came to pick you up," Jane answered. "I'll ask for a good explanation later. For now, you're coming home."

Y/N sighed. "Forget about me," the back of her head showed to be lowered with a shake. "Just. . .leave me alone."

Jane took a step forward, calling out the name, but Y/N turned around.

There once was a Crooked Man

Who had a crooked smile

And if you've lived his life

He'll send you through a trial

"Stay away!" her voice echoed from how loud she yelled, and Jane felt her blood drain to see Y/N pointing a gun against her temple. "I'm. . .I'm hopeless."  tears were falling, and her E/C couldn't meet Jane's. "I keep walking, but I see nothing. I'll never. . .ever be happy. I'm. . .I'm a crooked man. No matter what, that's what I'll be. And those are the only things I'll have!"

"Y/N?!" Jane took a careful step forward but noticed something wasn't right. "Wha—What's that?!" she saw two transparent arms around Y/N's body. One hand on her chest, gripping where the heart is. And the other arm held Y/N's wrist steady to keep the gun against her temple roughly. 

"Agony," Y/N's voice broke more. "Living is. . .agony. Nothing will go how I want it. . ." the hand dug the gun deeper into her head. "So right here, right now!"

The only thing Jane could do right now raised and punched Y/N across the cheek. "You damn monster!" she screamed, kept punching where she saw the arms. "Get away from Y/N!"

"H-Hey! Ow!" Y/N blocked her body from the punches. "St-Stop! Ow!" she grabbed Jane's wrist and pushed her off. "That hurt! Stop, you moron!" 

"Y/N!" The tears were now blasting out of her ears, and she jumped onto her friend. "You're back with us?!"

"Don't say that like I went nuts!" Y/N tried to push Jane off, but the girl stayed on top. "I've been sane from the start!" 

"Like hell!" Jane glared when removed from Y/N. The two now sat close across from each other, Jane sitting between Y/N's legs with her legs over to keep her there. "If that's the kind of thing you'd do sane, I'll have to beat you up 'til you promise not to!" she gently pushed Y/N's chest. "Now, about this stuff you've been doing. . .you better tell me everything that happened!"

"Taehyung, Hoseok, and Bunny," Jane hummed, remembering seeing the three when coming up to the roof. "And that crooked monster."

"Oh, so you believe in the monster?" Y/N asked, taking a light drag of the cigarette. "That's my occult fanatic."

"Well, you see, it's not exactly fanaticism," Jane commented. "Don't I always tell you that I 'see things?' You and Namjoon never believe me." she crossed her arms with a huff in annoyance, but she smiled when she got a small crooked smile from Y/N. "Anyway. About Taehyung, Hoseok, and the kiddo. I think I met them."

Y/N blinked, removing the cigarette from her lips. "That's ridiculous," she had doubt in her tone. "Bunny, maybe, but Taehyung and Hoseok wouldn't be here." 

Jane looked at her friend, giving her a look. Is she seriously doubting Jane after what she went through? "Listen up, Y/N," she had a serious look. "People's consciousnesses. . .they sorta stick around in places."

"More of your occult shtick?"

"You seriously making fun of the occult after this?" Jane raised a hand as a threat, only slapping Y/N's shoulder. "Just listen, and no jokes!" she sighed and leaned back, hands against Y/N's legs. "So you've had it pretty similar to the guy who used to live in your room, right? Shattered dreams, a bad breakup, family trouble. . .when I first looked at the place, it was fine. But once you moved in, I had this strange feeling from you and from the room. I'd have to guess the guy's consciousness was a perfect match with you. Got to be why you wanted to meet the guy, too."

"So you're saying. . .he's calling me?" Y/N asked, flicking the cigarette before taking a drag before it was gone. 

"Some people are softhearted to the core and always sympathize with others," Jane continued. "And they get taken advantage of the most."

"Taken advantage of?" Y/N repeated, "Look, don't I barely know the guy?"

"You know a little from that stuff he left," Jane pointed out. "And that was all stuff you could identify with. So, what would you think of a guy who's the spitting image of you? Would you hate them or like them?"

Y/N thought about the question and threw the cigarette. "I don't know," she suddenly lost the craving for nicotine.

"I'm guessing both," Jane watched the cigarette burn. "Same as him. Think back. The crooked man tried to kill you—tried to drag you with him. But on the other hand, weren't there people who relied on you? Who wanted your help?" Y/N looked at her hands on her lap, looking to be remembering the memories flooding in. "He hated you, but he liked you. He thought he could share in suffering with you. So he was seeking your help. And that's why. . .you met those people. That's what I'm thinking. . .honestly, I'm not sure if it's right."

"It's not quite right," Y/N admits, leaning back into the iron fence. "He wasn't seeking my help. He. . .he helped me. Got me back on my feet." but when she moved, she let out a hum in confusion. "There's. . .something in my pocket." she dug her hand into her pocket and brought out a piece of paper. "When did I pick this up?" she unfolded the paper to read. "An address. . .and I don't think it's that far." she folded it and put it back into her pocket, looking at Jane with a determined look. "I'm going. I have to meet him."

Jane stayed silent for a couple of seconds. "You could always not," she said softly. "What if something happens?"

"I feel like if I don't go. . .the crooked man will follow me forever," she said honestly. "So I'm going."

Y/N untangled her legs from Jane and stood up. She began her way to the door, stepping over the burning cigarette. "Y/N!" the said girl turned around to see Jane getting up and walking up to her. "You come back to us safe! I. . .I don't want to go to my friend's funeral."

"Yeah, I know," Y/N smiled, holding her hand out. "Thanks." the two grasp hands and lean into each other for a hug. 

-

Scene 4

"Central Hospital - Jane -"

End

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙲𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝙼𝚊𝚗 | 𝙴𝚙𝚒𝚕𝚘𝚐𝚞𝚎

| 𝘈, (𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵) 𝘍 | 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳, 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳, 𝘚𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘎𝘰𝘳𝘦, 𝘔𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘚𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦, 𝘚𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘈𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘵, 𝘔𝘢𝘫𝘰𝘳 𝘋𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘚𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘛𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘴

| 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘪 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 |  

↳   𝘗𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 - 𝘑𝘦𝘰𝘯 𝘑𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘬𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘹 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳

↳ 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘺 - 𝘠/𝘕 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦. 𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘥𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘠/𝘕 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘥𝘥 𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘵.  

𝘏𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦.  

𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘠/𝘕 𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴.

(𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 "𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘯" 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴)

𝘛𝘢𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 - 𝘊𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 [𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘥]

𝘞𝘒 - 3.7k  

𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘷 | 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵

𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘔𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 | 𝘔𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘔𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵

He lives for your torment

Makes it full of strife

And he won't be content

Until you take your life

"This is the place. . .for sure," Y/N looked down at the paper and at the mailbox with the same number. "Could this be. . .his house?" she heard a humming of music and turned her head to see an older man in a red tracksuit. "Excuse me!" the man stopped and looked at Y/N, removing his earbuds. "Can I have a second?"

"What?" The man raised a brow. "Ain't seen you around here. Going for a stroll?"

"Ah, no, actually," Y/N rubbed the back of her head. "Who lives here? Do you know them?"

"Oh, you mean Mrs. Kim?" the older man looked at the quiet house. 

"Kim?" Y/N walked up to the man. "Someone named Kim lives here?"

The man looked at her with sad eyes. "Not anymore," he shook his head. "Mrs. Kim passed away last year. The house's been neglected ever since. Waste of a fine house, it is!" oh looked to be in thought. "Oh, yeah, I think she had a son. I wish he'd just rent out or sell the house. . ."

"Do you know anything about her son?" Y/N pushed more.

"Nah," the man answered. "I only moved here a few years back. I heard he lives in an apartment a ways away." That only confirmed her thoughts more. The son was definitely the previous tenant of her room. "That all? I got to get home by daybreak, or my wife'll be livid. S'good to take a walk in the morning, but it's sure cold. Don't catch a cold or nothing." 

He waved her goodbye, and she gave him a small one in return before going on his way. Y/N looked at the hose for a few seconds, taking in the worn white paint. This house truly was a beauty. Y/N walked to the door and tried to open the door. But it was locked. The only key she had was this bloody key. 

And it fit. 

Inside the house, it was a clean hallway. Y/N looked through the first door to the left and saw a bathroom. Shattered glass lay across the floor, and the tub tugged into the wall was filled with old water with cracks on the walls. She closed the door and opened the door across. There were many shattered plates on the ground that she couldn't step over, and it was piled up. The pieces would definitely stab through her shoes. 

Y/N huffed and closed the door, going down the hallway to the door next to it and going through. She walked currently walked down and noticed a pathway. The two doors were connected to the same room, so it didn't matter. A scrap of the notebook was noticed on the ground, and she automatically picked it up. 

-

"I recalled the rhyme of the crooked man. All he could do was live in a crooked house, with a cat and mouse just as crooked.

I was the same way. Everything I wished for ended up crooked. My dreams, my love, even my family. . .

How did the crooked man live? Was he sorrowful in the depths of despair?

. . .Such a life has no meaning. 

-

She placed the paper in her bag and left the room to go to the one across. It was a small storage room with a few boxes and cabinets and cobwebs all over. 

And another scrap of the notebook was lying next to the boxes. 

-

"The hotel, the school, the hospital. . . It was the same at all of them. My saddest memories wouldn't go away.

Writing wouldn't calm down my heart. In the end, my festering heart just oozes more, and I tear up the paper.

Mine is an empty existence. I have nothing to leave behind. Not even words. 

-

Y/N remembered the memories she had gone through and left the room. She saw the gash on the wall before heading upstairs. The door was right in front of her, so she went through and saw another scrap in the destroyed bedroom. There was nothing written but the word "why" all over. Some light writing and heavy writing. And she saw another piece of paper in front of the next door, only saying how he was out of cigarettes and needed a smoke. 

"I'm going to need a smoke too after this," Y/N replied to the paper, putting it away, and entered the room. It was another destroyed bedroom with a black notebook on the bed. She walked to it and picked it up. "The rule on this notebook. . .matches the scraps I have." she had it opened and dug out the scraps, putting them together. "There's a name on this. . .Kim Taehyung." 

Memories of the hotel went through her mind. 

So she had already met the previous tenant. And yet, somehow, she still chased after him. 

Y/N put on the notebook and had to take a double look when seeing something on a desk next to the shelves. Walking closer to the desk and leaned down to see three photos. One had Hoseok drinking with a man scribbled out. Another had a cute girl leaning into the same man that's scribbled out again. And the last photo was a little boy scribbled out. But even though the scribbled markings, the male looked like Taehyung. 

Why is it I'm not surprised in the least? Y/N thought, picking up the one of him as a child. Her vision was blurred, and a teardrop hit the picture. Why is it. . .that I'm crying? a little sniffle from her nose and her free wrist rubbed under it. He must have wanted someone to help him. He really didn't. . .want to just let go. Let go of his girlfriend, or his dreams. . .or himself.

The sound of something crying made Y/N gasp and look at the door. She sniffled again before grabbing the other picture of Hoseok. Y/N looked down at the photos before placing them gently on her back. He was here. The gun was brought out of her bag, and she walked out the door, not minding the tears that kept falling. 

She went through the door and saw the back of the monster on the other side of the circular table. He truly was crying. He turned around when hearing her step closer to the table. "Crooked Man," she greeted, breath shaky. "I. . .I can't go over to your side." she looked at the ladder to the attic in the corner. "He's. . .up there, isn't he?" the monster didn't say anything, only stared at her. "Then I'll be going there." she raised the gun, pointing it at him. "This will be. . .the end." 

Bullets were sent to the Crooked Man, having it screech at the top of its lungs for who knows how many minutes it took. Y/N winced at the loudness, but she kept shooting at him.

It didn't take long because the Crooked Man gave up when he called down to his knees. Curling into itself and falling to the ground, only crying instead of screeching. She kept the gun pointed at the monster, walking around the red sofa to tower it. "I'm not going to be like you," she declared. "You won't catch me." the gun shook in her hand. "As painful and bloody as it might be. . .I'll keep living!" she dropped the gun next to the crying monster's head. "So, begone!" 

At the echoes of her acceptance, the monster slowly faded away. 

Her shoulders felt so light, a sigh of pleasure leaving her when she rolled her shoulders. 

Y/N turned around at the ladders, raising her shoulders with a deep breath. 

With the last attempt to warn herself what she'll see, Y/N climbed up the ladder and pushed the door with a small force. She climbed up and saw a man standing under a noose with a knocked chair not that far. "What. . .What are you doing there?" she asked. 

"Can't you tell?" The man turned his head to show Y/N a little bit of his face. "I'm saying so long to this miserable life." 

"Can you. . .really say that?" Y/N asked, taking another step toward him. "Do you really think your life was empty?"

He turned around and gave Y/N a sad smile. "Well, there must have been good things," he said. The sight of his face had answered it all. Kim Taehyung really was the previous tenant. "There had to be." his mouth was opened slightly. "But. . .when there's so much sadness and pain, it makes you forget there was anything good. So. . .I have no other choice." his eyes were wandering, but he looked back at Y/N. "Aren't you the same way?"

She couldn't deny it. "It's true," so she accepted it. "I thought that way until very recently, ever since I was detained for trying to kill my mom."

"But it's different now?" Taehyung asked. Y/N gave him a nod. "Why do you say that?"

"Because I met someone," Y/N answered, walking closer to Taehyung a little more. "It was hard suffering all on my own. . .I wanted someone to understand it. To sympathize with me. My best friend worried for me, sure. But I felt like she was just saying things that he couldn't really understand." she felt the gun against her temple from last night. "I just wanted to end it all. I tried not to think about it, but it kept coming back. It followed me everywhere. He suffered much like I had. He was rejected, his dreams were thwarted. . .and then his family. While trying to console him, I realized. The things I said to him were what I wanted someone to have said to me." she took another step. "By trying to save him. . .I was saving myself, as well. And that's not all. Maybe. . .he did despise me. But at the same time, he tried to help. So I was able to make it this far. And what had been chasing me is gone now."

Taehyung only looked at her blankly and lightly turned so she couldn't say his face. "Leave," he flicked a hand up. Did she say something wrong? She tried to speak to him another step closer, but he turned to look at her. "You're wrong. This. . .this isn't out of desperation. I. . .just wanted to see you." he was talking about the hotel. "I didn't want you here yet. I didn't think you should come. Aren't there people waiting for you? You should. . .just leave."

"That's true. . .well—"

She was cut off when Taehyung met her in the middle and leaned down to place a kiss on her forehead. "Thank you for coming," he spoke against her skin, separating from her and taking steps backward to be under the noose. "For me. . .that's enough."

"I wish I could have known you sooner," she spoke the truth, slowly walking backward and turning to walk to the top of the ladder.

But the light of the sunrise snuck into the room. Y/N stopped and turned around to see his skeleton hanging on the noose. The skull was hanging to the left. "Nothing will make you suffer anymore," she breathed out, placing a hand on her chest. "Where you're going. . .it's a good place. Now, you can rest in peace." 

Her head bowed in respect. "Goodbye. . .Taehyung,"

But you know what I think?

"Wow, sounds like a real ordeal, Y/N," Namjoon still couldn't wrap his head around the story. "I mean, finding a corpse while you're on a trip? But it sounds like it ended up all right. I'll go get you some tea."

Y/N leaned on the dining room table, resting her head on her hands. "He was beaten by the crooked man," she spoke, catching Jane's attention, who was on her phone. "He was dragged to the other side. The crooked man. . .was always right behind me. I. . .realized he was there. Every time I was sad, I felt like he was whispering to me. I knew if I acknowledged it, I was done for. So I tried not to think about it. If all hadn't this happened. . . I think sooner or later, I'd take the same path."

"Always such an easy target, aren't you?" Jane teased. "That's why you got dragged into this!"

"It's fine," Y/N chuckled. "The crooked man is gone." the sound of her phone made her remove her head from her hands to look at the screen. She answered it and placed it against her ear. "Hello?" talking on the other end. "Oh, okay. I'll head right there."

She removed the phone from her ear and tapped on the end button. "Y/N?" Jane called out. "What's up? Who was it?"

"The hospital," Y/N answered, staring at the screen. "Mom's condition took a turn. They're preparing to do the operation."

Jane's eyes widened at the news. "T-Take my bike. It'll be faster!" she offered, stuttering and a bit worried. "You got to go! Don't sit there staring!"

"Doctor!" Y/N yelled, running to the doctor that was waiting for her in the hallway. "Mom. . .mom's condition—"

"To be honest, this is rather risky," the doctor didn't take long to talk, cutting Y/N off to let her catch her breath. "Removing the tumor isn't too difficult. But she might not have the strength to. . ."

He didn't have to finish, and Y/N fell to her knees and grasped the doctor's lab coat. "Doctor, please, my mom," she begged. "She's. . .she's the only family I have! Please!" 

The doctor stared at Y/N and knelt down to reach her eyes. "Sign this," he held out the board with paperwork. "We're getting ready now. We'll do the best job we can."

The crooked man

had a crooked body

and only crooked things. . .

Hours later, the door opened to the waiting room. Y/N stood up and called out to the doctor. "The tumor was successfully removed," he announced, and Y/N felt her legs turn into noodles. But she had to be strong. "She's still sleeping now. We might have a chance if she wakes up."

Y/N nodded and ran into the room to see her mother sleeping as he said. She waited a long time, but she stayed by her mother's side. "Y/N?" A fragile voice called out. 

"Mom!" Y/N turned her head fast at the hearing of the warm voice. "Oh, thank god." she walked to the side of the bed and grasped her mother's hand, bringing it up to her lips. "You woke up. . .you really. . ."

"I felt like I was in the darkness," her mother spoke. "I was scared. . .screaming. I must have worried you." she gave Y/N an apologetic smile. "And those things I did to you. I'm so sorry. . .it was hard, wasn't it?"

"It's okay," Y/N repeated over and over, shaking her head and kept kissing her mother's hand. "You helped me open my eyes." she fell down to her knees, crying against her mother's hand like a child. "Mom. . .I was so unhappy. I was always just struggling to be happy. But I didn't give my mother the happiness she needed. And after all the hardship I'd given her. . .I foolishly doubted—thought I wasn't loved, wasn't needed. That's why I—" she choked up with a sob. "Do you hate me for it?"

"Don't be silly, Y/N," her mother spoke, moving her other hand to place on her daughter's head. "Indeed, you and I both. . .it's hard to say we were always happy. But, even in sad times, you were always honest. You lived a straight and honest life. I was so proud of you. Having you as a daughter was my greatest happiness." she continued to pet her daughter, hearing the cries and hefty breathing. "Don't focus on the sad things, and I'm sure you'll notice all the happiness hiding around you." she stayed quiet, petting her crying daughter. "Sunshine. . .I'm. . .thirst. Can you bring me some water?"

Y/N sprung up to her feet. "S-Sure, just a second!" and she left the room. When she came back, she held the water out. "Here you go, mom!"

But her mother didn't respond. "Mom?"

And she wanted to ignore the sound of the long line on the screen. "Mommy?" she slowly walked up to the bed and saw her mother's eyes closed. So this is why she asked for water. Y/N placed the cup of water on the side table and sat at the edge of the bed. She leaned down and kissed her mother's cheek before resting her forehead against hers. "Rest well."

But I'm sure he was happy

Living in his crooked house

In Y/N's apartment, she sat on the green sofa with Jane next to her and a hand on her shoulder. "She got a good funeral," she rubbed her shoulder. "I'm sure your mother's happy now." she leaned forward to look at Y/N's tired eyes. "You got to be tired, huh, Y/N? You okay?"

"She told me she was happy in the end," Y/N whispered. "If I'm going to live without blaming myself, those words are going to help a lot. It's fine if I have to suffer if I can be smiling in the end." she looked over at her best friend. "So when were you going to tell me that you're two months pregnant?" 

"It was going to be a surprise," Jane huffed. "Give you a present of a newborn onesie that said 'Hi auntie' after Namjoon, and I were ready to tell others." 

"He had a right to be worried about you," Y/N pointed out. "Two months pregnant and going her way to an abandoned hospital. Pretty worrisome to me." 

Jane tried to say something, but the door opened, and she looked over to see her husband. "Namjoon?" she called out in confusion. "Why're you. . ." Namjoon didn't say anything but stepped to the side for Jeongguk to step into Y/N's room. "Jeongguk?!" she quickly changed her emotions to anger. "Why are you—hey Jeongguk!" she stood up, pointing an angry finger at the guy. "I still ain't forgiving you! How dare you give Y/N the cold shoulder—"

Namjoon went between the two and pinched Jane's cheek. "We're going," he announced to the former lovers, pulling his wife out of the room and closing the door. 

It was silent between the two, and Jeongguk looked at the door and at Y/N. Yet she didn't move, just stared blankly at the table. "Y/N," his voice entered her ears. It felt like a relief to hear him after a long time. "I. . .heard about your mother."

Y/N looked over at him, unable to smile. "So you brought flowers, Guk?" She noticed the bouquet of flowers in a vase in his hands. And he was wearing a white T-Shirt to show his tattoo sleeve and dark jeans. Still looked good. "Mom always liked you, so I bet she's glad. Thanks." her head hung again, hearing Jeongguk's footsteps to the countertop to place the vase down. 

"Y/N," he called out her name again. "I was. . .uneasy." he looked over at Y/N. "I got unsure of where I was going. Worried that the road I was walking would be full of twists and turns. So I took it out on you and your kindness." his words were really getting to her, feeling the wall of tears building in her eyes. And he chuckled bitterly, looking at the flowers. "You never let me down, but how did I repay you? I'm really the worst of the worst." he let out a sigh. "I'm sorry. Maybe this is too late, but. . ." Jeongguk walked to the sofa and knelt down to try and see her eyes. "Y/N. If it's okay with you, would you like to—" but he cut himself off when he saw her tears. "Y-Y/N? I'm sorry. Please don't cry."

She shook her head and wiped one of her cheeks with a sniff. And her being in his hoodie. . .maybe she was more vulnerable to cry so easily from his words. "Even though my dreams were crushed, and I just lost my only family," Y/N turned her head to finally give Jeongguk a smile. "I'm just so happy you came back." she turned to fully face him and grabbed his hands that rested at the edge of the sofa. "It's okay, Jeongguk. However off-kilter things get, we can set them straight if that's what we want."

Jeongguk let go of one of her hands to cup her face. And they both leaned in for a tender kiss. 

Unknowingly to them, Taehyung was leaning against the wall. A sad smile on his lips as he watched the lovers reunite. He pushed himself off the wall and walked out of the room after looking around to see what he had left behind. 

I hope to see you again.

But he wasn't forgotten. Y/N had visited his grave.

And she left a pack of cigarettes next to the stone and walked off after a smoke. 

Until then, rest in peace. . .

Good End - Bye Bye Blackbird

A/N: Hopefully I did okay—I really love this game series and I wanted to make a fanfiction. . .

So I thought why not.

The next game in the series is “The Sand Man.” 

It’ll most likely be out tomorrow.

Also, I’m lonely—please gimme messages or an ask box if you wanna be an anon. 

But I’d like to hear any reactions or comments!

Please be nice—

the boogeyman and the crooked man

so, a little story time. when i went to go see the boogeyman, i did not watch the trailer or anything really, i did not know how he looked like and i was fully expecting to see CROOKED MAN.

I MIXED THEM UP, AND I WAS SO EXCITED TO SEE THE BOOGEYMAN CAUSE I THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO BE HOT AND INSTEAD I GOT A BLACK ALIEN-LIKE CREATURE STANDING ON ALL FOURS.

i expressed it so loudly after the movie ended "fuck, man, i thought he was going to be hot." the group of guys behind me stared at me with the most incredulous looks EVER, it was hilarious.

this crooked man is sexy af, this was who i thought was gonna come out in the movie LMAOOOOOO

Where are the fucking valak x reader fics 😭😡

Can people please start making the conjuring franchise fanfics ? With how many people watch the movies, I'd think there would be more 😭💀

Going back Memory Lane, Ever since Ib got its remade version, been going back to the RPG Horror Game world, including The Crooked Man (and yes I simp for his human version, Sue me!)

Is the fandom legally dead? Yes.

Will I post fanart of the game? Also, yes.

noooo don't do it David, youre too sexy nooo

Day one lets gooooooooo

Can someone else give me David x Duke shipp name?

"I'm just wanna make you happy ☺"

Since I’m slowly starting to draw again, I thought I’ll try posting the drawings I couldn’t post last time I tried.

This one’s a redraw, and I’ll probably draw a new version in the near(?) future if I have enough energy.

I wish there was more content for these two, I love this ship. ( ; ω ; )

I made this video~!!