The Forgotten Manor

Tae and Jungkook had always been curious about the abandoned manor on the outskirts of their small town. Rumors swirled about strange sounds, flickering lights, and the unexplainable disappearance of anyone who entered. But curiosity was a powerful thing, especially for two young men whose bond had grown unshakable over years of shared adventures.

It was a cold autumn evening when they decided to explore the manor together. Tae, with his ever-playful smirk, teased Jungkook for being hesitant. “Come on, Kook. Don’t tell me you’re scared. I’ll protect you.”

Jungkook rolled his eyes, but a nervous smile betrayed him. “You’re the one who’s going to scream first.”

As they stepped into the manor, the air grew heavy. Dust and decay filled the rooms, and the faint sound of creaking wood echoed through the halls. They held onto each other tightly, pretending it was for warmth and not out of fear.

In the heart of the manor, they discovered a room that seemed untouched by time. A grand piano sat in the corner, its keys pristine, as though someone had just finished playing. A large, gilded mirror covered one wall, reflecting the dim light from their flashlights.

“This place is creepy,” Jungkook muttered.

Tae nodded but couldn’t help walking toward the piano. “What if I played something? Maybe the ghosts would like it.”

“Don’t even joke about that.”

But before Jungkook could stop him, Tae pressed a key. The sound was jarring, loud, and unnatural. The air around them seemed to shift.

“Tae, stop,” Jungkook whispered, his voice trembling.

Tae turned to reassure him, but his words caught in his throat. Jungkook’s reflection in the mirror was smiling—too wide, too unnatural. And it wasn’t moving in sync with him.

“Jungkook…” Tae whispered, stepping back.

“What?” Jungkook asked, confused by Tae’s sudden fear.

The reflection began to move on its own, tilting its head and grinning even wider. Slowly, it raised a hand, pointing directly at Tae.

Jungkook turned to look at the mirror and froze. “That’s not… me.”

Before they could react, the door slammed shut behind them. The room grew colder, and the reflection in the mirror began to step out of the glass, its movements jerky and inhuman.

“Run!” Tae shouted, grabbing Jungkook’s hand. They bolted toward the door, but no matter how hard they pulled, it wouldn’t budge.

The figure from the mirror was now fully in the room, its distorted face twisting as it let out an ear-piercing scream. Tae shielded Jungkook behind him, his protective instincts kicking in. “Stay behind me!”

But the figure didn’t attack. Instead, it pointed toward the piano, as though commanding them to play.

“Do it,” Jungkook whispered. “Maybe it’ll let us go if we do what it wants.”

Tae hesitated but sat at the piano. His hands shook as he began to play a soft, haunting melody. The figure swayed to the music, its ghastly grin fading into something almost serene.

As the final note echoed through the room, the figure vanished, and the door creaked open. Tae and Jungkook didn’t wait to question their luck. They ran out of the manor, their hearts pounding.

Once outside, they turned to look back. The manor was dark and silent again, as though nothing had happened.

“We’re never doing that again,” Jungkook said, his voice shaking.

Tae nodded, pulling him into a tight hug. “Never.”

But as they walked away, neither noticed the faint reflection in Jungkook’s eyes—something that didn’t belong to him.

The Forgotten Manor: Part 2

Weeks passed since their terrifying night in the manor. Tae and Jungkook promised never to speak of it again, but the memory lingered like a shadow over their lives. Jungkook, in particular, began acting strange.

At first, Tae thought Jungkook was just shaken from the experience. He would catch him staring off into the distance, his expression blank. Sometimes, Jungkook would mumble in his sleep, words Tae couldn’t understand.

But then, things became worse.

One night, Tae woke up to find Jungkook standing by the window, his back to the bed. The moonlight bathed him in a pale glow, and his posture was unnervingly still.

“Kook?” Tae called softly, his voice trembling.

Jungkook didn’t respond.

Tae got out of bed, approaching him cautiously. “Hey, are you okay?”

When Jungkook turned, Tae’s breath caught in his throat. His eyes were dark, almost black, and his smile was eerily familiar—the same unnatural grin they had seen in the mirror.

“Tae,” Jungkook said, his voice low and distorted. “Why did you stop playing the piano?”

Tae stumbled back, his heart pounding. “W-What are you talking about?”

Jungkook tilted his head, the grin widening. “You were supposed to finish the song.”

Before Tae could respond, Jungkook collapsed to the floor, unconscious. Tae rushed to his side, shaking him awake. When Jungkook opened his eyes, they were back to normal.

“What… happened?” Jungkook asked groggily.

“You don’t remember?” Tae asked, his voice shaky.

Jungkook shook his head. “I just had a nightmare. It felt like I was… trapped in that room again.”

Tae didn’t want to scare him, so he stayed quiet. But deep down, he knew something was wrong.

---

The next day, Tae did some research about the manor. He found an old newspaper article that sent chills down his spine.

The manor had once belonged to a reclusive pianist named Elias. Obsessed with creating the perfect symphony, Elias would lure young men into his home, forcing them to play his music. Those who failed to complete the pieces would disappear, their souls trapped in the manor forever.

Tae’s hands trembled as he read the final line: “The only way to free a soul is to finish the song they began.”

“Tae!” Jungkook called from the other room.

Tae quickly closed his laptop, trying to act normal. “Yeah?”

“I think we need to talk.”

Jungkook walked in, his face pale. “I’ve been hearing… music. At night. It’s coming from the manor.”

Tae’s blood ran cold. “You’re sure?”

Jungkook nodded. “And I think it’s calling me.”

---

That night, they returned to the manor. Tae insisted they go together, not willing to let Jungkook face whatever was happening alone.

As they entered the cursed house again, the air seemed even heavier than before. The sound of a haunting piano melody echoed through the halls, growing louder as they approached the same room.

The piano sat waiting, its keys gleaming in the dim light. The mirror was cracked now, but Tae could feel something watching them from within.

Jungkook walked toward the piano as if in a trance. Tae grabbed his arm. “Kook, don’t. We’ll find another way.”

Jungkook turned to him, tears streaming down his face. “I don’t think I have a choice.”

Reluctantly, Tae sat beside him at the piano. “If you’re doing this, I’m staying with you.”

Jungkook placed his hands on the keys, and the room seemed to shudder. As he played, the melody grew more intense, each note pulling them deeper into the manor’s grip.

The mirror began to ripple, and shadowy figures emerged, their faces twisted in agony. They surrounded Tae and Jungkook, their whispers growing louder.

“Finish the song,” they chanted. “Free us.”

Tae’s hands trembled, but he joined Jungkook on the piano, playing the harmony. Together, they poured their hearts into the music, the melody filling the room with a haunting beauty.

The shadows screamed, their forms dissolving into the air. The mirror shattered, and the piano fell silent.

For a moment, everything was still. Then, the door creaked open, and a warm breeze swept through the room.

Jungkook turned to Tae, his eyes filled with relief. “We did it.”

But as they stood to leave, Tae noticed something strange. The piano was gone, and so was their reflection in the broken mirror.

“Tae…” Jungkook whispered, pointing to the doorway.

Standing there was a man in old-fashioned clothing, his face eerily familiar. It was Elias. He smiled at them, his eyes glinting with malice.

“You finished the song,” he said. “But now, you belong to me.”

---

To Be Continued...

The Forgotten Manor: Part 3

Tae and Jungkook froze as Elias stepped closer, his smile as cold as the icy air that now filled the room.

“What do you mean we belong to you?” Tae demanded, stepping in front of Jungkook protectively.

Elias chuckled, his voice resonating like the low notes of a piano. “You completed the song, but the curse doesn’t break so easily. It only transfers. You’ve freed the others… but now, you’ve taken their place.”

Jungkook’s eyes widened. “No! That’s not fair!”

Elias tilted his head, feigning sympathy. “Fair? It’s not about fairness. It’s about the music. This manor needs souls to sustain it, and now, it has yours.”

Suddenly, the floor beneath them began to crack, revealing an endless void. The room twisted and warped, the walls bending inward as if the house itself was alive.

Tae grabbed Jungkook’s hand. “Run!”

They bolted out of the room, but the halls stretched endlessly before them. Doors slammed shut on their own, and shadowy figures clawed at the edges of their vision.

“Tae, we’re trapped!” Jungkook cried, his voice breaking.

Tae refused to give up. “No, we’ll find a way out. Trust me!”

As they ran, they found themselves back in the piano room, as if the house was toying with them. Elias was waiting, seated at the piano. His fingers danced over the keys, creating a chilling melody that seemed to wrap around their minds.

“You can’t escape,” he said, his tone calm yet menacing. “But if one of you willingly stays behind, the other can leave.”

Tae’s breath hitched. “What?”

Elias smirked. “A trade. One soul for another. It’s the only way.”

Jungkook’s grip on Tae’s hand tightened. “No. We’re not doing this. We’ll find another way.”

Elias leaned forward, his grin widening. “Time is running out. The void will take you both if you don’t decide.”

The cracks in the floor spread, and the shadows grew closer, their whispers turning into anguished screams. Tae looked at Jungkook, his heart aching.

“Kook…” Tae began, his voice trembling. “You have to go.”

“No!” Jungkook shouted, shaking his head. “I’m not leaving you!”

Tae’s eyes filled with tears. “I can’t let you stay here. You have too much to live for. I’ll stay.”

Before Jungkook could protest, Tae pulled him into a tight hug. “Promise me you’ll live your life, okay? For both of us.”

“No, Tae, please—” Jungkook’s voice cracked, but Tae pushed him toward the doorway that had suddenly appeared.

“Go!” Tae shouted.

Elias laughed, his voice echoing through the room. “How noble. Very well.”

The shadows surged forward, separating Tae and Jungkook. The last thing Tae saw was Jungkook’s tear-streaked face as the door slammed shut, sealing him inside.

---

Jungkook stumbled out of the manor, collapsing onto the ground. He turned back, but the house was silent, its windows dark. Tae was gone.

“No,” Jungkook whispered, his fists clenching. “I’ll come back for you, Tae. I swear.”

---

Inside the Manor

Tae stood alone in the piano room, his heart heavy but resolute. Elias smirked, gesturing to the piano.

“Your turn,” he said. “Play for me.”

Tae’s hands curled into fists. “I won’t let you win.”

Elias chuckled. “Oh, you’ll play. They always do.”

As the shadows closed in around him, Tae sat at the piano, determination burning in his eyes. If he was going to be trapped, he would find a way to fight back. For Jungkook. For their future.

---

To Be Continued...