The Forgotten Manor

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.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***