The Forgotten Manor: Part 3

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...

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