The Forgotten Manor: Part 4

The Forgotten Manor: Part 4

Tae’s fingers hovered over the piano keys, his heart pounding as Elias loomed behind him. The room was suffocating, alive with dark energy, the shadows twisting and murmuring in a language Tae couldn’t understand.

“You think you can resist me?” Elias said, his tone dripping with mockery. “You’re mine now. Play.”

Tae’s jaw tightened. “If I’m going to be trapped here, I’ll fight until my last breath.”

Elias chuckled. “Fight all you want. The house always wins.”

Tae pressed a key, and the sound reverberated through the room like a ripple in still water. The shadows stirred, reacting to the single note. He played another, then another, until a haunting melody began to form.

But this time, it wasn’t Elias’s music. It was a song Tae had written with Jungkook—one they used to sing together during their carefree days. The melody was soft yet defiant, a reminder of the bond they shared.

Elias’s grin faltered. “What are you doing?”

Tae didn’t answer. He closed his eyes, pouring every ounce of his love and determination into the music. The shadows recoiled, their whispers turning into screams. The room trembled, the walls cracking as the melody grew stronger.

“No!” Elias roared, slamming his hands on the piano. “You can’t defy me!”

Tae’s eyes snapped open, filled with fire. “Watch me.”

The piano glowed faintly, the keys vibrating under Tae’s touch. The song seemed to reach beyond the manor, cutting through the darkness like a beam of light.

---

Outside the Manor

Jungkook sat on the ground, staring at the house with tear-filled eyes. “I can’t leave you, Tae. I won’t.”

Suddenly, a faint melody reached his ears. His heart skipped a beat. It was their song.

“Tae…” Jungkook whispered, his resolve hardening. He stood and ran back toward the manor, ignoring the fear clawing at his chest.

As he stepped inside, the house seemed to resist him, the walls groaning and shifting. But the melody grew louder, guiding him toward the piano room.

---

Back in the Room

Elias was losing his composure, his form flickering like a dying flame. “You can’t break the curse! The house won’t let you!”

Tae’s fingers flew over the keys, his determination unwavering. “This house doesn’t own me. It doesn’t own us.”

The door burst open, and Jungkook stumbled inside, his eyes locking with Tae’s. “Tae!”

Tae looked up, relief flooding his face. “Jungkook! I told you to leave!”

“I’m not leaving without you,” Jungkook said, running to his side.

Elias let out an inhuman scream, his body contorting as he lunged at Jungkook. “You shouldn’t be here!”

But before Elias could reach him, Tae slammed his hands on the keys, playing the final chord of their song.

The room erupted in light, the shadows disintegrating into nothingness. Elias let out a final, blood-curdling scream as his body dissolved into ash. The house shuddered violently, the walls cracking and crumbling.

“Tae, let’s go!” Jungkook shouted, grabbing his hand.

They ran through the collapsing halls, dodging falling debris and escaping just as the manor imploded, vanishing into the ground.

---

Outside

Tae and Jungkook collapsed onto the grass, gasping for air. The manor was gone, leaving only an empty clearing behind.

Jungkook turned to Tae, his hands trembling as he cupped his face. “You’re okay. You’re really okay.”

Tae smiled weakly, resting his forehead against Jungkook’s. “Thanks to you.”

Jungkook’s eyes glistened with tears. “I thought I lost you.”

“You never will,” Tae whispered.

They sat there, holding each other as the first rays of dawn broke through the sky. The nightmare was over, but their bond was stronger than ever—a testament to their love and resilience.

As they walked back to town, hand in hand, neither noticed the faint echo of a piano melody lingering in the air, a reminder that some things never truly disappear.

---

The End… or Is It?

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