The Forgotten Manor: Part 5

The Forgotten Manor: Part 5

A week passed since the destruction of the manor, and Tae and Jungkook were trying to return to their normal lives. But the eerie memory of what they had faced lingered, and Tae couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right.

Late one night, Jungkook was fast asleep in their shared apartment when Tae woke up to a familiar sound. It was faint, but unmistakable—the soft, haunting melody of a piano.

His heart sank. The manor was gone, destroyed right before their eyes. Yet the music was real, echoing through the stillness of the night.

Tae sat up in bed, his breathing shallow. He turned to Jungkook, who was sound asleep. “Kook?” he whispered, shaking him gently.

Jungkook groaned, opening his eyes. “What is it, Tae?”

“Do you hear that?” Tae asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Jungkook sat up, his brows furrowing. Then he froze. The melody was faint but growing louder, as if it were coming from just outside their window.

“Tae,” Jungkook said, his voice trembling. “It’s the same song.”

They exchanged a terrified glance before Tae got out of bed and slowly approached the window. He pulled the curtain aside, his heart pounding.

Outside, the street was empty, bathed in the pale glow of the moon. But just beyond the faint glow of the streetlamp, a figure stood—a man in old-fashioned clothing, his face hidden in shadow.

“Tae… who is that?” Jungkook asked, his voice shaking.

“I don’t know,” Tae whispered. But deep down, he had a sinking feeling he did.

The figure raised a hand, pointing directly at their window. The melody grew louder, more urgent, as if calling to them.

“Tae, we can’t stay here,” Jungkook said, grabbing his arm.

Tae nodded, but before they could move, the lights in the apartment flickered and went out. The music now echoed through the room, filling every corner with its haunting tune.

“Tae…” Jungkook whispered, clutching him tightly.

The air grew cold, and shadows began to gather in the corners of the room, twisting and writhing. The figure outside was gone, but the music continued, growing louder and louder.

Suddenly, the piano from the manor appeared in the center of their room, its keys gleaming unnaturally in the darkness.

“No,” Tae whispered, shaking his head. “This can’t be happening.”

Jungkook grabbed his hand. “We destroyed it. We destroyed everything.”

The piano’s lid creaked open on its own, and the keys began to play themselves, the melody accelerating into a frantic, chaotic tune. The shadows grew thicker, encircling them.

“Tae,” Jungkook said, his voice trembling, “what do we do?”

Tae took a deep breath, his mind racing. “It’s not over. The curse… it followed us.”

“Then how do we stop it?”

Tae looked at the piano, his heart pounding. “We have to finish it. Again.”

“What if it doesn’t work this time?” Jungkook asked, panic creeping into his voice.

Tae turned to him, his eyes filled with determination. “Then we fight. Together.”

They approached the piano, the shadows closing in around them. Tae sat down, his fingers trembling as he placed them on the keys. Jungkook sat beside him, his hands resting on Tae’s.

“Ready?” Tae asked.

Jungkook nodded. “Always.”

Together, they began to play, their music weaving through the oppressive darkness. The shadows writhed and screamed, their forms flickering like dying flames.

But the music from the piano fought back, its notes clashing with theirs in a chaotic battle. The room shook, the air filled with the deafening sound of both melodies fighting for dominance.

“Tae, it’s not working!” Jungkook shouted over the noise.

Tae gritted his teeth. “We have to play louder. Stronger. Don’t stop!”

As they poured their hearts into the music, a blinding light erupted from the piano, illuminating the room. The shadows shrieked and dissolved, and the melody from the cursed piano faltered, then stopped entirely.

The light grew brighter, enveloping everything around them. Tae and Jungkook shielded their eyes, and for a moment, there was nothing but silence.

When they opened their eyes, the room was back to normal. The piano was gone, and the oppressive cold had lifted.

“Is it over?” Jungkook asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Tae nodded, though doubt lingered in his heart. “I think so.”

But as they sat in the quiet, a faint, ghostly whisper reached their ears:

“You can’t escape the music.”

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To Be Continued........

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