It had been roughly three in the morning by the time you had got back and you slept in till half ten considering your schedule was clear the next day. Taehyung had gone back to his own place that he said he rented in the city, which he had told you wasn't far from the morgue. 

Face first smothered into your warm pillow you woke up by the sound of your phone ringing on your nightstand. Reaching out a drunken like hand you patted the surface upon which it vibrated and peeled your eyes open to look at the screen.

The caller ID was from Rosé. You tapped the screen accepted the call.

"Hmhmm," you greeted sleepily. 

"What a lovely greeting. Are you still in bed!? That's not like you (Y/n)," came her scold yet in a chipper voice.

"Hmhm," you mumbled again letting your eyes fall back shut. 

"Well you must have gotten back pretty late then judging by your enthusiastic responses. Anyway, I called to tell you something that's been on my mind since I saw you yesterday." Her tone lost its liveliness which had you sitting up begrudgingly. 

"Shoot."

"Ok, I know this may sound a little...Odd and maybe a bit trivial but I've not been able to shake off the feeling I got from that guy you came into the coffee house with yesterday." Your brows furrowed in confusion. 

"Rosé? Are you alright? What do you mean by that. I wouldn't consider this trivial if you're calling me because of it, even if it is just a feeling you have."

 "Do you work with him?" She quizzed, her voice having a slight wobble to it if you listened close enough. Something about Taehyung must have spooked her. Sure, you knew he was a bit strange but what had he done to cause Rosé worry over him like this? "He...He had an air around him that was sending me all kinds of bad vibes. I'm sorry...I-I know this is silly of me but I really just wanted to let you know how he made me feel." She let out a nervous chuckle. "I don't know why I'm acting up so much about this, I barely even spoke to him...Just...Please be careful, (Y/n)."

"I understand Rosé. Its not trivial to call me for something that has you so concerned. Don't worry I've been keeping my eye on him when he's with me anyway. His name's Taehyung, he's my work partner," you tried to console her.

"Ok..."

You continued to chat with her for a bit, saying that the two of you needed to catch up and take a day off work some time before saying good bye to her. 

As you hung up you took the time to survey the your room which you were deciding was pretty drab and dull looking, due to never having the time to actually do it up and decorate. Of course, you had objects, plushies and trinkets you had collected over the years but you felt that you needed to spruce it up a little. A few house plants or flowers to start off with maybe, and perhaps some new wall paper you were thinking while basking in the warmth of your covers for a few more minutes. You guessed you would take Jisoo up on that offer to go shopping with her soon she had spoken about the other day. 

With a groan you crawled out of the covers towards the bathroom hesitating for a moment.

Although you had dealt with the so called 'aka manto' you were now nervous just to go into any bathroom and use the toilet...But you really needed to pee. "Its fine. After this I just won't ever drink anything again so I won't need to go," you lightly joked to yourself.

Your limbs felt achy and stiff from digging the night before. Digging up a grave was no easy task. Hopefully a warm shower would remedy that. 

While in the shower that soothed the ache in your muscles you wiped your hand down your arm to your wrist expecting your fingers to meet the iron bracelet. You then recalled that you had broken it the night before when you threw it at the spirit as a sudden reflex. You strangely felt bare like your wrist was missing an important appendage. It had merely been an iron bracelet, you could easily get another. Who knew a bit of iron wrapped around your wrist could make you feel safe?

The talisman was also something you found yourself depending on a lot, sometimes even for emotional support rather than keeping you safe from the most malevolent spirits. Although it didn't have the same effect as iron did on ghosts and dead essences, it could force spirits from another host's body and it would pulse when an unusually powerful spiritual energy was nearby, so that didn't include your usual ghost or apparition. The weaker the spirit the less useful the talisman, but the stronger the spirit, the more useful it would be. 

As you stepped out paranoia hit you like a cold wind and made you halt in your movements. You then shook your head at yourself for being silly about it.

No stop it. There isn't going to be any writing on the mirror. You're fine.

You turned your head towards the mirror and sure enough, there was nothing written on it. Your shoulder's slumped in relief. Honestly, you weren't sure where that sudden fear had come from. Once you were out of the bathroom you made your bed deftly brushing down the creases and crinkles, threw on some clothes, neatened up your bed hair and made sure to grab your talisman and phone before leaving. 

When you had finally left your room you hadn't expected to find Yugyeom in the corridor near the lobby with his arms crossed staring out of the window- or at the window in this case because on the left side there was a medium sized shattered star like hole through it, welcoming the cold wind, tiny flecks of outside debris and crumpled leaves from the tree that stood outside nearby.

You looked at the broken window with a frown.

"What happened here?" Your voice seemed louder against the high hallway walls.

"No idea..." Yugyeom replied, nudging some of the glass on the ground with his foot. "Some kids messing about is my first guess. But I've never seen any kids playing around here..." 

You had't seen the boy for a while and you almost missed him. You sent him a smile in which he returned.

"Annoying," he said with a shake of his head at the glass that crunched under his shoes. "I heard you got back late last night."

"Yeah. We had to go back after dark for the spirit to appear. How's things been for you?" You asked. 

"Wait, we?" He questioned suddenly intrigued.

You nodded. "Yeah, Taehyung and I."

"Isn't he the undertaker's assistant at the morgue? I found it strange when he joined the P.I.A. He seems a bit of a weirdo to me." Yugyeom said snidely. You nudged him. 

"Hey, be nice." 

"Yes mother," he grumbled with a cheeky smile. You shot him a playful glare, before sighing. 

"I'll clean this up," you said. 

"Oh are you sure?" 

You nodded your head while waving him off.

"Yes, go I'm sure that you're busy. I'm free today so its the least I could do."

"Thanks, (Y/n). You're the best!"

"Yes, yes I am."

He grinned at you before turning and leaving down the hall, disappearing from sight as he went down the stairs.

You went to fetch a dustpan and brush and you started to sweep up the shattered glass. Oblivious to the new arrival that had yet to make themselves known to you as you swept. It took you a moment to realise they were there. 

"Oh! Jungkook. How long have you been there?" You greeted.

You were slightly taken aback by the hollowness in his eyes blinking as it vanished when he looked up at your face, like you had imagined it. 

Instead of answering his eyes flitted down to the scattered glass that littered the floor. He continued to look at you from where he stood, completely in a daze until he spoke. 

"Noona, don't hurt yourself," he said regrettably, eyeing the shards of glass. 

"It's fine Kook, I won't," you responded, bending back down. Although the words had just come out of your mouth, you went to pluck a larger piece of glass up with your bare hand, causing Jungkook to react rapidly. 

"I said don't!" He suddenly snapped causing you to flinch back in surprise, his voice bouncing on the walls. 

His eyes widened realising his mistake and immediately shrank back in guilt.

"I-I'm sorry, Noona. I didn't mean to-"

In your slightly stunned state from his little outburst you tried to string your words together. "Its...Its ok Jungkook. Have you been feeling alright recently?" You asked, brows knitted in concern. "Have your sessions with Jisoo been going well?" You worried over his mental state.

He grew quiet, a firm line sealing his lips together. 

"You've been avoiding me, haven't you?" His question had you taken aback. "Have I done something to upset you?" 

"Of course not Jungkook," you comforted gently, shaking your head and raising a hand to touch his shoulder. 

"Oh, good then," he said relieved with a small smile, all the minacious atmosphere that had hung around him disappearing.  

With the sudden change in attitude, you felt suspicion rise within you. Had he been trying to guilt trip you just now, or was he genuinely concerned that you hadn't spent time with him?

The loud doorbell of the main entrance rang drawing both of your attentions to it. You and Jungkook shared a glance before getting up and making your way to the foyer, tossing the glass pieces in the trash before moving through the lobby to the main entrance of the building, Jungkook always remaining a few steps behind like a shadow.  

Upon opening one of the doors you were surprised to see three people, what looked to be a mother, father and daughter all looking at you expectantly. 

"Can I help you?" You asked calmly. 

It was the Manoban family that had paid the P.I.A a visit. 

You had invited them in, and sat them down on the chaise lounge opposite your own in the lobby, Jungkook lingering beside you. 

The family shared the same dark brown hair except their little girl Lisa whose hair was considerably darker and long with gentle waves. She clung to her mother, peaking out from her arm at you. She wore a yellow polka dotted dress and a child's size denim jacket on top.

"Our little Lisa here has been seeing things in the house. She's been having terrible night terrors and its effecting her social abilities with the people at her school. She's abnormally shy with the adults," Mrs Manoban explained looking fondly down at her daughter. 

"We don't know whether its all in her head, as if she may have schizophrenia or if what she is experiencing is actually real. We weren't sure what else to do. We heard about what you guys do and we decided to give you a shot," the father confessed, concern etched into the creases on his forehead and in his eyes.

"What is it exactly that she says she's seeing?" You asked, glancing between the family.

The parents shared a glance. "She calls it 'the shadow man'." Mr Manoban said warily. You nodded, resting your gaze on the four year old. 

"Do you mind if I speak to her alone? Understand what she's seeing? I'm a therapist so I can run a rough diagnosis over her in my office if that's alright?" 

"Yes, please. She'll probably be very shy though so you may not get much from her," the father added. 

You stood up and gave Lisa a friendly smile, holding out your hand. 

"Hi Lisa. Would you like to do some colouring with me. I just want to talk to you for a bit, is that ok?" 

She looked at you cautiously. 

"We won't be long, I promise." 

That seemed to convince her because she then slowly untangled herself from her mother and stepped down from the seat, moving over to you slowly. She took your hand timidly, and let you lead her away from her parents. 

As you reached the door to your office you realised that Jungkook had followed. "Kook, you can go if you want-" you stopped yourself and re-thought your words. "Or, if you want to stay, would you mind waiting out here?"

"Of course, Noona. I'll wait." He beamed at you. 

You smiled uneasily at him, still sceptical about his sudden cheerfulness from earlier. 

You settled Lisa down with some paper and colouring pencils in the chair opposite you, like you had with the slightly older boy Youngjae that other time. It didn't take her any prompting to pick up the pencils and start on a picture. 

"Lisa?"

She didn't reply, too engaged in her drawing. 

"Can I talk to you about the shadow man, in your house?" 

The scratching of the pencil on the paper faltered slightly, her eyes flickering up at you nervously. Hesitantly, she nodded.

"Where does he appear, Lisa?" You asked her gently. This time she spoke, a full reply to your surprise. 

"The shadow man waits for me every night. He lives under my bed and in the wardrobe, and sometimes in the kitchen," she answered quietly.

"What does the Shadow Man look like?"

"Its always too dark to see. He's just a big shadow."

She picked up a different colour, and started scribbling more.

"That's quite scary. But that's why I'm here, Lisa. I'm going to help you get rid of him."

"Can you though? He may touch you, like he does me."

Your brows furrowed. What does she mean by that?

The scritching of the pencil became brisker and more sharp, causing you to feel itchy all over.

"The shadow mans hands pinch and scratch and claw at me. He sometimes uses his nails to scratch at me and his hands wrap around my neck and choke me," she continued while colouring in with a black pencil. A chill ran down your spine. Were you dealing with a poltergeist in this situation? "But sometimes the shadow man pat's me on the head."

"Do you have the feeling your house is haunted?" Lisa sent you an angry pout. 

"He's not a ghost. He's real!" She insisted. 

"Why are you wary of adults, Lisa?" You asked, changing the topic slightly. She didn't reply, the motion of the pencil she held slowing absently, the constant frown staying put on her lips. It was easy to tell when a child was unhappy.  

"I used to be scared of adults too. You've closed yourself off from other's haven't you? That's not good for you, Lisa. That can be very bad for you," you revealed to her softly. Lisa looked up at you in pure puzzlement. 

You worried this experience that was happening in her home would twist her mental state. She was young and her mind could easily be manipulated and influenced. Children soaked things in like a sponge because they were growing and constantly learning. Whatever was haunting her at home could cause her harm not only physically, but mentally as well.

"What do you mean? I'm ok."

No you're not. 

"It may not be effecting you physically, but in here," you pointed to her chest. "Does it feel like it hurts there, sometimes?"

Hesitantly, she nodded.

"That's what happens when you put all these nasty feelings and thoughts into a bottle, and cap it up tightly. Sooner or later, it will shatter. You don't want that to happen." 

You spoke with her a little longer, asking her about her likes and dislikes for things and hobbies, avoiding the topic of shadow men as not to frighten her. Once you felt you had learned enough about her, you lead her back out to the lobby to her parents, not before catching a glimpse of the picture she had drawn that sent a cold chill run through your veins, an unnerving feeling following behind you as her answers lingered throughout your mind. Her parents stood in the lobby expectantly, waiting for their daughter.

"I want to go over the notes I've made today. I'll schedule a house visit tomorrow if that's alright with you?" You told them, watching Lisa go over to her mother and clutch onto her thigh.

"Yes, please do. We'll eagerly await your visit." Mr Manoban said.

"If anything comes up before then, contact me. Record anything you see that you think isn't normal and send it to me."

You wrapped up the rest of the details with her parents before bidding them goodbye and sending them on their way, thinking through the interaction you had with them and your plans for tomorrow. Like usual, you needed to run everything by Shihyuk before you took the case on. 

When you had been talking to Lisa, the door to your office had been open slightly ajar. Jungkook had listened from the doorway, gazing at the two of you fondly. A warm feeling bloomed in his chest and a smile pulled at his lips.

You were so pure, so kind and gentle with the child, however that pureness you emitted- he wanted directed at him. 

The male bit into the soft pink flesh of his bottom lip absentmindedly. 

He wanted to do more things with you. Play games again, talk, laugh, hug, take walks with, hold your hand, cuddle while watching t.v....But were they not things you did with your girlfriend?

Jungkook couldn't deny that he had imagined doing all of these things with you. Even the thought of pressing his lips against your own had crossed his mind...

But she's not my girlfriend...

His teeth broke through the skin of his lip.

.̶.̶.̴y̷e̷t̵.̷

You made your way over to Shihyuk's office to submit the file you had created for the new case surrounding the little girl Lisa. 

Something bothered you about the whole thing though. Lisa hadn't shown the usual symptoms of a schizophrenic, apart from the detail of her wanting to avoid adults, but usually it was everyone you'd want to avoid, not just one particular crowd. She had't had any reduced or disorganised speech either, although she had been a little shy that was perfectly normal in children.

'He's not a ghost. He's real.'

You entered Mr. Bang's office after knocking and presented him with the file. He flicked threw it, adjusting his glasses frequently. 

A frown fell on your lips as you took in Bang's appearance. His complexion was pale and dull, and his lids drooped more than usual and you could hear his joints clicking each time he moved as if he hadn't gotten up and walked round in a while.

"You seem, a little stressed...Is there anything I can help you with, sir?" You asked.

He glanced up at you and sent you a weak smile.

"I know what you're thinking, (Y/n). I've just not been getting much sleep lately, thats all. Don't worry about me. And yes, there is in fact. I have a list of books I wanted to collect, would you be able to do that for me?" 

"Of course. Just from the local book shop?" You piped up. 

"Yes. Thank you, (Y/n). How have you been feeling?" He asked rebounding your earlier question, handing you back your file. You felt like that was all people asked you recently...

"Fine thank you. There's no need to worry I haven't been chasing cases I'm not meant too. You can rest easy," you told him with a knowing smile. 

He tried to return the expression but instead took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. 

"I wish I could," he muttered, looking back at you drowsily. "Go on, I'm sure you have better things to do than talk to an old man."

"Not really," you shrugged, then stopped, remembering that Jungkook was most probably still waiting. "Ah actually-"

"I thought so," he chuckled. "Go on with you."

Leaving the office, you almost ran straight into Jungkook's chest as he had been standing right outside the door.

You hadn't expected him to wait for you in that spot. He seemed persistent to stay around you today.

"C-can I...Can I come with you? I promise not to get in the way! I just..." He must have over heard your conversation with Shihyuk. 

"Jungkook-" you started.

"Seokjin Hyung accompanied you the other day! It's only fair!" he pushed on cutting you off.

"I really shouldn't..."

"Please!" The desperation in his voice was clear.

You let out a heavy sigh. "Alright. Just this once, but you have to listen to everything I say, understood?"

He nodded eagerly.

You sent him a pointed look that had him ducking his head away from your gaze shyly. "Promise?"

He looked up and his cheeks immediately lit up with a pink hue. You were holding out your pinky finger, waiting for him to interlock his own with yours. 

How,

cute.

He obliged, and linked your fingers in a promise, not forgetting to add the thumb lock.

You sighed once more. You just hoped you wouldn't regret this. Dropping your hand from his you caught sight of a reddish blotch on the side of his bottom lip. Without thinking you went into a sort of mother hen mode and raised your hand up with a small gasp.

"Ah what did you do to your lip!?" 

Too far into your worry you didn't realise your actions of pulling the skin below his lip ever so slightly to see the damage of the red area more clearly. 

Jungkook froze as his skin tingled on the areas you traced with your thumb, with pressure lighter than a feather. A euphoric feeling settling over him. That was until you finally realised what you were doing.

"O-oh sorry," you apologised bashfully, pulling your hand away from his face. 

"Don't worry Noona, it doesn't hurt," he promised, the look in his eyes a melted chocolate, warm with endearment as he gazed at you. "I accidentally bit it."

"Do you want some antiseptic cream to put on it?" 

Jungkook cringed at the thought. "No no, I'm ok don't worry," he said waving his hands in front of him, simply overjoyed with the concern you had for him. 

The distance to the book shop was walk-able, so you had set off with Jungkook through the streets and pathways to your destination. With a lot of coaxing from Jungkook, he ended up convincing you to hold his hand on the way there. He'd insisted that it was because he didn't want your hands to get cold as the weather was a little chilly. You weren't sure how you felt about holding Jungkook's hand. You began to worry if he was starting to depend on you a little too much. 

It that what you think it is? Dependence? 

You hadn't thought anything of it when you had held his hand back at the facility. There it was a more subtle friendship/patient relationship, but outside with people watching, it felt like something else. It was something that your weren't entirely comfortable with. So you told yourself that Jungkook was still your patient and that it kept him at ease. You let it happen, although slightly unwillingly. 

You arrived at the book shop within under thirty minutes of walking, all the way with Jungkook's hand linked with your own. Your eyes scanned the list as you went to the right towards the non-fiction section of the shop.

The old smell of books and dust hit your sense of smell, the air slightly tea-scented and the area quiet save for the odd flick of a page or sigh. It was calming.  Although you now had access to kindles, phones and laptops to read things on, you couldn't help but hang onto the pleasure of picking up a physical book once in a while, being able to turn the thin pages and feel it in your hands. 

You were finally able to slip your hand from Jungkook's grasp as you made your way around the shelves, picking out the books from the list. You folded the paper over the books you collected and handed over to Jungkook to carry, the latter more than happy to help as it was you who he was assisting. 

'The Apocalypse', 'Demonology', 'The Nature of Spirit Orbs', 'Will O' the Wisps', 'Omens'- 

and the list went on. You just hoped the person at the cash desk didn't look at you like you were a total nutcase. 

You continued your search, all the while unknowingly being watched by a sharp pair of eyes...

Books were his way of drowning out his surrounding and calming the ever stormy deep sea that was his mind. He regularly sought out reading material when he felt his mind was becoming too much of a shit storm and he needed something to entertain it for a while. Reading books kept his mind busy. 

However he didn't expect this... 

How unlikely was this situation? To see the one he was hunting, stroll obliviously into the same book shop he currently sat in. He had ended up doing a double take at the girl who moved towards the non-fiction section not being able to hide his surprise at your sudden appearance. 

He had been watching (stalking) you from a distance, biding his time and being so careful, yet here you were, so, so close to him. You were the fisherman, dangling the bait right in front of him waiting patiently for him to take a nibble. However unbeknownst to you, he was no fish. He was a shark that would destroy your little fishing boat leaving you completely at his mercy in the open water. 

However you weren't alone. You had some boy with you. Namjoon watched you as one would study a piece of art, almost forgetting the reason he was following you. No- no of course he hadn't forgotten.

The man didn't let go of his grudges easily. 

Instead of acting, Namjoon sat there silently, content with just observing you at this dangerous distance, for the time being. Feeling a sick sort of humour rise within him with how at any point, he could lunge and go in for the kill...

After acquiring the specified books on the list, you and Jungkook headed back to the facility via cab, chatting to Jungkook quietly about how he was getting on with his rehabilitation. He seemed more than happy to give you truthful answers and to be speaking with you. You told him that if he ever needed anything not to hesitate to come to you. He had looked at you adoringly, something you had passed off as gratefulness. 

When bringing Jungkook back to his room after you had dropped off the books in Mr. Bang's office, the young man had stated that he wanted to accompany you tomorrow when you visit the Manoban's household as well. With a lot of nagging you had agreed, but only because of the puppy dog eyes the boy had given you, and the way his hand had tightened around your own in desperation. 

Walking back up to your own room after dinner, satisfied with the warm meal in your stomach you opened your door. Upon entering you stepped in, immediately noticing something out of place. 

You could have sworn that you had made your bed sheets that morning, but as you walked up to your bed now, you noticed new crinkles on the sheets in the form of a shallow dip...

as if someone had recently been lying there.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to JK!

And one other HAPPY BIRTHDAY to  VictoriousBangtan !! Hope you have an amazing day! :) -Rikki

UNEDITED 

Sept. 01. 2020