Don't trust them.
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Trace of squirrel paws on the snow continued to a big tree covered in the white drizzle of snow. The sky was a blur as it was wrapped in a dense foggy atmosphere. You could feel the cold creeping into your skin, freezing every muscle and bone.

Some desperate little birds were shaking in their nests waiting for their parents to bring them some food. A crooked bell was hanging out at the end of the branch of the old apple tree that was dead, waiting for spring to come back to life again.

I wondered how these trees didn't get tired of dying and coming back to life constantly. Maybe they weren't dead. Maybe they were just haunted. Lonely. Maybe they've just lost their souls throughout the winter. Maybe the cold was plaguing them. Keeping them as prisoners to celebrate the power of God. Killing them to warn them of who's in charge after all.

Heh, God. I didn't believe in God. I felt better without believing in made-up creatures. I was just like the trees. Empty, deserted, and alone. My mind was frozen and nothing was on it anymore. Maybe Mom was right. I was just a witch who was always the cause of trouble, and bad fortune. Maybe I was really cursed as she always said.

She used to plant green persimmon for good luck. She said it was worthwhile. I didn't believe in it much but I found it sweet. I would spend a lot of time watching her planting that persimmon. She looked so determined.

Weirdly, I don't resent her. She had abused me over and over again, but I couldn't hate her. She was just sick. Sometimes she was nice tho. Like when she offered to make muffins together. I sprinkled chocolate chips on it. We had a good laugh and of course a hell out of a mess for Dad to clean up.

She used to sing me this creepy lullaby. Choppy choppy chop the killer, sleep little girl make them shiver, go to your bed waiting for the beast, you have to sleep before he screams.

Scary but I didn't think it was scary when I was just a little kid. She snuggled me up into the bed while singing it repeatedly.

I grew up to keep her secret. I didn't want them to take her away from me. I was manipulated as they said. Deiji would beg me to stay away from her. To tell the truth to the doctors so they can help me or her. But I was just protecting her. I was obsessed with her. She made me that way. Independent, unhappy, lost...

I saw a small hut just a few meters away from the house. Vapor coming out of its chimney showed that someone was living there. An old-looking hut with a Christmas tree on the porch. The lantern hanging from the ceiling of the porch was blinking on and off due to the slight blizzard shaking it. Was it the janitor? Jimin said we're alone here. But I was sure someone was there.

"You'll catch a cold," Jimin said as he approached me, a mug of hot tea in his hand. He gave it to me.

I took the mug wrapping my frozen fingers around it, feeling the pleasant warmth of it injecting in little by little, "Thanks."

Jimin: "I'm sorry we didn't tell you. I hope you understand why." He uttered, gazing at me to see my reaction.

I looked at my boots that were halfway through the snow and with every little move it caused a crunchy sound. I guess I was trying to understand them. It was hard to be okay with all of this situation but did I have a choice?

"It's just hard to know something new about yourself every day. I feel like a stranger to myself."

He rubbed his red nose, giving me a sympathetic look, "I know and I wish I could do something about it."

I faced him, "You can be less secretive from now on. I fucking found out I was Jungkook's girlfriend last night just out of the blue. I don't even know the whole story because you don't tell me. I mean, I get it, you don't want to tell me anything on behalf of Jungkook but can you imagine how painful it is for me to be in this situation? I am in danger of being murdered by some unknown people. I was arrested and humiliated by the police in charge of something I don't even remember. I was mocked by the prosecutor in the court because he didn't believe I had no idea of having a husband. Do you know how I felt when everyone was talking about my life when I was just standing there like a freaking stupid girl?" I got closer to his face, my hands were shaking from anger, I looked into his eyes wildly, "Do you Jimin?"

He stayed silent, his eyes were a little wet. I breathed out turning away. Walking towards the house I tried to calm down but for fuck's sake, I couldn't. Jimin called me many times but I just ignored him. Slamming the door, I entered the house and a warm breeze welcomed my icy skin. Taehyung was making lunch in the kitchen. The smell of kimchi stew pleased my nose but I was way too mad to be sitting there eating food with them.

He noticed my presence when I took out my boots, throwing them on the floor furiously. He was monitoring me with his eyes but didn't dare to say something. I was on the verge of yelling and then breaking his jaw. Before he could approach me I headed upstairs, leaving him behind. I could feel the sadness emitting from his eyes but fuck those beautiful eyes of him, I needed to be alone.

Closing the door, I took out my coat, laying back on the bed. What a great day! I thought all of the secrets were unraveled but in my dreams! Now I even was mad at Jungkook. I felt betrayed by him. How could he not tell me about our relationship back then? How could he look into my eyes and lie to me? I thought at least he was fully honest with me all this time. I truly loved him as my best friend. I thought he was the only one who understood me.

I heard Taehyung yelling from downstairs, telling me, he and Jimin wanted to go bring some firewoods, and then when they'd be back, we were gonna eat lunch. The front door closed with a loud click and I was feeling a bit calmer. I needed some time alone, without anyone else to be around me. I needed to sort out my thoughts.

Sunghoon's mysterious box came to my mind again. I guess my every answer depended on that fucking key. I had to find out where the key belonged to. My mind was occupied by nothing on the other hand. I was like a dead body moving around.

I didn't bother to call Deiji or Uncle Haeyoon. I didn't even know where my phone was. I didn't care. Talking to them would only make me madder about the whole thing. They were like strangers to me now.

The creaking sound from the door of the room that I was in, heralded of someone's entry. I was annoyed by it and without opening my eyes, I claimed, "I don't wanna talk to any of you. Just fucking leave me alone for a few minutes."

Ugh, couldn't they just not bother me for a while? Was it so hard? Was I asking for too much? Weren't they supposed to bring some firewoods? So fast! They were back so soon.

I clearly could hear the sound of breathing and feeling a long gaze at me, "Okay, for how long  you're gonna stay there looking at me?"

No answer. I shivered, thinking about how I heard the door closed after Taehyung went out and nobody was in the house after that. How did they come in without any sound?

Immediately I opened my eyes and sat up on the bed. The door was wide open but nobody was there. The fear clutched to my heart, taking over my body. I was sure I closed the door. Getting off the bed slowly, I walked to the door, "Taehyung?"

Complete silence again. I was sure I heard someone opening the door of my room. I clearly felt someone was staring at me and even I heard their breathing. Was I out of my mind? Shudders through my body I decided to search the house. Insane idea but I didn't want to show weakness.

Walking through the hallway between the rooms, the only sound I could hear was wind howling and fireplaces crackling. Opening Taehyung's room I called him again but nobody was there. I entered his room and looked around but nothing out of ordinary.

His hoodie was laid on the bed, pair of socks, and a bottle of wine next to the nightstand. A big frame of an unknown landscape was hanging on the wall and the room was gloomy due to the thick curtain that was blocking the light.

I closed the door and passed the scary corner of the hallway which was so dark and reached the end of the hall where Jimin's room was located.

The door was opened already and one of the windows was wide open, a heavy wind coming inside. I immediately went in to close the window and looked down the window which was the back of the house, and you couldn't see so far since there were so many trees and bushes covered in snow.

Nobody was there. Did Jimin forget to close the window? But why would he open it in the first place? It was mad cold and I was sure he wouldn't just open the window and leave it like that. The fear was rising in my chest again at the thought of someone being in the house. I should have told them about it. We weren't safe in here, were we?

But what if they think I'm crazy? My mind was pushing me back and forth between telling them or staying silent. I wished it was a hallucination but my instinct was telling me that just happened. Somebody was there. I was too scared to just consider it a hallucination. What if someone other than the three of us knew about this place?

I was so lost in my thoughts that when Taehyung called me I almost fell down but he rushed to me, "You okay?"

I bursted out crying out like a little girl who just had been left out. His expressions became worried while sitting me down on the bed. He kneeled in front of me to be at my level. Grabbing my hand he kissed it softly, "What's wrong? Did something happen?"

I couldn't stop crying. As much as I hated to be weak in front of him but I needed to carry the weight off my shoulders. I just needed to cry until I get tired of crying. Like the times when mom would treat me like shit and my dad was always there to hold me in his arms and comfort me.

Taehyung sat next to me, engulfing me in his embrace. He held me tightly as if he would lose me at any time. I wrapped my arms around his waist while resting my head on his chest. I could clearly hear his loud heartbeats. He kept kissing me here and there until I didn't have any tears left to cry.

Taehyung: "Do you want to go sledding at night? Just me and you?" He asked suddenly while wiping my tears with the back of his hand.

I pulled out of the hug and gave him a curious look, "Sledding?"

****

The frozen lake patronized by the silver moonlight, cold weather slithering on my face, I looked over to see Taehyung was getting ready for sledding. I thought about it and I decided to get my mind off all of the incidents that happened recently. Spending some time with my handsome weird husband in an unknown village by the lake next to my dead brother-in-law's house murdered by God knows who, was the best idea I could come up with.

It could be worse was my best assumption to comfort myself with. Still, my mind was inhabited by a lot of things. The box Sunghoon left, the presence I felt earlier in the house, the odd feeling of being watched all the time. Was I possessed or something?

Half of Taehyung's face lightened up by the moon, showing off his perfectly shaped jaw. He made a knot with the rope on the end of the sleigh to make sure it wasn't going to loosen up and get me killed on the river.

I picked up the Brandy and gulped down some of it. My stomach churned out as the liquid slipped down my throat, burning all the way. He would gaze at me from time to time, checking if I was still there or not. He couldn't believe I agreed to come with him. I mean, I was still mad at him but I was way too overwhelmed to refute this.

Taehyung: "Ok, it's ready now." He dusted off his coat from the snow, walking up to me.

I pressed my lips in a thin line, shoving my hands into my pockets to warm them up, "Should we go together?"

His orbs lingering on my face, he breathed out on his frozen fingers, "If you want to."

I jolted up, putting down the now half-filled bottle. Taking his hand I demanded him to come. He followed me like a puppy and after I positioned myself on the sleigh, signaled him to come and sit at my back. There was a little space left but he just sat a little uncomfortably so he wouldn't have to make me lean on him. I rolled my eyes sardonically, pushing him further.

Now my back was pressed on his chest and his legs were crossed around me. I leaned back and when I turned to face him my nose almost touch his chin. He seemed a little shocked.

"What? Is it your first time touching me?" I frowned my eyebrows, taking his hands and wrapping them around my waist. The Brandy was doing its job after all!

He paused a little bit and I could feel his pierced gaze on me before pulling the brake thingy and we skimmed on the ice easily.

Butterfly feeling in my stomach because of the ups and downs, cold wind on my face contrasting to the warm breath of Taehyung on my neck, I felt free. After a long long time, I enjoyed the moment. A chuckle left my throat and my grip tightened on Taehyung's arms when we slipped off a short mound of snow.

He held me tighter and I continued to laugh loudly this time, "Omg, this is so good." I yelled out.

Looking back, I saw his face adorned with his boxy smile as his eyes were glazing. He was too handsome. I smiled genuinely, rubbing my runny nose due to the cold weather. He chuckled seeing me like that and kissed my head.

After many times sledding, we finally gave up and settled on the tip of the shortest hill. The moon gleamed upon us, the clouds were seeping into the darkness of the winter sky. I covered my nose with my gloves to prevent the cold breeze. Taehyung was deep in thoughts, drawing incoherent shapes on the snow.

"What was it like?"I deadpanned, not looking at him.

He turned in my direction, giving me a questioning look, "What?"

I brushed my hair off my forehead, shifting in my place, "After the accident, when I couldn't remember you anymore."

His lips pressed against each other for a moment, I saw the trail of sadness in his gaze before he took a deep breath, "I was disappointed."

He rubbed his face, avoiding my eyes, and continued, "We were happy, Dallia. You loved me. We adored each other. Of course we had our own ups and downs but eventually, everything would be solved by talking about it." He stared into an unknown spot in the sky as if he was doused in the past memories, "You became more and more distressed just a few months before Sunghoon's death. I did everything I could, maybe it wasn't enough but you seemed terrified. I thought your mother was bothering you again. I thought she was manipulating you again but the more I searched the less I had any idea of what was going on with you."

"What happened after the murder?"

Taehyung: "You were devastated. You didn't even talk to me or anybody else. When we first visited a therapist, they said you were deeply traumatized. You were already struggling with depression and anxiety even before my brother's murder. It even caused you to lose your connection with reality in some parts. You were just like a lifeless body. I was going crazy. I didn't know what happened that day nor who was my brother's murderer. I was destroyed Dallia." I could hear his voice was getting shaky but I didn't say anything so he could continue. I really needed to know everything and he needed to get things off his shoulder too.

Taehyung: "They took you away from me. I didn't want to. I even begged them but everybody including your mom was insisting that being in a mental facility would help you to recover and also Sunghoon's case was still going on at some point and the police despite me bribing them might've got you in prison for murder. Your mother said we should turn the attention away from you."

So that was when they got me in the asylum!

He gulped, licking his dry lips, "I didn't like the idea. You were there for a few weeks but they didn't even let me see you. You didn't seem to be any better there. I didn't trust your mother. After discussing it with your dad, he decided that we should take you out of that shitty place and get you to Busan where you can be away from everything and heal. I-" he paused looking deeply into my eyes, "That was when you had that accident. I should have come with you. I shouldn't have let you go."

His tears fell down on his smooth skin, his voice was full of regret and sorrow, "I'm so sorry, Dallia. I know what you think of me. That I'm an asshole who just left you after the accident but just know that everything I did was to help you. I can never hurt you or be the cause of your misery but I guess I am."

His shoulders shaking, he covered his mouth to prevent the sob coming out of his throat. My heart clenched at the sight of seeing him in so much pain. He breathed deeply before looking at me with his red eyes again, "Your dad said It's better for me to stay away from you because you might get triggered by being around me due to Sunghoon's death. I didn't want to agree but you know how stubborn your dad was." He chuckled between his crying.

I smiled, nodding in approval, "Damn, he was."

Taehyung: "After the accident, you lost your memory. Before visiting you in your room in the hospital, your Dr told me I should expect you to not remember me. I mocked him because I didn't think you wouldn't remember me. That was impossible." He dropped his head, more tears fell down off his face, "But when I got there after you woke up. You just looked at me with absolute emptiness in your eyes. Your eyes were emotionless when you looked at me and I tried to take your hands but-" he was no longer be able to control himself. He sobbed looking away from me. His deep voice broke down, shattering the night silence.

I came closer to him, pulling him into my embrace. He was so vulnerable and fragile. He was shaking but not because of the cold but because he had so much pain in his heart and he was holding it back all these years. After two years of silence, he eventually was facing me. He hugged me tighter when I kissed his forehead, whispering into his ear, "It's okay, Tae. I'm sorry for everything you had to go through." I was crying too, without even knowing it.

Taehyung: "You were scared of me. Your own husband. I didn't want to believe it. I didn't want to witness it. I lost you, Dallia." He cupped my face, his watery eyes pierced on mine, "I was a coward. I ran away from everything. I couldn't stay and see you don't know me anymore. It was a mistake. I left you because I couldn't face the harsh reality. I'm a weak jerk."

I rested my forehead on his, my fingers brushing his night-black hair, he kissed me all over my face, saying he was sorry. I felt so bad for him. For the first time, I wasn't mad at him. He lost me and his brother in just a day. He went through a lot. I never thought he's been carrying so much pain. Maybe because I was too busy thinking about the agony side of my story and not his side.

After a few minutes of crying, he finally calmed down. Glazing at me he stroked my hair gently. I put my head on his shoulder, taking his hand. It was a very cold night but I wasn't cold anymore. I felt warm. At least I knew I wasn't the only one suffering here. Someone truly cared about me. He loved me. I was sure of that. I could feel that from his eyes. I didn't want to ruin the night with feeling suspicious of him. I just wanted to feel loved and taken care of for even a night. Other things could wait, couldn't they? Or maybe not...

I was enjoying the peaceful calmness in his arms but suddenly crunching sounds on the snow could be heard. I turned back to see what was it. Tightening my grip on Taehyung's hand, I warned him, "Taehyung I heard something."

He followed my stare into the dark wood, narrowing his eyes, "Are you sure?"

Gulping down, I nodded. He was about to get up but I tugged him down, "Where the hell do you think you're going? I'm not letting you go. What if it's the killer or some wild-" my sentence remained unfinished as the unknown creature jumped in front of us abruptly and I let out a loud scream.

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3860 Words

A.N: Not a single chapter goes without a cliffhanger, right? 😂

Tell me a scary story you have experienced.

Love,
CreepyProdigy💜