Under Influence [Bonus Chapter: Haunted]
Under Influence
Bonus Chapter: Haunted
a/n: Not edited so sorry for the errors.
12:15 A.M.
Kyungsoo went back inside the house to see Minseok, Baekhyun, and Luhan still sitting on the floor in the middle of the living room with the remaining bottle of rum in the middle.
Kyungsoo sat and joined them on the floor. “Where’s Sehun?”
Luhan pointed at the kitchen’s direction without looking up from his phone. “He’s preparing a pitcher of iced tea.”
“Wow, you guys are not done drinking yet?”
“Nope.” Baekhyun and Luhan answered in unison. Luhan then took out a mini speaker from his bag to connect it to his phone. Baekhyun inhaled dramatically and started singing along with Luhan with Minseok rocking his head to the beat. Luhan and Baekhyun raised their arms then started rocking it back and forth and acted as if they’re inside a club.
Come on baby we can hit the lights
Make the wrongs turn right
We can smash the club, make the pop go rock
With a love this deep, we don't need no sleep
And it feels like we could do this all night
We could do this all night
Yeah, everything is alright
Kyungsoo sighed and looked at Luhan and Baekhyun. His two friends may look feminine on the outside, but they are actually the people in their group who have the highest alcohol tolerance. Kyungsoo remembered when Zitao comically narrated what happened the night when they first went to a club and Chanyeol and Yifan ended up being dragged out of the club and man-slapped by Luhan and Baekhyun because what the two men hate the most are people who are complete assholes when they’re drunk. Kyungsoo remembered laughing at Yifan and Chanyeol’s faces after hearing the story.
His thoughts were interrupted when Sehun sat beside him. Kyungsoo noticed that Sehun is quiet. Sehun is a quiet person, but he’s unusually quiet, like he there is something bothering him.
Kyungsoo lightly nudged Sehun by the elbow. “Hey, are you okay?”
Sehun stared at Kyungsoo for a few seconds before mumbling a ‘no’ and Kyungsoo is sure that Sehun did that on purpose to make sure that he’s the only one who heard it.
Kyungsoo also noticed that Sehun’s hand is slightly shaking. Kyungsoo thinks he knows why Sehun is being like this.
Kyungsoo tapped Sehun’s knee with his index finger. “Let’s talk in the kitchen.” He whispered.
Sehun nodded and stood up. He then Kyungsoo to stand up and they went to the kitchen.
Kyungsoo sat on the countertop while Sehun leaned on it. Kyungsoo then looked up and looked at the window from the master’s bedroom on the second floor. He noticed that Sehun is still quiet so Kyungsoo talked first.
“Did… Did you see it or feel it?”
Sehun sighed and massaged his temples with his middle fingers. “Both.”
“Damn.”
“I know. How about you?”
“Saw it, man.”
They both stayed quiet for a while. None of them know what to say.
Sehun was the one who broke the ice. “Should we tell them?”
Kyungsoo looked at him hesitantly. “I… I don’t know. Maybe we should. They have to know.”
Sehun stared at him for a few seconds then sighed. “Fine.”
“Did you… Did you see a guy? A tall one? Wearing a black outfit from head to toe?”
Sehun chuckled and nodded. “That sounds like Chanyeol, but we both know it’s not him we are talking about.”
Kyungsoo smiled. “Yeah.” He noticed the nervousness in Sehun’s voice even when he smiled a while ago and it’s starting to freak him out. He knows he shouldn’t be scared, but Sehun’s scared. He’s not the type of person who gets scared easily.
“Where did you see it?” Kyungsoo asked hesitantly.
“At the front door and the window across the dining table.” Shit. That’s where Kyungsoo saw it, too.
Sehun continued. “I also saw some shadows in the front door.”
“Maybe that’s our shadows.”
“Shadows walking outside the front door.” Sehun clarified. Oh.
Now, Kyungsoo is scared. “I didn’t know there were too many.”
Sehun shook his head. “Same thoughts here, Soo.” Sehun then looked at him. “And I’m actually glad that I’m not the only one who can see them. It made me less scared.”
Their conversation was interrupted when Baekhyun called them out. Sehun and Kyungsoo looked at each other and they know they were saying the same words.
This is going to be a very long night. May God protect us.
“What took you two so long at the kitchen?” Luhan asked before downing a shot of rum. Kyungsoo sensed a hint of jealousy in his friend’s voice and since he’s celebrating his birthday in advance tonight, he decided to tease him.
“Eh, no need to be jealous, pretty girl. We just talked about something.” Kyungsoo said in a rather teasing voice.
Luhan narrowed his eyes and Kyungsoo tried his hardest not to laugh at his friend’s face. “Something? What something?”
Kyungsoo then leaned forward until his face is just a few inches away from Luhan and smirked. “Do you really wanna know?”
“We talked about the things lurking in this house, Lu.” Sehun said. Ah, what a party-pooper.
“Things? What things?” Minseok asked. Kyungsoo gave Sehun a look that’s as if saying Please, explain to Minseok what’s happening in a calm way or I will slit your throat. Sehun nodded and told everyone to huddle up.
“There are ghosts here.” Sehun simply said. Minseok held Kyungsoo’s arms after he heard what their friend said so he glared at Sehun, but the latter is not affected either because he’s tired of pretending that he’s scared or because of the alcohol. Kyuungsoo thinks it’s a combination of both.
“Sehun, I know you’re drunk, but please don’t say things like that.” Baekhyun said and Kyungsoo didn’t miss the trembling in his voice.
Sehun sighed. “There really are ghosts here. That’s what Kyungsoo and I were talking about in the kitchen. We were discussing if we should tell it to you or not and we decided that we should because it’s a must.”
Luhan looked at Sehun and Kyungsoo. “Is that why Jongin told me not to film videos a while ago?”
Sehun nodded. So that’s why, Kyungsoo thought. Earlier, Luhan filmed a video in his phone where he introduced all the people inside the house. Luhan then gave his phone to Chanyeol who was sitting at the couch nearest to the window where a small room is located, and started describing every person who was caught by the camera. Jongin then told them not to film videos in an unfamiliar place especially at night because the camera might catch something that shouldn’t be seen in the video. Everyone laughed at Jongin’s statement and the latter just shrugged and said, “Suit yourself. Don’t tell me I didn’t warn you.”
“Chanyeol watched the video and then he called me. We saw a guy in the window,” Sehun then motioned his head at the window behind him and in front of Kyungsoo and Minseok’s line of sight. Sehun continued. “After watching the video, we thought there’s a robber inside this house so we, along with Yifan, went out and looked at the railings so we can see it clearly, but there is no one there, at all.”
Baekhyun whined. “Guys, what the fuck. I’m going to piss in my pants.”
Kyungsoo smirked at him. “I want to laugh so hard at you right now, but I’m also scared.” Baekhyun just rolled his eyes. “Sehun, please continue with your story.”
“Chanyeol and I decided to delete the video so Luhan,” Luhan looked up from his phone, “You won’t find it there, if that’s what you’re doing.”
Luhan groaned. “Why did you delete it? I want to see it.”
Sehun snorted. “You’re crazy. Aren’t you scared that that thing is standing at the corner of the room behind us and looking at us in window?”
Kyungsoo looked at the window behind Sehun and there it is. Just standing there, watching them. Kyungsoo’s eyes widen and he quickly bent his head down and looked at the floor.
“Soo,” Luhan called him, but he refused to look at his friend in fear that he might see it again.
“Yeah?”
“I saw your eyes…”
“Oh.”
“You saw it?”
Kyungsoo closed his eyes tightly. “Can we just stop talking about it? It’ll just show itself to us more.” He then connected his iPod to Luhan’s mini speaker. “No quiet moments, guys.” Kyungsoo announced and he pressed ‘play’
Let’s make this fleeting moment last forever
So tell me, what you’re waiting for?
“This is so not a fleeting moment,” Baekhyun said as he downed a shot of rum.
I’m gonna keep it frozen here forever
There’s no regretting anymore
It’s worth the wait, even so far away
I’m making the night mine until the day I die.
Kyungsoo panicked. “Shit, this song is telling us that we might die here tonight!”
“Kyungsoo, stop it!” Luhan shrieked and scooted closer to Sehun.
“Kyungsoo, fuck you! Stop scaring us!” Baekhyun snapped.
“I’m not scaring you! I’m just saying!” Kyungsoo retorted.
“Soo, switch songs! Switch songs!” Minseok pleaded.
-
2:39 A.M.
Dead silence.
They were singing to ease the fear when Luhan’s speakers suddenly stopped working due to unknown reasons.
Kyungsoo brought his own speakers, but his bag was in the couch just below the window of the room where it is standing.
No one dared to speak. No one dared to look up in fear that they might see it.
Kyungsoo didn’t want to look up, but he felt like he needed to, so he did.
And Kyungsoo regretted it.
There it was, standing just a few inches away from Sehun. It isn’t in the corner of the room next to the living room anymore. It is already in the corner of the living room.
Kyungsoo’s eyes widened and he immediately bowed down his head then looked down on the floor.
Why is this happening? Kyungsoo asked himself. Just a few hours ago, they were having so much fun. And now, they are scooting close to each other for safety and wishing for the sun to rise.
“Kyungsoo?”
“Yes, Luhan?” Kyungsoo answered with a hushed voice without looking at his friend.
“I saw your eyes.”
“What do you mean?”
“Did you see it?”
“Yeah.”
“You and Sehun saw it earlier, right?
“Yes,” Kyungsoo whispered.
“Then why did your eyes widen like that?”
Kyungsoo paused then leaned in towards Luhan. “Because it’s already in the living room.” He whispered.
Kyungsoo winced in pain when Minseok suddenly gripped on his arm too hard.
“Please, stop…” Kyungsoo looked at Minseok and saw that the latter was crying.
Kyungsoo held onto Minseok and the latter scooted closer to him. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” He whispered. He felt the need to say it to his friend even though he isn’t the one who’s making Minseok like this.
Minseok whispered something, but Kyungsoo didn’t hear it so he leaned his head close to Minseok’s.
“What did you say?” Kyungsoo asked.
“I hear something.”
What was strange is that it was silent the whole time except for the sound of the fan.
Kyungsoo didn’t think that Minseok is joking because he knows that it’s not the time to joke about these things.
“What did you hear?” Kyungsoo asked again.
“There’s someone crying.” He heard Minseok sniffle.
Kyungsoo chuckled in hope to lighten up his friend’s mood even though he knows it’s impossible. “You’re just hearing yourself.”
“Soo,” Minseok whined. “I’m not a toddler and definitely not a girl, even though I sometimes look like one.”
Kyungsoo gulped. “So, you mean it’s not…“ Minseok nodded quickly. Shit.
Kyungsoo looked at the main door, but his eyes averted to the steel window beside it. The window was covered with a heavy tarp when they arrived at the house and he was sure that the window was still covered by it when their 4 friends left the house. He was sure that the tarp was tightened still with a rope around the upper railings of the window. He was more than sure it’s not windy. He was sure. But when he saw that only half of the tarp was hanging on the window, he wasn’t so sure anymore.
Suddenly, the dogs outside started barking and they also heard something upstairs that sounded like someone-or something-was stomping their feet. Minseok’s hold on Kyungsoo tightened and the latter closed his eyes shut.
With trembling hands, Luhan unlocked his phone and looked at the time. 3:00 A.M.
-
“This night is so fucked up.” Baekhyun said before stretching his arms upwards. “I want to sleep, but I’m so scared.”
Kyungsoo took a glance at the window behind Sehun and averted his eyes quickly. It’s still there.
“Baekhyun, go with me in the bathroom.” Luhan stood up. “I need to pee.”
“Bitch, I ain’t going with you!”
“I’m going to kick your sorry face if you don’t.” Baekhyun looked at Luhan with a bored face.
“And I will ignore your pleas if you ask me to go with you in the bathroom if you suddenly had the need to pee.” Baekhyun was about to retort when Luhan beat him to it. “And I’m sure Minseok won’t go with you ‘cause he’s scared. I’m also sure that Kyungsoo won’t go with you either ‘cause he doesn’t like being bossed around by you.” Kyungsoo nodded. “And as if I would let Sehun go with you.”
Baekhyun let out an annoyed sigh. “Fine.”
Luhan helped Baekhyun stand up and they went to the bathroom.
Minseok was still in holding Kyungsoo’s arm firmly and his arm is starting to feel numb. But at least, he’s not crying anymore, Kyungsoo thought.
Sehun stood up from where he was sitting and went to the shelf behind Kyungsoo. He was about to look behind to see what he’s friend was doing or looking for, but when he did, Sehun was already leaving.
Sehun sitted again and looked at Kyungsoo. “Our last resort.” Sehun said then gave Kyungsoo a box of cards.
“What are we going to do with this?” Kyungsoo looked at the cards. It’s just ordinary cards. The cards people use in casinos. His grandfather always plays it at home.
Sehun took the cards from Kyungsoo and began to shuffle it. “I’ll pick 6 cards. If one of the cards I pick is a King, that means that something is really real and it may or may not hurt us.” Kyungsoo gulped. He read about this years ago. When you pick a King, that means something is with you. When you pick a King and a Queen, that means you’re protected. If you pick a Jack and you’re with other people, that means that someone is being followed by it or it may be you that is being followed.
“What are you doing?” Minseok asked.
“It’s nothing, Minseok. Don’t worry.” Sehun said. Minseok nodded and just watched them.
“Can I pick the cards?” Kyungsoo asked after Sehun finished shuffling the cards. Sehun put the cards on the floor with the values facing the ground.
Kyungsoo picked out the first card. 7.
He then picked out the second card. 3.
He picked out the third card. Jack of Spades. Kyungsoo looked at Sehun with wide eyes, but he was surprised that Sehun didn’t look affected, at all.
Kyungsoo looked down again and picked out the fourth card. 5. Kyungsoo sighed. 2 more cards, he thought. He knew he shouldn’t believe in this, but fear is overcoming their beings.
He picked the fifth card. King of Hearts. Kyungsoo felt like crying, but he knew he can’t because he’s too scared. He felt like he was going to throw up. He looked cautiously at Sehun and let out a soft sob when he saw his friend trembling.
“S-Sehun…” Kyungsoo whispered. He was holding the card with his trembling hand. Sehun didn’t look at him and just waved his hands signaling that he should continue picking out cards.
Kyungsoo took a deep and shaky breath and picked out the sixth and final card. Queen of Hearts. Kyungsoo sighed in relief and was surprised when Sehun pulled him into a tight hug. Kyungsoo can still feel Sehun trembling, but he felt a bit happy because Sehun was telling him how thankful he is.
Sehun pulled back and looked at the window behind him. He tapped Kyungsoo’s legs. “Soo, look!” Kyungsoo looked up and saw nothing. Nothing. It isn’t there anymore. The black figure in the corner of the room beside the living room wasn’t there anymore. They suddenly felt light. The fear suddenly faded and Kyungsoo was more than happy. At least he can stop bending his head down and look straight again.
Luhan and Baekhyun went out of the bathroom and were surprised to see their three friends in the living room joking around as if nothing happened. Once they sat down at their own places, Baekhyun looked at his phone. 4:58 A.M.
-
They decided to force themselves to sleep at around 5:30 P.M. They waited for the sunrise before cleaning up the mess on the floor and putting the pillows and blankets down. They all lay on the floor with Minseok on the far left next to Kyungsoo. Sehun was between Kyungsoo and Luhan and Baekhyun was on the far right of the room.
“This is the best and worst night ever,” Kyungsoo announced. His four friends hummed in response. It was the best because they had a lot of fun and of course, it’s Kyungsoo’s pre-birthday celebration. The worst because of what happened earlier. Kyungsoo never thought that this will happen. He made a mental note to ask his grandmother if the house got blessed or not.
“Do you still want to go back here?” Kyungsoo asked in curiosity because if he’s the one to be asked, he would immediately say no.
“Of course!”
“Yeah.”
That was a shocker, Kyungsoo thought.
They fell asleep at around 6:00 A.M. with all the lights on.
When they woke up, they did a general cleaning in the entire house-except at the second floor, of course. Sehun was the only one who’s brave enough to put the pillows and blankets upstairs. Luhan and Kyungsoo cooked brunch while the other three continued cleaning. They played cards until Kyungsoo’s dad came to pick them up. Kyungsoo got his things and walked-or ran-towards the main gate. When he got outside, he gave his dad a hug.
“Dad, we just had the best and worst night ever.” Kyungsoo said in one breath.
“What happened?”
Kyungsoo pointed at the house. “There were ghosts there!”
After sending his friends home, Kyungsoo and his dad got home and told everyone what happened. He was thankful that no one thought he was insane.
He also discovered that the house was not blessed.