Chapter Text
‘On the search for a missing person. A 15-year-old girl was said to be last seen near Lotto World Mall and was reported missing this morning. Authorities are investigating again, as more people than on average are being reported as a missing person’s case-’
The news board cast played in the background as Jisung rushed past his mother snatching the last piece of toast before heading to school.
“Jisung, I want you home before 5 pm today.” His mom put her fists on her hips. “I’m serious. You heard the news.”
Han just rolled his eyes; while putting on his shoes, the piece of toast was already in his mouth.
“Yes, mom.” He mumbled.
…
“Chan! Hey! Wait for me.” Jisung waved Chan down, as he ran clumsily toward the older. “Are you and the guys going to hang out this afternoon?” Chan turned to see his neighbour. Chan liked the kid, sure, but he wasn’t the kind of person Chan would hang around.
“Umm yeah. Why do you ask?”
“Can I come? Please I promise to be cool. Come on. Please. Just this once? And I won’t never ask ever again.” Han begged with his hands. Chan took a deep breath, as his eyebrows pinched together in thought.
“Fine, but please just don’t embarrass me or yourself. You might not like hanging out with the others…they can be a bit much. You realise that right?” Chan warned while his eyebrows raised in concern. Han nodded enthusiastically.
“Yes! I know. Thank you so much, Chan.”
“Hey, did you hear the news? It must be serious now.” A girl mumbled to another girl as Han and Chan walked through the front gates of the school.
“I know, right? People are going missing. My uncle’s neighbour’s son was one of them. I was so shocked. I’d say too close for comfort.” Han frowned as the excitement from before vanished from his bones. He was concerned about the missing cases, but it wasn’t affecting him directly. Felix had heaps of theories about why there are so many people disappearing.
“Channie? do you really think it’s that dangerous?” Han looked up to Chan who was glancing around maybe looking for his friends.
“You never know. Anything could happen.”
Han’s frown deepened. What if someone he knew disappeared? Were aliens really behind this? Damn, Felix and his alien theories.
…
“Yo! who invited him?” The guy hissed.
The school day was finally over, and he found Chan and his friends heading out of the gates. Han couldn’t stop the sickening tingle in his stomach after lying to Felix and ditching him, but he really wanted to be friends with the cool people.
Han just shifted self-consciously on his feet, as the group he joined stared him down.
“Jones… come on, man. Be cool. I let him come. He isn’t that bad.” Chan defended Han. That sickening tingle left Han as a new flood of butterflies flapped around instead, and his throat tightened. Chan is so nice.
“So…what do you guys do now?” Han asked while picking at his fingernails and keeping his eyes trained on the ground.
“Well, new guy. We go to the hideout to drink and smoke. Are you sure you are up to that?”
New guy? Do they already see me as one of them? Can’t be. Can it?
“I’m cool with that. I tried a sip of my dad’s beer once.” Han buzzed with too much excitement that he didn’t hear what Jones had said just then, but everyone laughed. Han was confused but decided to laugh along.
He looked up at Chan; he wasn’t laughing, no, instead, he had a scowl, and somehow it made its way to Han’s direction. Han felt something sink in his chest. Isn’t Chan happy I’m here? Why isn’t he laughing? I don’t get it. Doesn’t Chan like me?
They all started walking over towards an old, abandoned school that Felix warned Han about once. Felix said that ghosts lurked in every inch of the place. They passed the basketball courts that seemed useable. The sun was setting, and the shadows surrounding the court left an uneasy feeling in Han. The court had weeds growing through the cracks making an unlevelled area. The ball would be unpredictable.
The school itself had dark green vines with a mustard yellowish tint entering broken and smashed windows. The white of the concrete walls now had faded into a murky grey, and no lights appeared to be on, leaving every window in darkness. The group of 7 entered through a particular window where all the glass was gone, and the window still was covered by low-hanging vines with dead leaves. Han swore if you touched it all the leaves would crumble to dust in your hands, but they didn’t.
They passed a few classrooms that were trashed. Mostly old desks and bookshelves were fallen on their sides. All the dust made Han sneeze.
“Bless you,” Chan whispered to Han. Han blinked and then blinked again.
“Thank you.” Han decided to reciprocate anyway. Han thought he caught Chan’s smile, but it must have been his imagination. Outside shone some rays of light through classroom windows, but you could hardly see much.
It…
“Did you say something Chan?” Han asked.
“No. Just bless you. We are almost there. Don’t worry.”
That’s weird. I swear I heard something…
Everywhere the group walked, they crushed dead leaves under their feet. Han knew it was eerie, but he pressed forward in hopes of becoming a member of this group. Especially becoming Chan’s friend…maybe more.
They arrived at an open space with light coming in from the huge skylight roof window. Graffiti stained the walls, and Han wondered why a weird cartoon worm was drawn but continued to explore. The dirt ground was littered with empty bottles, papers and cigarette butts. A speaker sat next to a pink-striped couch. Timber pallets were stacked on top of each other, and odd plants were seen everywhere you looked. It really was a mess.
“What’s up with the cart?” Han asked Chan.
“Oh! The trolley? Yeah… kinda stole it. We have fun like storing drinks or pushing each other in it.”
“I see.” Han’s nose scrunched up at not just the sight but the smell. It smelt like a dumpster.
“Hey, kid! Think fast.” Someone yelled. Han turned in that direction and luckily caught something being thrown towards him. A can. A beer can. “You better do better than a sip.” Jones laughed.
Everyone was scoffing or smirking as well, but Han noticed Chan looked irritated.
Han knew they were all joking that’s what the boys do. So, Han doesn’t understand why Chan seems so upset. The can isn’t cold. It’s warmer than Han’s body temperature.
“You don’t have to drink it. I don’t drink alcohol. So, it’s fine.” Chan reassures Han, but then Han looks around everyone else is either sculling down their own drink or lighting up a cigarette.
So, Han cracks open his can, and it fizzes from carbonation. He looks Chan dead in the eyes and takes a big mouthful.
Han was coughing. He hated the bitterness.
How can anyone drink this crap?
“Aww. Is he still just a little boy?” Jones looked over to Han, but Han wasn’t ready to give up. He wanted to be part of this group so badly. Han took another mouthful still hating the bitterness. Chan looked disappointed, but Han didn’t want to be the odd one out.
“We are gonna hit the courts. You in?” Taeyong asks.
“I’m not good at ball games, but I’m in.” Han agreed, but just before they all started heading out Chan grabbed onto Han’s shoulder pulling the younger back.
“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. You know that right?” Chan searched Han’s face with worry. Han placed his own hand over the one Chan had placed on his shoulder.
“Listen, Chan. I don’t know what your problem is, but since coming here you have looked irritated with me so I’m going. I want to be part of this group.” Han tore Chan’s hand off his shoulder and then turned to head towards the basketball courts.
When he got there the 5 other boys were playing already.
“Yo! We have an odd number someone gotta ref.” Jones shouted.
“I will” Chan volunteered. Everyone shrugged their shoulders.
“Okay. Time to pick teams. I’m captain of red. Taeyong captain blue. My first pick is new kid.”
Han’s whole body stiffened with surprise. He was sure to be picked last, maybe these guys do like him. After sorting the teams, they were ready to play. For the first couple of minutes, Han hadn’t touched the ball, yet his team led 3-1.
Once he did receive the ball a player crushed into his side. Causing Han to fall over in agony. The pain was throbbing on his side. That will definitely bruise.
“Walk it off!” Someone yelled. So, Han did just that. He needed to be tough if he was to join this group. You’re okay. Jisung held his side as he got up and walked along the side of the court. He hated sports, but he really needed to fit in. He glanced toward Chan, who was frowning at him. God- Jisung felt pathetic. He would prove to Chan that he belonged here. With gritted teeth, he watched the others play and decided to wait for his chance.
A few minutes go on, and then he is finally given the ball, but a throbbing pain hits him on the other side, sending the ball out of bounds.
“Dude? What are you doing?” Jae says. “You need to fight back and not be a wuss.” Han could feel something prick the corners of his eyes, but he refused to cry. He tried to convince himself it didn’t hurt as bad as it did, but it was starting to prove nothing. “If you aren’t gonna play, swap with Bang Chan and leave. You’re just a waste of space here.”
“Yeah, mommy’s boy.”
“Oh my god- look! Look! The little fag is going to cry.” The laughs clung to Jisung’s ears. This isn’t right. Why? Han looked up through his fringe. Why are they suddenly being so mean? I thought they liked me. They picked me first…
Burn…
Han’s head pounded, with his heartbeat drumming in his ears. His breathing staggered as he glanced toward Chan for support, but Chan was looking away with the point of his shoe digging against the concrete.
Han didn’t understand.
Why did he ever want to join these horrible people in the first place? He thought they were cool, but they were just bullies. That meant Chan was just a bully like the rest of them.
Han was up and running. Fists balled. Why did he even think there was a possibility of being friends with Chan? Or anything more than that. His head wouldn’t stop hammering down and it was like a pull that he followed. He just ran not caring where he ended up as long as it was away from them.
He ran through the window and past the old classrooms to the ‘hideout’ with the dirt floor and huge skyline. He ended up falling on the couch. His breathing was heavy but shaky and wet as tears kept rolling. Even the one sob that ripped from his throat echoed in the dome.
“W-why?!” He yelled as he sat up. His breath hitched. He could feel how swollen his eyes were. His leg started bouncing. He had the urge to bite his nails but instead was distracted. A sense of dread. Some force pulling him, like before. This head started to pound again as he stood up.
Burn it…
He heard someone else in his head.
Burn it all…
Han looked over and saw the trolley had matches at the bottom of it with glass alcohol bottles. He decided to drench some paper in said alcohol and left the paper inside the bottle. He set it a light. Throwing the bottle against a wall.
He made another and another, throwing them. He set the couch on fire. Han wasn’t quite focused. All he could think was how dare they say those things and make him think he was included. His body was hot, and the prickly sensation, he realised, was just like boiling water. He was like a sealed volcano about to explode. He threw the last one he made as he screamed. The scream strained his throat, and he slumped forward as his anger was simmering.
He was drawn towards a door on the other side of the room. He followed this force. That simmering anger was fading even more as he felt disconnected from reality. His mind filled with fuzz. Soft and buzzing. He reached the entrance to the other room. He saw neon lights glowing and a gold elevator. An old-fashioned one with a gate. The gate closed as soon as he stepped inside.
Han pulled open the gate of the elevator, and inside, a red gleam rained down on him. Buttons lined a panel next to the golden gate door.
Hell…
Han wasn’t sure why, but he pressed it. The last button had the word hell written in bright red beside it. The elevator was in motion. Han felt disoriented and almost stumbled backwards.
The numbers at the top of the door lit up with a white light level by level, travelling down. The red gleam started flickering as the level was now a letter, not a number. The letter H shone a dark red.
The elevator stopped.
Han was hesitant at first. He felt like he was watching T.V., honestly. It felt like he wasn’t moving himself. It was bright outside.Didn’t it go underground? Han opened the gold doors and stepped out to a field of what seemed to be lavender. He shielded his eyes from the sun and looked around. The elevator stood alone in this field. Why?
…
Chan knew he should have stood up for Jisung, but he couldn’t bring himself to go against his friends, even when they were in the wrong. He didn’t mean for Han to storm off crying. His friends took it way too far.
“Yo! Did you see his face? He is gonna be crying to his mommy all night, I bet.” Jones barked out a laugh.
“Weren’t you a bit harsh with him?” Chan’s eyebrows curved upward in concern.
“Channie Channie Channie. You always were a softy. Listen you need to stop bringing home strays. It doesn’t suit you.” Jones clicked his tongue.
“He is still a person. I don’t get why you need to be so mean?” Chan stared at Jones with his eyebrows knitted together.
“And why would I care?” Chan scoffed at the answer.
“I’m going to make sure Han gets home alright.” Chan started to walk off in the direction of Han.
“And tuck him into bed with a forehead kiss?” Jae mocked with kissy noises.
Chan rolled his eyes and continued walking past old classrooms until he heard a chime. Chan followed the sound which led him to a huge elevator with neon lights. What the fuck is this?
“Don’t tell me-” Yep. He did. Of course, he did.
Chan opened the doors and entered. Looking at the buttons and was mesmerised by the black button with hell written next to it. That doesn’t look good. “I swear if I die or Han dies. I’m gonna kill him.” Chan exhales deeply and pushes the button.
…
Run.
Jisung doesn’t understand why. He kept listening to the voice, and he started running a pulsing sensation controlled his body, with adrenaline surging. It’s as if the calling tells him how to feel or what to do. Jisung felt like a puppet with constricting and tangled strings.
His lungs are on fire. He wants to stop, but he can’t. The lavender flowers were brushing swiftly against his hips as he kept running. He started to hear heavy footsteps behind him, and then he ran faster. Terrified if they catch him. He doesn’t want to die. What if they kill him? What if it’s those boys from before? What if they are angry about him trashing their hideout? He kept running. Heart racing, sweat dripping. Hair stuck to his forehead. He must keep running. To where he doesn’t know. He wanted to give up. Then he heard the footsteps right behind him, and he knew they were going to catch him.
Han felt a hand grab his shoulder. Pulling him back. Just as it did that, he looked up.
A city…
It's in the sky. It looked as if it was being burnt by the sun. He felt a wave of exhaustion. And fell in the field of lavender. He looked up to who had caught him, and it was Chan. Just Chan. Han looked back up to the city. A crushing feeling of sorts pressed on his entire being. It was a dread. A dread that would never leave and will forever remain within his every essence no matter where he went he wouldn’t be able to escape.
Chan had now was sitting next to him. The city still looming with an invisible force crushing them.
“Chan…” Han started
“Yeah…”
“Where are we?” Han breathed heavily.
“Hell…maybe…” Chan answered also with heaviness in his voice.
The corners of Han’s eyes were invaded with a purple hue. As his breathing started to even out.
“Do you feel it too?”
“Yeah…I…”
That was the last Han heard of Chan’s voice before his vision was obstructed by the purple along with his consciousness.
…
“Look who decided to come back?” Jones stated.
Han and Chan emerged from the window which led to the hideout.
“Yes. We came back.” Chan stated.
“Are you gonna walk him home like a wuss, or finally join the big boys?” Jones raised an eyebrow.
Han looked up at Chan void of emotion.
“We decided to stay. Now, let’s play ball.” Han says with an unusual smirk.
…
Jisung’s mother served dinner. Han sat in his seat, staring at the meal. It was kimchi noodles.
“You know. I was getting worried about you. You were late coming home, but then I saw you with little Channie. I was so relieved. It’s nice seeing you two finally getting along.” Jisung’s mom smiled brightly.
“I’m not hungry. I’m going to bed.” Jisung abruptly stood up his chair scrapping loudly against the floorboards.
“But I made one of your favourites tonight?” Han’s mother stared in shock.
“I don’t really care.” Jisung walked toward the stairs. He went into his room locking the door behind him. He sat on his bed and pulled out his phone. Dialling someone.
.
.
.
“Hello? You are speaking with Chan.”
.
.
.
“Chan. Time to begin phase two.”