Chapter 8: A whisper of fear

It was already nighttime, and Taehyung couldn't get rid of the uneasy feeling since earlier.

The silence of the hallway was broken only by the rhythmic tick of the grandfather clock downstairs. Taehyung stood before Ilene's door, his hand hovering over the brass knob. He had been wandering the mansion, trying to find a way to connect with Ilene and Gyu, to understand their fear, to find out what was really happening. He had decided to try a simple gesture of friendship, a small offering of cookies he had baked himself.

He knocked softly, his heart pounding with a mixture of hope and apprehension. He waited, listening for a response, but only the silence of the mansion answered him.

Meanwhile

The knock on the door startled Ilene, her heart leaping into her throat. Her hand instinctively flew to Gyu, who was playing with a worn teddy bear on the floor. His small body trembled, his eyes wide with fear.

"It's okay, Gyu," she whispered, her voice a soothing balm against his trembling. "It's probably just Sarah."

But even as she spoke, a cold dread settled in her stomach. She knew it wasn't Sarah. She feared that it might be Jungkook. He was furious. He had seen them talking to Taehyung, his best friend, his only confidante. He wouldn't stand for it.

Gyu, sensing her fear, clung to her tightly, burying his face in her shoulder. His small body trembled with a mixture of fear and apprehension. He knew that Jungkook was dangerous, that he was capable of anything. He had seen the dark side of Jungkook, the chilling glint in his eyes, the way he could make people disappear without a trace.

Ilene forced a smile, trying to reassure her son. "Everything will be okay, Gyu," she whispered, her voice a little shaky. "Just stay here, okay? I'll be right back."

She gently placed Gyu on the bed, tucking him in with a worn, faded blanket. She watched as he clutched his teddy bear, his eyes wide with fear. She knew that he was scared, that he was feeling the same dread that was gnawing at her heart.

She walked toward the door, her trembling hand reaching for the knob. She knew that she had to face Jungkook, that she had to protect her son. But she was terrified. She knew that Jungkook was capable of anything, that he could make her disappear without a trace, that he could hurt her son.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. She had to be strong. She had to protect her son. She had to face Jungkook.

She slowly turned the knob, her hand trembling, making sure she would be able to protect her son. But once she saw Taehyung at the door, with cookies in his hands and a smile that seemed more awkward than genuine, a wave of confusion washed over her. It wasn't Jungkook. It was Taehyung. But why was he here? And why was he smiling like that?

Her heart pounding with fear. Now, she was left with a confusing mix of relief and apprehension. What was Taehyung doing here? And what was Jungkook up to?

She opened the door a little wider, her gaze fixed on Taehyung. "Taehyung?" she asked, her voice a little shaky. "What are you doing here?"

She had been expecting Jungkook, his anger simmering behind those calm eyes. She had been bracing herself for a confrontation, a punishment for her transgression. Instead, she found Taehyung, a gentle smile gracing his lips and a tray of cookies in his hands.

"Hi, Ilene," Taehyung said, his voice soft and reassuring. "I brought you these cookies. I hope you like them."

Ilene stared at him, her mind struggling to process the sudden shift in the atmosphere. She had been so convinced that Jungkook was the source of the tension, the fear, and the unsettling atmosphere that permeated the mansion. But Taehyung, with his gentle smile and his offering of cookies, seemed to be a beacon of light in the darkness.

"Thank you, Taehyung," she said, her voice a little shaky. "They look delicious."

His gaze swept over the room, taking in the simple furnishings, the worn toys scattered on the floor, and the sense of quiet desperation that hung in the air. He could see the fear in Gyu's eyes, the way he clung to his teddy bear, his small body trembling with a mixture of apprehension and relief.

"You're still not sleeping?" Ilene asked, her voice a calm melody in the stillness of the night.

"Well, I couldn't sleep," Taehyung admitted, his voice a soft murmur. He turned, his gaze meeting hers, his eyes filled with a mixture of concern and frustration. "You see, I like kids. That's why it kinda broke me when Gyu seemed to be afraid of me. I actually just wanted to be friends with him; I don't like it when he's scared of me."

Ilene offered a hesitant smile. "I apologized for my son's behavior," she said, her voice a little too quick. "He's not really good with strangers. Don't worry, I'll talk to him and tell him you're a good person. For now, he's not used to a person like you."

Taehyung nodded, his brow furrowed. "I see," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm so sorry for my behavior. I forgot there are different types of kids. My personality must have caught him off guard."

"It's okay, I understand," Ilene said, her smile widening a little. She could see the genuine concern in Taehyung's eyes, the way he was trying to understand Gyu's fear. She felt a flicker of sympathy for him, a sense of shared understanding.

"By the way," Taehyung began, his voice a little hesitant. "I'm just curious, I hope you wouldn't get uncomfortable of my question..."

Ilene's smile faltered. "Hm, what is it?" she asked, her gaze meeting his, a flicker of apprehension in her eyes.

"You see," Taehyung continued, his voice a little quieter now. "Jungkook is a good friend of mine, and he's sweet. That's why it kinda surprises me when his son doesn't have that personality. That's why, I just wanted to know, how is Jungkook treating you? I wanted to get along with his family, he's my best friend, after all."

The mention of Jungkook's name was enough to make Ilene's smile vanish. She looked away, a wave of fear washing over her. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, her breath catching in her throat. She couldn't answer him. She couldn't risk revealing anything.

Taehyung noticed her sudden shift, his eyes filled with concern. "It's okay," he said, his voice gentle. "If you don't want to answer, I don't really mind." He tried to change the subject, to ease the tension. "But I hope you don't be afraid of me next time. I may be able to help you and your son, like esc─"

"Taehyung."

The sound of Jungkook's voice, cold and menacing, sliced through the air. Both Taehyung and Ilene flinched, their eyes widening in alarm. Taehyung's heart sank. He had been so focused on Ilene's fear, he had forgotten about Jungkook.