Shadows In The Ashes

The first thing Taehyung felt was cold.

Not the sharp chill of winter, but something deeper—a cold that sank into his bones, into his soul.

He opened his eyes.

And the world around him was wrong.

The manor was still there, but twisted. The walls stretched too high, the corridors too dark, shifting like shadows that never settled. The air was thick, heavy with something unseen.

A slow, deliberate whisper drifted through the silence.

“You shouldn’t have done that.”

Taehyung turned.

And the Hollow Man was waiting.

Standing just beyond the fractured mirror, his grin wider than before.

“You were never part of the deal,” the Hollow Man said, voice smooth as silk. “And yet—here you are.”

Taehyung’s jaw tightened. “Let Jungkook go. Minjun too.”

The Hollow Man tilted his head. “They are gone, Taehyung. You, however—”

His grin stretched impossibly wide.

“You belong to me now.”

---

Taehyung’s fists clenched. “We’ll see about that.”

He turned, searching for a way out—but there was none.

The doors were gone. The windows were black voids, stretching into nothing. The only thing that remained was the mirror.

And in its reflection—

Jungkook.

Taehyung’s breath caught.

Jungkook was still on the other side, kneeling beside Minjun. His hands were shaking. His mouth moved—calling for Taehyung.

But no sound came through.

Taehyung stepped closer, reaching out—

The mirror rippled.

And then, Jungkook was gone.

The reflection shifted, twisting until the manor vanished.

Now, all Taehyung saw was a hallway of endless doors.

Each one identical. Each one closed.

Each one whispering his name.

---

The Hollow Man circled him, voice soft. “Let’s play a game.”

Taehyung ignored him. He focused on the doors. One of them had to lead back.

One of them had to lead to Jungkook.

The Hollow Man chuckled. “So eager. But tell me—do you even know which one to choose?”

Taehyung didn’t hesitate. He grabbed the nearest handle and pushed.

The door swung open—

And Taehyung’s breath caught.

Because on the other side was the past.

It wasn’t the manor anymore.

It was a field.

Golden light spilled over the horizon. The wind carried the scent of summer rain.

And standing there, beneath a tree—

Was Minjun.

But not as Taehyung had last seen him.

This Minjun was alive. Whole. His eyes bright with something Taehyung hadn’t seen in years—hope.

Taehyung’s heart clenched.

Minjun turned, smiling. “You found me.”

Taehyung took a slow step forward. His mind screamed at him that this wasn’t real—it couldn’t be real.

But Minjun was right there.

Waiting.

Taehyung swallowed hard. “Minjun?”

Minjun’s smile softened. “Come with me.”

Taehyung hesitated.

He knew this was a trick.

He knew it.

And yet—

Minjun reached out.

And Taehyung almost took his hand.

---

Behind him, the Hollow Man laughed.

“One door leads home, Taehyung.”

“One door leads deeper.”

Minjun’s fingers were inches away from his.

Taehyung’s heart pounded.

If he chose wrong—he might never get out.

And in the real world, Jungkook was still fighting to save him.

But could Taehyung save himself?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This chapter pushes Taehyung to his limits—forced to choose between illusion and reality.

What will Taehyung choose?
Will he ever get out?
What did the Hollow man mean?
What will the meeting between Jungkook and Minjun be like?

Read to find out.