The mirror lay in shards.
But the Hollow Man’s voice still echoed.
“This isn’t over.”
Jungkook tightened his grip on Taehyung’s arm, his heartbeat thundering.
Minjun, barely standing, let out a shaky breath. “He’s still here.”
The air in the room shifted.
The shadows twisted—not like before, not shifting aimlessly, but moving with purpose.
Gathering.
Jungkook’s stomach dropped.
And then—
The lights went out.
--
Darkness swallowed them whole.
A sharp whisper slithered through the air. Closer.
Jungkook reached blindly, grabbing Taehyung’s hand.
Then—cold fingers brushed against his shoulder.
He whipped around. Nothing.
A distorted voice murmured beside his ear.
“Did you think escaping would be easy?”
Jungkook’s breath hitched.
The Hollow Man wasn’t just lingering.
He was hunting.
---
The air turned thick.
Something shifted beneath their feet—like the floor itself was breathing.
A deep groan echoed through the manor, wood and stone twisting, warping.
The house was changing.
Minjun clutched his head, his face contorted in pain. “He’s pulling us back in.”
Jungkook gritted his teeth. No.
They had fought too hard to get Taehyung back.
He wouldn’t let the Hollow Man win.
He reached for his pocket—the locket was still there.
If it had worked before, maybe—it could work again.
Jungkook pulled it free. The metal was ice-cold.
He turned to Taehyung. “We need to finish this.”
Taehyung’s eyes flickered to the locket.
And in an instant—he understood.
--
Taehyung turned to Minjun. “You know what this means, don’t you?”
Minjun didn’t respond.
His breathing was heavy. His expression—guilt-ridden.
Jungkook’s grip on the locket tightened. “Minjun.”
Minjun’s hands shook.
Then, barely above a whisper—he said the words that changed everything.
“It was my fault.”
Jungkook’s breath caught.
Taehyung’s expression hardened. “What?”
Minjun swallowed. His voice cracked. “I let him in.”
The room fell silent.
Jungkook stared at him. “You mean the Hollow Man?”
Minjun nodded, his gaze dropping.
His voice was broken, raw.
“I called him here.”
---
The manor shuddered.
And the Hollow Man laughed.
Low. Deep. Triumphant.
Jungkook felt the weight of Minjun’s confession sink in.
But there was no time to react.
Because the next second—the walls split open.
And the Hollow Man stepped through.
YOU ARE READING
Shadows In The Ashes
FanfictionThe story follows Jeon Jungkook, a man drawn to the mysterious Kim Manor, where he encounters Kim Taehyung ,its enigmatic owner. As secrets of the manor unfold, Jungkook becomes entwined in a dark legacy tied to both the estate and Taehyung's past...
