Shadow Play – Introductions
Haunted!2Seok x Medium!Reader
Word Count: 1.8k
Tags/Warnings: Poly!AU (eventually), Ghost/Demon!AU, Angst, Fluff.
Warnings: General spookiness/horror, Mentions of Injury/Bodily Harm, MC can see spirits/demons/unsettling things. More to come!
Notes: SO! The Shadow Play series is being rewritten. I’m reworking each chapter to fit a new sort of pacing, but the general story will remain the same for the most part. I hope you all enjoy! Also! Some spookiness for October heh.
This is the 1st instalment of the Shadow Play Series! Find the Masterlist here!
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Staring up at the enormous apartment building, you already feel unbelievably uneasy. It’s 7PM, the sun is starting to slowly set over the horizon, casting shadows over the architecture around you. Shaking your head a bit, you try and clear your mind, adjusting the large backpack you brought and making your way through the front entrance to the center desk. There’s a man there, security you’re guessing, so you stop and confirm with him first. You try to ignore the nametag which proudly states ‘Dick’. Glancing down at your phone, you read the info the frantic men had sent you.
“Uh, excuse me…. I’m here to see Hoseok Jung and Seokjin Kim. Apartment number… 666.” Of course, they live in 666, why wouldn’t they? The man nods his head, stating that they were already expecting you and that you’re allowed to pass up to the penthouse. With that, you step toward the elevator to get to the sixty-sixth floor of the building. It’s shiny, and you can’t help but wonder exactly how an entity had come to haunt such an upscale place, particularly since it seems to be a relatively new building. Everything around you screams money, the sleek black of the marble in the lobby, the large vases of flowers, everything…
Thinking back, you had thought it amusing when the men first called you. They sounded scared shitless, which you suppose is understandable if they actually DO have something disturbing them. Both men took turns practically yelling into the phone, trying to explain that they’ve been seeing and hearing things for months now. Something or another about broken dishes, flipped trash cans, and odd sounds. The thing is though, most people call you only to waste your time. Claiming that a ghost is haunting them, only for it to be a tree branch outside of their house brushing against a window, or something similar to that. Some of them are honest mistakes, others, well…
The elevator dings when you finally make it to the 66th floor, letting you know that you’ve made it to the right place. Before you step out, you try to feel for something off, something that stands out, but nothing seems to be out of place. There’s only a single door in front of you, number 666, since this is apparently a penthouse. Blowing out a huff of air, you raise your hand and knock the door, only getting two knocks in before the door flings open almost dramatically. Who you’re guessing is Seokjin and Hoseok stand on the other side, eyes blown wide as saucers as they take in your form. They’re both scarily good looking, very different from each other but both carrying their own charm. The two men are dressed quite nicely but it makes sense considering where they live. You’ll have to ask them what they do for work when you get the chance.
The one with the broad shoulders introduces himself as Seokiin, taking your hand hastily and shaking it. You can feel how balmy his hands are, veins popping out slightly. Glancing at him, you take note that his hair is a warm brown color and fluffy, almost matching the tone of his eyes. It wouldn’t be far fetched to call him the prettiest person you’ve ever seen.
Hoseok doesn’t waste much time grabbing your other hand, shaking it up and down quickly while he gives you the biggest heart shaped grin. He has darker hair, black and wavy, but his eyes are a similar color to Seokjins. If only all of your clients caught your attention like this; last week it was an old lady who accidently let her pet hamster out, which then proceeded to terrorize her. That poor, poor, hamster…
“We’re so happy you’re here! Honestly, we’re at our wits end trying to figure out what to do. We even considered calling the church, but Hoseok insisted we’d ignite if we stepped foot inside.” The men continue to stand side by side as Seokjin drawls on, handsome faces trained on you as you stare directly past them. Another quick glance for something that could potentially be wrong, but nothing makes itself known. Snapping your eyes to look between them, you try your best to give them a small smile, and silently wonder why they’re possibly making everything up.
“I’m happy to be here to help you both. May I come in…?” They part from each other and let you come forward without further question. You step in hesitantly, unsure of what exactly you’re facing at the moment. If there really is something causing them issue, it’s hiding away from you and likely won’t show itself if it already hasn’t. The men usher you a little further inside to what must be the living room as you glance around, taking note of the way the penthouse is laid out.
“Would you like something to drink?” You do, suddenly feeling unbelievably parched, so Hoseok gestures for you to sit in a chair opposite to their couch while Seokjin leaves to go grab tea. Settling in the spot while making small talk with Hoseok, you glance around the area to try and find any sort of darkness, but only light continues to gleam through the large windows. A good development you suppose, nothing is certainly better than something. Seokjin comes back a few minutes later, a tray with tea and a few pastries on it. You thank him, pulling your notebook out of your bag, and ask them to tell you about their experiences.
“So, tell me everything you can. Every little detail is good, but maybe start with the bigger issues or events you’ve been encountering.” The men are quiet for a moment, glancing at each other and fidgeting uncomfortably. Seokjin sits forward, remaining quiet, but you wait patiently as you take a sip of your tea (which is delicious). If this is real, you can only imagine what they may have seen, and you don’t want to pry. Not right away at least, not before you hear their side of things.
“Well… We see things. All the time. There are shadows everywhere, even when we have a bunch of lights on. It’s like something always… creeping around?” You start to take notes diligently, wanting to make sure you have a good understanding of the type of scourge you could be facing. From what’s been said already, it seems to like to hide in the shadows, hunting its prey quietly but effectively; the only issue being that you haven’t seen jack shit. Malevolent things like to hide though… Hoseok nods before piping up, voice wavering as he speaks.
“I’ve been pulled out of my bed… On more than one occasion. Things move all the time too. I’ll be in the shower, and something will fall off the sink, or I’ll be in the kitchen and suddenly the spoon I was using moved across the room.” So, if it is something, it’s fucking with them, that much is clear. The biggest question though is if had physically harmed them yet. There’s a distinct difference between light mischief and actual damage.
“Have you been physically harmed? Scratches, burns, cuts… Anything like that?” They both shake their head and you breath out a sigh of relief, happy to know that they’re at least kind of safe for the time being if this thing is real. You entered their space though, its space, and that could certainly stir things up a lot in the long run. Seokjin lets the smallest of smiles grace his face before answering you.
“No, Petunia hasn’t touched us. Well, beside occasionally pulling us from our beds. Maybe they just think we’re cute, I don’t know…” It’s dead silent after that, and your raise a brow in disbelief. Leaning forward, you frown and look the handsome man dead in the eye as he sits back in his seat, smile turning uncertain as you get into his space.
“You… you named the thing that you think is haunting you?!” They blink at you owlishly and nod as you sink further into your seat. Delicious idiots the two of them, trying to dig their own graves rather early in life. Letting out a long sigh, you crack a few of your fingers warily before addressing the situation. They were being dumb, sure, but it seemed to be unintentional for the most part.
“You give spirits power by naming them. It’s something you should never, ever do.” Hoseok actually seems to turn a green color while Seokjin looks unbelievably pale. It’s too late now, but hopefully the entity wasn’t too encouraged by the action. Petunia isn’t the most empowering of names anyways. Writing down more of the info they gave you, you nearly jump out of your skin as Hoseok shrieks loudly out of nowhere, Jin falling off of the couch and onto his ass.
“It just ran behind you! Like a shadow, holy shit!” Glancing behind yourself, you don’t see a single thing. Not a hint of coldness, no eerie shadows in sight; everything looks normal save for the curtain blowing in the breeze. Glancing back at the two men, you take in their scared expressions quietly. They look real enough, but still… Something about all of this doesn’t seem quite right.
“Hey, both of you. It’s alright. It’ll be alright, I promise I’ll figure this all out for the two of you.” They both nod although there’s definitely a loss to the chipper qualities they both held before. Hoseok’s hair falls into his eyes as he looks around, back and forth almost animatedly. Seokjin is about the same, but his long hair is slicked back from his face, allowing you to see the way his brows furrow.
Even if all of this does seem suspicious, it’s clear that these men are scared of something within their home. Perhaps a bird’s shadow flying by a window, a loose pipe, a damn mouse even… But it’s bothering them, and something tells you that you have to do something about it. You have to do something to make them feel better. And so, sitting forward in your seat a bit, you take a deep breath and look back and forth between them, determination in your eyes.
“I think… I’d like to stay the night to observe if that’s alright?”