Mental Institute: BTS 101 | Pt. 7
Genre: Angst, Mental Institute au, mystery
Pairing: BTS x OC
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 |
Word count: 4K
Summary: “She was special. She was dangerous. Her parents admitted her into an abandoned mental institute. Little did she know it was a place where they experiment on people like her. Inside this institute she meets seven other boys who aren’t keen on her arrival. They believe there is something off and that she can’t be trusted. As the story continues, not only does she discover their reason for their stay, but she’ll end up choosing the one who gets to live.”
Everybody has gone to sleep, with me being the last one awake.
I couldn't sleep. Naeun's journal laid on my lap and my hands were slowly flipping through the pages.
Some of them were stained. Some of them were wrinkled.
Every page started with the word "Dear Sarang,".
My heart throbbed in my throat when I thought about how Naeun had suffered on her own.
I didn't remember her, but she did. It was clear from the amount of pages she had dedicated to me.
Going back to the first page, I started to read.
"My mom told me that she hated me. Her eyes were full with anger and her voice was cold. It makes me scared. And a part of me wanted to just die at the spot. My parents were here. They told me that they found two new boys to add to our "family". One had borderline and the other was erotomaniac. They told me I should take care of them. Guide them around this institute. Show them that this place was a nice place to stay. Mom told me that it was the least I could do to make up for my existence."
My eyes started to water as her words seeped into my mind, causing a heartaching feeling. My mom was too cruel to her. Naeun didn't deserve it.
"Their names were Park Jimin and Kim Taehyung. I've met with them. They seem nice and warm. Even though I could see that they were clearly suffering, making me feel sad. But a feeling in the back of my mind comforted me that I wasn't the only one anymore. I would finally have friends here. I didn't like the lonely room my dad put me in. I wanted my sister with me. I wanted a loving mom and dad with me, telling me that I was a good child."
Gulping down, I closed my eyes and placed my hand on my forehead.
Naeun. I'm so sorry, Naeun.
Tears ran down my cheek as I projected her pain inside of me. She struggled so much.
Soon, a sob escaped my mouth and someone from afar stirred in his sleep. Pulling up his blankets, he rubbed once in his eyes and then turned his head to look around, with his eyes stopping on me.
"Sarang?" His voice was hoarse, but I recognized it immediately to be Jungkook.
"What's wrong?"
I held in my sobs and looked at him teary-eyed. My nose was red and due the sudden cold night, I had a hard time speaking properly.
"Are you cold?"
I shook my head and squeezed my eyes shut. How can I live with myself knowing that my dad tortured them and killed my own sister? He tortured Jungkook who is still so nice and kind to me.
Why are you still so nice to me, Jungkook?
All of a sudden, someone placed his hands in front of my eyes and hugged me from behind. He settled himself down behind me and hummed something soft.
"When life is truly painful, remember that pain is not a punishment. But a treasure to be human."
His low voice attracted my attention and his words touched my heart.
I stayed still and sniffed my nose.
"Namjoon..." I muttered.
He removed his hands and I turned my head to look at him. I didn't know he was awake, too.
"Are you alright?" He asked me with raised eyebrows and a teasing smile.
I didn't know how to respond him. Was I alright? I just blinked at him and his eyes trailed down to my lap.
"Isn't that Naeun's diary?" He asked and he picked it up.
I nodded and wiped my nose.
"How did you get it? I thought it was lost with the burn." Namjoon said with a frown and he examined the cover.
"Jimin had it all the time." I snorted and looked at Jimin who was sleeping soundless next to Hoseok.
"Well, atleast it belongs to the rightful owner now." Namjoon muttered and he placed it back on my lap.
I turned to him and laid my hand on the cover.
"Is this the only thing that's left from Naeun?"
Namjoon showed a painful expression and then turned sad.
"Right after she died, all of Naeun's belongings were burnt. If you haven't noticed, there's a section in the institute that has been burnt down. And it used to be where Naeun's room was." He told me. "But I'm surprised that Jimin managed to save her diary."
I sighed and looked down. Jimin risked his life for it.
"I guess he really loved her," I muttered. My heart ached, again. The thought of how much he loved her and then to lose her. I understand where his obsession and fear comes from.
Namjoon nodded and ruffled through my hair with a smile.
"Cheer up! Everything will be fine and jamful." He told me.
I smiled weakly and hugged him back. "Thanks, Namjoon."
He winked at me with a smile and pulled my blankets to cover my shoulders.
"It's cold in the night. Make sure you don't catch a cold." He warned me warmly.
Patting my arm, he stood up and yawned.
"Let's get back to sleep. It's going to be a long day, tomorrow." He told me.
I smiled and nodded.
He went back to his couch and laid down. Muttering the soft "good night" he closed his eyes and went back to sleep.
I turned myself around and stared at the fire in the center of us. Noticing Jungkook looking at me, I remembered that I woke him up. He was looking at me with his big eyes and one of his arms was supporting his head. He gave me a smile and I smiled back. He must have heard the whole conversation.
"Goodnight, Jungkook." I muttered.
He nodded and turned a bit shy.
"Goodnight, noona." He muttered back.
Dear Sarang, I wish you could be here so I could introduce you to my friends, Taehyung and Jimin. They are so much fun. And also, I met with another resident here. His name is Jin. He takes care of me very well and although his condition is serious, I can't help but find him really funny. He is like food, food, and food. Also, I met with dad today. He seemed frustrated with me again. I feel like I did something really bad and that I had to be punished. How are you, actually? Do you read my diary? Dad takes it from me from time to time. He told me that it was for his work. I don' t know how to feel about this. I feel so exposed, yet I keep writing in here. I miss you, sister.
My heart clenched and I raised my head with a sigh. Naeun's diaries entries were so heartaching to read.
"What are you doing?" Yoongi asked me as he sat down next to me. I closed the journal and put it away. Shaking my head, I smiled.
"Nothing,"
"You sure?" He cocked his head and attempted to get my bag but I jerked it back. He then shrugged his shoulder.
"Well, if you are doing nothing. You can go with Hoseok to get some vegetables for Jin. He's going to make us kimchi," he told me.
I frowned and tilted my head. "Do we have money to buy food?" I asked.
"Hoseok has been saving his allowance since he entered the institute. He can even buy a house now," he joked.
I nodded amazed and stood up to go find Hoseok, but Yoongi pulled me back down.
"Be careful on your way, okay?" He smiled weakly at me and I nodded again.
"MIN YOONGI! GIVE ME YOUR LIGHTER!" Jin yelled from across us who was stacking stones.
Yoongi's eyes started to twinkle and he jumped up.
"INFIRES BABY!!!"
With that said, he ran towards Jin and forgot all about me. I shook my head with a smile and noticed Hoseok passing by.
Quickly, I followed him and swung my bag on my shoulders. Hearing my stuff rumble, Hoseok turned his head to me.
"Are you coming along?" He asked me, and put away his wallet in his pocket.
"Yes, although I'm not good at grocery shopping," I shyly admitted.He laughed and swung his arm my neck, patting my shoulder on the other side.
"Don't worry, you'll learn fast." He smiled and then turned to the rest of Bangtan who were each doing their chores.
"Yah, everyone! We are going to the city to get some food. We will be back in the afternoon," Hoseok told them and they all nodded. Taehyung looked at me shortly, before turning his head and moving the wood to the fire by Jin.We both turned us around and I walked with Hoseok on the road. There were no sidewalks, so we had to walk in the middle of the road. It was kind of dusty too, so I squinted my eyes while the sun shone warm on us.
"So, I don't think we talked much. But I like you," he smiled.I smiled back and blushed. "You are nice, too."He chuckled and turned to the front. "Ah~ It feels good to have the sun on my skin. I have been too long in that dusty room from the institution," he remarked.
Poor thing, and to think it was my dad's doing.
I let out a sigh and felt like I was dragging my body. My energy is low. I haven't really eaten properly, since I started to read the journal. That feeling in the pit of my stomach stopped me and the more I knew about them, the more I felt horrible and I didn't deserve all this kindness from them.
"How long have you been in that institute?" I asked, almost choking on my words. I didn't really know if he liked that question.
He pursed his lips and thought. "How long was it? Ever since I was a teenager?" He told me and then flashed me a bright smile.
That bright smile that hid countless of sad events and pain.
I smiled weakly and nodded. "That's long," I muttered.
He shrugged. "It's fine. Once inside that institute, you'll lose sight of time and space. Luckily, I had Naeun who could help me pass the time.
"Naeun did? Who is this Naeun, actually? I have been hearing her name, a lot." I told him, pretending not to know.
Hoseok laughed and raised an eyebrow. "It's no surprise. Everyone loved her. She was a really special girl.
"It made me sad that he was talking in the past tense. Is he still hurting?
"Naeun was the first resident at our institute. She was a very warm and kind person. Even though the institute was cruel to us, she always managed to cheer us up and make us feel at home." He told me.I hummed a reply and looked at him as he was looking to the front. His gaze was melancholic.
"What did she suffer to be admitted there?" I asked him.
Hoseok narrowed his eyes and turned to me. "Naeun... She suffered from boulimia and depression." He told me.
I widened my eyes. Boulimia. She didn't mention it in her journal. Was she insecure about herself? I was sure my parents had to do something with it.
"Oh..." was all I could bring out.
Hoseok smiled and nodded.
"But after meeting Park Jimin, she was miraculously recovering very well. Those two were really something," he chuckled. "Oh, how I wish I had a female version of Park Jimin as my girlfriend."
I chuckled to myself.
"Is that one of the reasons why you suffer from depression, too?" I asked him carefully, but he simply shook his head and turned sad.
"My noona Jiwoo died when I was still a teenager. We got into a car crash when she drove me home from a concert. Since then, I always blame myself for her death."
"I'm sorry to hear." I told him, and he just shook his head.
"Don't be, it's my fault." He muttered. "I shouldn't have gone to that concert anyway. But my friends convinced me and yeah..."
His voice trailed off and I didn't know what to say.
But luckily, we reached a store and I followed him inside.
"Ahjumma, do you have vegetables?" He asked the old lady at the counter.
"Oh, hi young man. No, we sadly ran out of vegetables. But there's a market down the road. Maybe they will have what you are looking for." she kindly told him and Hoseok bowed.
"Thank you!"
We both headed towards down the road, but when we reached the end of it, no market could be seen. Hoseok scratched his hair and looked around.
"Strange, it should be here." He said, frowning.
I frowned too and looked around. There were no stores and markets. And it makes me uncomfortable how abandoned this place looked like. There were no people around, only old houses and thrash.
"Maybe, we should head back." I suggested, feeling slightly nervous.
Hoseok nodded and seemed to feel the same way. "I want you to stick close to me. There's something off at this place," he told me, looking back and forth.
I nodded and walked closer to him, while scanning the area. I started to feel uncomfortable. As if I was being watched and that it was too quiet.
"C-could it be that we are being watched?" I whispered to him and Hoseok signaled that I had to stay quiet.
He put up his ear and listened to the surroundings.
There was no sound.
We stayed like this for a second of two.
There was still no sound...
Until now.
It was a vague sound, like a bucket being kicked away in the distant. Strange, since there were no animals around and no wind that could have knocked it down.
"There's someone else, here. Quick, we need to head back to the store." Hoseok suddenly ordered me sternly in a whispering voice.
He pushed me back and I started to run quietly.
He followed me while keeping watching behind me.
"Who is it?" I asked him, but he didn't respond. Instead, he kept telling me to hurry.
"Faster, faster!" He hissed.
I was already running at my maximum speed, but Hoseok grabbed my wrist and pulled me faster with him.
I started to hear sounds behind me and I didn't dare to look back. It was following us at a rapid speed.
"Hoseok, I-I can't..." I told him out of breath, while he kept pulling me.
Hoseok bit his lip and turned around. "It's only a few... holy f-!" He stopped on his track and I bumped against him.
When I wanted to ask him, he put his hand on my mouth and looked shocked to the front.
I followed his gaze and saw a van passing by from a distance. It was a black one. And one that I have seen before, too.
It was the van that took me to the institute with my mom.
They were searching for us!
Hoseok quickly dug down and pulled me with him behind the bushes. He slowly lowered his hand from my mouth and I cleared my throat.
"Do you think they saw us?" I asked him. Hoseok's eyes followed the van and seeing him not turn, he shook his head and let out a relieved sigh.
"Luckily not. Damn, I thought I was done for life." He said.
I let out a relieved sigh, too and turned back to look. There was nothing behind us, anymore. The thing that was chasing us seemed to have given up on us.
"Look, the animal who was chasing us is gone now." I said, tugging onto his sleeve.
Hoseok frowned and turned around too.
"What are you talking about? It wasn't an animal." He snorted.
"Then what is it?"
"A person,"
I gulped and blinked with my eyes. "Who?"
"I don't know. I couldn't see him clearly, but he looked hella scary. He had those big eyes and strange clothes on."
Strange clothes?
"Well, anyways, he's gone now."
"I'm not so sure about that, but come on. We need to go. This place is giving me the creeps,"
I nodded and stood up with him. He walked in front of me and stopped when he didn't seem to recognize the way back.
"What's wrong?" I asked him.
"Did we go left or right?"
I widened my eyes. "We are lost?"
He chuckled and flashed me a cheeky smile.
"Don't worry. It's going to be alright," he told me. "And can you stop touching my back?"
Touch his back?
I frowned and walked to his side.
"I'm not touching your back," I said, raising my hands. He looked shortly to my hands and widened his eyes.
"Then who is?"
All of a sudden, something long came up from his shoulder. It started to hiss in his ear and I froze.
"Hoseok...," I began. "Please stay calm..."
He looked at me confused and when he turned his head towards the thing on his shoulder, he widened his eyes and fear was written all over his face.
"SNAKEEUUUU!!" He shrieked.