Byun Household
Austin, Texas

December 13, 1947

I just finished breakfast. The air outside was chilly and for that very reason I kept to myself indoors. My wife was out in town and I swore to her that I would fix that damn shed outside. I shook my head to myself and sighed as I looked out the kitchen window. A blanket of snow covered my property, and my shed was no exception. If I furrowed my brows and narrowed my gaze I could see the unhinged door and the snow melting over my lawnmower and other supplies. It upset me to know that by the time I did fix that damn door, most of my things would have gone to waste, but who in their right mind would go out in this weather and voluntarily work? Besides, who knew how long that could take? I also have to consider my health; I was never all that good about not getting sick. I was practically a walking victim waiting to get attacked, especially in this kind of weather. I could die out there, and even—

Knock. Knock. Knock.

I turned away from the window and gently set my cup down. I hadn’t been expecting visitors, so this was a surprise. I walked towards the door and peeked through the little peephole, but it must have been covered by dust or something since I was unable to make out any figures. I opened the door and was relieved to see it had just been the mailman, Park Chanyeol, and I gave a small smile.

“G’morning, Mr. Park!” I bowed my head a bit. “Awfully chilly to be walking out on foot, don’t you think?”

“You are absolutely correct, Mr. Byun!” He smiled back as he reached into his bag. “But would you believe it? My damn car just turned off a block before I got here.”

“That’s unfortunate,” I shook my head and then stepped aside. “Come in, it must be extremely cold out there!”

Chanyeol bowed his head and walked inside. I would be a liar if I said I didn’t marvel at his height, because goodness gracious, he was about 10 feet tall in my eyes! I led him to the kitchen and motioned him to sit down before I walked on over to the kettle.

“Chanyeol, let me give you some tea before you back out there,” I said as I grabbed a cup. “I can’t believe the company would just send you out without a vehicle.”

“I really appreciate it,” He smiled. “Yeah, I need to demand a vacation; that or a higher pay.”

“I think you should demand both,” I said as I poured the tea. “This is just starting to get ridiculous. How long have you been out there in the cold?”

“Probably since about 6 this morning.”

“6 this morning!?” I gasped. “You’re practically a walking corpse!”

Chanyeol laughed and shook his head before reaching into his bag and taking out some envelopes. He placed them on the table and then leaned back.

“Where’s Jenny at?” He asked with a yawn.

“Oh, she went to the store,” I smiled as I brought the cup over. “Something about needing some ingredients for stuffing and gravy.”

“That Jenny is always thinking ahead, isn’t she?” Chanyeol bowed his head and took the cup. “I take it you guys are going to have your families over this Christmas?”

“Yeah, the kids are really excited about seeing her parents too.” I picked up the letters. “Especially since they’ve been in Australia this whole year. They’re expecting dead spiders for Christmas and whatnot.”

Chanyeol agreed and sipped at his tea, but I couldn’t take my eyes off the first envelope. My name was written over it, and all my information seemed to be correct, but I couldn’t help but stare and ponder about the sender.

Kim Junmyeon
1485 WEA Penitentiary
Austin, TX

There must be some kind of mistake. I didn’t know a Kim Junmyeon, and I especially don’t know anyone who’s incarcerated. I looked up at Chanyeol with a confused look but soon dismissed it. My information was here, there was no way this could have been a mistake. Maybe I did know this person, I just wasn’t remembering him yet. I opened the letter as Chanyeol continued to sip at his tea and read silently.

Dear Baekhyun,

I know this might come as a surprise to you, and I can only imagine how confused you might be, but please allow the courier to be present while you read this letter.

I looked at Chanyeol and read on.

My name is Kim Junmyeon, I am 28 years old, and I am currently serving a life sentence at WEA Penitentiary. I committed an unforgivable crime, but no matter how I try to tell these people I am not at fault, they just won’t believe me. You might be wondering what has led to my demise, and I will tell you, but first I need you to know something:

I didn’t do it. No matter what you might have heard, no matter what you might think, I didn’t do it. It wasn’t me.

I scoffed. Typical of a criminal to say such things. I continued on.

I was charged with killing my family. My wife and children, they’re all dead. The police say I did it. The news says I did it. But deep down in my heart I know it wasn’t me. I would never hurt my family. I loved them with my entire being.

But the voice in my head is too loud for me to handle. The voice made me do it. He made me do it. It was him.

It was him, he’s the one to blame.

It wasn’t me. Not me.

And that’s where the letter ended. I closed it back up and looked at Chanyeol. He finished his tea and stood up, smiling at me while I placed the letter aside.

“I oughtta get going,” He said. “I have a long route and I need to finish it up quick.”

“Oh yeah, of course!” I chuckled and then led him to the door. “Stay warm, and don’t forget to tell your boss about that raise!”

“I won’t!” Chanyeol gave a thumbs up, to which I returned the gesture.

He turned around and walked off, and I closed the door before returning to the kitchen. I looked back at the letters on the table and then shrugged it off. I had better things to think about, like that damn shed.

--

December 14, 1947

I was outside in the blistering cold with my tools. I had promised Jenny I’d fix this door, and damn it I was going to stick to my word. I was applying some lubricant to the hinges so that they wouldn’t creak so much or dry out, especially in this weather, and I was about to grab my screws, but I couldn’t find them on my belt.

“God damn it.”

I knew I was forgetting something, I just didn’t know what, and I made my way back to the house. I probably left them somewhere inside on the kitchen table, and I was grumbling to myself the whole time I was walking. As I made it to my porch however, I saw a tall black figure, and I nearly screamed out before realizing who was at my door.

“Chanyeol?” I called out.

“Hey Baekhyun!” Chanyeol smiled. “I thought it was weird that you weren’t answering.”

“Yeah, I was just out back fixing that damn door on the shed.” I smiled back and opened the door. “Come on in, I’ll make some tea.”

Chanyeol walked inside behind me and I took him to the kitchen. I ended up finding my screws in my pocket, and I grumbled to myself as I started to heat up the water.

“Hey Baek, I got your mail for you.” Chanyeol said as he pulled out a wad of envelopes. “I’ll leave them for you here.”

“Thanks,” I smiled as I grabbed them. “Were you able to ask for that raise?”

“I did, but I don’t think I was convincing enough cause all they said was they would think about it.” He shook his head.

“Ah damn it,” I clicked my tongue and looked back at the letters in my hand. I could have sworn he was saying something, but my eyes were fixed on the first envelope in my hands.

Kim Junmyeon
1485 WEA Penitentiary
Austin, TX

Another letter from this Junmyeon person? Why was I receiving these?

Curiosity got the better of me and I opened the letter once again. Maybe this guy knows me and I know him too, but I just can’t remember.

Dear Baekhyun,

I have attached some drawings of my family. I miss them so much, and every hour of every day is absolute torture. I can’t stand the fact that they’re gone. That monster says they’re burning in hell. Do you believe in all of that? Heaven and hell?

I do.

I don’t want to believe they’re in hell. They were always angels, and I believe they’re up there in heaven watching over me. I miss them so much. I hope I see them soon.

That was the end of the letter. I reached for the second page and was actually touched to see that there was a small family drawn. A family of 4, much like mine, and they were all smiling. I felt a little sad that this man could no longer see them, but he must have realized that he is in the wrong. He killed them, and his punishment was to go through the rest of his days without ever seeing them again.

But what was this? Another page?

I placed the others down and I could feel my heart race at the sight of this paper. On it were more drawings, but these were far more explicit, and they depicted who I imagined to be Junmyeon murdering his family. His children laid lifeless on the ground while he drove a knife into his wife’s heart. I felt chills go down my spine and I had to place the paper down before I looked over at Chanyeol.

“I gotta say Baek, you make the best tea in town.” Chanyeol smiled before standing up. “I should get going, I’m not sure how far I’ll make it in this damn snow.”

“A-Ah yeah,” I placed the paper aside and nodded. “Be safe.”

“Thanks, Baek!”

With that, he walked out, and I had to take a seat. I looked back at the letters on the table, and I had to force myself to pick them up and throw them away. I couldn’t believe what I had just seen, and the images seemed to have crept their way into my eyelids, because no matter how many times I tried to think of anything else, all I could see were the bloody images of a man murdering his own family.

“Baekhyun?”

I turned with a small gasp, but soon breathed out a sigh of relief when I saw it was just Jenny coming out of the room. She was still in her night gown, and I smiled seeing her walk towards me.

“Was there someone in the house?” She yawned. “I could’ve sworn I heard you talking with someone.”

“It was just Chanyeol, darling.” I pulled her into my arms and kissed her shoulder. “I make him tea before he finishes his route.”

“That’s so nice of you,” She hummed against me, and I smiled again. She was always so cute when she woke up. “Is he gone already?”

“Yeah, he just took off.” I nodded.

We stayed silent for a bit, and I kept her in my arms. I don’t know what I’d do if I ever lost my Jenny. She meant the whole damn world to me, and our kids were my reason for existing.

“What are you thinking about?” I heard her ask.

I shouldn’t worry her about some random letters. They had nothing to do with me, and if I get another one, I’ll just throw it away.

“Nothing, baby. Let’s get you back to bed.”

--

December 15, 1947

I smiled to myself as I looked upon the shed. I was finally able to clean out the mess the snow made, I threw out whatever went to waste, and I fixed the door. Jenny took the kids out on an errand run, and I went over to the porch. I glanced at my watch, and I turned around. I smiled when I saw Chanyeol’s figure through the snow and I leaned against the door.

“G’morning!” I called out.

“Morning, Baek!” He waved at me as he opened the gate door. “Waiting for me?”

“I was expecting you!” I nodded and opened the house. “Come on in, I’ll make tea!”

I waited for Chanyeol and walked inside once he was on the porch. I led him to the kitchen, just like I always do, and I started to heat up some water.

“Jenny out again?” He asked as he opened his bag.

“Yeah, she went out to run some errands with the kids.” I nodded as I grabbed two cups. “What about you? Did your boss give you an answer yet?”

“Nope, not in the slightest.” He shook his head. “But don’t worry! I’m gonna get that raise if it’s the last thing I do!”

“That’s the spirit!” I chuckled and sat across from him.

He handed me the mail, and I wasn’t even in the slightest surprised when I saw the first letter.

Kim Junmyeon
1485 WEA Penitentiary
Austin, TX

“Say, Chanyeol,” I leaned back. “Do you know who picks up the mail from the penitentiary?”

“Hm?” Chanyeol stretched. “I do, why?”

“You do?” I was a bit shocked. “Can you tell me who this Junmyeon guy is?”

“Junmyeon?” Chanyeol crossed his arms. “I can’t really say I know him, I just get the mail from the prison guards.”

“Ah, that’s a shame.” I shook my head. “I keep getting these letters from there, and I thought it would put me at ease to at least know a little about the guy.”

“Sorry, Baek.” Chanyeol smiled. “I’ll be sure to ask next time.”

“Nah, it’s okay,” I sighed. “Maybe I do know him, I just can’t remember.”

“Maybe,” Chanyeol agreed. “It’ll come back to you, I’m sure.”

I nodded and then looked back at the letter in my hands. I shrugged and opened the envelope, ignoring Chanyeol’s yawn as my eyes scrolled through the words.

Dear Baekhyun,

The monster has grown bored with me being locked up in here. It can’t stand these walls, and it’s ready to leave me. Before it does go, I wanted you to know how I found you in the first place.

I once received letters from a prison. I didn’t know who had sent them, but I read them anyway. My mail courier’s name was Chanyeol, and he was a very good friend of mine. He said he didn’t know who the prisoner was, and I took his word for it.

On the third letter, the prisoner told me the same monster had also grown bored with him, and it was ready to take me as its next victim.

I’m sorry to do this to you Baekhyun, but I sincerely hope you have Chanyeol with you, because the only way this monster can leave me is if you invite it into your home three times.

I furrowed my brows at this letter, but I would be a liar if I said I wasn’t disturbed at the words. If I remember correctly, Chanyeol told me he didn’t know who was sending these letters.

Baekhyun, thank you for taking responsibility, and I am so sorry.

“Chanyeol, this person wrote that you know—”

As I looked up, I couldn’t help but become terrified. Chanyeol’s face was a void of black, and I could only make out the whites of his eyes and his large smile. He was grinning at me, and I tried to speak, but couldn’t even make out a cry for help as I trembled with fear.

“Thank you for letting me in, Baekhyun.”

-fin.