Unsolved Vlogs Season 2 Season Finale: The DK Hostel for Young Children Pt. 3

Hey demons! It's ya boi(s)!

HEY

HEY YOU

YEAH YOU

DON’T ING READ THIS AT NIGHT YOU HEAR ME????

But if you do, make sure the lights are on and you’ve already peed

Okay cool, thanks for reading in advance!!!!

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

‘Zitao is gone.’

The words echo, as though from a distance despite the fact that Minseok can clearly see Kyungsoo’s pale worried face just a foot away from him.

‘Hyung!’

Feeling like he was submerged underwater, and now suddenly dragged up, where sound and air and all of his senses were screaming at him, Minseok wakes up completely into a realm he immediately realizes is not his own.

‘I was too worried about Baekhyun,’ Kyungsoo is saying, crawling away to check on said person who was very knocked out in his shared bunk bed. ‘And you were too worried about Jongdae- and I- I forgot to look after him.’

Minseok looks around the room- everything has changed. Shifted strangely- the windows are not boarded up, a single thin pane of curtain barely shields them from the dark outside. The lights are weak and dim above them- the wood is old and moldy, but it’s not as aged or abandoned.

‘Where are we?’ Minseok asks quickly, sitting up and pushing himself to the edge of his bunk. The bunks overhead are empty.

‘I-‘ Kyungsoo stands, grabbing their torchlights. Their belongings are strangely strewn around the room, seamlessly integrating into the dorm room. ‘I think we’ve slipped.’

‘Slipped? Into- into what?’

‘I think a lot of what happened to me,’ Kyungsoo begins to explain as he hands Minseok one of the torchlights, ‘Might have happened…kinda in my head.’

‘You mean, like in a dream state?’

‘It would explain why so many people who lived in DK, who maybe had a shine for a while, didn’t really remember much of it,’ Kyungsoo slips on his shoes. It’s then Minseok realizes Kyungsoo was wearing clothes that he didn’t recognize. Looking down, Minseok realizes he’s not exactly fully wearing his own clothes.

‘It’s trying to take us in,’ Minseok realizes, ‘This place.’

Kyungsoo nods.

‘But we woke up- not because of anything else. But we woke up, and we need to get to Zitao.’

Minseok follows Kyungsoo out immediately, realizing with a strange sense of horror that he was quite short. He catches a glimpse of himself in the narrow mirror of a narrow closet to the side of the dorm room and finds himself looking at a younger Minseok. Maybe 13 years old. Looking back at where Jongdae and Baekhyun were, they appeared no more than 11.

‘Hyung.’

Kyungsoo’s hair is softer, still short; his cheeks have a roundness characteristic of children despite the fact that he appeared a tad too thin for his age. There’s a gravity to his eyes that is too heavy for someone his age- and Minseok wants to wrap his arms around the younger boy. His voice is barely above a whisper, but he spoke with the same serious tone he did as an adult.

‘Hyung please, we need to find Taozi quickly!’ Kyungsoo exclaims desperately, struggling a little with the door handle. But weren’t they always unlocked?

Minseok feels helpless, looking at the door handle just barely situated above Kyungsoo’s current height.

This place was rendering them hopeless- incapable of moving with strength or surety they had as adults.

‘Kyungsoo-‘

‘Hyung, I think I could go run for the matron- or- or maybe I can yell,’ Kyungsoo whispers desperately.

‘What?’ Minseok looks at young Kyungsoo and then he realizes. ‘This is…this is your memory.’

Kyungsoo looks at him confused, childish annoyance washing his features momentarily. He doesn’t have a torchlight on him.

The one in Minseok’s hand nearly slips out but Minseok’s grip tightens despite just barely able to close his hand around the handle.

‘No!’ Minseok yells forcefully, making Kyungsoo flinch. There’s a hissing sound directly behind him, the sound of nails dragging on a wall. He sees Kyungsoo freeze up, large wide eyes focused on something behind him.

Minseok looks back slowly.

The mural is massive, splayed over the wall, the window gaping wide where its grinning mouth should be. The curtain flutters rapidly with the sharp inhales and exhales of the menacing mural, pigtails twisting all over the ceiling and downwards, slipping through the gaps of the bunks and towards where Baekhyun and Jongdae were knocked out.

‘Do not touch them.’ Minseok hisses, turning fully and taking a forceful step towards the mural. The window contracts, the curtain warping like a wicked tongue out to grab him.

But the hair retracts.

Minseok takes another step forward, loud, firm.

His aunt always told him, and from his own experiences he knew; looking straight into their eyes- into the eyes of spirits, ghosts, demons­- whatever they were, was to be avoided at all cost. But if you did- if you held their gaze, you had to stand your ground.

‘This is my room,’ Minseok snaps, ‘Get the out right now!’

Light shines from behind him, and suddenly it’s only his dim shadow outlining the wall. The window is still, the curtain unmoving.

‘Hyung?’

Minseok turns around, finding Kyungsoo looking up at him, torchlight recovered in his hands.

‘Hey,’ Minseok crouches down to better look Kyungsoo in the eyes, ‘We got this, we’re gonna do this okay? We’ll get Zitao back.’

Kyungsoo nods fervently, old thin pajama shirt a few sizes too large on his thin frame.

‘Where do you think Zitao is being taken?’

‘There- it’s always there,’ Kyungsoo takes Minseok’s extended hand.

Minseok catches a glimpse of himself on the mirror, relieved to find that he’s looking like his adult self, in clothes that were his own. Turning back around, the dorm room has returned to what he knows. The window barred, their equipment, their gear- all still there. Jongdae and Baekhyun safely cuddled in their shared sleeping bag.

They would be fine.

This room was Minseok’s now. This was his.

Minseok walks out of the room, closing the door firmly behind him.

A thud reverberates along the hallway, one that Minseok feels under his feet. Kyungsoo’s grip in his hand tightens and he shines the torchlight down the hallway.

A thin tall man, wearing dark clothes, stands all the way at the end. His hand is around a door handle of another door, as though in the process of opening it. But his attention is on them.

‘He’s checking on the kids,’ Kyungsoo tells him, his voice only just shaking a little as the thin tall man approaches them, thin legs disproportionately weighty as it thuds towards them. ‘And we’re not in bed.’

‘We’re not kids,’ Minseok says quietly, looking away from the tall thin man to look down at Kyungsoo. ‘We’re not kids. We’re grown adults, you have already left this place- this place is behind you. And so is this-‘

He stands right in front of them- head bent nearly all the way down to stop from touching the ceiling. The weight of his face pulling a little with gravity. His lips are oddly fleshy and red, glistening despite the overall dullness of his whole appearance.

‘He can’t stop us,’ Minseok stares straight into its beady eyes. ‘He can’t do anything. He’s dead. There’s nothing he can do anymore.’

‘You can’t stop us.’ Kyungsoo’s voice is deeper, and also coming from a higher point than earlier.

Looking around, Minseok finds a teenaged Kyungsoo standing next to him, just a little shorter than his original height.

The hallway is empty when Minseok looks back, all the doors closed and undisturbed.

‘Hyung this is-‘ Kyungsoo exhales quietly, ‘-it’s hard to grasp this.’

‘You can do it,’ Minseok says firmly, ‘You’ve done this before. You can do it again.’

‘But it’s never taken Zitao- I’ve always stopped it and-‘

‘And you will stop it again,’ Minseok reaffirms, ‘We will stop it.’

Kyungsoo nods, looking at Minseok as though clinging to his every single word.

They hurry down the hallway that seems a little too long but they make it out and waiting at the stairs are a few children, sitting primly at random steps. Kyungsoo flinches but he doesn’t step back.

‘Why are you up?’ Kyungsoo demands, ‘Get to bed now!’

The children just stare at him, their haziness flickering here and there, red edges bleeding to their form every now and then, starting from their heads, matting their hair and staining their clothes in a heartbreaking manner.

‘I said go to be bed,’ Kyungsoo orders, standing to his full height, ‘It’s too late to play, you’ve had your fun. Go back to bed or I’m calling the matrons.’

The children scuttle, sounding very much like rats and mice scuttling on wooden floors. Their sinking forms disappearing into the steps, dark stains remain in ominous and telling shapes across the bare carpet.

‘I think I’m better now,’ Kyungsoo tells him, serious and worried as he looks down the steps. ‘Thank you hyung.’

Minseok nods. They hurry down the stairs, hands still firmly clasped together.

‘This was all planned- going for Baekhyun like that, and then causing a rift- purposefully swaying our attention and worries.’ Kyungsoo mutters, aiming his flashlight ahead of them as Minseok spreads his out, looking down to the floor below. From the corner of his eyes he can see the children gathered at the bannisters behind them, the tall thin man ducking out of the corridor, just watching them.

‘Why would it come for Zitao? Why not either one of us?’ Minseok wonders out loud.

‘Maybe that’s what it’s doing,’ Kyungsoo says hurriedly, panic evident in his voice, ‘Using Zitao as bait.’

‘We need to be careful-‘ Minseok is saying as they quickly step off of the last step, a flash of red moving fast.

‘WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!’ a voice shrieks out at them.

With horrendous force, Kyungsoo’s hand rips out of Minseok’s grip, making them both stumble. Minseok only just manages to right himself up against the wall, but he hears Kyungsoo’s protesting sounds and he’s confused-

The Red Knot Matron is holding Kyungsoo tight by the short ends of his hair and Kyungsoo is- he’s quite young again. His eyes are wide, fearful and wet as tears pool in his eyes from the pain.

‘Get back to your studies now!’ she screams, yanking Kyungsoo away with horrendous force, dragging a 13 year old Kyungsoo with her down the hallway towards the library. ‘How dare you!’

Minseok scrambles to his feet, sprinting forward but he’s shoved hard, stumbling backwards again to the lobby. Kyungsoo’s flashlight falls in the middle of the hallway and they’re gone.

‘-!’

A horrendous smell overwhelms Minseok, to the point where it burns his eyes, his stomach convulsing as though ready to retch. Instinctively, Minseok jerks away, trying to avoid the stench. He pushes through, struggling to reach the hallway but the stench is overwhelming- smothering him like some physical restraint.

‘GET OFF!’ Minseok screams, arms flinging ahead of him, a blanket flying off.

Thin stick-like figures with wide peeled back eyes clammer around him, making whimpering terrified humming sounds. Minseok is somehow in bed- in an iron-bed, the mattress uncomfortable and hard. The figures carry pale candles, not enough to illuminate anything other than their watchful eyes and trembling lips.

‘Get the hell off of me,’ Minseok splutters out, pushing himself off of the bed quickly. He grabs the pillow he had supposedly been resting his head on and swings it hard. He’s not sure what he’s doing, but he needs to be assertive- needs to be-

‘Minseok? Kim Minseok?’

It’s enough to completely startle him.

The familiarity of the voice- but Minseok can’t place it. Can’t really put his finger as to where he’s heard this voice before.

But the voice is gone.

The thin crouched figures return to the beds, whimpering and huddling around their cold white candles- Minseok notices how they’re shaking- holding on to their last rattling breaths.

What was going on? The whole room, the very air, seems to ripple- like some mirage- vibrating, anticipating-

Something huge explodes outside and they all shriek and wail- throwing their blankets over their heads. What sound like airplanes pass over- fire erupts outside and Minseok momentarily watches as screaming figures run across the back gardens, alight with fire as large temporary tents collapse with waves of fire.

Heat and orange light washes over Minseok but he’s struck with a sudden cold realization.

Something crashes through the building and huddled ill figures are rushing out of their nursing beds; bandaged and unwell- abandoned and unsought- desperate as fire hails around them.  

Minseok understands.

The last eruption outside breaks the windows and Minseok stumbles out of the nursing room, stumbling over debris and falling into a large gaping hole.

He lands heavily- unprepared and disoriented. The sound of water spilling onto cold tiles rings loud.

‘Hello.’

It’s that voice again- familiar, like he knows it from maybe a childhood memory.

Minseok shakes his head hard, stars erupting around him. The whole bathroom warps.

The little children are wearing tattered make-shift robes; two girls, one boy. They’re not facing Minseok- they’re huddled near a sink, over the sink there’s a small window- they’re trying to look out.

‘Did you know, they sent us here because they thought, we would be safe here?’ she whispers, leaning in close as though to see out of the window. ‘They said we should stay here, to be safe, but we weren’t.’

‘Everything broke, and we were left alone,’ the small boy says, he tries to hold the girl up. ‘We were so scared.’

‘Just like you, we’re alone too-‘

‘I don’t care,’ Minseok says bluntly, touching his head gingerly, reaching for one of the sinks he had crashed close to for balance and support. ‘This is not your story- none of these are your memories. So you-‘ the children warp- hollow black emptiness reverberating around him. ‘Stop trapping them here like this- they’re gone!’

His voice echoes in the bathroom and everything is clear again. Minseok stands, lightheaded but stable. Looking up, there’s no hole to indicate he’s fallen through anywhere. He quickly rushes out, and just as he had suspected, he’s stepping into the 3rd floor hallway.

They were trying to separate him from Kyungsoo.

The nursery doors slam open in his wake, followed by the playrooms and the dorm rooms- forms of children pushing up against the doors- trying to let themselves be remembered again.

‘Stop it!’ Minseok yells as he runs, ‘Let it go!’

The doors slam shut- the roaring whispers around him completely dipping out. Instead Minseok can hear hurried footsteps – real footsteps. Nearly tripping on himself, Minseok rushes to the bannisters over looking the stairs all the way below. Kyungsoo, small and barely visible in the dark, was being lead down the stairs by blurred red forms.

‘-‘ Minseok pushes through, running down the stairs as quickly as he could. He glances quickly at his room- the door was moldy and old- exactly how it was meant to be. It was also still firmly closed.

This was still his room- his own.

Turning, Minseok rushes down the next flight of stairs- the red shapes scattering back to the carpet.

‘KYUNGSOO!’ Minseok yells as loud as he can- but Kyungsoo is reliving his nightmare- frantic as he finds himself cornered at some dark force Minseok himself cannot see yet. He’s being redirected, towards that hallway, towards the basement.

‘Kyungsoo!’ Minseok yells again and like a rubber-band snapping, the air flickers around him and the pressure of the entirety of the host of darkness presses down harshly on him.

Like water relentlessly gushing down hard on you, Minseok struggles against it, but he slips, falling hard on his knees. The pain serves as a sharp enough trigger to shake him but it’s still too intense-

‘STOP!’ Kyungsoo’s shrilly child’s voice erupts around them like light.

Gasping for air, Minseok struggles up, pushing off the weight and sliminess of the darkness behind him, blubbering and convulsing.

‘Just stop it!’ Kyungsoo’s eyes are wet, his hands in fist.

‘Why aren’t you studying!’ a voice shrieks- something red streaking past before Minseok can even react.

The Red Knot Matron swoops down on Kyungsoo again, reaching for his ear and pulling hard, tugging him back in the direction of the library.

‘NO!’ Kyungsoo shoves her off, but he’s too scared- too young, too lonely- afraid that he’s stuck here forever and away from his family-

‘You will do as I say!’ she shrieks, high pitched, menacing, the whole weight of the hostel hurdling at him with her words.

‘Let him go!’ Minseok bellows.

The Red Knot Matron doesn’t even look at him.

Minseok stands up straight, walks straight up to her and grabs her hand.

Minseok has never touched a ghost like this before- never a spirit- nothing.

But plenty have touched him- fingers brushing through his hair as he tried to sleep, dangling toes from the ceiling nudging his arms in school, hands wrapping around his ankles, cold breaths on his skin- but never like this.

‘I said let go!’ Minseok grits through his teeth.

She shrieks at his face, attempting to pull at his ears.

Minseok does not condone violence of any sort, towards anyone, of any gender, age, etc. But he was definitely going to skip this rule in the face of some shrieking ghost fiend.

He shoves hard.

‘You don’t belong here,’ Minseok yells at her as she stumbles back, ‘You’re not part of this hostel, or anything before it- you imposter!’

She falls backwards into the hallway, vanishing into the library.

Minseok is panting, breathless- all of this felt incredibly strange, yet at the same time, Minseok knows now. He understands now.

He’s shaken from his temporary breathless revere when he hears heartbreaking whimpering sounds. Turning he finds Kyungsoo crouching on the floor, arms crossed over his knees, rocking a little.

He’s facing the door which Minseok looks up just in time to see closing, as though someone just left.

‘This is not your memory to use,’ Minseok declares quietly as he walks up to the small boy. ‘Stop it.’

The lobby shifts, almost back to how Minseok remembers it.

‘Hey hey,’ Minseok reaches for Kyungsoo, pulling him into his arms, ‘Hey I’ve got you. Hyung’s got you, you don’t have to try this hard anymore- let me help you.’

Kyungsoo shrinks, physically shrinks some more in his arms. He’s barely 7 now- the same age he was when he first arrived at DK.

So that was exactly what was being used just then, right before Minseok was able to banish the Red Knot Lady.

‘You’ve been so brave,’ Minseok takes Kyungsoo’s face in his hands, making the boy look up. ‘You’ve been such a strong boy, you did your best, and it’s okay now, I’ll take care of you, I’ll take care of Zitao too. Got it?’

‘Taozi?’ Kyungsoo sniffs, eyelashes clumped, cheeks shiny with tears.

‘Yeah, let’s go get him, and we can go back to bed.’ Minseok wipes his face gently, ‘And then when we wake up, everything will be better.’

He lifts him in his arms, shifting him a little to sit on the side of his hip.

‘I’m sorry,’ Kyungsoo whispers again.

‘Nothing to be sorry for,’ Minseok smiles at the small boy, pulling his head down to hide his sight from the swelling darkness, liquid and vast, watching them from all around the house.  

With Kyungsoo in his arms, Minseok steadily walks down the administration hallway, past the matron’s offices, past the superintendents office.

Minseok is not surprised to look down the stairs and find that it’s no longer barricaded.

There’s a storm outside as well.

‘I’m scared,’ Kyungsoo whispers.

‘It’s okay to be scared,’ Minseok squeezes the young boy a little. ‘It’s okay to be scared.’

‘Really?’

Minseok hums, taking each step slowly.

‘I don’t like it.’

‘Me too,’ Minseok confesses. ‘I don’t like being scared. But do you want to know a secret?’

Kyungsoo pulls away just a little as Minseok stops at the last step.

‘What is it?’ he asks, eyes still wet, nose a little snotty.

‘All of those things? They’re more scared of you than you are of them.’

‘Really?’

Minseok nods, smiling warmly. ‘Sometimes, these bad spirits, these ghosts- most of the time, they’re just like bad memories, bad nightmares.’

‘I don’t like nightmares,’ Kyungsoo whispers.

‘After you have a nightmare, do you feel afraid?’

Kyungsoo nods.

‘It’s like that- all of them, these ghosts- they’re like nightmares, bad memories that just stay.’ Minseok explains. ‘But that’s all they are. They were bad memories, bad times in history, bad people doing bad things- and that feeling, that feeling you have in your chest, after you wake up from a nightmare- sometimes those linger long.’

Kyungsoo is listening carefully, eyes wide, mouth a little open to breathe as his nose was still clogged.

‘And all of that bad feeling? It gathers and gathers. And it’s one big nightmare, repeating nonstop, reliving all of those scary feelings.’

‘How do I stop it?’

‘What do you do when you have nightmares?’

‘I um,’ Kyungsoo looks around a little, as though to try and get his words together. ‘I um, I go to mum and dad. Or I- I uhh, think of nice things.’

‘Nice things? Like?’

‘I like puppies,’ Kyungsoo smiles; it’s small and uncertain. ‘Um, and I uh, I like to dream.’

‘What do you like to dream of?’ Minseok asks, taking a careful step off of the last step. As he turns to face the hallway, the stairs are crammed with dark shifting masses, eager to watch- or maybe just waiting now.

‘I like to dream of playing, taking my train, making a huge rail road- connect it all around the house, and um, deliver things,’ Kyungsoo tells him, ‘Automatic!’

‘That’s so cool!’ Minseok smiles at the small boy. ‘I love trains too.’

Kyungsoo smiles toothily at him.

‘Keep thinking of that- nice thoughts, nice dreams- they’re always stronger,’ Minseok says as they walk down the dim hallway. He hears the telephone ringing now, it’s faint. ‘And you can always make new once, better, stronger- nicer.’

Kyungsoo nods.

‘What if- what if I make, instead of trains, rockets!’ Kyungsoo’s feet kick a little, looking happier.

‘And it can fly? That’s so cool!’ Minseok grins, ‘And little space-stations, where the rocket can land.’

Kyungsoo nods vigorously before he stops, his attention caught. He shrinks a little, clearly hearing the phone ringing.

‘Hey, it’s okay, I’m here right?’ Minseok says quietly.

Kyungsoo nods.

‘I’ll put you down, but we will hold hands the entire time,’ Minseok tells him, ‘Don’t be scared okay? It’ll be fine, we’ll just go and get Taozi.’

Kyungsoo nods, his tiny face determined.

Minseok lowers the young boy, crouching a little. The black forms shift, convoluting- they can sense it. Something was going to change.

They stop by the last door. It’s worn, a little stained with maybe water leaks.

Kyungsoo is the one who opens the door.

It’s just like how Kyungsoo had described it. Desks stacked up to the ceiling, a dim light peaks through- coming from an incredibly old computer. There are filing cabinets everywhere, stacked over transformers and water units and engine parts scattered here and there.

And unconscious on the floor near the desks is Zitao’s small form.

‘It’s Taozi!’ Kyungsoo tugs at their hands a little.

Minseok walks over, looking around carefully for anything else. But it’s empty.

There’s nothing stranger than what Minseok has seen outside this room in here. He crouches down and picks up Zitao with one hand and arm, not wanting to let go of Kyungsoo. He manages with some difficulty, and Zitao is still asleep.

The corridor outside is empty, no swirling convoluting dark mass waiting for them. As Minseok climbs up the stairs with Kyungsoo, he hears the walls closing behind him. Looking back, the wall is sealed up, as though it never existed in the first place.

The administrative hallway is empty as well- it looks dusty, worn- like no one’s been here in a long while. Minseok notes the wires on the floors, connecting to generators to supply power to some of their cameras.

The lobby is empty, save for a water bottle Zitao forgot here. The camera at the end, right in front of the library blinks, the tiny blue light indicating it was still running up and well.

The stairs are void of red figures bleeding into sight- instead Kyungsoo yawns quietly, his feet dragging a little. Minseok adjusts Zitao in one arm, and bends down to pick up Kyungsoo. He immediately puts his arms up, wrapping around Minseok’s shoulder. Carefully, Minseok walks up the stairs and towards their room.

The door opens easily, and Baekhyun and Jongdae are still both asleep, their breathing low and soothing. Closing the door behind him, Minseok first puts Kyungsoo down and then puts Zitao back into his sleeping bag. He makes sure he’s comfortable and warm before turning to Kyungsoo.

Kyungsoo’s eyes are closing, his body tilting around like he couldn’t help it.

So Minseok tucks Kyungsoo in, zipping up his sleeping bag, pushing back his hair. He fusses a little with the zipper, adjusting it to make sure the little boy would be warm.

Just as Minseok is sitting back , the telephone rings harshly behind Minseok and he twists around, nearly falling backwards against Kyungsoo.

He looms over him- body twisting through the doorway, long and massive, head too large, hands too large, bracing his body inside the small dorm room.

Its wide gaping mouth is almost as big as the door behind it, and from deep within, the phone rings continuously.

‘No one will answer,’ Minseok tells it. ‘No one can answer it. Not anymore.’

All of the pain, hatred, fear, disease, decay- death: layered and layered, with no rest, no break, no chance for hope. It festered and festered, scraped up and taken away- discarded and forgotten but still lingering- like disembodied odour that lingers in the air.

And it kept trying to reach out- to say something – extending out, hoping to reach someone; or at least, that’s how it might have been.

‘Just let go,’ Minseok says quietly. ‘Your time long ended. Your anger can’t fix anything. Just let it go.’

It still hulks over him, but it’s diminished- not so much in size, but just in presence.

‘I’m sorry for what happened in the past- all of what happened, so much- too much. Things no one should have to face, no one should have to go through.’

It hunkers suddenly, massive long body shuddering.

‘You were alone- all of you, but you can’t stay like this- you need to wake up from this,’ Minseok says, sitting properly. ‘Wake up from this. Your bad memories don’t make you who you are – there’s more than just bad memories.’

It pulls away, mouth closing and the phone stops ringing at once.

Slowly it crawls out, size diminished, mouth slowly shrinking, and then it completely slips away, door closing behind it.

Exhausted and tired, Minseok settles back into the sleeping bag, looking around to make sure everyone was safely settled.

‘It’s time to wake up,’ Minseok whispers softly, closing his eyes.

 

 

*

 

‘Hyung!’

Minseok refuses to be held accountable for nearly punching Jongdae in his face. It’s a knee-jerk reaction and Jongdae, though he didn’t look it, did indeed possess the occasional fast reflex, so he’s saved a black eye. Honestly no one should be waking up anyone by flopping over to their sleeping bag in the first place.

‘Oh my god,’ Minseok gets out as soon as he’s recovered.

‘She showed me all the stars!’ Zitao remarks, hair standing on end from where he’s starting to sit up, phone already in his hand before adding, ‘It’s a good song!’ defensively to Jongdae’s quizzical look.

‘I’m hungry,’ Jongdae exclaims, looking at his camera before pointing it at Minseok’s face. ‘Hyung, are you hungry?’

‘Where’s Kyungsoo? And Baek?’ he asks instead, looking around the dorm room for the two.

‘Buddy rule!’ Jongdae explains before addressing his GoPro, ‘Guys, remember, we’re not idiots in horror movies and we do everything in pairs.’

‘So how was the last night for you?’ Jongdae redirects the GoPro to Zitao who sleepily blinks at him for a prolonged second.

‘I dunno, strangely fine I guess,’ Zitao remarks, ‘I think, with who I am now, it’s different.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Like- like I’ve grown out of this place I guess,’ Zitao stretches, ‘What I thought was holding me down, or like, I dunno, you know, something weighty? It’s well, I guess I feel like it’s not, uh, heavy anymore. Maybe once it was, but not anymore at least.’

‘That’s great!’ Jongdae smiles, his tone genuine.

Downstairs they hear the door opening, the sound of Baekhyun yelling, ‘HEY DK GHOSTS, YOUR BOYS ARE LEAVING FOR GOOD!’ following soon after.

Jongdae cackles, getting up and slipping his shoes on, ‘So are you saying you want to get all of the cameras by yourself?’

‘I’M NOT AN IDIOT!’ Baekhyun roars back.

Minseok looks around, rolling his shoulders a little.

‘Hyung,’ Zitao calls as he crawls over.

‘Hm?’

Slumping forward, Zitao hugs him tight.

‘I saw hyung in my dream,’ he grins at him.

‘Yeah?’ Minseok laughs, wrapping an arm around the tall young man and squeezing.

‘Hm,’ he nods, ‘You were talking on this old phone set, you sounded very kind.’

‘Odd dream,’ Minseok smiles. ‘But slept okay?’

‘Hm,’ Zitao sits up properly, ‘I guess so.’

‘Any nightmares?’

‘I dunno,’ Zitao frowns, ‘But I guess everything’s okay now. We can get going.’

Minseok nods.

‘Do you guys wanna grab breakfast first or head back to our hostel first?’ Jongdae asks, poking his head in, GoPro still in hand.

‘Breakfast please,’ Minseok groans, standing up, ‘I need carbs in me.’

‘Same!’ Baekhyun announces as he enters, hair pushed back into a beanie, face shiny from washing it. ‘I need like, 4 eggs.’

‘That’s so weirdly specific,’ Zitao frowns.

‘I wouldn’t say no to 4 eggs,’ Kyungsoo remarks, entering the room.

‘You really get me,’ Baekhyun says to Kyungsoo earnestly before turning to face his own GoPro, ‘Guys, please help me convince Kyungsoo to visit us more.’

‘That would also mean we’d have more of Chanyeol,’ Jongdae wiggles his eyebrows at an alarming rate. ‘Really, it’s just a plus for us that way.’

‘Please, let me rest,’ Minseok deadpans.

Kyungsoo laughs, walking over to pat Minseok on the shoulder.

They pack up, still pairing up as they retrieve all of their cameras, making sure to clean up after themselves. Minseok and Baekhyun walk over to the library, picking up the camera at the doorway.

‘Oh- oh no,’ Baekhyun whines.

‘Hm?’

‘It fell off,’ Baekhyun points at the camera pointed at the GoPro they had placed to point straight at the mural.

‘…so are you going to pick it up or not?’ Minseok raises his eyebrows at the younger who was shuffling on his feet.

‘I can- I can totally do this,’ Baekhyun nods to himself.

Minseok grins at the camera, shaking his head before he dismounts it.

The library is dim and quiet. No red, no face looking out at him.

‘Ah, still creepy,’ Baekhyun says in his slightly high-pitched voice, pretending to sound nonchalant. ‘I’ll be happy leaving this behind.’

‘There’s still the mural inside the library,’ Minseok reminds him as Baekhyun backs from the surprisingly well lit corridor.

‘Hyung, please don’t let me get it myself,’ Baekhyun whines.

Laughing Minseok gestures to him and they walk inside.

‘Much better in the morning, with some light from outside,’ Baekhyun remarks, shivering a little. ‘And oh god, it’s still there.’

‘Would you have had it not there?’ Minseok snorts.

‘Why would you say that?!’ Baekhyun wails.

They gather at the lobby again, all of their stuff neatly organized and packed.

‘So, any last thoughts?’ Jongdae asks, turning his GoPro to scan around them. ‘Any last remarks.’

‘Uh, 1 star, will not recommend, glad to be leaving, will not be returning,’ Baekhyun nods seriously. ‘And please, parents, don’t be fooled by grand facades- do thorough research!’

‘Uh, this was strangely therapeutic,’ Zitao begins thoughtfully, ‘I think I’m a bit surprised I guess.’

‘In what way?’

‘Surprised that I’ve moved on.’

‘And that is absolutely amazing!’ Baekhyun jumps over to squeeze Zitao. ‘We love personal growth!’

‘What about you Soo?’ Jongdae points the GoPro almost an inch away from Kyungsoo’s unflinching, unimpressed face.

‘I guess, the same like Zitao.’ Kyungsoo replies instead. ‘By coming back here, I feel like I’ve been…-like I’ve been able to let go of a lot of things.’

Baekhyun does the same to Kyungsoo, jumping over to hug him close.

‘And Minseok-hyung?’ Jongdae points the GoPro over at him. ‘Anything?’

Minseok opens his mouth- he’s unsure what to say. A lot happened- and he’s just glad they were all here, without anyone being lost, anyone being held down in here.

‘I’m hungry.’

The quiet and empty hostel rings with echoes of laughter, damp moldy walls exhaling at last for a final time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

*

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kyungsoo:

Hyung, thank you

If you hadn’t been there things would have been

Much more difficult

Thank you for allowing me to

I guess, not push as hard

It was terrifying, being back, seeing all of them again and not being able to control myself like I can now

It reminded me so much of how much in hurt

And being so alone

I guess this was my first heartbreak and it still hurt

But it also made me realize, maybe even if I didn’t beat it then

I still survived it

And I’m still here

I’m also sorry that we ended up having to go through all of that

Basically only so that I could realize this

But I’m still very grateful

So thank you again hyung

Also we might have to uhh

Be quite careful about some of our clips

It’s kinda…telling

 

 

 

*

 

 

 

Indigo_salad: Hey what the actual WAS THAT IN 15:08 BECAUSE THAT SURE LOOKED LIKE HANDPRINTS ON THE WALL BEHIND THEM IN THE MORNING PLEASE SOMEONE TWEET THEM THAT FRAME, I SWEAR THOSE ARE HANDPRINTS ALL OVER THE WALL BEHIND THEM FOR LIKE A SPLIT FRAME

 

Erikyoooooooonggggg_ggg: IF JONGDAE IS NOT A ERIKYOONG AFTER THIS I’M OFFICIALLY UNSUBSCRIBING (for like, 5 minutes) BECAUSE MISTER, YOU BETTER SIT DOWN AND THINK OF WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS EPISODE T_T T_T

 

Professional Procrastinator 3000: Is it just me or is there a somewhat…sadness to these episodes? I mean yeah it was scary af but at the same time I just- I dunno, there was something sad about these episode, weirdly melancholic- like the reverse of nostalgia?

 

Where there is a will, there is an iam: This was such a perfect 3 episode season finale shoot, like can we commend them, honestly, for sticking through their plan, being respectful about the content and history, being thorough about the place, listing reasons, legitimate ones!! Of why some things could be considered hauntings when its just potential illnesses from mold and stuff, and like, putting full credits on sources and actually being green-lighted by the areas city council and being approved like, what a good job, honestly I hope more people fund and sponsor them, because this is genuinely wonderful content

 

Mareete: I have a theory that Jongdae can actually see ghosts, but pretends not to and he’s just indulging Baekhyun and this theory IS TRUE UNLESS PROVEN WRONG

 

Baguette Au Pain: I think I held my breath for the entirety of Baekhyun’s solitary walk around the nursery/nursing room. God can you imagine how depressing it must have to be sick and recover in there? Also, is it just me, or uh, some of that night footage, was kinda…very busy? I don’t know how to explain it- like I know night footage is grainy but that was…different

 

Any_for_us: I haven’t commented in these episodes and I just- I was waiting for this last one to drop because I’m low-key freaking out because uh, I think I’ve always been able to see , and sometimes I thought I saw stuff in their episodes, especially this season. But god the way I felt once I started the first episode- the stuff in the background in the darkness, and like, I could sense and see exactly how it was starting to effect them because I physically couldn’t watch the episodes continusouly and I had to pause several times. Something was really heavy and dark in that hostel, and im happy that they got out of it with satisfaction, especially for their two guests, but wow, I hope they never encounter such a dark force like that again.

 

SilverInk: HEY WHY WOULD YOU LEAN IN AND LISTEN TO THOSE PIPES KIM JONGDAE ANSWER ME THIS INSTANCE WHAT ARE YOU DOING I’VE NEVER BEEN MORE STRESSED

 

minghaoFrogagenda: I think it’s safe to say that, despite their differences regarding the main theme of this god-sent series, Jongdae and Baekhyun work THIS well because of their respect and love for each other. Jongdae always teases Baek but he’s supportive in a way that works wonderfully. And Baekhyun doesn’t disbelieve Jongdae’s logic, instead he regards it seriously as well. The guests this week were amazing as well, it was clear that this was important to them and I’m happy to see them face their childhood trauma in a self-aware fashion. Thank you so much for these wonderful episodes!!

 

minghaoFrogagenda: ALSO GOTTA MENTION I THINK I SAW SOMETHING BEHIND JONGDAE WHEN HE WAS CHILLING (LIKE A MAD MAN) DURING HIS SOLITARY STAY

 

Why Are All The B-Sides Bops?: I’d love to see more behind the scenes shots from todays last episode! Im so happy they included more of their personal shots into this, it felt so real- like their fear, returning after Baek’s sleepwalking episode. I also love that they actually went to the memorial site before leaving the place. It was perfect. An EXCELLENT episode, god what a way to end the season.

 

167 Is Average Height: I always try to view these things with as much logical reasoning as possible, and like Jongdae pointed out, there’s a lot that goes on in old buldings, but the way they described the history, and just their general reactions too, not to mention Baekhyun’s sleepwalking it was- a lot, to say the least. Im not a strict believer in stuff like this but there’s definitely something about this place and definiltey happy that its going to be taken down and replaced with a whole new building set up

 

Sehun_omayaaaaaa: can’t believe you guys are ending this season like this

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Author’s Notes)

 

STREAM “DELIGHT” Y’ALL

I mean im guessing you already are but like

BBH never disappoints I want to tattoo ghost on my forehead

What are your favourite songs from the album?????????????

Mines obviously Ghost, and also underwater- ofc Candy is a wonderful song but UNDERWATER

Im just

But ultimately im happily married to Ghost

This week has been a wonderful week in terms of music

Actually scratch that

This MONTH has been amazing

AGUST D 2 DROPPED AND I’VE NOT BEEN THE SAME SINCE AM I OKAY???? IDK BUT EVERYTIME I LISTEN TO ANY SONG FROM THE ALBUM (especially what do you think and strange) I COULD PUNCH A BILLIONAIRE IN THE FACE

What are your favourite songs?

Also who knew my initial idea of writing this au meant to be a fun comedic time would turn out to actually be therapeutic for myself (and frightening!!)

It’s been relieving I guess, writing these chapters based on my own experiences and how I felt during certain times of my life, and being able to translate them out like this, BUT ALSO SORRY FOR TRAUMATIZING YOU GUYS IN TURN THAT WASN’T MY INTENTION

I wont be updating for a while, not that im not writing this anymore, but I wanna write MY BAEKXING FIC if you guys are interested in it please check it out!!! Baekhyun is the annual sacrifice to a god and that god is Yixing and every one else is an animal that can talk it’s hilarious!! Or at least I think it is

Im thinking of making these like seasons

I’ll put up the autopsy chapter soon though!!

Every season has like 10 chapters or something, so this is the end of season 2, and season 3 will be back after a break ^_^

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Like this story? Give it an Upvote!
Thank you!

Comments

You must be logged in to comment
fajiha23 #1
I came back to this story after a few year. But sadly there no update... Well, its okay i will still re-read it again...
luv_kero
2415 streak #2
Chapter 35: Ahhh, love that MiMoSa showed up to answer some questions for the Autopsy!! :D The banter between all six of them is GREAT and there's so much meme energy from the boys in the beginning, HAHA. Love it and I'm VERY intrigued to find out what they have planned for the final episode!! :O And to see how things get progressively worse for Baekhyun in the future, LOOOOOL. :')
Rinininette #3
Chapter 35: Yaaaay the Autopsy! I am always happy to see an update since I am a subscriber I feel like a child during Christmas hahaha
The intervention of Mimosa is cute and the new Autopsy format in the car is interesting! I wonder where they will be going if the first autopsy is shot during their trip to the final location. Is the travel really long or is it a teaser for new projects? I hope Minseok also will be careful while driving because it could be rowdy while debriefing their previous visits!
(Maybe there be ghosts on the road if they are traveling at night huh)

Thank you for your chapter! I'll prepare myself for scarier things in the next ones
luv_kero
2415 streak #4
Chapter 34: Starting off this new season STRONG!! *o* It actually almost makes me feel nostalgic, knowing that the ghoul boys of BUN are currently airing their last season ever of Supernatural after wrapping up True Crime a few months earlier, so I'm glad there's still the hijinks of Unsolved Vlogs to keep us all entertained!! :D And WOW, it seems like the spirits are SUPER active this season, right off the bat, and huge props to MiMoSa for handling everything with so much grace and ease. x] Love these collabs so much and it's okay, Baekhyun, I laughed at your jokes, HAHA :')
ShadedShadows
#5
Chapter 34: Oof, i wanna know what happened to all those spirits. Why were they all muddy? Were they buried alive or something? But you'd think that would have been uncovered... And why did Minseok not want to look at their faces? Why did they seem to want to protect the girls? Were they abuse victims? Are the spirits all genders or not? So many questions!!!
Rinininette #6
Chapter 34: Wooow I am so confused? Minseok is a whole mood like it's creepy but not threatening so what to do hahaha
MiMoSa are adorable and Boo is really cute too, he got many friends to play with!
Jongdae is such a no nonsense person he is TAUNTING the ghosts to get the ball up? The audacity lmaoo
Thank you for your chapter, it will indeed be fun to follow their next trips, the season is starting with a strong episode full of strange happenings
luv_kero
2415 streak #7
Chapter 33: Wow, like some of the commenters said, I definitely wasn't expecting this really raw, insightful, heart-wrenching conclusion about grief and mental health when it came to the story of It and Minseok's grandfather. It was so sad reading his death scene and then it was such a harrowing whirlwind of events as Minseok was exorcised. :O Very gripping, and I'm just really glad that Minseok feels so much more at peace now that It has been purged and he knows the circumstances that it manifested under. >___<

Anyway, super excited for the upcoming season!! :D This one was phenomenal and I know it'll keep getting better, hehe ^^ And I relate a lot to the sentiment of experiencing very HIGH highs and very LOW lows this year. >___< Sending you lots of good energy and well-wishes, and hoping for the lows to level out so that there are only highs!! :)
fajiha23 #8
Chapter 33: Ohmygod... Minseok finally okay... No more demon following .. and, this story srsly the best! Can't wait for their new season... And i hope you doing okay author-nim...
Rinininette #9
Chapter 33: Woah I am relieved Minseok could feel peace finally get rid of the enormous grief which was stuck to him.
Mon the best boi, I really love the snippets of Minseok with a cat (it kinda makes me miss your previous work lmao)
I agree with one of the comments I have to be in hell to forgive all the harm the aunt and the uncle had done and even there I would still hesitate, maybe I would meet them there haha
It's suite fun our favorite YouTubers know about Minseok's story without knowing it's him. Maybe one day they will know everything...
I am glad you are satisfied with your future plot, new season means more fun!
Thank you for your chapter!
KwonDawon
#10
Chapter 33: I just want to know. Is Minseok ever going to tell BaekChen that he can see them??? Also I can relate with toxic family members so much. I hate the whole side of my mom's side because of the toxicity that they are.