After watching them walk out of the door Taeyeon stopped before the stairs that led up to the second level of the mansion. The house was seriously big. She had to admit that maybe even one day and one night was not enough for finding every room and looking through it. If she recalled correctly Leeteuk’s grandmother had certainly forbidden them from entering the third level of the house. Now why was that? Was there some kind of secret up there?

Taeyeon headed up the stairs and walked around passing all the bedrooms of Gyuri, Siwon, Yoona, Seungho, and Zhoumi. There were certainly no staircase that led up to the third floor. That was strange because there was certainly a third floor in the mansion. She walked one more round around the second level but still no staircase. If there were no staircase then how was anyone able to access the third floor? She wondered and wondered for a long time before deciding to head back down the stairs.

When she entered the hallway to Siwon and Yoona’s bedroom she thought she saw Yoona walk out from her room. Pausing at the entrance of the hallway Taeyeon watched as Yoona quietly walked down the hall without noticing her and turned around the corner.

“What…” Taeyeon mumbled. Yoona had already left the house…how was it that she was still in the mansion at this time?

Looking around Taeyeon found herself surrounded on all sides with the light colored walls staring back at her. She had stopped at the corner exactly and if something were to happen she could only run back to where she’d just come from. That didn’t sound like such an astounding idea. It sort of felt like someone were playing a hard puzzle with her. She was scared to move forward because what if she made the wrong move by walking pass Yoona’s bedroom? And if she went back the way she’d come it would be taking the longer way around to the stairs leading to the first floor. And the longer way around was really the longer way.

Closing her eyes Taeyeon grasped onto the star hanging around her neck. Changmin had told her that it was his good luck charm so she hoped that it would also be hers. After taking a breath Taeyeon stepped forward cautiously poking her head forwards. She wanted to call out Yoona’s name but she was also scared. What if she got a reply from someone else? Feeling the shivers travel up and down her spine Taeyeon quickened her pace. Who knew that being so alone could be so scary?

Siwon’s door was not surprisingly closed, but Yoona’s door was left wide open as if inviting anyone to come in. Taeyeon glanced in to find that the room was very organized, the bed made, and even the closet inside was closed. Yoona should have closed the door, why was it open? Withholding the rest of her curiosity Taeyeon turned to come face to face with Seungho. Being surprised by him she screamed and fell back onto the ground.

“What?” he questioned. “I was just wondering what you were doing up here. You’re really nosey, aren’t you? Going around like this when nobody else is around.”

Taeyeon turned to glare up at him, “What are you doing up here?! Scaring the heck out of me.”

Seungho laughed, “Well, sorry.”

When Taeyeon got up she looked around then said in a quiet voice, “Did you, by any chance, see Yoona on the way up here?”

“Yoona?” he repeated. “No. I saw no one. Are you being paranoid?”

“No…” Taeyeon told then said, “yes.”

Seungho smirked, “Whatever then. I’m heading back down. Snoop around as much as you want.”

“I wasn’t snooping.” Taeyeon remarked following him the rest of the wall down the hallway, however, she couldn’t help but turn to look back.

;;;;;

Yoona and Siwon were busy looking at some flowers along the trail they’d taken behind some trees. They’d taken Changmin’s words about the way around the village into their memory and it made exploring a bit more fun.

“Oppa! This is so pretty! We don’t even have this in Seoul.” Yoona exclaimed.

“Wow. Maybe before we go back we should take some for ourselves.” Siwon suggested.

Yoona looked up from where she was half sitting and glanced at Leeteuk, who seemed impatient with arms crossed. He was busily looking toward the road where they’d just come from.

“Are you bored?” Yoona questioned.

Leeteuk immediately spun back to them, “No.”

“Say, why’d you want to stay back there with Taeyeon earlier?” Yoona asked.

“I didn’t.” Leeteuk denied.

“You shouldn’t have to worry about her. My unnie’s reserved from now on.” Yoona smiled brightly.

“What do you mean by that?” Siwon cut in curious.

Yoona just smiled at him, “I’m not telling.”

“Come on. I want to know too.”

“Not telling.”

“Yoona-ah!”

“No.”

“Guys!” a voice called out.

The three of them turned to see Seungho running toward them. They all stared at him when he came to a stop before them panting hard.

“What’s with you?” Yoona asked.

“I thought you were going to watch some TV.” Siwon told.

“I got so bored I decided to come out.” Seungho replied.

“Then Taeyeon’s back in the mansion alone?” questioned Leeteuk out of the blue.

“She’s in the mansion?” Seungho asked then shook his head. “I didn’t see her at all.”

Siwon and Yoona turned to look at each other.

“What?” Seungho asked wondering if he’d done something wrong.

“What if something bad happened?” asked Yoona worried.

“What can happen?” Siwon wondered. “Don’t worry. It’s not like she’s the only one there. Gyuri and the others are just outside in the backyard.”

Leeteuk turned away from them and glanced down the road. It wasn’t the first time he’d heard about Taeyeon being alone, but it was always true that something would happen. She’d drown in the pool without word, she’d been screaming in the house without explanation, and she had collapsed on the road. What if…just what if something did happen? Without saying anything he half ran, half walked down the way they had come leaving the others in big surprise.

“Where’s he going?” Yoona asked.

“Leeteuk! Yah! Leeteuk!” Siwon shouted after him then turned to the others. “You two stay here.”

“Wha…why?” Yoona called after Siwon had ran off.

She turned to Seungho and followed Siwon leaving Seungho confused about what had happened.

She didn’t notice that they had walked so far away from the mansion. When she felt like she was halfway after them Siwon and Leeteuk had already disappeared from her sight. Feeling helplessly out of breath she stopped for some air. The strength had been totally drained from her legs.

“You guys…are crazy…” she mumbled between every breath she took.

Slowly starting again she walked after them.

;;;;;

Leeteuk turned around the corner finally arriving at the drive. Passing the van he jumped up the steps and finally entered the mansion. It was bare empty and felt sort of cold. Why…was he feeling over-paranoid all of a sudden? His mind was in a blur and he felt like Taeyeon were in some sort of danger. Why? Why, all of a sudden, was he feeling like this? He glanced from room to room as if looking for an intruder until he finally came across Taeyeon in the kitchen, her back to him.

“What are you doing?” he asked loudly.

Taeyeon jumped and turned around. Again she held the same butter knife that he’d seen her with the other morning.

“You scared me.” she told taking a breath of relief.

Leeteuk glanced at the two slices of bread she had before her laid out on the counter. “What are you doing?”

“I was making a sandwich for Seungho.” Taeyeon replied calmly.

“Seungho?” Leeteuk repeated then turned to look around.

Seungho had been with them a minute ago, how could he have been in the mansion at the same time?

“You…are you seeing things?” Leeteuk asked with a deep frown.

“Wha…what are you saying?” Taeyeon asked with her face expression changing. It was as if…it felt as if she’d noticed something wasn’t totally right either. “Wasn’t…Seungho here?”

“He was with us outside. How could he have been in the mansion at the same time?” Leeteuk said.

The butter knife dropped from Taeyeon’s hand and landed with a loud cling on the ground. Leeteuk glanced at her face that had suddenly gone deathly pale.

“What?” he questioned.

Taeyeon turned to look at Siwon as he entered the kitchen then spun back around gathering the two slices of bread and tossed them into the garbage. Turning back around she walked pass Leeteuk and Siwon. While heading out she passed Yoona and Seungho along the way. She couldn’t help but stop to stare at Seungho. Seungho from before looked just like the real Seungho. How…could it have happened?

“Unnie!” Yoona called.

Taeyeon immediately began running down the road leaving Yoona behind in the dirt. When Yoona turned around to head back toward the mansion to find Siwon Leeteuk immediately brushed pass her. Yoona turned again to follow him as he passed by and turned again to see Siwon running toward them.

“Oppa!” she called out. “What’s going on?”

“I don’t know. Oh, geez! They never tell me anything.” Siwon said stopping beside her.

Where was she going? Why was she running? Was she crazy? All these questions ran through his mind while keeping her back in his view. Taeyeon finally came to a stop when she lost her footing and slid against the gravel underneath her feet. Stopping behind her he listened as she let out a small cry and clutched her head with her hands.

“I’m not crazy…” she told herself.

“Yah,” he called out in a gentle manner. “What’s wrong?”

Was she…actually feeling emotionally hurt? Or had something happened again? He got on one knee beside her and tried to glance at her face but only found that she had her eyes closed. Before he could manage to say anything the sound of an animal heavily panting entered his ears. He looked up to see a black dog run out from the gate toward them then someone appeared behind him.

“Dark! Come back here!” Changmin called reaching for the dog’s collar.

When he managed to get a hold of the dog he glanced at Taeyeon first then to him. Leetuek didn’t know whether he should laugh or be angry. Was it a coincidence? That they had stopped before the gate to Changmin’s home or did Taeyeon purposely stop there?

Leeteuk felt Changmin avert his gaze from him and turned his attention to Taeyeon.

“Taeyeon?” Changmin called. “What’s wrong? Are you ok?”

Leeteuk felt a voice deep inside him scream at her not to turn to Changmin. Why would she give her attention to the rival standing before her? Helplessly he watched as Taeyeon lifted her head up to look at Changmin. Something sparkled in her eyes when she fully looked at him and Leeteuk felt like he hated the sight of it. He continued to watch as Changmin extended an arm to help Taeyeon up from the ground. When she was up Leeteuk found himself standing up, too. Standing next to Taeyeon he stared back at Changmin.

“Long time no see,” Changmin greeted.

***So Taeyeon saw doubles while on the second floor...and there's no staircase to the third level of the house...is that possible?