urban legend
title: urban legend
type: oneshot (3696 words)
fandom: shinee
pairing: none
rating/warnings: pg-13
author's notes: perfect timing, keke. let's play a game! whoever can figure out why i picked this specific time (7:06 PM) to post gets a free drabble of his/her choice. beta'd by hyungdeul~ ♥
each school has its own share of urban legends. passed down through word of mouth and occasionally in written form, they become part of a school's traditions; stories to scare the freshmen on their first tour around the campus, stories shared between groupmates on all-nighters, stories fondly recalled with no small amount of jibing by alumni. they are shared memories, chilling commemorations to life beyond the academics, beyond the physical plane and touching on the unknown.
there are the typical ghost stories: the bottled fetuses locked up in heavy oak cabinets in the biology building that cry loudly at night; the red-eyed spirits that peer back at you when you happen to look through a keyhole; the student that hanged herself in the bathroom, her feet tapping against your forehead when you sit down to relieve yourself.
then there are the stories based on real life. one might even say rumors that became too wild when no one could reasonably explain them (or when the true story was far too boring to pass down as is). the plaque on the school bench dedicated to a girl who was murdered just before graduation and now haunts the school auditorium during commencement exercises. the painting of the first college dean that stores her spirit which occasionally comes out to greet unsuspecting freshmen. the old record in the basement of the music building, the masterpiece of a group of brilliant music majors that committed suicide shortly after its completion, and now brings death upon all those who listen to it.
"but that's just a story," the oldest boy shrugs nonchalantly. the rest of the group breaks out into raucous laughter, howling and banging cans of beer on the old table that almost creaks in protest.
kim jungwoon folds his arms over his chest in satisfaction, smirking at the sight of the other boys making ghost noises and pretending to spook each other. he pauses, though, upon spotting one unsmiling face at the other end of the table.
"yah, taeminnie," he calls out to the boy. "aren't you scared?"
"no," taemin answers back simply, ignoring the way minjae nervously tries to jab him in the arm without anyone noticing. "it's too unbelievable. how could a simple recording kill someone?"
"because it's haunted, duh!" one of the older boys drawls out, his friends snickering in agreement.
annoyance flickers over taemin's face for a brief moment, but it is quickly smoothed over by placid curiosity. "and if this record is so dangerous, how come it hasn't been destroyed?"
"no one could destroy it," jungwoon lowers his voice to a quiet hush. "every time someone tried, the record started playing by itself and killed whoever was in the room. so they just moved the player and built a new room around it."
jungwoon takes a last swig of beer and crushes the empty can in his hand. "or do you want to check for yourself?" he asks leadingly, and the other boys whoop in agreement.
taemin shrugs nonchalantly and nods his assent.
as jungwoon barks out orders to distract the security guard and pick the lock to the basement, minjae pulls taemin aside.
"are you crazy?!" minjae hisses, pale-faced as he clutches at taemin's arms. "even if there isn't a crazy murdering ghost record down there, do you know what could happen if you get caught? you know they're going to leave you down there!"
taemin's gaze softens for his best friend. "you know they'll only harass me more if i don't do this. at least if i go down there now, they'll leave me alone for a few days."
minjae's lips press together in a thin line, and he would have protested further if it weren't for jungwoon's arm snaking around taemin's shoulders, steering him towards the now-open door to the music basement.
"all yours for the taking, taeminnie," jungwoon grins, handing taemin a flashlight and pushing him into the dark doorway.
"wait! how are we gonna make sure he actually goes down there?" another boy protests.
"i'll keep an eye on him!" minjae volunteers quickly, and taemin flashes him a small, grateful smile.
jungwoon, however, only rolls his eyes. "the two of you'll probably chicken out together," jungwoon dismisses him quickly, and minjae slowly pulls his hand back down, shame-faced.
"i'll go with taemin," a low voice offers from the back of the group, and a tall boy pushes forward, meeting jungwoon's gaze squarely.
jungwoon's lips purse in consideration. "alright, you watch him, choi," he finally says, allowing the other boy to push past him and join taemin at the doorway.
"be back by 2 or we'll leave you down there," jungwoon warns, and reaches out to swipe taemin's wallet from his pocket. "for safe-keeping," he explains to a shocked taemin, teeth bared in a predatory grin before closing the gate behind them.
for a few moments, taemin shivers in the darkness, until long fingers pry the flashlight from his hand and switch it on for him. the beam of light falls onto the stairs, and shifts to rest on taemin's hand.
"come on, let's go." minho's words echo through the narrow stairway as he reaches out to take taemin's hand and leads him carefully down the stairs one step at a time.
"why did you come with me?" taemin whispers, fingers clenching tightly around minho's hand when he nearly misses a step.
"someone had to," minho murmurs, pausing in their descent to steady taemin. "why did you let yourself be bullied into this?"
taemin doesn't answer right away. "i had to," he finally says, and tugs on minho's hand, urging him to continue walking down the stairs.
minho doesn't press for more details and leads taemin down until they reach the bottom of the stairs. the smell of old books hangs heavily in the air, its thick, musty scent filling their nostrils.
minho swings the flashlight around, its beam falling on ancient paintings of past deans, bookshelves filled to bursting with volumes of scoresheets and books on music theory, an old piano tucked forlornly into a corner, and-
"hyung! hyung, there's someone else here!" taemin whispers urgently, tugging at minho's arm to point the flashlight in the direction of three dark figures huddled around a small lamp in the middle of the room.
immediately, three voices shriek in unison. despite himself, despite his disbelief in the supernatural and that urban legend, taemin screams back, clinging to minho's arm as his legs tremble violently. taemin's brain urges him to flee, to escape before something, anything happens, but his feet are rooted to the spot, and he's suddenly sure that the record is going to play at any moment now and he's going to die and-
"hyungdeul," minho sighs, switching off the flashlight and striding over to the table, inadvertently dragging taemin with him. taemin chokes in protest but he can only stumble uselessly after him, refusing to sacrifice his grip on minho's arm.
"minho!" one of the three voices snaps in annoyance, and at this closer distance, taemin can make out their individual features; the narrowed eyes of the boy that had berated minho, the haphazardly spiked hair of the boy poring over a half-filled music sheet, the precarious perch of the glasses on the bridge of the third boy's nose.
"kibum," minho acknowledges, setting the flashlight down next to the lamp on the table. "what are you doing here?"
"we could ask you the same thing," kibum replies, crossing his arms over his chest and flipping his bangs out of his eyes to glare sullenly at minho.
"jonghyun was suddenly struck by inspiration," the bespectacled boy finally offers an explanation, jerking his thumb at the boy hunched over the table, "and he rushed us down here to get back to work."
"at one in the morning?" minho lifts a brow.
"you can't control inspiration!" jonghyun looks up from his work to flail his arms impatiently at minho. "you just don't understand my musical soul!"
"right," minho nods humoringly, "and i suppose you couldn't have worked in your dorm room instead of down here?"
"new tenants just moved in, and they're the really noisy type," the third boy shrugs helplessly, and pauses. "who's that with you, minho-yah?"
taemin trembles as minho looks over at him and drags him from the side to stand in front of the table. "lee taemin," minho's voice rumbles against taemin's back. "the frat boys egged him to go down here and find the record."
at this, jonghyun bursts into laughter, loud and boisterous like the frat boys' but much more pleasant. "you mean the one that kills you when you hear it?" he manages between chuckles.
taemin is still a little pale from the earlier fright, but jonghyun's reaction encourages him enough to give a nod.
"that one's a classic," jonghyun guffaws, shooting taemin a friendly smile.
"ugh, those damn fratmen. you've got to be the tenth kid they've sent down here this year," kibum frowns, flopping down into a chair. "you'd think they'd have grown up by now, but no."
"i guess you're a friend of minho's?" the boy with the glasses inquires kindly. "i'm lee jinki, and this is kim jonghyun and kim kibum."
"they're seniors working on their thesis, even though that doesn't completely explain why they're down here in the middle of the night," minho continues as taemin returns jinki's 90-degree bow. "well, except kibum who just wanted to finish his a year early."
"might as well get it over with," kibum says airily, and tosses taemin a curious look. "what about you, taemin?"
"ah? um ..." taemin laces his fingers together nervously. "freshman. piano major, but i think i might be more interested in dancing. i like singing, too, but i'm not very good."
jinki, jonghyun and kibum share a look. "you sing?" jonghyun asks.
taemin ducks his head self-consciously. "not very well ... i mean, i'm not a singing major or anything. and i really should be-"
"here, try singing this," kibum orders, pushing a music sheet into taemin's hand and tapping at a line. taemin looks up, startled - this is not at all how he had imagined searching for a haunted record would be like - but they are all looking at him so expectantly. even minho has drawn up a chair to sit on, so taemin obligingly reads over the piece.
the title is written hastily, smudged so badly by a red, messy thumbmark that it is practically indecipherable, but the notes and words are written neatly enough. taemin goes over the words and notes, humming the tune to himself until he is confident enough to sing it aloud.
"even if i try to avoid you, i can’t find a place to hide. i’m trapped by you, who i can’t even deny. if it was love, if you really loved me, don’t do this to me. her whisper is the-"
taemin breaks off with a deep flush. "i-i'm, i'm sorry, i really have to-"
"you're perfect!" jonghyun shrieks, sweeping taemin up into a tight hug that knocks the wind out of him. "you're the missing piece!"
"finally!" kibum nearly sobs, throwing his arms around whatever part of taemin isn't being gripped by jonghyun. "we've been looking for someone like you!"
"w-what?" taemin stammers, trying to squirm away from the physical contact. over kibum's shoulder, he can see jinki murmur something to minho before throwing him a pleased smile. "what's happening?"
"we're missing a set of vocals like yours," jinki explains. "none of our voices fit the part - well, jonghyun's would work, but he's already singing the part after it and the piece won't work with him having to catch up for this line."
"hey, hey!" jonghyun pulls back eagerly, his grin filling taemin's line of vision. "can you do a guest recording? just a few parts, just to complete this song?"
taemin's brow furrows. "i'm sorry, i just don't have time for this."
"please?" kibum pleads, his grip tightening around taemin just enough to be painful.
"a-ah! yes! yes, i'll do it!" taemin gasps, wincing at the tight curl of kibum's fingers around his arms.
"thank you, taeminnie," jonghyun sing-songs into taemin's ear, squeezing him once more before letting go of him and bouncing back to the table.
minho looks faintly amused as taemin staggers away from kibum. "ready to go?"
taemin nods shakily, returning to minho's side.
jinki smacks a hand into his fist. "ah, that's right! you're looking for the record, aren't you?"
"oh, yeah! for the frat boys," kibum murmurs.
"ah, that's easy. it's right over here, come on," jonghyun beckons, slipping into the darker recesses of the room. minho wraps an arm around taemin's shoulders and walks him forward with kibum and jinki picking up the lamp and following behind them.
"hyung, can't we just say i found the record and go back?" taemin hisses quietly.
"i'm supposed to make sure you actually find the record, not lie for you." minho shoots taemin an amused look. "why? are you scared now?"
taemin's mouth twists into a small scowl. "i don't have a good feeling about this," he confesses, shivering as the fine hairs along his arms and nape begin to rise.
minho only grips taemin tighter as they reach the back of the room. kibum lifts the lamp to cast light on where jonghyun is running his hands along the back wall, muttering to himself. he gives a small shout of victory when his fingers catch onto a panel, and jinki moves forward to help him pull and lift it out of the way, revealing a hidden section of the basement behind the wall.
taemin shifts closer to minho, his heartbeat rushing through his ears as jinki and jonghyun retreat into the hole to retrieve an old gramophone, ancient and rusty from years of not being used. set on the plate is a black vinyl record; the red label is faded, a clear testament to its age.
"oh my god," taemin breathes, eyes wide in surprise. "it actually exists."
"yep, it's genuine," jinki beams, patting the gramophone fondly.
"don't see these around anymore, do you?" jonghyun chuckles at the awestruck expression on taemin's face.
taemin can't help but reach out to the record, touching the vinyl with hesitant, careful fingers. "but how did you know where it was?"
"of course we know where it is," kibum scoffs. "we were the ones who made it."
taemin's jaw falls slack, the record nearly dropping from his hands. "y-you set up this prank?"
jonghyun tuts disapprovingly. "ockham's razor," he sing-songs, tapping at the red label in the middle.
taemin holds it up to the lamplight, squinting to make out the faded characters. "lee jinki, kim jonghyun, kim kibum. lucifer: a final submission for composition 199 under dr. lee sooman, academic year 1960..."
taemin's face drains of color as he looks up to meet jonghyun's gaze.
only there is one eye to stare back at. the other is now empty, the dark socket of a half-exposed yellowing skeleton. jonghyun's lips stretch and crack in a mockery of a grin as he stretches out a skinless hand to taemin.
taemin rears back instinctively, legs kicking out in a desperate bid to flee, but minho's grip on him is iron-clad and he can do nothing but to let jonghyun's bony fingers close around his wrist, tugging at his nerveless fingers to set the record on the gramophone.
"sing with us, taeminnie," jonghyun whispers softly, and flicks the needle.
the gramophone begins to blare out an unholy tune that resounds through the walls of the basement. jinki sings first, and taemin watches with horrified fascination as his adam apple bobs up and down a hollow throat.
"even if i try to avoid you, i can't find a place to hide," jinki croons, watching taemin with empty eye sockets. "i'm trapped by you..."
"who i can't even deny." taemin chokes back a gasp as the words are ripped unbidden from his throat, an invisible force compelling him to sing.
jonghyun's bloody, toothy smile is wide and pleased as he takes his turn. "if it was love, if you really loved me, don’t do this to me. her whisper is the LUCIFER."
the song breaks into a pounding beat that permeates taemin's chest, closing around his heart as tightly as minho's grip on his wrist. the sensation crawls up taemin's throat, scraping against the walls of his larynx and forcing its way out of his mouth. taemin's jaw hangs open in a scream, eyes slamming shut as visions flash through his head-
the music basement fifty years ago. three students huddled together, singing lines to each other and debating furiously over arrangements.
a packed auditorium, but the record nowhere to be found.
one, two, three bodies found days later, suspended from a beam at the back of the music basement.
one year later, the report of a genocide. a bloody vinyl record found in the hands of a fratman.
"you understand us, don't you, taeminnie?" kibum's voice is scratchy against the rope marks that line the remains of his throat, skeletal arms drawing taemin into a parody of a fond embrace.
"minho understood us. that's why he joined us," jinki continues, threading bony fingers into taemin's hair. the sharp nails scrape against taemin's skin, drawing thin rivulets of blood along his neck.
jonghyun's voice rises into a crescendo, drawing out a note in an eerie, inhuman wail.
"you should join us, too," minho murmurs into taemin's ear.
but taemin can no longer hear it
body folded into minho's arms, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, eyes gaping wide open at the ceiling
can no longer hear anything.
---
minjae shifts restlessly, fingers twisting into the worn material of his jacket. "h-hey, don't you think they've been down there too long?" he ventures carefully, eyes darting between the older boys.
"che!" jungwoon snarls, throwing an empty can into the passageway that taemin and minho had disappeared into an hour ago. the sound of crushed tin bouncing along the old stairs echoes emptily in the darkness. "i told those brats we'd wait until 2."
"probably snuck off for a quick fuck," a stout boy remarks as they stand to leave, smirking when hushed snickers and whispers of "dirty faggots" ripple through the group.
minjae gapes at them, scrambling to his feet. "y-you mean we're just going to leave them here?"
jungwoon rolls his eyes condescendingly. "listen, kid. i said 2 and i meant 2. they should be thanking me on bended knee for even waiting for them this long."
"b-but what if something bad happened to them?"
"oh, like the big bad ghosts of the music basement got them?" one of the older boys guffaws, smacking minjae on the back.
jungwoon suppresses a smirk. "jesus, minjae. if you're so worried about them, go after them."
minjae bites back a gasp as jungwoon fists his hand into his collar and shoves him into the entrance to the music basement. he crumples against the metal gates, shutting his eyes tightly against the sound of raucous laughter.
when he can no longer hear the noisy cackling of the other boys, minjae picks himself up hastily and dashes down the opposite hallway. the security guard has to be around here somewhere. even the janitor will do - anyone that can help open the gate, because there is no way taemin would stay down there for that long over some stupid dare.
"yah!"
"kwon-songsaengnim!" minjae gasps, scrambling off the teacher he had run into. "i-i'm so sorry, i wasn't-i didn't think you'd be here, i-"
kwon-songsaeng frowns at him, picking up the various folders she had dropped from their collision. "i was pulling an all-nighter on the arrangement for next week's recital. you on the other hand, minjae-sshi, have no reason to be here."
minjae shakes his head furiously. "songsaengnim, you have to come with me! lee taemin and choi minho are locked in the music basement and they haven't come-"
kwon-songsaeng holds a hand up to stop his rambling. "wait. you mentioned a choi minho?"
minjae nods shakily, a little stunned by her question. "y-yeah, the arts major. really tall guy, i think he's on the varsity team..." he trails off, staring at kwon-songsaeng's pale face. "songsaengnim?"
kwon-songsaeng's grip tightens on her folders. "are... are you sure his name is choi minho? plays a lot of football? studies art and culture films?"
minjae swallows nervously. "y-yes?"
kwon-songsaeng looks like she has seen a ghost. "minjae-sshi, the only choi minho that fits your description was my hoobae when i was studying here, and he went missing years ago."
minjae's stomach turns at the same moment that a chorus of screams resound from the lobby of the building. minjae forces down the bile that threatens to spill from his throat and staggers back down the hallway, leaving kwon-songsaeng seated numbly in the middle of the corridor.
he finds the gate forced open, swinging weakly on its hinges as if someone of inhuman strength had pried it open. every ounce of survival instinct is screaming at him, but the terrifying thought of something horrible happening to taemin has him trembling down the stairs, clinging to the railing like a lifeline.
at first glance, nothing is amiss. but then the overturned lamp on the table rolls to the floor and comes to a stop next to the lifeless body of the boy that had laughed at minjae only minutes ago.
his is not the only body. the change in illumination reveals the corpses of all of the frat boys; almost all of them have their throats slit open, mouths gaping open in perpetual screams.
jungwoon’s body is found next to the piano. strangely, the dusty lid of the piano is lifted, bloody fingerprints smeared all over the ivory keys. jungwoon's eyes are missing from their sockets, and his fingers are curled emptily, as if something has been pried from his hand.
taemin’s body is nowhere to be found. the only untouched spot in the room is an old gramophone and the pristine vinyl record set upon it.
type: oneshot (3696 words)
fandom: shinee
pairing: none
rating/warnings: pg-13
author's notes: perfect timing, keke. let's play a game! whoever can figure out why i picked this specific time (7:06 PM) to post gets a free drabble of his/her choice. beta'd by hyungdeul~ ♥
each school has its own share of urban legends. passed down through word of mouth and occasionally in written form, they become part of a school's traditions; stories to scare the freshmen on their first tour around the campus, stories shared between groupmates on all-nighters, stories fondly recalled with no small amount of jibing by alumni. they are shared memories, chilling commemorations to life beyond the academics, beyond the physical plane and touching on the unknown.
there are the typical ghost stories: the bottled fetuses locked up in heavy oak cabinets in the biology building that cry loudly at night; the red-eyed spirits that peer back at you when you happen to look through a keyhole; the student that hanged herself in the bathroom, her feet tapping against your forehead when you sit down to relieve yourself.
then there are the stories based on real life. one might even say rumors that became too wild when no one could reasonably explain them (or when the true story was far too boring to pass down as is). the plaque on the school bench dedicated to a girl who was murdered just before graduation and now haunts the school auditorium during commencement exercises. the painting of the first college dean that stores her spirit which occasionally comes out to greet unsuspecting freshmen. the old record in the basement of the music building, the masterpiece of a group of brilliant music majors that committed suicide shortly after its completion, and now brings death upon all those who listen to it.
"but that's just a story," the oldest boy shrugs nonchalantly. the rest of the group breaks out into raucous laughter, howling and banging cans of beer on the old table that almost creaks in protest.
kim jungwoon folds his arms over his chest in satisfaction, smirking at the sight of the other boys making ghost noises and pretending to spook each other. he pauses, though, upon spotting one unsmiling face at the other end of the table.
"yah, taeminnie," he calls out to the boy. "aren't you scared?"
"no," taemin answers back simply, ignoring the way minjae nervously tries to jab him in the arm without anyone noticing. "it's too unbelievable. how could a simple recording kill someone?"
"because it's haunted, duh!" one of the older boys drawls out, his friends snickering in agreement.
annoyance flickers over taemin's face for a brief moment, but it is quickly smoothed over by placid curiosity. "and if this record is so dangerous, how come it hasn't been destroyed?"
"no one could destroy it," jungwoon lowers his voice to a quiet hush. "every time someone tried, the record started playing by itself and killed whoever was in the room. so they just moved the player and built a new room around it."
jungwoon takes a last swig of beer and crushes the empty can in his hand. "or do you want to check for yourself?" he asks leadingly, and the other boys whoop in agreement.
taemin shrugs nonchalantly and nods his assent.
as jungwoon barks out orders to distract the security guard and pick the lock to the basement, minjae pulls taemin aside.
"are you crazy?!" minjae hisses, pale-faced as he clutches at taemin's arms. "even if there isn't a crazy murdering ghost record down there, do you know what could happen if you get caught? you know they're going to leave you down there!"
taemin's gaze softens for his best friend. "you know they'll only harass me more if i don't do this. at least if i go down there now, they'll leave me alone for a few days."
minjae's lips press together in a thin line, and he would have protested further if it weren't for jungwoon's arm snaking around taemin's shoulders, steering him towards the now-open door to the music basement.
"all yours for the taking, taeminnie," jungwoon grins, handing taemin a flashlight and pushing him into the dark doorway.
"wait! how are we gonna make sure he actually goes down there?" another boy protests.
"i'll keep an eye on him!" minjae volunteers quickly, and taemin flashes him a small, grateful smile.
jungwoon, however, only rolls his eyes. "the two of you'll probably chicken out together," jungwoon dismisses him quickly, and minjae slowly pulls his hand back down, shame-faced.
"i'll go with taemin," a low voice offers from the back of the group, and a tall boy pushes forward, meeting jungwoon's gaze squarely.
jungwoon's lips purse in consideration. "alright, you watch him, choi," he finally says, allowing the other boy to push past him and join taemin at the doorway.
"be back by 2 or we'll leave you down there," jungwoon warns, and reaches out to swipe taemin's wallet from his pocket. "for safe-keeping," he explains to a shocked taemin, teeth bared in a predatory grin before closing the gate behind them.
for a few moments, taemin shivers in the darkness, until long fingers pry the flashlight from his hand and switch it on for him. the beam of light falls onto the stairs, and shifts to rest on taemin's hand.
"come on, let's go." minho's words echo through the narrow stairway as he reaches out to take taemin's hand and leads him carefully down the stairs one step at a time.
"why did you come with me?" taemin whispers, fingers clenching tightly around minho's hand when he nearly misses a step.
"someone had to," minho murmurs, pausing in their descent to steady taemin. "why did you let yourself be bullied into this?"
taemin doesn't answer right away. "i had to," he finally says, and tugs on minho's hand, urging him to continue walking down the stairs.
minho doesn't press for more details and leads taemin down until they reach the bottom of the stairs. the smell of old books hangs heavily in the air, its thick, musty scent filling their nostrils.
minho swings the flashlight around, its beam falling on ancient paintings of past deans, bookshelves filled to bursting with volumes of scoresheets and books on music theory, an old piano tucked forlornly into a corner, and-
"hyung! hyung, there's someone else here!" taemin whispers urgently, tugging at minho's arm to point the flashlight in the direction of three dark figures huddled around a small lamp in the middle of the room.
immediately, three voices shriek in unison. despite himself, despite his disbelief in the supernatural and that urban legend, taemin screams back, clinging to minho's arm as his legs tremble violently. taemin's brain urges him to flee, to escape before something, anything happens, but his feet are rooted to the spot, and he's suddenly sure that the record is going to play at any moment now and he's going to die and-
"hyungdeul," minho sighs, switching off the flashlight and striding over to the table, inadvertently dragging taemin with him. taemin chokes in protest but he can only stumble uselessly after him, refusing to sacrifice his grip on minho's arm.
"minho!" one of the three voices snaps in annoyance, and at this closer distance, taemin can make out their individual features; the narrowed eyes of the boy that had berated minho, the haphazardly spiked hair of the boy poring over a half-filled music sheet, the precarious perch of the glasses on the bridge of the third boy's nose.
"kibum," minho acknowledges, setting the flashlight down next to the lamp on the table. "what are you doing here?"
"we could ask you the same thing," kibum replies, crossing his arms over his chest and flipping his bangs out of his eyes to glare sullenly at minho.
"jonghyun was suddenly struck by inspiration," the bespectacled boy finally offers an explanation, jerking his thumb at the boy hunched over the table, "and he rushed us down here to get back to work."
"at one in the morning?" minho lifts a brow.
"you can't control inspiration!" jonghyun looks up from his work to flail his arms impatiently at minho. "you just don't understand my musical soul!"
"right," minho nods humoringly, "and i suppose you couldn't have worked in your dorm room instead of down here?"
"new tenants just moved in, and they're the really noisy type," the third boy shrugs helplessly, and pauses. "who's that with you, minho-yah?"
taemin trembles as minho looks over at him and drags him from the side to stand in front of the table. "lee taemin," minho's voice rumbles against taemin's back. "the frat boys egged him to go down here and find the record."
at this, jonghyun bursts into laughter, loud and boisterous like the frat boys' but much more pleasant. "you mean the one that kills you when you hear it?" he manages between chuckles.
taemin is still a little pale from the earlier fright, but jonghyun's reaction encourages him enough to give a nod.
"that one's a classic," jonghyun guffaws, shooting taemin a friendly smile.
"ugh, those damn fratmen. you've got to be the tenth kid they've sent down here this year," kibum frowns, flopping down into a chair. "you'd think they'd have grown up by now, but no."
"i guess you're a friend of minho's?" the boy with the glasses inquires kindly. "i'm lee jinki, and this is kim jonghyun and kim kibum."
"they're seniors working on their thesis, even though that doesn't completely explain why they're down here in the middle of the night," minho continues as taemin returns jinki's 90-degree bow. "well, except kibum who just wanted to finish his a year early."
"might as well get it over with," kibum says airily, and tosses taemin a curious look. "what about you, taemin?"
"ah? um ..." taemin laces his fingers together nervously. "freshman. piano major, but i think i might be more interested in dancing. i like singing, too, but i'm not very good."
jinki, jonghyun and kibum share a look. "you sing?" jonghyun asks.
taemin ducks his head self-consciously. "not very well ... i mean, i'm not a singing major or anything. and i really should be-"
"here, try singing this," kibum orders, pushing a music sheet into taemin's hand and tapping at a line. taemin looks up, startled - this is not at all how he had imagined searching for a haunted record would be like - but they are all looking at him so expectantly. even minho has drawn up a chair to sit on, so taemin obligingly reads over the piece.
the title is written hastily, smudged so badly by a red, messy thumbmark that it is practically indecipherable, but the notes and words are written neatly enough. taemin goes over the words and notes, humming the tune to himself until he is confident enough to sing it aloud.
"even if i try to avoid you, i can’t find a place to hide. i’m trapped by you, who i can’t even deny. if it was love, if you really loved me, don’t do this to me. her whisper is the-"
taemin breaks off with a deep flush. "i-i'm, i'm sorry, i really have to-"
"you're perfect!" jonghyun shrieks, sweeping taemin up into a tight hug that knocks the wind out of him. "you're the missing piece!"
"finally!" kibum nearly sobs, throwing his arms around whatever part of taemin isn't being gripped by jonghyun. "we've been looking for someone like you!"
"w-what?" taemin stammers, trying to squirm away from the physical contact. over kibum's shoulder, he can see jinki murmur something to minho before throwing him a pleased smile. "what's happening?"
"we're missing a set of vocals like yours," jinki explains. "none of our voices fit the part - well, jonghyun's would work, but he's already singing the part after it and the piece won't work with him having to catch up for this line."
"hey, hey!" jonghyun pulls back eagerly, his grin filling taemin's line of vision. "can you do a guest recording? just a few parts, just to complete this song?"
taemin's brow furrows. "i'm sorry, i just don't have time for this."
"please?" kibum pleads, his grip tightening around taemin just enough to be painful.
"a-ah! yes! yes, i'll do it!" taemin gasps, wincing at the tight curl of kibum's fingers around his arms.
"thank you, taeminnie," jonghyun sing-songs into taemin's ear, squeezing him once more before letting go of him and bouncing back to the table.
minho looks faintly amused as taemin staggers away from kibum. "ready to go?"
taemin nods shakily, returning to minho's side.
jinki smacks a hand into his fist. "ah, that's right! you're looking for the record, aren't you?"
"oh, yeah! for the frat boys," kibum murmurs.
"ah, that's easy. it's right over here, come on," jonghyun beckons, slipping into the darker recesses of the room. minho wraps an arm around taemin's shoulders and walks him forward with kibum and jinki picking up the lamp and following behind them.
"hyung, can't we just say i found the record and go back?" taemin hisses quietly.
"i'm supposed to make sure you actually find the record, not lie for you." minho shoots taemin an amused look. "why? are you scared now?"
taemin's mouth twists into a small scowl. "i don't have a good feeling about this," he confesses, shivering as the fine hairs along his arms and nape begin to rise.
minho only grips taemin tighter as they reach the back of the room. kibum lifts the lamp to cast light on where jonghyun is running his hands along the back wall, muttering to himself. he gives a small shout of victory when his fingers catch onto a panel, and jinki moves forward to help him pull and lift it out of the way, revealing a hidden section of the basement behind the wall.
taemin shifts closer to minho, his heartbeat rushing through his ears as jinki and jonghyun retreat into the hole to retrieve an old gramophone, ancient and rusty from years of not being used. set on the plate is a black vinyl record; the red label is faded, a clear testament to its age.
"oh my god," taemin breathes, eyes wide in surprise. "it actually exists."
"yep, it's genuine," jinki beams, patting the gramophone fondly.
"don't see these around anymore, do you?" jonghyun chuckles at the awestruck expression on taemin's face.
taemin can't help but reach out to the record, touching the vinyl with hesitant, careful fingers. "but how did you know where it was?"
"of course we know where it is," kibum scoffs. "we were the ones who made it."
taemin's jaw falls slack, the record nearly dropping from his hands. "y-you set up this prank?"
jonghyun tuts disapprovingly. "ockham's razor," he sing-songs, tapping at the red label in the middle.
taemin holds it up to the lamplight, squinting to make out the faded characters. "lee jinki, kim jonghyun, kim kibum. lucifer: a final submission for composition 199 under dr. lee sooman, academic year 1960..."
taemin's face drains of color as he looks up to meet jonghyun's gaze.
only there is one eye to stare back at. the other is now empty, the dark socket of a half-exposed yellowing skeleton. jonghyun's lips stretch and crack in a mockery of a grin as he stretches out a skinless hand to taemin.
taemin rears back instinctively, legs kicking out in a desperate bid to flee, but minho's grip on him is iron-clad and he can do nothing but to let jonghyun's bony fingers close around his wrist, tugging at his nerveless fingers to set the record on the gramophone.
"sing with us, taeminnie," jonghyun whispers softly, and flicks the needle.
the gramophone begins to blare out an unholy tune that resounds through the walls of the basement. jinki sings first, and taemin watches with horrified fascination as his adam apple bobs up and down a hollow throat.
"even if i try to avoid you, i can't find a place to hide," jinki croons, watching taemin with empty eye sockets. "i'm trapped by you..."
"who i can't even deny." taemin chokes back a gasp as the words are ripped unbidden from his throat, an invisible force compelling him to sing.
jonghyun's bloody, toothy smile is wide and pleased as he takes his turn. "if it was love, if you really loved me, don’t do this to me. her whisper is the LUCIFER."
the song breaks into a pounding beat that permeates taemin's chest, closing around his heart as tightly as minho's grip on his wrist. the sensation crawls up taemin's throat, scraping against the walls of his larynx and forcing its way out of his mouth. taemin's jaw hangs open in a scream, eyes slamming shut as visions flash through his head-
the music basement fifty years ago. three students huddled together, singing lines to each other and debating furiously over arrangements.
a packed auditorium, but the record nowhere to be found.
one, two, three bodies found days later, suspended from a beam at the back of the music basement.
one year later, the report of a genocide. a bloody vinyl record found in the hands of a fratman.
"you understand us, don't you, taeminnie?" kibum's voice is scratchy against the rope marks that line the remains of his throat, skeletal arms drawing taemin into a parody of a fond embrace.
"minho understood us. that's why he joined us," jinki continues, threading bony fingers into taemin's hair. the sharp nails scrape against taemin's skin, drawing thin rivulets of blood along his neck.
jonghyun's voice rises into a crescendo, drawing out a note in an eerie, inhuman wail.
"you should join us, too," minho murmurs into taemin's ear.
but taemin can no longer hear it
body folded into minho's arms, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, eyes gaping wide open at the ceiling
can no longer hear anything.
---
minjae shifts restlessly, fingers twisting into the worn material of his jacket. "h-hey, don't you think they've been down there too long?" he ventures carefully, eyes darting between the older boys.
"che!" jungwoon snarls, throwing an empty can into the passageway that taemin and minho had disappeared into an hour ago. the sound of crushed tin bouncing along the old stairs echoes emptily in the darkness. "i told those brats we'd wait until 2."
"probably snuck off for a quick fuck," a stout boy remarks as they stand to leave, smirking when hushed snickers and whispers of "dirty faggots" ripple through the group.
minjae gapes at them, scrambling to his feet. "y-you mean we're just going to leave them here?"
jungwoon rolls his eyes condescendingly. "listen, kid. i said 2 and i meant 2. they should be thanking me on bended knee for even waiting for them this long."
"b-but what if something bad happened to them?"
"oh, like the big bad ghosts of the music basement got them?" one of the older boys guffaws, smacking minjae on the back.
jungwoon suppresses a smirk. "jesus, minjae. if you're so worried about them, go after them."
minjae bites back a gasp as jungwoon fists his hand into his collar and shoves him into the entrance to the music basement. he crumples against the metal gates, shutting his eyes tightly against the sound of raucous laughter.
when he can no longer hear the noisy cackling of the other boys, minjae picks himself up hastily and dashes down the opposite hallway. the security guard has to be around here somewhere. even the janitor will do - anyone that can help open the gate, because there is no way taemin would stay down there for that long over some stupid dare.
"yah!"
"kwon-songsaengnim!" minjae gasps, scrambling off the teacher he had run into. "i-i'm so sorry, i wasn't-i didn't think you'd be here, i-"
kwon-songsaeng frowns at him, picking up the various folders she had dropped from their collision. "i was pulling an all-nighter on the arrangement for next week's recital. you on the other hand, minjae-sshi, have no reason to be here."
minjae shakes his head furiously. "songsaengnim, you have to come with me! lee taemin and choi minho are locked in the music basement and they haven't come-"
kwon-songsaeng holds a hand up to stop his rambling. "wait. you mentioned a choi minho?"
minjae nods shakily, a little stunned by her question. "y-yeah, the arts major. really tall guy, i think he's on the varsity team..." he trails off, staring at kwon-songsaeng's pale face. "songsaengnim?"
kwon-songsaeng's grip tightens on her folders. "are... are you sure his name is choi minho? plays a lot of football? studies art and culture films?"
minjae swallows nervously. "y-yes?"
kwon-songsaeng looks like she has seen a ghost. "minjae-sshi, the only choi minho that fits your description was my hoobae when i was studying here, and he went missing years ago."
minjae's stomach turns at the same moment that a chorus of screams resound from the lobby of the building. minjae forces down the bile that threatens to spill from his throat and staggers back down the hallway, leaving kwon-songsaeng seated numbly in the middle of the corridor.
he finds the gate forced open, swinging weakly on its hinges as if someone of inhuman strength had pried it open. every ounce of survival instinct is screaming at him, but the terrifying thought of something horrible happening to taemin has him trembling down the stairs, clinging to the railing like a lifeline.
at first glance, nothing is amiss. but then the overturned lamp on the table rolls to the floor and comes to a stop next to the lifeless body of the boy that had laughed at minjae only minutes ago.
his is not the only body. the change in illumination reveals the corpses of all of the frat boys; almost all of them have their throats slit open, mouths gaping open in perpetual screams.
jungwoon’s body is found next to the piano. strangely, the dusty lid of the piano is lifted, bloody fingerprints smeared all over the ivory keys. jungwoon's eyes are missing from their sockets, and his fingers are curled emptily, as if something has been pried from his hand.
taemin’s body is nowhere to be found. the only untouched spot in the room is an old gramophone and the pristine vinyl record set upon it.