The Empty Canvas

Two: Monster

Baekhyun was puzzled how the painting lost the image. Despite this, fear overpowered his curiosity. Biting his lip, he rushly walked forth and searched for his phone.

"Uh! So boring," someone blurted. Baekhyun stopped. Sweat started to run down Baekhyun's forehead as his heart throbbed in irregular pace. He really was sure that he locked the door so how can anyone sneak inside the library?

"Is it the monster Kyungsoo was talking about?" Baekhyun asked himself.

Footsteps filled the corners of the library. Baekhyun walked back slowly, making sure that he wasn't making any noise to obtain the monster's attention. He has to escape or else he'd not see the sunrise anymore.

Baekhyun's breath hitched when the monster finally got out from the shade. It was a man wearing black with a silver hair and funny ears. "M-monster. P-please don't hurt me," Baekhyun stuttered. He wasn't sure if it was proper to call the handsome young man a monster.

"Or maybe Kyungsoo was pertaining to a serial killer."

The man's brow raised. He was confused as well but after realizing what was happening, a smirked was plastered on his face. He walked towards Baekhyun and looked at him intently. Baekhyun was cornered so he closed his eyes tightly. Baekhyun could feel the man's breath near his face. It may be the last day of his life.

Silence.

Baekhyun opened his eyes, only to see the man pointing a pen towards him. "Any last wish, cute boy?" there goes the deep voice again. Baekhyun sweat harder and his trembling hands turned cold. He didn't want to die yet but maybe it's not his lucky day. When the man was about to thrust the pen, Baekhyun pulled himself and ran. "Hey, hey, hey (laughing) Wait up... I was just kidding," the man told as he was lying on the floor, laughing his ass off.

Baekhyun stopped but hesitated to bring himself near to the man. "I'm not a monster nor a murderer," the man added after his annoying laughter. "I'm sorry, cutie," he apologized after getting up.

"F**k you," Baekhyun cursed. The prank wasn't funny at all. He almost got a heart attack and he'll only get an insincere apology?

"Oh. Here? The night watch might see us," the man replied. Baekhyun was losing his temper but the man kept on playing on him.

Baekhyun raised a brow and faced the man. "Hey, Mister. If you've nothing to do with your life, don't involve other people. You're not funny, get it?" Baekhyun advised angrily. "And you may now get out. It's illegal to trespass," he added and opened the door to make the man leave.

"I'm sorry but I can't," the man replied.

"You!" before Baekhyun could speak more, the man reach out his hand but it was only repelled by the invisible force present in doorway. "You're a good actor," Baekhyun mocked and pulled the man's hand out of the building but he lost grip of the man when he felt the force that restricts the man from getting out.

"I told you, I can't. I live here so there's no way for me to leave," the man stated in a serious tone. Baekhyun didn't believe in supernatural beings and the likes but this day changed his perspective. "How does it happen?" Baekhyun asked but the man just shook his head. He saw the sadness in the man's eyes and he couldn't deny that the man was being honest. "How can I help?" he asked. "I don't know either," the man replied.

Baekhyun went inside. "Aren't you leaving?" the man asked. "Not yet," Baekhyun replied. "Tell me what happened. Maybe I could help... Anyway, I'm Baekhyun," Baekhyun introduced and held out a hand.

"Chanyeol," the man responded. "I honestly don't know what's happening but I'm here in this library since 1994. Believe it or not, I came from that painting," Chanyeol pointed the painting which is now empty. Baekhyun is doubtful but the man's actions tell him he's not lying. "During the day, I am lifeless and is displayed on that frame but during nighttime, I'm alive."

"That the reason of calling you a monster," Baekhyun uttered.

"People are just scared. The librarian always turn the lights off so I open it every night since I can't bear to be in total darkness. With their fearful mind, they called me names though they haven't seen me," Chanyeol recounted as he was flipping the pages of a book on Baekhyun's desk. "I'm handsome, aren't I?" Chanyeol asked out of the blue.

"No. You're just a narcissist," Baekhyun replied, earning a frown from Chanyeol. Baekhyun ignored Chanyeol and walked closer to the painting. It really is empty. Now, he already know why the painting was titled "Empty Canvas". It's enchanting but there's no reason to not believe because Chanyeol is alive and moving right in front of his eyes.

"Do you know who Loey is?" Baekhyun asked. It may be the only way to help the man.

"Why do you want to help me?" Chanyeol asked, setting Baekhyun's question aside. "I have nothing to pay you back," Chanyeol retorted.

"I just want to. Not all people are the same like what you're thinking, Chanyeol. Besides it's not bad to have some fun sometimes," Baekhyun replied which Chanyeol found amusing.

"Fine. Thank you then,"

"So, who's Loey?"