PARANORMAL INVESTIGATION ~yeongyu ff

GAME?

†One moment they were inside the abandoned mansion filming dust and screaming at shadows.†

The next,darkness swallowed them whole.

†

Beomgyu felt the world tilt. A ringing sound filled his ears, cold fingers tightening around the back of his neck. He couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move. Somewhere through the haze he heard Yeonjun shout his name, footsteps running toward him,

Then everything vanished.

---

Beomgyu woke up to cold.

Violent, biting, impossible cold.

He sucked in a sharp breath and snow blew into his mouth. Snow. Actual snow. He jolted up with a panicked gasp, nearly slipping on the frozen ground.

But behind him, warmth. Arms wrapped around his waist and pulled him back.

"Beomgyu, relax"

"Yeonjun?"

Yeonjun’s voice was rough, breath warm against his ear. "You were shaking like crazy. Thought you died and left me alone with these idiots."

Beomgyu pushed him away, face burning. "I didn’t die! I just— WHAT IS THIS PLACE?!"

That was the real question.

They were outside. Somewhere. A world of white stretching infinitely. Snowstorms raging far in the distance. And behind them stood a mansion, completely normal looking, warm lights glowing in the windows like it belonged to a different universe.

One by one, the others groaned awake.

Felix: WHY AM I IN THE SNOW

Hyunjin: If this is the afterlife, I want a refund

Wooyoung: I can’t feel my butt

Soobin: I can’t feel my soul

San: I CAN FIGHT THIS WEATHER

Kai: No you cannot, stop flexing at the sky

Beomgyu clutched his head, trying not to scream.

"Guys… we were inside a haunted mansion. How did we wake up outside? In Narnia?! Where even ARE we?"

Yeonjun put a hand on his shoulder, voice low. "There’s no signal. No GPS. Nothing works."

Beomgyu’s stomach dropped. Completely cut off.

That’s when the sound hit them.

A loud ding. Metallic and echoing, like speakers hidden in the wind.

†Welcome, players†

Everyone froze.

†You have been transported to the Outer Ring. Escape is impossible without completing the game†

Soobin turned pale. "GAME?"

†The mansion behind you contains seven challenges. Win them, and you may return home. Lose… and you stay here forever†

Hyunjin raised a hand. "Forever as in… emotionally forever or physically forever?"

Silence.

Felix clung to Soobin. "HYUNG WE ARE GOING TO DIE"

San cracked his knuckles. "No we’re not. If something comes at us, I’ll punch it"

Wooyoung nodded. "And I’ll kick it"

Beomgyu looked at Yeonjun with wide eyes. "We’re not actually doing this, right? We can’t just play their stupid ghost game!"

Yeonjun took a deep breath and stepped closer, squeezing Beomgyu’s wrist gently.

"We don’t have a choice, Gyu"

Beomgyu shivered, not from the cold this time.

The speakers crackled again.

†Let the game begin†

The mansion doors behind them creaked open by themselves, warm golden light spilling onto the snow like an invitation… or a threat.

Kai gulped. "So… we go inside?"

Hyunjin: No. We RUN.

San: No. We FIGHT.

Felix: No. We CRY.

Soobin: We PANIC.

Yeonjun placed a hand on Beomgyu’s back, guiding him toward the mansion.

"We go in, Beomgyu. And stay close to me. No matter what happens"

Beomgyu swallowed hard. "O-Okay…"

Heart pounding, legs shaking, he stepped inside with Yeonjun beside him.

The door slammed shut behind them.

The game had begun.