Chapter Text
The night was serene and the chill breeze made him feel cold. He has been aimlessly wandering in the place for hours in hopes to find a way back to the main road. He walked and walked for a long time and stumbled across a cemetery. Its big metal doors were heavily locked with chains and locks, a sign to not open it at all. Boom took a few steps away from it not wanting to get in trouble.
Before he could run away there was a small tap on his shoulders. He flinched and turned around but there was no one. Afraid and alarmed, he turned to the other side and met a tall dark figure in front of the gate. His breath hitched and heart almost stopped for a moment.
There stood a figure in the darkness with a small lantern in his hands. His face hidden behind the small flicker of light. Boom had no idea what to do, his reflexes died causing him to stay rooted in one place as the figure approached him.
“Lost aren't you?”
The voice was raspy before his face came in clear view. Boom let out a sigh of relief at it, a human face, he internally thanked God for saving him.
“Uhm, yeah. I'm new in the city and lost my way back home.” He carefully explained and the figure just nodded moving away from him.
“You better walk out of here as fast as you can, the dead won't like your company” the guy muttered teasingly but it sent a shiver down his spine. The atmosphere turned eerily quiet, unbothered and unamused.
Boom flinched and looked intently at the figure, taking a step back creepied by the person in front of him. "Who are you?" Boom clutched his bag tightly, thinking the person in front of him was trying to rob him. The other person laughed at his silliness and walked back to the cemetery gate
"I'm the security guard of the city cemetery. You looked a bit lost so I thought i might help you"
Boom, scared for his life, looked around for any mobile signal but to his luck there was no signal. The guard chuckled, leaning against the cemetery gate. "That happens around here. This place messes with signals sometimes." He tilted his head toward the road behind him. "If you're trying to get home, you should take the main street. This alleyway? Not the safest route at this hour."
“I can tell. Can you point the way out from here?” Boom politely requested. The cemetery was already gloomy with an unspoken negative energy that gave him goosebumps. He will never cross this place ever and right now he wishes to run away as soon as he can.
The guard suggested “We can take a shortcut through the graveyard. It's much quicker for you” but Boom hesitated, anything about stepping into the yard was just walking straight to his death.
It's a big no-no for him.
The guard took note of his silence and added "Don't be afraid, they won't attack their allies" Boom stiffened, he was not buying it. What type of assurance is that?
“Uhm- no I don't want to. I'll just walk the other way and find myself out of here”
“Sure Good sir. But believe me you will come circling your way back here even if you don't wish to.” The guard replied, his tone shifting into playfulness as if Boom's fear was just another joke to him. Why is he taking everything so lightly?
“Whatever I'll just go on my own and get out of here, bye bye” Boom immediately stomped off his way, walking with a confidence to the death silent path and a little hope in his steps.
The guard smirked, "I'll wait to see you again mister." Boom's confidence wavered but he still went ahead to other routes.
After a few minutes of walking in the darkness like a lost soul looking for a vessel, he found a small flickering light burning in the distance, he quickly rushed towards it happily only to meet the cemetery gates again.
This is not normal.
He gritted his teeth in frustration. Why does he keep coming back to this place? The guard still standing in the same position let out a cheeky smile as if he saw this coming.
“You took your sweet time. I almost thought you got lost here” Boom clenched his fist tightly, angry, frustrated and tired. The guard looked at him carefully which made him snap. Boom walked closer to the guard “what is going on? Are you misguiding me?” he yelled, demanding answers to the mysterious paths but the guard’s expressions remained unfazed. Something about the guard was annoyingly creepy or he is just paranoid.
“Maybe the cemetery likes you,” Boom just stared at him dead in the eye, unable to wrap his head around the situation.
“I just want to go home and rest. Please get me out of here.” Boom pleaded, the darkness was driving him crazy and his limbs were sore to continue circling in the same route till dawn.
“Sure, just follow my lead good sir,”
The heavy metal gates opened with a scratching creek as the air picked up the pace. Boom cautiously stepped in, softly as he could to not disturb anyone's peace in the yard. The guard walked ahead of him with the only light source being the lantern.
Boom carefully looked at the Tombstones, some covered with moss and mud while others stayed a bit neat like they were the recent ones. The names were boldly highlighted but nothing interesting enough to catch his attention. The only way to kill time was chatting with the creepy dude with him.
“So, what is your name?”
“Curious bird, name is Aou”
Aou Boom muttered the sound of his name felt foreign yet familiar on his tongue. He dismissed the feeling, for now at least.
“Why do you work in this yard? I mean no offence but don't you feel lonely in here?” Don't judge him he had nothing to ask honestly Boom just wants to get out of here as soon as they could. Aou chuckled something that felt malicious to him.
“Never, In fact I have lots of company that I can't remember their names anymore”
Boom felt a chill running down his spine. The air felt much colder on his body than before. He tried to ignore how his words made his skin prickle and awkwardly laughed it off.
“You're funny I'll give you that, but seriously you need to stop talking like you are some ghost looking for their next victim”
Boom let out in one breath and immediately regretted it. Aou halted in his step before slowly turning around, his eyes holding a mysterious look which was dark enough for Boom to step back a bit.
“What if I am?”Aou asked, voice eerily calm.
Boom’s heart pounded, his mind was a mess. He forced out a chuckle, though it came out weaker than he intended. "Then I’d say you’re doing a great job at creeping me out."
Aou took a slow step closer. "You think ghosts go around announcing themselves?" His voice was quiet, almost playful, but there was something unsettling beneath it. Boom started to believe he might be having a fever dream.
Boom swallowed hard, instinctively stepping back. "Okay, okay, I get it. You like messing with lost people."
Aou exhaled a soft chuckle. "Maybe." He turned back around, continuing forward. "Or maybe I just enjoy seeing how people react. It's not everyday I cross paths with living being you know,”
Boom didn't push the conversation further and silently followed him, there was no need to talk when all the answers were in vain.
The kept walking in the silent night the cold wind heavier than ever blew in his direction causing him to pause at the moment. He reached out for a lighter in his backpack, flickering it open for little light and warmth it provided. For a while he felt a little better but soon realised that Aou walked further away from him. He stood in the middle of nowhere, looking around for any sign of the lantern.
“Aou??” He called but no answer. The lighter was not bright enough for him to look ahead. Boom panicked and kept walking on his path with the only light he had.
“Aou, stop pulling tricks on me and come back!!!” He screamed across the yard but no response. A strong gust of wind came by, extinguishing his lighter. Boom cursed under his breath desperately reigniting the lighter but failed. His breath was unsteady and the atmosphere sharply darkened, a bunch of crows crying in the distance filled the surroundings. He quickly wrapped his arms around himself as a shield yet he was terrified.
Suddenly in a distance stood a figure by the tombstone. Boom squinted his eyes, trying to read the name only to stare in shock.
Boom Tharatorn written in bold letters. It was his own name. His blood ran cold
“AOU!!! HELP ME” He screamed again, covering his ears due to the aggressive noise in the sky. It was too much to bear, his eyes swelled up and hot tears started to roll down his face.
Where was Aou?
The darkness slowly engulfed him, covering him in pitch black where there was one light burning in a distance. His mind screamed Aou’s name and he sprinted his way to what seemed like Aou but realised that it was not Aou.
The aura was too disturbing, the figure approached him with an unimaginable speed which made his heart stop for a millisecond. Before Boom could process anything a warm grip on his wrist pulled him out of the dark void.
It was Aou, looking at him concerningly before pulling him in a hug. His hand firmly held Boom’s head on his shoulder while others pointed the lantern to the other side “Don’t look back.”
It was a command which Boom had to obey. He closed his eyes, clutching on Aou’s shoulder for his life. His tears still streaming down in fear yet his mouth remained shut, he couldn’t understand what was going on but one thing is for sure, he made a grave mistake by coming here.
Aou’s arms held him closer protectively, murmuring some incoherent chants before swaying the lantern in some manner that made the darkness gradually vanish. The distant cries of crows faded away and the pressure of the atmosphere was back to normal, well not that normal yet something that made him feel that he was safe now.
“You’re always safe with me.” His voice smooth and gentle gave him a sense of familiarity that was itching his brain. Boom tightened his grip, still unsure to let go or stay in the moment. He couldn't stop shaking; his legs felt like they’d give out any moment if Aou hadn’t been holding him upright.
Aou didn’t let go right away. His hand rubbed small, grounding circles on Boom’s back, murmuring something under his breath—words Boom couldn’t quite catch but felt oddly calming.
When Boom’s breathing finally slowed down, Aou leaned back slightly, holding Boom by the waist and looking into his tear-soaked eyes.
"You okay?" Aou asked gently, his earlier cold teasing completely stripped away. There was only concern now. "You shouldn't have wandered off."
Boom wiped his face harshly with the back of his hand, embarrassed but still clinging to Aou’s sleeve like a terrified child. He nodded, even though the knot in his throat said otherwise.
"What… was that?" Boom finally choked out, voice hoarse.
“A bad dream,” Aou shrugged as if it was the most normal thing. A clear lie.
“Stop fucking messing with my head, you can’t say it’s a dream when everything felt too real and-”
“Do you wish to go back home or not?” Boom stood quiet. He just couldn’t argue over the authoritative tone in his voice. Just forget about this Boom, let it go.
Aou took the silence as affirmation to continue forward and in a swift motion intertwined their fingers, forcing him to walk along. This time he held him closer, the whole walk was quiet and they reached the other side quicker than he thought. Boom weakly let out a smile, the main road was visible and he could hear the sound of busy city cars crossing and locals chatting nearby. The place seemed much more lively and better.
He happily stepped out exhaling in relief as he can finally see people who are actually people and not some figure staring at him.
“Take care Boom, Hope we meet again.” Boom looked at Aou with a fondful look, even though the guy was a bit creepy he helped him. He saved his life and Boom will forever be grateful for it.
“Thank you for everything Aou. Hope we meet under different circumstances where you are not trying to scare the crap out of me.” His words made Aou chuckle, Boom couldn’t help but share the laughter.
“If you want to hang out just think about me, maybe the universe will open your path back here,” Okay now that was getting a little too weird. Boom ignored the shudder in his body and forced out a smile.
“I take that back, we won’t meet again I suppose, bye bye”
“You’re always mine Boom.” Boom heard the murmur right behind him thinking it’s one of Aou tricks but to his surprise when he turned around he saw the heavy metal gates shut closed with lots of locks like they were never open from the start.
As Boom walked away, his heart still thudding in his chest, he couldn’t shake the image of Aou standing there, as if he belonged to the shadows more than the world of the living. The flicker of the lantern’s light and the feeling of Aou’s fingers intertwined with his still lingered on his skin. There was something unsettling about the way Aou had handled everything.
Take care Boom, Hope we meet again He paused mid-way as his mind tried to connect dots here and there. A sharp shiver ran down his spine.
How does he know my name? His mind rewinded every conversation, every word exchanged between them yet no place where he mentioned his own name.
Shrugging off the unease creeping up his neck, Boom turned toward the street and hurried forward, eager to get as far away from the graveyard as possible. The bustling noise of cars and distant chatter grounded him, reassuring him that he was back in the real world.
As he reached the bus stop, he sat down, taking out his phone. Finally, signal. He sighed, opening his maps just to make sure he was actually where he thought he was.
But then, as he swiped through his screen, something made his fingers freeze.
The time. Not a single minute had passed.
His stomach dropped.
It was the same as when he first got lost.
His breath hitched, and his fingers trembled as he quickly checked his call log, his messages– anything that could confirm time had moved forward.
Nothing.
“A bad dream”
Had he really just imagined all of that?
Boom swallowed hard, forcing himself to look away. No. It doesn’t matter. He was out now. He was safe.
And yet. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Aou’s last words echoed.
“Maybe the universe will open your path back here,” Weird.
The next day Boom went to buy some groceries in the street market. The events of last night were fresh in his mind. He was wandering around the vegetable section when he met his neighbour, a friendly old lady. They greeted each other politely and the lady asked "You must be working so hard, I saw you coming late at night"
Boom paused thinking about how to explain without sounding insane or paranoid, he turned to the lady "I actually lost my way back and had to walk through the cemetery. That's why I was late" the lady, vegetable seller, and the crowd around him gasped audibly.
Boom flinched because of the commotion, soon people started to whisper among themselves calling his name.
“W-What did you just say?” the lady stammered.
Boom raised a brow. “That I walked through the cemetery? I mean, I had no choice, but– ”
“You walked through the cemetery?” the vegetable seller cut in, voice hushed yet urgent. “At night?”
Boom nodded to it, still unable to understand the uneasiness in the crowd until the old lady said, “Boom, my child, that cemetery is not open for public use in our city.”
His blood ran cold, telling him they were kidding.
“What do you mean granny?” He exhaled in disbelief “It was clearly there, I saw it and walked through it to travel back home. I met the guard too and he helped me out-” The lady shushed him just when he was about to speak his name.
“Don’t say his name, that bastard is back,” the vegetable seller strictly warned him and Boom stood silent. His heart raced with the amount of information he was getting.
“That place has been abandoned for years because of the paranormal activities,” she continued, her voice trembling. “And the guard you speak of..he was the last guard of the place.”
Boom swallowed hard, his mouth dry. “What do you mean was ?”
The vegetable seller stepped closer, speaking in a hushed voice. “He died. Almost decades ago.”
Boom’s breath hitched. “T-That’s not possible,” he muttered, shaking his head. “I talked to him. He walked with me through the cemetery. He- ”
“You made it out alive, didn’t you?” the old lady interrupted, her gaze piercing. “Then perhaps he was watching over you.”
The old lady explained to him "People who wander around the cemetery never made it out alive, ever. Last year my son and his friends tried to do some sort of challenge for a video but that bastard..." She sharply exhaled "He killed them and their bodies were found, hanging on the gates" Boom's jaw dropped and his stomach churned in all directions. How can someone just as dorky as him be so heinous and aggressive?
Boom staggered back, his mind spinning. He wanted to laugh it off, to say they were messing with him—but the way everyone looked at him, the genuine fear in their eyes…
The lady continued "Here, take my number and if you ever get lost just call me, okay? I'll do whatever it takes to look for you. I don't want anything bad happening to you like what happened to my son, Okay?"
The old lady gave him her number, her hands shaking as she typed it out “Please son, listen to my advice and stay away from that place.”
Boom could only nod because it was not in his capabilities to know if he will walk the same path again or not.
With a shaken feeling he walked back home with the lady, cautious with every step he took. Things are taking a big turn in his normal life.
And the worst part is that he knows..he can feel that Aou was coming for him.
It has been over a week since the yard incident and Boom again lost his way back home, the moon shone brightly lighting his path forward but it all felt the same, like a deja vu to him.
He tried to look for a signal to call the lady but like last time there was no signal in sight yet he could see the graveyard in the distance, calling him in.
But no sign of Aou.
As he strolled his way to the gates there was a familiar pat on his shoulders. He turned around, his eyes closed in fear, body trembling. But when he turned around there was no one. He breathed out in relief only to find Aou standing on the other way up front him. The closeness caught him off guard causing him to stumble back.
Boom’s breath hitched as he felt Aou’s firm grip around his waist, steadying him. His heart pounded against his ribs, and a chill crawled up his spine. Not him again, the very person he was running away from was holding him.
“You again?” Boom rasped, his voice uneven. “What… what do you want?”
Aou’s lips curled into that same infuriating smirk. “I told you, Boom,” he stated, his grip lingering a little longer before letting Boom stand on his own. “ The universe will open your path back here .”
Boom staggered back, putting distance between them. “That’s not funny,” he snapped, his nerves on edge. “I heard everything. About what you did to those people.” his mistake number one.
Aou’s smirk didn’t falter, but something in his eyes darkened. “Oh?” he tilted his head. “And what exactly did they tell you?”
Boom clenched his fists. “That you killed them. That no one who enters this place makes it out alive. Why did you kill innocent people?”
Aou let out a quiet chuckle, stepping closer. “And yet… here you are, back to the place where no one leaves alive.”
Boom stiffened, his body tensing. He didn’t know what was scarier– the eerie calmness in Aou’s voice or the fact that he was still alive.
Aou leaned in slightly, his voice barely above a whisper. “Did you ever stop to think, Boom…” His fingers lightly brushed against Boom’s sleeve, sending a shiver down his spine. “…that maybe you’re different?”
Boom swallowed hard, his throat dry. “Different?” he echoed.
Aou smiled, but there was something unreadable in his gaze. “You’ll find out soon enough.”
And before Boom could say another word, Aou turned on his heel, casually walking toward the cemetery gates. They creaked open as if welcoming him back.
Boom, again, had no choice but to follow his path. Go down the hellhole again with no guarantee if he will make out of it or not.
"We meet a week ago yet you started to miss me" Aou spoke lighting a cigarette making Boom gag by the smoke "I heard that ghost stay away from lights and fire but you are fine with it" He tried to humour but maybe it backfired and made Aou stopped in his track, his aura changed rapidly making the atmosphere turned dark and eerie like the last time he visited, his body radiated black fragments and he turned to meet Boom's gaze "Did you just called me a ghost?" his voice deepened, eyes sharply looking at him, bloodshot black.
Boom swallowed hard, his mind racing. This isn’t normal. This isn’t human.
“I-I was just joking,” he stammered, stepping back. “I didn’t mean-”
Aou took a slow step forward, and Boom’s breath hitched. “You didn’t mean what ?” Aou’s voice was layered- distorted- as if more than one entity was speaking through him. “That you think I’m dead?”
Boom’s heart pounded. His instincts screamed at him to look away , to not engage , but something about Aou’s presence commanded his attention.
Aou exhaled slowly, the cigarette between his fingers burning out on its own. “Boom…” He leaned in, close enough that Boom could see the inky black veins creeping along his skin. “If I were a ghost…” His lips curled, revealing something eerily sharp beneath.
“…wouldn’t you be dead already?”
Boom stayed rooted in his place, almost pissing himself at the moment. But Aou turned back to normal, laughing out loud as if Boom’s fear is just another thing he could joke about.
"You think too much Boom, just relax and enjoy the stroll" Boom can't relax, his heart was pounding fast and his steps hurried to match Aou's pace. Boom tried to look for a network or any other escape route to run away but failed. His being was horrified and shaken up by everything that he didn’t hear when Aou called out his name.
"I don't like silence Boom." His voice, firm and commanding. Boom had lost the number of times he flinched in their conversation, every other sentence carries a different meaning, tone, relevance and Boom was having a hard time concentrating.
Boom swallowed hard, forcing himself to speak despite the dryness in his throat. “W-What do you want me to say?” His voice barely came out in a whisper.
Aou exhaled through his nose, a low chuckle escaping his lips. “Anything. Your voice keeps things lively .” His eyes flickered to Boom’s, something unreadable in them. “You wouldn’t want me to get bored , would you?”
Boom felt a cold sweat break out on his back. Bored? What did that even mean?
He clenched his jaw, forcing himself to breathe evenly. “Why are you like this?” he asked, his voice firmer this time. “One second, you’re joking around. The next, you- ”
“Scare you?” Aou finished for him, tilting his head. He grinned, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I can’t help it, Boom. You react so well .”
Somehow the yard stretched further than last time and Boom kept wondering if it was Aou's doing again. Boom decided to initiated small talks, if Aou’s mind is clear then he could easily escape this way.
“What are your favourite things to do here? In this weird deserted yard.” Aou chuckled, can’t say if it’s humorous or laugh at his absurdity.
“Trying to know me better aren't you?”
“Well, you said you don’t like silence,”
“Fiercy. I like watching people at night trespassing my area.” Boom shuddered at it but not surprised.
“That is a very you thing to do,” Boom crossed his arms against his chest, feeling a bit at ease “what type of music do you like?”
“I don’t remember when was the last time I enjoyed music but I love to hear people screaming in fear for their life” Aou teasingly nudged Boom as if he would relate to him but Boom just stared at him, horrified.
“Okay- why did I even ask that?” Boom panicked but forced himself to keep going. “Do you..uhm..have a partner?”
Suddenly Aou stopped walking.
The air around them seemed to shift again, heavy and suffocating. Boom felt his own breath hitch as Aou’s expression darkened slightly.
“A partner…” Aou murmured, tilting his head. His fingers twitched at his sides. “I had one.”
Boom blinked, sensing the sudden change in mood. “Oh… what happened to them?”
Aou’s smirk returned, but this time, it felt more forced. More bitter. “They left me.”
Boom gulped when the bitterness of his voice reached his ears, so heavy, so painful. In a blink of an eye Aou came close, standing just inches away from his face, his eyes turning hypnotic, something that made Boom grounded and instantly made his body relax. His shoulders slumped and eyes softened as he stared intently as if the weight of the world was lifted off him. Boom felt the magnetic pull in his being inching closer to Aou.
“They left me Boom, because they were selfish but you…” His crooked fingers reached to his cheeks, caressing them with a softness of the honey. “You will never leave me right?”
Boom let out a gentle smile, still staring deep in his eyes as the words unconsciously slipped out of his mouth "I would never leave you Aou."
Aou smiled, letting his hands gently coax his face before pulling him by his nape and closing the distance between their lips. Boom’s body instantly melted in his touch, mind floating in abyss, hands by the side and body weight leaning on Aou’s trying to reciprocate. The kiss was filled with a passion that took his breath away, his limbs numb on the side finally came back to their sense wanting to push Aou away yet his body betrayed him instead pulling him closer and deepened the kiss.
But something else felt wrong.
Aou’s kiss turned more hungry, more deep, more harsh as if trying to take something from him. Taking away a part of him with him.
Aou's grip on his waist tightened, almost possessively, as his lips moved against Boom’s with a feverish hunger. Boom could feel it now- something leaving him.
Felt his soul slipping through his body into the kiss-without-love in it.
A heaviness spreading through his veins, making his eyelids flutter, his energy draining like water slipping through his fingers.
Boom whimpered against Aou’s lips, trying to resist, but Aou only deepened the kiss, his smirk evident.
“Shh…” Aou whispered against his lips, his voice dripping with something sinister yet intoxicating. “You said you’d never leave me, right?”
Boom’s breath shuddered. What… is he taking from me?
Aou finally pulled away, and Boom nearly collapsed, his legs barely holding him up. Aou caught him with ease, cradling him as if he were fragile, his fingers tracing Boom’s jaw.
“You taste… divine,” Aou murmured, his tongue swiping over his lips as if savoring something unseen. His eyes glowed- dark, endless, consuming. “Don’t worry, love. I only took a small part of you. Just enough to make sure…”
He cupped Boom’s cheek, his voice lowering into a whisper against his ear.
“…you’ll always come back to me.”