**NCT 127: Jeno’s Graveyard**
Prompt: NCT 127: Jeno’s Graveyard
In a small town nestled between craggy hills and shadowed woods stood an old graveyard, mostly forgotten by time. It was a place where moss overtook weathered stones, and the whispers of the past clung to the air like an echo. The townsfolk had long stayed away, but for NCT 127, it had become an intriguing ground of adventure. Most days, they practiced diligently for their upcoming performances, but on this particular evening, curiosity led a few of them to break from their routine.
“Let’s go explore!” Jeno’s voice rang with an excitement that sliced through the chill in the air. The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the landscape, and he could sense the group’s hesitation – a mixture of thrill and unease. The graveyard had a haunting reputation, after all.
“Are you crazy? I’m afraid of ghosts!” Jaehyun exclaimed, though a small smile betrayed his feigned terror, and he couldn’t help glancing toward the rusty wrought-iron gates, stifled intrigue written in the arch of his brow.
“Come on, Jaehyun!” Mark replied, playfully shoving him. “Ghosts don’t exist. Plus, we have Jeno with us. He’ll protect us, right?”
“Of course,” Jeno laughed, his eyes sparkling with mischief. The group sighed, exchanging skeptical looks, yet the allure of an adventure was too strong to deny. They marched toward the graveyard, driven by a mix of bravery and camaraderie.
As they entered, the first thing that struck them was the overwhelming silence. The air hung heavy, filled with the scent of damp earth and aged wood. Gravestones, some cracked and leaning, stood in solemn rows as if guarding secrets from centuries past. They walked on, the soft rustle of leaves beneath their feet echoing in the stillness.
“Look at this one,” Doyoung called out, his voice barely above a whisper. He stood before a particularly ornate gravestone, its carvings intricate yet faded. “Soojin Lee, 1922-1957. She was so young when she passed.”
Jeno, curious, stepped beside him. He scanned the inscription, feeling a jolt of something—a deep sense of curiosity mixed with the eerie tug of tragedy. “What do you think happened?” he mused aloud, though he wasn’t really expecting an answer.
“Probably a tragic romance or something,” Taeyong replied with a grin, pushing his hair back. “Or a ghost who wants to keep her story alive.”
“Stop it! You’re scaring me!” Jaehyun retaliated, though he chuckled nervously, pulling his jacket tighter around him as they walked deeper into the graveyard.
Suddenly, Winwin paused and pointed toward a shadowy figure that stood further down the path. “Is that… someone?” His voice quivered slightly, and the group followed his gaze, squinting into the dimness.
“It’s just a statue,” Mark reassured them, but his heart raced, fueled by the atmosphere. As they approached, however, it became apparent that it wasn’t just an ordinary statue—it was a lifelike depiction of a sorrowful maiden, her eyes seemingly following them.
“Creepy,” Yuta muttered, eyes wide as he edged back, behind Jeno for comfort. The group shared a nervous laugh, tension mingling with the chill in the air.
Amidst their banter, Jeno’s gaze remained fixed on the statue, almost entranced. There was an unexplainable pull he felt, as if the statue held an untold story, an energy he failed to grasp. As the wind picked up slightly, it carried a soft sound, a whisper that sent shivers down Jeno's spine.
“Do you… hear that?” he asked, half-wondering if it was just his imagination.
“Hear what?” Jaehyun replied, but as he opened his mouth to argue, the soft murmurs grew clearer: “Help me…” The chill deepened, enveloping them like an old closet full of forgotten memories.
“Guys, it’s probably just the wind,” Mark insisted, but his tone held an uneasy humor.
“Come on! It’s almost dark! We should head back,” Jisung suggested, glancing nervously at the horizon, which deepened into shades of violet and indigo.
But Jeno’s curiosity intensified. “Just a little longer?” he pleaded, stepping closer to the statue. “I have to know.”
As the other members debated, a cold breeze swept through, stirring the leaves with an almost haunting melody. Just then, the statue’s eyes seemed to glimmer with a strange luminosity, and Jeno reached out a tentative hand.
The moment his fingers brushed against the cold stone, a warmth bloomed in his chest, and a vision enveloped him. He found himself standing in a vibrant field filled with blooming flowers, laughter surrounding him. A girl, with joyous eyes and a sweet smile, danced through the meadow, her laughter ringing like chimes in the wind.
“Jeno…” came a soft voice, gentle and familiar, yet he didn’t recognize it. “Help me find my peace.”
With a jolt, he snapped back into reality, his breath hitching. The mournful ambiance of the graveyard enveloped him once again, and he glanced back at his friends, who were all staring at him wide-eyed.
“What happened?” Renjun asked, concern etched across his face.
“I… I felt something,” Jeno murmured, the remnants of the vision still swirling in his mind. “I think... I think she wants us to know her story.”
Taeyong exchanged glances with the rest, taking a deep breath as he stepped forward. “What do you mean?”
Jeno described the dreamlike scene he had witnessed, relaying the girl’s enchanting essence and her plea for help. “We need to discover who she was. Maybe that’s how she can find peace.”
Under the last fringes of fading light, the group huddled together, each member committed to unearthed mysteries of the graveyard. They spent the evening scouring old records and tales, their excitement filling the damp air with an unexpected warmth.
With a collective resolve and bonds deepened by their adventure, they promised to return and honor the girl’s story, bringing her past to light.
In the days that followed, their rehearsals shifted from dance steps and lyrics to echoing laughter and shared tales. With every memory they uncovered, they felt the essence of the graveyard breathe life into their performances, stitching together shadows of the past with bright futures — all centered around a girl named Soojin Lee.
And as they danced in the spotlight, the whispers of Jeno’s graveyard became the heartbeats of their music, intertwining their stories with the girl’s faded memories, forever connecting them with a world beyond the veil.
