"I've been obsessed with existence since childhood. What exactly is existence? What is the scope of your existence? What is the point of being alive? I'm no wiser (and no smarter) after half a century of exploring many things, but I continue my quest.

What is the most important, certain fact about existence that I can know with certainty? It's the grandeur of the universe to me. The cosmos is enormous, but it is only recently that we have realised how enormous the universe, or numerous universes, may be.

Our universe is infinitely big. There are copious ways matter can arrange itself within that interminable universe. With a definite amount of matter in our hold, the matter had to repeat and arrange itself in similar ways.

If we define "universe" as "all there is" or "all that exists," then obviously, by definition, there can be only one universe.

However, if "universe" is defined as "all we can ever see" or "space-time regions that expand together," then many universes may exist—"

"Ugh! This will never work," Jonghin grumbled as he tossed the pieces of words into the trash can on the left side of his desk. He closed his eyes and lurched back. The unneeded block had been awful before, but it had been much worse since he had started hearing those voices. He couldn't come up with names for things or even put together a coherent hypothesis because he was distraught about the talk and how it might affect his civility and existence.

The universe was too large, infinitesimally vast and spread, and the current theory of twins and their paradox had kept the physicists locked away in the digressed dungeon.

For once, Jonghin would sneak out of his little home at the creak of dawn and return to the nook just to see those people. The entirety of Harvard was having a tough tea and cookie day and nothing was of even an ounce of help.

He had been missing the twins a lot, a lot more than any usual day. Maybe a break and getting home to them would help.

He took a quick glance around him, filing all the sheets in the record file, and finding none, he quickly chained up the bag.

"Yah, Kim! Leaving already?"

Jonghin heard his best friend chuckle as the aforementioned man continued to laugh while walking up to him."

"Yeah, it's only one a.m., too early, professor Green?" Jonghin snickered, looking at him.

They both shared a bond, being friends for around half the time on earth, happy and content. Their little talk came to a halt as the little blackberry cell phone rang inside the depths of Jonghin's pocket.

He fished out the metallic instrument and answered the call, only for his sanity to worsen.

"Jonghin!"

"Dani! What was that? Hello?" A loud crash ended the call, beeps on the other side.

The cell phone fell from his clutches, breaking into pieces, leaving them both tremored.

"Jonghin, what's wrong?" Mason asked, concern etched in his voice as he reached for his friend's trembling shoulder. Jonghin stared at the shattered remains of his phone, his mind reeling.
That crash, Dani's panicked cry, and then...silence. Dead silence. His heart pounded in his chest like a drumline on steroids.

"I...I don't know," Jonghin stammered, his words clipped. "It was Dani. She sounded scared. Then there was a loud crash and..." He trailed off, unable to finish the sentence. Mason's grip on his shoulder tightened.

"Let's go," Mason said firmly. "We'll check on her and the twins. I'm sure they're fine."

...

The night was eerily still, save for the haunting whispers that danced on the wind. Seojin stood frozen on the porch, his small frame trembling as he peered into the darkness beyond the feeble light spilling out the front door.

Mr. Whiskers, his loyal stuffed bear, clung to his chest. Its button eyes mirrored Seojin's fear. The wind outside howled, rattling the windowpane. Was it just the wind, or was something more sinister lurking in the shadows, waiting to pounce?

The trees had transformed into big, shadowy figures resembling giants. They reminded him of the slender bodies of those tall men from the circus. Seojin hated them.

Those branches reached out like the gnarled fingers of the wicked old lady from Snow White, beckoning him to come closer. He felt a shiver crawl up his spine and quickly ran inside, slamming the door shut behind him. With eyes closed, he counted, reciting the numbers he knew by heart now. One, two, three, four, five... ten, eleven, twelve.

Seojin hated this. Hated being sent out alone while his parents and Uncle Mason remained safe and warm inside. His usual bravery had deserted him, leaving only a quivering shell in its wake. Counting to twelve, he mustered his courage and bolted back into the house, slamming the door behind him. The wind howled its displeasure, rattling the panes.

"Leave me!" A scream pierced the cold silence.

Fear gripped Seojin's heart. He had already exhausted himself – crying, blaming, biting – yet nothing changed. Maybe if he went to his mother, everything would be fine.

Seojin crept towards the basement door, his small frame trembling as he gazed down into the dark, musty abyss. The air up here felt heavy, oppressive, like a physical weight bearing down on his frail shoulders. His button eyes darted anxiously between his parents and Uncle Mason, who stood huddled together, their expressions twisted into masks of unimaginable horror.

"What's going on?" Seojin's voice quivered, barely audible over the howling wind outside.

"Seojin, honey, you need to go back upstairs," his mother said gently, ushering him away from the open cellar door. But her concentration remained for mere seconds before she turned to her husband, almost demanding something.

However, Seojin remained rooted to the spot, his curiosity piqued by the muffled screams and frantic thrashing emanating from below.

"Leave me!" The wail cut through the night again.

With a final burst of courage, the 5-year-old peered over the edge and down the rickety wooden stairs. There, bound and gagged in the centre of the dimly-lit room, was his identical twin brother. Older by mere minutes, Sejin had always felt second-place compared to his more charismatic, more confident doppelganger. Seeing his brother so helpless and vulnerable filled Seojin with a confusing swirl of emotions - pity, guilt, and fear.

"Let him go!" Seojin demanded, his small fists balled at his sides.

Mason shot him a warning look. "This isn't for your eyes, son. Now run along before you get hurt."

But instead of leaving, Seojin sneaked behind the staircase, not wanting to leave.

The room seemed to be alive, its walls pulsating with an eerie energy. Suddenly, a low, guttural growl filled the air, causing him to shrink back in terror. The source of the sound revealed itself as the floor beneath him began to crack and crumble.

"Don't do this to him! He is not possessed!" Dani pleaded to her husband.

Jonghin shook his head, trying to sympathise. "I'm sorry Dani, but I can't risk it. The things Sejin has done, the way he's changed... It's not natural. We need to protect Seojin and ourselves."

Dani broke down in tears, but held onto Seojin firmly. She pressed her palms against her trembling lips, trying to muffle any sound that could betray her emotions. In that moment, she only bore the essence of motherhood. She knew her husband only wanted to keep them safe but fear consumed her. The worry of what harm he might inflict upon that precious little soul kept gnawing at her soul.

"Please Jonghin, he is your son."

But Jonghin paid no heed this time. The screams kept growing, incinerating the outrage beaming from the basement in a vile cry, "Eomma!"

The dark prophecy continued to torment and distort the young boy's fragile frame from within.

The windowpanes rattled, their fragile glass threatening to shatter. However, it was not the wind; it was an unidentified presence lurking in the shadows. Something unseen yet undeniably present. Seojin swore it was the same thing he felt of their porch. The ghost must have followed him inside.

Mason had been standing there, trying not to interfere as his friend and wife talked but he couldn't help feel bad. He too had a son same age as Sejin and could very well understand what Jonghin and Dani were going through.

Jonghin's paranoia however was in full swing as he found himself caught between being a father and a scientist who trusted his eyes. With his home turning into hell for an entire week, he had no choice but to put his faith in the unseen. The continuous spread of rumours had been bombarding his ears nonstop, pushing him into this absurd situation.

And he had known how Satan had often been a better deity than their timid god.

"Jonghin, please. He is your son," Dani was on her knees, her hands shackled to his feet.

"You are blind in his love; open your eyes or he shall end us all," he growled through clenched teeth, tossing insults at the poor little boy in the most merciless, unfiltered way possible.

As the last word escaped his lips, something strange happened. He felt as though something unseen grabbed him and pushed him up against the large windows. The weight of its rage made the glass quiver and almost break. Without any hesitation, another phantom arm slammed on his chest and launched him into the ceiling.

"Jonghin!"

Mason could feel the fear coursing through his veins as he swiftly grabbed his friend and pulled him towards the other side of the room. Chaos echoed through the air. The pounding in his chest matched the rush of urgency propelling them forward.

"Father Morris!"

He screamed in fear as he looked over at Jonghin being hurt over and over again.

"Close the door and tie him up," the priest commanded as he turned to look back at the mess. His hands gripped the worn edges of his Bible tightly.

Mason and Jonghin loosened their holds, taking up the rope in an attempt to keep him seated, and the priest started chanting again.

_________

Thank you :)