Chapter 324 : Stay Strong, Do Seohan (2)
Chapter 324: Stay Strong, Do Seohan (2)
“Your makeup is all finished!”
This was the first time those words announcing the next schedule had ever filled me with such dread.
I slowly opened my tightly shut eyes.
And then.
At last, I looked at my reflection in the mirror.
I nearly jumped out of my skin.
“Whoa, that scared me.”
If the camera hadn't been there, I probably would've let out a string of curses.
Out of the corner of my eye, I watched the makeup artist who had done my makeup leave with a smile.
Awkwardly clearing my throat, I fiddled with the gat on my head.
My face had been painted completely white, and dark circles had been drawn under my eyes like a panda's.
It seemed they were going for a Grim Reaper concept.
Technically speaking, I was usually the one being chased by the Grim Reaper.
Was this concept really okay?
Thinking that, I stood up.
Then I spotted Do Seojun.
For some reason, he'd been grinning from ear to ear ever since earlier.
Perhaps noticing my obvious stare, he even gave me a thumbs-up.
“The makeup turned out great. You look cool.”
“Haa....”
I let out a deep sigh and pressed a hand against my throbbing head.
There were a lot of things I wanted to say, but since I was the one who'd dug this grave for myself, I'd keep my mouth shut.
Without a doubt, I'd never felt so reluctant to head to a schedule before.
Feeling as though sandbags were tied to my ankles, I trudged forward with a miserable expression.
“Haa....”
I seriously hate this....
The inside was pitch-black.
Without a flashlight, it would've been difficult to take even a single step.
I'd never willingly entered a Haunted House in my life, so I simply couldn't get used to the eerie atmosphere.
For some reason, even the air inside felt damp.
And...
Was it just my imagination?
A chill ran down my spine, making me shiver.
Grumbling quietly, I complained,
“It's so cold...!”
The staff member laughed.
“That's because there's a ghost beside you~.”
“Huh?”
The staff member had been teasing me ever since earlier.
Do Seojun had definitely put them up to it.
“That's mean.”
“Haha, sorry!”
They said they were my fan...
I felt betrayed.
“Phew....”
After walking for what felt like forever, we finally reached the midpoint.
On the way in, I'd smacked my head against hanging skull props twice and even screamed after brushing against some dangling hair.
Still, aside from that, nothing much had happened.
Shining the flashlight around the inside of the Haunted House, the Neverland staff member continued,
“You'll wait here. Since filming is limited to this section, please make sure not to leave your spot.”
“Yes....”
“Oh, and do you see that bridge right in front of you?”
I nodded silently as I listened.
“People will come across from there later. At that point, just lightly grab their ankles. Everyone absolutely loves it.”
“They... really like that...?”
“It sounds like screams of joy to me.”
“Huh?”
Just hearing about it was terrifying, but I quickly changed my mindset.
I'm the one who's supposed to scare them....
You can do this, Do Seohan.
Determined, I clenched my fist tightly.
“I think that's about everything for the basic explanation....”
The staff member smiled as they dragged out the sentence.
It was time to say goodbye to the one person who'd been my only source of comfort in this creepy place.
Holding onto the crossbody bag tightly, they said,
“My job is outside, so I have to head back now. Good luck...!”
“Yees....”
“I'm worried about you, so I'll come check on you again in a little while!”
“The flashlight....”
“Hm?”
“Could you leave the flashlight with me?”
I knew I wasn't supposed to shine it at the guests coming through.
But...
Just holding it made me feel safer.
“Ah, of course! Here you go!”
The staff member placed the flashlight into my hand before leaving....
“Take me with you too....”
I stared longingly at their retreating back.
Ah.
I want to leave too.
“Ugh, it's cold.”
Shivering in the chilly air, I settled into position.
It felt as though the endless darkness might swallow me whole.
Taking a deep breath, I gripped the flashlight tightly.
Still, there was one comforting thought.
I wasn't the only part-time worker inside this attraction.
Right.
They're all living people too.
It's just a little creepy.
Turning toward the nearest presence I could feel, I bowed my head.
“Please take care of me.”
“…….”
After greeting the staff member across from me, who was dressed as a ghost bride, I took another deep breath.
I wasn't sure why...
But I couldn't shake the feeling of an icy chill lingering in the air.
The line stretched on endlessly.
After waiting for quite a long time, we finally reached the entrance to the Haunted House.
Although it wasn't Halloween season yet, Neverland's Haunted House was always incredibly popular.
Its maze-like layout made the experience feel much longer than it actually was.
And unlike attractions with static props, this one had actual staff members who ran out at you.
The truth was...
Haunted Houses with real people inside were always scarier than ones filled with mannequins.
College student Lee Juyoung cooled her slightly flushed cheeks with her hands as she steadied her breathing.
“Ah, I'm already scared.”
The friend she'd come with had declared she absolutely hated Haunted Houses and ran away.
In the end, she'd lined up by herself.
Though she had to admit...
She really was scared.
She was the type who feared things like this while secretly enjoying them at the same time.
“Please prepare to enter.”
The staff member organizing the line gave everyone a brief explanation.
It was the usual warning not to assault the people inside (the ghosts) or damage any of the attractions.
After that, just as they'd explained at the entrance, they reminded everyone that filming was currently taking place and that their faces might appear on television.
As she reflexively nodded...
Before she knew it, it was her turn to enter.
Lee Juyoung repeatedly clenched and unclenched her cold hands.
“Haa... I'm so nervous....”
At that moment...
She had absolutely no idea.
That there was a ghost inside the Haunted House who was even more frightened than she was.
.
.
.
.
“KYAAAAAAAH!”
It happened exactly ten steps after entering.
A skeleton suddenly dropped down from above as if welcoming her.
She screamed.
“Holy shit!”
Lee Juyoung jumped straight into the air.
“Whoa, fuck!”
An even stronger exclamation burst out.
“Fuck! Ah, fuck!”
Around the time she let out her second curse...
She suddenly realized all of this was being filmed.
At this rate...
Her entire appearance would probably get edited out.
“Ugh....”
Looking like she was about to cry, she cautiously moved forward one step at a time.
This time, strands of hair brushed against the side of her neck.
Naturally...
More profanity followed.
I should've listened to my friend.
It had been so long that she'd completely romanticized her memories of Haunted Houses.
When someone dressed as a zombie suddenly rushed toward her from the other side, she almost instinctively shoved them despite the warning she'd just received.
Her legs trembled uncontrollably.
“Ah, it's so long!!!”
Why was this damn Haunted House so huge?!
Only now had her eyes finally begun adjusting to the darkness.
Looking at the swaying bridge ahead, Lee Juyoung took a deep breath.
She hadn't visited many Haunted Houses before.
But she was absolutely certain what was about to happen.
“Someone's definitely going to grab my ankle from underneath.”
She hesitated for a moment because of the ominous feeling.
Still...
She had to cross the bridge if she wanted to get out.
Muttering several appropriate expressions of fear, she slowly stepped forward.
“Ughhhh....”
Whatever they'd spread across the floor felt unpleasantly squishy.
Covering half her face with one hand, she carefully took another step.
Then—
She spotted a figure not too far away.
“Ah, fuck.”
It was painfully obvious that the figure was about to do exactly what a Haunted House employee was supposed to do.
Letting out a deep sigh, she stepped forward once more.
Just as she'd expected...
The dark figure charged straight at her.
Along with a short shout meant to scare her.
“Wah!”
She hadn't gotten a proper look in the confusion, but it was a Grim Reaper wearing a gat, his face painted white.
Without thinking, she screamed at a pitch she'd never reached in her life.
“KYAAAAAAAH—!”
But then—
“AAAAAAAH!”
Another scream rang out.
One noticeably lower-pitched than hers.
“……?”
...Huh?
Lee Juyoung stopped to process what had just happened.
“Wh-what?”
Why was the ghost screaming too?
Turning around...
She saw the ghost awkwardly retreat back into the corner and crouch down again.
“…….”
Apparently, Haunted House employees these days screamed first and then got scared alongside the guests.
It was absurd.
Still, out of politeness, she said,
“Good work....”
At that, the ghost politely bowed his head.
Needlessly respectful.
Wearing a bewildered expression, Lee Juyoung muttered,
“Is... is that his way of saying goodbye...?”
The whole situation was incredibly confusing.
“Haa....”
The outside air had never felt so refreshing.
Like a prisoner who'd finally been released, she took a huge breath of the cool air.
“Wow... I seriously thought I was going to die.”
There had even been a cute ghost(?)...
But overall, the place had been so terrifying she almost passed out.
Especially the eerie music echoing throughout the Haunted House.
It contributed tremendously to the chilling atmosphere.
If someone asked her to go in a second time...
There was no way she could do it.
Clicking her tongue, Lee Juyoung muttered,
“What was I thinking?”
I'd definitely romanticized it.
Now that she'd come to her senses, she wasn't planning to visit another Haunted House for at least the next several years.
Making that vow, she looked around.
The friend who'd run away saying they wanted churros had apparently already gone downstairs.
She'd originally taken out her phone to call them.
Instead, her hand moved toward the JjaekJjaek app.
Since she'd already opened it, she briefly checked her timeline.
“Ah!”
Lee Juyoung's eyes suddenly widened.
She had to tell her JjaekJjaek mutuals about what had just happened.
Tap tap tap.
Chuckling, she quickly typed.
Lee Ju @eiju19_tm
I came to a Haunted House,
and the ghost screamed too LOLLOL
This is ridiculous LOL.
It didn't take long to post the short message.
Even thinking about it again made her laugh.
She wasn't particularly interested in seeing her mutuals' reactions.
Just as she was about to put her phone away—
Ding.
Ding.
Her phone vibrated with notifications.
Walking downhill, Lee Juyoung took it back out.
Then—
Wasn't that Do Seohan?
└ Do Seohan's filming Challenge Tour there right now.
“Huh?”
Her mouth fell open.
“No way.”
Thinking back carefully....
That ghost was kind of handsome.
“Should... should I go back in?”
Suddenly...
She began to regret leaving.