Reborn as a Prophet in a Horror Movie

#005Reader Mode

#005

“Why did you bring the girls if we’re just going to sleep separately?”

A voice filled with frustration echoed throughout the cabin. Catching Bobby’s grumbling, William, with his neatly shaved head, shot him a sharp look. The flickering candlelight cast shadows that accentuated the firm muscles of William’s arms. Seeing the brewing storm in William’s eyes, Bobby quickly changed his tone and turned to Johan.

“Come on, Johan, back me up here. You feel the same, right?”

Johan, tall and effortlessly handsome with a laid back demeanor, answered while casually tossing a lemon in the air as he lounged on his bunk bed.

“What’s eating you, Bobby? We had a good time today.”

“It’s not about today. Aren’t you guys worried at all?”

At Bobby’s raised voice, Johan, who had been lazily lying down, propped himself up, his muscular chest visible beneath his thin shirt. He replied with a seemingly gentle tone,

“What are you getting at, Bobby? Speak plainly so we can understand.”

Bobby, averting his eyes from Johan’s chiseled torso, mumbled,

“Didn’t Airi’s top mysteriously disappear at the lake today? Who do you think was behind that? The groundskeeper here is creepy. Doesn’t he seem shady to you?”

William’s eyes darkened at the mention of Airi. His already stern expression became even more rigid. His thick eyebrows knit together, bearing down on Bobby.

“Bobby, Airi’s top probably fell into the lake. They’ve likely found it by now.”

Confronted by William’s deep voice, Bobby defensively snapped back.

“Yes, I know that! But how did her top just fall into the lake? Airi had them secured with a rock. The wind didn’t just waltz in and sweep it into the lake, Willy!”

“William.”

“Huh?”

“It’s William, Bobby.”

Bobby’s face flushed with embarrassment. He wanted to retort but was left silently fuming. Suddenly, the cabin door rattled with a playful knock. Knock, knock, knock.

“Come on in, the door’s open.”

As Johan called out, the door creaked open. A sudden gust of wind caused the candle to flicker, and a small familiar face peeked in with an impish grin.

“Ta-da!”

It was Airi, cheerfully waving beer cans in each hand. Sensing the tension in the room, her bright expression dimmed slightly.

“What’s with the gloomy faces, guys? Especially when I come bearing gifts of beer and beauty?”

“Airi, are you going in or not?”

Christina’s impatient voice echoed from behind Airi, who quickly stepped into the cabin to make room.

Despite the grand name of ‘cabin,’ the place was nothing more than a cramped wooden shack housing two bunk beds. With five people now inside, it was extremely cramped.

Airi naturally claimed a spot next to William while Christina squeezed onto the bed where Johan lay, nudging his sizable frame with a hint of annoyance. Bobby, sensing an opportunity, scrambled down his ladder.

Airi, now cozily nestled against William, began distributing the beers, her voice playfully teasing the boys,

“What’s with the long faces? Don’t tell me you guys were planning to call it a night after just roasting some marshmallows. Isn’t that right, Willy?”

“Airi…”

William’s face remained as stoic as stone, but a blush betraying him crept onto his cheeks, and it certainly wasn’t from the candlelight. Airi shook her head, admonishing,

“Also, Bobby, I heard everything from outside. How can you be so judgmental based on looks alone? Did you think I’d ignore your snarky comments about his scars? Plus, he’s the one preparing all our meals. Basically, he’s our chef for tomorrow’s breakfast.”

“What chef? He just cooks as part of his caretaker duties. I bet his cooking skills are terrible. Just wait and see. I’m sure he’ll serve us bland oatmeal, burnt toast, and juice that smells like a used rag! That’s why I skipped his dinner.”

“Hey, Bobby, why are you trash talking the food before we’ve even tried it? We only said no because we brought our own barbecue.”

Johan’s rebuttal made Bobby’s nostrils flare, visibly bristling. Christina, after taking a sip of her beer and wiping her mouth, chimed in,

“Bobby, is this attitude because the groundskeeper prevented you from finding Hannah O’Lantern’s ritual site?”

Christina’s pointed question caused Bobby’s face to twitch.

“No!”

Bobby’s denial was swift, but his voice betrayed his panic. No one was buying his hurried denial. Airi shot Bobby a knowing glance and chuckled.

“Bobby, are you really this upset because you missed some spooky alien-summoning ritual?”

“Wh-who said…”

Bobby’s stuttering was met with knowing nods and smirks. Airi giggled, her chestnut curls tickling William’s arm with each shake of her head.

“Oh my god, seriously, Bobby? You’re scared of clowns but not aliens?”

“Don’t laugh, Airi! Lots of people are scared of clowns. And there have been numerous UFO sightings. It’s just that the government keeps it under wraps.”

“Uh… wow, you’re actually serious.”

Airi turned away, her expression a mix of amusement and exasperation. Johan, crushing an empty beer can with a casual squeeze, murmured,

“But wasn’t Hannah O’Lantern’s ritual performed back in the 1960s? Any evidence of that… magic circle or whatever, would’ve faded by now.”

“It was 1964, to be exact. And it wasn’t a ‘magic circle’, it was a signal circle to communicate with extraterrestrial beings.”

Bobby quickly corrected him. William, idly playing with a strand of Airi’s hair, threw in a blunt comment,

“Maybe lay off the sci-fi shows a bit, Bobby.”

“Will….uh William!”

Despite his defiant response, Bobby didn’t dare snap back at the muscular William. He was the typical bully: tormenting the weak but cowering before the strong. Instead, he mumbled to himself, idly rolling a lukewarm beer can between his hands,

“What’s wrong with sci-fi shows? Especially when remakes rarely do them justice…”

“You truly are a fanboy like no other.”

Airi, observing Bobby’s sulking demeanor, could only shake her head. Christina, amused joined the banter,

“Why are you so surprised? Considering who my mother is, isn’t it obvious? Just look at me and you’ll have your answer.”

Airi offered a noncommittal smile at Christina’s lament, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Her gaze drifted towards Johan, who was still lazily sprawled behind Christina.

Sure, Airi loved and trusted her boyfriend William more than anyone, but she knew he was a man of few words. Thankfully, while her prayers didn’t seem to reach the heavens, they did seem to have an effect on the down to earth Johan.

Johan, with an effortless flick, sent the aluminum tab from his beer can toward the candle, instantly capturing the room’s attention. A subtle smile played on his lips as he spoke,

“By the way, didn’t I see Golden earlier?”

“Golden? You mean from that trio of misfits, Goldie, Silver, and Brass?”

Christina shivered with distaste, hoping Johan was wrong. But Johan simply nodded, his voice as breezy as ever.

“It’s hard to miss Golden with that flashy outfit.”

“Oh my god, did those guys touch my clothes?”

Airi shuddered at the thought. Her suspicion was fairly valid. The Gold-Silver-Bronze trio had a horrible reputation, especially Brass, who had endless scandalous rumors involving women.

“Hmm.”

William, wetting his lower lip, drew Airi closer. Unlike earlier, she was now wearing a longer shirt.

“You’re safe with me, Airi. Always.”

“Willy…”

Christina, wearing a scowl, handed another beer to Johan.

“From now on, no more double-dating during our hangouts. They’re lost in their own little love world.”

Johan’s expression altered for a moment, but no one noticed the subtle change. His face was turned towards the cabin wall, hidden in the shadows of the bunk.

“Phew…”

The candle’s warm glow cast a reddish hue onto Christina’s blonde hair. She glanced towards the small cabin window. The darkness outside revealed little more than the vague silhouettes of trees.

One thing was certain, though: the rain still hadn’t come. Imagining a cloudless sky, Christina let the tension melt from her body.

“Airi, why ditch stargazing with Willy for this? You wouldn’t stop going on about a lakeside date. That being said, I’m glad you changed your mind, given the circumstances.”

“Did I?”

Airi’s reply carried a hint of sarcasm, leaving William slightly puzzled. Airi clicked her tongue in mock disapproval, playfully wagging her finger.

“Oh, naive Christina Maria. You have no idea what horrors lie within those murky lake waters, do you?”

“I don’t know, some man-eating monster? Well… probably just Golden.”

A delicate flush bloomed on Christina’s cheeks, likely from the beer. Her freckles, especially noticeable on her right cheek, stood out distinctly. At Christina’s remark, Airi snuggled closer to William, whispering,

“No! No, worse. That lake has…”

“The lake has what?”

Swallowing, Bobby leaned in, his eyes locked onto Airi’s lips. Despite her makeup being slightly smudged from the day’s activities, the candlelight highlighted the curve of her lips. Slowly, they began to move,

“Bloodthirsty mosquitoes!”

Airi’s anticlimactic revelation left everyone visibly deflated. Not just Bobby, but even Christina couldn’t help but chuckle.

“What’s that about?”

“You just don’t understand. How can you create a romantic atmosphere when you’re constantly being attacked by mosquitoes? Swimming earlier today was so much more enjoyable. Now it’s just unbearable. Right, Willy?”

“Anywhere with you is perfect for me.”

“Willy…”

Watching the lovebirds exchange sweet nothings, Christina couldn’t help but roll her eyes.

“Again! Seriously!”

After Christina and Airi retired to their cabins, Johan, William, and Bobby also called it a night. The cramped cabin was filled with the scent of melted wax and the sweet yet savory aroma of beer, stirring emotions in Bobby’s chest. After tossing and turning for a bit, he found sleep elusive and opened his eyes.

Back in 1964, Hannah O’Lantern claimed to have received a message from an extraterrestrial being before tragically taking her own life at this campsite. She, her boyfriend, and their three friends – a total of five vibrant young lives – were extinguished.

Their deaths caused a nationwide uproar. The mysterious circumstances of their deaths were distressing enough, but the gruesome mutilation of their bodies was utterly horrifying.

Hannah O’Lantern and her friends were discovered in horrific states. Some were found desiccated, devoid of all moisture like a wrung-out rag. Others were torn in half, their skulls shattered. Some had their knees and shinbones smashed and melted, with their calves twisted into grotesque forms. Others had their bellies ripped open, entrails brutally removed. It was a stomach-churning sight.

The only identifiable signs of their attacker were teeth marks on their bodies. However, these marks did not resemble the bite of any known animal.

Because of this, some speculated that they might have killed each other. Despite public suspicion, the police declared, based on the autopsy results, that the direct cause of death for Hannah O’Lantern and her friends was undoubtedly drug-induced suicide. Naturally, many didn’t believe it, sparking a wave of conspiracy theories. After that, Hannah’s story subsequently became a subject of public fascination.

While many overlooked Hannah’s personal history, Bobby painstakingly collected every essay, sketch, and biography she had left behind. To him, Hannah was a kindred spirit. Additionally, her extraordinary artistic talent had been a source of inspiration for many.

How astonishing it was that the record of interstellar communication she left behind was somewhere in this camp? Bobby’s eyes gleamed at the sound of William’s loud snoring. The intense darkness, devoid of even the faintest starlight, only heightened his excitement.

Bobby carefully descended the ladder, ensuring not to make a sound. William, who was snoring loudly, and Johan, who was sleeping in an awkward position, showed no signs of waking.

Bobby retrieved a map and a lantern from his bag and cautiously edged out of the cabin, clutching his gear close to his chest. The cabin door creaked in protest, the rusted hinges slicing through the silence, but no voice stopped him. He snickered, picking up his pace.

After igniting the lantern and unfurling the map, Bobby identified three primary locations highlighted with bold red circles: the main facilities, the lake, and the winding forest trails. These were his best bets for the places where Hannah might have conducted her interstellar communications.

His first stop was the forest by the lake, not far from the cabin he had just exited. There had been whispers of clues discovered there by those who had previously tried to solve Hannah’s mystery.

However, police barricades and resistance from the campsite owner had previously prevented direct access to the area. The so called evidence had only circulated as unverified rumors. As time passed, Hannah O’Lantern’s story gradually faded from memory, allowing Bobby to explore the Hamon campsite without hindrance.

Although the campsite had a different name during Hannah’s tragedy, its essence as a retreat for nature lovers hadn’t changed. For Bobby, it was an unexpected stroke of luck.

Navigating by the light of his lantern, Bobby chuckled to himself. He found it amusingly ironic to be searching for lantern marks using a lantern. His earlier fear of unexpectedly running into the Golden trio had dissipated. With confidence, Bobby delved deeper into the forest.

“Hah, hah…”

The post-sunset forest was chilly. Yet, perhaps due to his adrenaline, Bobby felt sweat bead on his forehead. Bending over, he felt the earth beneath his fingers.

“Ah!”

His exclamation echoed through the silent forest. The scattered evidence he had collected was astonishingly accurate! Setting aside his lantern and map, Bobby began to brush away the dirt concealing something. Gradually, a flat stone emerged.

Inscribed on the stone was Hannah O’Lantern’s unmistakably erratic handwriting.

Joy and sweat coated Bobby’s face. It was undeniably real. A triumphant smirk curled his lips. Uncovering this would catapult him into fame, perhaps even make him a man worthy of Christina.

“Everyone ignores me now, but they’ll see. I was a model, you know. I bet even Phillip Lee will be sending me a friend request soon.”

Although his modeling career had been brief, Bobby had pushed that part of his past to the back of his mind.

“When I reveal this on the show, I’ll be the only man fit for Christina in ‘Wraithwood’. Johan may be a ‘Rompelschtizen baby’, but I’m about to climb the ranks.”

Bobby’s eyes sparkled with greed. Lighting up Hannah’s gravestone with his lantern, he began to feverishly dig at it with his bare hands. The dirt lodging under his nails didn’t deter him. To Bobby, this stone was his stepping stone to social elevation.

Suddenly, a grimy sneaker appeared atop the gravestone. The shoe looked worn and filthy, as if it had been trekking through the forest for an extended period. What was it doing on this precious gravestone? Infuriated, Bobby lifted his lantern.

“Who’s there?!”

Suddenly, something landed with a dull thud. Instinctively, his eyes flicked downward.

“Uh.”

Bobby’s mouth fell open in shock. A vivid red bloodstain was spreading. Blood seeped, following the engraved lines on Hanna’s gravestone.

“Uh….”

Reluctantly, Bobby raised his head, his lower lip quivering. Even though he didn’t want to look, he felt irresistibly compelled to do so.

Blood dripped from the blade of an axe…

He was paler than a low quality wax doll. Bobby recognized the eerily white face.

Glossy, jet-black hair cascaded down like the wings of a raven, framing a small face that was disturbingly expressionless for such delicate features. His foggy, distant eyes usually gazed blankly into the distance, but now Seojun’s eyes bore directly into his.

Again, blood dripped from the axe.

A wave of vertigo swept over him. Barely managing to avoid fainting, Bobby put his vocal cords to the most effective use they’d ever known. His scream echoed through the campground.

“A murderer! There’s a murderer here!”