Reborn as a Prophet in a Horror Movie

#030Reader Mode

#030

Seojun’s hand, which had silently risen, fell back down just as quietly.

Well, I really don’t want to be the one on the front lines to save Bobby either…

Seojun’s mind wandered back to all the times Bobby had given him trouble since he moved to Wraithwood Warren. There was Bobby, grinning like a smug lizard, always boasting; Bobby, who accidentally omitted Seojun’s name from a group project; Bobby, who filled his Christmas exchange gift with candy wrappers; Bobby, who sneakily slipped a thumbtack into Seojun’s sneakers…

Wait, was that thumbtack payback for when I accidentally let it slip about Bobby sending that love letter to Alicia?

Alicia, with tears streaming down her face and letting out a mixture of sobs and shrieks, packed up and moved the very next day. Seojun and Bobby stood there, completely speechless, their eyes fixed on the For Sale sign planted in front of her house. Seojun couldn’t help but feel envious of the minor characters in movies who seemed to have the freedom to move on without such constraints.

Anyway, figuring a way to escape seemed a far better option than confronting Gas Mask with a gun for Bobby’s sake. Wrapped up in these grumpy thoughts, Seojun watched Johan consoling Christina, his hand patting reassuringly on her shoulder.

“Christina, I understand. It’s painful to think about leaving Bobby to get killed by Gas Mask.”

His voice was kind, or at least it sounded that way to the ears.

“But it’s smarter for us to get out of here and call for help. Who knows? Maybe Bobby will still be alive by then.”

Deep down, Seojun knew that Bobby would likely be beyond recognition at the Hamon Production Workshop by then. But Johan’s logical reasoning seemed to convince everyone, as they exchanged subtle glances.

Seojun thought it might not be such a bad idea to escape the Hamon campsite with Christina. Wouldn’t it be safer to leave as part of the final girl’s group rather than going at it alone?

Even Christina, who was the most worried about Bobby, seemed to be swayed by Johan’s argument.

“Yeah..”

Then, out of the blue, Golden chimed in.

“There’s a phone upstairs, on the third floor, if we need to contact the outside world.”

Seojun immediately closed the distance the distance between them, leaning in until their noses were almost touching. Though Golden’s cheeks were stiff with annoyance, his eyes showed no signs of lying. His overall demeanor exuded honesty.

“What? Why are you staring at me like that?!”

With a reddening face, Golden pushed Seojun’s chest and shouted, clearly flustered by the sudden closeness.

Is this bastard going to try and pass off a rotten stick as a phone next?

Seojun eyed him with suspicion. But, surprisingly, Golden was telling the truth.

On the third floor of the old dormitory, there was a corded rotary phone sitting on a table with one slanted leg, covered in a thick layer of dust.

Airi, who had just climbed the creaky stairs that sounded like they might give way any second, spotted the phone and couldn’t hold back.

“Seriously, are you crazy? Why are you just now telling us this?!”

Her eyes were wide with disbelief as she grabbed Golden by the collar, shaking him and forgetting all about her injured waist. Golden, known for stirring up trouble with anyone and everyone, quickly brushed Airi’s hands off. If William had been there, he would’ve been livid at such roughness, but since he was busy watching the soldier downstairs, it was Christina who came to Airi’s aid.

“Do I have to report every little thing that no one even bothers to ask about?”

“Do you have no common sense, or is it just your personality? Now I see you’re lacking in both!”

While Airi and Golden were locked in their heated exchange, Seojun took the chance to scope out the third floor. It was surprisingly filled with random stuff: a wardrobe with a door hanging off its hinges, a pile of rotting cotton inside, a random large heap of straw in a corner…

Compared to these oddities, the beer cans rolling around and the plastic bags with a bit of white powder in them were pretty straightforward. Seojun clicked his tongue in disapproval, and Johan quickly grabbed his arm.

“Jun, don’t even think about touching that. What if there are drug particles in the air?”

He wrapped his arms around Seojun as if the thought alone scared him.

“It’s too risky to even get near, right?”

“Yeah…”

Seojun felt the reassuring weight and patted Johan’s sturdy arm. There was a sense of familiarity with his closeness now. They were quietly forming a subtle bond when Airi’s voice cut through the air again.

“These binoculars! Were you guys using these to spy on us?!”

Seojun could almost hear Airi grinding her teeth from where he stood. He wasn’t sure about Brass’s fate, but if he was still alive, it didn’t look like he had much time left to live.

The discovery of the rotary phone sent everyone into a frenzy. But it was Christina’s words that brought a sense of order to the chaos.

“Guys.”

She was holding the phone receiver, her voice calm but quivering at the end. She turned, her face a mix of joy and confusion.

“The phone… it’s actually working.”

A stunned silence followed her shaky announcement. Even Golden, who had tipped them off about the phone, looked shocked. Then, led by Airi, a wave of cheers erupted.

“Oh my God! I knew it!”

Airi was so excited, clasping her hands and shaking them as if she was about to break into a dance. Christina, tears streaming down her face, murmured to herself.

“The line’s working, but, um, who should I call? Not home, obviously. Right, emergency services…”

Overwhelmed, Christina leaned back against the wall, sliding down to the floor. Seojun, meanwhile, fixed Golden with an accusatory look that said it all. Golden, biting his lip in annoyance, clearly got the message.

“Why are you staring at me like that? You think I had time to make a phone call when Brass could have put a bolt between my eyes, huh?!”

Seojun, more used to being on the receiving end of harsh words or constantly being beaten, struggled to open his mouth. As he was trying to find words that were as hurtful as curses but not quite, Johan’s arms wrapped around him in a sudden hug.

Seojun’s slender body was enveloped in a tight embrace, catching him off guard. He attempted to push away but stopped when he heard the warmth in Johan’s voice.

“I’m just so relieved.”

If a voice could radiate warmth, Johan’s did just that.

With his face buried in Johan’s chest, Seojun couldn’t see his expression, but could feel his heart pounding. Thump, thump, thump… Johan kept whispering softly.

“It’s gonna be okay, Jun. I’m just so glad.”

Hesitantly, Seojun wrapped his arms around Johan’s wide back.

“Yeah. It’s a relief,” Seojun admitted.

Their chances of getting out of here alive just got a bit better. It was a small victory.

“Guys, I’m making the call now!”

If Christina hadn’t made her firm declaration, they would have continued hugging for a bit longer. The moment Seojun heard her words, he pushed Johan away and took his hand, leading him towards Christina. Johan, momentarily taken aback by Seojun’s sudden push, briefly displayed a hint of disappointment on his face before breaking into a wide smile.

“Tina, you sure you know how to use this thing?” Airi asked, a bit worried.

“Yeah. My grandma still has one of these at her place.”

Christina’s fingers moved expertly over the rotary dial. Seojun watched, impressed. He knew how to use these old phones, but he was surprised Christina did too.

Beep… Beep… Beep…

Each ring heightened the tension. Then with a click, a voice answered.

– Hello, 911. What’s your emergency?

It was a standard response, but it was enough to clench Seojun’s heart with hope. All eyes were on Christina, her hand trembling as she held the receiver, but her voice was steady.

“Um, we’re at Hamon Campground, in Wraithwood Warren. Someone’s taken our friend hostage, and there are… creatures here, dangerous ones. We’re hiding, but I’m not sure how long we can stay out of sight. Please, you have to help us.”

– Okay, I understand. Please stay calm and tell me your exact location.

The operator’s voice was oddly high-pitched, sounding feminine at first, but it was ambiguous enough to perhaps be a man’s. Their tone was soothing, a reassuring presence after the chaos today.

“Yes, we’re at Hamon Campground. You know, the one near Red Lake in Wraithwood Warren.”

– Can you specify your exact location, please?

“Um, one sec. Where exactly are we guys?”

Christina looked around, panic creeping into her voice. Airi quickly took her hand, steadying her.

“Tina, focus. We’re in the old dormitory. It’s the tallest three-story building in the camp.”

“Oh, right! Yes, we’re in the old dormitory at Hamon Campground. It’s a three-story building, the tallest one here. You can’t miss it.”

Christina’s face brightened with a flicker of relief as she relayed their location. Their nightmare was over now.

– Ah…there.

But just when they thought they were safe, the voice on the other end took a sinister turn.

– Found you! I’ve been looking for you all. I’ll be there soon, just wait for me.

The sound of a chair scraping back was followed by the operator’s voice deepening, sending a shiver through them. Then the line abruptly went dead with a click.

Beep. Beep. Beep…

The sound of the disconnected call echoed in the now silent room, leaving them with a sense of foreboding.