Reborn as a Prophet in a Horror Movie

#095Reader Mode

#095

5. The Lemon Candy Hitchhiker: A Tale of Hatred, Rage, and Fear

Seojun’s blue truck rattled and groaned as it bounced along the dirt track cutting through the thick woods. Every bone-jarring bump slammed his head against the roof, a dull ache throbbing in his temples as stress gnawed at him. He jerked awake, teeth clenched in frustration. How the hell had he managed to get so lost?

Just a couple of hours ago, he’d peeled out of the Decoy Motel parking lot, convinced he was cruising south on the interstate, Georgia-bound. But his sleep-addled brain had failed him again, steering him in the completely wrong direction. That damn cursed videotape must have fried what few brain cells he had left.

He rubbed the exhaustion from his puffy eye and pulled over, desperate for a few hours of sleep. He’d passed a dozen motels that called to him, promising rest for his weary body. But after the horrifying experience at his last stop, even the cheeriest motel now felt as ominous as a scene from a horror movie.

Seojun huddled in the cramped cab of his truck, a threadbare blanket wrapped around his shivering body. The night air bit through his thin layers, but he wasn’t leaving the questionable safety of his truck until he found somewhere, anywhere, that felt less like a nightmare.

After what seemed like an eternity of winding detours, he thought he’d finally found the right path. But as usual, the universe had other plans. A massive tree, split and splintered, lay sprawled across the road ahead, a dead end. If he weren’t so damn exhausted, he might have laughed at the cruel joke his life had become. Instead, he just stared, too numb to even swear.

“Seriously?“ Seojun groaned, his knuckles white as he gripped the steering wheel. “Another damn obstacle in my way?“

Exhaustion weighed on him as heavily as his crappy luck. But he couldn’t stop now. With a muttered curse, he rolled down the window and squinted at a narrow track disappearing into the trees. It wasn’t great – a dirt path barely wide enough for his truck. But hey, at least it wasn’t riddled with potholes and rocks.

The humid forest air drifted through the open window, clinging to his skin like a wet blanket. The smell of damp earth, moss, and wild animals filled his nose, a sharp reminder of how far off the beaten path he’d gotten. Lush leaves rustled in the breeze, the thick undergrowth seemingly resistant to any sign of human presence. This stretch of woods was definitely not a place he wanted to be. And Seojun, an unwanted guest in nature’s territory, probably felt the same way about him.

Scowling, Seojun muttered to himself that he sure as hell hadn’t chosen this creepy backroad. But then, something in the shadows to his left caught his eye, grabbing his attention like a moth to a flame. His head whipped around, gaze fixed on a twisted branch.

The branch looked eerily like a skeletal arm, reaching from the tree trunk in a desperate grasp. Dry, gnarled twigs jutted out like bony fingers, and at the end, something long and twisted flapped in the breeze, resembling a tattered sleeve. But as Seojun squinted to get a better look, a cold dread washed over him. It was no human limb. And that thing swaying gently in the night air… it definitely wasn’t a piece of cloth.

It was a noose.

Seojun’s breath hitched, the blood draining from his face. A noose hanging from a tree, deep in the woods where nobody went… it was straight out of a horror movie cliché. But the fear twisting in his stomach was all too real. He craned his neck for one last look, but the truck had already carried him past the disturbing sight. His heart pounded, lips quivering.

It was probably just a vine.

He told himself, trying to quell the rising panic.

With only one good eye, it’s easy to mistake something innocent for something sinister… right?

But it was too late to turn back and check. The narrow, winding road made turning the truck impossible. And did he really want to confirm his creepy imaginings by heading straight for that ominous shape?

“Haaa…”

A heavy sigh escaped Seojun’s lips, some of the tension in his body finally starting to ease. He ran a shaky hand over his face, trying to wipe away the lingering unease.

As the dense forest and thick foliage suddenly thinned out, Seojun reluctantly shoved the uneasy feeling he’d been harboring down into the pit of his stomach. The truck lurched forward, its engine wheezing and sputtering like an old man on a treadmill as it navigated the rough terrain.

Above, the sky was a gloomy shade of gray, threatening to unleash a downpour at any second. Exhaustion washed over Seojun, not just in his weary mind, but also in his poor left eye, which had the unfortunate task of doing the work of two. It was no wonder it felt so strained. If he could, Seojun mused, he’d pamper it with spa treatments, relaxing steam baths, and scenic walks with the best views.

At this point, even shamelessly crashing at another terrifying motel like the Decoy started to sound pretty good. But the road stretched on, empty and desolate. There was no sign of a motel, or even a run-down diner or gas station where he could catch a break.

Looks like another night of roughing it I guess… Seojun thought wryly, resignation settling over him like a heavy blanket.

When he’d left Wraithwood, he’d been feeling pretty good about having a smooth, uneventful trip. But life, as it usually does, threw him a curveball when he least expected it. He’d barely started getting used to the harsh realities of life on the road when he spotted a figure up ahead, arms waving frantically as they ran straight down the middle of the street.

“What the…?“ Seojun muttered, hitting the brakes. The whole situation was bizarre, and he knew he had to be careful, especially with a death already weighing heavily on his conscience.

As he got closer, Seojun could see the runner more clearly. The man was short and alarmingly thin, looking like he might pass out any second from sheer exhaustion. The dark circles under his eyes told a story of someone running on empty. Dressed in light clothes with a backpack slung over his shoulders, he seemed completely unprepared. Just as Seojun started to feel a flicker of relief, the man suddenly collapsed right there in the middle of the road.

Seojun swore, slamming on the brakes and jerking forward as the seatbelt caught him. He strained to get a look at the fallen man, but his truck’s height made it impossible to see anything. Heart racing, he fumbled with the seatbelt, flung open the door, and practically tumbled out onto the road in a panic.

“Gasp, ugh…”

The man lay sprawled out in a pathetic heap, inches from being crushed under the truck’s front wheel and becoming another roadkill on the road.

“Hey… hey! What the hell are you doing?!“ Seojun yelled, rushing to the man’s side.

He had to fight the urge to slap the guy awake, knowing it could make things worse. As he got closer, the extent of the man’s condition became clear. The man’s lips were a ghastly shade of blue, his skin deathly pale. Sweat glistened on his white face – a clear sign something was seriously wrong. Seojun realized touching him now would only complicate an already dire situation.

His hand hovered over his phone, ready to dial 911, but a weak gasp from the man made him hesitate. The man’s cracked lips moved slightly, whispering something so faint Seojun could barely hear it – like a fish gasping for air on dry land. Seojun leaned closer, his ear almost touching the man’s parched lips, straining to catch every word.

“Wa… Wa…ter…” the guy rasped, his voice barely a whisper.

Seojun’s brows furrowed. Dehydration? He dashed to his truck, rummaging frantically through his gym bag until his fingers brushed the cool plastic of an unopened water bottle. Twisting off the cap, he rushed back, gently tipping the bottle towards the man’s cracked lips. But the man flinched, the precious liquid spilling down his gaunt face onto the dark asphalt.

A wave of relief washed over Seojun as the man quickly recovered, eyes regaining focus as he gulped down the water.

“Thanks, man,” he croaked, voice still rough.

Seojun studied the man with skepticism, not entirely persuaded by his response. “You sure you’re alright? I can call an ambulance if you need one.”

Despite his kind offer, a selfish part of Seojun hoped the guy had insurance. The thought of getting stuck with a hefty ambulance bill made his stomach twist into knots. But those worries quickly faded as the stranger shook his head violently, like a startled squirrel. Definitely no insurance then.

With a groan, the man slowly sat up, taking in his surroundings with a dazed expression. A shiver wracked his body as the icy wind cut through his thin, worn-out clothes. His threadbare long-sleeved shirt and ripped pants were no match for the cold. Seojun spotted a brown stain on the man’s torn knee – a wound that definitely needed attention. Even in the man’s disheveled state, Seojun couldn’t help but notice the odd juxtaposition of shiny buttons near his collar, a small detail that seemed out of place.

“I owe you one,“ the man mumbled, breaking the awkward silence. “I was parched, delirious… No one would stop and I thought… I thought I was done for.”

Seojun’s brow furrowed. “How’d you end up stranded out here in the middle of nowhere anyway?“

The surrounding forest was dense, closing in on all sides. Towering trees cast long, eerie shadows across the empty road. You half expected a wild animal to jump out at any second. The massive tree trunks stood like silent sentinels, their immense leaves forming a thick canopy that blocked out the sun.

Adding to the unsettling atmosphere, vines and overgrown grass blanketed the ground, making it impossible to step off the narrow road without tripping. Seojun’s confused expression prompted the man to finally introduce himself.

“I’m a hitchhiker,“ he explained, a slight tremor in his voice as he forced a smile. “Just trying to get by with the kindness of strangers. That’s what I was doing when I got stuck here. There was this fallen tree…“

Seojun nodded, a knowing look on his face. “Yeah, I saw that too.”

“Can you believe they haven’t cleared it yet? It’s been, like, forever!“

The hitchhiker’s tale was shaping up to be a comedy of errors. His previous ride, another good samaritan, had encountered the roadblock and taken a detour to visit a local friend – apparently their schedule was wide open. But for our fearless hitchhiker, things were about to take a turn…

He could have played it safe and waited for the tree to be moved. He could have even crossed his fingers for another kind soul to offer a ride. But where’s the fun in that? His adventurous spirit took over, and a solo trek through the wilderness seemed like a brilliant idea at the time. What could possibly go wrong?

“You look like you got more than a little lost on that hike.“

The hitchhiker shrugged, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. “If I’d stuck to the road like I was supposed to, I would’ve been fine. But nope, I had to go and get clever. It’s kinda embarrassing, but I’m new around here and got turned around pretty quick.“

He gestured towards the back road they were on, a hint of irony in his voice.

“Figured it’d be safer off the main drag, so I took a little detour down this way. Seemed smart at the time. And it’s not like I’m out of shape, so I wasn’t too worried. Plus, there was a clear path to follow. But somehow, the more I walked, the more lost I got. Every turn felt like it should be the way out, but I couldn’t tell if I was walking in circles or just going the wrong way. It was like a real-life maze, you know?“

He shot a weary glance at the dense forest, its inky blackness mirroring his own fatigue.

“I’d downed every last drop of water, every crumb of food I had. Time kinda lost all meaning, like a smartwatch with a dead battery.“

Seojun’s frown deepened. “Why didn’t you just call for help?“

The hitchhiker shook his head in frustration. “Zero bars in that forest, man. I was completely off the grid. And by the time I finally found my way out, my phone was totally dead.“

He let out a long sigh, as if releasing the weight of his ordeal. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he continued.

“When I stumbled out of that forest, I’ve never felt such relief. I was on top of the world, like I could do anything. But I was a total idiot. I didn’t realize how weak I’d gotten. I barely took a few steps before my legs gave out and my vision went all blurry. It was pure dumb luck that I heard your truck right then. Relief washed over me, and then everything went dark…“

As Seojun listened to the hitchhiker’s story, he couldn’t help but feel like the guy hadn’t really been lost in the woods for that long. The fallen tree suggested they’d both turned onto this road around the same time.

At first, Seojun was irritated, thinking some weirdo was trying to mess with his perfect driving record. But as they talked, his anger faded. When the hitchhiker mentioned being a fellow traveler, Seojun felt a sense of kinship. Now that the hitchhiker had rehydrated, his demeanor had softened considerably.

“I’m heading to Kansas City, Kansas.“

Seojun’s ears perked up. “Kansas, huh?“

While he had no real reason to go all the way to Kansas City, he figured he could at least get the guy out of this desolate stretch of road. He glanced at the hitchhiker, who clung to a thread of hope, his face worn and weathered.

A cool breeze whipped through, tousling the hitchhiker’s silky, fluffy hair. The sky overhead was a dreary gray, and it was anyone’s guess when the rain would start coming down. The weather out here was as unpredictable as it was up in the mountains. Lost in thought, Seojun rubbed his smooth chin with a gloved hand, contemplating his next move.

“I’m not going all the way to Kansas City, but I can at least get you somewhere safe. How about it?“

The hitchhiker’s face brightened with gratitude. “Really? I don’t know… I’ve already been such a bother…“

But his excitement fizzled out, and he politely declined the offer, like he was trying to prove he wasn’t the type to take advantage of someone’s kindness. Seojun wasn’t buying it. Besides, ditching the guy here would leave a bad taste in his mouth.

“Look, when I got here, that fallen tree was still blocking the road. Who knows when another car will come by? This isn’t exactly a safe place to be hanging out.“

Seojun’s eye flicked towards the dense forest, imagining the wild animals that could be lurking. The hitchhiker’s hesitation vanished, as if he had only refused out of politeness in the first place.

“Alright, can’t say no to that. Thanks, man!“

“No problem, just hop in and I’ll toss my bag in the back.”

Seojun gestured towards the truck behind him. With surprising ease, he helped the skinny hitchhiker to his feet, barely needing to use his own questionable muscles.

Once they were settled in the front seats, Seojun tossed his own bag in the back while the hitchhiker clutched his backpack protectively. The hitchhiker’s eyes widened as he took in the truck’s interior, a dazed look of awe on his face. After a moment, he spoke hesitantly.

“I know I shouldn’t be the one saying this, but isn’t picking up a random dude like me a bit risky? Maybe be a little more cautious next time?“

“Mm, noted.”

Seojun nodded, acknowledging the point. But he was on a mission to become a better person. Christina would never leave someone stranded. Seojun 2.0 – now with 50% more conscience and good deeds – tapped the hitchhiker’s seatbelt buckle.

“Just buckle up, alright?“