Reborn as a Prophet in a Horror Movie

#096Reader Mode

#096

Seojun wasn’t oblivious to the potential risks of picking up a stranger. He eyed the hitchhiker, taking in his disheveled appearance and wiry frame. The guy’s thin T-shirt did little to disguise his pale, almost delicate arms that looked like they could barely lift a gallon of milk. Seojun felt a flicker of confidence as he watched the hitchhiker’s small hands fumble awkwardly with the backpack in his lap.

Seojun wasn’t about to claim he was some kind of fighting pro, but he knew his few strengths and numerous weaknesses well enough. His long arms and legs were his biggest advantages. And fortunately, his height gave him a leg up in this situation, especially since they were similarly slender.

The hitchhiker struggled with his seatbelt, the strap straining over a backpack that looked ridiculously oversized on him. He shot Seojun a sheepish grin, his face flushing pink. Seojun responded with a terse nod, his hands tightening around the wheel as he guided the truck back onto the road.

For a while, they rode in silence, the engine’s drone filling the cab. Seojun could sense the hitchhiker sneaking glances at him in the rearview mirror, waiting for him to break the ice. However, Seojun was all chatted out. He just didn’t have the energy for small talk.

But Tim, the hitchhiker, wasn’t one to let an awkward silence fester.

“So, I’m Tim,“ he said with breezy confidence, taking the conversational reins. “Last name’s a mouthful, so let’s just stick with Tim, okay?”

Seojun nodded curtly and introduced himself, hoping to keep things short and sweet. “I’m not a fan of being called by my last name. So just call me Seojun.”

“How come? Sounds kinda cool to me.“

Seojun sighed. “It’s not that I don’t like it,“ he said, a slight shiver running down his spine. “It just… sounds weird in my hometown dialect.“

Tim’s expression turned thoughtful, and he flashed Seojun a knowing smile. “Fair enough, Seojun.“

As it turned out, Tim was a master at the art of keeping a one-sided conversation rolling. He had that non-stop energy that Seojun had always stereotyped with hitchhikers – the ability to talk endlessly with barely a pause for breath. Seojun had to admit, he was secretly impressed.

Before he knew it, Seojun’s drive had turned into an impromptu therapy session. Tim poured out his heart, revealing a ton of personal stuff – family drama, college fails, the tragic backstory of his lone bath towel, the nitty-gritty details of his latest relationship drama, even the name of his girlfriend’s pampered pup. By the time Tim finally took a breath, Seojun’s head was spinning.

It was only then, after the verbal tsunami of Tim’s life story, that Seojun finally learned the reason for his hitchhiking adventure.

“A supernatural spot?“

Seojun’s voice was deadpan as he repeated Tim’s words. He rubbed his tired eye, the endless stretch of scenery outside blurring together. He shot a sidelong glance at Tim, who hadn’t moved a single muscle since buckling up. The guy was wearing a grin that stretched from ear to ear, a little too wide, a little too… unblinking.

“Oh yeah, man! Ghost-hunting, supernatural hotspots, it’s, like, my thing.“ Tim’s voice was like a rubber band, bouncing with manic energy. “I take time off, hitchhike around the country, chasing all things paranormal. This time, it’s some creepy mansion out in Kansas, allegedly haunted by the original Invisible Man.”

Tim’s voice shot up another notch, vibrating with excitement. “Okay, so maybe it’s not, like, a hundred percent confirmed to be in Kansas, but if I was a gambling man? That’s where I’d put my money.“

Seojun winced. Tim’s voice, already nasally, was starting to grate on his nerves. That growing sense of unease in his gut was starting to simmer over. “Wait, when you say ‘supernatural’… you’re talking about actual ghosts and spirits, right?”

Seojun was all about a good horror flick, but the idea of actively seeking out real-life ghosts didn’t sit well with him. He’d had a few encounters with the paranormal, and let’s just say, it soured him on the supernatural for good. But Tim just chuckled, shaking his head like Seojun was missing out on the adventure of a lifetime.

“Nah, man. A place doesn’t have to be haunted to be supernatural. Take this mansion I’m talking about, for instance. From the outside, it’s just a regular three-story house, right? But get this – it was a secret lab where they actually created a real-life invisible person! They experimented on who-knows-who, and you won’t believe it… it actually worked!”

Tim paused for dramatic effect, letting the story sink in. “Or, at least, it worked once. Still, pretty impressive, right?”

Seojun raised an eyebrow, struggling not to roll his eye. “If this experiment was as groundbreaking as you’re saying, wouldn’t the whole country be in an uproar by now?” But Tim’s enthusiasm was infectious, and even Seojun’s skepticism couldn’t bring him down.

“I know, I know. But the invisible guy was just the tip of the iceberg. Before they could share their discovery with the world, some crazy natural disaster wiped everything out.”

“Natural disaster?”

Seojun’s mind went to wildfires or earthquakes, but Tim’s wide-eyed shake of his head told a different story.

“They say it was this crazy tornado, like the one in ‘The Wizard of Oz’ that swept Dorothy away to that trippy place. It tore through the lab, leaving destruction in its wake. And the craziest part? It just… took the invisible man with it! The lab, having lost their one big success, got shut down by their sponsor because of the whole mess.“

Seojun raised an eyebrow at Tim’s over-the-top excitement. He didn’t want to be a buzzkill, but Tim seemed to pick up on his suspicions. Sitting up straight, a grin spreading across his face, Tim looked like he was gearing up to convince Seojun of something.

“Okay, okay, I know it sounds wild, but finding this place would be legendary. And I’ve been digging around, and I’m telling you, there’s more to it. And when I finally track it down…” He trailed off, frantically rummaging through his backpack like a treasure hunter on the verge of a major discovery. Papers rustled, plastic crinkled, and finally, he slapped a worn printout onto the dashboard.

Seojun glanced at it briefly before refocusing on the road. The printout looked like it belonged on some sketchy online forum. “Occult Night” was emblazoned across the top in bold letters, accompanied by a string of dubious comments.

Occult Night? Seriously? Tsk, look at all those comments…

Seojun couldn’t help but mentally roll his eyes as he scanned the page, his skepticism growing with each passing second.

It turned out that Tim’s weird hobby had a cult following of die-hard believers. A recent post about the alleged invisible man’s mansion had only one photo attached – the sole piece of “proof” backing up this far-fetched tale.

But on closer inspection, the photo was just a pair of scruffy old shoes. Seriously, that’s the best they’ve got? It seemed like a laughable attempt to support such a wild claim. Yet, despite the lackluster evidence, Tim’s face beamed with excitement as he grasped the printout like it was a precious treasure.

“According to this,” Tim said, his eyes fixed on the printout. “These are supposedly the shoes the invisible guy wore. The person who posted this claims they were experimented on at the same secret lab.”

Seojun’s expression turned skeptical, his face a picture of disbelief. A photo of some battered shoes as proof of an invisible man? And taken mid-tap dance, no less? It sounded like a steaming pile of nonsense, not even remotely credible.

Tim caught Seojun’s dubious look and launched into a passionate defense, his excitement growing with every word. “Come on, you’ve got to trust me on this!” he insisted, eyes wide with conviction. “This website is the holy grail for all things supernatural. Especially the posts from this ‘Angel’ user – they’re super detailed, even if they do ramble a bit. Way more credible than all the other clickbait out there.”

“A self-proclaimed Angel, huh…“ Seojun muttered under his breath. With a username like that, you’d think any credibility would go right out the window. He was drowning in doubt, but Tim was on a roll now, unstoppable. He started rattling off creepy locations, even though nobody asked.

“And then there’s this abandoned lodge, way out in the woods. No official name, just The Cabin. People say if you look in the mirror on the second floor, second room, you’ll be slammed with this feeling of total dread and rage…”

Tim leaned in, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial hush. “There’s a legend about that cabin. Supposedly, two friends stayed there and ended up in a bloody knife fight. Blood everywhere, staining the floor crimson. That’s how it got the name Red Room. Some say it’s cursed for two people to look in that mirror together.“

Seojun felt a chill despite Tim’s claim that looking into the mirror alone was safe. The story had an eerie pull.

“That cabin used to be this underground spot for paranormal fans,“ Tim rattled on, “until some influencer blabbered about it online. Now, it’s probably crawling with tourists looking for a cheap thrill.“ His eyes sparkled with inspiration. “But hey, if the Red Room’s a bust, I could always check out the Happy Pig Factory. Or, better yet, St. Montgomery’s Hospital. You know, the abandoned one funded by Montgomery Maladali…“

Tim might have looked like he hadn’t slept in days, but the guy was a talking machine. Seriously, he was a one-man podcast. Story after story spilled out, each one more animated than the last. Seojun, to his credit, tried his best to stay invested. At first. But even the most dedicated listener has their limits.

As time dragged on, Tim’s words started to blend together, a background hum to Seojun’s wandering thoughts. It wasn’t that Tim was a bad storyteller – far from it. It’s just that Seojun had lived through some genuinely terrifying supernatural experiences, and nothing Tim said could compare to that.

Seojun had a wealth of unwanted experience to draw from – serial killers, a space monster, ghosts, and even a supposed devil. Those encounters had been far from pleasant, and they’d left a lasting impact. So, when Tim started talking about Montgomery Maladali’s designer sneakers going up for auction, it just didn’t have the same scare factor. As Tim kept talking, Seojun offered the occasional polite murmur of interest, but his stories were more background noise than gripping thrill ride.

Seojun’s gaze drifted to the rearview mirror, where he caught Tim staring at him with a disconcerting intensity. Despite the dark circles and pale skin of someone who hadn’t seen daylight in a while, Tim’s deep, rich brown eyes seemed to burn with a feverish energy.

And in that moment, something clicked for Seojun. There was something unsettlingly familiar about Tim’s gaze, like it was stirring up a deep-seated unease within him. It was as if he was looking at a younger version of himself, back when he’d rant about crazy conspiracies and prophesies in Wraithwood, only to be met with dismissive indifference. Now, he was seeing that same fire in Tim’s eyes, and it was like looking into a mirror.

Seriously…What the hell did Johan see in me back then? I must’ve sounded like a complete lunatic, just like this guy.

The thought was a humbling reality check. It wasn’t until now, with some perspective and experience under his belt, that Seojun fully grasped just how unusual – how downright bizarre – Johan’s unwavering faith in him had been. The man had been devoted to a fault, blindly following someone who, in hindsight, probably did come across as a bit crazy.

“…..”

A sudden wave of warmth washed over Seojun, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. His mouth felt dry and cottony, and he couldn’t shake off the feeling of thirst. Weird, considering it wasn’t even that hot outside. He rubbed his jaw, trying to clear the sensation, and rolled down the window to let the cool breeze soothe his flushed face. The air was heavy and oppressive, dark storm clouds blocking out the sun and adding to the unusual atmosphere.

“Hey, uh, I’m not boring you with my stories, am I?” Tim’s voice was hesitant, pulling Seojun out of his thoughts.

“No, not at all,” Seojun lied quickly, “Just, you know, gotta stay focused on the road. Don’t want us wrapped around a tree or something.“

Truth was, Seojun had been so obviously distracted that even Tim, caught up in his own storytelling frenzy, had picked up on it. Seojun was fresh out of excuses, so he just flashed a weak smile, hoping that would be the end of it.

But Tim didn’t catch the hint. He mistook Seojun’s distraction for boredom and said, “Guess haunted old buildings aren’t really your thing, huh?” Tim clutched his backpack tightly, desperate to find something, anything, to reel Seojun back in. “Okay, how about this? There’s a ghost story about this very road…”

“This road?”

Seojun’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. He gazed warily at the endless stretch of asphalt unfolding before them, flanked by dense woods whose twisted branches seemed to close in like prison bars. What kind of dark history could be hiding out here in the middle of nowhere?

Tim didn’t miss a beat. “Yep, right here in this spot,” he said, his voice low and mysterious. “They claim the ghost of a hitchhiker appears, someone who died in a terrible accident…”

Seojun glanced up and met Tim’s eyes in the rearview mirror. Tim’s dark, intense stare seemed to bore into him, as if searching for some kind of reaction.