Seojun’s usually sluggish mind suddenly kicked into overdrive. The unsettling DULC233E channel playing on the TV was a clear omen: that nameless, unseen entity was about to emerge from the shadows under the bed! Cold sweat trickled down his forehead as sheer panic took hold, its icy grip tightening around his racing heart.
WHAM!
Seojun’s fist collided with his cheek, the sharp sting snapping him back to reality. He clenched his jaw, watching the stars dance across his vision.
I must be losing it. What’s with this melodramatic angst? Are you a teenager going through puberty?
Seojun’s fingers were just centimeters away from the bathroom doorknob when an unexpected knock at the front door startled him so much that he thought his soul might escape his body. The sound sent a chilling wave of déjà vu through him, reminding him of a scene from the movie he had just watched moments ago. Goosebumps erupted on his arms, and his already pale face turned even paler.
The movie’s attention to realism was so meticulous that it didn’t even have background music. The only sounds were the mundane noises of daily life, which made the eerie atmosphere all the more jarring. The sudden, melodic metal rings rattling that played during the scene felt completely out of place, and Seojun couldn’t help but find it ironic.
Joseph stumbled to the phone like a drunk on a bender, collapsing onto the floor. But even in his injured state, his broadcaster instincts kicked in, and he continued filming the call without missing a moment. Seojun couldn’t help but be impressed by Joseph’s dedication.
The TV screen was dead black, except for the faint hum of static in the background - the only clue it was even turned on.
Then, out of nowhere, a burst of laughter shattered the silence. It was a young guy’s carefree chuckle. The screen flickered to life, and the camera, which had been fixed on a red carpet, suddenly whipped around to zoom in on the guy’s face, filling the entire screen.
The Decoy Motel was a towering behemoth, its nine-plus floors reaching for the sky like an outstretched finger. Yet one thing was strange… the number of rooms on each floor didn’t follow the usual 99-room standard. It was like the motel, and the information guidelines sheet, were doing whatever they wanted.
Seojun’s eyelids fluttered open, and he squinted against the unfamiliar weightlessness that enveloped him. The crushing burden that had been pressing down on him for so long was finally gone, leaving him feeling surprisingly light and free.
Johan took the candy back.
“Looks like we’re not getting out of here anytime soon.”
“That’s what I’ve been telling you all along...” Harry grumbled, his body splayed out like a starfish, his voice as weak as a whisper. Johan’s booming clap right next to Harry’s ear snapped him out of his daze.
The sharp smell of booze briefly made Johan think he had stumbled into a fight between drunk customers. But instead of punches flying and trading insults, two disheveled guys, identical in their messiness and looks, begged for his attention with an air of desperation. They introduced themselves as Harry and Gary. Johan’s eyebrow shot up in sympathy.
What do I want?
The question lingered on the tip of his tongue, a humble wish as thick as a stack of outdated phone books. Among his carefully curated desires, winning the lottery took the top spot, followed by reuniting with his beloved lost eye. And last but not least, he yearned to erase from the universe’s memory the cringeworthy words he had said in the past, words that still made him want to rip his mouth off.
Seojun finally had the answer. The red-eyed Doade was the devil, and the green-eyed one was human. Relief washed over him in waves, threatening to buckle his legs that felt like chopsticks. Exhaustion tugged at him, urging him to collapse right there at the crossroads, overwhelmed by this revelation.