Chapter Text
You've been working in this forsaken company for about seven months now. Part of a E-Squad, you had managed to clear ghost stories with exceptional talent and skills which is why you are, now, considered the spectacular employee of the squad. Though, your lack of experience halted your promotion but regardless of it— everything was going smoothly.
Today turned out to be different, your superior— Squad leader told you that you are called in by Section Chief Kwak Jaekang, otherwise known as the mad-scientist. You couldn't fathom what the man wants from you; a low grade squad's employee.
He is known to use the low-grade employees as experiments in darkness. Nothing good would come out of being involved with the man. Why would he call for you? The situation is maddening. You wish it would be a mistake of sort or something. You braced yourself to refuse whatever he would offer.
Putting away those thoughts, you entered the lab. The man had lurched forward upon seeing you, seemingly very pleased to see you. Despite his warming demeanor, an unsettling feeling settled in your chest. The man gleamed, “Oh, I had been waiting for you!”, he exclaimed joyfully.
A joy that didn't really seem to radiate off him, you swallow hard. This seems suspicious.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, sir”
You replied in a polite manner befitting of a junior. You didn't wish to stand out to him, you have never heard pleasant things surrounding him. I need to tread carefully and make sure I don't offend him.
He beamed waving off with his hand, “No worries at all!”
He started going on random rant about how it was alright and how amazing of an employee you are and so on… it seemed to drag on for no particular reason. It was driving you crazy how he keeps beating around the bush.
You exhaled deeply, “Um, the reason you called me in was..?”, you chose your words carefully as not to get on the bad side of the man in front of you.
His demeanor shifted at your question, he reached out to grab a file and hand it to you along side a cylinder object filled with shining liquid sloshing inside. The sparkling liquid seemed to be a potion, but for what purpose you didn't exactly knew.
“This is..?”, you examined the material holding it out in front of your eyes, taking a better look at the shining material. It seemed beautiful shining under lights of the lab.
Your gaze flickered back to the mad-scientist in front of you. He is looking at you with skeptical gaze.
Ah.
It definitely isn't a regular potion. You figured.
Why he handed to you was the question now. And the file? It seemed to be a brief on a darkness. Likely the one he is assigning you on for whatever reasons he might have.
The man started speaking as you had finished looking at the material in awe. His voice low as he spoke.
“It's a potion that highlights a person's weakness making them more prominent for others to notice and gauge out.”
He explained pointing to the liquid in your hand. Your breathe caught in your lungs.
It does what?
The man continued seemingly uncaring of your reaction, “You will be filling in the spot for the newly formed elite Squad-D alongside it's Supervisor— Kim Soleum.”
Your mind reeled back to the newly formed elite team. If you remembered correctly, it's team in which that 'Monster rookie' is and definitely the person you'll going in with.
Ugh, no more insane people. This job already consisted of enough weird insane people, your E-squad was somewhat fine. You knew that the new rookie has to be some kind of lunatic like the man in front of you.
“You need to go into the darkness with him, make him drink this potion— Use any excuse you deem fit as per situation and guage out his weakness.”
Your eyes widened at the task, isn't this invasion of privacy or workplace harassment? Your mouth opened to speak— to decline the offer but he spoke before you could.
“Of course, I'll compensate you fairly”, he held out a regenerative potion in front of you, “You need it, don't you? I promise 100,000 points along with it. Or maybe you need more? I think this should be enough to satisfy you low-rankers.”
You swallowed the cursed that threatened spill over at the man in front of you. The insult tugged at your chest, you gritted your teeth. He just sees you as a way to achieve his twisted goals and probably doesn't even sees you as a human but rather a source to extract information. There was no telling that he wouldn't harm you or anyone you knew if you refused the task.
However, yeah, you needed that potion was true. And desperately too.
Your colleague had lost his right arm in the previous darkness and that potion could regenerate it to it's original form. It was.. worth a shot. Not like you had anything against the new rookie but, more importantly, why does this lunatic wants to know the weakness of a rookie? No, no, it was better to not engage in such questions.
The man in front of you doesn't care about you, he just wants his work done. Yeah, as long as you fulfill the task he wouldn't have anything against you. Plus, he is compensating you handsomely, it would be stupid to refuse.
“So? Not a bad deal, right?”
You nod in response, exhaling, “Yes sir, I'll do my best”
That night, your chest felt heavy. Was it okay to do this for your own benefit? Your move could put that rookie in a bad spot later on, probably getting his weakness exploited in various ways. That mad-scientist seems to hold a grudge against him, he wouldn't leave him alone.
You let out a sigh that wasn't something you need to worry about, probably. The new rookie doesn't seem like a normal person so there wouldn't be any need for sympathy..
Next day,
Wednesday, 10 am.
You walk into the office space of Squad-D. With the potion from yesterday securely kept in your pocket. You wonder what kind of insane man Kim Soleum would be? And what did he do to get on the bad side of that mad-scientist? Apparently, he is the reason why the D-squad has become an elite squad as well. He seems to have accepted Director Cheong's offer.
As you enter the space, a handsome man is standing in the center.
Is it Squad Leader Lee Jaheon? You had heard rumors of him being exceptionally handsome and good-looking. The man standing in front of you fits the criteria but there was no telling.
You approached the man— dark haired, dark eyes, his work suit clinging perfectly to his structure. Something stood out about his appearance; he looked sharp witted and cool-headed. But that was not all, what stood out the most was a pink plushie nestled safely in his pocket— small and cute.
His gaze flickered up to you, his form straightened as you approached. “You must be the person filling in for today, right?”, he spoke with calmness.
You nod in response, “Yes, and you are..?”
He smiles faintly at you extending his hand for a handshake, “I'm Kim Soleum. Nice to meet you. You can refer to me as Roe Deer”, he introduced himself.
Your eyes widened at the name, fists clenching at your sides, the potion in your pocket felt heavy upon hearing his name.
He's Kim Soleum? No way.
His appearance differed from your imagination of a cruel looking man. He looked sweet and yet unwavering man. Your resolve was flattering. He doesn't look like how you imagined him to. He is much softer and good-looking than you thought he'd be.
“Nice to meet you too. I'm y/n, you call me C/n.”, you shook his hand.
Kim Soleum looks up at the woman entering the D-squad office room. Honestly, he has already seen her profile sheet so he knows what she looks like and what's her name. Their eyes met, he straightened his body and greeted her.
She somewhat looks like a sane person.
[ Oh! Is she the one you'll working with today? She seems like a wonderful person! ]
Braun chirped from his pocket.
Ah, yeah. Definitely better than those elite squad assholes.
He is glad he has to work with someone sane unlike those insane elite Squads. They are a bunch of lunatics and he has to be careful around them which makes exploration difficult.
Her gaze keeps drifting to Braun— a plushie in his pocket. Guess, it's weird for employees to be roaming around with such things. But she doesn't seems to be judging, in fact, she seems a bit on the edge. Is it because we are an elite team now? He needs to break the ice between them.
He puts on a smile and introduces himself, after completing introductions.
“Did you went through the manual for the darkness?”, he asked softly and calmly.
Exhaling deeply, you compose yourself. Don't be deceived by his looks. He might be as scoundrel as you had thought. You need to tread carefully. This is not the time to be awed by his handsome features. He's an elite team's supervisor. That's enough to set him apart.
For some reason, that calm demeanor of his seems to irk you. Your shoulders stiffened.
Ugh.
This is crazy.
You nod, “Yes, sir”, replying polite. You don't want to be on his bad side. Who knows what kind of crazy he might be? You had to be careful. Now, you had to be careful with one more damn person.
This is maddening.
It was difficult working with elite team's for this exact reason. You had only worked once with them in the past and it was a disaster. Continuously being used as a bait and being thrown into compromising situations. A chill ran down your spine as you recalled the moments, cold sweat dripping down. You just want to run away, these elite squad lunatics don't even see low-rank squad members as people.
He must be the same. Even if newly formed, they must share the sentiment, right? That's why it's an elite team now.
His gaze softens up as he speaks, “You don't have to be so polite. We are at the same position, aren't we?”, his smile small and soft.
The words should've made you feel relaxed but they stirred up more problem. Yeah, you and him share the same title of Supervisor but for different teams. The difference being he is an elite team and you in a low-rank team. How could you leave all formalities and talk casually?
The words stuck in your throat but you had to reply, “Uhm, it's alright. I would rather be.”
You continue.
“Even if we..”
Fuck, don't say it.
“Are on the same position..”
That's enough, don't make him mad.
“You are in an elite team..”
Ugh, this habit of yours is going to make today's task difficult. Definitely.
“And that makes all the difference, sir”
Oh, damn. She is conscious of the fact that we are an elite team.
A sense of tread flickers through his eyes before he masks it away with softness.
He softens up further. He knows those elite Squad bastards can throw away your confidence even if you're an amazing person. This alone proves it. She is one of the best employees, not a named character but her record tells him enough. A supervisor in seven months? That's generous.
[ Seems like it's going to be difficult for you, friend! She isn't trusting you ]
Braun comments from his place. Soleum sighs inwardly, yeah, she is not opening up at all. He tries to appear as friendly as possible.
You fucked up. Now, he is going to be mad at you and the darkness is going to be more difficult for you. Besides, you need to make him drink this damn potion as well! How are you going to do that now?
His gaze flickered with something for a moment then disappeared as soon as it came. “You don't have to be on guard. I— we, D-squad don't obsess over such things”, he says reassuringly but your mind doesn't seem to believe it.
They say it but never mean it. You have experienced it firsthand.
Silence stretched on between you and him.
Then, he sighs running a hand through his dark hair.
Oh no, you forgot to reply.
“Have you worked with an elite team or member before?”, he asks gently.
You nod, “Just once, sir”, at least he is not angry!
“Haa.. figures. Try to relax.. but I guess words don't mean anything.”
Your eyes widens at his words, his words— they seem genuine and kind. Why is he a damn nice person? That makes your task difficult! If only he would be a fucking lunatic. You wouldn't feel bad to gauge out his weakness but, now the weight of your task is crushing beneath it's heaviness.
“If you say so, si— oh oops!”
A small chuckle leaves him and you. The idea of doing something so bad to this man makes your heart wrench. He is genuine, sweet, kind and sharp.
Not the kind of devil you imagined him to be. How is this going to turn out now? You definitely can't do this— no, wait. It's still too early to label him as a nice man. What if his attitude changes when you get in the darkness? Yeah, of course. People's attitude change in dire situations! He is no expectation.
He is definitely a devil. Definitely. Hiding beneath that handsome facade.
11:30 am.
After preparing and gearing up, you both entered the darkness. Your body is now, in a dark, dimly lit manor. The metallic scent of blood hits your senses. The walls have blood stains and hand prints soaked in blood all over but they looked old. The old, weary looking, and covered in blood stains manor made your stomach churn at the sight. You knew it would look like this as it was mentioned in the manual but still seeing the actual thing made your heart drop.
You exhale deeply, “Huu..”, you look over your shoulder to meet Kim Soleum's gaze which is unwavering and unflinching.
Does it not unsettle him?
Soleum's gaze rakes over the grotesque interior of the manor. Fuck, seeing this in real is unsettling. A cold shiver runs down his spine.
His memory was hazy but he remembers this story vividly. He wishes his pop socket was working so that he could check but he lets the thought simmer down because there was no helping it.
=================================
Dark Exploration Records / Ghost Story [Unlocking door]
: A ghost story featured in
: Daydream Inc. identification code – Qterw-E-■■
It's a looping ghost story in which a person suddenly ends up in this grotesque manor. The only exit is the main entrance. It's a like ghost story game in which the player has to collect all the parts of the key to leave.
No one can leave from any other places, that would result in death. There is a couple and a butler in this manor. You mustn't get noticed by them, you'll be eradicated or eaten alive by them. You must avoid them at all costs.
No matter how many times you die in this story, you'll end up at the start again.
=================================
The only safest way to leave is to collect the parts of key and use it to unlock the entrance door.
Soleum exhales deeply trying his best to appear calm and collected but internally he is screaming from the sight of this manor. Searching every part of this place is going to give me a heart attack.
[ This is such a filthy place, friend! ]
Braun says with disgust. Yeah, sure is, Soleum thinks.
The E-squad member looks at him, “Uhm, do we split up to go looking for the parts? Or stick together? What do you suggest?”, she asks with a gaze that screams ‘Please, let's stick together’.
Of course, Soleum has no intentions of splitting up. It's fucking scary! And he doesn't want to be alone in this goddamn manor.
He calmly speaks, “Let's stick together”, her face beams up at his suggestion for a moment before being replaced by stoic-ness. He wonders what's going on in her mind.
Your eyes beam with happiness as he suggests sticking together but then, you recall the moments in your previous exploration with an elite team and why they suggested sticking together. So, that they could sacrifice you or use you as a bait if the situation asks for it.
Stiffness in your muscles came back. You prepare yourself mentally for any sort of similar things that he might do.
Ugh.
Then a realization hits you, the potion! You have to make up an excuse to make him drink that. Ah, another headache amidst all this. Plus, doing this to him just feels wro—
Your head is spinning, you force your reeling mind to blank out and focus on the task at hand.
Both of them started making their way to the closet room to them— living room. The corridors is long and uncanny, filled with various things like organs, bones, blood stains, massive amount of blood on the floor, chunk of hair.. wait, hairs? Ugk— eww. The sight made Soleum want to throw up but he resisted the urge the best he could.
With light footsteps, Soleum and she got till the living room. Dimly lit under chandelier which looks like it might fall off at any second now. A rug at the center where the sofa is placed which is made of flesh?! Soleum's heart could burst out right now at the sight. The grotesque setting was something he could hardly take.
Endure it—
He chanted in his head, the table in front of the sofa had a plate set, he avoids looking at it's contents.
And then— he hears the footsteps.
Thunk, thunk, thunk.
Heavy against the wooden flooring— probably of a man. He instinctively grabs her wrist and guides her to hide behind a wall. The man; one of the couples walks in and settles on the sofa.
His appearance is nothing short of a nightmare. Messy hair, sunken three pure black eyes, there's no white part in his eyes, a stitch running through the end of his lips to his sides, parts of arms and legs stitched together at weird angle, an enormous tongue sticking out, bloody torn clothes. Yeah, that's the theme— putting things together here.
A gasp leaves from the woman beside him, he doesn't blame her. It's unsettling, he covers the lower part of his face to keep himself from throwing up.
You look to your side, Soleum is covering his lower face with his hand. He points to towards the corridor which goes to the inner of the manor with his other hand. You nod, walking by his side and leaving the living room. You exhale deeply as soon as you have walked a bit out of range, feeling like a weight has been lifted off of you.
Light footsteps against the floor, you and he tread deeper into this filthy, uncanny and nightmarish manor. You both walk in silence not wanting to attract any of the ghosts in the manor.
Step, step, step.
You step on something squishy, you felt the soft object beneath you. Instinctively, you look down to check the object you had stepped on— a blood stained heart. “Eek—”, you try your best to not scream. The man by your side who is trying to maintain a neutral expression but is also disgusted by it.
Sighing, you both move forward. Reaching the doorway of the kitchen, you peek inside from behind the wall.
Inside was a woman; second person from the couple. Her body stitched together in similar eerie method. Her hand twirling the ladle in a large sized pan, blood oozing out of the edges, remnants of what used to be a person’s body is scattered around the countertop. You hold back the urge to throw up. You instantly flinch back to your position.
Soleum looks at you and then moves to peek inside, you reflexively grab his forearm halting him in his movements and point towards the corridor. He doesn't question you for the reason and moves along with quiet steps.
Next, you both reach the grotesque bedroom which is at least bearable for the time being.
You exhale softly looking around. At least, it is bearable. Unlike the living room or kitchen. The set of rules on the manual run in your mind.
[ Rule 1 — Don't get caught by the couple and butler in the manor ]
Which you both have been managing with great difficulty.
“Phew..”
[ Rule 2 — Never lock the doors of the room you are in ]
Keeping the rule in mind, you both left the door unlocked. Though, you wonder if this rule is even necessary, it wouldn't matter if you locked it, right?
[ Rule 3 — Don't try to get out of the windows or other places, it will result in death ]
You sigh, this is difficult to deal with. All while you have to come up with an excuse to make him drink that potion.. would he even believe you and drink it if you were to give an excuse? And what excuse can you even give in this situation?
You and Soleum look through the room in search of a piece of the key.
“You know, we might have to look through the kitchen as well..”
His voice cuts through the silence. You flinch at the thought of entering that grotesque space. And looking through that mess? It's impossible.
“Um, but the woman was there and it looked so— just thinking about it makes me want to throw up”, you reply as steadily as possible.
You start going through the vanity table and bed to search for the piece and Soleum starts looking through the cupboard. You hear him sigh, “Yeah.. but we might have to check through it”, you hear him rustling through various things as he speaks.
Your hands stop mid-air at the words, is he going to use me as a distraction to get that ghost out of the kitchen? You wonder. It wouldn't be weird if that idea crosses his mind.. not at all. You knew your fate as a low-rank squad member. Still, the thought made your stomach churn.
He is the same, exactly same, “Would you like me to be..”,
Why am I saying this?
“the distraction and get that..”
It's fucking crazy, why would anyone want to do it?
“monster out of the kitchen?”
Silence fell over the room. He halts his movements and you are still staring at the materials inside the drawer, your hands paused mid-air.
“Even if I had that idea I wouldn't want you to do something like that, c/n.”
His words feel hollow, there's nothing to actually keep them afloat. Humans are hypocrites and it applies to him as well.. last time you entered the darkness with an elite team, your co-worker lost an arm.
Just when your lost in thoughts, you hear the sound of heavy footsteps approaching.
Step, step, step.
You turn to look at Soleum and he points towards a narrow spot between the side table and the cupboard— a perfect hiding spot. Was it constructed like this to hide? You didn't know, no, you didn't care.
Hurriedly, you cross the the distance and crouch down, hiding at the spot. Soleum is just behind you, you can hear his breathing, and feel the warmth radiating off him.
Step, step, step.
The footsteps grow closer, you hope that the ghost just passes by the room and doesn't enter here. But the dim lighting probably wouldn't give you two away either. Your heart pounds in your chest.
Thump, thump, thump.
You hear the ghost entering the room, fuck—
You couldn't make out the features when you saw the woman in the kitchen, but now that you look at it, it doesn't have eyes or nose! But surely does have ears and mouth. A gasp almost leaves your mouth before you feel a hand clamped over your lower face— soleum’s.
Uh-oh.
No words are exchanged between you and him. The woman sits in front of the vanity table as if matching up her makeup. You relax slightly, but the hand over your lower face remains firm.
That's when the woman ghost makes a grotesque sound.
Kekekekeke..
Ugh- your stomach churns.
The head of the woman stretches as if it were out of a nightmarish ghost story. The face scans the room, though, it doesn't have eyes. It still scans the room.
Someone is here!
The woman’s voice echoes. Suddenly, the face comes right in front of you, just a few centimeters away. You back off instinctively, your back pressing against soleum’s structure, your hand gripping his forearm in terror. The hand against your mouth presses firmer than before to keep you from making any sounds.
He instinctively wraps his arm around your waist pulling you back against himself to keep you and him from getting caught.
The ghost scans around for any sound, finding none. It makes a disappointing sound and returns to it's original state. You both remain planted in your place until the woman finally leaves.
When the ghost is finally gone, you relax. His hands pulls away, you exhale deeply, “That was a scare. Thanks, Roe”, you look down at your hands still trembling.
It gave you a fucking heart attack, almost.
You and Soleum rise from your positions. “It’s alright. Let's get back to searching?”
“mhm”
You both continue the search and managed to find 4/5 pieces of the key. Excitement courses through your body, you're almost done, just there. You both have searched every nook cranny for the last piece but unfortunately, were not able to find it yet.
Some rooms were locked even, you wondered why. Nothing was mentioned in the manual regarding them, so you didn't pay much attention to them.
Between this all, you had forgotten about the potion and your actual task, almost.
“Should we go check the second floor?”, you ask him stuffing your hands in your pocket.
Your fingers came in contact with the material inside your pocket, and the realization dawns upon you. The potion! The task!
How are you supposed to do it right now? No, the point is — do you want to anymore? He is genuinely kind, and nice. He didn't throw you into any sort of situation that might be dangerous for you and he even helped you.
Would it be okay to do this to him?
As you're pondering on such thoughts, you both have ascended the stairs to the second floor and walking into the corridors of the bizzare second room. You both walk in silence, when you see a figure parallel to you both.
You froze.
It’s the butler!