Fifth Ghost Story - The Endless 4th Period (5)
“Conversely?”
An Gyeong-won looks at me with a puzzled expression.
“What do you mean, conversely...?”
Seon-ah echoes him, equally baffled.
I clear my throat with a 'ahem' and begin explaining.
“What's the most common way we've known to wake up from a dream so far?”
“...Dying.”
Gyeong-won answers immediately, as if it's not even worth responding to.
“Right. In any dream, you usually wake up when you die.”
When death hits, the nerves instinctively awaken—no choice about it. That's why even the worst nightmares end with waking up upon death.
“But in a special case like Dream within a Dream, that doesn't work. Your nerves might awaken, but you just get a false awakening. You jolt awake in shock, only to find you're still dreaming. It repeats.”
Seon-ah nods up to here, signaling she gets it.
Seon-ah gets it, so everyone's on the same page, right?
Time to drop the conclusion.
“That's what I mean by conversely. If struggling to wake up just loops it, then doing the opposite might be the answer.”
“Conversely?”
“Fall asleep inside the dream.”
Seon-ah's eyes widen like a rabbit's.
“Those experience tales that end with 'I just woke up' after wandering—maybe they unconsciously fell asleep from exhaustion?”
“Fall asleep again...?”
Gyeong-won tilts his head, unable to grasp it.
“What does that even mean? Won't it just reset? Back to the start—”
“No.”
I cut him off firmly.
“This is the origin point we keep returning to no matter how many times we wake. Falling asleep here takes us deeper into the unconscious.”
Gyeong-won's head snaps up as if struck by lightning, eyes wide in shock.
“R-right! Dream within a Dream...”
“Exactly.”
A dream within a dream that loops no matter how you wake. Flip it: dream even deeper inside the dream. We're truly entering Mongjungmong.
“Waking up is pointless, so let's fall asleep again and dive deeper...”
I nod.
Of course, what awaits there is unknown until we go. But it's better than spinning wheels here—a step forward.
“S-so, we just lay out blankets and get ready to sleep...?”
Gyeong-won jumps up with a flustered, excited grin, but I stop him.
“There's a problem with that.”
“A problem...?”
Only now does he glance around with a 'oh shit' face.
We'd been so deep in talk we'd forgotten: dozens of classmates surround us, staring silently. And outside, nightmare monsters are closing in to kill us.
No way to sleep here unless you're Buddha.
“Wh-what about the club room, Joon-ah...?”
Seon-ah asks, avoiding the students' gazes anxiously.
“We could sleep more comfortably there.”
“Doubt it.”
We just died staring at the Demon King in the club room. This is a dream space anyway—not physical, but mental. Hiding anywhere is pointless. The nightmares will find and kill us.
“...I see. Yeah, lying down to sleep in this situation is tough. Can't exactly find sleeping pills in a dream.”
Gyeong-won nods in understanding.
“Right. That's why I think we need a way to lose consciousness instantly.”
“Like what?”
“Knocking each other out, for example.”
Gyeong-won winces and adjusts his glasses.
“Knocking out works, right? Loses consciousness regardless of will.”
“Sorry, president, but...”
Gyeong-won interrupts apologetically.
“People don't dream when unconscious...”
“...What?”
“Exactly that.”
His face says he's sorry to point it out.
“You want us to fall asleep here to go deeper, right? But... sorry. No dreams during unconsciousness.”
I blink blankly for a moment.
“...Is that so?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
What the hell? Losing consciousness should be the same, right...?
“Fainting and sleep are different, president.”
He sighs and elaborates.
“Fainting is when blood flow to the brain stops momentarily. Sleep is normal body activity with relaxed muscles.”
“Dreams rely on brain activity, so no blood flow means no dreams during fainting, president...”
He looks at me pityingly.
“So if we knock each other out here...?”
“Just lose consciousness. Nothing happens.”
“Damn.”
I slump a bit.
“Then what do we do...?”
“Yeah...”
From afar, Mom's voice calls me.
“Your brain's rotten, see if you can even birth one like you...!”
No sleeping in this tension. Knocking out won't work either.
We exchange serious looks. Time ticks even as we ponder. Die and reset, faint does nothing. But we must sleep. Something... some way...
“There's a way.”
A clear voice echoes through the classroom. Ha-yoon.
“Induce hypoxia with respiratory distress. Get up.”
“Wh-what...?”
She stands abruptly and strides to the back. We follow suit, bewildered.
“What are we—?”
“What're you—?”
Ha-yoon yanks open the cleaning supply closet and nods at us.
“Get in.”
“...”
We stand there confused but approach. Gyeong-won nods slowly.
“Hypoxia from respiratory distress... right!”
“What?”
He hurriedly explains to us.
“You know drowsy driving causes tons of highway accidents, president?”
“...Yeah.”
Famous stuff. Drowsy driving crashes.
“It's from oxygen depletion in sealed cars.”
...Oxygen depletion.
“Losing consciousness from oxygen lack is closer to sleep than fainting, president!”
Ha-yoon gestures impatiently for us to enter.
“I'll tape all gaps from outside. Hurry.”
We hesitate, but Gyeong-won dives in first with a 'screw it.'
Brooms and dustpans clatter aside.
“Hah, hah.”
Gyeong-won barely curls up in a corner. Clearing more could fit one more.
“Pull out the brooms. Make space.”
Mom's wails grow closer.
“Useless study bug with attitude... If you'd been born lucky, rich parents...”
“Everything. Out.”
We yank out mops and brooms. The space left fits Seon-ah's small frame.
“Seon-ah, in.”
“J-joon-ah...”
She looks worried. I nod reassuringly.
“It's fine. I'll find another way.”
“Okay...”
She hesitates but squeezes in.
“Nngh...”
Gyeong-won and Seon-ah huddle tight. He twists to look back.
“President. Breathe shallow, keep inhaling low-oxygen air. Figure a way—”
Slam!
No time for goodbyes—Ha-yoon shuts the door.
“Find tape. Teacher's desk bottom.”
“R-right...”
I nod dazedly and rush to the desk. Classmates' heads track me.
'H-here...?'
Just the attendance book. No tape.
“Tape. Here.”
The class rep, silent till now, pulls tape from her desk and hands it over.
“I. Used. It. Temporarily. Borrowed.”
Monotone voice. I flinch but take it.
“...Th-thanks.”
I bolt back.
“Here!”
Ha-yoon snatches it, rips strips with a screech, and seals the gaps.
“Hah, hah...”
“J-joon-ah...”
Seon-ah calls from inside. I soothe her.
“It's okay. It'll work.”
“Mm...”
If this induces sleep, not fainting. Only one way to know: try it myself.
“...What about us?”
I ask Ha-yoon. She stares into my eyes.
“One's enough. Need someone outside to pull you out at the end.”
“R-right.”
Stay sealed too long, suffocation death. Need one to extract us post-unconsciousness.
That one... will be me. Tough alone.
“No sealed spot here, so move to next class closet and think—”
“Duck.”
“You bastard, just like your dad—home and you're off again!!!”
Mom shrieks past the hall. Ha-yoon yanks my head down.
Thud thud thud... Her frantic footsteps fade, then bangs from nearby rooms.
Quiet classroom now. Huddled Ha-yoon and me. Only faint breaths from the closet.
“Hah, hah...”
“Hoo, hoo...”
Leaving's suicide. Ha-yoon, staring, lowers her lashes.
“I'll stay last. Prep.”
“P-prep...?”
She lifts slightly, still crouched, to her desk. Opens it, pulls a pink recorder, heads back.
“Y-you sure? The last one...”
Last one must extract before suffocation death, evade monsters longest. Die while asleep, who knows the mess.
“Fine. Sit.”
Ha-yoon speaks casually, like handing a pen, holds the recorder.
“Breathe the air I blow through this.”
Her slim fingers delicately cover holes.
“...Um.”
Pink lips on one end, she offers the other to me. I swallow hard at the approaching pink recorder.
“...L-like this—?”
“Exhale all lung air first.”
She urges it closer. I squeeze my eyes shut.
Good news someone's volunteering last. Who wants solo monster hide-and-seek?
'Inhale!'
I bite the end. Like Pocky game, facing each other, recorder ends in mouths. Awkward silence.
“...Hoo.”
Warm breath flows from her end. I inhale it.
“...Mmph—!”
Detach, exhale to air.
“Hooo...”
Basically inhaling her CO2, exhaling CO2. Bite again.
“...Hoo.”
“...Mmph.”
She blows again. I take it into lungs.
“Pooo...”
Exhale to air. Lips on recorder again.
“...Hoo.”
“...Mmph.”
Lungs tighten. Faces redden— from pretty classmate situation, or oxygen lack? Dazed feeling creeps in.
“Puhuu...”
Exhaling her breath, I cough.
“Cough! Cough...”
“Don't breathe.”
Her voice like rolling beads, crystal clear. I nod mid-cough.
“Cough, cough...”
Exhale only—no fresh outside air.
“K-keep... going...”
Squeezed out between gasps, bite recorder again. Ha-yoon smiles faintly.
“...”
“...Hoo.”
Why smile? But oxygen deprivation blurs everything. Her breath flows again. I suck it deep till face burns red. Head fogs slowly, thoughts slow. Where am I? Why's Mom searching? Why's this girl blowing breath? Feels like a balloon.
“...Hoo.”
“...Mmm.”
Endless recorder breaths. No gaze elsewhere, I stare into her eyes blankly. Pink breaths in, out. In, out. She grins at my dumb face. My face fully red. Her seductive smile. No protest—her sigh fills lungs again.
Why keep smiling?
Tried speaking? No, still bit on recorder.
“Hoo.”
“Mmph. Mmmph... Mmm...”
She smiles in weird vibe. Feel my bitten face blaze. Endless drowsiness swells. Soon fully limp, drooling on recorder.
“Hoo.”
“Mmph. Mmmph...”
“Hoo.”
Stop blowing, stop... Each breath flies consciousness away. She pulls recorder slightly, smiles at me.
“Pervert.”
I drool idiotically, mouth on recorder. Dazed. Sleepy. Body floats. World spins. Eyes roll up. Her mocking giggle echoes hazily everywhere. I flail lost in it.
Hoo. Hoo. Hoo.
Pervert.
“Got it? Point is, burgers aren't unhealthy—total bullshit. Perfect food with balanced carbs, protein, fat. Bread, lettuce, tomato, beef—why bad?”
Lazy fast food joint. Snobby rich kid Gyeong-won boasts internet knowledge over burger, elite style.
“Pigments and additives bad? Ignorant crap. After MSG hysteria, this country's still swayed by media bullshit—like how lights stay on in blackouts, or burgers healthy sans fries and cola. Got it?”
I munch vaguely, half-listening. “Yeah, sure.”
Something good happened recently? Can't recall. Just blankly watch Seon-ah fix makeup beside me. Puberty boy finds classmate girl doing makeup stimulating—even puppy-like her pretties up.
I watch her round face beautify with makeup, munching burger entranced.
“Media easiest trolls food. Exposés caused mass nuisance. Worse, gullible masses fall for—”
“Wait!!”
I bolt up yelling. They jump.
“Kyaa!”
“What?! Sudden much?”
Panting, I say:
“This is a dream, guys. Snap out.”
“Oh, right!”
Seon-ah gapes lipstick in hand, surprised pose.
“Urk! Yeah! Remembered! We dove deeper—”
Gyeong-won scans around frantically.
“Dreams start mid, almost fooled. Where's this?”
“Fast food. Near Sinrim Station.”
They look baffled, glancing around.
“Huh. Never been, why dream this?”
“Me neither... first time.”
Felt vaguely earlier: these dreams mix my nightmares. Ghost stories only in my memories. Friends never here, but me—this fast food spot.
Dunno why, but this is my nightmare realm.
“Hey, why am I doing makeup...?”
Seon-ah mutters at lipstick blankly. I stay silent.
My unconscious attraction to her, reflected.
“What now? Again?”
Gyeong-won asks, looking around.
“Nothing special here...”
“Yeah. Once more.”
I nod.
“Deeper, to the end.”
“Mm... yeah.”
Gyeong-won crosses arms thoughtfully.
True dream within a dream. Waking here returns to Ha-yoon's classroom—endless loop origin. Now deeper past it. Sleep again, go further? What's waiting?
“I'll stay this time. You two prep.”
Gyeong-won rolls sleeves, stands.
“Why? You know more, you should—”
Seon-ah panics, but he just smiles.
“Heh, nah. Even deeper, doubt I'd figure much.”
He strides to kitchen confidently. We hurry after.
“Not field-solver type. My explanations done—role over. You two go next.”
“Plus, president, Seon-ah can't hurt others, right? Need my muscle here.”
“Spot on. Agreed.”
Seon-ah puffs cheeks at us.
“Seon-ah's... too nice. Haha.”
“Correct. Hahaha.”
“Hmph.”
She snorts playfully.
“Heh, anyway. Next dream, Seon-ah, you send president. Count on you.”
Seon-ah nods proudly, entrusted.
Come to think, rarely see them chat.
“Here. Cut this gas pipe, breathe leak. Carbon monoxide poisoning—out instantly. I'll move you out after.”
“Right...”
Good no staff in dream.
“Go! President! Solve and return!”
Gyeong-won snips pipe like releasing Pokémon.
“Got it! Wait with fries!”
“Will do!”
We nod manly. Odd bro-bond moment.
“Hooooomph!”
“Kk! Urk...”
Eyes open to packed school playground, students in formation.
“Ugh, here...”
Seon-ah clutches head beside me, rising. Nearby students glance.
I help her up, scan around.
“School playground... why everyone...?”
Then—
“Ahh, dear Nakseong High freshmen, welcome! We sincerely greet your enrollment. I am the principal of this sch— Argh!”
Entrance ceremony!
“Seon-ah! Run!”
“Uh, okay?”
I grab her hand, bolt. Explosion behind, screams follow.
“Hahk, hah!”
“Heok, hek.”
We start first, but matching pace, gold-medal athletes pass us. Yellow-haired tough girl overtakes.
Lee Jin-hee, roped into club by chance... always passed me. Recognized now, faces match.
Such thoughts as we near gate. Guard blocks students, bellowing.
Time to incite!
I yell for all runners:
“School gate's locked!!”
Scream hoarse:
“Gate locked! Guard has keyyy!”
“Uwaaaaa!”
“Mister! Open! Hurry!”
“Open quick! Aaaah!”
Heads exploding everywhere, fleeing students mad. Guard, ex-military strong, bashes rushers, roars.
“What the fuck, you crazies! Stay put! Stay!”
“Guard bastard, opennnn!”
“Fuck! Open! Open, psycho!”
We slip past safely again. Suddenly Seon-ah slips free, charges guard.
“Seon-ah!”
Her eyes blaze. Guard clutches pockets desperately. She weaves crowd, pulls something, stabs his hand.
“KyaAAAA!”
He screams, releases. Seon-ah snatches key, runs to me.
“Hahk, hek, here.”
“S-Seon-ah.”
Bloody key thrust out, panting. My incitement worked—she believed, stole it! And with what...
Questions aplenty, but take key first.
“Good job, Seon-ah. Thanks.”
“Hahk, hek... Hee hee.”
She grins mid-panting, pleased by praise. I rush gate, unlock bloody padlock, shove open.
“Uwaaak!”
“Fuck, what!”
Students atop gate scream, tumble with it. Among them, bathroom ghost fourth stall thug and Gyeong-won's broad-shouldered pal.
All familiar faces now.
Such thoughts as I fling gate wide, grab Seon-ah's hand, run.
“Hahk, hek, hek.”
“Heok, hek.”
How far? Past streets, buildings, to subway near crowds.
I finally release her hand, panting.
“Heok, heok, heok.”
“Heeek, hek.”
We bend over, catching breath long before speaking.
“Here... should be safe now.”
“Y-yeah, hek, hek...”
Past life, escaped here, survived. Dream may differ, but intact so far—safe breather.
Passersby eye our sweat-soaked selves.
“Heeek, hek... Huh, this place.”
Seon-ah wipes sweat, looks up, mutters.
“Oh, yeah.”
I agree.
We're at Sinrim Station fast food joint.
Ding~ ♬
Inside bustle: chatting customers, busy staff. No Gyeong-won, naturally.
“He's not here...”
“Yeah. Left him behind.”
One layer deeper past his world. Same spot, but absent as expected.
“Hoo, sit first.”
We head upstairs, plop at empty table.
“Hey, Joon-ah...”
“Yeah?”
“Um...”
Seon-ah hesitates, then:
“When all done... come here together, eat burgers...”
I can't help but laugh.
“Haha! Deal, promise!”
I pinky out playfully. She blushes, smiles.
Third time here in dreams with club, but reality? Never together.
“Promise! Definitely!”
“Yeah. Promise.”
Sudden cheer. Yeah, afterparty. Club needs that.
“Amazing.”
“What?”
“Friends to laugh with in weird shit like this.”
Seon-ah blushes. Late morning sun through window. 119 sirens to school visible.
“Lived ordinary life.”
“Liked little.”
“Overkill.”
“Chances keep coming.”
“Joon-ah...”
Does she get it? She murmurs my name softly.
I extend hand over table. She stares.
Hesitates, then carefully clasps hers over.
“Back to reality. Together.”
Her soft hand twitches. Now she makes me unconscious.
I grip tight.
“Count on you, Seon-ah.”
She trembles, nods resolved.
“Yeah!”