Hotel Trap (2): Teams Divided and First Blood
[Horror Theme Escape Room Creators Club.]
Hello! Thank you for enjoying our 14th creation, Hotel Escape!
This is a new work we've poured a really long time into crafting, hope you like it!
Now, let me explain how to escape!
First off, our custom-made monsters are wandering around the hotel right now.
Avoid them, solve the puzzles, and successfully check out on the first floor to escape.
Scattered throughout the hotel are items that can help you survive encounters with monsters or aid your escape.
If even one person succeeds in escaping, everyone will automatically escape!
No rules!
If we had to make one, maybe no cheating to escape?
Have fun!
"..."
Looks like I've gotten tangled up in some crazy bastards' scheme.
Forcing people into an escape room? That's straight-up k idnapping, fuck.
'They call 'em monsters too.'
Hearing the temporary label I slapped on them pop up here is kinda throwing me off. Are all humans just wired the same?
-Wh-what the hell does this mean?
-Escape room? Is this an escape room cafe?
-Fuck, are you kidding me!
After we all finished reading the writing on the wall, the commotion erupted.
I get it. I'm baffled myself—what about these people?
Thud!
Then someone grabbed me by the collar and hoisted me up. A giant around 190 cm tall.
"You fucking made this place! Let us out!"
Why me? Do they think I'm the escape room guide just 'cause I brought them here?
'What now.'
Logical reasoning, but the conclusion's dead wrong. Problem.
Yoo Hwa shot me a quick glance, her eyes asking if she should step in.
'Hmm...'
I pondered for a sec. Truth is, even without demonic energy, my physical specs are top-tier. I could shake this guy off no sweat.
Issue is, a frail-looking woman with a mid-160s frame tossing a ripped 190 cm dude? Doesn't add up.
From their perspective, I'd look no different from a monster.
'But backing down ain't my style either.'
Swallowing my pride doesn't sit right. Fine, decision made.
"Let go."
Intimidation it is. Simplest fix without violence. My aura keeps even monsters at bay— no way a normie withstands it.
'Just a little... just a drip...'
No full blast on humans; they'd all drop. Bare minimum. Like a single drop from the faucet.
"..."
'Did it work?'
Thump.
The guy's eyes rolled back, and he crumpled.
'Poor bastard.'
That fragile?
"What the fuck!"
"Grab him!"
His buddies rushed over in a panic and lifted his limp body.
"Sorry, he's just too worked up."
"No worries. Situation's tense enough to lose it."
I straightened my rumpled clothes and replied.
"Ahem, shall we head back?"
I ignored the growing stares from behind. Whatever.
We walked back to where we started.
"...?"
But where'd everyone go?
All the ones who didn't follow me had vanished.
-Where'd they go?
-They probably started moving on their own?
What could those illiterate rule-skippers even do?
"Anyway, we should probably move too."
Someone stepped up.
Oh, stealing the leader armband? 'Works for me.'
Leading's a pain—perfect.
"Any experienced escape roomers here?"
A few hands went up.
"More than I thought. I'm experienced too. How about mixing vets and newbies into teams? Sound good?"
-Let's do that.
The guy seemed like a natural leader, divvying up the group smoothly.
'Hurry it up.'
I'd hatched a plan on the way back. Faster execution means fewer casualties.
Soon, teams formed. Me, the leader guy, and one woman. Bummer—Yoo Hwa and I split up.
-I'll join you when I can.
-Nah, protect those guys.
I signaled Yoo Hwa as we grouped. She'd gotten way stronger as a demon. Better she guards her team.
"Let's head out."
The leader grinned at us.
Thud, thud.
"We skipped intros. Name's Nam Seung-han."
"Heuk Seol-ah."
Our trio started down the hallway.
"Um... I'm Kim Jin-ah."
The woman beside me mumbled softly.
'Don't like her.'
Damn civilians getting dragged in—what a mess. If it was just me, I'd smash out already.
'Need a monster ASAP.'
I silently prayed one showed quick. That's when my plan kicks off.
"Hmm... Let's search rooms first."
[Room 2948]
Nam stopped at a door.
"Better grab those items before monsters hit—makes survival easier."
"Go ahead."
He opened 2948's door. Ordinary room, just like mine.
Thud, thud.
We fanned out, searching.
"Huh, this?"
I spotted something on the dining table quick.
◈ Marks current monster positions, elevator, and stair locations.
A map. The note below explained its function.
"Whoa! This is huge! We can escape fast now."
Game-changer for sure. Know monster spots to dodge, elevators/stairs to hit 1F.
But...
'I need to run into a monster.'
Plan hinges on that. Dodging with this map ruins everything.
"Lemme see."
Oblivious, he grinned and checked it.
"Blue dots... us, red ones monsters?"
Super intuitive. Three blue for us, red for monsters. Elevators/stairs cute icons.
One weird thing.
"But why's a red dot overlapping us?"
Monster right on our position.
"..."
His face hardened. I realized too, eyes widening.
The ceiling!
Pop.
We both snapped our heads up.
-Kikik, grrrk, ahgek.
A monster staring down, head twitching like mad.
Freaky as hell. Yoo Hwa's bathhouse look seemed pretty by comparison. Neck jerking mechanical, eyes huge as human heads. Tiny face crammed 'em in sockets. Shattered black teeth, white tongue spewing gross noises.
'Now!'
I blasted demonic energy outward.
"Guh, wh-what..."
"Kyaa, kyaAaAHH!"
Made it look like the monster was pressuring them. They passed out instantly.
-...?
Monster eyed me, surprised. Like spotting something off.
"What're you staring at, punk."
Bang!
Scattered energy sharpened into spears, impaling it.
-Ke, kekek...?
No reaction—dead.
Alright, plan time. I closed my eyes, slowly drawing up demonic energy from within.
Thump.
Heart pounding.
The Demon King is a beautiful woman these days. Toss her in the wash, slap her into heroine role, new new mastermind advances plot.
Female Demon King? Basically locks in that arc.
But the original novel? Hero slays Demon King, saves world.
How? 'This is the answer.'
Demonic energy cloaked my body, forming shape.
Armor. Black armor slowly built up.
'Demon King's true form.'
Knight in armor. That's when she unleashes real power.
Fitted my build—made me guy-sized like Nam. That's why she got killed. Show up as beauty? Hero would've gritted teeth, redeemed her as waifu.
I didn't know she was female till author spilled settings.
Shing.
Massive spear on my back—transformation done.
No need for true power on trash like this. Did it to hide identity.
Just knock 'em out from start? Idiots? Humans sense sharp—solo aura blast outs me.
'Hard to control power here.'
This form amps me several times over. Sudden surge messes control.
Thud, thud.
I cautiously exited to hall, shut door.
[Bind]
Sealed door with magic—demonic lock. Won't budge unless Yoo Hwa-level shows.
"Hup..."
Stretched in front of door, loosening up.
What next? Obvious.
'Chat.'
BOOM!!
Demonic fist smashed floor—shattered, dropped me below.
1F. Body language is language too, right?