Haunted House Experience 3
When traveling the world, no country is as safe as Korea—but that's strictly speaking of strolling through cities in broad daylight. Even in Korea, certain places posed risks where even a grown man could be kidnapped, imprisoned, and turned into a slave, or a woman dragged off to a brothel. The closest thing to tempting that fate was probably heading to an abandoned village where hardly anyone lived anymore, in search of a haunted house.
Such isolated spots, where outsiders could come and go without anyone noticing, were surely on the radar of people who needed to handle dark business. That's why you'd suddenly spot a kiln for firing pottery along a rural road, or why bones would turn up in spots that never had graves before. One man and three women should be enough, right? Still, you never knew, so they were loading the car with gear to subdue anyone who got in their way.
"Bear spray? Where'd you even get this?"
"They released bears in Jirisan, and now they're wandering up the Baekdu Mountains. Just in case, I got permission and stocked up." It was a capsaicin bomb several times stronger than the sprays meant for fending off knife-wielding criminals. The intent to half-kill anyone who jumped out was blatant.
"And this...?"
"Just in case—it's a bow I brought from home. Korea's strict on weapons, but bows are fair game. Nation of archery, I guess."
"Why bring a bow to a haunted house?"
"If someone yells from far off, I shoot to subdue 'em. I did archery as a hobby back in specialized school."
"Hmm..."
This wasn't prep for a haunted house experience; it looked like they were gearing up to hunt any humans who might be there. Meanwhile, the shaman Park Soo, driving separately, was busy packing talismans, fans, and bells for spiritual defense.
As they prepped, a taxi pulled up, and a young girl hopped out—still not quite an adult, dressed in snug workout pants and a long-sleeved top for easy movement. She was giving off that vibe of someone trying hard to act grown-up. To others, it might seem odd, but to them—folks who'd jumped straight into working life after turning legal—it was familiar.
"Um..."
"Hey? You the Ani that sister mentioned?"
"Yes! Hi!"
She'd never shown her face on YouTube, but seeing her in person, she looked younger and brighter than expected—probably a relief. She'd come prepared too, lugging a massive, rugged backpack like something from the military, dressed right for trudging through summer woods, with bug repellent and a canteen stuffed in her pockets. Nothing more to add.
"What's your friend's name again?"
"It's Windy. Boss, first time seeing you in person... wow, you're way prettier than sis said."
"What'd she tell you?"
"That you're prettier than most idols or actresses. And that pulling tens of thousands of views without showing your face means your looks must match."
"Nice compliment." She'd grown attached to the stage name she'd picked for her idol dreams and introduced herself that way. Since it was their crowd, they got it and nodded toward the car.
"We're heading out soon, so toss your bags in the trunk and hop in."
"Got it."
"Hyeon-a, this isn't a manhunt—stop loading weird swords."
"Yes, boss."
In the midst of their chat, she'd crammed throwing weapons and pocket knives into her backpack and all over her body. Seo-ah let out a deep sigh. Even mercenaries heading to war wouldn't pack that heavy.
"It's all about being dead serious for any risks."
"That's armament for fighting ten people solo. I'm just taking a hiking stick."
"Want one?"
"Nah. Just get in the car." In the end, she grabbed a tin of stay-awake gum from the office for herself and slid into the passenger seat.
Confirming two were in the car, she approached him in his sedan.
"Doesn't matter who leads—just pull over on the national highway after the expressway and give me a call."
"Yes, ma'am. Nav won't have the address anyway, so that bus stop I mentioned? I'll wait there."
"Yeah."
The whole village had vanished, and the house abandoned so long the address was gone—they'd have to navigate by a nearby mountain. Mornings were best for casual scouting, but nighttime was ideal since ghosts roamed when the gates opened, making it easier to spot everything. Plus, the chills made for better footage, and with the kid tagging along for experiential learning, they had to play it safe.
"Last rest stop—empty your guts even if you have to force it. No bathrooms once we're in there; you'll have to squat outside if nature calls."
"Okay."
A guy could just stand and go, but this body had the exit in a different spot. Hiding in bushes was fine for privacy, but baring your ass meant mosquitoes zeroing in for at least a couple bites. Nothing uglier than scratching in public and waddling awkwardly.
They grabbed snacks at the rest area, hit the national highway, and spotted the car ahead already waiting. It pulled out.
"Keep up from behind. The road gets rough—drive carefully."
Unmaintained rural paths had no guardrails or lane markings. Overgrown grass blurred the line with irrigation ditches; one wrong turn and a wheel in the drink spelled disaster.
"Chungcheong has backwoods like this? Thought places near the capital wouldn't have villages this remote."
"No highways or trains nearby. Even in Gyeonggi, deep in the mountains, it's the same."
Their talk skirted the real issue on purpose. The main reason these villages emptied: land and house prices. Centered on towns, they jacked up rates even in the sticks—no one moved in, places rotted. Why live inconveniently in nowhere with that cash? Stay in the bountiful city.
"Still, not a place I'd scout solo. Ballsy."
"Money talks, though. First time in a hollow like this."
This was for the kid in the back, tensing up. Even Hyeon-a, who'd seen weird shit tailing her detective brother, said it—enough said. First time for Seo-ah too, driving into pitch-black roads without a single streetlamp.
"Hngh..."
The girl's face paled in the back seat. Videos of abandoned houses or haunts were always on the outskirts of living villages—"quirky house in a secluded spot." Sure, reasons to go, but for show. Real pros went anyway, she'd realize. But wasn't the shaman ahead one of those show folks too?
"Just circling the village houses would make killer abandoned content. Elders eat that up."
"Right? Snap some creepy, eerie shots, hang 'em inside—boom, thumbnails. 'Why the Village Fell to Ruin' or whatever."
"Boss, you're a YouTube title pro now."
They bantered to lighten the mood. Effort wasted—the kid's expression stayed grim. Nearly at the village end, they parked on what looked like old farmland.
The shaman approached after getting out.
"Can't turn around higher up, so we hike from here."
They piled out, slung bags, ready for the brush. Bugs and criminals didn't faze Seo-ah, but she blended in. A dagger beat bare fists for justifying a takedown.
"Last spray for bugs—turn around, front and back. You too."
"Yes, sis."
The outgoing pair were already sis-ing each other, spritzing repellent on clothes.
"All set? Let's head up."
"Just turning on the camera quick. I'll shoot surroundings—no faces, don't mind me."
Shaman led, Hyeon-a tailed for footage, single-file on a path barely wide for a grown man. Star-packed sky lit the pitch night.
"Slow thirty minutes up from here. Quick hike."
"Why so far out?"
"Old shamans' houses were taboo—built away from villages, like a thirty-minute walk."
Making it next to the corpse-hauling slaughterhouse showed the old folks' spite plain as day.