Watch Your Death! (5)
The moment the gun was pointed at him, the man froze stiff, and the woman started sniffling.
By then, my future self had softened his attitude just a bit.
"...What I'm saying is, that kind of behavior could have a major impact on your survival. If you understand, nod."
The man nodded, and I lowered the gun.
Still, the frozen tension in the air didn't thaw.
Damn, that's intense... How the hell did I end up like that?
Who knows.
I don't think it's impossible.
People aren't unchanging.
Thoughts shift moment to moment, and even convictions or missions can warp beyond recognition depending on the circumstances.
Meaning I could totally accept that shocking transformation my future self showed.
...If it hadn't been quite so drastic.
What's the point of saying it now.
I'm just an ordinary guy, after all.
Whether in a negative or positive direction.
For example...
I could become a petty thief or a ruthless murderer.
I could be a corporate drone at a big company, a small business owner, or a grad student.
But.
I could never become a 'tough guy.'
That's my core.
No matter what job, crime, or 'path' I choose, my essence is that of a timid, slightly lonely, utterly average Korean salaryman.
Therefore.
I could see it.
That looks like acting.
'My' hand was trembling.
So subtly that even someone close to me wouldn't notice unless they looked closely.
But I knew.
That's 'me.'
'Me' feels guilty in this situation. 'My' principles are the same as now; 'I' find this whole thing distasteful.
Which means.
'We're operating on the same principles.'
If I can, I do it.
If I can't, I don't.
And...
...if I must, I do.
The conclusion was clear.
This was a 'must' situation.
As if proving my thoughts, things started moving.
The woman's sniffling quieted.
"...What do we do now? Are we just going to die like this?"
It was a voice suppressed, taking my future self's advice—or threat—into account.
"I don't want to die like this. It's weird and scary. Dying in a place like this with no one knowing..."
She muttered, shoulders shaking.
It felt strange.
'Me' was feeling exactly the same. The hand tremor got a little worse.
"It's okay. At least for now. The company has deployed personnel to rescue you, and my team and I are experts in this sort of thing."
Was it really?
Who knows. Even if that's 'me,' you can't read people's hearts.
Objectively speaking.
People are always lenient with themselves. In extreme situations, even fatal misjudgments can look like sweet options.
Leaving a newbie alone in the first place...
It was already over.
No one was around. Not Section Chief Jo, not Manager Ham, not even Deputy Choi Soo-jung.
Had we parted ways? That wouldn't be good.
"You two are valuable company assets. And we run this company more on entrepreneurial spirit than any other firm."
No matter my objective view, the mood was shifting toward hope.
"Really...?"
The woman lifted her head from between her knees, and a faint hope dawned on the man's face.
"Yes. Trust me. If you can't trust me, trust the company."
That's what 'I' said, looking at them.
"You're both hires from our public recruitment exam, and the company never wastes talent. Simply put, we don't do losing propositions. Proof? I'm here, aren't I?"
'I' flashed my company ID.
"Let's get through this together."
Still hiding the trembling hand as best he could.
The three took a short break and left the abandoned house.
I trailed a bit behind them.
The mountain path was still shrouded in fog. A good amount of time had passed, but no sign of dawn.
The whole way, only 'I' spoke.
"Walk slowly so you don't twist an ankle. We have time."
"Breathe evenly. Conserve your energy. You never know when you might have to run."
"Above all, stay calm."
It was a pitiful effort to reassure them.
Maybe a tearful act to inspire trust, or the will to push through a grueling situation.
...Trying so hard.
Watching from a few steps back, I felt a little sad.
Didn't I have to do that soon myself?
Stomachache...
It wasn't hard to guess my future self was thinking the exact same thing right then.
He was pressing the center of his stomach with his hand, just like me.
Seeing that gave me a bit of strength.
He's suffering like that... Yeah. I'll push harder too.
Wait.
Isn't it me suffering either way?
...Thinking that way just made me feel unfairly pissed. Better not to think at all.
A moment later.
Fatefully, another ordeal arose.
"It's steep. Both of you, be careful."
The slope got sharper, the terrain suddenly rugged.
"...They're lagging."
The two newbies had pale faces and were falling behind badly. 'I' had to wait for them several times.
"Wait! Careful!"
It happened right after 'I' had waited for them about three more times.
"Ahh!"
The female newbie tripped on a root, stumbled, and fell flat.
"You okay?"
"Ugh..."
"Let me see. Take off your shoe."
'I', who had been ahead, checked her condition.
"Oh no..."
Her ankle was badly swollen.
'I' looked troubled, glancing between them, then said,
"Mr. Kim Moon-ho, can you carry her?"
The man, Kim Moon-ho, nodded.
But he wasn't in good shape either.
"Y-Yeah, I can."
Hands on his knees, panting—it looked like even walking was a stretch. 'I' pondered, then shook his head.
"No, that won't work. I'll carry her. Mr. Kim Moon-ho? Help me out."
"Yes, got it."
'I' piggybacked her with Kim Moon-ho's help.
And right then.
A light flashed between the trees lining the path.
Swish— swish— swish— swish— swish—.
The wind howls. The mountains and trees groan. The stench of beastly musk stings the nose. Eerie fog envelops everything.
Damp, dense air presses on the shoulders. The three turn to shadows in an instant.
"This is bad...!"
The bewildered voice is swallowed by the fog, made faint.
"From now on, no matter what sounds you hear, don't respond! Whatever's in the fog isn't 'human'!"
Silence, like death itself.
Heart clenches. Hold your breath. Swallow. Every sense sharpens. Light glimmers beyond the fog.
It's there.
Those are eyes.
"Mr. Kim Moon-ho? Ms. Ju Han-wool? You there? Respond!"
That's a voice.
"Something's wrong! It's watching us! Respond now—we need to run, fast!"
That's me.
"The thing next to you isn't human! Please believe me!"
It's mimicking.
"It'll eat you!"
Light streaks through the fog. It's the wind. Soil tears from the scythe-like claw tips, moonlight scatters like ash.
"Please, you have to trust me!"
Deep in the pleading voice, a growl rumbles. Wind, wind, more wind, then silence.
"......"
Thud. Footsteps.
Heavy, booming thuds.
The fog recoils. Even the wind parts. Through the gap, a mottled form emerges.
It's a beast.
The tiger descends.
"Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha."
The tiger laughs. The tiger stares. The tiger perks its ears. The tiger sees me.
The tiger sees me. It saw me. It found me.
"Oh Sung-jin! It's Section Chief Jo Gil-taek! Where the hell are you, you bastard? Answer me!"
The tiger's gaze shifts away.
Thud.
"Mr. Oh? Where are you? I fell behind! Let's go together!"
The tiger walks into the fog.
"Sung-jin-ah? It's public recruitment day. Get out here and come to work. Stop messing around!"
Its tail swishes. Prey lingers in every wrinkle. Long fur brushes the ground. Fur white as jade.
"I told you I love you."
And it vanishes.
Only then could I finally open my eyes wide and gasp for air.
The scent of a predator. Heart pounding wildly. This place is dangerous. I'll die. Be killed. Eaten. And...
Slap—!
My cheek stings. It sharpened my mind.
Snap out of it.
...All of it was just my illusion.
This isn't inside some unknown anomaly. This is the 'Triple Death Video,' and this is my first entry.
I won't die. I won't get hurt. No threat of dismemberment or going mad.
Only one thing to do: witness my own death.
My legs feel heavy, glued to the ground. They won't move.
But I have to. It's a must. So...
I will.
Finally, I lifted my leg and moved. Took a step. Thud. In the silence, my footfall rings too clearly.
And.
"Strange..."
Fur from above, on my head.
"It was definitely here..."
A canopy of white and black, the beast's damp breath, bizarre teeth mimicking human.
"I smell it."
Finally, it looked down at me.
It sees.
It laughs.
It mocks me.
"Hee, hee, hee, hee, hee."
Breath.
"Found you."
It found me.
The moment I realized it, I bolted with all my strength. Toward the deep, dark heart of the mountain.