FILE 10: THE HAUNTED HOUSE PART 3

"I saw the house. It didn't look the same as it does now. There wasn't any new paint, the yard wasn't so overgrown, and the pavement had fewer holes. I glanced down at the paper in my hand. It was the right address, yet why did I feel so uncomfortable?

The teacher was kind at school. Her classes were easy; she answered questions in a friendly manner, and she helped out when her students needed help. So why? The front door opened, and Mrs. Cho came out with a broad smile. 

"Ms. Kim, why are you just standing here in the cold? Come inside," she invited me. I suppose it was too late. I accepted her invitation and walked with her as her arms surrounded my shoulders in a hug.

She gave me some soda, and we sat down. I relaxed as she started to tutor me. I guess it was my imagination. As the clock ticked, I felt my eyes become drowsy. "Mrs. Cho? I'm a bit tired. Can we take a break for five minutes?" I asked sleepily.

 I was extremely woozy and very confused. She stopped, then patted my hand in understanding. 

"Sure. Go lie down on the couch for a bit, and I'll wake you up. I have to go check something anyway," she smiled. Relieved, I went and slumped on the couch and fell asleep.

I don't know how long I was asleep for, but I wish I never woke up. As I opened my eyes, feeling groggy, I heard a rattle. I shifted my weight, and the rattle sounded again. 

I immediately jerked awake when I realised that I was the one who was the cause of the rattling. I had been chained to a bed while I was asleep. 

No, I was drugged! What was happening? I breathed hard through my nose as my mouth was taped shut. The door opened, and my kind teacher came in with her husband.

She sneered at me. "Look who's awake. See Jun? I told you she's a pretty one. Lucky for us, her parents are out of town, so she won't be missed for a while." Oh no, please no. And what was up with her speech? She sounds so different.

Jun, her husband, came forward carrying a knife. I could only stare at him as he gently rubbed it against my hair. "Twinkle, twinkle, little star. How I can't wait to take you very far," he hummed as Jin Ae laughed. I screamed in vain as Jun began cutting me.

 *

I was so thrilled that I was able to get this job. After months of unemployment, I bumped into this nice couple who offered me work. It wasn't high paying but at least it will keep me fed for a few weeks until I get another gig.

I got a warm reception as I was invited to the house. I understood why they were so eager to hire me, the house seriously needed paintwork. 

"Don't worry, Mr. and Mrs. Cho, I'm great at my profession. You won't recognise this place after I'm done with it," I assured them. For the next few weeks, I got to work and happily painted their house a soft grey shade. 

I was completely exhausted as I finished, so Mrs. Jin Ae gazed at me in pity and gave me a drink to cool off. It was heaven. Embarrassingly, I fell asleep on their couch. I'll apologise when I wake up, but for now, I'll catch some Zs.

It was after quite some time that I woke up, startled. I couldn't pinpoint my surroundings. I had been relocated and, to my distress, chained to a bed with my mouth taped shut. 

Do these people have fetishes? I tugged at the chain, trying to loosen it, but I was interrupted when the door opened with a smirking couple holding knives. My heart dropped.

"You slept for so long, I almost thought you were in a coma. Welcome back to the living," Jin Ae taunted.

My life flashed before my eyes as Jun came closer, singing, "Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I can't wait to take you very far." Sorry, mom and dad. I should've done what you said and become a manager as he started to slice me."

 *

After that, nightmares came one after the other. Death after death. I shrieked as I struggled to come around. My whole body was in pain. I hate HUNT. I twisted around on the bed, groaning. I never had a kidney stone, but now I have an idea.

I felt a presence and knew that the ghost was in the vicinity. Are you making fun of me? 

The pain eventually subsided, and I slowly climbed out of bed. I stared thoughtfully at the water as I bathed to help my body recover and clean up. I felt very dirty and violated. When meeting the Chos, I got the impression of a young couple in need. 

Who knew that they were quite busy during their lifetime? And despite their young appearance, they were at least in their forties. 

I scowled. I was in a house of horrors, exorcising a ghost at the behest of two serial killers. Damn it, Min. 

How did you meet these psychopaths? In most likelihood, they're planning to kill me next, but I can defend myself with CLAW. I have to remember not to accept any offer of liquids, so I'll be fine. But I can't let them off scot-free to continue their killing spree. 

I tapped a finger on the railing. Exposing them will be difficult without evidence. Telling the police, "They did it because I dreamt of it," will sound like I was mad. 

The ghost was waiting for me in the room. When I opened the bathroom door and told it I was taking a bath, it politely stayed back. If it wasn't so aggressive at times, I would've brought it back as a pet. 

I activated SENSE to keep an eye out for the ghost and came out with only a towel around my waist. [Such a pretty man. I would marry him any day!]

[He's alive. You can't.]

[Well, I only have to wait.]

I was busy drying my hair with a towel while listening to the conversation. I had now figured out that there was more than one ghost in the dark cloud. According to speculation, it may be most of the victims' spirits. I dressed and ate leftover Chinese for breakfast. 

The cloud kept making remarks as I ate, sometimes saying nice things and sometimes mean things. I nearly spat noodles when it said it hated my long hair. Shut it, I bet you never had a girlfriend in your life!

I was out in the yard squatting under the brush a few minutes later, feeling depressed. I really wish Mars was here so he could do all the hunting. I worked so hard to look beautiful and make my skin look flawless. 

But now I'm getting scratches from the branches, and my clothes are getting all dirty. I didn't sign up for rummaging around in the dirt! As I grappled with the bushes, I grieved the loss of my perfection.

My SENSE discovered many other spirits, animals, and wanderers, but when I asked for their help in finding the bodies of the ghosts, they just snubbed me, and ran away. How unfair. My grandfather was helped instantly when he asked someone, so why am I being rejected? 

After hours of searching, I took a break. I was leaning against a tree, puffing, when something caught my eye. To my bemusement, it was a jug of juice. Glancing around, there wasn't anyone in sight, and I sincerely hoped that it wasn't a Cho that came back to kill me.

I took a swig, and it was so refreshing. [Look, he's drinking it! No human's ever done it before!]

[Shush. We musn't tell anyone. They'll get angry.]

[Why did you give it to him?]

[Maybe he can help us.]The cloud's voices babbled on things I couldn't understand, but I understood that it gave me the juice of goodwill. Better than a serial killer, right?

I drank nearly half the jug before continuing. The juice had a strange taste, and I couldn't stop drinking it for some reason. When I returned, I appeared more rejuvenated, and my mind was clear. 

When I woke up, I was so stressed out that I couldn't think clearly. I'm no detective though. I would look out of place in a uniform, yet I'm more than capable of making some deductions. 

At first, I wasn't really interested in exposing them, but if I were to make any progress in the exorcism, I needed to find the bodies. To do that, I could ask the ghost itself, but it refuses to say anything, or perhaps it can't.

The surrounding spirits also won't say anything, meaning there is something more to this case than meets the eye.