Chapter 71

“This is what happens when you completely cover the corridor with blackout curtains…”

A few days before Sooyeon was set to shoot the advertisement.

Sooyeon joined her classmates to visit the old school building.

“Definitely has a real atmosphere.”

The class president of Class 4, Gil Da-hyun, was truly impressed by the thoughtfully designed setting.

First, they blocked the windows that let light in with blackout curtains, then attached white drawing paper to the walls and splattered it with dark red paint to set the mood.

Thus, the result was…

“Whew, honestly, this is kinda scary.”

One female student started shivering.

Naturally, since the building they were given permission to use for the horror booth was the old school building.

And not just any old school building – one that had been long abandoned.

An unmanaged, neglected building developed a distinctive atmosphere over time.

It had a peculiar haunting atmosphere. The classroom windows were cloudy and cracked.

And as it was an old building, the floorboards were made of wood.

“…Do we really need both the first and second floors?”

Despite some female students already feeling overwhelmed by the atmosphere, they still murmured this.

“What? Of course we need to do it right!”

The highly motivated class president loudly proclaimed this and then glanced at Sooyeon who had been silently watching. The actor who had been in the news lately for various reasons. The fact that this same Sooyeon had volunteered to play the ghost was incredible.

“Uh, Su… cough! Seoyeon. Can you do a good job portraying the ghost?”

Although it felt a bit awkward, they had been in the same class for several months after all.

There’s only so long you can stay awkward with someone!

“…”

Seoyeon nodded slightly, feeling somewhat willing but…

‘Hmm.’

Truthfully, she was a bit nervous, but it was more about the role rather than anything else.

‘This feels oddly similar to that horror game I played before…’

An old white building. Making it darker with curtains made it even more similar.

“We’ll also give everyone a flashlight as they enter the first floor.”

“Why? Even with blackout curtains, it’s not that dark we need flashlights.”

“Oh, you have no idea. Flashlights are all about atmosphere!”

Even carrying a flashlight added to the resemblance.

Something felt strange.

‘It shouldn’t matter.’

Seoyeon slowly nodded. What could possibly go wrong?

Why would the similarity to the horror game be a problem?

‘Last time I was scared only because of the monsters’ appearances and the jump scares.’

There was no way high school students’ homemade haunted house could scare her, especially since Seoyeon was on the side of scaring others.

This was the exact same role those creatures had in the game that scared her before.

“…”

Thinking about it this way actually made her a little excited.

Besides, the class president was also looking forward to her ghost performance.

‘This might even help with my acting.’

Just in time too, since the role she was currently preparing for was a killer in a thriller.

The emotions she tapped into for the ghost role might also help her with that.

‘Reflecting on it, my portrayal of Cha Sooah has focused too much on her human side.’

Seoyeon suddenly realized this. Considering how similar she thought herself and Cha Sooah were, this thought became especially prominent.

However, Cha Sooah was not a character to be pitied.

As the criminal in a thriller, she should properly instill fear in the audience.

‘The properly shot parts so far show highlights of Cha Sooah’s character, so that’s fine…’

Thus far, they’d only filmed the chase scene in the beginning.

They’d filmed the daily scene in the middle and climax, but not the middle scene of the actual crime yet.

‘Then…’

It might be good to emphasize the more frightening aspects in the middle scene.

Perhaps she could utilize that in this haunted house…

“Seoyeon.”

At that moment, the class president called her name. When she looked up, she could feel the gazes of the other students on her.

“We’re going to practice now, is that okay?”

In fact, they had already practiced a few times in the light.

However, this was their first time practicing in the dark, so Seoyeon felt a bit nervous inside.

Of course, it wasn’t because she was scared.

Seriously.

***

“Hmm.”

Three days until the festival.

Seoyeon sat in a chair at home, deep in thought.

Today’s commercial shoot had ended quite successfully.

Especially the director, Do Hyung-tae, had given nothing but praise, which made Seoyeon feel a little awkward.

Well, before the shoot…

“Oh, if Do Hyung-tae is directing this CF, it’s gonna be tough.”

“Why is that?”

“I’ve heard he has a very difficult personality.”

He was famous for creating exceptionally visually appealing commercials. But in exchange, he demanded a lot from the actors, was strict, and had polarizing reviews among the staff.

‘That guy was oddly cooperative though.’

Seoyeon recalled the shooting.

All she did was lightly act while holding the cosmetic product, following the script, but everyone praised her.

“Is this really okay?”

She couldn’t help but feel this way.

Come to think of it, this was her first CF shoot since she grew up.

Perhaps improving her acting skills also helped with commercials.

Anyway, they mentioned heavy CG usage, so she hadn’t seen the finished product yet aside from the raw footage.

They’d send it once it was ready.

‘Anyway…’

Seoyeon thought about the haunted house.

Today’s practice wasn’t bad.

There were around 10 female students playing ghosts.

Since they didn’t have full makeup, there wasn’t much depth to their performances yet.

“Ughhh!”

“Okay, okay, this will be scary later when they wear wigs and suddenly appear.”

“Right?”

Something about focusing too much on jump scares.

While haunted houses are generally like that…

Seoyeon’s case was a bit different.

“Seoyeon, you’re the highlight on the second floor. We’ll have you peek out briefly from the stairs, then reappear later. Kind of a boss-like presence?”

“Wow, that sounds good.”

They weren’t asking much.

A brief appearance on the second floor staircase, then jumping out at the end to scare people.

“Actors playing ghosts must be incredibly scary, right?”

“Wow, thinking about it makes me shiver.”

Still, since they started preparing together, the students felt closer than before.

Especially as an actor, Seoyeon seemed to have higher standards.

Besides, she herself was quite motivated.

“Kaahk!!”

During the practice, the first real scream erupted.

When Seoyeon briefly appeared on the stairs and then popped out at the end.

The atmosphere was incredibly creepy.

“That’s why they make these kind of urban legends.”

“What’s the female high school horror?”

“A movie released before we were born.”

The students chatting about this gave high praise for Seoyeon’s practice performance.

Especially Gil Da-hyun.

“Actors aren’t just for show!”

Among those screaming was Gil Da-hyun.

On the first floor, they’d set up in the central staircase.

A spot you had to pass before reaching the mission at the end of the corridor.

Honestly, she didn’t do anything extraordinary.

Just by looking down at the students from the stairs, her crimson eyes contrasting in the darkness made people instinctively stop in their tracks.

And what about the finale?

Quietly appearing on the second floor mission site, Seoyeon’s presence was fittingly highlighted.

Compared to the other students who vaguely yelled “Uhh!” and looked more like zombies or generic ghosts, Seoyeon stood out.

‘This haunted house is definitely ours.’

The location was excellent, the actor was excellent.

“This should be good, Seoyeon! Count on you to do well on the day of the festival!”

“Yeah, alright.”

Seoyeon nodded as Gil Da-hyun smiled brightly, but…

“Hmm…”

Unlike others, Seoyeon was lost in thought.

It felt a bit different from what she imagined.

***

Thus began the festival at Yeonhwa High School.

Unlike university festivals, outsiders weren’t allowed to enter, but it was still a big event among students.

Each class had their own booth.

It should have been a vibrant and enjoyable event, but…

“…It’s raining.”

Shuuhuuuh!!

And not a light rain – it was pouring.

Booths set up outside were torn down as students helplessly watched.

They had heard it would rain, but not expected this much.

Still,

“There are quite a few booths inside, right?”

Most booths were set up using classrooms or corridors.

Simple recreations booths like mini-cafes or dart throwing games.

And, unexpectedly, there was one that grabbed the most attention.

“A haunted house?”

Jiyeon narrowed her eyes.

“I heard Class 4 turned the old school building into a haunted house. They said it opens at 10 a.m., so it must be open by now.”

Upon hearing this from a classmate, Jiyeon crossed her arms.

‘That sounds like something Seoyeon mentioned.’

Something felt off.

While Jiyeon initially thought of it as a regular haunted house common in high school festivals…

‘Using the old school building, how serious are they?’

Plus, something else was nagging Jiyeon.

“Apparently, Seoyeon is one of the ghosts!”

“Her?”

“Seoyeon from your class!”

Seoyeon as a ghost?

It only added to the unease.

Whenever Seoyeon got into acting, she became entirely immersed.

When they were in kindergarten, during the school play 10 years ago, it was the same.

In elementary school, and even in middle school, it was always like that.

Every year it was like clockwork.

Middle school had been relatively peaceful because Jiyeon managed to intervene, but this time, they weren’t even in the same class.

“Let’s go check it out.”

“Huh?”

“Just… I’m curious.”

Jiyeon said this but internally had her doubts.

She had just learned a surprising fact – that Seoyeon didn’t particularly enjoy scary things.

After watching “King Until You Fall” broadcast, Jiyeon realized this.

So how could she be acting as a ghost?

Of course, Jiyeon wasn’t exactly worried about Seoyeon herself.

Rather, it was about the students who might fall victim to that runaway train of a girl’s antics.

***

“Oh… This isn’t half bad.”

Two male students walked in, holding flashlights in their hands.

Because of the heavy rain and lack of interest in other booths, they had stumbled upon the haunted house booth.

“The rain is probably why it’s a bit eerie.”

Shuuhuuuh!

The sound of rain filled their ears.

The sun was hidden by dark clouds, casting no light.

With the blackout curtains drawn, the corridor was as quiet and dark as nighttime.

The outer walls painted red gave the illusion of blood.

The combination of rain sounds and the creaking of old wooden floors with each step made the hairs on their necks stand up.

“At least we have flashlights, or it would be hard.”

“True.”

Without flashlights, they might have tripped in the overly dark spots.

However, the flashlight’s battery seemed to be dying, blinking erratically, thus deepening the sense of fear.

“Nghh!”

Plus, monsters would occasionally jump out as they walked, startling them and making their hearts race.

“Tch. I hate jump scares. Really. This is the hallmark of a poorly made haunted house.”

“Poorly made? All haunted houses are like this.”

“You just haven’t been to a good one.”

One bulky boy said this, perhaps embarrassed by being startled.

The smaller boy walking beside him chuckled.

Suddenly, he noticed the staircase.

In the middle of the corridor.

After completing the task at the end of the first floor and getting a stamp, they were told to go upstairs.

This was a place they had to pass through.

At the far end of the second floor.

A pale something could be seen.

“What’s that?”

At first, he wasn’t sure.

Then he realized it was a hand.

The realization struck that it was climbing the staircase with its hand, not its feet.

And when he looked slightly upward,

There were crimson eyes.

Sliding, sliding,

Raven hair flowed down the staircase.

He realized it was a human head, belonging to an upside-down person.

“…”

From the top of the second floor steps, slowly descending to the center,

A woman in white was coming down backward.

It was a scene reminiscent of an old movie.

Thud, thud.

Black liquid streaming down the eye corners.

The haunting of red eyes glowing in the darkness.

At this sight,

“Aaaaahhhhh!”

He couldn’t help but let out a girlish scream and run.

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