CHAPTER 27
All I could see was a messed-up room with flickering lights above. Drain blood was anywhere in the wall. All I can hear was the flickering light and dripping sound from somewhere. My chest heaved just thinking that we are in the ward and will meet the monsters sooner. Beom is the last one who climbs down. Even half of the mansion was destroyed, we can't still get out because of the raging fire that consumes the mansion.
"Oh, look! A flashlight!" Xion dumbly said as he picked up the flashlight and turned it on.
"We know that's a flashlight." Juyeon hissed.
We prepared ourselves for the worst. Xion is the one who'll lead us to this messed-up ward since he has the flashlight. Xion opened the door and we peeped outside, looking to the right and left. We can see a long hallway with flickering bulbs above that hang on the ceiling, drain blood all over the wall with words that are written on it.
We walked out of the room, going right since I knew the right side is the 'right' way. My eyes landed on the letters that filtered the white wall. It says 'Die', 'Why did you leave, 'Come back, and 'Regret'. Whoever wrote all of these words, surely has the grudge of that someone who leaves them.
We can see doors after doors. We didn't dare to open one of those because we know that will be a bad idea. Just straight ahead and we can finally get out of this place.
Not long after we reach the massive area, papers scattered all over in the place with drain blood on it. I don't know which part of the ward is this and as of now, we haven't met the monsters yet.
"The atmosphere here is heavy," Juyeon commented while looking around the area.
I heard Seulji gasp and when I looked at her I caught her looking at the beds that accordingly placed on the corner. My eyes widen as I see the corpses that already rotten for ages laying on the beds with their hands, ankles, and waist were tied with a stun belt. While on their heads was a wire looped around tightly that almost crack their skull.
"Are they torturing their patients?" I heard Beom whisper. "That's cruel."
Xion shone his light on the doorway and we ready the board that hang above it. It says '1902'. Wait, is this ward was built in 1902? That was a long time ago I guess? 21 century? Dunno. The next hallway we went to was more horrible than the corpse on the beds. We see tons of big glass tube with what seems like aliens insides, water turn green because of the slippery eel.
"The heck?! Are they experimenting aliens?" Seulji hissed, shaking her head.
We silently walked through the hallway full of glass tubes with an alien inside. I even see the padlock that was inside Sunoo and ripped off by master Leelex. What is this? From what I heard from the masters and Monika, these padlocks are like planting a pot on the species' stomach especially males. And once they claimed, and opened the lock- I don't know the rest. I only know these as for experiment to plant a womb inside the man's body to make them pregnant. And it will depend on their partner when they want to grow the child inside. It's confusing but that sound's interesting. I mean, how people can create such a thing like this?
From the end of the hallway, we can see a rusty door. Xion opened it and another million huge test tubes greeted our eyes. But this time it's a fetus is in it. Most of them are discompose but some of them are okay. We can also see children inside but all of them don't have limbs, only jellyfish's tentacles. This ward is something else. They creating monsters!
Is this how the masters created?
"This ward is crazy," Xion said while looking at the kids inside the tube but he suddenly stop, he seems terrified.
We knew already when one of us will act like Xion; something is here. Something we don't want to encounter. From somewhere, we can hear the ear-pierced scraping sound against the glass. Xion shone the light anywhere as if trying to find the source of the weird scrapping sound. Hyeop and Junhyuk began to cry. We tried to calm them down but the scrapping sound only got worst and this makes the two-child cry harder.
"Ugh! I feel like my ears stung!" Beom rants while covering his ear.
San scooted beside me and covered Hyeop's ear. Beom does the same since Juyeon can't move his damaged hand- Juyeon is the closest to Seulji. But it seems this wasn't enough because the babies are still crying out loud.
"Let's get out of here!" Xion shouted and we start running forward to the door.
The scrapping sound soon stops but we didn't stop and continued to run. Just when we're near the door, a long and thin body jump in front of us- blocking the door and this monster seems to come from nowhere. We slowly looked up at the monster. His body was all thin and long, skin also thin and discolored, all of this man are thin and slender. It seems he has been stretched and become like this. His nails were blades instead of real nails, teeth are also blades and his tongue is replaced in shears- blood leaking out of his mouth and fingers. His eyes are dark and marbles and he doesn't have a nose but another mouth of blades. He's wearing molded jumper pants and a farmer hat. I assume this is the caretaker.
"No one...can get out..." The caretaker spoke so slow. "Masters order..."
"Damn your masters! You monster!" Seulji screeched angrily.
"No one...can get out...masters order!"
We begin screaming when the caretaker stretched his arms on us, trying to claw us but we hurriedly run away. We run and hid behind the huge tubes, but we knew the caretaker will find us soon especially Hyeop and Junhyuk won't stop crying. I tried to calm Hyeop and Seulji do the same but they won't calm down. I flinched once I heard the caretaker's roar as he pushes down the glass tubes making them break apart.
"The caretaker can't see properly but he can hear. No chance to sneak," Beom said and shook his head while looking at the two babies.
"This will do," Juyeon interrupted. "You go outside while I distract the caretaker-"
"Are you crazy?! Are you imitating what Yeonjun and Soohyun did?! And Sichen too?!" Seulji quickly protest. Another loud broken glass was heard and that make our fear run down in our lungs that it began hard to breathe.
"But that's the only chance for you to get out of this freaking hallway!" Juyeon hissed.
I unconsciously held his hand and Juyeon looked at me. I shook my head and I can feel my tears begin to flow down. I know Juyeon was willing to sacrifice himself to save us but I can't do it anymore, thinking another maid will go to die to save us? I can't-
A sobs escape from my mouth and I can feel San hug me.
"Don't worry you're going to die too." Juyeon joked only to receive a smack from Seulji who was also crying.
"You fool! We're supposed to escape altogether, complete as ten but..." And she cried messily. Beom hugged her, rubbing her back.
Juyeon forms a sly smile but even he's smiling, from the darkness I can see a single tear run down his face. He tapped Seulji's shoulder.
"Don't cry, you're going to die too." He joked again but Seulji cried harder along with Hyeop and Junhyuk.
"I'll help you then," Xion suddenly said and that make us look at him in disbelief. Not him too!
"What?! You help them get out of here!" Juyeon hissed. "I want to be a hero just before I die you know!"
"Every superhero has a partner. Besides I won't leave you until you admitted that you're gay!" Xion chuckled and Juyeon will glare at him.
"The fuck?!" He hissed again but Xion only laughed him off.
"Then can you two kiss? Before you die?" San joked but Juyeon only glared at him.
"Don't worry San, I'll kiss him before we die." Xion proudly said as he put his arms around Juyeon's shoulder.
We jumped once we heard the caretaker roar again. "Stupid! If ever I die I'll make sure to find you and strangle you in the afterlife!" She shouted before standing up, Beom helped her up.
Even I don't want to leave- but I can't do anything about it. It's their decision and I can't change it. San pulled me up and helped me run to the door. Before I could ever get out of this hallway, I looked behind- looking at them both and seeing them doing their best thumbs up.
These two, at least give me your flashlight? But I know they need it more than we do.
-
Juyeon and Xion watched them running until they were out of their sight. Juyeon stood up, walking to the ruined computers. He pulled the wire out, connecting it but most of them were cut off. Xion watched Juyeon and the monster that still finding them, it's even crawling up to the tubes- head moving violently.
"What are you trying to do?" Xion whispered but Juyeon didn't answer and just do his work. Later, Xion heard what it seems like electric sounds.
"I noticed that there's an animatronics behind this mirror," Juyeon said and with his crowbar, he broke the mirror. Xion's breath hitch after realizing that it was a loud sound.
They heard the monster roar and climb down from the pipes.
"Damn Juyeon! You're careless!" Xion hissed. Picking up the piece of machine and throwing it somewhere. The monster immediately followed the sound. Xion sighed in relief before turning to Juyeon again who was busy removing the white sheet off of the animatronics that accordingly placed behind the huge mirror.
Xion gets what Juyeon trying to do. Juyeon walked to Xion and hand him the two thick-big wires with electricity running through it.
"You know, it's risky to do this. We might die!" Xion hissed.
"I know and I'll take the risk. Since you choose to stay with me then you die with me." Juyeon said while getting the ladder and placing it in front of the robot, climbing into it, and began operating it. "I study electrician and IT anyway," Juyeon added.
"Then, are you going to admit that you're gay?" Xion teased despite their situation right now.
He stared at the wires and components inside the animatronics. It's a basic typical robot that has a movable physical structure, a motor of some sort, a sensor system, a power supply, and a computer "brain" that controls all of these elements. Juyeon did notice the damage to this robot. How he will control it then? Besides, there's no fine computer to program the brain. But maybe he can use something like a tether? That tethered is the easiest way to control a robot, using a handheld controller connected physically to the robot using wires or a cable.
Juyeon did something for a while to the robot before climbing down the ladder and walking to Xion. He takes the other wire while looking at Xion. "Did you say to San that you're going to kiss me before you die?"
Xion chuckled nervously. He can feel his heartbeat in fear, fear that this is his last day and he'll receive the painful death soon.
"As if you want to,"
Juyeon smiled. "I won't die with virgin lips anyway." He said and leaned to Xion, but before their lips could touch, they heard the monster roar again and when they look the mirror beside them- the monster is already looking at them. Juyeon cursed under his breath and snatched the other wire from Xion. Xion confusedly look Juyeon, he thought-
"Get away!" Juyeon shouted and Xion run out behind the mirror.
Juyeon mumbled a few words before sticking the electric wires into the robot's broken switch. Xion hide behind the glasses and closed his eyes, listening to the sound of electronics with a slight sound of an explosion.
Xion opened his eyes and decided to run to Juyeon. He picked up the gloves that aimlessly laying on the ground before wearing them. He jumped behind the mirror and pulled Juyeon away before he die from electricity.
He dragged him back to where he was hiding before. He checked Juyeon and caught him wincing while holding what it seems like a controller. Xion take off the gloves and cupped Juyeon's face.
"Are you okay?" He asked worried and Juyeon nodded.
Both lads heard the robot arise and they turn to look at the object. Juyeon is sure the robot was in a bad shape and if ever the robot will damage again, it's the end for them. There's a big possibility the robot might explode.
Juyeon held Xion's hands that were on his face. The lad looked down on him and before he open his mouth, he felt Juyeon's lips on his. Xion was stunned for a bit but when he registered what was happening, he closed his eyes and response to Juyeon's kiss.
The monster glared at the robot, walking close to the object while swinging his long arms in the air before striking it to the robot. The robot raised both hands before opening its mouth to release a loud meow. It grab the monster's left arm and squeezed it until his bone broke. The monster roared painfully, using his fine hand to hit the robot's head but it only bit his arm.
Xion and Juyeon pulled away after hearing the commotion. Juyeon stood up and pulled Xion to hide away from them. They hide inside the rusty closets. If they die here, they'll accept it.
Juyeon looked at Xion again.
"I told you, I'm not going to die with virgin lips." He said and chuckled.
"Juyeon, if we run back and wait until this done-"
"We can't even we want to, the robot was badly damaged and once it explode, the whole ward..." He sighed. "They must run fast. The robot is like a time bomb."
Xion closed his eyes. This is how he dies in the end. He opened it again and caught Juyeon was staring at him with greed in his eyes. "What?"
But Juyeon only pulled him again and embrace him. "I somehow happy to die with you." He whispered.
Xion sighed and let Juyeon embrace him one last time. He hugged him back, burying his face into his chest as he peeped through the gap in the closet- watching the robot and monster fight against each other. Xion smiled.
He sees the monster climb on the robot's head and tried to bite its head while trying to stab the object with his sharpened feet. The gas leaked out of the robot as soon the caretaker made a hole in its body. The gas flowed down on the floor near the sparkling electricity.
Xion closed his eyes, letting his tears roll down his face, and hugged Juyeon close. While Juyeon does the same, holding the controller tight.
The spark from the wire jumped down on the gas making a spark of fire.
This is how they die.
-
Doyoung and the rest didn't stop running. It seems they are running in infinite halls. They're getting tired but they can't stop. They can't die after all their friends' sacrifices. He doesn't want to die yet, if they die here, all sacrifices of his friends to come to naught.
He doesn't want to waste all their lives, now that they were about to reach their freedom. All four continue to run, not turning or looking back. They reach another door and Doyoung thank heaven because it's not the same hallway as what they went through before. It's another hallway surrounded by walls with flickering light.
They just run. Run and run until they reach another door but this time it wasn't a hallway with white walls. It's like a sewer, it seems like they were inside of a sewer hall with red and yellow lights that linked on the wall. No, it's more like a mine hallway but the walls and floor are made in hard metal, feels like the inside of a tunnel-sewer.
"What is this? This isn't a ward anymore!" San said but we can't go back. We need to run ahead even this is different than what is drawn on the map. I could feel the freedom is near.
"What a very smart...maids."
Doyoung can feel his face pale up after hearing the familiar voice from one of their masters. From the dark, a hands came out long-thin and grey. Nails were sharp and black, pur is visible in the skin. The figure slowly crawled out from the darkness until his whole body batted under the light.
The maids' eyes widen and took a step back as master Lee tried to stand up.
His eyes were all black- hair turn black as before as his ears change into cat ears. Fangs peeping through his lips, nine tails of a fox waving at them. His feet are long and similar to a wolf's legs. Master Lee was also leaking blood and he looks weak but despite his tiredness, he manage to pour all of his strength to kill the remaining maids. He's going to kill them all but when his eyes land on Hyeop and Junhyuk- his neck cracked as he titled it while staring at them.
Black tears escape from his eyes. He took a step forward.
"Is that...Sunie's sons?..." His neck cracked and he cackled. "...from...Hwang and...Junghwan..." He chuckled. "...what an appetizer!" Master Lee meowed loud with a roar, mouth opening wide as his face turned into a white cat.
He crawled and jump to them. They quickly bent down and avoid master Lee's attack causing him to claw the metal door instead. They quickly run fast as they could. Master Lee was just behind them and 50 percent faster than them. He runs fast then jump on Beom, clawing his back, scratching his nails in Beom's back. Beom stumbles down and screams in pain.
They stop and run back to Beom but he stopped them.
"Don't! Run! Get out of here!" He shouted with pain.
"But-" Doyoung tried to say but San and Seulji pulled him away to run.
Beom smiled while looking at them running away. His eyes began to water and tears rolled down his face. His heart clenched- his chest hurt so much then the pain on his back. He choked but the smile never leave his face. He rolled over to face master Lee.
Master Lee opened his mouth and Beom closed his eyes. Ready for his end.
Master Lee was about to bite Beom's head off when they heard an explosion near as the ground violently shook. Beom smiled even more.
"You never win monsters." He mumbled enough to master Lee to hear.
Master Lee turned to look down on Beom with rage. He violently bit Beom's head and ripped it off of his body. Master Lee roared, the walls and the ceiling begin crashing. Master Lee runs, wanting to save himself but the tunnel completely gives in and before he could reach the end, he's been smashed between the ground the ceiling, and the walls.
Seulji almost stumbles but San holds her arm. He both pulled Doyoung and Seulji in the middle of the earthquake. The tunnel looks like was to give in. They run and just run until they see the door that obviously will lead to who knows? Maybe another hallway?
But suddenly, a strong wind jumped passes them and before they know what is it- they saw master Kim already in the doorway, covered in blood, and was glaring at them. He doesn't look like a monster but a normal person aside from that his nails was long and deathly sharp.
"You're gonna die with us, maids."