I stood frozen, staring at Containment Cell B14.
Creak, creeeeeak.
The rusted hinges let out a scream-like sound as the gap in the containment cell door widened.
The door that should never be opened was opening. And from within, a black figure….
“Run.”
I immediately turned around and sprinted toward the entrance of the containment corridor.
Beside me, I heard the sound of Supervisor Park Minseong running like a madman. Survival instincts spurred my feet while my mind was a chaotic mess.
‘What is this?’
What is going on?
‘In the Duty Regulation Tips….’
Rule 4 said to ignore sounds coming from the containment cells, and Rule 11 said they’d shut up if you yelled at them to pipe down.
But the door opened before I could even decide which one to follow?
What on earth is inside there right now….
“Hey, kids.”
The Supervisor and I both nearly stumbled at the same time.
It was a voice we both recognized.
However, without looking back, we kept running around the corner toward the green emergency exit sign at the end of the corridor. We tossed our cleaning tools aside. My breath was hitching in my throat.
The moment Supervisor Park Minseong grabbed the handle under the green emergency light without even taking a breath.
[BIIIIIIIP!!]
“…!!”
[Unauthorized opening of containment cell confirmed.]
[Locking down the corridor.]
Red emergency lights began flashing in the corridor.
Along with the emotionless mechanical voice, the sound of the protective shutter descending outside the door Supervisor Park Minseong was holding began to echo.
The Supervisor and I looked back at each other for a split second.
“…….”
With us trapped inside.
The corridor was sealed.
‘I’m fucked.’
Damn it, damn it!!
I fumbled through my pockets. I had to check the duty tips to see if there was a related rule….
“Well, look at this. If it isn't Dumb and Dumber. Did you guys trade your exploration manual for candy? Where did all your composure go?”
…….
‘Huh?’
It was a hollow, exasperated voice.
It sounded like they were suppressing anger, but it felt strangely mundane….
Step, step.
“Driving me crazy, seriously. No, wait, should I praise you for being cautious instead… Phew.”
The voice had closed in behind us before we knew it.
But there was no anomaly like I expected.
No blood-curdling laughter, no cold hands reaching out from behind, no horrifying actions.
“…….”
“Dammit. Phew, no. Calm down… you guys. I know what I said earlier sounded a bit crazy. But I had no choice if I wanted to use the escape item. We don’t have much time, so just accept it quickly, okay?”
The voice grew slightly anxious.
“I’d say anything to get out of here, wouldn't I? I was trying to extract some information while acting crazy, but then the item activated and the door opened, so I just slipped out.”
That voice was,
“Snap out of it. I’ll give you ten seconds. Hurry.”
…….
…….
“…Assistant Manager?”
“Yeah.”
I couldn't stop Supervisor Park Minseong from turning around as he muttered beside me.
To be precise, I turned around too.
And there, I saw a familiar silhouette.
Short hair.
Sharp eyes.
A woman in a suit with a cold impression.
Assistant Manager Eun Haje, as we knew her, was standing in the corridor.
With a disgruntled face, she scanned the cleaning tools we had abandoned.
“…Is it okay to leave those like that? No, I’ll check that later… first, you guys need to process this.”
“…….”
“…….”
The grip Supervisor Park Minseong had on my shoulder loosened.
We stared blankly at the person in front of us.
“Badger, and… Roe.”
An expression finally touched Assistant Manager Eun Haje’s face.
“Have you been well?”
The face of a superior, tinged with a slight sense of composure, leisure, boredom, and fatigue.
And a fierce smile.
“Seriously, this shitty company… phew.”
The Assistant Manager shook her head with a deep sigh and gestured.
“Sorry, but let me lean on you guys for a bit. Just open that containment corridor door for me.”
Assistant Manager Eun Haje said calmly.
“I’ll make my own way out after that.”
As if we had made a pact, neither the Supervisor nor I said a word.
It felt like my head was going to explode.
Assistant Manager Eun Haje gave a bitter smile.
“Can’t even answer me, huh? Well, yeah, that’s a wise judgment. I would’ve done the same….”
What is this?
‘Why does she… feel so plausible?’
Why does she feel so real….
‘No, there’s no way!’
“Supervisor.”
I swallowed hard and spoke quickly and lowly to Supervisor Park Minseong, as if reminding myself.
“Remember. The Assistant Manager resigned. There’s no way she’d be here…….”
…….
‘Wait a minute.’
Is there really no way?
I thought back to several strange points that had remained as lingering doubts.
Assistant Manager Eun Haje, who had lost contact.
Passing on her equipment without even meeting in person, only checking messages without replying, never answering calls, and only hearing news through Team Leader Lee Jaheon….
Could it be.
‘Because she was trapped here?’
I hurriedly recalled the conditions for being transferred to the containment zone by the security team.
Emergency contaminants, in-house anomalies, dangerous elements, spies, those under disciplinary action, and various eerie conditions censored by black squares….
‘There are so many.’
Even I and Supervisor Park Minseong were locked up for a short while.
If so.
What is the possibility that Assistant Manager Eun Haje fell under one of those?
“…Roe?”
“Just a moment… just a second.”
Isn't it possible?
I wanted to immediately ask and verify everything with this person who looked like Assistant Manager Eun Haje to find out what happened.
But I couldn't gamble on a possibility.
‘Let’s try another way first.’
I asked the ghost story resident.
‘Braun, that thing ahead that looks like a person. Is it the Team D Assistant Manager I worked with a few months ago?’
Braun answered cheerfully.
-Oh, unfortunately, this legendary Host is an entertainer, not a criminal investigator!
-Of course, my discernment is excellent, but there are limits to what these pebble-like eyes on this plush body can see….
-The appearance seems identical, but who knows? There are masters of perfect disguise in this world, after all.
Dammit.
I desperately continued.
‘Could you still check just one thing for me? I’m just curious about your judgment as you see it. I trust you.’
-…! In that case, I shall gladly answer you, Friend!
‘Thanks. Then….’
I swallowed.
‘Is what’s in front of me, in both mind and body…… human?’
-Ah, a question I can certainly give a definitive answer to.
Braun declared in a cheerful voice.
-Yes, it is!
Ha…….
‘It’s… human.’
This is driving me crazy.
I’d rather he had told me the entity in front of me wasn't human. Then I’d know for sure.
…That it wasn't Assistant Manager Eun Haje.
But the person with the familiar appearance in front of us continued speaking in her familiar tone.
“I’d like to take my time persuading you if I could, but there isn't much time. Kids.”
Her complexion turned a bit pale.
“The security team will be dispatched soon to assess the situation. If I’m going to get out of here, I have to do it before then.”
“…….”
“I’m not asking for much. I’ll hide for a bit, so just let me out when the door opens.”
I admitted it.
‘I can’t tell with my eyes.’
Then, I had no choice but to take a bit of a risk.
I immediately spoke up.
“Supervisor.”
“Y-yeah?”
To Supervisor Park Minseong.
“Don't you think it's impossible to run into the Assistant Manager, who is on leave, in a security team containment area?”
“I guess… so?”
“Oh. Indirect conversation. That’s a good method, Roe.”
Assistant Manager Eun Haje muttered quickly after a brief moment of admiration.
“They shoved me in here, telling me to think about it until I change my mind about quitting. Thinking about it now, it was my mistake to trust this damn company. Fuck.”
“Supervisor. Even if someone who was contained managed to get out into the corridor, wouldn't they be caught immediately?”
“Do I look like an idiot? I’ve got an item ready. The problem is time. There’s no time. The security team should be coming by now. I’m going crazy not being able to check this….”
Check.
‘…Wait!’
I remembered something in my back pocket.
‘The walkie-talkie.’
I pressed my back against the door and carefully reached behind my back to grab the walkie-talkie in my pocket where it couldn't be seen.
Then, I turned the volume up just a tiny bit….
Bleep, bleep!
[Current lockdown…….]
Dammit!
‘The Sergeant had been sending transmissions the whole time!’
I immediately turned the walkie-talkie off.
But it was already too late.
“I hear a walkie-talkie.”
“…!”
“Well, it’s up to the person who has it, so I guess you can communicate freely. But there’s one thing I’m curious about….”
Curious?
“They wouldn’t give a walkie-talkie to a cleaner.”
“……."
A chill ran down my spine.
“Did someone give it to you specifically? Even that… is strange. The cleaning staff read the manual through an automated device, record their arrival, and enter. It’s a system where you don't really need to meet other employees.”
Doubt and tension mixed in Assistant Manager Eun Haje’s voice.
“That… is the person on the other end really the security team?”
“…….”
“Roe. Who exactly did you meet?”
My hands were dripping with sweat.
I had never been in such a crazy situation.
‘I can’t tell what to believe.’
There were no hints. No, even if it really was Assistant Manager Eun Haje, how could I let her go? Hide her from the security team? Was that even possible?
‘If I want to understand the situation even a little more….’
Ah!
I remembered what I was originally trying to look at.
The second note where the duty tips were written.
‘If I read all the remaining tips, I might be able to find the truth within the context.’
I immediately pulled out the note and read the next number.
12. If you notice a strange smell coming from the door gap or if something starts leaking out, run no matter what.
It’s a sign that always appears before the door opens. Conversely, if these things don’t happen, it’s usually safe.
I’ll explain other exceptional situations in detail in the next number.
I recommend waiting a bit before reading it.
I immediately read the next item….
13. Oh? The door opened?
Hahahahaha
I reflexively crumpled the paper as I folded it.
My pulse throbbed in my hand.
“Roe, what’s wrong?”
Stay calm, stay calm….
“Let’s just relax for now. The security team is on their way, so we just need to think about what the best thing to do is from here.”
Supervisor Park Minseong pretended to pat my back….
“A way for us to get out….”
He was writing something on my back with his finger.
N-o-t
t-h-e
A-s-s-t
M-g-r
…….
It’s not the Assistant Manager.
I lifted my head, frozen.
“Wow.”
Assistant Manager Eun Haje.
No, the thing wearing Assistant Manager Eun Haje’s face bowed its head toward us.
“How did you know?”
How did you know? How did you know? How did you know? How did you know? How did you know? How did you know? How did you know?
How did you know?
Giggle giggle giggle giggle giggle giggle giggle!!
Snap
Assistant Manager Eun Haje’s head fell to the floor.
And then it stood upside down.
Two legs and arms sticking straight up toward the ceiling turned to look at us.
Hello!!
Do you belieeeeve in Ireum-nim??
At that point.
I blacked out.
“Roe.”
“…….”
“Roe?”
Ah.
I lifted my head.
“Are you that tired? Then take a little break. I’ll do it.”
Supervisor Park Minseong, holding a mop handle, was looking down at me with worried eyes. Looking around, I saw the containment corridor with all the doors perfectly shut….
“Ha….”
I grabbed the mop handle and lowered my head deep.
“Are, are you okay?”
“Yes…. I’m sorry.”
Was it a nightmare?
‘The logic was all over the place, after all.’
The containment cell door opening suddenly, Assistant Manager Eun Haje being a ghost… anyway, it was just a bad dream. I rubbed my temples.
“…I’m sorry. I think I drifted off for a second.”
“Don’t be sorry! It’s okay. You probably worked during the day too, so of course you’re exhausted.”
Supervisor Park Minseong patted my back.
“Let’s hang in there a bit more. There are only two days left.”
“…….”
…Two days?
Not…… three?
“Supervisor. What’s the date today?”
“Uh… it’s past midnight, so it’s the 30th? December 30th.”
“…….”
Not the 29th.
The 30th.
“Yesterday’s cleaning ended safely, so let’s finish today well, too.”
“…….”
“Oh, here, I have the new duty tip note! It said to read it when the second day comes. I’ll give it to you…… Roe? Roe!”
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