‘I’m live? Is it still recording?’
The red dot on the camera seemed to hint at the fact. However, I didn’t have Jamie’s phone, so I couldn’t see the chat or any details. Whether it was recording or not, I really wasn’t sure.
I was also suddenly reminded of the main quest.
‘Right, thinking about it, I haven’t marketed the game yet. That’s not good. At the rate things are going, I might never get the chance.’
I glanced around the room, then fixed my gaze back at the camera. This was probably not the right time, but…
“Hello, chat.”
Of course, I was whispering.
“…Given my current circumstances, I can’t talk too much. However, I wanted to get a certain message across.”
I stared intently at the camera.
“I made a horror game called A Regular Day in the Office. It’s a very scary game. It was only just recently released, so I wanted to take the chance to let you all know about it. It’s only $5 on Dock. Please support me.”
Dock was the service where they could purchase the games.
I smacked my lips.
‘This should be good enough, right?’
I scratched the side of my face. I really wasn’t sure.
However, this was the best I could do given my current circumstances as I turned the camera away and summoned the Nightwalker, telling it to stand in the corner. The Nightwalker wasn’t very strong, but it could be enough to deal with a couple of people.
In case the people in white entered the room, I planned on fighting them alongside the Nightwalker.
‘The goal right now should be to wait until backup comes.’
I looked around the room before settling my gaze on the window. A thought crossed my mind as I opened it, but I quickly gave up on any thoughts of jumping.
I was too high up.
‘…I should’ve brought some sort of rope.’
I thought about the items in the shop, but sighed when I realized there was nothing that could help me in these circumstances.
Eventually, I settled my gaze on the bed, wardrobe, and desk. After a little bit of thought, I moved towards them and pushed them towards the door.
“Huek!”
They were quite heavy.
Rattle! Rattle!
Thankfully, the Nightwalker was here, and with the two of us working together, I managed to move the wooden wardrobe onto the door.
‘I’m sure I made enough noise to attract the people in white.’
Sure enough, a few seconds later, the sound of numerous muffled footsteps reached my ears. I didn’t waste a single second and reached for the bed, moving it towards the door, alongside every furniture that was in the room.
BANG!
The door trembled a second later, a narrow gap appearing as a sickly pale hand reached out from behind the door.
My heart shook at the sight
“He’s here!” Came a voice from behind the door, hoarse and brittle.
BANG! BANG!
“Kh—!”
I stood by the door, shoving the furniture with all my might, and trying my best to keep the door shut.
At this point, I realized that hiding was pointless.
The stairs that led down to the first floor were probably blocked by the men in white, with them splitting across each corridor to look for us.
It was only a matter of time before they found me.
As such, this was the most appropriate action.
AnotherBANG!
The door trembled again, shuddering under the pressure. Another pale hand emerged from the widening gap, its fingers scraping against the doorframe, desperately reaching for me.
I planted my feet hard into the wooden floor, grounding myself. My muscles screamed, but I shoved the furniture harder, pushing it into the door with all my weight.
And with the aid of the Nightwalker, I was just able to stop the men in white from entering.
“Kh!!!”
All I had to do was resist.
Resist until backup arrived.
I thought I was doing a very good job at keeping the door closed, until…
BANG!
Splinters exploded across my face, making me flinch. I looked up, and there it was: a long, gleaming line of metal stuck into the door.
I froze.
And then—
“….Here you are.”
An eye appeared as a long hole appeared on the door.
Fuck!
Who gave these guys an axe!?
The eye moved away, replaced by another swing of the axe.
The door shook violently.
BANG, BANG!
I wanted to curse at my current situation, but I knew that this wasn’t the time for that. Hastily reaching out for my phone, I scrambled to look for the recording.
Maybe that could help?
I was a little hesitant. Once the recording played, they wouldn’t be the only ones affected. I’d also be affected to some extent, and what if the conductor arrived?
What then…?
BANG!
I flinched and saw the gap on the door widen. It was now large enough to fit an entire hand, as that was exactly what happened as a sickly pale hand reached out from the hole, moving in my direction.
I immediately panicked, but kept my body firm even as the hand brushed against my forehead, nails scraping down my face. I felt a sharp pain on my forehead.
‘Shit, fuck! Think…!’
I once again started to think about shop items, scrambling to think of anything that could be of any use.
There were two items that caught my immediate attention.
The “Emergency” Joint – When smoked, it grants perfect luck for 5 minutes… then catastrophic misfortune.
SP – 1010
The Painkiller Tattoo – A tattoo that absorbs injuries for five minutes… then redistributes the pain later.
SP – 1270
Both tempting. But I hesitated. The side effects… Catastrophic misfortune? Pain redistribution?
I didn’t know which would be worse, but I couldn’t afford to second-guess myself now.
BANG! BANG!
I flinched, my heart slamming against my ribs. They were getting closer.
Anxiety shot through my mind.
‘Oh, no..’
It was just as I lowered my head that my eyes focused on my phone.
‘Wait…’
A thought suddenly crossed my mind.
BANG!
Even more splinters flew, and two hands emerged from the gap on the door, grasping onto my face as I leaned my head back, my entire body drenched in sweat. The door was almost gone now. Any minute now, and they’d enter.
‘Fuck it!’
I didn’t think anymore and just followed my instinct, using one hand to type something.
The door shook even more fiercely, they were seconds away from breaking the door.
“Almost!”
I whispered, my hands shaking, but I kept typing.
‘Ah, there!’
Finally, I tossed the phone aside. The Nightwalker moved toward it, and just like that, it was gone. My heart skipped a beat.
BANG!
The door shattered.
I fell back at the same time as the door shattered, and several people in white entered. I scrambled back, my breath ragged.
“There you are!” one of them growled, raising an axe.
“…You saw too much.”
I saw the gleam of the blade as it rose. My breath left my body.
This is it.
And just as the axe was about to fall…
WHEEEEE— WHEEEEE!
A suddenly blaring sound echoed from outside the window, startling the men in white.
“Crap!”
“…The police!?”
I took the chance to rush towards the window and scream.
“They’re here! Help!!!! Second floor! Get here quickly!”
My actions seemed to startle the men in, white as they didn’t even do anything to me, immediately rushing away from the room, scrambling past the furniture.
“Clear everything!”
Watching them leave, I felt my entire body turn weak as I slumped down, breath ragged, as I covered my face with both hands.
‘That was way too fucking close.’
The sound of the siren died down shortly after, and emerging from the window was the Nightwalker as it handed it back to me.
I stared at the video that had now ended before closing my eyes.
‘I’m saved…’
The thought only truly settled in a few minutes after, when…
WHEEEEE— WHEEEEE!
The real sirens echoed from the distance.
It was only then that I truly relaxed and stared at the little girl who was waiting at the door, walking away as if nothing had happened.
“Ha ”
A small laugh escaped my lips.
“…How boring.”
But I was happy she just left.
Otherwise, I truly would’ve just jumped out the window.