Chapter 64: Chronos History (8)

I actually enjoyed horror movies and haunted houses instead of being scared of them. Therefore, this place in the amusement park was essentially a big turning point for me.

Yoo-Joon and Jin-Sung, who followed without knowing what was going on, stopped in silence in front of the haunted house. Since the thrill of rides and haunted houses were different stories, I couldn’t just drag them into the haunted house without thinking. And from the looks of it, it seemed like Lee Jin-Sung wouldn't be able to enter.

“The haunted house is indeed the only place where you can score points without riding a ride. Suh Hyun-Woo, you have a good idea,” said Goh Yoo-Joon, with a downcast look but a glimmer of willingness in his eyes. I glanced at the haunted house, its towering structure dwarfing the ones in other amusement parks. Then, I nudged him. “Wanna go?"

He raised an eyebrow. “Me? Are we skipping the legendary water ride?"

Lee Jin-Sung, who had been nervously hovering behind us, chimed in with a voice laced with panic. “Hyung, are we seriously doing this? I heard horror stories about this place from last year... The haunted house... It's still open, right? Are you sure we are getting points for going in?"

I shrugged. “Not sure. But the director dropped some hints, didn't he? Seems pretty likely."

“...I... I don’t know...” Lee Jin-Sung mumbled to himself and then hung his head in a mix of fear and resignation. "Gosh, you guys are crazy for even considering it, hyungs. Seriously."

Meanwhile, Goh Yoo-Joon's gaze hadn't left the haunted house. “I'll go in if it racks up enough points. I heard this place takes a while to get through. If it's not worth it, there are plenty of other rides."

“Alright. What do you say, Jin-Sung? You can't bail with two hyungs beside you, can you?" I teased.

“We won't force you,” said Yoo-Joon.

Goh Yoo-Joon and I looked at Lee Jin-Sung. Then, the latter hesitated, a war of emotions playing out on his face, before he sighed as if surrendering to fate. “Fine, I'm in. But only for the points. Being in last place is not like me."

With a newfound determination, he led the way toward the haunted house. Goh Yoo-Joon and I just exchanged glances and followed, offering him half-hearted words of comfort. “Are you sure about this? If you're not up for it, it's totally cool to back out.”

“Nah, I'm... I'm good..."

“Did you know? They say Tintaland's haunted house has more ghosts than any other," Goh Yoo-Joon added, a mischievous glint shining in his eyes.

Lee Jin-Sung gulped. “Yikes! But I'm going for it. I'm aiming for the top spot!"

“Let’s go.” I had given Lee Jin-Sung a fair chance to back out as I was aware that he was as petrified of haunted houses as he was of thrill rides.

Tinta Land's crown jewel, the Tintacoaster, was a year-round favorite. However, their Scream Challenge in summer drew even larger crowds.

The haunted house, known for its Scream Challenge, was a legend in its own right at Tinta Land. It boasted a terror-inducing reputation, making it a magnet for thrill-seekers. The amusement park even hired celebrities to experience it, prompting many visitors to buy tickets solely for the haunted house rather than any rides.

This was no ordinary scare; it was more like an ordeal that demanded more than mere courage to face.

“Hey, are you really okay with this?" I asked Lee Jin-Sung one last time, noting the fear in his eyes. He nodded, though with a quiver in his voice. “But umm... what if... what if the haunted house doesn't actually give points?"

“We will see," Goh Yoo-Joon said with certainty, causing Lee Jin-Sung's face to fall once again.

In reality, the point system in the haunted house was pretty much guaranteed. Choosing Tinta Land as the shooting location meant there was an advertising tie-in, and the Scream Challenge played a crucial role in their summer campaign.

As we reached the entrance, the staff greeted us with wide smiles, obviously anticipating our reactions. Lee Jin-Sung let out a deeper sigh.

- Welcome to the Scream Challenge. Your mission is simple. You just need to get in, find the hidden number cards, and bring them back. The harder they are to find, the more points you'll earn.

“Is that it? How many cards are inside?" I asked.

- If you're brave enough, you could score up to five hundred points.

“That sounds like a blast,” the writer of the show murmured.

“You are so mean to me!” Lee Jin-Sung, his voice laden with a sense of injustice. "It's not wrong to be scared of rides and ghosts!" He was right. Those with a fear of amusement rides were at a disadvantage in this game. The game seemed unfair, especially when weighed against the grand prize of becoming a music broadcast MC.

While I was mulling over this, Writer Cha shook her head.

- Jin-Sung is right. This game is unfairly harsh on members who can't relish the thrills of an amusement park, so let's introduce a special rule for this hidden event.

‘A special rule?’

Our voices overlapped in curiosity as we asked, “What is it?"

Hearing our excitement, Writer Song Yi-Hee couldn’t suppress a chuckle and elaborated, “This time, the three of you will form a team. You'll combine the points from the cards you've brought and we'll distribute them individually."

“...Really?" Lee Jin-Sung's face lit up with hope.

“Hyun-Woo, you excel at this, don't you? Oh, I'm relieved. To be honest, I was a bit scared too," said Yoo-Joon.

“Exactly. Aren't we glad we came?" It was a favorable rule for all three of us. By pooling our scores, we could secure the top spots.

- Are you ready?

“Yes!"

- Please enter!

At the writer's cue, the staff of Tinta Land handed us a flashlight and swung open the door to the haunted house. The moment we stepped in, Lee Jin-Sung clung to me and Goh Yoo-Joon.

“Ah, what are you doing? Back off."

“Just wait, just a moment," he pleaded.

“What?" I flicked on the flashlight and started to survey our surroundings, leaving a stuttering Lee Jin-Sung in my wake.

“Ugh, this guy," Goh Yoo-Joon grumbled, brushing Lee Jin-Sung's hand off. “You're hurting my arm. We've barely started."

Lee Jin-Sung then clung to me even more tightly, turning away and blinding himself with the flashlight's beam in the dark interior. “You guys aren't scared? That's really impressive."

“Actually, I am. Do you smell that?" Goh Yoo-Joon asked, and I nodded in agreement and answered, “A faintly fishy odor." I had thought this mission would be a cakewalk—merely entering and retrieving the card, with the main challenge falling on Lee Jin-Sung. However, it turned out to be more unnerving than anticipated.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

The sound of water droplets echoed from somewhere. As I pointed the flashlight in a direction, I saw stage smoke blanketing the floor, creating an ambiance straight out of a horror film. Lee Jin-Sung then pressed closer, burying his head completely in my back. I couldn't help but chuckle. “There goes Lee Jin-Sung's cool image."

This was the same Lee Jin-Sung who had captivated many with his central role in numerous dance breaks and a somewhat cool demeanor—a popular member of Chronos known for his expressive stage presence. But now, he was just trembling behind me.

“Ooh, ooh!"

“Yoo-Joon, are you looking for the cards?"

“Yeah, I'm on it." Goh Yoo-Joon passed me a card he had discovered. Lee Jin-Sung appeared utterly helpless, and it seemed that Goh Yoo-Joon and I would have to collaborate closely.

“Hey, if you stay at the back, you won't even be in the shot. Just lift your head, even if you have to close your eyes." Goh Yoo-Joon nudged Lee Jin-Sung's back, ushering him beside me.

As I took care of Lee Jin-Sung, I swept the flashlight across the area. The walls were adorned with sinister frames, and ornamental chests were strategically placed here and there. Yet, no ghosts had made an appearance.

“This feels more like an escape room than a haunted house," I mused. Approaching a nearby chest, I reached out to open it.

“Hyung, hyung! Let us know before you open it!"

“Jin-Sung... Ah, you are driving me crazy. Such a complete coward."

“Something's going to jump out of the chest...” In an instant, a mannequin head emerged from it, and I examined it closely.

“Ahhhh!" Lee Jin-Sung let out a shriek, bouncing around the room in alarm.

“Ah, here it is." Beneath the mannequin head, a card lay face down. I picked up the card, put the head back in the drawer, and gently shut it. “Look, the head's gone. Here's your card." I handed the card to Lee Jin-Sung and watched as he slowly opened his eyes, squinting at it.

“Oh... Thirty points."

“Thirty points? Jin-Sung, can you hold onto this?"

“Yes..."

“Have we looked everywhere here?" Goh Yoo-Joon asked while searching through a drawer on the opposite side. I nodded, then continued down the corridor, turning over each wall frame. Some cards were easily visible, as they were attached to the wall, but many were hidden and required a thorough search. The visible cards generally scored ten points, while the hidden ones were usually worth thirty.

We arrived at the end of the lengthy corridor, stepping into an open, doorless section. Lee Jin-Sung took a sharp breath, as if steeling himself for what lay ahead. The space seemed to whisper a foreboding message: “The real challenge starts here”.

“Hey... this is no joke. You're not scared?" Goh Yoo-Joon asked, his voice shaking slightly.

“Well, this is a bit unnerving," I admitted, scanning the room with my flashlight. The setting—with its blood-stained walls, cobwebs, and disarrayed tables—resembled an abandoned house so closely it was scary. “...I'm going in." Without a word, the others trailed behind me.

“Do you think we'll encounter something here?" Goh Yoo-Joon asked, running his hand along the wall.

“I am thinking the same thing. The corridor was eerily quiet, wasn't it?" I half-hoped for an apparition to appear as high-scoring cards were often found in such haunting spots. And then, it happened.

- Hehehehe.

A burst of laughter echoed from somewhere, freezing us in our tracks. Lee Jin-Sung then clutched my arm, his face a mask of fear. “Hyung, did you hear that laugh?"

“I think so..." Goh Yoo-Joon responded, pointing his flashlight in the direction of the sound, but Lee Jin-Sung quickly pushed his hand down. “Don't look! The flash might reveal a ghost!”

“But we need to see to move forward, right?" I said.

“...Why even go there? How are you so calm?" Jin-Sung replied. Then another round of laughter pierced the air.

- Heeheeheehee! Hehehehe! Heek, heek!

“Ah... I can't. I am running away. Please, let me go!

Aah

!

Aaah

!”

The sound of slow, deliberate footsteps started to approach us. “It's coming!" Jin-Sung screamed.

“

Ouch

! Stop that, you're hurting me! Just close your eyes!" Goh Yoo-Joon swiftly covered Lee Jin-Sung's eyes, and I kept surveying the area. “It's okay to run, Jin-Sung. The ghosts can't touch us. That's how haunted houses work." By the sound of it, we still had a moment before anything arrived. Hence, I quickly started rummaging through the drawers in the living room.

“Got it."

“Really? It's so scary. Let's wrap this up and get out of here.” Right as I discovered a card marked “forty”, a shrill scream rang out and a disheveled woman charged toward us.

- Kiyaaaaaak!

“

Aaaaaah

!” Both Lee Jin-Sung and Goh Yoo-Joon were frantic, shaking my arms and trying to drag me out. I just planted my feet firmly and shouted, “Close your eyes, both of you! I'll tell you when we can go!"

“

Ugh

!" They shut their eyes tightly. With Lee Jin-Sung’s arms clinging to mine, I continued to ignore the ghost actress and searched through the living room. My hands shook with urgency. Soon, the actress with her grotesque makeup leaned right next to my face. I forcefully looked away, searching through the props more frantically.

Then the ghost actress tried to draw my attention and let out another scream. I reluctantly raised my eyes to meet the actress's gaze. “...Ah, miss..."

Her tangled hair, blood-dripping peeled skin, and unnaturally twisted neck sent shivers down my spine. Her small eyes flickered wildly as she stared at me, with her head held high.

Ugh

, the sight was repulsive, her face so distorted it was nearly unbearable to behold. Yet, she made no move to touch me—just as I expected, that was the rule.