Chapter 1: Is this beginning of a horror movie?
"hi Eui, did you ever use a dating app before?" A professional-looking woman asked her odd-looking companion.
"No. Meeting up with a stranger alone sounds like the beginning of a horror movie to me." Eui could understand the appeal of it. Meeting new people with the possibility of romance sounded exhilarating, however, it was still a bit risky.
"you don't have to meet them right away. It just chatting and maybe harmless flirting." The women responded passionately.
" …. I don't want to emotionally invest in someone I never meet, and they turn out to be some sort of serial killer or a cult recruiter." Her life was precious, and she wasn't taking any chance. "Although that would make a good story. Imagine two stranger meeting through a dating app. He is the leader of a cult looking for an innocent woman to corrupt and she is naively looking for romance." As a writer, Eui couldn't help but think about all the negative scenarios regarding online dating.
Yon sighed in defeat. She was used to Eui's pessimistic nature. Her friend was an eccentric young woman who lived inside her head. Eui had only one goal in life and that is to write memorable stories. She wanted her book to live on long after her death. She wanted her tales to be engraved in the mind of her readers. In Yon's opinion, it was such a farfetched dream.
"you are a hopeless case. Anyway, what did you think about scriptwriting? Getting famous actors and actresses to play your story on the stage would be one step in spreading your stories." Yon was a rather successful literary agent who helped writers all over Seoul. Eui was one of her recent clients. The two of them surprisingly hit it off despite the clashed personality. Yon was a serious woman, but she was a hopeless romantic at heart. Eui, on the other hand, was a carefree individual, who surprisingly very hard-working, writer. Both women shared the same work ethics and they also loved written words even if it was in varying degrees. Yon loved her job and the ability to help the writer with their public relationship was a great joy for her. She wasn't blessed as a writer. Her writing was mediocre at best. She could never create such vivid stories like Eui, however, she wasn't discouraged. Her talents laid elsewhere. She was a social butterfly by nature. She could sweet talk even the harshest of people. Eui always said that she would make a great villain.
" Oh yes, I want that. Seeing my creation come alive on stage would be a breath-taking experience." Eui could barely hold the excitement in her voice. She was a big fan of theatre and dramas. She was vice president of her high school drama club and acting was another passion of hers.
" I knew you would like that so I spoke with a couple of people and got you a job to write a play in a local theatre. If the director likes it, you might get a chance to write a tv drama…. Or even a cinematic movie. The possibilities are endless from my friend." Yon took a swing of her sake to contain her excitement. Eui's writing had a lot of potential and Yon wanted to be the one to unleash this potential on the entire world.
" Oh Yon, your villain persona is slipping," Eui commented with a teasing smirk. Yon was frighteningly ambitious women. They always joked that she would conquer the entire world with that ambition of hers.
" I am not a villain. I am more of the poor overworked village girl character."
" No, you are that villain material."
" Euiiii, you are cruel. I am an innocent maiden." Yon objected dramatically.
" Yeah yeah, that aside. I need to go sign up for new courses at the campus." Eui set aside her drink and spread a few application papers.
" Oh, the dropout is getting back to school." Yon teased as she examined the applications.
" Not really. I just want to brush on a couple of things." She had not the intention of continuing her college degree.
"literature critique, acting and psychology courses?... That is interesting chooses." The first she could understand, but the last two were odd.
" Acting is more of a hobby. The course is mostly practical so I thought it would fun like a drama club. As for psychology, I wanted to study a few things for my next novel and the input of an actual professor would be good."
"Wait a minute, you are going to course to just for that." Who is their right mind would spend so much time and money to attend courses where simple research would do just as well.
" Research is tedious."
" And attending class isn't?!"
" I got to meet new people and it is a ton of fun to observe them as reference for my work."
" You fool, you the only person who would see it that way." Normally people want to meet new people to socialized not as a research subject. " This is why you can never get a boyfriend."
" Romantic relationships are just a hassle. I suppose it might be helpful for my work to experience such a thing, but I don't plan writing romance anytime soon." The market is already saturated with enough trashy rom-com.
Yon sighed in defeat. There was no use arguing with Eui. She was stubborn as a bull when it came to her work. " Fine... I give up." Despite her defeated tone, Yon's smirk said otherwise.
" Your romantic side plot your last story was bland, but I suppose with your evasions of romance it is understandable your writing would suffer for it."
Despite seeing the trap, Eui fall for it hook, line and sinker. " it didn't. It was a decent romance plot that ended realistically."
" Who wants realism in a fantasy story? Where the excitement?! The drama? The anguish? The romance that should tag on the reader's heartstring is gone." Yon exclaimed dramatically with exaggerated hand motions.
Eui scowled. There nothing a perfectionist like her loathed more than criticism to her final work. Usually, she would argue back about her writing, however this time she didn't. Her lack of experience and avoidance of the romance genre left a huge hole in her repertoire as a writer. " I don't want to write a trashy romance."
" then at least write an interesting one, oh so great writer. " Yon teased adding fuel to the already burning fire inside Eui.
"Fine. I will write a short romantic story that would make quivers with delight."
" Oh, what a bold claim?! Can the inexperienced virgin write a decent romance?" Yon couldn't contain her smugness.
Eui flashed red. What has she done now? Taking her bait so easily. Yon was truly a ruthless villainess.
The next day Eui started at her laptop with despair. How is she supposed to write a romantic story? She had a few days but most of them would be considered bland or cookie-cutter plots. What kind of romance that would make Yon eat her own words?
In that hopeless situation, a stupid idea popped up int her head. Maybe she should try one of those dating apps? She might get a feel of what people consider romance. She searched thought the app store for something to catch her attention and download.
" That is a weird chat interface." Was it a bug? What were all these green words in the background?
Unknown has entered the chatroom
Unknown: … Hello…?
Eui:?
Seriously what is up with that chat. Should she answer? Well, what harm could a simple chat do? Her overly active imagination could come up with a few gruesome scenarios. She shook her head and responded.
Eui: Who are you?
Unknown: I am sure you re surprised
Unknown: it's not every day you get a text from a stranger.
Does a telemarketer count? Because she got those quite often.
Unknown: I'm a bit flustered myself. I found a smartphone at a subway station, but all it had was this messenger app.
Unknown: I want to find the owner but I don't see any contact info or call records…
Then shouldn't you just hand it to the police to deal with it?
Unknown: I 've been sending messages with this app but no reply…
Unknown: All I see is an address and some important-looking numbers saved in notes.
Now things are starting to get fishy. Should just ignore it and delete the app.
Unknown: I'd like to go there myself, but I am abroad….
Okay, that opened a whole line of questions. Did he accidentally take the phone with him abroad or did he find it abroad and the address is Korean? The whole thing felt like a scam. Oh, they were waiting for a response. What should she say? They still haven't answered her question at all.
Eui: First… who are you?
Unknown: me? Oh sorry. I didn't even introduce myself.
Unknown: I'm just… a student studying abroad. I am Korean.
Unknown: I could tell you my name but it doesn't matter.
Unknown: You wouldn't find me of search engines ^ ^;
Unknown: but, anyway….
Unknown: Can you help me find the owner of this phone?
Unknown: I know you're surprised to have someone suddenly pop up and ask you a favor like this
Unknown: but still….
Unknown: I'd appreciate it if you could help
Now things were getting a little creepy. She would understand if they didn't want to share their private information, she was a private person herself, however, they were her asking to go a certain address they should share some information to get her to trust them. And why wasn't he calling his acquaintance, friends or family for help? It would much easier to send someone they know to check it out for them.
Eui: Why are you so obsessed with finding the owner? You can just give it to the police or the post office.
Unknown: Well…. Normal people won't be able to understand...
Unknown: To be honest, I have a religion.
Unknown: My religion says that you must not miss any good opportunity to do good, no matter how small.
Unknown: Well, some say that it's just being nosy
Unknown: but I am not like normal people
Unknown: But I am not like normal people
Unknown: I can't help but think about how stressed the owner might be…..
Unknown: It's a safe place. If you feel unsafe you can turn around
Unknown: I know the area. It's developed.
Unknown: Please?
That is it. That person has a screw loose or something. The police could do their good dead even better than she could. She still doesn't know why they are asking this from a stranger. Don't they know someone in Korea? Nothing about that situation was normal and that person was a total weirdo.
Eui: No, You 're creepy.
Unknown: Creepy?...^^;
Unknown: I am not a creep.
Would a creep admit being one? She should end this chat with that creep.
Unknown: Haven't you ever heard of saying you get a treat if you listen to older men….?
Okay, that went far enough. That saying was behind disturbing. Are they the older man in that situation? How would they know her age to apply such a weird saying?
Eui: NO;
Unknown: sorry I was just kidding ^ ^;
anyways…. I know I am asking too much. You might think I'm odd. I am a bit odd, to be honest.
Unknown: But would you consider it? I am talking to you right now. Two completely different places… it's a miracle we 've connected. No one else responded to my messages. You're the first one. I don't know how we got connected…
Unknown: But maybe this was meant to be?
Unknown: Photo attachment
Unknown: That is me in the photo. Maybe this will make you less suspicious…?
Eui stared at the picture he sent. Oh, he is cute was her first thought then she immediately demolished it. The whole situation was put her on edge. This could be a stock photo for all she knew. And what is up with a connected crap? It sounds like something straight out of a trash romcom.
Unknown: If you feel unsafe near the place, you can just delete the app. Please, I'm begging you.
Was she being too pessimistic? Yun always said she always sees the negative side of things. He could just be an eccentric guy and she couldn't judge him when she is one herself. She could already hear Yun mocking her for not taking a chance. Eui was an adventurous person when it came to her writing, however, she never been taking a chance when came to romance. A failed project was fine, but her heart wasn't something she willing to share so lightly let alone with a stranger.
Eui: Alright… I'm returning asap if something seems strange.
There is no harm in checking the place out. She could always delete the app not to go if he lied about the place is safe.
Unknown: thank you
Unknown: then I will send you the address. Now how do you do that…
Unknown: Found it.
Unknown: Address Attachment
She hesitated to click the link. What if it was a virus of some sort? Well, she might as well check it out. She clicked the link and lead her to a location on her map app. It wasn't far-off from where she lived. It was a train stop away. She knew that area quite well. It was filled with a high-class apartment with the best security in the town. He wasn't joking when he said it was safe. Living in this place was crazy expensive. Now Considering that was that missing phone more valuable than she thought? Unknown said he could see much on it which she found crazy weird, but it might be encrypted or something? Was that the reason behind Unknown's odd behavior? Nah, she is giving that man too much credit. He probably just socially inept or something. Well, she had nothing better to do at the moment so she might as well check it out.
Eui arrived at the apartment complex and stood in awe. The last time she saw a high-class building was when Yun took her to a meeting with one of her high profile clients. She entered the building and was surprised how easy she got in. She stood in front of the apartment staring at the High-tech password lock on the door.
Unknown: Are you there? ^^ see. Nothing strange.
Unknown: Is there a password lock on the door?
She broke out in cold sweat the moment she read the text. How did he know that? She calmed herself down. Most people nowadays had a password lock on their doors and it wouldn't be strange for a high-class building to have it. She was just overthinking the situation too much.
Eui: Yes.
Unknown: I will send you the digits. Try it.
Unknown: attachment Password
Eui:… Shouldn't I ring the doorbell first?
Was he telling her to trespass on the place? Normally people wouldn't tell you to enter a stranger's place like that. She really should have deleted that app the moment things start getting weird.
Unknown: Hmm, You' re right!
Unknown: sorry, I wasn't thinking straight. Then ring the doorbell.
She scoffed. Thinking straight? That bastard hadn't been thinking straight since the beginning of that conversation. She rang the doorbell and impatiently waited for a response. A minute later and no one come at the door.
Eui: I don't think anyone's inside…
Unknown: Hmm, no choice then.
Unknown: I guess the place is empty. Why don't you press the code?
Was he serious? If she entered the wrong code in such a place, she probably set an alarm. Did he want her to get arrested or something? She should head back. At that moment Eui's curiosity rearing its ugly head. She went that far it would be a loss for her to turn back now.
Eui: Uhm… okay. I will
Unknown: Good
She carved entered the code and was surprised when the door opened. What should she do now?
Eui: The door is open
Unknown: Good. Why don't you go inside?
That is bad. That is a bad idea her conscience kept repeating inside her head.
Eui: Can I just enter a stranger's house?
She didn't want to get arrested. It wouldn't do well for her already questionable reputation.
Unknown: You can just leave not. I'll give you my info. If something happens. You can just show my messages. That will do.
Eui: then… alright
She could always show them the conversation and explain that some weirdo had their phone. She was also dying to know what would happen next. What is the worse that could happen?
Unknown: Th…
Unknown: …ank you
What is going on? The chat strange interface shifted and change to what looked like a normal group chat. Someone was complaining about failing their exams and then the discussion turned different between nepotism and requirement. Eui dumbly stared at chat until her name popped in the chat.
Jumin Han: Eui….?
Was she a part of the chat? How? Then people in the chat started freaking out and saying, hacker. What are they talking about? Do they mean her? Well, she is more a trespasser than a hacker. She tried to get to her chat with Unknown, but it completely disappeared without a trace. This isn't good. She silently observed the chat looking for any information about what happened. It appeared she accidentally connected to some private chat. How could she download a private app then? Wasn't this just a regular dating/chatting app? Should she send something? What should she send?
Eui: Hello…
Words like IP and Rika's apartment freaked her out. Did one of them just trace her location? That some hacker shit right here? Did they know she was trespassing?
Yoosung: Gah s So scared right now…
Oh fuck you, she is one who is scared. She didn't have a right to be after her stupid actions, but still, she wasn't the one with a hacker on their side.
Jaehee Kang: I assume it was a break-in.
Jaehee Kang: Username "Eui" I recommend that you confess
Is it considered breaking in if you had the key? She continued to read the chat with a pattered breath. Was that Jumin Han threatening her? Shit that doesn't sound too good. Then the conversation suddenly took a strange turn about that Zen person being an actor. Oh, that is interesting. No, it is not. Her life is a danger right now. Jumin Han's response broke the casual atmosphere between them.
Zen: … Maybe one of my fans?
Eui snorted at that assumption. It came completely out of nowhere and helped ease her tension a little. Wouldn't that make her more of a stalker than a fan? Jumin Han's response was more realistic about the situation. They all kept asking her to reveal herself, but she had just as many questions as they did. Since she is a technique the one in wrong she decided to completely
Eui: I am Eui. Who are you all and what is this place?
707: lol so awkward. I thought it was a computer talking.
Well, excuse her for not being in the mood to chat. So what if her response was a little robotic. Try to act natural when you are in her situation then you can say awkward all you want.
Zen: Hi, I'm Zen ( 24 years old), a Musical actor… Don't look me up on the internet. It's embarrassing.
What the hell? Was he serious? Eui chuckled. He introduced himself. Was he for real? He even included his age. Now she wanted to look him up and then to add to surprises he sent a picture. Oh well, with looks like that -of course-he want to show off. Was this truly his photo? His icon has the same person so it might be. The chat atmosphere becomes rather light-hearted for a while as the discussed Zen's discard to his privacy. As a private person herself she couldn't understand how can give such information freely. If he is truly a musical actor, maybe he was used to it. Oh, the event revealed his real name. So Zen was some sort of stage name?
As infected by the introductory mood Zen set, Yoosung and to some extent 707 introduced themselves. Yoosung even sent a photo too. Oh, he looks like such a cute kid. The current mood eased her worries for a while. Then 707 came an introduced Jumin Han and Jaehee without their permission. They certainly wouldn't like that.
707: You have a better sense of who we are now, Eui?
Oh, he was addressing her. For a moment there she forgot she was a part of the conversion or more accurately the main topic. So a musical actor, a hacker, a college student, a corporation heir, and his assistant. How can such mismatch people be together? They all were in their twenties so they were pretty young too.
Another photo snapped her out of her thoughts. A quick read of the chat and she knew it was a photo of Jumin Han and his cat. What a cute Persian cat! Then the conversion turned weird again and Eui had to set down to catch her breath.
Zen: True. Eui, how did you get in here?
…
707: How did it get the apartment password?
Now that a question that she could answer. How should she word this without sounding dumb? The entire situation is just a testament to her recklessness and a sudden shot of idiocy.
Eui: I came here while chatting with a person called Unknown. Do you know him by any chance?
Did that sound casual enough? They didn't need to know she followed a stranger's instruction to an unknown address. 707 remarked that unknow might be a hacker. Well, why would a hacker bring her to this place?
707: Eui. So he told you the password for the door lock?
Eui: Yes.
Unknown told her that it was written in the phone's notes, but the was probably a lie.
Jaehee Kang: Where did you download this messenger app? Eui, you are quite strange as well
Well, that is an understatement. Those who know Eui would agree with her one hundred percent and honestly, she couldn't deny that she was a bit odd.
Eui: Just got it app store.
It was supposing to be a new dating app that just comes out. She thought it would be could it as a platform to actively research romance.
Eui: What is this chat room for?
That question has been on her mind since they introduced themselves. From the response, they seem to want to discuss the situation with someone called V. Was he moderator of the chat? She thought it would be 707 since he is the hacker. The conversation turned back to her situation and her nerves returned with them.
Jaehee Kang: I am always ready to call the police.
Eui felt her heart drop to the floor at that sentence. Her future is hanging by a threat at the moment and she only had herself to blame. While she was panicking about the possibility of spending the night in jail, 707 gave something to panic about. Did he do a background check on her? Now she couldn't throw her phone outside of the window and make her great escape.
Eui: Where did you get that info?!
Zen: He is a hacker. He probably saw your FB page already.
What the fuck? That is illegal, isn't it? Well, she had no right to say after intruding on a stranger's home without their permission.
Jumin Han: What? It's a girl.
Why does he sound so surprised? And what is up with addressing her as it thing? Did he think she was a robot?
Zen: Show me a photo
What? No, please don't. Her privacy is out of the window with that one. 707's coy refusal almost fried her nerves. Oh, he sends a photo of Jaehee. A new person joined the chat. It was the V person they all talked about earlier. The one who carried her fate in his hands.
Yoosung: Tell us the address. I'll go there…. I want to check who Eui is myself
He wanted to come here. Well, that probably wasn't a bad idea. Meeting Yoosung didn't put her an edge. He seemed like a kind and harmless kind of guy. The conversation continued with a massive information dump.
Rika is most likely dead and Yoosung is Rika's cousin.
The Rika's apartment doesn't belong to Rika, but V. He and Rika were in a relationship, however, he doesn't have access to the apartment.
That place had classified information and she just waltzed right in. She is in more trouble than she initially thought.
V: Do not ask Eui about it and Eui please don't reveal the address.
She swallowed in her nerves and asked the question that has been haunting since the mentioned the word classified.
Eui: What's classified information?
….
V: Please don't touch anything there. For example, if you try to force open one of the drawers…. The alarm will ring.
Oh shit, that is bad. The inside of the apartment has a bloody security system. She froze stiff at the revelation. Could she move inside? What other things we're attached to the alarm? Eui ignored the chat for a while as she tried to stay calm.
V: if I am right. Eui being at her apartment right now... Rika must have wanted that.
What? She quickly checked the chat log for clarification. They are assuming that Unknown was someone Rika trusted and he leads her here following Rika's will? Why? She doesn't know anyone named Rika. V's words only added to her confusion. Seriously what is that guy saying? Continue Rika's work? She was a stranger!
707: Eui must be going crazy with how things are going right now lol
That isn't a laughing matter you bloody hacker. She is having a nervous breakdown at the moment.
Eui: I just come here to find the owner of the phone…. What is going on…
Do a good deed a day my ass. She should have stayed home and ordered some BBQ. Oh her curiosity and own stupidity ruined a good day of relaxation.
707: You were phished lol
Can she kill 707 right now? He is getting on nerves with his constant lol. He is a shitty hacker who got hacked lol. She was close responding as such when he started explaining the situation.
707: Shouldn't we…explain to Eui about Rika and RFA?
She wanted to tell him to shoved where the sun doesn't shine and she wasn't interested in that Rika woman or their crappy organization, but she was curious about the source of all her troubles.
Eui: Please explain
They explained things that she already gathered from the previous conversation and added some new information about the organization. Rika hosted parties for a good cause. She organized a group called RFA to plan the party and manage guests. So basically, she was doing charity parties? They confirmed her earlier assumption that Rika passed away.
V: Everything that you have to do…. Will be linked with this app installed on your phone.
Eui: what do you mean?
Wait they seriously think she would continue that Rika's work. She didn't agree with this shit. What did she get herself into? The chat continued with them talking about the organization, Rika and themselves. She had no idea how to respond to this. They expect her to carry on that Rika work without objection or something. Is this V person right in the head? He seemed like a well-adjected guy so why ask for such unreasonable thing from a stranger. If she thought the situation was shady before now it was so much worse. She ignored the conversation for the most part until Jumin Han addressed her.
Jumin Han: Eui, will you join RFA?
Could she even say no? She didn't even get a chance to object. You accidentally have access to classified information; you work for us. She was a busy woman. She didn't have time to work on something else.
Eui: I'm not interested.
They tried to convince Jaehee Kang to take the lead. It started nicely with her politely requesting her help. It made Eui feel slightly guilty for declining their invitation. She was thinking about agreeing when Jaehee's words flipped to a more threatening tone.
Jaehee Kang:…. We could sue you for trespassing on Rika's apartment and resolve everything. But I think it is right to give a choice of joining RFA and solve everything peacefully.
As to add fuel to fire 707 continued with the threat. Now she hated the bastard even more.
707: Ya, if we got to sue you, you won't be able to use this chat record as evidence. We can delete everything lol. We'll delete everything and just save what helps ^ ^
That fucker could burn in hell for all she cared. Wasn't his fault she got access to the app? It is all because he is a shitty hacker that got hacked.
Eui: WTF…
Yoosung: Aren't we ….. forcing her too much?
Yoosung, you are an angel. At least someone is reasonable in this chat.
Jaehee Kang: We will help her if she agrees and sues her if not. So we did give Eui a choice.
What type of choice is that? Work for us or go to jail? She doubted they were going to even pay her. This is slavery. They continued chatting and the bastard 707 registered her information without her permission.
She was surprised to see them all log out one after another. She should call Yun to fix this shit. Oh, then she would have to tell how she got here in the first place and receive her wrath. Was it worth risking her life over something like that? She already in enough trouble as it is. A lawsuit wouldn't do her any good and considering one of their members was cooperate, heir, it would be a nightmare straight out of a horror movie. She dug her own grave she might as well lay in it.
Mystery18blue's notes
Thank you for reading my story
This is my first story in mystic messenger fandom. My writing has improved in recent years, but it hadn't yet reached the level I want so constructive criticism would be appreciated. Please tell me what you thought about Eui.