How to Die in a Company That Turned Into a Labyrinth — Chapter 5: Can’t the camera be stopped?

Chapter 5: Can’t the camera be stopped?

「Shit,‍‌ what is this!‍⁠ What the hell‍ is this, damn⁠⁠‌ it!」

「Kyaaaaaah!」

「Get‌‌ out! Damn it,‌⁠ through the back‍‍ door!」

「W-what…?」⁠

「Get‌⁠⁠ up and run,‌‍ idiot!」

Desperate screams, shrieks, the‍ sound of footsteps‍ running over the⁠⁠‌ marble floor, the‌ sharp shattering of⁠ glass breaking, groans⁠ of pain from‌⁠ slipping in pools⁠ of blood, sobs upon seeing half‌‌‍ of a classmate’s⁠‍ face, vomiting after being pushed and⁠ falling.

「Huuaaa…‌⁠ the door, hng,⁠‍ it won’t open!‌ What do we⁠⁠ do…?」

「Guys,‍ move aside! We have to break‌ it!」

In‌‌ front of the‍‌ school’s main entrance,‌⁠ students and teachers‍ crowded together like‍⁠ in a chaotic‌ market.

Thunk! Bang!

「But‍‌ why…?」

Even‍‌ if they threw⁠ a fire extinguisher‌ with all their⁠⁠ strength, it bounced‌‍ back as if‌⁠‌ it had hit‍‌‌ a steel door‌ instead of glass.⁠

「Aaaah,‌⁠‍ shit, run! That‍⁠‍ son of a bitch is coming down!」

Creaak,⁠ bang!

Everyone,⁠‍ students and teachers, began to scatter‌ in panic, entering any place they‌‌⁠ could find.

「Hey,⁠‍ open the door!‍ Let me in!」⁠

There‌‍ are always those⁠⁠ who get left‌ behind.

「Open‌⁠⁠ the door, damn it! Aren’t you‌ going to open?‌⁠ You parentless bastards,⁠‍‍ I’ve already seen⁠ your faces! Yeah,‍‌ let’s see how‍ well you survive.‌‍‌ I’m going to grab every one‌‌ of you and‌‍ take you to‌ that bastard with⁠ the mask!」

That‌ student, who clearly‍‍ needed to touch up the roots‍⁠‌ of his dyed hair, hid in⁠ the central stairs‍‌ that led from‌⁠ the first floor to the basement.⁠

The‌‌ unknown mask came‌ down to the first floor, looked⁠‍ around, and instead‌ of going down‍⁠ to the basement‍ where the student‌ was, walked along‌⁠ the first-floor hallway.‍‌‍

Taking⁠⁠ advantage of that,‌‌ the student quickly⁠ went up to⁠‌‌ the second floor.⁠‌⁠

Clack.⁠

He⁠‌ tried to open‌ the door to⁠‍‍ the teachers’ room‌‌ he saw first,⁠ but it was‍⁠‌ locked.

「Damn‍‌ it…」

He⁠⁠ lowered his voice, as if he‍ had decided not to make any⁠‌‌ more noise.

When⁠‍⁠ he turned around⁠ to look for‍⁠‍ another place—

「W-who‌ is it…?」

A timid girl’s voice⁠‌ was heard from inside the room.⁠‌⁠

「Who‌‌ do you think?‌ Open the door…⁠⁠ please.」

The‍ student softened his‌ tone.

Murmurs‌ were heard from‌ inside and, shortly‍ after, the door‍⁠⁠ opened with a click.

「It’s…⁠⁠ a person, right?」‍‍⁠

「What⁠‌ the hell? What‍‌‌ do you have‍ eyes for?」

「N-no… I’m sorry…」

A short-haired girl looked‌‍ at him cautiously.⁠

「I‍ thought it was‌⁠ a mask… that’s⁠⁠‌ why I didn’t‌ open earlier… I’m‍ sorry…」

「Ah,⁠ damn it, whatever.」

The⁠ student looked around.⁠⁠

She wasn’t alone.

A teacher who couldn’t⁠‌ walk, an unconscious‌⁠ or dead student,⁠ a long-haired girl crying in a corner.

With‍⁠ the arrival of⁠‌‌ the newcomer, there⁠⁠‍ were five.

Introductions⁠⁠ were quick.

The⁠ foul-mouthed student was a third-year.

The‍ short-haired girl, a first-year.

The‍ injured teacher was‌‌⁠ a language teacher.‌⁠

The boy with glasses,‌‍ a second-year.

The‍‍ long-haired girl, a third-year.

「Are⁠‍‍ there three of‌‌ those masked ones?」‌

「Yes.⁠ The one I saw had only a left eye.‍‌ The second-year saw‍⁠ one with the‍⁠ right.」

The⁠ third-year saw one‌⁠ that only had‍‍ a smile.

「Does‌ each mask have‍⁠ its assigned grade?」‍‍⁠

「It⁠‌⁠ seems so.」

They‍ talked for a long time, between‍ panic and calm.⁠‌‌

About‍ the teachers, about‌⁠ what was happening,‍ whether this was‌‌⁠ a maze, how‍‌⁠ to get out, how long they⁠ would have to stay, and why‌ the hell this⁠⁠ place.

「But‍‍‌ quite some time⁠ has passed and‍⁠ nothing has happened,⁠ right? Could they‌ have left?」

「What‌ if we check?」⁠

「Check?‌ What if you run into it‌‍⁠ when you open‍ the door?」

The⁠ third-year replied.

The⁠‌ second-year hesitated, but⁠‍ insisted.

「But⁠ sooner or later‍ we’ll have to‌‍‌ go out. We‍‍ need to go‌ to the cafeteria‍⁠ for food and‌ water.」

「…You’re‌ smart. But the‍‌ problem is who‌⁠ goes out first. Do you volunteer?」‍‌

The‍‌ boy with glasses⁠ sighed.

「Yes, I’ll go—」

「—No.⁠ I’ll go.」

The‍⁠ language teacher, after‍‌ taking painkillers, stood⁠ up limping.

「It‍ seems they attack⁠ students first, right?⁠⁠ Maybe that’s why‌ they don’t come⁠⁠ in here.」

「That… might be…」

「Then‍ it’s better if‍‌ I go.」

The‍‌ teacher opened the door.

Creak.⁠

「Ah…」‌‍

「Shit…」‌‌

A white mask with‍⁠ the left eye‍ empty was in‍⁠ front of the⁠ door.

The⁠ girl closed her‌⁠ eyes.

「Hey.⁠⁠ Open them.」

The‌⁠ third-year touched her⁠ shoulder.

The‌‌ teacher was not attacked.

He‌‍ only trembled in⁠⁠ front of the‌‌ mask.

「It seems they don’t‌ touch teachers.」

「H-ha…」‌‍

The⁠ teacher let out⁠‍ a nervous laugh.‌

「T-then‍⁠⁠ I’ll go… stay‍‌ still…」

Rrrk,‌⁠‍ click.

He⁠⁠‍ went out carefully.⁠

「Three⁠ hours. He’s dead.」⁠⁠

He‌ didn’t come back.‌

「Even‌⁠‌ if he’s injured,‌ it doesn’t take‌⁠ three hours…」

「Then‍ the teacher…」

「We‍ have to assume it.」

I knew it too.‌

He wouldn’t come back.‌

At‌ least not alive.⁠‍

The‌⁠ maze is not⁠⁠ an easy place.⁠⁠⁠

If⁠‍ there are entities‍‍ for students, there‌⁠ are also ones‌ for teachers.

The maze is fair,‌ though cruel.

But‌ they couldn’t know‌ that.

An‌‍ invasive maze is‌‌ unknown.

And with people dying,⁠ it’s impossible to‌⁠‍ think clearly.

「Then⁠ let’s go to‌‌ the broadcasting room.」⁠‌

「Y-yes.」‍

The⁠ second-year boy and‌‌ the third-year girl⁠‌ went there.

Nothing‌ happened.

While⁠ he kept watch,‍⁠ she handled the⁠⁠ equipment.

She‍⁠ seemed experienced.

Beeep—⁠‌‍

The‌ sound began to⁠⁠ come out through‍‌ the speakers.

「What⁠ you are hearing⁠‍ now is a recording that I left playing in‍‍ front of the‍ microphone in the‌⁠ broadcasting room. As‌ soon as this⁠ transmission begins, I will immediately return‌‌ to the teachers’‍ room on the⁠‌ second floor…」

As soon as they⁠⁠ heard that the‍ first sentence was‍ being transmitted without‍ problems, the two‍‍ students ran out‍‍ and returned to‌ the teachers’ room.

「…It has been confirmed that there are⁠‌ masks assigned to‌⁠ each grade. The‌ third-year one has‌ the shape of⁠ a mouth. These masks do not seem to attack⁠ teachers first or⁠⁠ enter the teachers’‌ room…」

In‍‌ the middle of⁠ the recording, information about the disappearance⁠ of the language⁠ teacher was also reported and information⁠ about his whereabouts‍⁠ was requested.

「…We‌ want to join‌ forces to go⁠‌ to the cafeteria‌ to get food.⁠ Those who are‌‌ still alive, please gather in the⁠ teachers’ room…」

I know the ending⁠ of this movie.

All‍‌ those kids in⁠⁠ that school die.‍

Knowing⁠ it and seeing‌‌ that final record⁠ of them still⁠ alive.

“Ugh…”‍

I hope they don’t‌ kill me for⁠‍ dirtying the seat.⁠

Then‍‍ they should let‍ you go to‌⁠ the bathroom in⁠⁠ the middle of‍⁠⁠ the screening.

I looked away from⁠⁠ the seat beside‍⁠‍ me, now damp‍ and heavy.

「Hey!‍ After one day,‌‍ the store filled‌ up again! We‍ don’t have to⁠ worry about food anymore!」

「Teacher,‌ if you see‌ someone wearing a skirt, run away‍ or hide immediately.⁠ Do you remember?⁠ There are no⁠‍ female students in⁠ skirts left among⁠‍ us.」

「It‍ seems those masks⁠‍ have fixed routes,‍‌ but sometimes they‌ change depending on‌‍‍ the environment or our reactions.」

The‌⁠ Seonghwa students, united,‍ began learning the rules of the‌‌ labyrinth over time.‌⁠

「No!‌ Let me go!」‍⁠

「W-we‍‍ have to leave,‍‍‌ unnie. If we⁠ don’t go now,‌‌ you too…」

In⁠ the process, they⁠ began to decrease‍⁠‍ one by one.⁠⁠

As‌‍ time passed, the‍ light in the‌ eyes of the‌‍ survivors faded.

「Damn‌‌ it, if you’re⁠‍⁠ going to abandon⁠ people like that, at least survive‍⁠‍ properly. Useless bastards‍‌ until the end.」⁠

The‌‍ school rooftop became‌ a crematorium and‌ a cemetery.

「G-guys…⁠ our Seonghyeon… do⁠ you know him?‌ Kim Seonghyeon from‍‌ class 2-3… he’s‌‌ my son… where‌⁠ is he?」

「Yerim!‍ My Yerim! Lee‍‍ Yerim from class‌‌‍ 3-1… I’m your‌ father! Where are‌ you, daughter!」

Ah…‌‍

Now‌ that I think⁠‍‌ about it, it‌ was about a month after the‍ school turned into⁠‌ a labyrinth.

Public‍‍ interest was beginning‌‌ to fade, when‍‍ an incident occurred‍ some parents secretly entered taking advantage⁠ of the reduced‌ surveillance.

「How‌⁠ did you get⁠ in? What are‍‌‌ they saying outside?⁠⁠ Did you come⁠ alone? And the‍‌ others? And the explorers? And the‌⁠ rescuers?」

「Can’t⁠⁠⁠ you see? No⁠‍ one is coming.⁠‍ They abandoned us.‌‍‌ After all, they⁠ never send people‌‌ into invasive labyrinths.」‍

Unlike‍‍ contact ones, invasive⁠ labyrinths are strictly‍ restricted.

Even⁠ experienced explorers are‌ blocked.

Entering‍ means dying in⁠‍‌ 99% of cases.⁠

Allowing‍‌‍ it would be‌‌ a disaster.

To‌ enter officially, one must pass psychological‌‌ evaluations, sign complex documents, and receive‍ approval.

Normally,⁠‌ by the time that happens, the‌⁠ labyrinth has already⁠⁠ been resolved.

By annihilation.

That⁠‌ is why neither‌‍ explorers nor civilians‌‌ should enter.

「S-seonghyeon…‍⁠ my son…」

But‍ parents cannot avoid⁠‍ it.

That‍‍ impulse to do⁠‍ the impossible.

「Ma’am,‌⁠ where is—? What⁠ is that?! Come here right now!」‌‍

「My‍‍‍ child… where were⁠ you? Mom is here now… let’s‍⁠ go. I’ll make‌ your favorite food…」‍‌

「Ma’am!‍ That’s not Kim⁠ Seonghyeon! Come to⁠‌ your senses! He⁠⁠‌ doesn’t even have a head!」

「He’s⁠⁠ dead! That’s the⁠‌‌ labyrinth trying to⁠⁠ kill you!」

New⁠⁠ entities appeared for‍‍ the parents.

And⁠‌ more people died.‍

「I⁠ hear rain.」

But⁠‌ humans adapt.

「Yes.‌‍ Then let’s place umbrellas in each‍‍ classroom. What day‌⁠ is it today?」⁠‍

Repetitive⁠ days.

Looking‌⁠ for food, looking for clues, sleeping.‍

「Wednesday.」

「Then‍‍ we can’t run‌ on the stairs⁠⁠⁠ at lunchtime.」

Over‍⁠‍ time, they stopped‍‍ dying from unexpected‍⁠ attacks.

「Hello.」‌⁠

But‍‍⁠ the rooftop kept filling with plaques.⁠

「What⁠‍ else do we‍‍⁠ have to do‌ to get out?‌ Do we all‍ have to die…?」⁠⁠

「Stop‍ talking nonsense and⁠ eat. It’s a lack of carbohydrates.」⁠

「If‍‍ I close my⁠ mouth, I can’t‌‍ eat…」

Time⁠ kept passing.

The camera showed the‌ calendar.

December‌⁠ 31, marked.

「They⁠ said we could‌⁠ get out that⁠‍ day! That we‌ would all get‍‌ out! Aaaah!」

That‍ day, many broke⁠ down.

「Please…‍⁠⁠ let’s hold on‍⁠ a little longer… okay?」

「What‌⁠ if we don’t‍‌ get out either?‌‍ That scares me‍‍ more. How much‌⁠‍ longer do we⁠ have to rot‍ here?」

Their‌ final destination was‍‍ the rooftop.

Time continued.

One‌‍ day, the third-year‌ student opened his⁠⁠ locker.

And⁠⁠ froze.

[Congratulations on your graduation,‍ Yoon Haejun!]

Inside⁠⁠ there was a card, a notice,⁠‌⁠ a gown, a cap, and flowers.⁠

It⁠⁠‌ was February 5.‌⁠

The⁠‌ graduation day of‍‍ Seonghwa High School.‌

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