Surviving in an RPG Maker Horror Game — Chapter 5: Diary

Chapter 5: Diary

Step.‍

Footsteps.⁠

Step‍ step. Step.

Step‍‌ step step. Step‌ step step.

Step.‌ Step step step.‌ Step step step.‌‌

The‍‌ footsteps don’t stop.⁠

The sound of steps‍⁠ keeps getting closer and closer.

The‍ guard appeared at‌‍‍ the main entrance.‌

‘Please,⁠‌ just go away…’⁠

I held my breath⁠ and curled up.⁠‍⁠

I was peeking through‌⁠ the tiny hole‌‌ in the door⁠ of the cleaning supply closet.

Step‌‌ step step.

The⁠ guard wandered aimlessly through the entrance‌ hall. As if he were searching‍ for someone.

‘Obviously,‍‌ me.’

He⁠‍ would never guess‍‍‌ I was hiding⁠⁠‍ in the cleaning‍ closet. Now it‌‍ was just a matter of time.‍‌

I only had to⁠ wait until he⁠⁠‍ left.

Step‌‍ step step step.‌‌‌

How‌ long have I been here?

By⁠‌⁠ now, he should’ve⁠‌ given up and‍ left, but the⁠ guard didn’t go‍ anywhere. He kept⁠⁠ circling around, patrolling⁠⁠ the entrance hall‌ relentlessly.

‘When‌‌ will he leave…?’

Because⁠ of that, I couldn’t find the‍ right moment to‍ leave the closet.⁠‌‍ My cramped position‍‌ was starting to‍ take its toll.‍ My back hurt.‍

I tried to shift‌ slightly, very carefully.⁠‌‍ That shouldn’t give⁠‍ me away, right?⁠

I leaned a little‍ to one side,⁠ and in that‍ instant, something creaked‍ under my butt.

Creeeak!

The‌⁠ old, rusty, beat-up‌ metal cabinet let‍ out a deafening‌⁠‌ screech from the‍‍ slightest movement.

‘I’m‍⁠‌ screwed!’

Step‌⁠‍ step step. Step⁠⁠ step. Step. Step‌‍ step step step.‍⁠‍ Step step step⁠‌ step step.

The guard came running⁠ at full speed.⁠‌ A gasp escaped‍ me from the‍ shock.

‘Hup!’‌

I held my breath‍ so he wouldn’t‌⁠‍ hear me.

I could hear the‍⁠ guard’s steps right‌⁠ in front of‍‌‍ me.

Step⁠‍ step.

Only‍ a sheet of‌⁠ rusted metal separated‌ us. My mouth⁠ was completely dry.‍‍

The‌ inside of the⁠‍ cabinet, cramped and⁠ sealed, was saturated with years of accumulated dust.

Even‌ breathing was hard.‌‌ The guard didn’t‌‌ seem to be⁠‍‌ going anywhere. He‌ kept circling around‍ the closet.

Every‌⁠ time he passed‍ by the door,⁠ my heart skipped⁠ a beat.

‘Ugh…’‌

Suddenly,⁠ I felt a sting in my⁠ throat.

I had inhaled too‍‍ much dust while‌‍ hiding for so⁠ long. It felt‌‍ like the dust‌‍⁠ had clung to‍‌ my lungs.

My⁠⁠ throat began to⁠ itch. The dust⁠ reached the roof⁠⁠‌ of my mouth.‍

No‍‌ matter how hard I tried to‌‌ hold it in, it was useless.‌

“Cough‌‍ cough!”

I coughed hard, spitting‍⁠‍ up dust like‍‍ I had real-time pneumonia.

And‌ I knew. I was really screwed.⁠⁠‌

Step⁠‍ step step step‌ step step step‌⁠ step step step‌⁠ step step.

A chill ran down my spine. Time‌‌‍ seemed to slow‌ down.

Slowly, I brought my‌⁠ eye to the‍⁠ gap in the‌ door.

And⁠⁠‍ then, I locked‍‍ eyes with the‌ guard, who was⁠ right in front⁠‌ of the cabinet.⁠‍

“Shit!!”‌

I was so startled I fell backward‌‌‌ with a loud⁠ crash. The closet‍ shrieked as it‍‌ echoed all around.‌

The‌ guard watched the‌ scene as if⁠ he were enjoying⁠‌⁠ it. Then, he⁠⁠ smiled—a crooked grin.‌‍

I had never seen‍‌‌ him make that expression. The moment I saw his‍‍ face, my heart‌ sank. I froze‌ completely.

I didn’t even consider⁠‍⁠ fighting back.

‘I have to move…’⁠

But‌‌‍ my body wouldn’t⁠ respond. The guard‌‍ walked up with‌ that twisted smile and leaned in‍ toward me. Then—‍

Creeeak…

The⁠ closet door opened‍⁠ slowly.

The‌‍ guard greeted me⁠ with a satisfied‌⁠⁠ smile.

I couldn’t resist. I felt like a frog facing a snake. I could feel death looming.⁠⁠‍

When⁠⁠ I barely managed‍‍ to move my‍ stiff legs—

Crack.‌

It‌ felt like something⁠ vital in my‌ head snapped.

My‌‍ mind went hazy.‌ My body collapsed,‌‍ unable to move‍ a finger.

My‌ vision gradually went⁠ black.

[You⁠‍⁠ have died.]

[Restarting‌⁠ from checkpoint.]

***‍⁠

···My‍‍ head was resting⁠ on the desk,‍ but I opened‌ my eyes.

“···.”‍‌

The‌ classroom was dimly‍⁠ lit.

The⁠ clock read exactly⁠ midnight, and the‌ open notebook on‌ the desk was‍‌ just as before.⁠

It‍ matched perfectly with⁠‍ the scene from‍‌ a moment ago.‌⁠

Time‍⁠ had rewound, just like before. As‍ I sat there in shock, the‍ ticking of the‍‌ second hand brought‌ me back to⁠ reality.

“Huuuh…”⁠⁠‌

My⁠⁠⁠ heart was still‌‍ pounding. The guard’s‍⁠ smiling face lingered⁠‌ in my mind.‍

“That‌ bastard…”

My‍⁠ head was a mess.

I patted myself down‌⁠ for injuries, and‍‍⁠ only then did‌ I feel grateful‌‌ to be alive.‌

It⁠ seemed that dying‌⁠ sent me back⁠‌⁠ to midnight.

Was‌ this a save‌⁠ point?

Suddenly,⁠‌ I picked up‌⁠ the notebook resting‍ on the desk. A message appeared.‍

[You‌⁠ have obtained the⁠ Diary.]

I opened the first‌ page.

A number was written‍ in red ink.‍⁠⁠

[00:00]‍‌

‘So‌⁠ that’s what this‍ is.’

It⁠ definitely indicated the save time. The‍‍ fact that I returned to the‌ classroom every time⁠⁠‍ I died confirmed‌⁠ it.

I checked the diary’s⁠ detailed description.

[Diary]‌⁠

【Allows⁠ you to record⁠‍‌ progress so far.⁠ Requires ink to⁠ use.】

[You‍‍ have no ink.]‍

‘So‌‍‌ I need ink⁠ to save.’

I would probably find⁠ ink while exploring‍⁠ the school.

If‍‍ saving required ink,⁠‍ I’d have to‍ use it sparingly.⁠

‘That‍ complicates things.’

To escape the school⁠ smoothly, I needed‍ ink. I stood⁠⁠ up, determined to‍⁠ look for it‍‌ first.

The⁠‍ classroom came fully into view.

Desks‌⁠ lined up without‌‌‌ gaps. Lockers splattered with red paint.‌

A bulletin board cluttered⁠‍ with notices. It‌ felt almost familiar⁠‌ after not seeing⁠ it for so‌‌ long.

Looking‍ at it again,‍ it only felt⁠ familiar. Since I already knew the‍‌‌ solution to the‍ puzzle, there was‍⁠ no reason to⁠ suffer again.

‘It‍‌ should be around‌ here… There it‍ is!’

I rummaged through the‌ desks based on⁠ memory. Deep inside⁠ one, I easily‍‍⁠ found the recorder⁠‍ hidden away.

[10319‍⁠ Jin Dayeon]

Same as before, the‌‌‌ name on the‌‍ label didn’t bother‌⁠ me at all.⁠

Even⁠ if it belonged‍‍‌ to a classmate,⁠ my actions were⁠ justified.

It‍⁠ was a matter‍ of survival. My‌⁠ only way to⁠‌ live was by‍‌ playing a classmate’s‌⁠ recorder at midnight.

Even⁠ that Jin Dayeon would understand if‌⁠‍ she heard my‌ story.

‘If‌‌⁠ she has complaints,‍ she can come‍ to the classroom.’‍‌

I had nothing to‌ be ashamed of. Without hesitation, I brought the recorder‌ to my mouth.⁠‍

The‍‌‌ first time had been tough, but‍ the second was‌ easier.

I covered the holes‌‌ in order and⁠⁠ blew gently.

“Huuuh~”‍‌⁠

Beeeeep!‌

A high-pitched, screechy note‍ echoed through the‍ classroom. And a few seconds later—‌

Clack.‌

The⁠⁠‍ back door lock‍⁠ clicked open.

I checked that the‍‍ guard wasn’t nearby⁠‌ and carefully exited⁠ the classroom.

I felt a strange‍ sense of déjà⁠‍ vu without knowing‌‍ why.

I took a deep‌ breath to calm⁠ myself.

‘Huff,‌‌ huff.’

I knew exactly what‌‌ was coming. The⁠⁠ image was still‍⁠ fresh in my⁠‌ mind.

‘I⁠‍⁠ won’t let myself⁠ get caught so‍⁠ miserably again.’

Recalling‌⁠ the guard’s smiling‌‍ face, I steeled‌ my resolve.

This time, I wouldn’t‌‍⁠ get caught—no matter‍ what.

***⁠

Step.‍ Step step step.‍

Step‍⁠ step step. Step‌ step.

‘Go‌ away, get lost⁠ already…’

The sound of footsteps rang in my‍ ears like a buzzing drone. I curled up and shut my eyes⁠ tight.

The‌‍‍ guard slowly passed⁠ in front of⁠‌ the cleaning closet.‌ Luckily, he didn’t‌ discover me. Still,‍‌ he kept lingering,‍⁠ sniffing around persistently.‍

He‍ seemed desperate to‌ find someone.

‘Get⁠⁠ lost already, you⁠ bald freak.’

I mentally cursed at‌‍ him to drive‌ him away. Then‌⁠⁠ the guard tilted‍ his head.

It‌⁠‍ wasn’t because of⁠ my curses. He‍⁠ seemed confused about‍⁠ not finding me,⁠ swiveling his head‌⁠ uneasily.

Finally,‍ he turned around.⁠

He‌ took a few‌‍ steps and started‍‍ moving away from‍ the main entrance.‌‍‌

Step⁠ step.

Maybe⁠ he thought I had escaped down‍ the opposite hallway,‍ because he headed toward the west‌⁠ wing.

‘Ohhh,⁠ he’s going…!’

I didn’t care about‍‌ anything else.

I desperately prayed for⁠ the guard to‍‌ disappear from the‍⁠ main hall, even⁠‌ just a second⁠‌‍ sooner.

Step…‍‌ Step…

The⁠⁠ footsteps gradually faded.‍ Even so, I didn’t let my⁠ guard down.

I held my breath‌ and waited silently⁠ until he was‍‌ completely gone.

‘Is‍‍ he gone?’

The‌‌ footsteps ceased entirely.‌ At last, the‍ hall was completely‌ silent.

Only‍‍ then did I come out of⁠‍ the cleaning closet.⁠

“Cough,‍‍ cough!”

As‍‌ soon as I stepped out, I started coughing uncontrollably.‍⁠ I spat out‍ a ton of⁠ old dust that‌ had accumulated deep‌‍‌ in my lungs.‍‍

I’d‌‌ inhaled so much‍‍ dust that my‌ throat burned. As⁠ I coughed over and over, tears‍ and snot running,⁠ I regained my⁠‍ composure.

‘I⁠ almost died…’

The⁠‌ cleaning closet was⁠‍ a horrible experience.⁠

It‌‍ felt like I had boarded an‍ express train straight‌ to pneumonia. In games, you can‍⁠ hide in a closet or trash‌ can without issue,⁠ but reality was‌ different.

Being hunched over that long left my‍‍ body in shambles.‌

“Ugh…”‌

I stretched gently and took in a deep breath. Fresh,‍⁠ clean air filled⁠ my lungs.

Somehow,‌ I had survived‍ that ordeal.

‘Am⁠‌⁠ I going to‌ have to hide‌⁠ like that every time?’

If‍ I had to cram myself into⁠‌⁠ that closet every‌ time the guard appeared, I was‍ in for hell.⁠

I just hoped I wouldn’t run into‌‍‌ him again for⁠ a while.

Now,⁠⁠ where to? As‍‍ I shook off⁠ the numbness in‌ my body, I checked the exit door.

It‍ was completely chained⁠‌ shut; it wouldn’t‌‍ even budge. Without‍‍ something like bolt⁠ cutters, escaping was‌⁠ impossible.

That⁠‍‌ meant somewhere in⁠ this school, there‌ had to be‍ a pair of‍‍ bolt cutters. In‌ RPG Maker-style games,‍‌ there’s always a final objective.

In‍‍ Ao Oni, for‌‌⁠ instance, it’s the‍‌ front door key.

In⁠⁠ The Witch’s House,‍ it’s the acid⁠‌ that melts the⁠‍ rose.

The‍‌ story progresses as‍ the protagonist explores‌ the building looking‌ for the key⁠ item. In this⁠ case, the tool⁠‌ to escape the‍ school was the⁠‍‌ bolt cutters.

Could‌‍‌ they be in‌ a storage room?‌‌

I thought about possible⁠ places that might‍ have bolt cutters.

That’s when I saw⁠‌ a map on‌⁠ the wall of‌‍ the main hall.⁠⁠⁠

[Building‍‍ Guide]

A simplified layout of⁠‌ the main building⁠⁠ was marked.

I scanned the map.⁠

The⁠ storage room—potential location‌ of the bolt‍ cutters—was in a corner of the‌ basement.

‘The⁠⁠⁠ basement?’

Locating‌‌ it on the‍ map, I headed for the stairs‍⁠‌ near the hall.⁠

But‍⁠ I couldn’t descend⁠ to the basement.

…It‍ was blocked.

The‌ stairs to the‌‌‌ basement were sealed‍‌ with a metal‌ gate. A perforated steel plate completely‌‍‌ covered the entrance.‍‌

To‍‌ make things worse,‌‌ it was padlocked.⁠⁠‌ There was no‍ way to get‌ into the basement‌ like this.

I saw this coming.‍‍ Frustrated, I shook⁠⁠ the padlock pointlessly.‌⁠ A tag read⁠ “Basement Stairs.”

To‌ open the gate,‍ I needed the‍ key to the⁠⁠ basement stairs.

Everything⁠ was needlessly complicated.⁠

There⁠‌ were a thousand⁠⁠⁠ things to do. I mentally organized‍ the steps I needed to follow.‌‍

‘To escape the school,⁠ I need to‍‍ cut the chains.‌‍‍ To cut the⁠‌ chains, I need⁠‌ bolt cutters. To‍‍ get the bolt‌ cutters, I need⁠ to go to⁠ the storage room.⁠ To get to the storage room,‌ I need to‌ access the basement.⁠ And to access‌⁠⁠ the basement, I need the basement‍‌ stair key.’

‘Damn‍‌ it…’

There⁠ was still a long way to⁠‌ go. The sheer⁠ number of obstacles‍ was suffocating.

I felt like tossing⁠ it all and⁠‍‌ giving up on‌‍‍ escaping.

But‌ if I wanted‍ to live, I had no choice.‍⁠‌

I had to endure⁠ everything. Reluctantly, I looked at the‌ building map again.‌

I was able to⁠‍‌ visualize the layout⁠⁠⁠ of the first⁠‍ floor at a glance. I began‍‌ searching for a place that might‌‍ hold the basement‍ stair key.

‘The‍ teachers’ office?’

The‍‍ teachers’ office was‍ a place where‌‍‍ dozens of teachers passed through daily.⁠⁠

It‌ wasn’t unreasonable to⁠ think they might keep an emergency‍ key there.

‘I‌ can’t be sure…’‌‌

Even⁠⁠ if I doubted it, I had‍⁠‍ no other options.⁠ As long as⁠ there was even‌⁠‌ a slim chance,‌ I couldn’t ignore‍‌‍ it.

All⁠ I could do‌ was place my‍ hopes in that‍ room.