How to Survive the Horror Novel I Wrote
Chapter 40
I was caught.
It felt as if the cliff I was standing on had plunged into the open sea, shrinking into a tiny, barren rock. An overwhelming sense of hopelessness washed over me.
What would happen now?
The first thing that came to mind were online news headlines.
‘Bestselling Author Mun Seongwon Revealed to Be an Active Female Schoolteacher…’
‘‘A Writer of Murder Novels Shouldn’t Be Teaching Children’ Parents Protest En Masse’
No. There was no way Oh Haejun would expose my identity. His goal in the first place was a new contract for the Night Series.
He would probably blackmail me instead.
‘If you don’t renew the contract, I’ll leak your personal information.’
Then I would have no choice but to sign. And every time I wrote, people would die.
Right here, in reality.
My thoughts spiraled to Ugeum with his hands stained in blood, the real-life tragedies unfolding, and me, driven to make an extreme choice out of sheer guilt. A shudder ran through my entire body.
I barely managed to raise my head to read what came next.
[Why did she lie? The answer came easily enough. She had no intention of renewing the contract.
She looked timid at first glance. It seemed she had simply avoided a direct refusal.
What should he do now? Haejun’s mind began to spin rapidly.
Confront the author about why she lied? Out of the question. Haejun was strictly the one in the weaker position.
Haejun needed the new installment of the Night Series. A work that would serve not just as a stepping stone, but as wings for his career.
Before he knew it, the intercom had gone dead. Assuming Haejun’s silence meant he understood, On-dam had hung up.
Haejun turned around without lingering. After all, he held a good hand now.
His steps as he walked away were lighter than ever.]
* * *
A good hand. What did he mean, a good hand? What on earth was Oh Haejun planning to do? What would become of me now?
Buried under the blanket pulled over my head, anxiety churned inside me.
All sorts of awful scenarios branched out relentlessly. Sleep was entirely out of the question.
Around five in the morning, not sleepiness but sheer exhaustion pressed down heavily on my eyelids.
Even after finally drifting off, I repeatedly jolted awake in fright.
In the hazy morning, dazed from lack of sleep, the keyboard began to move. I snapped wide awake.
I rushed to the computer and checked the manuscript; Ugeum had woken up and was getting ready to come over to my place.
Fortunately, there was no mention of Oh Haejun.
[Ugeum got into his car and headed toward Ji-an’s house.]
Anxious as I was, I dragged myself up. Having tossed and turned all night, my skin was parched and my hair was greasy and unwashed.
Whether it was Ugeum or anyone else, I couldn't greet them looking so disheveled.
Yet when I came out of the shower, I found a missed call from Ugeum. In an instant, a foreboding dread surged within me.
Tapping the new message notification at the top of the phone screen, Ugeum’s text appeared.
「Ji-an, I’m sorry, but I need to stop by somewhere for a bit before I head over. See you soon.」
No way.
I rushed frantically into the room and checked the computer screen.
Sure enough.
[A call came in while Ugeum was driving.
Ugeum reached for the phone mounted on the car dashboard and pressed the answer button.
“Hello.”
—Hello. You’re an acquaintance of Author Mun Seongwon, correct?
With his sharp memory, Ugeum recognized Oh Haejun’s voice immediately.
“I am.”
—This is Oh Haejun from Book Town Publishing. The one who called you before.
“I remember.”
—Would it be possible to meet today?
“I have a prior engagement today.”
However, Haejun threw out bait that Ugeum could never ignore.
—It’s regarding Author Mun Seongwon. It won’t take long.
Pausing, Ugeum let out a soft sigh.
It was because Ji-an’s sulking voice from the day they bumped into each other at the publishing house two weeks ago came to mind—how she had pouted that he rejected a date because of Mun Seongwon.
‘Meeting that author is more important to you than going on a date with me, isn’t it?’
Yet to him, this was far too important a matter.
In the rearview mirror, the warmth in Ugeum’s eyes meant for his lover ebbed away like the tide.
The gentle lover vanished in an instant, and the cold-blooded killer surfaced in his place.
He asked in a dry voice.
“Where should I go? I’ll head over now.”
—Please come to the Naegongsan Station Star Cafe.
Ugeum turned the car around.]
No, no, no… You two must never meet.
I sprang up and dashed to the closet. Snatching whatever clothes I could grab, I threw them on, my hands and feet fumbling in my frantic rush.
Oh Haejun’s choice had not only completely defied my expectations, but it was also far worse.
It couldn't get any worse than this. To think he would try to meet Ugeum. But why?
Somehow, I had an inkling. Was he intending to use Ugeum to persuade me? If so, his very first words would probably be something like this:
‘Ma’am—no, your girlfriend is Author Mun Seongwon, isn’t she?’
Oh, please, no.
Grabbing my car keys, I bolted toward the front door, and On-dam chased after me, looking bewildered.
“Teacher, where are you going?”
“Something urgent came up.”
“Ugeum oppa will be here soon, though.”
“We’ll come back together.”
Or I’ll never come back at all.
My mind, always assuming the worst, vividly conjured up my own funeral portrait.
The ID photo from my faculty card enlarged dozens of times, set inside a black-ribboned memorial frame.
That must never happen—it could never happen—yet out of lingering dread, I added:
“If we’re late, don’t wait up and eat lunch first. Okay?”
And before On-dam could reply, I left the house.
Faster, I just had to get there faster than those two men—that was my only thought.
Driving toward Naegongsan Station, it hit me: I had left behind the cursed keyboard and the laptop. Without them, I couldn't monitor the situation.
But there was no time to turn back. Once those two met, it would all be over anyway. Gritting my teeth, I slammed my foot on the accelerator.
I got caught at a red light. Tap, tap, tap, tap. As I tapped my fingers obsessively against the steering wheel, the worst-case scenario played out in my head.
The two men sitting across from each other. Oh Haejun divulging my identity to Ugeum. Ugeum’s narrowing eyes. The madness and murderous intent flashing within them…
Honk—!
The horn from the car behind me blared, shattering my eardrums. I snapped back to reality. The light had already turned green. I stepped on the gas again.
Before long, I arrived at the cafe.
What if they’ve already met? The sheer tension felt like it was twisting my stomach into knots.
Keeping low so as not to be spotted, I stepped into the cafe and saw Oh Haejun sitting alone. Ugeum wasn't there.
Thank goodness. He hasn't arrived yet. I had to drag Oh Haejun out of here right now. Before Ugeum got here.
I scrambled toward Oh Haejun’s table.
Just then, I caught sight of Ugeum walking in through the other entrance.
Swallowing a silent scream, I ducked behind a table shielded by a pillar.
Glancing around the cafe, Ugeum strode purposefully over to Oh Haejun’s table and took a seat.
In the end, they had met. My worst nightmare was turning into reality.
My heart hammered as if it were about to burst. Hiding in the shadows, I peeked at them.
Yet with the distance between us, drowned out by the upbeat music and the chatter of other patrons, I couldn't hear a single word of their conversation.
From where I sat, only Ugeum’s face was visible.
What were they talking about? My stomach twisted with gnawing anxiety. Pressing one hand against my abdomen, I endured the sharp, throbbing stomachache.
Wider than ever, my eyes tracked the movement of Ugeum’s lips, but I couldn't read anything.
All I could observe was his expression. Not that Ugeum ever betrayed his emotions on his face, anyway.
And yet.
I saw it. A subtle shift in his expression. Though he appeared expressionless at a glance, one of his eyebrows twitched faintly.
I had only ever described it when writing my novels; this was the first time I had witnessed it in real life.
The sight of Ugeum visibly shaken.
Ugeum suddenly stood up, and paying no heed to Oh Haejun calling after him, he strode away from the table and walked straight toward me.
I hurriedly ducked my head beneath the table, pretending to have dropped something. But before doing so, I saw it clearly.
The terrifyingly hardened look on Ugeum’s face as he approached.
Did he see me? Was I caught?
Thump, thump, thump, thump. My heart pounded against my eardrums like a drumroll.
The moment the steady tread of his black dress shoes halted right beside my head, my heart stopped, too.
I feared Ugeum would seize me by the scruff of my neck and force my head back.
And looking up at him, I imagined him murmuring chillingly, without a trace of emotion in his eyes:
‘I didn’t even need to go looking for you.’
Just the thought made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.
Yet nothing happened.
Ugeum swept right past me and walked out of the cafe, and Oh Haejun left as well.
Still, there was no relief to be found. Why else would Ugeum’s expression have been so rigid? He had heard it from Oh Haejun. The fact that I was Mun Seongwon.
<It’s time to pay the price for your secret.>
The death sentence I had heard from Ugeum at the mountain villa echoed vividly in my ears.
It had truly come to pass.
* * *
I didn't go home. I was too terrified to even think of returning.
Instead, I drove straight to Jung-an’s house. I had nowhere else to go. I had no family, and Jung-an was my only friend.
On the way to her place, a call came in from Ugeum. Startled out of my wits, I switched the phone off entirely. Tears burst forth helplessly.
Even after getting out of the car, fully aware that everyone passing by was glancing at me, I couldn't stop crying.
The tears erupting uncontrollably were so hot and fierce, it felt as though I were throwing up molten lava.
Ding-dong.
A moment later, Jung-an’s voice came through the intercom.
—Hey, if you were coming, you should’ve told me… Are you crying? Why are you crying?!
Soon, the front door swung open, and Jung-an rushed out barefoot to wrap her arms around me.
“Ji-an, Ha Ji-an. What’s wrong? What happened?”
“It’s all over. What do I do, Jung-an? I’m going to die today…”
Weeping aloud, I buried myself in Jung-an’s embrace.
“What do you mean, die? Stop talking nonsense and come inside first.”
Jung-an wrapped an arm around my shoulders and guided me into the house.
Yet Jung-an wasn't alone. An unfamiliar man had stepped toward the entryway.
A man with a pale complexion and long, narrow eyes. For a man, his build was slender, too.
He carried a subtle, snake-like impression, instantly bringing a white serpent to mind.
Tilting his head, the man was staring intently at my hands.
“Who…?”
Flustered, I looked at Jung-an, and she patted my arm reassuringly.
“I’ll introduce you later. Beom-jin-ssi, I’m sorry, but could you head out for today?”
The moment Jung-an turned around, the man’s head straightened.
The initial impression of a white snake vanished without a trace, replaced by a gentle smile on his fox-like face.
“Alright. Comfort your friend, and I’ll see you next time.”
With that, he lifted Jung-an’s hand, kissed her fingers, and took his leave.
Once he was gone, Jung-an led me to her bed and sat me down.
“Now tell me. Stop crying and talk. I need to know what happened so I can comfort you, cuss someone out for you, or cry along with you.”
So I told her everything.
That Oh Haejun discovered my identity yesterday.
That Ugeum and Oh Haejun met today.
That Ugeum now knows who I really am.
That Ugeum is going to kill me.
Jung-an listened intently to my entire story with the utmost seriousness.
“So all of that is real. The cursed keyboard, and Ju Ugeum, too.”
Yet there wasn't a shred of belief in her questioning tone.
I understood. Jung-an hadn't seen it for herself.
The keyboard that returned even after being thrown away in the trash, restoring itself even when smashed with a hammer.
Ugeum, who walked away completely unscathed from a crash that left the other driver in a coma.
Had it not happened to me, I wouldn't have believed it either.
Still, reason and emotion were entirely separate matters, and a spike of resentment flared within me.
After all the times I explained it to her. And she was supposed to be my one and only friend.
“Yes, it’s all real!”
“Then there’s only one way.”
With a perfectly composed face, Jung-an dropped a bombshell.
“Kill him first.”