I stared at Isolation Room B14, frozen in place.

Creak, creeeak.

The rusty hinges let out a scream-like sound as the gap in the isolation room's door widened.

A door that should never open is opening. And from inside, a black figure...

"Run."

I immediately turned around and sprinted towards the isolation corridor exit.

Beside me, I could hear Supervisor Park Minseong running like mad too. Survival instinct propelled my feet while my head was in chaos.

'What is this?'

What's going on?

'The work guidelines said...'

Rule 4: Ignore sounds from isolation rooms. Rule 11: She’ll quiet down if you yell at her to get lost.

Before I could decide which one to follow, the door opened?

What on earth is in there...

"Hey kids."

Supervisor Park and I almost tripped at the same time.

It was a voice we both knew.

But we kept running without looking back, turning corners towards the green emergency exit sign at the end of the corridor. We tossed the cleaning tools aside. Gasping for breath, it felt like our lungs would burst.

Just as Supervisor Park grabbed the door handle under the green emergency light, not even breathing...

[Beeeeeep!!]

"...!!"

[Unauthorized isolation room opening detected.]

[Sealing off the corridor.]

Red emergency lights lit up in the corridor.

Along with the emotionless mechanical voice, we started to hear the sound of security shutters coming down outside the door handle Supervisor Park was holding.

The supervisor and I looked at each other for a moment.

"..."

Sealing us inside.

The corridor was locked down.

'We're screwed.'

Damn it, damn it!!

I searched my pockets. I had to check the work tips for any relevant guidelines...

"Well, well. Dumb and dumber. Did you trade your exploration manual for candy? Where did all your composure go?"

...

'Huh?'

An exasperated voice.

Sounding like it's holding back anger, but somehow... familiar.

Thud, thud.

"This is driving me crazy. No, should I praise them for being cautious... Sigh."

The voice suddenly close behind us.

But there were no expected anomalies.

No creepy laughter, no cold hands reaching out, no eerie behavior.

"..."

"Damn it. Sigh. No, calm down... Kids. I know I said some crazy things earlier. But I had no choice if I wanted to use the escape item. We don't have time, so try to understand quickly, okay?"

The voice became slightly impatient.

"What do I have to say to get out? While pretending to be crazy, I was trying to get some information too, but suddenly the item activated and the door opened, so I got out."

That voice,

"Get a grip. I'll give you 10 seconds. Hurry."

...

...

"...Deputy Manager?"

"Yes."

I couldn't stop Supervisor Park from turning around as he muttered beside me.

To be precise, I turned around too.

Then we saw a familiar silhouette.

Short hair.

Sharp eyes.

A woman in a cold-looking suit.

Deputy Eun Hajae we knew was standing in the corridor.

Looking at the cleaning tools we had tossed aside with a disgruntled face.

"Can you just leave those like that? No, we'll check that later... First, you need to understand."

"..."

"..."

The strength drained from Supervisor Park's hand on my shoulder.

We stared blankly at each other.

"Badger, and... Roe."

An expression formed on Deputy Eun Hajae's face.

"Have you been well?"

The face of a superior tinged with composure, leisure, boredom and slight fatigue.

And a fierce smile.

"This damn company... Sigh."

The deputy shook her head and let out a deep sigh, then gestured.

"Sorry, but I need a favor. Could you just open the isolation corridor door for me?"

Deputy Eun Hajae said calmly.

"I'll find my own way out after that."

The supervisor and I didn't respond, as if we had made a promise.

My head felt like it was about to explode.

Deputy Eun Hajae gave a bitter smile.

"Can't even answer? Well, that's a wise decision. I would've done the same..."

What is this?

'Why does it feel... so plausible?'

Why does it feel so real...

'No, that can't be!'

"Supervisor."

Swallowing hard, I spoke quietly and quickly to Supervisor Park, as if reminding myself.

"Remember. The deputy manager resigned. There's no way she could be here..."

…….

'Wait a second.'

Is it really not there?

I recalled a few strange points that had remained as suspicions until now.

Deputy Manager Eun Hajae, who had lost contact.

Handing over her equipment without meeting in person, only confirming text messages, calls not connecting, and only hearing messages through Team Leader Lee Jaheon...

Could it be?

'Is she trapped here?'

I hastily recalled the conditions for being transferred to the isolation area by the security team.

Emergency contaminants, internal anomalies, dangerous elements, spies, disciplinary cases, and even eerie conditions censored with black rectangles...

'There are many possibilities.'

Even Supervisor Park and I were briefly confined here.

Then.

What are the chances that Deputy Manager Eun is here too?

"...Roe?"

"Just a moment... give me a second."

Isn't there a possibility?

I wanted to thoroughly question and verify the situation with someone who looked like Deputy Manager Eun right away to find out what was going on.

But I couldn't gamble on possibilities.

'Let's try another method first.'

I asked the ghost story resident.

'Brown, about that person-like thing ahead. Is it really the Deputy Manager from Team D I worked with a few months ago?'

Brown cheerfully replied.

-Oh my, unfortunately this legendary MC is an entertainer, not a detective!

-Of course, my eyesight is excellent, but there are limits to what these cotton-stuffed pebble eyes can see...

-The appearance looks the same, but who knows? There are masters of disguise in this world, after all.

Damn it.

I desperately continued speaking.

'Still, could you just confirm one thing for me? I'm curious about your judgment based on what you see. I trust you.'

-...! If that's the case, I'd be happy to answer, friend!

'Thanks. Then...'

I swallowed.

'Is what's in front of me... human in both mind and body?'

-Ah, that's a question I can definitely answer.

Brown declared in a cheerful voice.

-Yes, it is!

Hah...

'So it is human.'

This is driving me crazy.

I almost wish the being in front of me wasn't human. Then it would be certain.

...That it's not Deputy Manager Eun.

But the familiar-looking person in front of me kept speaking in a familiar tone.

"I'd like to carefully persuade you if possible, but there's not much time. Kids."

Her complexion paled slightly.

"The security team will be coming to assess the situation soon. If I'm going to get out of here, I need to escape before then."

"..."

"I'm not asking for much. I'll hide for a bit, so when the door opens, let me go."

I admitted it.

'I really can't tell with my eyes alone.'

In that case, I had no choice but to take a small risk.

I immediately spoke up.

"Supervisor."

"Huh? Y-yes?"

To Supervisor Park Minseong.

"Don't you think it's impossible to meet the Deputy Manager who's on leave in the security team's isolation area?"

"That's... right?"

"Oh. Indirect conversation. Not a bad method, Roe."

Deputy Manager Eun briefly marveled before quickly muttering.

"They locked me up here until I change my mind about quitting. Thinking about it again, I was wrong to trust this damn company. Fuck."

"Supervisor. Wouldn't someone who escaped from isolation get caught quickly if they went out through the corridor door?"

"Do you think I'm an idiot? I've prepared an item. The problem is time. I'm telling you there's no time. The security team should be coming now. I'm going crazy because I can't even check..."

Check.

'Wait a second!'

I remembered what was in my back pocket.

'The walkie-talkie.'

I pressed my back against the door, then carefully reached behind me to grab the walkie-talkie from my pocket without being seen.

And I very slightly turned up the volume...

Beep beep beep!

[Now sealing...]

Damn it!

'The security captain has been sending messages this whole time!'

I immediately turned off the walkie-talkie sound.

But it was already too late.

"I hear a walkie-talkie sound."

"...!"

"Well, it's up to whoever has it if they want to communicate freely. But there's something strange..."

Strange?

"They wouldn't give a walkie-talkie to a cleaner."

"..."

My back went cold.

"Did someone give it to you specially? That's... odd. Cleaning staff use unmanned machines to read manuals and clock in. It's a system where they don't need to meet other employees."

Doubt and tension mixed in Deputy Manager Eun's voice.

"Are you sure that's really connected to the security team?"

"..."

"Roe. Who did you meet?"

My hands were sweating.

This was the first time I'd been in such a crazy situation.

'I don't know what to believe.'

There are no clues. No, even if it really is Deputy Manager Eun, how could I let her go? Hiding from the security team? Is that possible?

'If I want to understand the situation a bit more...'

Ah!

I remembered what I was originally going to look at.

The second note with the work tips written on it.

'If I read all the remaining tips, maybe I can grasp the truth from the context.'

I immediately took out the note and read the next number.

12. If you smell something strange from the door crack or see something leaking out, run away no matter what.

It's a sign that always appears before the door opens. In other words, if there's nothing like this, it's usually safe.

I'll talk about other exceptions in detail in the next number.

I recommend taking some time between reading them.

I immediately read the next item...

13. Huh? Did the door open?

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

I reflexively folded the paper as if crumpling it.

My pulse was pounding in my hands.

"Roe, what's wrong?"

Stay calm, stay calm...

"Let's calm down first. The security team is coming anyway, so we can think about what's best to do from now on."

Supervisor Park pretended to pat my back...

"The way for us to get out..."

He was writing something on my back with his finger.

No

t

De

pu

ty

...

Not Deputy.

I looked up, frozen in place.

"Wow."

Deputy Manager Eun.

No, the thing that had Deputy Manager Eun's face leaned its head towards us.

"How did you know?"

How did you know? How did you know? How did you know? How did you know? How did you know? How did you know? How did you know?

Hehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehe!!

Thud

Deputy Manager Eun's head fell to the floor.

And it stands upside down.

Two legs and arms sticking straight up into the sky turn to look at us.

Hello!! 

Do you believe in Name-nim?

TL/PR: It refers to the being that Nameless radiant church people worship.

At this point, I fainted.

***

"Roe."

"..."

"Roe?"

Ah. I lifted my head.

"Are you that much tired? Then rest a bit. I'll do it."

Supervisor Park Minseong was looking at me with worried eyes, holding a mop handle.

Looking around, I saw the isolation corridor with all doors properly closed...

"Hah..."

I grabbed the mop handle and hung my head low.

"A-are you okay?"

"Yes... I'm sorry."

Was it a nightmare?

'It didn't make sense, after all.'

The isolation room door suddenly opening, Deputy Manager Eun turning into a ghost...

Anyway, it was just a bad dream. I pressed my temples.

"...I'm sorry. I think I dozed off for a moment."

"Don't be sorry! It's okay. You must be tired after working during the day too."

Supervisor Park patted my back.

"Let's hang in there a little longer. We only have two days left, right?"

"..."

...Two days?

Wasn't it... three days?

"Supervisor, what day is it today?"

"Um... since it's past midnight, it's the 30th, right? December 30th."

"..."

Not the 29th. The 30th.

"Since yesterday's cleaning ended safely, let's finish today's well too."

"..."

"Oh, here's a new work tip note! They said to read it when the next day comes. I'll give it to you... Roe? Roe!"