Did the radio just… call out the name of a horror talk show host I know?
For a moment, I thought I was hearing things.
Considering I was driving a ghost to a cemetery at 2 a.m. while listening to the radio, I figured it was a reasonable assumption.
But then, a voice came through the radio.
[Oh my, such high praise! I’m truly flattered!]
"……."
A familiar voice.
[It’s a pleasure to be here. Ladies and gentlemen, allow me, Braun, to wholeheartedly share a story with you….]
I need to turn it off.
No matter how I looked at it, listening to an A-grade or higher ghost story say they’ll ‘wholeheartedly’ tell their story didn’t seem like a wise decision.
Especially when there was a ghost sitting right next to me……
'Wait a second, no.'
If I think about it the other way around, wouldn’t it actually help by distracting me…?
"Hahahahahahahahahahahaha, the radio is so fun, hahaha—"
…The ghost in the passenger seat let out a laugh.
It wasn’t really laughing. It was merely mimicking the sound—mockingly, eerily….
A primal fear gripped me.
'Ha…'
In the end, I stopped my hand from reaching for the radio.
The soft voice of the radio DJ and the upbeat voice of the talk show host continued their conversation.
I let my mind focus on that instead, keeping my eyes on the dark road as I drove on.
[Recently, the Purgatory Choir sent a special instrument to the Midnight Talk Show band. There are rumors that it was meant as an apology and a token of gratitude—any truth to that?]
What followed was the usual Q&A one would expect when a famous talk show host appeared on a radio program.
Updates, recent events, personal jokes, fan inquiries.
The format was typical. But if you listened closely, something felt twisted, chilling.
Unrealistic nouns were paired with mismatched verbs, forming a grotesque narrative.
[Between the head and the heart, which is the true source of love? Our next Midnight Talk Show guest has examined this in meticulous detail. Their skill in dissection is truly astounding! A must-watch episode!]
[Oh, of course! Welcome. You can look forward to much more….]
"……."
Cold sweat covered my left hand gripping the steering wheel.
At some point, the ghost had started staring at me.
Intently.
Just staring, unwavering.
“Excuse me… are you enjoying this?”
"……."
“I asked if you're enjoying it.”
“Ah, sorry. I was half-listening while focusing on driving… But I must say, they’re quite the speaker.”
“Hehehehehehehehehehe.”
I feel like I’m going crazy.
Despite everything, the radio show continued smoothly.
[As always, Midnight Talk Show is such an exciting, terrifying, and delightful experience! By the way, Braun, what kind of hobbies do you enjoy when you’re not hosting the show?]
[Ah! Hobbies… Playing the piano, selecting fine wines, and taking baths—always great companions in life. Choosing such inspiring pastimes is a chronic habit of entertainers. And also….]
[Conversations with good friends were always enjoyable.]
"……."
[Braun’s friend! Can we hear more details? Perhaps a live call—AHHHH!]
My god.
[Oh dear, unfortunately, we’ve lost contact recently, so a phone call seems impossible.]
[Oh my, that must be so disappointing for you.]
[Ah, it’s a heartbreakingly deep regret! But fortunately…]
[I already know a few things about my friend’s recent activities.]
My mouth went dry.
"Excuse me."
[Apparently, they attended a barbecue event at the supermarket. And they bought an ugly doll. My goodness, how familiar and foolish. And then…]
"It's a bit too loud… Please turn it off, quickly."
I reached for the radio, trying not to let my hands shake.
[Right now, they have glass instead of an arm!]
“…….”
[Oh my, a glass arm! That must be so fragile, making movement difficult, wouldn’t you agree? This is how I should say it, right? Please, tell me it’s right?]
[Oh, that’s absolutely right. This Braun is deeply concerned… Especially if a foolish and useless creature is stuck to that glass, wouldn’t that be even worse?]
Cold sweat trickled down my back.
[How utterly foolish…]
I barely managed to press the button.
Click.
“…….”
“…….”
For a moment, the radio went silent, and a brief stillness filled the air.
[…It was a decision, my goodness!]
The radio turned itself back on.
[It’s such a shame that, due to unfortunate circumstances, I cannot relay this message to my friend.]
"Why won’t the radio turn off? Why is it so unhelpful? Hey, if you’re not going to turn it off, at least let me out… I need to get off, so open the door…"
A ghost whispered.
"And help me down… I can’t get off by myself… I don’t have feet."
“…….”
[Can we confirm if the connection has been made?]
I turned my head.
Only now did I notice—the thing sitting in the passenger seat had no legs.
To be precise, there was only a jagged stump where the ankles had been torn off entirely.
It was only pretending to walk, limping along on that grotesque remnant.
"I can’t walk alone… I have to go with you."
Drip. Drip.
Blood dripped down.
No, it had been dripping from the beginning.
The blood-soaked passenger seat was now overflowing with blood, pouring wildly onto the floor, drenching it entirely.
It spread, reaching the driver’s seat, seeping into my shoes, pooling around the pedals…
[Hmm, hold on.]
“…….”
[There’s no need to confirm it right now. My friend is also doing their best.]
The voice deepened.
[Ah, the famous saying comes to mind—‘Heaven helps those who help themselves.’ Across various cultures, similar phrases have been passed down, almost like magic. In that sense…]
[My friend, who is doing their best, deserves some special help too.]
A warm voice spoke.
[Now, it’s okay to turn off the radio, my friend.]
“…….”
[Oh, a guest has arrived.]
Screeeech.
I barely managed to slam the brakes.
I almost ran into them.
‘Ha.’
A figure appeared in the windshield, raising one hand—thumb out, as if hitchhiking.
The goblin in my right arm mimicked the thumbs-up gesture before lowering it.
‘No.’
Cold sweat trickled down my back.
The radio… somehow got turned off when I grabbed the steering wheel.
"Oh? It’s a person… It’s a person, right?"
The ghost seemed to have shifted its attention.
…To the potential passenger outside.
If a passenger tries to join mid-trip, do not refuse. It is better to let them quietly sit in the backseat.
There have been cases where, upon refusal, the ghost follows the passenger out of the vehicle.
Tap tap.
A hand knocked on the backseat window, then clumsily opened the door.
However, be warned—there have been reports of passengers who were not human.
In such cases, for your safety, you may refuse. Always remember—your life comes first.
‘Ha.’
Please, don’t get in. Just go.
"Excuse me."
“…….”
A calm voice spoke.
"Uh… um, am I saying this right…? Please take me to Seoul Station, high-speed rail."
……..
Why is this person here?
The new passenger reflected in the front mirror.
Light-colored, unkempt hair, a pale and slender physique, and a face that looked perpetually exhausted and indifferent.
‘J3.’
The Security Captain of Daydream Corporation was trying to get into my taxi, speaking in a voice that sounded utterly disinterested…!
‘This is insane.’
The security team was allowed to go out at night, but why was he in the middle of the mountains? And why Seoul Station…?
Could it be that since this taxi had become part of a ghost story, it was now attracting tainted individuals?
I don’t know, but what matters is… this.
“ – The Security Captain thinks I died a month ago.”
‘…Did he recognize me?’
Did he recognize me? No, I had my hair down messily, was wearing glasses, and he could only see the back of my head. The chances were low.
Stay calm, stay calm…
"Uh, I already have a passenger, so I need to take them to their destination first."
"That doesn’t matter…."
Even with the thick scent of burnt incense and blood lingering inside the car, the Security Captain’s voice remained indifferent.
"Wow, another one came. Another one. So nice."
"Ah, good… Then I’ll get in…."
The Security Captain carefully sat in the backseat and closed the door.
“…….”
"Uh… why aren’t we moving?"
Ha.
I started the taxi.
‘This is seriously insane.’
In the silence, I followed the route once more.
“ – You are approaching a speed enforcement zone.”
I slowed down.
"Please go faster…."
The monotone whisper of the ghost in the passenger seat filled the air.
I wanted nothing more than to speed up and escape this terrifying situation, but I couldn’t.
If you break traffic laws, the ghost passenger will clap in delight and cause an accident. It will then attempt to leave the vehicle, so do not comply.
Ha.
"We might get caught for speeding, so please bear with it for a bit."
“…….”
The long, limp hair turned toward me.
I felt eyes on me.
"Excuse me."
"Hey… I said hurry up."
"That thing is chasing us from behind, don’t you see?"
"I can see it. Oh? It’s gonna catch us… it caught us."
Thud.
A bloody handprint appeared on the passenger-side window.
Thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud.
Bloody handprints smeared across all the windows.
On the windshield, on the rearview mirror, thick smears of red gathered and dripped down like blood.
…Inside the car.
And then, I realized.
These handprints weren’t coming from outside—they were being pressed from inside.
Like something was trying to escape, pounding on every surface.
“…….”
Cold sweat trickled down the back of my neck.
The ghost in the passenger seat tilted its head to the side… further and further… unnaturally, until its entire body flipped upside down, its jaw stretching open…
"We want to get out. Drive fast, or we’re getting out. Hurry, hurry dri—"
"Hmm."
A quiet cough came from the backseat.
"You are quite ill-mannered."
A massive black tongue shot out from behind the passenger seat, dripping with saliva as it swallowed the entire seat whole.
"......!"
Crunch.
The ghost’s long hair was severed.
A long black tongue, jagged teeth jutting out in all directions, grotesquely twisted eyeballs, and an elongated snout covered the entire front passenger seat.
"The ill-mannered little lamb... the pig… the red child..."
The beast grew larger. Its snout extended toward the driver’s seat, and vicious claws emerged.
At the moment my hands trembled on the steering wheel,
“ – Approaching destination ahead.”
"......"
"......"
I barely managed to declare.
"We’re almost there."
The shadow froze.
Silence.
Silence.
And then…
"Ah, sorry……"
Everything vanished.
"......"
The inside of the car was empty.
The grotesque black beast and its massive snout were gone. Only empty silence remained, as if nothing had happened in the first place.
Only the ghost in the passenger seat remained.
"......"
The ghost in the passenger seat stared blankly into space, as if its mind had been erased.
As if it had been cursed in place… which was eerie in its own way.
Suppressing my shudder, I forced myself to continue driving safely.
A few seconds later.
“ – Arrived at Four Limbs Flesh Cemetery. Navigation ending.”
The navigation system crackled before shutting off… right in the middle of a mountain road.
The headlights illuminated a sign just ahead of the car.
DANGER!
[※ Beware of Falling ※ Do not lean or climb.]
‘Ha.’
Suppressing my trembling hands, I unlocked the passenger seat.
"We’ve arrived, sir."
And as I slowly turned my head…
The passenger seat was already empty.
The pool of blood, the acrid scent of burnt flesh, and the eerie laughter were all gone.
[If the ghost has disappeared at the destination, then you have successfully completed your mission. Signal the assigned personnel waiting at the location, and transfer the taxi to the headquarters’ exorcism specialist before dawn. Thank you for your dedication.]
Phew.
I finally lifted my hands off the steering wheel.
At that moment, someone carefully knocked on the driver’s side window.
Knock, knock.
…It was Agent Bronze!
"Wait a moment, oh, officer…!"
I hurriedly rolled down the window, stuck my head out, and glanced toward the back seat in a lowered voice.
"I have another passenger onboard."
"...!"
"I’ll take them to their destination and come right back."
"...! Understood."
Thankfully, Agent Bronze assumed my flustered state was due to an unexpected civilian involvement, allowing me to leave without issue.
I rolled up the window and drove away from the eerie cliff in the mountains.
In the side mirror, I caught a glimpse of something strange shimmering from the Four Limbs Flesh Cemetery…
"......"
Ha. It’s done.
‘I didn’t pass out…!’
At one point, I almost screamed at the ghost to just get out already.
‘My hands are still shaking.’
It was complete chaos, but at least it was over safely.
Now, I just need to drop off the Security Captain at his destination…
Right. Where was it again? Seoul Station?
On the way, I could just make a fuss about seeing a ghost a few times.
And brush everything off as a mere illusion.
I glanced at the back seat.
That was terrifying, but in the end, it did help me. So… thanks, I guess.
‘If this were before, I would have brought something as a thank-you gift.’
Like the donuts the Security Captain used to like.
But now, he wouldn’t even recognize me. I should just act startled about seeing ghosts, do my job as a taxi driver, and leave quietly…
"…You’re alive."
"......!"
"That’s a relief…."
Ah.
