Episode 3: The locked car doors

**[Narrator Voice]:** Our brave heroes had just committed the greatest insult in supernatural history: they had ignored the creepy lady in red. The rental car rolled deeper into the forest, and somewhere behind them, a ghost was likely questioning her career choices. Inside the car, an awkward silence settled.

Da-hyun carefully peeked out the back window. "...Soo-ah."

Si-woo, still looking at the GPS, muttered, "Don't."

Da-hyun: "I just want to ask one tiny question."

Si-woo: "I know exactly what you're going to ask."

Da-hyun: "Can we please check if the ghost is following us?"

A-in: "No."

Seo-yeon: "Absolutely not."

Si-woo: "Terrible idea."

Da-hyun sighed dramatically. "Soo-ah?"

Everyone turned to look at you, waiting for your response.

Soo-ah: "If you miss her that much, Da-hyun, I will drop you right here so you can meet her. After all, you are a lifelong single."

Da-hyun gasped so hard he nearly choked on air. "EXCUSE ME?! That was a personal attack! I have feelings, you know!"

A-in, looking up from her phone for exactly two seconds: "She does have a point."

Da-hyun: "Whose side are you on?!"

Seo-yeon, smiling sweetly: "Soo-ah's. It's safer."

Da-hyun pointed dramatically at the front seat. "First of all, I do not miss the ghost lady. Second of all, being single is a lifestyle choice!"

Si-woo, without lifting his eyes from the GPS: "A lifestyle that nobody chose for you."

A deadly silence followed.

Da-hyun: "...Bro."

Si-woo: "Hm?"

Da-hyun: "That hurt."

Si-woo: "I know."

Da-hyun: "I thought we had the bro code."

Si-woo: "The bro code doesn't cover obvious facts."

A-in snorted, trying not to laugh.

Da-hyun: "This is bullying. I'm being bullied by four people."

Seo-yeon: "Five, if the ghost is still behind us."

Da-hyun immediately sat upright and refused to look out any window. "I would like to formally apologize for every decision I've made tonight."

Si-woo glanced over at you to make sure you were still focused on the road. "Just keep driving, Soo-ah. Ignore him. If we stop, he'll somehow make friends with the ghost and invite her to the cottage."

Da-hyun: "I WOULD NOT!"

A beat passed. "...What if she's nice?"

Soo-ah: "Why don't you directly ask her? After all... she's behind our car."

A full second of silence passed.

Da-hyun: "...Haha. Good one, Soo-ah." He very, very slowly turned his head toward the back window.

Si-woo: "Da-hyun."

Da-hyun: "What?"

Si-woo: "Don't."

Da-hyun: "What if she's telling the truth?"

A-in: "Then you'll be the first to know."

Seo-yeon: "Personally, I support your scientific curiosity."

Da-hyun: "YOU GUYS AREN'T HELPING!" He clutched the headrest. "Soo-ah, as your dear, loyal, incredibly handsome friend..."

A-in: "Debatable."

Da-hyun: "...Please tell me that's a joke."

Si-woo quietly glanced at the rearview mirror. He knew you were teasing, but he stayed calm. "Soo-ah. Eyes on the road. Don't bully the wildlife."

Da-hyun: "THE WILDLIFE?! BRO, YOU THINK THERE'S SOMETHING BACK THERE?!"

Si-woo: "...I meant you."

Da-hyun: "..."

Seo-yeon nodded approvingly. "Fair."

Da-hyun folded his arms and sulked for three seconds. Then... "...Soo-ah?"

Si-woo: "What now?"

Da-hyun: "Hypothetically, if there was a ghost behind the car... could we throw Si-woo out first? He's the fastest runner."

Si-woo finally cracked a tiny smile. "Interesting plan. But remember who is reading the GPS." He folded the map shut. "One wrong turn from me, and Soo-ah and I make it to the cottage."

Da-hyun: "...Bro. That was the most threatening thing you've ever said."

A-in: "I kind of respect it."

Seo-yeon: "Same."

Soo-ah flashed an innocent smile. "I am being honest about the lady in the red dress being behind the car. If you don't believe it, look behind yourself. Haven't you all wondered why I insisted on the mountains, planned everything, and even volunteered to drive? Maybe this is all a trap. I'm going to sacrifice you all... and no one will ever know."

A heavy silence filled the car.

Da-hyun: "...Haha." Nobody laughed. "...Guys?"

A-in put her phone down.

Seo-yeon: "...That was oddly specific."

Si-woo quietly studied your face. He noticed the innocent smile, and the absolutely straight expression that somehow made it ten times creepier.

Da-hyun: "Soo-ah, my dear friend whom I've known for years..." He slowly reached for the door handle. "...this is a joke, right?"

Si-woo: "No."

Da-hyun: "WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'NO'?!"

Si-woo: "I mean, don't ask her. If she planned a sacrifice, she'd never tell us the truth."

Da-hyun: "THAT'S EVEN WORSE!"

Seo-yeon: "Actually... she did pick the destination."

A-in: "She booked the cottage."

Seo-yeon: "Planned the route."

A-in: "Packed emergency supplies."

Da-hyun turned pale. "...Guys."

A-in: "She also insisted on driving this part."

Da-hyun: "...GUYS!"

Si-woo sighed, reached over, and tapped the dashboard. "Soo-ah, if you're sacrificing everyone... could you at least wait until we reach the cottage? Si-woo booked the rental car under his name, and I'd rather not explain ghost-related damages."

Da-hyun: "YOU'RE NEGOTIATING WITH THE MURDERER?!"

Si-woo: "I'm negotiating with Soo-ah."

Seo-yeon: "Fair point."

Da-hyun squeezed into the corner of the back seat. "...Soo-ah. If we're friends... could I get a discount on the sacrifice?"

Si-woo glanced at you, a faint smile on his face. "One question, Soo-ah. Should I keep following the GPS, or was that part of your master plan too?"

The car stopped. The engine fell to a low idle. The forest was silent. Soo-ah didn't move. With that same innocent smile, she said: "Well, if it's your last wish to keep the car safe, then I will accept it, Si-woo."

Da-hyun: "...Si-woo. She called it your last wish."

Si-woo: "I noticed."

Da-hyun: "YOU'RE TAKING THIS SURPRISINGLY WELL!"

Da-hyun fumbled with the door handle. *Click.* Locked.

Da-hyun: "...Why is the door locked?"

A-in: "Mine too."

Seo-yeon: "Soo-ah, did you lock the doors?"

Si-woo unbuckled his seatbelt.

Da-hyun: "BRO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

Si-woo: "Finding out."

Si-woo turned toward you. "So. You planned the trip, the route, the stops, the cottage. And now you've stopped the car in the middle of a forest at night. That's a lot of effort for someone who claims to be lazy."

Da-hyun: "THIS IS YOUR TAKEAWAY?!"

Si-woo: "If this really is a grand master plan... could you at least tell Da-hyun first? If he thinks too hard, he'll accidentally spoil the surprise."

Da-hyun: "I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO OFFENDED IN MY LIFE!"

Da-hyun slowly pointed a shaking finger toward the windshield. "...Um... Soo-ah... since we're apparently discussing sacrifices... why do I suddenly feel like there's someone standing in front of the car?"

Soo-ah suddenly burst into loud laughter, laughing so hard tears formed in her eyes. "Fine! It was a joke! We already reached our destination!"

She pointed ahead. A cozy wooden cottage sat under the moonlight, its porch light glowing warmly. Soo-ah flashed that dangerously innocent smile.

Da-hyun: "...Si-woo. I think she was possessed for thirty seconds."

Soo-ah kept laughing.

Da-hyun: "NO! LOOK AT HER! THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT GHOSTS DO AFTER THEY TRICK PEOPLE!"

A-in: "No, that's what Soo-ah does after a successful prank."

Seo-yeon: "It's one of her hobbies."

Da-hyun: "...YOU ALL KNEW?!"

Si-woo finally let out a small laugh. "I should've known. I was busy trying to figure out if she'd actually lock us in the car." He grinned at you. "That was a pretty good prank."

Da-hyun: "TRAITOR! SHE HAD AN INNOCENT SMILE!"

A-in: "That's your first mistake."

Seo-yeon: "Your second was trusting Soo-ah after the ghost incident."

**[Narrator Voice]:** And thus, our heroes arrived safely at their mountain cottage. Da-hyun lost several years of his lifespan. A-in and Seo-yeon gained free entertainment. Si-woo quietly discovered that even being threatened with sacrifice wasn't enough to stop him from smiling at Soo-ah's antics. And Soo-ah? Soo-ah achieved the highest form of victory: making Da-hyun believe, for one glorious minute, that he was about to become a mountain ritual.

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