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Kim Soleum mentally counted the steps he took on the coarse sand, ignoring the way the setting sun’s rays reflected on the beach’s water. He absolutely needed to get this right and enter the darkness sooner rather than later. Even if people have already entered it accidentally before, Soleum couldn’t afford any mistakes.
‘660… 661…’
‘It’s not too late right? We wouldn’t lose Agent Choi and Agent Bronze like this out of everything. If it is, how can I explain this to anyone in the bureau? What will Director Ho do?’
‘ 662… 663…’
His movement and thoughts became slower the longer he counted, all to ensure he didn’t lose track of his counting. It didn’t stop the other spiralling thoughts though.
‘There’s nobody else to blame but me. I have to take responsibility. Agent Choi and Agent Bronze have done so much for me already. I can’t repay them like this.’
‘664… 665… 666…’
When he reached the last number, his movements completely halted and he took a deep breath. This was it. He turned to the golden horizon speckled with glowing reflections on the waves and he waited. Kim Soleum ignored the way the breeze made his bangs brush against his face in favour of silently hoping that he did it right.
He felt his eyelids grow heavy and didn’t fight them as they closed.
The next time he opened them, the sky had darkened past dusk. He could still see the ocean water lapping at the shore in front of him. It was like the world was suspended in a permanent state of evening when the sun had just set under the horizon and the stars were subtly peaking through. The scene felt peaceful, eerily so, and yet Kim Soleum could feel himself relax.
“Agent Grapes?”
He heard someone call his name just a few paces to his right. He turned to see Agent Choi smiling at him while smoking a cigarette.
“Didn’t see ya there, you just arrived?”
Kim Soleum swallowed before nodding.
“Yeah, sorry for being late.”
“No worries no worries, come on, Agent Bronze and I are trying to catch something out here.” He motioned to Bronze fixing some sort of sign alongside another figure sitting on the sand. A lone fishing rod stuck up from the sand, A paper hung from its hook, fluttering with the rhythm of the ocean wind. Kim Soleum could also see an additional piece of string tied to the line of the fishing rod with an aluminium can hooked to it. Agent Choi must have noticed how he narrowed his eyes at it and let out a hollow laugh that made Kim Soleum’s heart sink.
“Oh the only one that brought a rod was our new friend here, so Bronze and I came up with something to share. Pretty genius right?”
Agent Choi gestured to another man Kim Soleum didn’t recognise. He looked to be in his twenties and his shirt was stained and torn in various holes. He fits the description of a man that went missing in the area.
This was all absurd, ridiculous even.
“Yeah, seems nice.”
“Right?! Even Agent Bronze thought so.”
Agent Bronze smiled at Kim Soleum and he had no choice but to smile back. It was difficult to keep looking at his seniors and their empty eyes. Especially with the tacky blood on their hands and the rough cuts on their faces that look like they’ve been torn from fingernails. Kim Soleum winced at the thought, they must have gotten it from survivors. At least, he hoped he got them from the victims they were meant to save and not anything else.
At least the wounds didn’t look serious and were already healing,the blood trailing from the cuts was at least dry enough to flake. Kim Soleum needed to cling onto any comfort he could get here.
Just as Kim Soleum opened his mouth to ask them about it, Ryu Jaekwan spoke up first. “Why don’t you sit with us, it must have taken you a while to get here right, Grapes?”
“... It didn’t take that long.”
“Come on Grapes, just sit and fish with your fellow sunbaes okay?” Choi said while sitting on the shore, prompting Agent Bronze to sit beside him. Kim Soleum bit his lips as he wondered exactly how long he’d left them here in this place?
He wanted to refuse, to try and ignore the flow of the beach darkness’ pull, but it really only felt fair to stay beside his fellow agents like this. If only he hadn’t prioritized Director Ho’s request for an item from a darkness, he could have arrived at the beach much earlier. He could have helped his sunbaes before they were dragged into this mess.
He hesitantly sat down with them, besides Choi with the muttering shaking survivor in between Agent Choi and Agent Bronze. He did his best to not look at the extra guest for too long besides a few glances to make sure they were relatively unharmed. Bruises and cuts, at least the injuries were to the same extent as the agents.
Kim Soleum swallowed dryly when his gaze fell on the victim’s sunken eyes and he tried to stare at the water instead. He took his time to take deep breaths and erase the image of an innocent civilian in such a bad state. He should be used to it by now.
‘Will Agent Choi and Agent Bronze end up the same way if I fail to save them?’
…
‘Don’t think about it, Kim Soleum.’
Even though Agent Choi mentioned fishing, they sat in silence and let the ocean breeze cool them down while Kim Soleum thought about what to do next. Looking between the ocean, the agents and the additional muttering civilian. His eyes eventually landed on the sign with a cluster of grapes that looked like it was painted with something dark and red.
Wanting nothing more than to fill the silence he spoke up. “What’s with the sign?”
Agent Choi perked up. “Oh, uhhh, dunno. Agent Bronze put it up.”
“.. Did he..?”
Agent Bronze looked at Kim Soleum with a blank expression for a bit before turning back towards the ocean. He spoke in an absentminded and casual tone that Kim Soleum doesn’t hear very often, “Yeah… I think.”
“You think?”
“I can’t really remember when, I think I just did it for fun.”
“Haha, even our Bronze can do things like that, it makes for a good mark for our spot right?”
Kim Soleum could only smile in response while trying to ignore the knot forming in his stomach. Has he ever seen his seniors this dazed before? He thinks back to all the Disasters they’ve been together in so far, Sekwang Technical Highschool, Looky Mart, The mountain lodge and the laundromat. In all of those missions, the agents had only showcased the professionalism you’d expect from experienced agents of the bureau. It made his head spin at the way they were acting now. It was fucking terrifying. This was all his fucking fault-
“The water looks nice, doesn’t it?”
Kim Soleum’s mind was snapped out of its thoughts by Choi’s voice. “A-ah yeah?”
“It’d be nice to at least take a dip, it’d feel good.”
Kim Soleum doesn’t say anything other than offering a weak hum. It’s hard to answer truthfully when he looks at the water. He knows Agent Choi can’t see what he sees anymore, but still. Based on what he knows about this darkness, he absolutely couldn’t encourage any more talk about the water.
[An Unforgettable Beach Day!]
: A ghost story featured in <Dark Exploration Records>
: Disaster Management Bureau registration number – 1890PSYA.2132.나09
A supernatural phenomena where those that walk 666 steps on the beach at the ▇▇ area between a time frame of 6pm to 7pm are transported to an area of the beach that doesn’t exist. The longer the victims stay in this area, the more compelled they are to take a swim into the water and drown.
Associated with at least 134 disappearances over the course of 3 decades, it’s classified by the Bureau as a Fracture-sanctioned Disaster.
Kim Soleum spoke up. “We don’t have the clothes for it though.”
“Eh, we could just strip and get in, right Bronze?”
Agent Bronze raised an eyebrow at Agent Choi, “What are you trying to drag me into?”
Agent Choi smiled teasingly at Bronze, “Well, do you even disagree?”
“... Maybe.”
“See, Grapes?”
Kim Soleum smiled at the banter but it immediately fell. The agents always kept a cool head but they were also cautious and careful at least. He wished he could find comfort in this conversation but…
Kim Soleum stared out at the two bluish bodies bobbing up and down on the waves. The other two victims of this Darkness that they were meant to help. The other two agents continued to talk as if they couldn’t see them. This Darkness simply wouldn’t allow for them to.
He clenched his fists. When he took a leave day to handle something for Director Ho, he didn’t think it’d lead to the agents receiving a mission at this beach Darkness.
If they spend any more time in this place, the disaster will make them drown in it. The muttering person beside them must have been one of the few the agents managed to prevent from dying in the water. The blood and cuts were probably from such a struggle.
In a way, remembering all of this was sobering. There was no point in getting so distracted here. Kim Soleum took a deep breath. He needed to stall for time.
“Agents.”
Bronze and Choi paused in their conversation and Kim Soleum looked up to them.
“I think it’d be nicer if we could walk around first and find some seashells.”
The two agents blinked at him with their empty eyes. Bronze spoke up first. “You want to look for seashells?”
Kim Soleum shivered when he realised the laid back and genuine curiosity in Bronze’s tone. He acted as if they were just talking in the office, like they were having small talk during lunch. Kim Soleum felt his blood run cold when he realises just how out of character it is for someone as uptight as Bronze to be this relaxed in a darkness.
“Mhm, isn’t that something we do at beaches? I’m not sure, I don’t remember going to them too often.” Kim Soleum laughed awkwardly while scratching his chin. He said it so confidently but it might have been a much stranger thing to ask than he realised.
“Sure, there’s no harm in that!”
Still, the agents agreed to it anyway. Kim Soleum actually felt a bit stunned by how quickly they were standing up and walking around the beach, away from the water. Well, he and Agent Choi looked for shells, pawing through the fine sand. Kim Soleum clutches the sand in his fist and watches it pour in between his fingers. It was clean and warm, perfect for building sand castles. He looks around the beach and it was indeed picturesque, like something straight out of a travel magazine with its perfectly placed palm trees, soft waves and not a single piece of trash in sight.
Kim Soleum wonders if this was how beach sand usually was or if it’s something conjured by the Disaster to lower their guard. Agent Bronze looked on. He did not join them in their search for shells; instead, he stood stiff, firmly gripping the civilian's arm.
Kim Soleum thinks if it's from some sort of instinct that Ryu Jaekwan has as a Bureau agent or if there were still bits of sanity in him still hanging on.
While the two agents were faced away from each other doing their own searching, Agent Choi seemed to do some small talk.
“Searching for seashells– is this something you’ve always wanted to do?” There was a light teasing tone to that question and it would have made Kim Soleum blush if they weren’t in a ghost story.
“It felt appropriate. I don’t really know what else to do at beaches.”
“You don’t?”
Kim Soleum shook his head at first before realising Agent Choi probably couldn’t see him. It was the truth, though. He did get an invite for a work trip to the beach before he was sent to this world but it got cancelled for one reason or another. Before the office could even reschedule, he’d gone into that cursed pop up store. He doesn’t really remember any beach related memories with his parents either. They never seemed to be beach people, he guesses.
“I guess I just have no interest in it particularly.”
“Hmm.”
Kim Soleum was only half engaged with the conversation at this point. He stepped around slowly as he thought about his plan. Desperately, he tried to remember anything about this ghost story that would let them out of here but his mind is coming up blank. He really misses being able to open up the wiki with his phone anytime he wants.
‘Dammit, the pop socket should have been fixed by now. Was I wrong about the Goblin Workshop? No, it should be my fault right that I agreed this spy mission before I secured a fixed phone-
When he felt a hand tap his shoulder, he almost jumped. He turned around to see Agent Choi behind him holding out a plastic shovel.
“Found this while looking around. It would make digging around for shells a bit easier, right?”
Agent Grapes blinked for a moment. He wondered where the other agent could have possibly gotten something like this. He shivered when he realised it most likely belonged to the previous victims.
“... Is it really okay?”
“Hm? Why wouldn’t it?” Choi tilted his head while putting the shovel in Kim Soleum’s hand. “You really do need to relax a bit more, Grapes.”
Ah, something bubbled up in Kim Soleum’s chest, it was familiar but he still hated it as much as when he felt it the first time too. This clawing helplessness, the dread, the threat of death constantly looming above their heads that was ready to fall and slice into them like a guillotine. This was the experience of being in a ghost story.
Kim Soleum swallowed driedly, “I’m sorry, Agent.”
Agent Choi gave him a smile alongside those empty eyes, his no longer lit cigarette hanging on his lips. “No need to apologise, Grapes.”
If Kim Soleum could ignore the open wounds and blood on his face, if he could ignore how Agent Choi’s jacket was slightly torn in some places, if he could ignore the sounds of the beach waves invading his mind like a sick reminder of their potential fates, he could find comfort in those words.
Kim Soleum really wishes he could. Maybe if he was a bit more like the employees in Daydream he could, but instead he was afraid to the point of completely freezing as always.
‘Always… Always… Always…’
Before Kim Soleum could reply, it was as if Choi immediately lit up again. “Oh right! Since Bronze can’t really join us, could you give this to him?”
Choi handed Kim Soleum something much smaller than a plastic shovel. Soleum looked down to realise that it was a brightly coloured seashell. It was a pale red scallop shell, decorated with a bright red line across it.
“It’s not fair that Bronze can’t join us to…” Choi seems to pause for a minute, as if trying to rationalise why exactly Ryu Jaekwan couldn’t join them, “Accompany our new friend… But it’d be nice if he could still have a shell.”
Kim Soleum furrowed his brows, trying to make sense of this. “Why… can’t you be the one to give it?”
Choi paused again. He seemed to be biting the no longer lit cigarette in his mouth. “I just… I feel like you should be the one to give it to him. I think there’s no other guy that can but you.”
While Kim Soleum was stunned silent, Choi placed the shell in his hand. Agent Choi's behaviour was turning gears in his head. Was it really possible that his theory about a part of their sanity holding on actually had some merit?
He pursed his lips. “Then I will. You can keep searching for seashells.”
Agent Choi was frozen for a beat before he beamed at him. “I will, thank you.”
Kim Soleum watched Agent Choi walk away before he himself turned on his heels to where Ryu Jaekwan and the victim were standing slightly nearer to the waves.
If it was true that there was something still in them, even after having their minds eroded by this damn ghost story, does that mean Agent Bronze and Agent Choi were still somewhat aware? Can they see him walk towards Agent Bronze with the shell in hand? Were they trying to figure out what he was going to do as much as he was?
Can Ryu Jaekwan see Agent Grapes ask him, “Agent, Choi wanted me to give you this seashell, if you’d like.”
Are they hoping that he’ll be able to get them out of this mess?
“... Why wasn’t he the one to give it to me?”
God, he hoped he could.
Kim Soleum shrugged. “You know how he is. He’s a bit strange, isn’t he?”
Agent Bronze pursed his lips and nodded, “He is,” he sighed before taking his other unoccupied hand in his pocket, “here, I can put it in my pocket.”
Though he said that, Agent Bronze seemed to hesitate to open his fist. Kim Soleum tried to swallow down his anxiety and anticipation. Before the Ghost Story took over most of their minds, Agent Choi must have known that there was something in Agent Bronze’s hand that he needed to reach. Some sort of clue to get them all out of here.
His chest tightened when Agent Bronze finally opened his fist to reveal a note and his palm covered in blood.
It’s funny. He has read about these two getting into situations that lead to fates worse than a bleeding hand. Hell, he has read the gruesome death of at least one of them here. And yet, it’s only when he’s in the hot seat alongside them that he suddenly cares about keeping everyone alive.
‘I’m sorry for being so selfish, agents. If I had known…’
If these two were hoping for a benevolent saviour in him, he feels regret to inform them that it could not be any further from the truth. Kim Soleum is a liar that only knows how to save himself.
Kim Soleum placed the shell intoRyu Jaekwan’s bloody hand and took the note out. He didn’t know what else to say other than, “I hope you like it…”
Ryu Jaekwan looked down at the shell and smiled. “I do, it’s very pretty.”
Agent Grapes smiled back. He only knows how to save himself but he has to at least try to save others. It’s the least he could do for these people.
“I’ll go back to Agent Choi for a minute.”
“Alright, I’ll be right here.”
Kim Soleum nodded and turned around. He read the note while slowly walking with his back turned to Agent Bronze. He tried not to pass out at the blood staining the note and carefully examined the words.
Agent Grapes, we’ve been here for a few hours but our minds are slowly
rotting away, mine especially. Agent Choi seems to still be able to hold on
but I’m not sure how much longer that will be true for. We’ve
underestimated how strong this Disaster’s mental effect was.
We’ve already forgotten areas other than beaches and all we can
think about is swimming.
If he does manage to get you to read this letter though somehow.
Please check the fishing line, there’s a pamphlet left by the Bureau
for this Disaster. Maybe you’ve already checked because of the sign.
But it never hurts to be sure.
Kim Soleum stopped completely in his tracks. The sign, of course. Why didn’t he check it to make sure? Did he get convinced by the disaster so easily to not think about it? He swallowed nervously and turned around to see Agent Choi still walking around and looking at the sand. Agent Bronze was still preoccupied with the increasingly agitated victim.
He walked back towards where they sat just a few minutes ago.
… A few minutes ago? How long has he been here exactly? Kim Soleum tried to remember if there was a section in the wiki entry about how long it took to get drowned in this disaster. Unfortunately it was one of those ghost stories where the vagueness of time was part of the horror.
The closer he got, the colder he felt. His fingers turned numb to the point he couldn’t close them anymore. He also started to feel how nice the sand was under his feet, and the water was starting to look much clearer.
A cold sweat formed on Kim Soleum’s neck. He looked up at the sea water again.
It was completely empty. The floating bodies were gone.
He ran to the sign with the crudely drawn grape and the fishing rod planted in the sand beside it. He quickly yanked the paper hooked on the fishing rod with a ragged breath. Straightened it with shaky hands to try and read it.
It was an advertisement for some sort of hot springs.
If he still had Braun with him, the TV Show Host would make all sorts of comments on how tacky the advertisement looked. It almost shocked him too with how bright the colours were. It felt like getting his brain dumped with cold water. He turns the advertisement flyer just to check and he sees the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau logo stamped on the back. This must have been left behind by the agents as a way to help people out.
“Ah, right,” Kim Soleum muttered out loud as he finally realised something, “This Ghost Story had a shared entry with Daydream Inc…”
The Dark Exploration Records was a wiki where anyone could submit their own writing. In the old days, the entries were only divided by what ghost story monster it featured. However, as time went on, the number of entries and the newly introduced groups of the DER universe like Daydream Inc and the Church of the Luminous Unknown necessitated the stories to be divided by those groups alongside the ghost story featured. So, if you were on the Daydream Inc section and wanted to look for wiki entries for a ghost story in the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau, even if the former had entries for that ghost story, you would have to move to a different page of the wiki site. There was a bit of an adjustment period within the fandom to get used to the new format.
This led to writers having fun with this new format by hiding or revealing details of a Ghost Story in different sections of the wiki as part of the experience.
“I’ve been trying to remember the entries from the SDMB side of the wiki…”
Trying to remember the entries based on the group he was in had been working in his favour so far, and since his phone used to presumably pull all related info of the Ghost Story he never had to wonder further about it. But now, like the Mermaid Dragon Palace, the situation was different.
It was as if a switch flipped in his head. He remembered that there was a Daydream Inc entry for [Unforgettable Beach Day!].
[An Unforgettable Beach Day!]
: A ghost story featured in <Dark Exploration Records>
: Daydream Inc. identification code – Qretw-D-890
A Darkness where those that walk 666 steps on the beach at the ▇▇ area between a time frame of 6pm to 7pm are transported to an area of the beach that doesn’t exist. The longer the victims stay in this area, the more compelled they are to take a swim into the water and drown.
It was originally assigned a classification rank of A but had to be downgraded to a D rank due to outside circumstances.
Those ‘outside circumstances’ were the SDMB’s efforts in reducing the casualties of this Ghost Story. They left eye catching pamphlets that would hopefully break through the beach’s mind manipulation and remind people of the outside world.
Due to pamphlets left behind by third party sources, those that entered the beach will suddenly start thinking and talking about vacation areas other than beaches. This then causes the Darkness to reject them and they will be forcefully removed from it.
A shame, but what can you do?
Make sure to remind our field exploration
employees to adhere to the minimum time required
to extract the appropriate amount of Dream Essence. ^^
– Researcher Kwak Jaekang
Kim Soleum gripped onto the advertisement harder. This was it. He folded the advertisement and put it into his pocket. The way out was completely clear now.
Now was the hard part. He wanted out of this place and he had to convince the agents that they wanted out too while under the beach’s influence. He could talk about it all on his own but that would lead to him alone being pulled out of the Disaster. He needed to bring them too.
He ran back to the agents and sighed in relief when he saw them together. Agent Bronze was standing next to Agent Choi with the victim still in his grip.
“Agents!”
“Hm? Oh Grapes! Look at all these shells I got, heh.”
Agent Choi had a genuinely proud smile as he held up a bucket. Kim Soleum looked down to see the bottom of it covered with a layer of seashells in different shapes and colours. He could only tighten his lips.
“That’s nice…”
Agent Choi looked like he was just about to say something but Kim Soleum quickly spoke first. “Uhm, I need to say something…”
The agents looked up at their youngest in surprise. It was rare for him to ask for their attention after all.
“Uh, what do you guys think about this beach?”
He needed to gauge how risky this was going to be. The two seemed a bit stunned.
Agent Choi hummed with his eyes closed. “It’s… pretty okay. It’s pretty great actually.”
Kim Soleum’s heart sank as Agent Choi continued.
“It’s not every day we get a vacation you know.” Choi sighed. “It’s a good change of pace for all of us.”
Agent Bronze hummed, and Kim Soleum’s blood went cold when he nodded in agreement. “The Bureau can be demanding, so being here instead feels nice.”
“Is… Is it really?” Kim Soleum tried to speak calmly. “Don’t you think it’s better if we just…”
Leave. For some reason, that word can’t come out of his mouth. Like his mind went blank before he could and he was momentarily forced out of his own body. It took a minute for him to realise his vision was unfocused.
There was a period of silence where Kim Soleum could only hear the ocean breeze. Then he felt Agent Choi’s hand on his shoulder.
“Grapes, it’s okay.”
Kim Soleum swallowed dryly.
“We can rest here. Isn’t it so nice?”
This can’t be happening. Why did he have to spend so long to get here?
“There’s no calls for work, no reports to write. It’s just you and your sunbaes here…”
They’ve been here for too long.ow he was alone to fix this.
“And the water… It’s nice, isn’t it?”
Kim Soleum looked up at Agent Choi’s face. His smile was so warm. That’s right, the water did look nice. It was the perfect temperature to swim in and it looked so clean. Sure, they didn’t have their swimsuits but they could make do. He’s never been to many beach trips but one wouldn’t be complete without swimming in the water. He knows this.
With one swim, all these anxieties would go away.
With one swim…
“… Grapes?”
Kim Soleum blinked and he realised there were tears on his face. At first he doesn’t know why they started, but he has a feeling that, just like how a fragment of Agent Choi and Agent Bronze held on as their minds were taken from them, there was a deeper part of him that absolutely rejected this Disaster’s temptation. A part beyond his agent persona and even his Daydream one.
A part that wanted to just go home.
Kim Soleum choked as he spoke through his sobbing, completely guided by that inner part’s instinct.
“I don’t… want to be here.”
“G-grapes?” Bronze’s panicked voice rang out while Agent Choi rubbed Kim Soleum’s shoulders. “Why? What’s wrong?”
“I-I…” Kim Soleum mumbles out, “A hot spring… instead…”
Agent Choi blinked. “A hot spring?”
“A hot spring…” Agent Bronze muttered under his breath before looking up at Agent Choi, “Haven’t you talked about a hot spring before, Agent?”
“D-did I…?”
While Kim Soleum wiped his tears with his sleeve, Agent Bronze hurriedly continued, “… Didn’t you mention how you were going to bring us to a hot spring at some point?”
“W-wha, I think I was just talking about how it was a thing with previous sunbaes and hubaes… Did I…?”
Agent Choi let go of Kim Soleum’s shoulder and scratched the back of his neck, his empty eyes gaining just a bit more clarity. “Huh, I guess I did, but I was kinda joking tho~”
“Agent, do you want to disappoint Agent Grapes again?”
“Disapp-!” Agent Choi’s head whipped to face Kim Soleum. “Grapes, are you disappointed?”
He felt his mind being weighed down by the disaster, and yet he still nodded which prompted Agent Choi to make a surprised noise.
He basically started flailing his arms around as he spoke in a rushed voice, “Okay okay! I’ll bring us all to a hot spring after this, Grapes, is there anywhere you want to go?”
“Ngh…”
Bronze cut in. “Agent, it doesn’t even need to be far does it?”
“Eh? But I’d have to make it up to Grapes somehow…”
“Do you want to save money or not? And you’re only considering Agent Grapes in this?” Agent Bronze sighed while he rolled his eyes.
“Oh come on! You make it sound like I’m totally frugal or something. Say, we can go somewhere in the mountains and we can hike too!”
It felt like the ground shook a bit akin to an earthquake but more animalistic, like a growling beast angry at you for disturbing it and its hunting grounds. However, the trio continued.
Agent Bronze made a slightly exasperated face. “Are you really suggesting going on a hike just to comfort Grapes here?”
Agent Choi pouted and crossed his arms. “You keep rejecting all my ideas! Why don’t you suggest something.”
“For starters, getting a ride up the mountains to the hot springs is better. Right, Grapes?”
The environment shook again, harder this time. Kim Soleum momentarily paused from how his head felt like it was filled with pressure, did the other agents feel it too? When it stopped, Kim Soleum responded, “I… actually don’t mind the hiking idea… I’m just worried about being too slow and out of shape.”
Agent Choi points at Bronze. “Hah, see?! Don’t worry Grapes, hikes are meant to be relaxing anyways.”
“I’m sure it is.”
“Ugh, okay listen when we go to the hot springs we can also maybe book an inn to rest at too, but at that point we all need to pitch in the money.”
Kim Soleum sniffled the last of his tears away as he nodded. “Sounds good to me…”
Ryu Jaekwan nodded, “It’s not like I mind, a proper vacation would be nice-
Kim Soleum blinked and suddenly he was hit with a wave of vertigo, like he stood up too fast while being low on iron. And by the way the other agents were starting to sway too, he could only assume that they were experiencing the same too. He tried to open his mouth to speak but his vision went to black before he could.
By the time they became conscious again, they were sitting on a much more familiar beach area. It was completely dark with the exception of the moonlight and stars shining down on them.
The agents looked to Bronze’s side to see their civilian completely knocked out and boneless.
All the agents looked at each other for a few minutes of silence. For a moment, they all took their time taking deep breaths and rubbing their eyes. Their heads rang a bit from the faint traces of a headache, Kim Soleum felt like he woke up from the shittiest nap known to mankind. He would vomit if he could but he needed to maintain some form of decorum in front of his sunbaes.
“Eugh, looks like the mental stress of it all finally got to him, poor guy.” Agent Choi broke the silence with a groan as he tried to stand up. He was followed by a nodding Agent Bronze who tried to do the same, finally being able to relax the iron grip he’s had on the survivor this entire time.
The only one that was left sitting was Kim Soleum, who was rubbing his red puffy eyes with one desperate question in his head.
‘They… don’t remember that do they? I mean they were pretty far gone…’
For some reason, he was very embarrassed about being seen crying. He wasn’t sure why he even did, and he hoped the agents didn’t have a clear memory of it.
A hand reached down to him and Kim Soleum looked up to see Agent Choi smiling at him. “You feeling okay Grapes?”
“… I am, thank you agent.”
“Good, cus we need to keep discussing our hot springs vacation.”
Kim Soleum hated being in this goddamn group sometimes.
“… You remember that?”
“Indeed I do, the cigarette helped keep me at least somewhat aware..”
“Agent please…”
Kim Soleum coughed as he grabbed Agent Choi’s hand and got up. “I’m surprised that’s all it took to get us out.”
Agent Choi smirked at him. “Well I’m surprised you figured it out so easily, how did you?”
“Well, a perfect vacation would be something that would make you feel better right? If you’re thinking of a different vacation then maybe that means the current vacation is lacking so…” At least compared to other ghost stories this one was relatively straightforward.
“Mmh, even disasters can get insecure huh?” Agent Choi chuckled and turned to Ryu Jaekwan who was supporting the survivor with his shoulder. “Grapes’ crying probably also made it feel extra rejected.”
Kim Soleum completely stopped in his tracks. Ryu Jaekwan groaned, “Agent…”
“What? It was such an interesting sight to see, to think we’d see our rookie get so… ah-?!”
Ah, Kim Soleum noticed the tears coming back again, he tried to hide his eyes behind his sleeve. Agent Choi panicked and said, “Grapes! I’m sorry, please don’t leave the team!”
“Is that what you’re worried about?! Agent Grapes saved us and you- goddamit.”
“Grapes I’m sorry! Grapes!”
Kim Soleum didn’t know how much longer he can stay in this world especially when he keeps embarrassing himself like this. But maybe he can stay long enough to go to a hot spring with the team before he leaves. Some sort of reward after all this would be nice…