Chapter Text
Daydream is a capitalistic company that values profit more than human lives.
Their Hiring process reflects their extreme measures to ensure only those with value can live and work for them. A cruel but effective method is used, people with no prior knowledge or experience get send into a Ghost Story and have to survive.
Failure to adapt to the situation results in death.
Surviving due to pure luck result in death.
Due to these circumstances the amount of people hired at Daydream are low. The amount of new Rookies have never exceeded the amount of Squads available at Daydream, therefore each Squad can focus on making sure their new Rookie finish adapting and survives.
Their live are worth only as much as they can contribute to the company.
"What should we do? There must be away out of here without dying?!" The persons voice cracked and they avoided looking outside the train window with determination bordering on desperation.
Every person in the train car turns their head to Kim Soleum. Their gazes were filled with desperation. In this moment their clung to the only hope available like starving animals desperate for even the smallest piece of flesh they can rip off.
"…"
Kim Soleum felt very uncomfortable with the amount of attention focused on him. He knows that he said that he would take responsibility but he hadn't expected everyone to look at him like a god sent gift.
'I just want to go home…'
"But if I just hand you the answer, what would happen to you?" The questioned stunned everyone in the train car. Even Go Yeongeun and Baek Saheon were side eyeing Kim Soleum.
Kim Soleum wanted to hit Baek Saheon. He is the last person Kim Soleum wants to see this attitude from.
"Weren't we warned in the beginning?" Kim Soleum lifted his hand pretending to recall the moment.
"No free rides. They were already willing to put out lives in danger to sort us. I don't think that the punishment for not contributing will be a pleasant one."
There was never a mention on what happened to those that did not contribute during the orientation but knowing Daydream it can't be anything good. Kim Soleum can feel a cold shiver running down his spine.
The others have also a very active and vivid imagination thanks to the gruesome deaths they all just witnessed.
"Why don't we all try coming up with some theories on how to escape." Kim Soleum was trying to encourage everyone to participate and he vaguely felt like a kindergarten teacher.
"Where should we even start?" One person raised their hand like they truly were in a classroom.
When did Kim Soleum become a teacher? A sudden spike of annoyance filled him. There is no correlation but Kim Soleum felt like Baek Saheon jinxed him with his initial greeting of 'teacher'.
"Maybe figuring out what this even is might be a good start." Shifting his eyes to Go Yeongeun she perked up.
"Doesn't this remind everyone of those Ghost stories you would see on YouTube?"
There were murmurs of agreement. Kim Soleum thought back to when he would see ghost stories on YouTube and quickly avoid them since he couldn't deal with them.
The interior of the train has been rather interesting since they left the first station…
"So then we have to solve this like a ghost story?" A another person asked once again with raised hand.
"Yes and Ghost stories usually have rules that have to be followed." Finding these rules and figuring out the inner workings of a ghost story has been something Kim Soleum enjoyed doing ever since he found the DER wiki. So, finding out the correct escape method only took a couple of seconds.
"The denouncements are important, aren't they?"
"YES!! He even said that we should pay close attention to them!!" A finger was pointed at Kim Soleum and he wanted to curl up and die.
In that moment like they conjured it up the announcement started playing.
ANNOUNCEMENT
[Passengers, announcement from Abyssal Transit Corporation for a comfortable ride. Please listen carefully.]
It was so quiet that Kim Soleum was questioning wether anyone was breathing right now.
ANNOUNCEMENT
[The train will now enter a curve section. Noise and shaking may occur.]
[Please sit to prevent accidents.]
"Everyone, sit."
No one objected. However, after sitting down Kim Soleum could see the passengers in the train car in front of them not noticing the announcement.
Kim Soleum was seated and looked at them arguing. Suddenly, he felt a hand firmly holding on to him like a warning to stay seated. Wasn't he the one to warn everyone to sit? What is with that behavior?
Looking to the side he saw Baek Saheon holding him in place and his soft features seemed sharper like he was warning him not to do anything. Kim Soleum decided to ignore Baek Saheons weird behavior and instead turned his attention to Go Yeongeun.
She gave a small smile to him and Kim Soleum felt grateful that he wasn't suffering alone. It also helped him ignore the psycho currently clinging to him like a lost puppy.
Everyone in their train car survived but the one in front of them was painted in blood. The sight alone made Kim Soleum want to trow up.
ANNOUNCEMENT
[Lost item found.]
[If you find the lost item, exit at the next station and hand it to the station staff.]
A single escape case.
ANNOUNCEMENT
[Lost item: 'Left eyeball of a 20s male adult, Type A blood']
The description already made Kim soleum want to close his eyes and pretend that this entire situation is the result of a nightmare. However, the grip Baek Saheon still had on Kim Soleums arm made sure that he couldn't doubt the reality of the situation.
Though, his behavior was almost enough for Kim Soleum to doubt it anyways. Baek Saheons personality is that of a venomous snake that does not hesitate to bite.
…
Kim Soleums arm was finally released and he tried not to deflate too much in relief.
While this was going on the passengers have already started talking among themselves asking around if they fit the criteria.
One even came up to Kim Soleum and Baek Saheon.
"Do any of you fit the description?" Kim Soleum remembers him as the person who had previously spoken loudly and pointed his finger at Kim Soleum.
"I don't." Baek Saheon added with a false apologetic expression.
"Me neither. My blood type is AB."
The person nodded at them mumbling something vague and then moved on. So, it continued but Kim Soleum could feel Baek Saheons eyes tracking each answer that was giving.
Kim Soleum was starting to understand how the Baek Saheon in the DER wiki survived the orientation. Truly, the way of a Viper.
Meanwhile Kim Soleums eyes were drawn to something else. Though once the label of the container containing the eye became clear he realized that they did not match.
"Uhm… I fit the description!" On person across from Kim Soleum suddenly spoke up and they were beaming. Their expression showed that he didn't realize that he had just made himself a target. The desperate eyes previously focused on Kim Soleum switched to the man.
However, they didn't act. They are desperate and want to escape but not like that, he supposes.
All expect one moved. Baek Saheon hit the person perfectly hitting the corner of his eye. He will be lucky if he can still use it afterwards.
Baek Saheon is being held by the others around him and others rush to check on the fallen man.
Go Yeongeun too stands up to rush to help.
"Huh?"
A hand grabbed her stopping her from helping.
"Soleum-ssi…?"
"Please listen carefully. The answer is to find a station with an emotion people wouldn't claim to have felt at any point of their lives. For example tranquility or serenity."
Go Yeongeun was stunned but Kim Soleum already moved on. The other passengers and Baek Saheon were fighting and at this point the result wouldn't be good. It seems they have managed to built a stronger sense of companionship than Kim Soleum thought.
Perhaps it was due to them working together?
Nevermind. At this rate Baek Saheon would not manage to escape or make it to the next station. Though he fought like a feral desperate for surviving. His actions remind Kim Soleum of the stares he has received up until this point.
Every action, Kim Soleum took so far was to ensure that he wouldn't be alone. He is a coward and selfish.
The lives of the people on this train have only been so far saved to help Kim Soleum.
His focus was purely on Baek Saheon.
Kim Soleum wonders what was reflected in his own eyes.
Kim Soleum did not want to face anything alone. Therefore, he won't.
Grabbing Baek Saheon he dragged him away from the gathering crowd and the fallen man, which was being taken care of by Go Yeongeun. At least, that was one less worry.
Baek Saheon didn't struggle in Kim Soleums hold perhaps too bewildered to truly put up a fight despite his previous aggression. Subsequently, dragging him through the train door required no actual effort.
Only once they both found themselves outside did Baek Saheons pupils shrink and fully focus on Kim Soleum, who stared back calmly.
"NO!" A scream from inside the train was ignored.
ANNOUNCEMENT
[Door are now closing.]
"SOLEUM-SSI"
"You fit the description, don't you?"
Baek Saheons features twisted becoming sharper and filled with hatred. But there was another thing deep inside that hatred that Kim Soleum sympathized with.
Fear.
"Don't worry, I will make sure that we both live."
"!"
Baek Saheon was still in Kim Soleums grabs and his eyes never lost their distrust and hatred.
It is not surprising. After all, Baek Saheon didn't get as far in the DER as he did by believing every promise he heard.
A worker came over to presumably receive the item. He looked at both of us.
The Darkness probably wanted to know which one of us wanted to sacrifice their eye to survive and who would die intact.
"I'm here to hand over the lost item~" The worker moved towards Kim Soleum.
"Here it is."
It was Baek Saheon, who he pushed forward.
"?"
"You wanted someone to return the lost item, correct? Therefore, I am here to return the item and the item is right here. Afterwards I can keep the rest of him."
The worker seemed to think it over for a second before nodding and changing his attention to Baek Saheon. The scream he let out afterwards would probably haunt Kim Soleum for a long time.
Everything Kim Soleum has in his stomach wanted to escape him and there was a dizziness present like he was the one who just lost a body part.
Once it was done they both found themselves back in the orientation room. Baek Saheon was clutching his eye tightly and was slightly curled up.
Without a second thought Kim Soleum pried away the bloodied hands and used a handkerchief to help with the bleeding. Turning his body slightly he called for medics, who quickly entered.
Though their work ended as quickly as they came and Baek Saheon was left with a white medical eye patch and a sour expression.
At this rate he might just kill Kim soleum in his sleep. If that doesn't end up happening than Kim Soleum doesn't doubt that Baek Saheon will find a way to prevent Kim Soleum from reaching his goal even if he will never know it.
Baek Saheons eyes briefly landed on Kim Soleum before quickly darting away.
"I promised you would live, didn't I?"
"You…!"
"You? That's quite a rude way to talk to the person who saved you. Shouldn't you be thanking me?"
Baek Saheon looked at Kim Soleum like he couldn't believe his audacity and deep inside him Kim Soleum couldn't help but agree with that bewildered expression.
"Weren't you planning on sacrificing you own eye anyways? You even went so far as to eliminate every person that might pose a threat to that plan." Kim Soleum hummed like he was thinking about something.
"From the looks of things that plan would have failed though. With every passenger clinging on to you like that you would have never managed to leave before the doors closed. Isn't that right?"
Kim Soleum ended his little speech with a smile and Baek Saheon flinched.
Isn't this a bit much…?
"Thank you, sir."
'You don't have to act like that was painful.'
With the way he was gritting his teeth Kim Soleum was almost worried that he would bite.
Though, Kim Soleum felt a disgusting mix of apathy and guilt.
"Shouldn't thank me too then. You only got out because I lost my eye…sir."
Kim Soleum scoffed.
"I could have escaped just fine if I had stayed in that train."
The bewildered look was back.
"crazy bastard…"
'I heard that.'
"Although, if you want I can make it up to you." Kim Soleum lightly brushed over the eyepatch. He already noticed this a bit ago but no blood was found on it. Seems like the medics did a good job.
Under Kim Soleums touch Baek Saheon stayed still, not even daring to breath.
'That psycho!!!'
Thinking about all the various entries in the wiki Kim Soleum is aware of one where he can repay this 'debt' without having to go to something too scary or dangerous. His poor cowardly heart wouldn't make it otherwise.
"Don't worry. I have shown to keep my promises already, haven't I? Even the one where I said that the other passengers would get out." Retracting his hand, Kim Soleum finally gave Baek Saheon room to breath who immediately furrowed his brows.
"What are you talking about?"
Then as if some magic trick the other passengers from their train car as well as from some others appeared. Quickly doing a head count Kim Soleum confirmed that they all made it out.
"Soleum-ssi!" Go Yeongeun took Kim Soleum by his shoulders and quickly checked him over.
"I'm so glad that you-"
She cut herself off staring at his hands with wide eyes.
Looking down Kim Soleum saw blood staining them. This is not what it looks like…
Was that there the entire time?
"I helped Saheon-ssi with his injury."
At the mention of his name Go Yeongeun quickly threw him a dirty look before focusing here attention back on Kim Soleum. Her expression softened like a switch had been flipped.
"Thank you. We probably wouldn't have made it out without you." Kim Soleum brushed off her praise. Afterall, it was only thanks to the wiki that he managed to come to the conclusion. Otherwise, he would already be six feet under.
The thought and blood on his hands made a cold shiver run down his spine.
"To think that you even helped him after what he did. You are truly too kind, Soleum-ssi…" The look she was giving him was bordering on pity or admiration.
"I was the one who dragged him outside so it is only fair that I helped. Besides it was a group of medics that actually helped. They even managed to stop the bleeding entirely. Isn't that great, Saheon-ssi?"
Baek Saheon mumbled something that Kim Soleum didn't bother paying attention to.
He helped more out of reflex than anything else and the repayment of his debt in the future is simply to help with his guilt. Even Kim Soleums interference in the train was to not leave alone rather than a desire to save a human life.
And so it was announced that over 20 new hires had survived even after the elimination of those that didn't participate. The announcer seemed momentarily stunned before picking up where he left.
"Truly! These numbers are unheard of!!!"
No one shared his enthusiasm too busy shaking from the trauma they just experienced.
Getting the first price, applying for company housing and finding out Baek Saheon passed in a blur. Kim Soleum truly just wants to go home.
Baek Saheon looked devastated when he saw who his new roommate was which Kim Soleum very much shared. After a throw away comment about how he wishes to work in the same squad in the future he hid in his room.
The time left before he had to go to Daydream for his first day was spend exactly like that, holed up in his room while Baek Saheon and Kim Soleum did their best to avoid each other.
Entering a elevator, Kim Soleum thought about the floor his Squad is residing in. 13th.
The number felt horribly ominous.
Ding
However, there was no going back now. Arriving he spotted a man, with light brown hair and a women, with blue hair, sprawled across the office. Both looked friendly enough but upon his arrival they didn't immediately speak but looked at him like they were waiting for something.
Ding
Hearing the elevator indication a new arrival Kim Soleum guessed that rather than something they were waiting for someone. Perhaps another Squad member?
Turning around Kim Soleum spotted light hair, a cute and innocent face adorned with a white medical eyepatch. The soft features twitch upon arriving.
Fuck.
Baek Saheon has arrived looking at Kim Soleum like this was somehow his fault. The comment he had made back in the dormitory suddenly left a bitter taste in his mouth.
He wasn't being serious!!!
"Look! They are both here!"
"Welcome to D-Squad!"
"Little heads up. We are called the D-Squad because all the new rookies Die."
"!"
"…"
"Kidding."
Someone please save him…
He should have quite when he had the chance.
The newest batch of new hires had exceeded the number of available Squads and so it was decided to assign D Squad two rookies instead of one.