9 A Friend or A Foe

As Shio tries to figure out how to get out of that world, she decided to explore the schools main building.

"Okay... keep yourself together Shio, I'm not afraid of our school so I don't know why would this even appear in here... but since this is our school, it will be very easy for me to find my way out of here... okay.... you can do this..." Shio said to herself as she walks down the stairs from the rooftop

"There are a total of five buildings, three buildings are connected together and called The Main Building, one building is called The Gym and the other one is The Theater. There is also a field located in the middle of the school. If I'm really in the main building, all I needed to do in order to get out the school was to go to the ground floor and go straight to the front entrance... easy..." Shio said to herself as she continues going downstairs while keeping herself together

The main building has a total of seven floors including the rooftop. By looking at her building she is currently in the first building which is The preschool building, the building next to is is the high school building and the last one is the college building.

"This world really does know how to make an exact replica of a real-world location. (Hmph) If this isn't a scary world then this is going to be a good place to hang around and spend our free time. Sadly you chose to weird and creepy..." Shio said as she reaches the fifth floor.

Shio noticed that the building was well lit. The electricity is working properly, lights are in good quality and the floor, wall and even the doors are clean. The place actually looks cleaner than their original school

Shio decided to wipe her finger in the wall to see if it's really clean or not, she is able to prove how clean it was, her finger didn't get any dust or dirt...

"Weird----very weird...." Shio said as she continues walking down the stairs.

As she reaches the second floor she decided to stop by and use the bathroom. The location of the bathroom was just behind the staircase.

While being very cautious, Shio checked both left and right of the hallway before going in, she saw no one in the hallway so she decided to go in the bathroom

"Piercing silence is always scarier than creaking noises... I wish Sam is here---- oh fuck I forgot about that, Sam and Karen might be stuck in here with me... I need to get out quickly and start searching for them" Shio said as she hesitates on opening the bathroom door

Even though Shio is afraid to go inside the bathroom, she can't resist the strong urge in using the toilet. So she decides to face her fear and open the door slowly...

While being very cautious, shio opened the door widely and she shines the lamp in the bathroom. She found no on inside...

"Face your fears... pretty simple" Shio said to herself as she enters the bathroom

Her time in the bathroom is pretty calm, nothing happened when she uses the toilet, it is now starting to feel like a normal abandoned building. But still, Shio can't stop being cautious and vigilant.

"Well, that's easy...face your fears... just like what sam said.." Shio calmly said to herself as she washes her hands thoroughly

"Now the only thing I need to do is to get out... it is not that har---" Shio suddenly stop talking as she saw the door opening slowly

She immediately carried her lamp and shines it to the door. The door continues on open slowly, because of it the tension on Shio's body started to rise, she also started to sweat and feel scared. The lights of the bathroom and the hallway outside started to blink for some reason, because of it shio felt more scared and she started to panic.

She slowly walks backwards in order to hide inside the bathroom stalls but she cant move her legs quickly which means hiding is no longer an option.

As the door opens wider, Shio lost her balance and she fell down the floor. Because of the tension filling up on her mind, she can't think of anything but to stare at the door as it opens completely.

"What are you doing there young lady, I know this place is very clean and neat but that is still the bathroom floor, stand up!" an old man carrying a mop said while he approaches Shio

The old man entered calmly and slowly. He looks like a janitor working in the school by looking at his appearance. He also looks normal and strong because of his semi-muscular body structure. But even though the old man looks normal, Shio is still afraid of accepting his help, but the old man is really eager to help her.

"Don't be afraid young lady, I'm not a monster that is generated by this world... just like you, I'm also stuck here. So stand up and get yourself together kid..." the old man calmly said

"Stuck?! Who are you? Why are you here?" Shio asks as she stood up slowly

"My name is Howard, Howard Stanley and I'm currently a janitor of this school, I don't know why I'm stuck here but I know how I got stuck here... its a good story to be told while we walk outside because talking about it inside the woman's bathroom is pretty awkward kid," the old man said as she opens a space for shio to go outside the bathroom

"I'm not---- done..." Shio calmly replied while being very nervous about Howard

"Oh.. I'm sorry, I guess its better for me to wait outside. Trust me kid, don't think of going out here alone. Your lucky I'm the one who found you and not dal-gu" Howard said as he leaves shio alone at the bathroom

For some reason, shio felt a slight relief after Howard closes the door.

"(One Deep breathe) face your fears shio---after that you find sam and Karen, then after that, you get out of here... you can do it Shio!" Shio said as she talks to herself in the mirror

She decided to go out and talk with Howard. But as she tries to open the door she immediately saw another person when she looks at the doors vision lite, so she decided to stay inside listen to their conversation instead.

"No one is here dal-gu..... you may go now" Howard said to the other

"Our mission is to kill the visitors. It is not mine, it is our mission Howard." Dal-gu replied in a fierce tone

"I know, and just like what I told you before... You take care of the killing, I'll take care of the cleaning" Howard explained calmly

"Then let me check..." Dal-gu said as he walks towards the bathroom door

"You're just wasting your time dal-gu.." Howard said as he tried to prevent dal-gu from entering the bathroom

"You know Howard, if there's someone in here, then this is going to be the third time you let someone escaped from me. You let the young girl run through the vent, you let the boy escapes through the window, now you're letting someone hide in the bathroom. Don't let me kill you Howard" Dal-gu fiercely said while he threatens Howard by pointing his baseball bat at his face

The lights suddenly blink furiously and an unexplainable sound was heard outside the campus.

"There you go dal-gu. The visitors are not here, they are outside the campus" Howard calmly said

"You better do your job properly Howard..." Dal-gu said as he went downstairs

Howard watch dal-gu leave before he went to check Shio. After a few seconds, he saw dal-gu going outside the campus

"Poor guy, I'm pretty occupied, sorry I can't save you from dal-gu too.." Howard said to himself while looking at the forest

"So----that's dal-gu" Shio said as she approaches Howard slowly

"Yeah... he's one of the keepers. Once he saw you he will never stop until he catches you. He's a very dangerous man" Howard calmly replied

"How about you?" Shio calmly asked

"I no longer do that..." Howard softly said

"You no longer do that?" Shio asked in a curious tone

"Yeah.... I'm like him when I started, I kill people because I chose that path. I was with my daughter when I got here. Just like you, we also tried to escape. At the end of our journey, they made me choose who to stay and who will leave. I chose to stay in order for my daughter to escape. The good thing is---- these supernatural things actually respect a deal, so they let my daughter get out and I stayed. After that, they turn me into death, someone who will kill the chosen people by the shadows.." Howard explained thoroughly

"Then what happened..." Shio calmly asked

"My daughter came back... she tried to save me" Howard said in an emotional tone

"Oh...." Shio replied in a soft tone

"You already knew what happens, I didn't know it was her that time. The only time I knew that it was her was when I got my knife stuck in her belly. I cried so much, so long...and because of that--- I promised myself not to do it again, I will not die here doing a big mistake like that. That's why I'm helping you.." Howard explained thoroughly

"Sorry..." Shio replied with a soft tone

"Now let's get out of here... before dal-gu return" Howard said in a calm tone

"By the way, can I ask you something?" Shio calmly said

"Sure... what is it?" Howard replied

"I heard that you help two more people to escape dal-gu. Where did they go?" Shio asked

"The young girl said to me that she is going to wait for her sister at the garden, while the boy said that he's going to find the young girl and a sister who were dropped here with him before he leaves---why did you----oh so you are the girl they're talking about huh?" Howard replied in a curious tone

"Yes...is there anyone for me to determine their location? I need to find them" Shio said in a worried tone

"Yes... well that's the only way I know to help you but it might take some time before you find them" Howard said thoroughly

"How?" Shio asked

"The security office is located downstairs. If we can go inside the security office then we can check the CCTV cameras for their current location" Howard explained

"So can you help me go there?" Shio asked ina curious tone

"I can actually help you.. but the problem is that I don't have the key to the security office, dal-gu has it and as what you can see---- our relationship is not good" Howard explained thoroughly

"What... then how can I go inside the office then?" Shio asked in a nervous tone

"Maybe I can help you deal with Dal-gun, follow me to the security room" Howard replied in a calm ton

Both Howard and Shio decided to go downstairs to find Dal-gu. Howard tries to think of a plan to take the keys from Dal-gu. But as they went reach the ground floor Dal-gu entered the front door catching both Howard and Shio together.

"Oh.... what a beautiful sight Howard" Dal-gu said as he locks the front door

Shio tried to go upstairs but Howard stopped her. He immediately restrains shio in order to control her, he pushed her to the wall and forced her to kneel..

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HOWARD!" Shio shouted while she tries to get away from Howards control

"There's no other way shio.. if I don't do this guy is going to kill me." Howard replied in a serious tone

"What! I THOUGHT YOU WILL NO LONGER DO THAT?" Shio said in an angry tone

"I told you that in order for you to trust me. This guy threatens my life. Do you think putting my life in danger just to save you will actually be satisfying for me? No... it will never be satisfying..." Howard replied in a serious tone

"That's what I like to see Howard..." Dal-gu said as he slowly approaches shio and Howard

"I'm sorry... Welcome to our world.." Howard said in a serious tone

"Ple----pleasee....please Howard, I want to see my sister" Shio said as she cries while trying to escape howards control

"No more crying little girl... ill take it from here" Dal-gu said as he swaps places with Howard

"No more threats---right?" Howard calmly said

"Of course.. now get out of here, I don't want you to see this" Dal-gu calmly said

Howard left shio and dal-gu in the staircase

"HOWARD!!!!" Shio shouted as Howard left

"Shhhhhhh... don't be so noisy little girl, Howard is not your friend, he is my friend.." Dal-gu said in a creepy tone as he pulls out a scalpel

"Please....don't..." Shio said while she cries because of fear

"Ohhhh... don't worry little girl, this is going to be fun" Dal-gu said as he points the scalpel at her head

"Pleassssseee...." Shio softly said as she cries and trembles in fear. Her body is shaking and her sweat heart is beating faster

"Yes... I like to see you cry, little girl..." Dal-gu said as he start moving the scalpel softly around shios face and neck

The lights of the hallways start to blink continuously as shio cries furiously. Dal-gu seems to enjoy shio's reaction which is why he continues on playing her with her scalpel.

"PLLEAAAASE!" Shio shouted as she closes her eyes

Shio immediately heard a loud noise of metal hitting something behind her, Dal-gu's grip was lost and she was able to move freely. Shio can't open her eyes because of fear. She cried while hugging herself, the tension is obvious in her actions because her body is not stopping on shaking while sweating a lot.

"I'm sorry kid, I have to do it." Howard said as he put his hand in the shoulder of shio

Shio stopped crying and slowly turn around to see if it was really Howard.

"I got the keys and I actually got him good" Howard said with a smile as he shows shio the keys

Shio saw dal-gu laying down on the staircase while bleeding, but as she saw Howard clearly she immediately hugs him and cried

"Fuck you Howard.. that's not good!" She said as she continues on crying

"I know, I'm sorry kid" Howard said ash he tries to comfort Shio "there's no more time to waste, after a few minutes this place will generate your fear.. we gotta find your sister and friend" Howard continue as he tries to bring up Shio

Shio stood up and both of them went to the security office. As they reach the office, they immediately went inside and they locked the door from the inside.

Meanwhile, in the staircase, Dal-gu starts to regain his strength.

"Ho-----ward....I'm go..im going...to kill you...you son....son of....son of a bitch" Dal-gu said as he bleeds in the staircase

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