Precautions of a Snakepit - Chapter 58
Won thought in a dazed state.
‘Is this really real? Or is this an extension of the nightmare I had this morning?’
A human’s shadow is shaped like a snake. A non-human impersonating a human being and speaking in a familiar voice- it didn’t make sense.
Perhaps her fever is making her see things, it was more convincing.
The shadows on the wall shifted. It was flickering about as if there was a blazing fire, but there was no such thing.
The shadows of living things don’t move like that. It isn’t real.
Even though she kept repeating that to herself, Won couldn’t find relief. It was like she was about to face a catastrophe that was right around the corner.
‘What should I say?’
Even if this was a dream or hallucination, Ju-hee asked her a question, so she had to respond. She couldn’t help but hesitate to tell the truth about her being sick when she was facing an unfamiliar situation.
“Unnie?”
She didn’t know if it was Ju-hee, or a delusion, or something else, but it urged her to answer.
It wasn’t real, but Won didn’t want to show weakness against ‘that thing’ nonetheless. She hesitated before cautiously opening her mouth.
“Uh, I’m not sick. I’m just a little unmotivated.”
“You skipped two meals because you’re unmotivated? Doesn’t that mean something is really wrong with you?”
“Just no appetite. I don’t have much of an appetite when I’m on my period.”
She didn’t think anyone would believe her if she said she was completely, so she only told a half-truth.
“… Ah.”
There was a sigh, mixed with a shrug.
“You know how it is, you don’t even want to lift a finger in times like this. Out there, I’m too busy trying to make ends meet, but here, there’s nothing to do, so I’m just going to laze around in bed. I wanted to fulfill a fantasy I had while in the hospital. I wanted to eat only one or two meals a day and be one with my bed, understand?”
Won spoke slowly, her voice lethargic. Depending on the listener, though, it could sound like she was responding in annoyance.
“Ah… um… uh, yeah. Of course I understand, I’m a girl, too, but, uh, how many days are you going to do this?”
“Well, until I get tired of it? Like, two or three days, maybe.”
“Two or three days…” Ju-hee muttered, sounding like she was a little fed up. Then, she added in a more subdued tone, “Okay, it’s going to be hard, so get some rest, unnie. I’ll be off.”
The shadows on the wall looked like dead grass. It was more like the shadow of a slithering snake, which was kind of cute, but it was still of a size that caught her off guard.
“Yeah, goodbye. Don’t worry if you don’t see me at mealtime.”
“Okay.”
Won heard the door slide open and close, and the huge shadow that had taken up almost the entire wall disappeared.
With a sigh of relief, Won closed her eyes.
When she opened them again, it was morning. She felt much better. Whereas yesterday she could barely function, today she felt like she could move around, although it would still be difficult.
‘Let’s eat two meals today. Breakfast and dinner.’
She was concerned about the muscle loss since she didn’t eat yesterday. She needed to nourish herself.
She had been sweating all night, so she went to the shower and cleaned up, then went to the dining room for her meal. Her throat and mouth felt sore, but she pushed the bread and soup into her mouth and gained some energy. However, she wasn’t strong enough to participate in any programs, so she stayed in her room to rest but was caught by Mrs. Sook in the hallway.
“Won! I was just looking for you.”
“What’s up?”
“Oh, the church people are coming again tomorrow. I thought it would be nice if we could hear the good news together.”
It turned out to be like evangelism, and Mrs. Sook was quite devout. She listened to the church with shining eyes, almost like a fan gushing after meeting their idol.
‘I wonder if I’ll have the energy to go.’
She thinks she will be back to full strength tomorrow, but as a non-religious person, it wasn’t a very appealing proposition. However, she had to go as much as possible, whether she liked it or not.
It’s a religious cult that supposedly has some sort of contact with the hospital, perhaps even a connection to Target’s disappearance. It couldn’t hurt to gather more information.
‘Maybe Black Cat will be there.’
She’ll try not to sit next to him this time, in case she is asked to hug him again. She didn’t mind last time, but it’s awkward to sit next to him when she knows what is going to happen.
“Uh, I guess I’ll join in if that’s okay. Last time I was there it went well.”
“Oh, really? I’m so glad to hear it went well. I’m happy you are coming with me, Won.”
Watching Mrs. Sook’s enthusiasm, Won became curious.
‘Is Mrs. Sook just a devotee, or someone from the cult?’
She hadn’t thought much about it, but today she realized that she could be someone planted in the hospital by the cult and disguised as a patient. She didn’t know the cult’s exact purpose, but it is the nature of all religions to increase their followers, and the mentally distressed patients in the ward are easier targets than the general population.
‘Are they going to brainwash and manipulate them into doing what they want?’
Won was seriously worried about the potential of a movie plot being the citation. The problem was that the drive home from the possible made her realize that the scenario wasn’t exactly impossible.
‘When this is over, I’ll take a break. Maybe even retire.’
She’d rather sneak into the middle of enemy territory and take some hostages. She is risking her life, but it was a quick decision.
It wasn’t a matter of difficulty, it was a matter of preference.
If she had to be sick by 100, she would rather be sick by 100 in one day, or by 50 in two days than to be sick for 100 days by 1.
When it came to sleep, she’d rather hear a vacuum cleaner for ten minutes than hear the second hand of a clock ticking for eight hours. She’d rather have a short, sharp pain than a constant throbbing that persists for weeks, but this request was the opposite. It’s the type of client that nudges someone slowly and drives them crazy. It wasn’t physically demanding, but it was mentally draining. She doesn’t have the aptitude for it.
“It starts tomorrow at 2 p.m, so meet me in the main hall at 1:55. Or do you want me to meet you in your room?”
“Nope, meet me in the main hall.”
Won drew the line at having someone who might be associated with a cult come to her room. Mrs. Sook nodded her head as if it were fine and left.
At 1:50 P.M. the next day, Won pressed her palm to her forehead.
‘I have a low fever…’
She was feeling much better after two days of rest. She wouldn’t be able to do anything physically demanding, but she would be able to gather information.
She left the hospital room. When she reached the main hall, Mrs. Sook greeted her.
“Won, welcome.”
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Won noticed the presence of Top Dog. He was on the same couch he always occupied.
It was like a reserved seat at this point. No one sits on it without him, no matter how relentlessly they stake their claim on it. It’s like no one dared to invade his space.
Top Dog looked her way. As soon as their eyes met, Won turned and walked away. It was a move that would have stopped a thief in their tracks, but her body moved before her mind could consider it.
She couldn’t look him in the eye. His face reminded her of her dream from two nights ago.
The promiscuity wasn’t really his fault, but a figment of her imagination, which means she didn’t need to be conscious of it.
No one would know what happened inside her head, as long as she didn’t let on. She has to pretend she doesn’t care. She needs to play it cool like a stoic person who doesn’t have anything to push them over the edge.
Top Dog has a sixth sense, or intuition, or a third eye, or whatever. She can’t show discomfort like that or she’ll get caught.
‘I’ll have to make sure I see him as little as possible until I can regain my composure.’
Won decided to hurry Mrs. Sook along. Mrs. Sook turned to Top Dog.
“Rock, would you like to come with us?”
Won cringed at the offer to join them. She even did it without consulting Won first.
Top Dog rolled his eyes and glanced over. Won reflexively flinched and tried to dodge his gaze, but held on, determined not to make the same mistake twice.
“Where?” He asked gaze still fixed on Won.
“It’s church service day, so we’re going to hear the good word. I was wondering if you would be interested.”
‘You’re going to use me as a way to get him to come?’
Won was irritated because she could see Mrs. Sook’s eagerness to evangelize and get one more person to go.
‘If he says he’s going, I’ll have to step out.’
She came to the conclusion that since she figured out where the back room was, gathering information about the cult wasn’t essential.
“I’ll think about it.”
Top Dog’s grim reply came. He sounded disinterested, as if he never considered joining. Suddenly, Won felt strange.
She expected him to say yes. He’d been hanging around her every chance he got, flirting and doing unnecessary things.
‘No way…’
She stared at him, overcome with an unfamiliar emotion.
‘… Are you sick of me now?’
To the point where even flirting with her was too much of a hassle?
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