Escaping the Mystery Hotel

Chapter 140: Room 107 - The Gate Room, The Final Trial (31)

How can we wake Elena up?

The biggest issue was that Elena had become too successful in this world.

She has already become a star who has been cast as the lead in various dramas and movies.

Even approaching her was a challenge for ordinary people, and if we did manage to get close, she was always surrounded by bodyguards.

We couldn’t use forceful methods like the ones used to wake me up, or else we'd get shot by her bodyguards.

But we do have some advantages.

Ahri, who was the first to wake up and start waking the rest of us, shared her opinion, "There are two methods we can use. First, the emotions Elena will feel the moment she sees us. We've already experienced this among ourselves, correct? Even when we're not fully conscious due to the 'Perfect Life’, the moment we see each other evokes strong emotions within us. Elena will be the same."

"But we need to get into her line of sight somehow."

"That's also difficult, but if we think about it, there should be a way. Second, although Elena has forgotten us, we still remember her. If we can somehow get a chance to talk to her, we can bring up stories from her past that she’s told us before, and that might pique her interest."

"Even those little stories might intrigue her. Imagine how strange it would be for her to hear someone she doesn't remember talking about her childhood."

"So, the point is simple. We need to find a way to get into Elena's line of sight, make her aware of us, and then get a chance to talk to her."

Songee, who had been listening quietly, spoke up, "Wait, listen to me. I'm the one who talked to Elena the most. I have some ideas about how to catch her attention and start a conversation."

After considering Songee's suggestion, we spent quite a bit of time discussing how we could approach Elena and wake her up.

***- Elena

“...”

“...”

I had a deep dream.

A strange, unknown place.

A bizarre Hotel where endless terrors and horrific events unfolded.

And my companions in that place.

Among all the memories, one scene was vividly etched into my mind.

A young man who looked like an angel with a glowing halo.

What is this dream?

"Elena! Elena!"

"Ah."

"Don't just say, 'Ah,' It's time to wake up."

"Thank you, Manager. How much longer until we reach the filming location?"

"About 30 minutes? Let me show you today's schedule again."

The manager next to me pulled out a tablet and showed me the evening's filming schedule and the night broadcast schedule.

Ah~ It feels like I've achieved a long-held dream, but now that it's become my reality, it's incredibly exhausting.

But this is the life of a star! I have to endure it.

It was early evening, the sun had just started to set.

I rubbed my sleepy eyes and looked out the window.

Today's drama was being filmed in a scenic location, so the surroundings were filled with lush green trees, a gentle breeze, and the fragrant scent of pine.

On one side of the road, there was a towering tree so large it made me curious about its species.

On its branches perched a bird of indescribable, surreal beauty, unlike anything I'd ever seen.

…???

What is that?

"What's that?"

Suddenly, the car slowed down, and everyone inside turned to look at the tree in amazement.

The bird had trembling lavender feathers, a gracefully curved beak, and tail feathers as splendid as a peacock's.

The bird evoked the surreal image of a fairy that illuminated the night sky with a gentle glow.

Everyone, including me, was so mesmerized by the sight that we instinctively pulled out our cameras to capture the moment.

The bird, which somewhat resembled a parrot, seemed to stay still in its mystical form, then suddenly turned its gaze towards “me”.

"E-le-na."

Hearing my name out of nowhere left me completely stunned.

While I stood there with my mouth agape, the bird flew off somewhere.

Everyone stared at me in shock.

The mystery made my heart tremble!

This unbelievable experience filled my heart with an overwhelmingly strange euphoria.

Because of this excitement, I ended up getting scolded a lot during today's shoot.

***"Songee, do you really think this silly idea will work? Attaching a mini LED lamp to Perro's back to mesmerize Elena…"

"Oppa! Just do as I say."

"But Perro freaks out the moment I try to strap the lamp to his back"

"I've talked to Elena a lot, so I know. She has a secret fascination with the occult. She's incredibly weak to anything beautiful and mysterious. And nothing is more beautiful and mysterious than Perro."

"Kain, stop complaining and just tie it on. Songee is busy getting me ready. Perro does look pretty strange, though. But for a parrot, why can't it talk? Is saying, 'Think of me, Elena' really that hard?"

"If it comes to that, we'll just have him say, 'Elena.' Maybe Perro isn't as smart as we thought."

- Piyoo!

"Ah, seriously! Stop biting! It was Songee's idea to strap the lamp to your back!"

***- Elena

I barely managed to finish the shoot.

The director and senior actors who usually praised me gave me a scolding today.

I had to apologize multiple times.

Ah~! I'm not usually the type to make so many mistakes while acting.

But today, I couldn't help it.

That mysterious creature I saw on the way to the set made me lose focus!

Some people suggested it might just be a type of parrot, but I couldn't agree.

Where in the world would you find a parrot that looks so mystical?

Not to mention, it even emitted light, and it even called my name.

It must have been some kind of fairy-like creature.

Our meeting had to be preordained by some mysterious fate.

The thought that something magical might happen in my life again made my heart race.

Again? Has something like this happened before?

I tilted my head for a moment, then leaned back in my chair and started to doze off again.

With a night broadcast scheduled, if I didn’t take a nap now I wouldn’t have enough time to sleep later.

“...”

"Elena! Elena~!"

"Huh?"

"Wake up quickly! Look ahead."

I rubbed my eyes and got up at my manager's urgent cry.

The car had stopped again.

It was now early evening, dark enough that visibility was getting low.

Looking out the window, I saw the same bird I'd seen earlier, now even more mystical than before, peering over us.

I could hear the clicking of cameras as people stepped out of the car.

How could such a bird exist?

I stared at it in wonder.

“...”

"E-le-na."

The bird called out my name clearer than before.

The bird slowly moved towards the forest, as if beckoning me to follow.

As if I was under some sort of spell, I found myself mindlessly following the bird.

"Elena! It’s dangerous at night! Come back!"

I could hear voices calling me from behind.

The voices of those who always took care of her safety.

But now, I can't help it.

Fortunately, I didn't have to go deep into the forest.

After a short walk, I found a small clearing, and the bird perched calmly on a tree.

At the moment when it was just me and the bird in that mysterious clearing!

The fairy revealed its true form.

Suddenly, the parrot's body swelled as if it was about to burst.

Its soft lavender feathers, which looked like heavenly down, transformed into black steel-like scales.

The delicate, childlike beak turned into a powerful beak capable of crushing a human skull.

The dainty wings, which seemed like they could belong to a cherub, morphed into something resembling the tentacles of an alien creature.

In an instant, an overwhelmingly intimidating, monstrous figure appeared before me, and I was so stunned that I collapsed to the ground.

“…”

“...”

Surprisingly, the monster didn't do anything but stare at me.

At that moment, another figure emerged from the forest, someone who matched the bird's mysteriousness.

Her hair, cascading like a waterfall, shimmered with the twilight of dawn.

Her fluttering cardigan was adorned with various esoteric symbols that I couldn't decipher.

In a small perfume bottle, crimson liquid swirled like blood, while a swaying candlestick and a gleaming dagger caught my eye.

The scales on her left breast gave me a strange sense of déjà vu, making it hard to focus.

But the most mysterious thing of all was her eyes.

Those red eyes, as if they were filled with the blood Christ shed as he was nailed to the cross, pierced through me, and I was completely overwhelmed, frozen in place.

The girl, who looked like a witch from another world, gently stroked the bird-turned-monster and approached me.

"Don't you recognize me?"

I was breathless.

I know this girl…

I know her!

My heart screamed.

I know this girl!

From the moment I first saw her, I felt an indescribable sense of familiarity.

She seemed to want to say something more to me.

But then, a loud voice boomed from behind, "Ms. Elena! I told you that it’s dangerous!"

I heard the sound of someone breaking branches and trampling grass as they approached.

In an instant, the peace of the forest was shattered, and the relentless clatter of shoes trampled the surreal moment, dragging me back to reality.

"Ah…"

"It seems it's too much to talk more today."

The girl, looking somewhat disappointed, handed me a photo.

"You'll find it soon. I hope you come alone next time."

With those words, she vanished like the wind with the bird.

- Clack!

"Ah~ Why are there so many branches here? Ms. Elena? Are you okay? Why are you sitting there alone?"

"Why did you come so quickly?"

"Pardon?"

I unintentionally snapped.

I felt like I was in the middle of an unbelievable, once-in-a-lifetime experience, and it had been interrupted.

But the bodyguards were only doing their job to protect me.

"I'm sorry. I was just lost in thought."

"It's alright. Let's head back to the car."

As I walked back to the car, I looked at the photo in my hand. It was a café with a seaside view.

“Come alone”

That was what she said.

***"That was close, wasn’t it? It felt like Elena was waking up for sure. Should we have pushed a little further?"

"If we had, who knows what might have happened when the bodyguards showed up? We might not even be able to get close to Elena anymore."

"What if Perro had just pecked Elena with his beak?"

"...If Elena knew you suggested that, she’d probably be hurt."

"What if, like when you summoned oil, Elena suddenly summoned a bodyguard with an assault rifle?"

"Good point."

"Out of all of us, Elena is the one who has changed this world the most. She’s the most deeply immersed in her illusion, and she’s using the power to grant wishes the most intensely. It’s too dangerous to use forceful methods on someone like her. In the extreme case, we could blow her head off, and she might just dismiss it as a bad dream, while only we end up dead."

"Right. We need to guide her to wake up on her own, no matter what."

"Alright, let’s finish the last preparations at the café. Kain-oppa, are you ready?"

"I’m not sure what more I need to do. I’ve pretty much prepared everything. It feels like we’re almost done."

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