Lovers from Hell

Eden

Jong Woo wiped the salty sweat off of his forehead, grunting as he pulls his suitcase up a hill.

''Eden Residence.'' he thinks to himself.

Eden translates to paradise; a place of pristine or abundant natural beauty.

He was hoping that this residence could be anything close to that, as he has a very limited budget and his room would cost next to nothing.

He eventually reaches the top of the hill, his pale skin now covered in droplets of sweat.

He lets out a much needed sigh of relief, and enters what would now be called 'home' for the next few months.

He slowly inspects the place, digesting the eerie atmosphere, until he suddenly flinches at a screeching voice.

''Oh, hello! Who are you? You look so handsome!'' she shrieks, subtly holding his arm.

All that Jong Woo could do was express a bewildered face.

The woman's face drops, until she gives him a comforting chuckle.

''Ah, where did my manners go? I'm so sorry, I just get so excited around handsome people like you. My name is Bok Soon, I am the landlord here.'' she informs him.

Jong Woo nods, giving her a smile, ''Oh, okay. It's no problem at all. I'm Jong Woo, I was the one messaging you about a room here.''

''Of course! You are room 303.'' she grabs a rusty key from her office, and then pulls him towards the room. Jong Woo's face scrunches up as his nostrils are greeted by a sour, revolting smell in the hallway.

Bok Soon unlocks the door, welcoming Jong Woo to it. However, Jong Woo feels anything but welcome; the walls are oddly stained, the floorboards are creaking and damaged, and the room is pretty much big enough for an ant. All that was in sight was a bed - which looked like it was reused by 500 people before - and a tiny, hideous looking desk.

Jong Woo turns around, giving Bok Soon a confused face.

''What's wrong? Don't you like it? I even cleaned the room for you.'' she tells him.

He shakes his head, ''No, no. I was just wondering why the room is so cheap? I mean, we're in Seoul, everything here is so expensive.'' 

Bok Soon nods, giving him a miserable face, ''Ah, I forgot. I must tell you, and.. don't be scared. However, there has been a suicide here before..'' she informs him, Jong Woo's face drops.

''But, it wasn't in your room! I promise!'' she stutters. ''There was also a fire on the fourth floor, so you shouldn't go there as it's chaotically damaged now.''

Jong Woo feels like his gut is telling him to immediately run away, his body filled with goosebumps. Jong Woo sighs, accepting his defeat. He didn't have the finances to rent anything better than this, and he didn't have the time to look for anything more affordable as he had to start his new job tomorrow.

''Okay, I guess I'll take it.'' he tells her, attempting to form a smile.

''Great! Let me just get you a small map to show where our rooms such as the kitchen and bathrooms are, I'll be right back.'' she tells him, leaving his sight.

Jong Woo grunts, resting his figure on the door frame. He suddenly feels something from behind him, so he turns around only to be greeted by a much smaller framed man. Jong Woo tried so hard not to gag, but he absolutely reeked. He didn't know what the stench was, but it was leaving his room. He saw a shiny, metallic object behind this man's back, not knowing what it could be. 

''It couldn't be a knife, right?'' He thinks to himself.

This man continues to stare into Jong Woo's soft eyes, ''What are you doing? Leave me alone, freak.'' Jong Woo tells him.

''You're going to regret that.'' the man responds.

The man enters his room, which was full of posters of nude women.

Just before Jong Woo could process this, Bok Soon was back.

''Here you go!'' she tells him, handing him his key and map.

She gives him an unsettling smile, 

''Welcome to Eden Residence.''

This place was anything but paradise.