Seventeen Imagines III

#41 "Be Happy" (one shot story)

"Under my Feet" is one of the top 10 highest rating Korean dramas of all time. It is a story about a poor guy, Michael, who seeks revenge of his family's injustice death. After hitting 28.67% worldwide rating during its 16th episode, the drama puts on hold when actors and actresses were suddenly gone missing one after another.

"Actor Yoon received a death threat before he suddenly disappeared without trace."

"Actor Choi also received a death threat before he went missing."

"Actor Hong texted me one night, telling that he received a suspicious email."

Actor Choi, actor Yoon, actor Hong, actor Wen, actor Kwon, actor Jeon, actor Jihoon, actor Xu, actor Kim, actor Lee, actor Boo and actor Chwe, the twelve celebrities who are the main casts of the drama, were all gone missing after receiving death threats.

"Dino, can I go to the comfort room very quick?" Actor Dino's manager asked.

Inside a white car is a man named Dino. Apparently, he's the remaining main cast of the drama and he was on tight surveillance because of the recent incidents. Of course he's scared, thinking that sooner or later, he could be the next victim of this absurdness.

"Sure bro, take your time," Dino said with his trembling lips.

"Okay! Don't forget to lock the door!" his manager hopped out after reminding this to him.

Dino just finished visiting the police station after giving his statement. He was asked with questions like:

"Where were you before Actor X was last spotted at his hotel?"

"Did you spot suspicious people around the taping area?"

Etc...

News about this spreads around the world and articles on internet have published non-stop. When Dino browsed on his phone for the first time after weeks, the first news he saw at the headline was: "Where are the 12 actors of 'Under Feet'?" which gave him Goosebumps all over his body. Then suddenly...

'Bam!'

He heard thud sounds from behind.

"Ohhh!" he gasped then tilted his head towards his back.

In the city that is bright and noisy, Dino was staring behind with heavy breaths. He was sure of it. Dino was sure that he heard something although he found nothing at the back.

'Maybe, I'm just a little bit sensitive nowadays,' he uttered to himself. Placing his hand on his chest, he slowly looked North and felt relieve when he saw his manager running towards their car. Phew~

"Sorry. Did I make you wait for too long?" his manager asked as soon as he opened the door.

"No, no," the humble actor disagreed. "It's okay, bro."

"The police said that they will guard outside your house tonight. But if you would like to, I can stay with you."

Since the incident, his manager guarded him without getting proper sleep and Dino can see his eyebags through the front mirror.

"Bro, you can rest for tonight. You don't need to worry since the police will be there," Dino said even if he's clenching his cold hands around his phone.

"Are you sure?"

"Y-Yes."

Thus, Dino was left alone at his house.

Before he went on his bed, Dino locked the doors and every window. He also put a pistol gun near on him just in case he'll need it soon. After taking his anti-insomnia pills, finally, the actor laid down on his bed.

Dino always turned the lights off before sleeping. But tonight, he didn't. Because whenever he's in the dark, he feels that there would be someone that will appear before him, that his breath came in small spurts, hot and nervous and at his side were fingers curled into sweaty fists.

"I'm not scared," he whispered.

But his brain said, 'Someone helped me.'

"I won't die," he uttered.

But his mind begged, 'Please let me live.'

So he shut his eyes, wishing for sleep to knock him out and to rest his mind even for a bit.

'Kring kring!'

It failed. The loud ringing of his phone wakened up his senses. Dino opened his eyes with a long sigh before he sat up. In wonder, he stepped towards his table and picked up his phone.

[Dino, are you okay there?] message from his manager.

He started to type his reply, "Yes big bro. I'm ok..." but stopped when he noticed that slight changes inside his room. Dino is a meticulous person. He's someone who arranges his books according to the first letter of its title from A-Z. He's someone who will separate his clothes according to its fabric. And so, when he saw that the lamp which was on the table was facing towards his cabinet, he knew that someone barged inside his room.

Looking at the closed cabinet, his muscles are frozen in place but filled with such a tingling pressure. His eyes are popped open, so hard he couldn't blink. And even if he wanted to run or to hide which might be better, Dino could not. Not when all of his energy went gone somewhere.

'What would I see inside the cabinet?' Dino started asking this to himself.

Using his shaking limbs, he slowly approached that huge wooden door.

'No!' his mind contradicted. 'Don't open it!' However, his body continued to go closer and closer to his fear.

In watching horror movies, many asked the obvious questions like: "Why would you open it when you think that your life could be in danger?" or "Why would you check the comfort room just because you heard a mysterious sound?" or "Why would you stare at the mirror if you feel that someone is standing behind your back?" These simple questions made the protagonist dumb.

Dumb? No. You wouldn't know the real feeling of facing your fear unless you experienced it; the trembling of your hands, the heat on your skin and the imagination of getting killed. And now, Dino is here to prove how fear can drive you crazy.

His heart was pounding in his chest but he tried to ignore it and slowed his breathing as his hand slowly opened the cabinet.

'Einnnngk' the creak sound filled the silent room.

As if he forgot how to breathe, Dino stared inside the cabinet and found nothing. Yes. He found nothing except his clothes, his pants and...

"A letter?"

He saw a red letter that was placed about his shirt.

His pulse began to pound hardly again, and now he couldn't ignore it. He thinks that this letter could be the same death threat letter his missing co-actors have received!

But why? Why him?! Why now?! Dino couldn't accept that he'll die anytime. Therefore, he grabbed the letter and opened it bravely.

[Hi Michael...] the greeting was something he didn't expect. [You don't have to feel sad anymore. I revenged the injustice death of your family. I knew you wanted this, that you wanted them to die and so I did. Everyone was killed. And now, please be happy.]

Dino won't die tonight.

Why? Because he's Michael. And Michael is the heroine in the drama "Under my feet."

The letter he received was sent by an avid fan who was so into the story that she couldn't differentiate the drama and the reality. And thus, she killed all of them. She killed all of the villains thinking that it'll make Michael happy.

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