The Monster Who Loved the Moon - Episode 0

Yujin was running desperately.

The muscles in her entire body screamed, and the breath that reached her chin tasted metallic. Her body, which had grown lazy from her re-sit year, couldn’t withstand the sudden sprint. Yujin squeezed every last bit of strength from her body, which felt like it was about to collapse. The fear riding on her shoulders was her only driving force.

The alleyway was as dark as death, and the flickering streetlights didn’t help her vision. Things lurking in the darkness kept tripping her up. The phone slipped from Yujin’s faltering hand and tumbled to the ground. Her frantic foot pushed the phone, which had fallen to the ground, into the darkness.

“No!”

Yujin threw herself to the ground and reached out her hand, crawling on her knees. Fortunately, the phone returned to her hand without any damage. The name ‘Seonyeongie♡’ and a phone number were displayed in the center of the bright screen. Yujin glared at the device, which continued to emit only ringing tones, and gritted her teeth.

“…Answer the phone, Park Seonyeong! Answer the phone!”

Yujin shook the phone and shouted like a madwoman, then flinched. The dark but ordinary alleyway was suddenly enveloped in a chilling silence. In the strangely quiet air, she heard a sound like something being dragged, squeak, squeak.

Yujin, who had stopped even breathing for a moment, felt her chin begin to tremble. Her chattering teeth made a clack clack sound. She tried to stand up, leaning against the wall at her back, but her legs, already weakened, wouldn’t move.

Yujin’s vision, frozen in place, dimmed slightly. Someone had entered the alley, blocking the streetlight with their body. The word “someone” wasn’t really accurate. Because the ‘thing’ standing in front of the alley, looking down at her, couldn’t possibly be human.

Yujin stared at it, dumbfounded. It was the third time she had seen it, but she couldn’t get used to its form at all. It looked like black and red crayons smeared messily. Bulging blood vessels, instead of skin, densely covered its surface. The wriggling veins and muscles moving with each breath felt like an ominousness beyond horror.

A massive bulk that made the alley seem narrow, a deformed arm that was short on one side and long on the other, and legs that were also mismatched, with one dragging along the ground. Unlike the left eye, which looked like a crushed and cracked crevice, the right eye, without an eyelid, was larger than a fist and constantly rolled around, trying to look at Yujin.

Yujin’s gaze, which had been wandering aimlessly, stopped at its blackened hand. Something was dripping from the tips of its sharp nails. A moment later, a pungent metallic smell rushed in.

“The call cannot be connected, and will be forwarded to voicemail after the beep.”

A cheerful voice, inappropriate for the situation, flowed out. The moment the monster’s eyeball stopped moving and the moment Yujin’s body bounced off the ground were almost simultaneous.

Yujin ran away frantically, trying to escape the monster. The only hope was that the monster’s speed was slightly slower than hers. It was strange that she couldn’t scream, even though she was terrified. Tears began to flow down her face, blurring her vision. After a few fumbles, Yujin managed to grab her phone and made a metallic sound at the continuing ringing tone.

“Answer the phone! Answer it! You passed it on to me! That thing!!”

“The subscriber’s phone is turned off, and the call is being forwarded to voicemail. Charges will apply after the beep.”

Yujin’s body staggered greatly at the sound that came out as if on cue. Panting, she realized that her pace had slowed and spurred herself on again. Her body, stiff with fear, didn’t move well. It felt like her mind had gone blank.

“Mom, Mom.”

Yujin, whimpering like a child, bit her lip. The shaking screen and trembling fingers, caused by running, were hindering her. After a few ringing tones, an unfamiliar voice flowed out.

“Yes, this is 112. How can I help you?”

“Save me…”

Even though she shouted desperately, only a mosquito-like voice came out. Frustrated with herself, tears flowed down again. Before the other person could say anything, Yujin shouted again.

“Save me, I’m being chased!”

“You’re being chased? Where are you now?”

The other person’s voice also became urgent at the desperate cry. Yujin, hesitating, looked around. An unfamiliar landscape, which was only frightening, came into her eyes.

“I, I don’t know. It’s my first time here… I don’t know at all.”

The police officer, who had been silent for a moment at Yujin’s fading voice, soon gave an answer.

“I’ll check your location using your phone.”

“Yes, please save me. Please hurry.”

As the hope that had seemed to be fading was rekindled, her sobs also revived. A feeling of relief, like a wet cotton ball, weighed down on her body, but she couldn’t stop running away. Yujin, giving strength to her staggering legs, ran towards the alley that looked brighter.

Suddenly, her body staggered and she felt like she was floating in the air.

“Are there any large buildings nearby?”

The moment she heard the voice and the moment the phone slipped from Yujin’s hand were almost simultaneous. She fell to the ground and stood up, squinting at the light that was so bright it hurt her eyes. The moment tears dripped from her blurred eyes, Yujin realized that it was the headlights of a car. With a screeching sound, an enormous impact struck.

That was all Yujin remembered.

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