Horror Game Developer: My games aren't that scary! Chapter 622: Escape [2]

The doors slid open, revealing a long, shadowy corridor right away. A rush of chilly air flowed in, grazing my skin and sending a subtle shiver across it. Faint lights struggled to reach the distant end, engulfing much of the hallway in deep darkness.

I halted at the entrance, my gaze shifting slowly rightward, then leftward, surveying the barren passage as quietness returned.

’Splitting up the team and isolating them. Typical fright technique.’

Unease stirred within me somewhat, yet I couldn’t resist dissecting every aspect of the scene. Knowing this was a man-made gate, fear barely touched me.

Curiosity dominated above all.

’Chance to learn.’

Indeed, this offered a valuable lesson for me.

Still fresh to ’Gate Creation’, I yearned to observe how my ’fan’ had crafted his Gate.

Step—!

My foot struck the floor as I advanced, the impact resounding loudly, reverberating off the walls and traveling further than expected. The echo persisted, layering softly while overhead lights flickered, throwing erratic illumination across the passage.

’...No signs of life yet.’

Still, escaping remained the objective.

An exit had to be located.

Luckily, not entirely directionless, I extended my hand as the Realmwalker’s arm emerged from below, offering a well-known compass.

Clutching it, I shut my eyes and whispered mentally, ’Guide me to the exit.’

Eyes reopening, the compass was already turning. It whirled a few times before settling straight forward.

’...Straight ahead then?’

I chose to heed its indication.

Caution stayed with me, of course. The compass held unreliability at times. Usually correct, but occasionally off, so preparedness was key.

Step. Step—!

Footsteps echoed through the hall, each one multiplying and blending as they ricocheted from the walls. Progressing along the endless corridor, I scanned every inch, eyes pausing on shadows and nooks while remaining vigilant.

Yet after minutes of such travel, no bizarre events unfolded. The path simply extended without bound.

This prolonged sameness creased my brow deeper.

At last, I halted.

’Endless loop? Like an infinite hallway?’

Unlikely...

Too basic by far.

Deeper tricks lurked, though surroundings appeared normal upon inspection.

’Hmm. You’re robbing me of control, forcing my pace to your tune... Valuable tip for my own Gate designs.’

Lessons poured in.

Maybe this setup held benefits.

Compass gripped tightly, onward I went.

Steps resounded everywhere, following the device, echoes stacking until origins blurred.

The corridor dragged on forever.

Time melted away, moments stretching into minutes, footfalls turning hypnotic in rhythm.

Endless trekking bred doubt of conclusion.

Right as another pause loomed, a shift hit. Lights burst alive overhead, blinding glare flooding the space and overwhelming my sight.

Vision bleached white, eyes burning as I squinted instinctively to adapt. Before comprehension dawned, quiet exploded.

Urgent yells erupted ahead, clashing chaotically with pounding feet scurrying over the ground.

’What? What’s happening...?’

Body tensed for surprises, I pried my eyes wide.

Shock met my view. At a vast hall’s threshold, nurses dashed about wildly, voices cutting sharp with commands. Patients hurried through, some aided, others borne, chaos throbbing everywhere.

"I need help over here!"

"There’s a need for blood transfusion over here!"

"Quick! Quick! This patient needs some help!"

Bewildered amid the frenzy, a nurse soon rushed my way, crying, "Doctor! Doctor!"

Blood stained her hands as she gestured to a room.

"We need your help quickly!"

Me...?

I glanced about, then downward.

Brow arched instantly.

’Outfit switched when?’

Latex gloves and blue surgical garb now clad me. Meeting the nurse’s eyes again, realization struck.

The real scenario...

Finally, it had begun.

"Doctor, let’s hurry!"

Suddenly, the nurse seized my arm with a tight grip and yanked me forward. I offered no resistance and hurried after her into a different room. This wasn’t my choice, though—the compass in my grasp clearly indicated the path she was taking me on.

Truthfully, I had no clue, yet I sensed I needed to cooperate for the moment.

Right upon entering, a piercing metallic tang of blood filled the air, intertwined with the stinging aroma of disinfectant.

As soon as I stepped inside, multiple nurses welcomed me, with lines of curtains visible ahead, soft whimpers and cries drifting from behind them.

Swooosh—!

Curtains pulled back in a rush, revealing a patient right in front of me—face ashen white, blood trickling from all over, pouring heavily from the gut region.

"...He needs a blood transfusion. Do it quickly."

Without thinking, those words slipped from my lips automatically.

Simultaneously, I dropped onto the stool and began inspecting the patient.

"Severe abdominal trauma... massive hemorrhaging. If we don’t stabilize him now, he won’t last five minutes."

Once more, I stood astonished by the diagnosis pouring from my mouth. It seemed I’d instantly turned into a veteran physician, grasping the patient’s plight in a flash.

I reached out, and the nurse slipped a scalpel into my hand.

I peered down at it.

Spotless and freshly sterilized, the metal gleamed as I hoisted it up. Its razor edge flashed beneath the glaring overhead lights while I firmed my hold, then dropped my eyes to the patient sprawled below.

I remained clueless about the chaos or its tie to my escape, but I stayed as a cool observer while descending the scalpel to slice open the patient’s abdomen.

Except...

"———!"

The instant the scalpel met the patient’s belly, agonizing pain erupted precisely at the cut location.

But... on me.

The patient let out a groan, yet as I glanced at my own form, my stare locked onto the crimson stain spreading exactly where I’d incised the patient.

’Oh...’

This was bad.

"Doctor."

Abruptly, fingers locked around my wrist. Swiveling my head, I faced a bunch of stares pinned on me—eerie, frozen smiles that could rattle anyone—while a nurse gradually cocked her head, her eye corners narrowing as she observed me.

"...Please get on with the surgery. There’s not much time left. If they bleed out, they’ll die."