Hallucination Quest | Ep. 2

Their enemy, the black mamba—had ruined their lives. Start from Karina--who has been possessed by her. Enemy or not, they have fought desperately to create justice and peace in both worlds. They and their ae tried hard against them from the start.

The morning had come, they--one by one woke up from their sleep and started their day. But strangely, "Giselle, have you seen the key I kept in this cupboard?" I said--pointing to the drawer; I meant, "No, why?" Oh no! 'that' key is the key to enter into our ae world--Kwangya. How about this? I searched the entire area of our room, but to no avail.

"What's going on?" asked Giselle, "The key is lost even though I remember very well last night that I locked the drawer very tightly--what should I do?" I said, "Calm down, we'll help find it later. Now, let's have breakfast," she said.

Breakfast in the morning was quite impressive. Our manager ordered traditional Croatian food for the morning. I like it very much. One thing still stuck in my mind is the key. My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the doorbell ringing, "Just a minute," my manager ran towards the door. "Karina, you have a letter from someone," he said. Letter? Could it be her? I snatched the letter from my manager's hand politely.

I tore it up and read it silently. "Oh my God! What is this?" I said as I stood my ground in disbelief at the letter written in dark purple ink.

"This must be her doing. We have to find her immediately; otherwise, we won't be able to save our ae world, and of course, it will have a huge impact on our world," said Giselle,

"I agree. Where should we start, eonnie?" asked Winter,

"I don't know if you look at this letter--it gives directions to go to a museum," I said,

"What museum?" asked Ning-Ning, who was sitting next to me, "I didn't even know it," "Could it be a museum about animals? She's a black mamba," Winter said, interrupting me.

****

We go to a museum about animals in Croatia, which is--exactly quite far from where we live. It took us two and a half hours to get to the location. On the way, we decided to play a pair of scissors, rock, paper to determine our team.

Ning-Ning is my partner on this mission. Later at the location, we will separate from our respective teams and carry cameras to record our condition. We had two hours to find the key through the lattice inside the Museum.

We agreed to meet back in the main hall. The Museum is huge. Hope we succeed. "Ning-Ning, let's start from here," I said. We start with the history of snakes.

The black mamba is a very deadly snake and has a very dangerous venom that is even more dangerous than a python. I read it carefully, and when I read down, I found a thick dark purple paper, "Ning-Ning, come here, I found it," I said, "I also found something," he replied.

We read it together. "Happening in a dry and rocky place." was the first clue, "it was light brown, and in a hot place," was the second clue. We rushed to the place where the answer was, the Desert.

We found the first key among the rocks. The first key found was mine -- it was blue with a heart symbol on it. We rush outside to find Giselle and Winter helping us find further clues to the whereabouts of the other keys.

"Winter, Giselle! Look what we found," said Ning-Ning who was running towards them with a cheerful face, "Wow! Good, we also found some clues to the whereabouts of another key," said Winter, "Don't you think this is a little odd?" asked Giselle, "Odd?" I said, "This is too easy; there must be another trap to come," said Giselle, "How can you know with a trap?" Winter asked. "I don't know. I read it from the clues that have found," she said, showing some pieces of paper in his hand.

Giselle's words are also reliable. She must have deliberately made the first clue easy. Well, if you want to play with us, you're up against the wrong people because we'll never lose to him. We will make sure he loses, and we will bring peace between these two worlds, Kwangya and Earth.

"Then what's the next clue?" I asked, "Go west, and you will find a black box, there you have to get the correct answer to our challenge and have a 1' chance to repeat it," Winter read from the paper he was reading. Challenge? I like this!

We followed the instructions given, and sure enough, we found a locked black box.

[Welcome, aespa! We look forward to having you here. Your challenge today is about honesty; each of you will get a turn to answer questions truthfully, have fun playing, and good luck!]

A black box appeared from the corner of the room. "Wow! What's that?" Ning Ning said. We approached it together with curiosity. Ning-Ning opened the black box; it contained a lie detector and a tablet with questions for us.

I read the first question for Giselle, "Giselle, If you could travel to any year in a time machine, what year would you choose and why?" I asked, "It's a tough question. In my opinion, I'll go to the year 2019, where our debut lie up announced," answered Giselle, "Can I ask why?" I asked, "I want to feel that euphoria again," said Giselle. We take turns to ask each other the question until the last run--it's my turn. Winter asked a question for me, "Eonnie, whos your favorite member?" asked Winter, "***" that's my favorite member.

We passed this mission. Clues appear, [Street XXX] I search it on my phone, it was a house locates not far from here. "Are you sure this was the right place?" I asked, "Yeah, the map said so," answered Ning-Ning, "Shall we enter it? It kinda spooky," said Winter, "Of course it is, maybe, it's near Halloween," said Giselle.

I enter the door first. A purple-ish spooky decoration all over the room--we all gather in the room. Instantly the door lock by itself as someone closes it. The TV turns on itself and plays a clip from Black Mamba BZZT BZZZT "Aespa will not succeed this time," said someone in the background, "Whatever, if not I'll kill you," said a sound [*clears the throat* Since today I'm not in a mood. I'll give you an hour to find your key if you can't then, say buh-bye to your ae.]

The time has started, 60 minutes find the key or our connection to our ae died. We search the key together with finding all the clues. We found all the hints now we are on our way to the last clue place.

This time only 2' people can come inside. "Who will enter this room? We don't have much time," I said. Giselle and Ning-Ning volunteer. [Excellent choice, good luck!] They enter the soundproof room. 10' minutes left. We still haven't heard any response, not until I heard Ning-Ning high note screams. "Let us in," Winter bang the door, [Sorry two people only, rules are rules,]

On the other side, Giselle and Ning-Ning try anything in that room to answer the last hint. [A blue box color with a letter on it]

"But, how do we find this little box thing if the room light is red?" said Nig-Ning,

"Wait, if the light is red and the box is blue, that means red mix with blue it will turn purple! That's it Ning-Ning finds all the purple boxes," said Giselle, "It's only one," she said with a purple box in her hand. We got the key belongs to Winter, a butterfly symbol key. The door unlocked.

"See, I knew Giselle eonnie could find it! She's smart," exclaim Winter, "Fine," I said--handing her $20 fresh out from my wallet. Overall we find 2' keys out of 4.

They didn't know that 'someone' watched them behind all the cameras. "Tch! Let see if you can handle 'this'" "Go, send her to them," someone says with an evil laugh behind the scenes.

Finally, we can found these 2' keys. I take deep breaths. I tried to sync up with my ae--all I heard was only buzzing sounds. "Do you all only hear a buzzing sound from the ae?" I asked, "Yeah," they said. Our manager searches for a place for our dinner. We crave something warm and can soothe our minds from this hectic day.

We all drift off after 15 minutes car ride.

****

"Wakee upppp!!!" yelled Heejin eonnie, "Aish this kids, I'm not paid enough for this," she said, then she grabs a red bottle out from her bag and pressing it. *trumpet sound enter the scenes*

"I'm up! I'm up!" I said with my hand on the air. OMG, I forgot to prepare a song for the monthly test! How could I forget? "You already debut, remember?" answered Giselle. Oh right, I forgot. Wait, did I said that out loud? "Can you stop the drama, come out and eat this dinner or it will be cold!" said Heejin eonnie--she seems to have a hangry issue. I whisper something to Winter and Ning-Ning's ears that make them jolt up with wide eyes. "I'm on it, less gooh!" said Winter and Ning-Ning in unison.

We, enjoying and savoring the dishes meanwhile, in the middle of our time with food. A girl in her 20's appearing us with a camera vlog on her hands. "Hello, this is my friend, Karina! What's up?" she said. She not only interrupts our dinner, but she also makes all of us not comfortable. Her friend? Since, when?

"Sorry ms, have I ever met you?" I asked, "Karina, how can you forgot your childhood friends! I'm Raina," she said. Raina?

I don't have any friends named Raina. "Yes, we're close," she said, "Sorry to interfere, perhaps you call the wrong person? I don't remember having a friend named Raina," I said, "How dare you misremembered me!" said Raina--she abruptness my shoulder, which made me stumble into Ning-Ning.

"Ms. Loina? Can you stop your foolish act? I know you lie for being a friend with Karina. I recommend you to take the acting class," said Winter, "It's Raina! Humph! Just wait, Karina. I'll destroy your little career and this group as soon as my dad knows!" said Raina--she stomps out from the restaurant. "Yeah, yeah, whatever, tell that to your dad," mock Winter.

We said sorry to other customers for making their dinner uncomfortable. "Woah! Swag!" said Giselle. I'm watching her with a disbelief face as well as Ning-Ning. "Don't you know I'm a Savage?" said Winter with a smirk on her face.

We're back to our temporary home, a.k.a the villa. I got a call from my sister, Rose eonnie. "Ya! what did you do to make our parent's clients disagree with our proposal?" asked Rose eonnie, "I don't know! Why you asked me for this?" I said, "Eomma said that her daughter is angry with you and said that their company will not agree with our proposal; did you win the fight?" asked Rose eonnie.

"Of course, I win it! Does her name is Loina? Raina? I attend to forget the name of a person, who had pathetic character," I said, "Did I make uh-damage to the company?" I asked.

"Nah, Raina's Dad company is just a dust to us, nothing against to our company," said Rose eonnie,

"Do you want to tend the company meeting with Raina's dad; it's on 8?" asked Rose eonnie,

"Sure. Don't forget to ask Raina to participate in the meeting," I said with wicked ideas.

I'm getting ready with my outfit. A red Givenchy set for today's meeting. I prepare my laptop for positioning on the desk. 15' more minutes before the meeting starts. I hope this meeting will go smoothly. I go asked Giselle, Winter, and Ning-Ning in the game room. "Hey, how do I look?" I asked, "Gorgeous," "Amazing," "Slayyy!! You're--so freaking stunning girl, If I'm a man, I'll be approaching you," said Giselle, "Are you drunk?" I asked, "I'm good," answered Giselle, "Wanna listen?" I asked, "Hell yeah!" said Giselle, "I wanna see that girl shocked face," said Ning-Ning.

We all go to Giselle & I's room to listen to the meeting. I take a seat but, my seat face backward. "Hello, nice to have you join this meeting tonight," I said--acting like a CEO. The actual CEO is Rose eonnie tho.

"So, state your reason why did you disagree with our proposal? It's for your good," I said, "Well, my daughter says that I shouldn't agree with this proposal; she said it was bad," he said,

"Oh, what a pity! If you agree to this proposal, you can save your company tonight," I said, "What do you mean by tonight?" he angrily said. Ooh, I see a terrible temperament like his daughter too.

"Let see in 5 seconds, better start counting!" I said *phone rings* "What?! You want me to sell my company cause of my daughter's debts to your company?" he said. I heard him ask angrily to her lovely daughter. "N-nothing d-dad, she's lying," she said. I mock her tone. I said, "Yes, you did, Raina!" She was shocked at my statement.

"Hi, Raina, my dearest friend that you said this evening," I said with a fake smile. "Y-you!" she said nervously, "What did you do, Raina?" her dad asked, "Nothing, dad," she said, "Nothing? What if I post this video up on the Internet? Isn't it great?" I said, "N-no! Please, Ms, forgive my daughter," her dad apologizing to her. Yes, for her! She only sits there without any sound. What a brat!

"Fine, I'll give your daughter 2' hours to make a video of your statement and tell the truth about today's event! I'll end this meeting," I said, "Ms, how about my company?" her dad asked, "Let see your daughter if she wants to cooperate with my agreements," I said. I press 'end the meeting,'

"That was amazing! Do you see her face?" said Winter, "I hope she can learn her mistakes," I said, "Agreed! Now, how do we have girls' night? Cool?" asked Giselle--flexing around her mask sheet collection. A girls' night begins with my loves one having fun with our jokes and things.

****

[Other Side]

"What do you mean by "You lost, Raina?" someone said, "I don't know that her family has overpowered my family company," I said, "Please give me last chance," pleased Raina, "Fine, tomorrow is your last chance. If you fail, that's what you got," someone said, "Okay," I said.

"This time, you can't go out from my grab, Karina. I'll destroy you!" I thought. "Hello, baby~ I need your help. Can you appear at XXX street tomorrow morning?" I said, "Sure, only for you, babe," he said.