Chapter 192:
Chapter 192:
Staring at the eerie smile reflected in the mirror, Andy's lips quivered.
——
"···Andy Ramil?"
"Yeah, it's me. How've you been? You must have been doing well. I've been watching you closely."
"Watching me closely? What does that mean?"
"Exactly as it sounds. I've witnessed every moment of happiness you had after following that pastor guy."
"···."
"You looked happy, Andy. I was lonely."
——
In the mirror, Andy Ramil blinked and continued speaking.
——
"One day, you stopped calling for me. How could you do that to me? I was there for you when you needed it the most. So, I prepared for a long time to be able to come out, regardless of your will."
——
Though reflected in the mirror, the presence of Andy Miller was strangely alien.
——
"I was so lonely. You know that, right? You know how hard it is to be lonely. I emerged from the unbearable pain and sorrow. ‘Andy Ramil.'"
"I, I don't understand what you're saying. Suddenly coming out."
"Suddenly? How can you say I ‘suddenly came out' to you? We're friends! Each other's only friends!"
"···!"
——
As Andy Miller intensely expressed anger in the mirror, he startled, taking a step back. 𝚏r𝗲ewe𝚋𝐧𝚘vel.𝚌𝚘m
Andy found himself frightened in the mirror.
——
"Ohh… Andy. This isn't right. Why are you scared of me? We're friends."
"···."
"Now, I won't leave you anymore. And now, you can't push me away either. I can use your body whenever I want."
"Use my body···? Wait, did you kill the pastor?!"
"If it wasn't me, then who else? But this is just the beginning. Now that I've taken care of the devil who stole you from me, I'll kill other bastards—those who claim to be your friend without even knowing your past or your girlfriend. Well then, see you next time, Andy."
——
With that statement, the eerie-faced Andy in the mirror disappeared.
Suddenly, memories flooded into his mind. The ‘mirror self,' Andy Ramil, remembered brutally killing the pastor.
***
During those few seconds as James Won awaited Jinseok's performance, he suppressed his excitement.
As mentioned earlier, no matter how much he was anticipating a talented actor, he had to view him with the same perspective as other audition candidates.
However, the excitement from expectations didn't easily subside. James Won's legs were trembling slightly with excitement.
"Pastor, I'm back!"
That was the moment. Jinseok began acting in front of the camera set up to his right.
It was the performance of Andy Miller returning to the church.
‘It's not as special as I expected.’
Perhaps because the expectations were too high.
Jinseok's acting was not significantly different from other actors. It was good, but not impressive enough to applaud.
James Won decided to continue observing.
"Wow, Pastor the omelette is probably the most delicious thing in the world. Scholarship? Hehe, I was worried because my grades were lower this semester than last."
It was a scene of a dinner with a pastor who was more like a father than his father.
This acting, too, was too natural. It wasn't extraordinary.
‘Hmm… Is it because he's acting in English?’
The acting James Won had hoped for from Jinseok was not like this. He wanted the kind of acting ability and impact that could turn even simple lines into memorable ones.
But now, Jinseok's acting was no different from any other actor.
While James Won looked at Jinseok with a somewhat disappointed feeling, Jinseok continued the acting.
After solving the puzzle with the pastor and enjoying a delicious dinner, he finished the cleanup and entered the room.
Jinseok collapsed on the audition room floor as if he had fallen. It was as if he was lying on the familiar bed he had used for a long time.
With half-closed eyes, Jinseok murmured.
"Let's just sleep today since I'm tired. We can wake up early and shower in the morning."
As Jinseok continued his performance, not only James Won but also the other production staff responsible for judging gradually felt a disappointment in the atmosphere.
It was because the actor they had most anticipated kept delivering a subtly unsatisfying performance.
However, at that moment, Jinseok slowly stood up from the floor.
Without paying attention to the judges, he walked slowly towards a prop, a kitchen knife, prepared on the side.
His steps were somewhat different from Jinseok's usual ones.
At a glance, there was a sinister smile on the side of his face that could not be attributed to ‘Kang Jinseok.'
Strictly speaking, it was a sinister smile that could be associated with ‘Andy Miller,' the character Jinseok had been portraying.
"Hehe."
Jinseok let out a laugh audible enough. There was wickedness in that laughter.
Jinseok grabbed the kitchen knife with his left hand as if it were a precious treasure.
While holding the knife, he continued to laugh wickedly without erasing the smile.
Without removing the smile, Jinseok walked slowly to the other side of the audition room, holding the knife.
There lay a mannequin, set up as the ‘sleeping pastor.'
Jinseok quietly sat beside the mannequin and looked straight at its face.
"Hehehehe."
Something unusual seemed about to happen.
The once quiet audition room had now fallen into a silence so deep that not even a breath could be heard.
Just a while ago, James Won and the judges, who had been disappointed in Jinseok, had forgotten to evaluate him at some point.
"Hehehehehehe."
Jinseok slowly brought his right hand to the mannequin's neck.
Then, as if to say he was going to break the mannequin's neck, he grabbed it forcefully.
Jinseok pressed down on the mannequin as if it were resisting violently.
However, unsatisfied, he hesitated for a moment and then ruthlessly stabbed the knife he was holding. The order was the neck, the chest near the heart, the armpit, the upper abdomen, the lower abdomen near the kidneys, the groin, and the thigh.
"Hehehehe…"
After suppressing the opponent so that it couldn't resist, he went on with this gruesome act.
Though it was an action with props, it was so horrifying that it was difficult to watch with open eyes.
It was truly a demonic sight.
The judges widened their eyes and covered their mouths. James Won was no exception. But what surprised him wasn't just Jinseok's demonic appearance.
James Won recalled his interview with the original author.
‘That's the same murder method the author described.'
While preparing for this project, James Won heard various stories from the former FBI agent who was the author of "Long Time No See, Andy."
The stories included unrevealed actions of Andy Miller, his habits, and details about his methods of murder, all of which were not written in the book.
The reason the FBI agent didn't include Andy Miller's modus operandi and murder methods in the book was to prevent ‘copycat crimes.'
‘But is he just doing it exactly as described?'
It was a behavior pattern only someone like an FBI agent would know.
However, it was a bit strange. Such a behavior pattern wasn't in the script.
‘But he followed it perfectly? Should I think of this as a coincidence?'
Regardless, it was a good thing for James Won.
Jinseok's acting was flawless.
"Hehehe."
After decisively ‘killing' the ‘pastor mannequin,' Jinseok casually lay down next to it.
Lying down and looking satisfied, he closed his eyes.
After killing the pastor, he portrayed Andy Miller sleeping beside him.
For a while, Jinseok didn't move.
If any other auditionee had stayed motionless like that, the judges would have exchanged glances, signaling to each other, "Should we end it now?"
But Jinseok's acting prevented them from even considering such thoughts.
Silence filled the room.
After a moment, the eerie laughter that had filled the audition room gradually returned to its original atmosphere.
Soon after, Jinseok twitched.
As if feeling uncomfortable on the bed, Jinseok slowly opened his eyes with a vague impression, not fully awake yet.
Then, still somewhat drowsy, he looked around.
"W-What is this?!"
Startled, Jinseok swiftly threw off the blanket, displaying agile movements as if removing a disgusting and frightening insect.
To the judges, it seemed like he was revealing a blanket covered in the blood of the pastor he had just ‘killed.'
Soon, Jinseok noticed the lifeless pastor mannequin lying beside him. And also the kitchen knife clutched in his left hand.
"Pastor?"
As if unsure and overwhelmed, Jinseok tentatively touched the pastor's mannequin, seeming lost.
His hand trembled, and he didn't know where to look.
After thoroughly examining the mannequin, Jinseok bit his lip tightly and lifted the pastor's mannequin. Then, taking a few steps, he mimicked burying the mannequin in the ground.
Even in an audition, there was no need to go to such lengths. However, no judge tried to stop Jinseok, who was sobbing while pretending to bury the mannequin.
"Ugh… Ugh… I'm sorry, Pastor. I'm sorry."
Jinseok apologized to the mannequin, shedding tears and mucus.
It was a sight that couldn't be associated with the person who had cruelly and ruthlessly killed the pastor just moments ago.
For ten minutes—whether short or long, the judges watching Jinseok's acting were unaware of the passing time.
"I, I have to wipe away the blood."
Jinseok mumbled, his lips trembling.
It was a scene where Andy Miller washed away the blood after killing the pastor.
Reaching into the air, he turned on the shower and used his hands to vigorously wipe his body. The force he applied was so strong that the visible veins on his skin turned red.
For a while, Jinseok continued wiping his body.
After presumably cleaning off the blood, he reached into the air again and turned off the shower. With natural movements, he wiped away the remaining water on his body.
At that moment,
"···."
"···."
By chance, Jinseok's eyes met with James Won's.
Upon this, Jinseok raised the corners of his mouth to his ears, forming a peculiar and sinister smile as he spoke.
"Long time no see, Andy. How have you been?"
Although it was a short line, James Won felt a chill.
‘…Terrifying.'
Even the voice seemed somehow different from Jinseok's usual voice.
Moreover, even ‘Kang Jinseok' saying those words seemed not to be the ‘Kang Jinseok' James Won knew.
In that moment of doubt, a statement from the FBI agent, the original author, flashed through James Won's mind.
[Harryson Identity Disorder, or in other words, someone with multiple personalities, should be considered an entirely different person. They may share the same body, but their tastes and preferences differ. Naturally, their voices, speech patterns, and behavior are also distinct. This is why the FBI faced significant challenges in proving Andy Miller's guilt.
Anyway, the ‘Andy Miller' I investigated was such a person. I hope the director has cast an actor who can portray such an ‘Andy Miller.']
And now.
The actor the FBI agent had mentioned was right in front of them.