Kill the Lights is a novel written by Jangryang and illustrated by Yubin. Published in 2012, it is complete at twenty one chapters + nine extras in three volumes. The physical copy was released on June 10, 2012 for volume 1 and Oct. 7, 2012 for volume 2.
A manhwa adaptation illustrated by Mink began in 2021. The manhwa has been published by Bomtoon and in English by Tappytoon. A drama cd has been released on 2013 produced by YAHE/야해 (밤 바다)
Synopsis[]
During his youth, child star Haley Rusk once captivated the people of America with his charming face and acting. But now, as a narcissistic adult, he is notorious for something completely different. From scandalous sex to drugs, he’s done it all-- Haley Rusk is a bonafide Hollywood Bad Boy, in the worst way possible. After a very public and drunken confession to America’s Sweetheart, Noah Raycarlton, his reputation finally hits rock bottom. Haley turns to some supernatural blood magic as a last-ditch attempt to repair his life, which ends in his body being possessed by the soul of a mercenary named Mason Taylor. Mason, while not confident in acting, seems to have a deep-rooted history with Noah. What kind of traumatic past do the two of them share? And, what really happened to Haley Rusk?
Characters[]
Mason Taylor[]
Wondering what the sound is before recognizing it as like a hospital heart rate monitor, Mason considers how a bullet shattered his skull but he still made it to hospital. His disbelief continues as he thinks how the closest hospital to that underground desert bunker is at least 120km away, that is impossible. Feeling like he had a weird dream, Mason wonders do humans even dream when they are dead. Hearing the ill-spirited comments from people nearby, Mason judges by the topic of the discussion that these are not the whispers of angels, but they sound too snobby to be demons. As a mercenary working with Aaron he was prepared to shoot an unarmed captive for backstabbing Zii and Bs. Mason guessed one of the smart higher ups will probably be able to figure out the password to the safe the captive was offering them. For this Mason was shot by Aaron before he could kill their captive.
In Rusk's body
Waking up in Rusk's body he registers there is no bullet hole and his voice sounds different than usual. He is startled at seeing his reflection and questions hospital staff on him collapsing from a heart attack when he thought it was a gunshot wound. With Tony speaking to him, Mason realizes who he is seen as and wants to leave the hospital. Without having Rusk's, or his own memories as he speaks of them to maintain the understanding, Mason needs to think how he is going to make a living from now on.
Noah Raycarlton[]
Asked how it felt to receive a proposal from Haley Rusk he remains silent. It was the same when Noah heard Rusk's words. From the Raycarlton family his grandfather is Mr. Raycarlton, the King Midas of the oil industry who was a leader in American business during the 1900s. His mother is from the Rebecca family, who have served in politics for generations. Noah's father is Edgar Raycarlton, the founding director of the largest law firm in the United States. His mother is Kelly Rebecca, an actress who swept America in her prime. Stating how he had nothing to say to those gathered round him, upon hearing the circumstances of Rusk's passing Noah remarks how chaotic and guesses he should stay out for the time being. Noah considers maybe he should take this opportunity to vacation in a warm country down South, it would not hurt his reputation to take a break. Where he was planning on ruining Rusk himself, Noah thinks he is a little sad that he went and died on his own. Remembering Rusk saying he would kill himself Noah smiled as he was told not to regret this later. Leaning in, Noah whispered that Mr. Rusk was going to spend the rest of his life miserably crawling around the filthiest dirt on the ground. Noah wonders if what Rusk was telling him that he would regret missing out on the opportunity to crush him himself, but he is not sadistic to that extreme though. Considering Rusk stupid, Noah contemplates how he does not know anything but pick fights. It would have been easy to drive him to Hell with the slightest push and Noah feels Rusk is better off dead. At seeing him on set, after looking at who appears as Rusk he has a glimpse of Mason who he really is.
Haley Rusk[]
Named Reese, as he is reported as Hollywood's rascal, Rusk damns the paparazzi for photographing and publishing his proposal to Noah. Regarding portraits of himself as a child Rusk comments to look how lovely and cute he is and how did they manage to take such an awful picture of him. Feeling it is because they hate him, Rusk speaks aloud that it why they purposely took a bad shot of him. Being honest with himself Rusk comments he knows he is not in good shape right now but as long as he puts his mind to it he can go back to his prime whenever he wants. When that happens the money will start rolling in. With 27 new messages on his answer machine Rusk deletes one from his manager regarding something on his schedule tomorrow. Disregarding further messages from Lauren, with Rachel's message Rusk thinks what she gave him had better work since he spent 30,000 bucks on it. Drinking it and overcome with giddiness, Rusk saw another man (Mason) and was scared by the collective ordeal. Feeling if it was him Rusk thought the man could make his dream come true. When he initially approached Noah to request that he sleep with him once Rusk betted Noah would never forget it. With no response Rusk moved to ask if Noah would marry him, he is seriously in love with him. If he did not agree to go out with him Rusk said he would go and kill himself and Noah was going to spend the rest of his life wishing he had not looked down on him. As a child he was cast in "27 Hours," a movie based on Noah's kidnapping incident. He has been in the business for 17 years.
Tony Bridget[]
Rusk's Manager, in a state of worry he has left a message for Reese on why he turned his cellphone off and why he won't pick up. He asked whether Rusk knew he had something on his schedule for tomorrow before commenting he is seriously going to quit being his manager. He found Rusk deceased on the floor of his house where it looked like an acute heart attack caused by a drug overdose.
Lauren[]
Leaving a message for Rusk, Lauren shares how Rachel said he had been collecting weird stuff lately. The rumors say Rusk has nearly gone broke buying those things and Lauren asks if he is sure there is enough money to pay Noah when he sues him for defamation.
Rachel[]
Addressing him as lovely Reese, Rachel asks whether he tried the thing she gave him and how it was. She assures him his wish will come true if he just waits a little while. Warning that it is some pretty nasty stuff Rachel explains things can easily go wrong if vengeful spirits get involved. Voicing that it was probably a made-up story Rachel told Rusk to be careful. The bottle she provided would result in Rusk passing away.
Captive Man[]
Asking if he was going to be killed this captive asks for Mason and Aaron to make a deal. He has a safe that contains the missile blueprint as well as a key that has his life's savings and he will give it all to him. Having around 50 million dollars he will give the password if he is allowed to go. Questioned how can they be sure it is real the man answers does he look like someone who would risk his life for a scam, he values his life. Distressed as a gun is placed to his head he speaks the 12, 36.5, 37 parts of the password in fear.
Aaron[]
Standing with Mason with a captive, Aaron asked how they can trust what is inside the safe is the real deal. When Mason was acting to shoot their unarmed captive Aaron shot Mason in the head.
Voiced by: Kwon Seong-hyeok (권성혁)
Simon[]
On set, unaware that it is Mason in Rusk's body he assumes the actor pretended to kill himself over Noah then came crawling back on set when that did not work. He did not think Rusk was really hospitalized yet with that left unsaid Simon is concerned that Rusk actually has some kind of terminal illness. Genuinely anxious for who he sees as Rusk, Simon tearfully comments he reminds him of his son and has known him for ten years now.
Story[]
Mason gains consciousness in hospital but wonders how. Nearby, relatives of who is in the hospital bed discuss the papers yesterday how every media outlet was cursing a Hollywood actor for hitting on America's saint. On top of that they comment how he tried to kill himself and whether he thought people would feel bad for him or something. Remarking to just look at him laying over there, still breathing, it is said how he is so stupid that he could not even kill himself properly. Mason hears these people discuss inheritance before they realize he is awake.[1]
Noah Raycarlton is asked how did it feel to receive a proposal from Haley Rusk, even if he were disgusted nobody would blame him. Inside his apartment Rusk considers the reporting of himself then checks his answering machine. Ignoring messages from his manager and Lauren he listens to one from Rachel and drinks what she provided him. Seeing a visage of Mason, Rusk falls over. Elsewhere, Mason tells a captive he is standing over that the higher ups did say it was fine to kill him. Even when the captive offers a safe in exchange for his life Mason moves to shoot him, before being shot by Aaron.[2]
Two days prior to Noah being spoken to by paparazzi he was in a nightclub when the proposal event happened. Intoxicated, Rusk professed his love and asked Noah to marry him. The news reported Noah's elite family background compared to how Rusk used to be one of America's beloved child actors. Viewers regard Rusk as a typical child actor who ruined himself with alcohol, drugs, luxury, and sex. As Noah leaves the paparazzi, in his limo he hears how Rusk is deceased. Noah thinks how Rusk was better off dead and expresses a callous worldview of him, before being informed by his driver that Rusk is in fact alive.[3]
Images[]
References[]
Wiki Link[]
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