The single bulb dangled above Klara, Omari, S3, and S6, casting long, twitching shadows that crawled across Ming Soo's limp body like insects drawn to death.
Screams and gunshots echoed from the floors below. The air was thick with the scent of dread, the kind that creeps in when the soul knows something's gone terribly wrong.
"Hey Jack," Omari said with a tired smile, glancing at S3. "Remember when you said you were gonna buy a liquor store for my birthday—but I don't even drink?"
Jack scoffed. "I told you, it's a chill spot for the boys."
"Aww," Klara pouted, feigning offense. "What about me?"
"You gotta grow some balls first," Jack shot back with a laugh. "But then again, some people don't even refill theirs. Like he's never touched a heaven hole in his life," he added, nodding toward S6.
Klara burst out laughing.
"At least I don't beat my meat in public," S6 muttered, eyes on his rifle as he gave it a once-over.
"Come on, Cain," Jack said, rolling his eyes. "It was one time!"
Laughter filled the room again—a fleeting, fragile bubble in the middle of chaos.
A sharp buzz cut through the warmth. Jack tapped his earpiece.
"Sir, our unit is down! Waiting for orders to retreat!" The voice on the other end was strained and panicked.
Jack's tone turned icy. "How many intruders?"
"Just one, sir. But… she's a demon."
A heavy silence dropped like an anvil. Jack glanced at his teammates, then raised his wrist and spoke evenly, "Hold her off. This mission has to succeed. Buy time, soldier."
Omari grabbed his rifle and headed to the door.
"I'm going."
"Stop—just stop," Klara said, stepping forward. "We can't let you do that."
"Why not?"
"I told you before… I don't want to see my girl cry," she said, clenching her jaw.
"And I don't want to see you guys die either. Besides, I'm the strongest here—I can hold that monster without breaking a sweat." He smiled at her, soft and sure. "Jack… take care of her."
Omari walked out.
Jack pulled Klara into an embrace, but she shoved him off, eyes sharp and wet.
In the corner, Cain pulled out a phone. He dialed. It rang once.
"Hello?" A woman's voice answered.
"Hey… is my brother okay?" he asked.
"Cain? Yeah. Your brother just opened his eyes today. You should come quick—we tried calling, but your phone was off."
"He's awake?" Cain slid down the wall, legs giving out. "He's… okay?"
"Yeah. He hasn't spoken yet, but he's healthy. Strong like a horse."
"Thank God…" Tears slipped down his face.
"You should come. You're all he's got."
"That's why I called," Cain said, voice trembling. "This job I took today… might take me a while. Could you watch over him until I'm back?"
"Of course. Just don't take too long."
"I won't. I'll send you my account info, everything you need."
Across the room, Jack and Klara exchanged glances.
"…Why did you join Crimson?" Klara asked softly.
Cain hesitated, then spoke, eyes locked on Ming Soo. "I was one of them. The Sung. Just a runner, really—pickups and drop-offs. Like an NPC to them. Then one day, they gave me a 'package' to deliver. I opened it… there was a girl inside. I let her go."
He inhaled shakily. "They kidnapped her all the way from Russia to my country. I didn't know how dirty they were back then. I ran. Crimson was my only cover."
"You did better than me," Klara murmured, getting up and untying Ming Soo.
Moments Later — After Yumi's Massacre
Klara sat slumped against the wall, blood seeping through cloth clenched to her side. Her eyes were fixed on Jack and Cain's lifeless bodies.
Footsteps echoed down the stairs. Yumi descended, cradling Ming Soo in her arms.
She didn't flinch as she stepped on the corpses, her face clenched in barely-contained rage.
"I'm sorry, Ming Soo," she whispered. "I told myself I wouldn't let emotions get in the way. I need to find who's behind all this, and I thought Haven would be here—but that slippery bastard always seems to be one step ahead."
Her voice cracked as she looked down at him.
"But I can't ignore how you're feeling right now. I promised I'd protect you… and this is the only way. I'll do anything for you. Just… just know I'm here."
A single tear fell, landing on Ming Soo's pale cheek.
Dream World
The world was cold. Sluggish. Time felt like syrup.
Ming Soo's body was dead weight, stinging with pain in every inch. His mind foggy. His eyes sealed shut like someone had glued them.
Something poked his shoulder.
His eyes peeled open slowly.
"Good morning, sleepyhead!" chirped Seo Yeon with a sunny grin. "Didn't get enough sleep at home?"
"Ugh…" Ming Soo groaned, struggling to lift himself off the hard desk.
"Hey—are you okay?" she leaned closer.
"Yeah… why are you in uniform?" he asked, disoriented.
"What do you mean? Is it not casual day?" She tapped her lips with her finger, playful as ever.
"I-I don't think so…" He rubbed his face, blinking hard. The classroom buzzed with life. Friends joked, papers rustled, sunlight danced on the chalkboard. That familiar warmth wrapped around him like an old blanket.
A tear slipped down his cheek.
"Why are you crying?" Seo Yeon asked, concern replacing her teasing.
"…Never better," Ming Soo whispered, smiling through the tears.
Maybe it was just a dream. Yeah… just a bad dream.
His life was still perfect. He could laugh with Seo Yeon. Watch his mom and aunt yell at each other over stupid stuff. Everything was normal.
But deep inside, a strange coldness lingered. A chill from a dream that didn't feel like one.
Real World
Yumi moved silently, carefully navigating the corridors with Ming Soo in her arms.
Suddenly, an unseen force slammed into her like a tidal wave. Her knees buckled.
The pressure crushed her, drained her. Like someone had dropped the sky on her shoulders.
She knew this power.
She hated this power.
"You FUCKING bastard…" she screamed, eyes flaring, "What took you so LONG?!"