(pov Ji-Yunwoo)
The noise returns before the pain.
A low rumble.
As if the walls were breathing, the ground began to tremble beneath my feet.
I slowly raise my head and emerge from my sleep.
The ceiling is shaking.
The light flickers and goes out.
I rub my eyes.
- …Not now.
My fingers slide across the table.
My phone, where has it gone now?
– I just paid for everything, no earthquake please…
I close my eyes for a second.
Then I breathe out, the shaking has lessened but the light has not returned.
– Hae-won…., little Hae
She did not respond
BAM !
A sharp, dry sound.
I turn my head towards the door.
A cracking sound.
Then-
A shock.
I rushed towards the living room
The handle of our door was shaking.
I pounce on it.
Instinct.
No reflection.
– …hé ! Have-won! Have-won! Hae-won!
I started calling him in a panic
But she didn't respond, and I had trouble making anything out in the darkness.
What if it was her at the door?
BAM !
A second shock.
More violent.
The wood almost cracked.
It was definitely not her
I take a step back.
More
BOOM!
The door explodes and throws me against the wall.
Figures enter.
Black Masks.
Silent.
I have no hesitation.
I'm going for it.
Direct.
My fist flies off.
One of the guys steps back.
But not enough, I get hit on the side.
I fall against the wall.
Breathless.
I straighten up immediately.
– WHO ARE YOU!
My voice breaks.
My hand rests on a body
She collapsed on the ground.
Unconscious.
Before I even realized it,
They lift her up and place her on their shoulder
Like an object.
– NO !
I throw myself in again.
But this time-
Crack!
I receive a sharp blow to the ribs.
Then another one.
In the jaw and in the legs
I fall.
The taste of blood fills my mouth.
I spit and crawl towards him.
– let her go…
My hand grabs her ankle.
They're pulling me back.
Abruptly.
A knee in my back.
My head hits the ground.
– damn…
I barely raise my eyes, but my arms are tightly gripping the person holding her.
One of the guys blinded me with his torch.
Silence.
I was only listening to my heartbeat.
Then
- coward .
A voice.
Calm.
Almost bored.
I grit my teeth.
- Why… ?
They are not responding.
They continue.
I'm forcing it too.
Again, as much as it takes.
I half stand up, moving up to her thigh.
A blow.
Again.
Stronger.
My vision is blurring.
But I'm holding on.
– LET HER GO, I HAVE NO MONEY YOU CAN TAKE ANYTHING EXCEPT HER.
Silence.
Another approaches, bends down and
He looks at me through his mask.
– she took a ticket.
I frown.
I fixed myself completely flat and my grip loosened.
– …that ticket?
My heart skips a beat.
Are they gangsters?
"What, you didn't know?" the man chuckled through his mask.
– She won.
The world stops for a second.
– …it's… crap.
I'm coughing up blood.
– Give it back.
He tilts his head slightly.
– The money was accepted.
I don't understand.
A chill runs down my spine.
– …what money?
He straightens up.
– his participation has been validated.
My heart aches.
– …to what?
No one is answering.
They turn around.
They start to leave with her.
It was over.
I feel something cracking.
Inside.
– No, no, wait.
My voice is broken.
– Take me, I'll take his place.
I get up.
With difficulty.
But I'm still standing.
– I'll take his place.
The man turned towards me, and I could easily guess a smile beneath his mask.
I gather my strength and crawl towards them.
– I will reimburse you.
I clench my fists.
– Take me, she won't be of any use to you.
Silence.
They exchange a glance.
Then
- why not
I don't think.
– free the .
My voice is trembling.
But I continue, reaching out to retrieve it.
– she doesn't understand anything about life.
I'm having trouble breathing and my vision is blurring
And with a gesture, I was grabbed from behind.
A shiver runs through me and my strength fails me
I fall to my knees and sink into total darkness.
Nothing more.
More noise.
Sleep is sweet…
….
I don't know how much time passed before that light, violent, brutal, made me squint.
The sand.
The heat.
People.
Screams.
I straighten up.
With difficulty.
My whole body aches, but I can't see any injuries.
I look around.
All the deranged people I've ever known.
I was still dizzy and had trouble getting up
BAM !
I saw a human brain spill onto the sand.
Currently
The noise of the drones multiplying kept pulling me from my sleep.
This dream, again and again.
I remain motionless, my gaze paralyzed.
How long have I been here?
In the midst of the chaos, my eyes follow nothing, seek nothing.
Except
My screen.
To be.
– Hang in there.
My eyes refused to leave the screen.
- I'm coming
The break is almost over.