(pov Ji-Yunwoo)
The void.
Again.
The wind passes through me.
Then-
CRACK! .
– HAAAAAAAAAAA! AHAAAAAAA!
The ground is reclaiming me.
The pain was excruciating, my breath caught in my throat, I felt like I was drowning inside myself, I could see the sides of my nose pointing outwards.
The horror and suffering increased with each fall.
Everything explodes.
Silence.
And the Black man comes to relieve me.
My eyes open.
Return to the drop-off point.
I haven't made any progress whatsoever.
My breath came back suddenly, brutal and disordered, a throbbing pain in my back and my legs trembled with heaviness.
– …go ahead, JAE! .
I don't even have time to move, my foot is constantly searching for support.
– THE MARCHES, MOVE FORWARD, DAMN IT
I now had to listen to the heart-rending cries of those behind us.
Waiting my turn too.
I slip and tip over immediately.
- shit-
But I seized Jae.
He was frozen.
Her eyes were empty, fixed.
Her body is no longer responding.
And the wind is already blowing through our hair.
Too late.
Our bodies fall together.
CRACK! .
— BIPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!
Back.
Same place.
I woke up with a pounding in my head, I heard nothing but a constant beeping.
My breathing becomes heavy and irregular, I feel nauseous and I feel like vomiting.
Three strong.
- …control.
I grit my teeth.
I'm moving.
More-
Jae doesn't move.
Still nothing.
He remained frozen, his head bowed.
Son regard tremble.
Her fingers clenched around the void.
– JAE! .
Nothing.
– JAE !
His head finally turned slightly towards me.
But her body-
Does not follow.
– …I can't…
His voice breaks.
– I can't…
I'm looking underneath.
The steps disappear.
Again.
Again.
Always the same rhythm.
Barely 10 seconds.
I don't even have time to recover.
– Listen to me.
I am holding his hand.
– Look at me.
Her eyes are trembling.
– Look at me!
He stares at me.
Finally.
– You have no choice.
– either you go up.
I point to the void.
– either you keep falling.
Her lips trembled.
– …I'm in too much pain-
But shh…
I smile slightly.
- Me too.
CRACK !
A brief silence.
Then-
A noise.
Behind.
I was dizzy but I could already feel movement.
I turn my head.
A body slips in.
Between us.
Fluid.
Fast.
Pushing others aside
I squint.
And before I knew it, I was still floating in the void.
The seer intervened between me and Jae before his fall.
– …fuck .
BAM !
Blackout
I felt only shock, and death delivered me.
BIPPPPPPP!
But now the positions... have changed.
I'm looking at Kang's back now.
He too did not automatically recover from this fall, but he was gaining ground.
I look at the ground and push it.
It was the best decision.
Simple.
Claire.
– JAE .
He doesn't answer.
I breathe.
- ADVANCE .
He doesn't move.
I'm going to end up stuck here.
So I prefer to drop the matter.
Voluntarily.
I throw it away.
And my walk disappears.
– HEIN !?
I fall.
- What-?!
Her body sways with mine.
We fall back down together.
The wind howls in my ears and the cold in my bones is so painful.
CRACK !
What happened to me?
Back.
I open my eyes immediately.
Same place.
More-
Kang is no longer between us.
I turn my head and look for it.
He is in front of us.
And Jae is still blocking our progress.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four
Five
Six
Sept
Eight
Nine
Ten
– PLEASE STOP
the teams behind screamed in pain
The steps disappear behind me.
The screams are far more atrocious.
It's impossible to even take a look.
Watching those who stay on the ground makes me want to give up and abandon everything.
The body returns.
The pain remains.
Kang was climbing like crazy but now he's stuck on the 18th floor.
I look at Jae's back.
I can't even get angry.
– continue.
I murmured.
– Don't stop, I trust you, you can do it, my life is in your hands.
Sixteenth step.
– …do it, a little longer.
Sixteenth.
I'm looking at Jae.
– you go.
He hesitates.
Again.
One second too long.
- NOW !
He jumps and his foot lands.
Sixteenth step.
He did it.
I smile.
- GOOD.