Chapter 13.1

“EunHa.”

EunHa awoke from the darkness. She felt someone carefully touching her cheek. EunHa slowly opened her eyes as KyungHyun continued to sweep his hand across her face.

“Do you think you’ll be able to move?”

“…Yes.”

After she had fainted, the men outside the bars turned away and began to drowse from boredom. However, they suddenly began to speak noisily.

“If you’re okay, I’m planning on getting us out of here. The transaction will begin soon. When it does, everyone here will scatter, and we’ll escape then.”

Li Kahui had given Im SungJoon two hours to prepare the money. It was now almost 4 AM. There was less than 30 minutes left. There was no guarantee that they would escape with their lives intact even after the completion of the transaction. EunHa nodded almost imperceptibly.

[The Korean guy says he brought the money.]

[Go upstairs and make sure.]

One of the men pulled back from the mahjong table and checked his phone. Then he hurriedly went upstairs and disappeared. Unable to understand their conversation, KyungHyun could only stare outside the iron bars. Suddenly, EunHa softly whispered something to him.

“It looks like the money from YongSung has arrived.”

The remaining Chinese man glanced at them before smacking his lips as he tried to win over his sleepiness. He pulled out a cigarette and inserted it between his lips. The best chance to escape was now when there was only one guard left.

“Then I’ll go now. It should be okay, right?”

“Yeah.”

Their eyes met for a moment.

“Don’t look outside.”

KyungHyun murmured quietly. Without taking his eyes off hers, he began to move his arm. He stretched his hand through the iron bars and quickly snatched the wooden stick that was lying on the floor.

[Ugh, uhh!]

The smoking man got up from his seat in surprise. He approached the iron bars when KyungHyun swung the wooden beam with protruding nails precisely at his stomach. As the man let out a cry and clutched his stomach, KyungHyun struck a blow at his head. This all happened in a blink of an eye.

[You bastard…!]

Staggering under the sudden shock, the man went back to the table and grabbed a sharp kitchen knife.

[I’ll kill you.]

The man began to grind his teeth from the sharp pain. His face was red with rage. As if provoking him, KyungHyun threw the wooden stick onto the floor and rammed his fist against the iron bars.

“Come here.”

As soon as he saw that KyungHyun no longer held a weapon, the man began to charge at him.

[Ugh!]

The man thrust his knife haphazardly through the iron bars. KyungHyun grabbed his wrist and wrenched his arm to the side in one breath. It seemed that KyungHyun had been waiting for the man to come closer all along.

[Aaagh!]

There was a snap. It sounded like his bone had been completely dislocated from the joint. The man dropped the knife due to the pain. KyungHyun immediately snatched the knife from the floor. He didn’t hesitate as he thrust the knife into the belly of the man who was still leaning on the iron bars.

Shouting out a few more curses, the man slowly collapsed to the floor. KyungHyun pulled the man closer and began to rummage through the man’s pockets.

Damn it.

KyungHyun’s cold face twisted. He checked both pockets, but there was no key. The man who had disappeared upstairs probably had it. Did they have to wait for him to return? As KyungHyun pondered this, he heard a dull, metallic clink.

“Let’s go.”

Meanwhile, EunHa had picked up a rusty nail from the floor and picked the lock. She finally managed to open the cell door. EunHa had successfully unlocked her own handcuffs and gotten into KyungHyun’s safe back at the hotel. And now, he finally witnessed her lock-picking skills with his own eyes. A faint smile stretched across his lips.

“…All right.”

He grabbed EunHa’s hand and walked out of the cell. They were currently in the level 2 basement of the building. The entrance to the building was on the ground floor, and the room where they had met Li Kahui was located on the floor above them, basement level 1.

In order to escape this building, they needed to at least get past the level 1 basement. That meant that they wouldn’t be able to avoid Im SungJoon and his men along with the rest of the Chinese gangsters.

“Watch your step.”

“Okay.”

EunHa answered curtly as she followed behind him. Unlike the few steps they took to come down to basement level 1, there were many steep steps to basement level 2. That was how far the organization had dug into the ground.

The cells in the basement looked like prison cells. Its dirty floors were dyed with blood splatters. EunHa didn’t want to know the story behind them. She remembered how Li Kahui had mentioned human fertilizers, and a shiver went down her spine. She had no intention of staying here any longer. With a lump in her throat, EunHa carefully walked up the stairs.

Clink.

They had just reached the top of the stairs when they heard someone on the other side of the iron door. The handle began to turn. It looked like the man who went upstairs had returned. Flustered, EunHa froze in place. As EunHa looked up at him with wide eyes, KyungHyun pushed her flat against the wall and pulled the turning door handle.

[Wh-What the…!]

“Stand back.”

At KyungHyun’s soft command, EunHa pressed her back onto the wall. Having lost his balance, the man who had been on the other side of the door stumbled forward. KyungHyun took this chance to thrust his fist into the man’s abdomen.

[Uugh!]

With a dark, twisted face, the man reached into his pants and took out his gun. KyungHyun quickly snapped his wrist.

Bang!

The man pulled the trigger but ended up shooting his own shoulder. He groaned out in pain. In the midst of the man’s cries, KyungHyun quickly raised his leg and kicked him. The man’s body plunged down the stairs.

Holding his cellphone, Im SungJoon suddenly frowned when he heard the gunshot.

“…What was that?”

He was annoyed that there was no signal in this damn basement.

“Hey, that was a gunshot just now, right?”

“Yes, Hyung-nim.”

Im SungJoon’s face darkened. His expression turned grave, and wrinkles traveled across his slightly crooked nose.

“Isn’t that bastard Shin KyungHyun being kept downstairs?”

Im SungJoon and his translator began to observe the Chinese men in the room, who had begun to speak noisily amongst themselves.

“These men have ears, so I’m sure they heard it too…”

“I think I need to go down myself and check out what’s going on.”

Im SungJoon began to turn his body towards the door when one of Li Kahui’s men blocked him.

[You cannot move until the transaction has been completed.]

“Move.”

Having his path blocked, Im SungJoon no longer hid his annoyance and waved his hand.

[I clearly told you that you cannot leave this room until the transaction has been completed.]

The room was was filled with tension once again. The translator quietly whispered to Im SungJoon.

“Hyung-nim, they said that until the transaction is completed…”

“Fuck, then they should go, those sons of a bitches.”

The translator’s forehead was drenched with sweat. He filtered out the curses and spoke to the man. However, the men who had been ordered to watch Im SungJoon merely had a gruff expression on their faces and didn’t move from their spots.

“They said they can’t leave until their boss orders them to…”

“It’ll be here in 10 minutes! We’re doin’ some important business here. They need to make sure everythin’ is runnin’ smoothly. Do they want everythin’ to go to shit?”

Before the translator could finish his sentence, Im SungJoon roared out in a loud voice.

“Ten men! Fuck, how do you say ‘ten men’ in Chinese?!”

Before the translator could reply, Im SungJoon stretched out his fingers on both hands and held them up.

“Shin KyungHyun, that phantom bastard. You need to send at least ten men to catch him!”

It wasn’t that Im SungJoon hadn’t tried to kill him in the past. Every time Im SungJoon had tried to get him, Shin KyungHyun had exceeded his expectations and escaped alive. Shin KyungHyun had a knack for surviving and never hesitated to kill. At this rate, this business deal would fail, and everyone would go to hell with it.

“Do I look like I’m jokin’ right now?”

Im SungJoon hissed through his clenched teeth, his face twisted into a scowl. Seeing Im SungJoon’s expression, one of the men gestured to one of his lackeys with his eyes. They also felt that something strange was going on downstairs.

Suddenly, they received word that Li Kahui would soon arrive.

Not wanting their boss to witness such a chaotic scene, the captain of the remaining Chinese gangsters ordered the men to go downstairs.

[Tell the men who are waiting for the Boss’s arrival to come down here as soon as he arrives.]

One by one, the men picked up their weapons that were strewn on top of a table and disappeared downstairs.

“Hyung-nim, it seems that Li Kahui will be arriving shortly.”

Im SungJoon bit out a curse and swept up his hair that was drenched with sweat. He hadn’t experienced such a long night in a while.

At first, it was one man. After the gunshot, more men began to appear one by one. KyungHyun nervously bit the inside of his cheek. No matter how many men he threw down, more men popped up in their place. Because of that, they hadn’t been able to take one more step from the door leading to the level 1 basement.

Vrrr. Vrrr.

The lightbulb hanging above them rocked back and forth, illuminating all the men who had fallen by KyungHyun’s hand.

“Watch out!”

A man holding a knife began to approach EunHa, who had been helping KyungHyun by pressing down on the pressure point of a man. EunHa barely managed to avoid it, but the man began to charge at her once more. KyungHyun grabbed him by the throat and lifted him.

[Ugh, uh… Agh!]

The man holding the knife fell off the railing, screaming as he dropped. KyungHyun let out a ragged breath.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

EunHa replied curtly, hiding her anxiety as she nodded. She noticed once again that there were more steps from basement level 1 to basement level 2 than the steps connecting the ground floor to basement level 1. The reason why the men who had fallen off the railings couldn’t move was that they had broken bones from the impact of hitting the floor.

“Then let’s go. They’re increasing the more we linger here.”

“…Wait, something’s strange.”

EunHa looked up at KyungHyun and murmured as he grabbed her hand and began moving forward. Because she had been imprisoned by SungHo often as a young girl, she was particularly sensitive to sound and smell. When she heard the cries of the men who had fallen, EunHa felt that the echoes sounded strange. Unaware of this, KyungHyun softly asked her.

“What is it?”

“Over there.”

EunHa pointed over to an area near a man with a snapped neck.

“I think there’s something on the other side of that wall.”

“What?”

The hanging lightbulb on the ceiling flashed as it rocked back and forth. Its light didn’t reach that part of the basement because it was located behind the staircase, so it remained dark. EunHa continued speaking with a thoughtful expression on her face.

“The echoes of the cries spread out and linger over there.”

“…Are you saying that there might be a passageway leading somewhere else?”

A faint gleam flashed across KyungHyun’s eyes as he murmured. If this building had been built for the purpose of manufacturing drugs as Li Kahui said, then it wouldn’t be unusual for a few secret passageways to be built inside. It was also strange how the door opening into the level 1 basement had a lock on the inside. If this floor was reserved for imprisoning people, the lock would normally be on the outside.

“I’m going to go down and check it out.”

Before KyungHyun could make a decision, EunHa began to put her words into action. KyungHyun locked the door and hurriedly went down the stairs. As always, he followed after her.

[Uugh…!]

As he followed EunHa, KyungHyun saw one of the men on the floor begin to crawl after her. KyungHyun immediately kicked him back down. EunHa also began to stomp down on the men strewn out across the floor with all her might as she walked over to the corner.

“……”

EunHa quickly walked behind the staircase and stopped in her tracks. Her hunch had been correct. In this dark space, a sliver of light was seeping out. It was a tunnel that was just wide enough for one person to safely make it through at a time. EunHa’s heart raced at the intense relief that came over her body.

“…I think we can leave through here.”

EunHa looked at KyungHyun in relief. Suddenly…

Boom!

They heard the clank of the door handle and a boom as someone kicked against the door. KyungHyun and EunHa whipped their heads around to see what was happening upstairs.

[Is it locked?]

[Open up!]

The shouts were coming from outside the door. EunHa’s face paled once again.

[Don’t you know there isn’t a key to this door?]

[Then just break it down!]

“What did they say just now?”

KyungHyun looked questioningly at EunHa. EunHa chewed on her lips.

“They said there isn’t a key. They’re going to break down the door instead.”

After hearing EunHa’s words, KyungHyun reached down and took out a gun from one of the men’s waistbands. With an experienced hand, he checked the magazine. Then he grasped her shoulder.

“Go.”

“Yeah, let’s hurry.”

“When you meet Kang SungHo, shoot him with this.”

EunHa looked up at him in confusion when she heard his unexpected command. Just as KyungHyun was about to place the gun in her hand, EunHa pulled it away with a frown.

“What are you doing?”

“This basement tunnel probably connects to the outside. Since this is in a place where you can lock the door from the inside, it will probably lead you to a safe place. So move quickly. Call Kang SunHo when you’re out.”

“Then what about you?”

EunHa asked in return. KyungHyun raised his hand and rubbed his thumb over her cheek to wipe off a smudge of dust.

“I’ll follow you soon.”

It didn’t make any sense. EunHa’s frown deepened instantly. Suddenly, they heard someone beating against the door with an axe. It would only be a matter of time before the door flew open. EunHa frantically shook her head.

“No way.”

Her eyes were filled with fear. She wasn’t an idiot. She knew what KyungHyun meant. He was telling her that he would stay behind alone. He would let her escape on her own and stay behind to fend off the swarm of Li Kahui’s men in order to buy her some time.

“Don’t be ridiculous. No way.”

Instead of telling him she didn’t want to, she told him there was no way. No matter how stubborn this man was, she wasn’t going to give him a chance to do what he wanted this time. EunHa gripped KyungHyun’s wrist tightly, but he didn’t move a muscle.

“Lee EunHa.”

“Hurry, let’s go.”

It wasn’t that she didn’t understand his reasoning. If both of them tried to escape, there was a higher chance that both of them would die. However, if only one of them ran away, the chance of that one person making it out alive was greater. But she still couldn’t leave him behind.

“Let’s quickly leave while we still have the chance.”

“Think about the reason why you came all the way here.”

KyungHyun’s steady words stopped the shrill voice leaving her lips. EunHa’s black eyes shook dangerously.

“Didn’t you say so before? You said you would be the one to have your revenge on Kang SungHo. And you’re right. We don’t have much time, so get out of here this instant and have your revenge against that bastard with your own hands.”

EunHa had definitely told KyungHyun before that she wanted to get to know him more. That she wanted a fresh start with him. In order to do that, she told him she needed to cut the ill-fated ties she had with Kang SungHo. She couldn’t forget the words she said to him.

“But you…”

[It’s going to take years to get this door open at this rate! Try shooting it!]

Bang! Bang!

The bullets created bumps in the iron door. Every time she heard a gunshot, EunHa’sbody flinched. KyungHyun caressed her shoulders and softly whispered.

“I won’t die.”

EunHa’s twisted eyes looked up at him with disbelief. She bit her lip so hard that it almost bled. She let out a tearful moan.

“And I’m sure the same goes for you. We still have a lot of things to do together, right?”

They heard more and more people rush towards the door. KyungHyun gave her a small smile.

“Don’t turn me into a bastard who ruins a woman’s life.”

Her large eyes began to well up with hot tears. Her nose tingled and her eyes reddened.

“Tears are only meant to be shed at funerals.”

“There’s too many people.”

She blurted out the words in order to try and convince him one last time.

“Back-up will be here soon.”

How could they know about this place? And even if they did arrive, would they get here before the door was forced open? KyungHyun watched as she struggled with these thoughts, unable to put them into words. As if he read her mind, he spoke up.

“You know, I’m actually a lot more competent than you think.”

EunHa realized that KyungHyun had already made up his mind. And she knew that nothing she said would change it. This was the result of liking a man with a strong ego who was just as stubborn as her.

“I’ve never thought of you as incompetent.”

“Thank goodness for that.”

KyungHyun smiled as he tightly gripped her shoulders.

“Just promise me one thing.”

“What is it?”

Tears dripped down from EunHa’s eyes as she struggled to keep them on him.

“Don’t look back.”

“……”

Her long eyelashes shook. KyungHyun looked at her carefully.

“No matter what happens, you mustn’t look back. Don’t be an idiot and come back for me like you did yesterday. Understand?”

He was telling her not to look back no matter how loud or rough it sounded behind her. She wanted to ask him how that could be possible, but the words never came out. The result of EunHa turning the truck around to save KyungHyun had led to this exact situation.

“I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize. And there won’t be anything for you to apologize for.”

This was the first time his confident voice sounded so scary to her. EunHa wanted to believe him. She told herself she needed to believe him. However, she couldn’t do it, causing her to feel distressed instead.

“All you need to do is kill Kang SungHo with this. Have the revenge you wanted, and I’ll stay here to catch all these criminals. Okay?”

EunHa bit her lip and took the gun he held out to her. Her slender hands were wet with sweat as they trembled. Her large eyes were filled with tears as they shook.

“Let’s go on a date at the movie theater once this is all over.”

Boom!

They heard gunshots behind them as the door broke. The iron door fell down the stairs with a crash. EunHa’s whole body hardened with fear.

[Where are those bastards?!]

[Let’s go down and find them!]

KyungHyun quickly shoved her into the tunnel and lowered his head as he quietly asked.

“What kind of movie do you like?”

Their eyes met. When she saw his smile, her heart went cold. It felt as if there was a hole in her heart and a chilly wind was blowing through it. However, she wouldn’t cry in front of him. He told her that tears were only meant to be shed at funerals. Her reddened eyes narrowed as she did her best to smile.

“As long as it doesn’t have a sad ending, I like all of them.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

KyungHyun lightly tapped the tip of her nose and softly whispered. Before her tears began dripping down her cheek, EunHa held back her cry and quickly turned around. Clenching her fists, she began to walk further into the cramped tunnel.

[Ah, there he is!]

[Catch him before he escapes!]

Someone shouted out when they discovered KyungHyun. Once voice turned into several in an instant. Seven, no, eight? More than that?

[Just kill him!]

[Uugh!!]

EunHa clenched her teeth and ran. She moved her stiff legs like crazy. The more she felt ashamed for leaving on her own, the faster she ran. A sorrowful sob escaped her clenched lips.

Bang!

A gunshot echoed through the tunnel from far away. KyungHyun didn’t have a gun.

Bang! Bang!

“Aaaah!!!”

She remembered KyungHyun telling her not to look back. A cry tore out of her throat as she ran and ran. Splash, splash. As she made her way further into the tunnel, the floor became wet with groundwater. In this dark tunnel, only the sounds of her feet and her loud cries rang in the air.

All of her loved ones had died in front of her eyes. And even though she knew that, she ended up running away every time.

Tears streamed down her dirty cheeks. History kept repeating itself.

Once she killed Kang SungHo today, she would also die. There was nothing left to lose. Nothing left to fear.

EunHa bit her lips until they bled. Her whole body was drenched with sweat. She finally saw the end of this never-ending tunnel.

“Haa, haa…”

EunHa grasped the rusty ladder and panted for breath. She held back her nausea and trembled as she put one foot above the other, making her way up the ladder. Clenching her teeth, she barely managed to lift the manhole cover at the top and push it to the side. She felt the sea breeze brush against her face.

A harbor appeared right before her eyes.\n