An overwhelming sense of relief spread throughout my body. It was just a dream. Everything was just a dream! I let out a deep sigh and lay on the floor next to the bed, staring at the ceiling and thinking. I must have been really tired since I came to the underwater base. Itās always tense for the first three months in any new place, especially as a newcomer.
How could I have been so tired that I dreamed about the underwater base collapsing? Itās ridiculous. What about the snake and the cat? Were they representations of my deep subconscious desire to have a pet? Iāve never even considered keeping a snake or a cat.
I imagined Shin Hae-rang, whom I had never even seen, in my dream. This is absurd. Being trapped in a cable car and dying, then being bitten by a shark? Have I been watching too many action movies lately? Is my body just exhausted? Living in the underwater base, Iāve been having these bizarre dreams. Why did it hurt so much when the shark bit me in the dream?
I thought about the last scene in the dream and tried to calm my racing heart with deep breaths. As my breathing slowed, my heartbeat gradually returned to normal. It was only after a while that I realized I was drenched in sweat. I grabbed the hem of my T-shirt and fanned myself, trying to dry off. As the sweat dried, my body began to relax from the tension.
Spending a holiday morning like this. I thought it would be more exciting. Maybe Iāll buy some bread and drinks from the bakery in the Third Underwater Base and take a leisurely walk on the beach at lunchtime. I smiled to myself, thinking about the events in the dream.
Me getting into a gunfight? Thatās ridiculous. Iāve never even held a gun. And the 4000 steps from the Third Underwater Base to the Second Underwater Base? How could I walk that many steps? I struggle to walk up three floors. Carrying an injured person on my shoulder? And a cult member in the underwater base? How could that even be possible? Itās not like people come here easily, and they wouldnāt believe a story about sharks. And the gems as big as human heads and torsos scattered around the exhibition hall without any security? Thatās just absurd.
I laughed at the ridiculous scenarios in my head while rubbing my tense stomach and sighed deeply. The more I denied the dream, the more I felt myself stabilizing in reality. I should tell Yoo Geum-in or Seo Ji-hyuk about this strange dream next time I see them.
I was about to whip my lazy body into action when I remembered it was a holiday and decided to be lenient and let it rest.
Creak! Creak! Creak!
Suddenly, a chilling sound echoed from the ceiling. It sounded like metal bending under external impact. I felt goosebumps all over my body and jumped up. Whatās happening? Why is this sound coming? Then the vibration started. Even sitting on the floor, I felt dizzy. The pad on the table shook and fell to the ground due to the vibration, and I caught it with my body and hands. No way. No way. This canāt be happening!
I stood there in a daze, holding the pad, and opened the door to my room. Water rushed in from outside the door, which had opened with a hiss. My toes and soles turned cold from the water, and I grabbed the back of my head. It felt like someone had hit me hard on the head. Whatās going on? Why is there water?
As I stood there, the door closed again, and I started moving. I quickly gathered my clothes, put on my socks and shoes, and opened the bag my brother had given me to check if the flashlight was at the bottom. I grabbed a bottle of water and stuffed it in, along with snacks like cookies, candies, and chocolates. I also threw in a towel, my wallet, and the pad. Do I need the whale doll? Did I use it? I remember giving the doll to Shin Hae-rang, who used it to stop the bleeding on Baek Ae-young. Should I take it? Even though I already have a towel? What else do I need? All the medical supplies are in the dental office. Do I need anything else?
Looking around my room, I realized there was nothing I could use as a weapon. Of course, Iām a dentist. When would I ever need a weapon? Patients are usually cooperative. Even if children try to run away, they are treated calmly with sedation or nitrous oxide. Adults are even easier to handle. They donāt run away because of the pain and discomfort, not because of any action by the doctor. Realizing there was nothing useful in my room, I stiffened with tension and opened the door.
The water had risen to my calves. I screamed and started opening the doors from room 38. Is this a dream too? Why are the things that happened in my dream happening right now? I stopped thinking and focused on what was happening in front of me. No time. Iāll think about it later.
How did Yoo Geum-in trigger the alarm for all the rooms? I ran from door to door, knocking and opening them, but I realized the water had risen to my calves. I cursed under my breath and stopped to look for the pad. Emergency alarm. Emergency alarm. Emergency alarm! I accessed the underwater base program through the pad and pressed the emergency evacuation alarm for the Baekho area. Red lights flashed in the corridor, and a loud siren went off as all the doors opened.
[Beep! Beep! Beep! This is an emergency! All residents in the Baekho area, please evacuate to the lifeboats. This is an emergency! All residents in the Baekho area, please evacuate to the lifeboats.]
As the ear-piercing sound began, I ran to the 50s rooms. I was sure Yoo Geum-in was sleeping in one of these rooms. I found Carlos in room 48, rubbing his eyes and struggling to get out of bed. What the f**k! I shouted at him.
"Get up! The water is leaking!"
I shouted at Carlos and ran between the rooms. Whereās the cat? Whereās the snake? I couldnāt remember the room numbers, so I ran from room to room, searching for animals or people. Carlos walked towards the stairs, muttering curses. Yoo Geum-in changed into regular clothes, put on her glasses, and grabbed a pad before rushing out of her room.
I ran like a madman and found the cat in room 64, smiling with relief. Of course, the cat didnāt leap into my arms with tears of joy. It just meowed loudly, matching the sirenās sound with a "Meow! Meow!"
The catās fur stood on end, making it look twice as big. I lifted the blanket to cover the cat, but it quickly dodged my action, thinking I was stupid, and failed to land properly.
The cat fell into the water, which had risen to my calves, and started to cry pitifully. I quickly picked up the wet cat and stuffed it into the bag, zipping it closed. I could feel the bag moving but ignored it. Where else? Which room was it?
As I ran out with the cat on my back, the door to the next room opened. Vladimir, who had shaken his head, saw the water up to his calves and pressed something on the pad on his wrist. The alarm changed to a different sound.
[Beep! Beep! Beep! This is an emergency! All residents in the Fourth Underwater Base, please evacuate using the lifeboats and elevators. This is an emergency! All residents in the Fourth Underwater Base, please evacuate using the lifeboats and elevators.]
The alarm can be extended to the entire Fourth Underwater Base. Vladimir glanced at me and called out to someone in the room.
"Nikita. Get dressed. We need to leave."
I quickly ran past him towards room 80. I heard someone calling me from behind but ignored it. No. No. It canāt be there! It was just a terrible dream!
The water had risen past my calves. I needed to check this room because if there was a child in room 80 and I didnāt check, I would regret it for the rest of my life. Water splashed up to my waist and back with each step. No. Please! It canāt be there!
I was shocked to see Henry sleeping in the open room 80. My head suddenly ached. No. It canāt be. Oh God. Damn it. This is such a terrible situation. No, it was just a dream. Pull yourself together! My calves are freezing from the water, but is this still a dream?
I put the medicine bottle on the table into the catās bag, slung the bag over my shoulder, and carried Henry on my back. The water was now up to my thighs. Most of the Russian residents were staggering out into the corridor. Nikita and Yoo Geum-in were missing. They must have gone to the lifeboats. I took one step at a time with Henry on my back. If I fall, itās over. If I fall, itās the end.
"Thereās a child! Thereās a child in that room!"
Vladimir, who had checked room 72, saw me staggering due to the water and walking with one hand on the wall.