Chapter 30

Chapter 30

Baek Aeyoung explained in a low voice to Yoo Geum-yi.

“Given that we are trapped in an underwater base where water is already leaking and the life support system has broken down, we’ve struggled all the way to the East district, and I guess there’s no need to make it worse by telling you that there are armed madmen roaming around. Have either of you ever fired a gun?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“Neither have I”

“Good. You don’t need to in your lifetime.”

Listening to that, I automatically wondered, what if the time comes when I have to shoot a gun? As soon as the elevator doors opened, Baek Aeyoung pushed Yoo Geum-yi and me in. There’s only one button for us to press.

[Undersea Base 3]

A space built 1,000 meters under the sea. Baek Aeyoung tore out the panel below the elevator. She seemed intent on forcibly operating the elevator.

“I feel uneasy, but as far as I can think, there’s no other way to help you escape from Undersea Base 4 more safely. Normally, all the elevators would stop in case of an accident. The escape pod would’ve been the safest (option), damn it.”

Can we really use this? What happens if the elevator itself collapses while we’re on our way? Do we just die? Baek Aeyoung began to voice her anxiety.

“If you can’t reach the sea surface with an escape pod, you’ll have to take the elevator or swim out of here. If a human can withstand the pressure of 3,000 meters underwater and manage to ascend, that person should be called a mermaid, not a human.”

“...Isn’t there a staircase?”

Baek Aeyoung, who was pulling a wire from the panel and pressing buttons, snorted at my question.

“From here to the top, it’s 2,000 meters which is at least 400 floors. To reach Undersea Base 3, roughly speaking, there would be around ten thousand steps.”

Hearing the number of floors, Yoo Geum-yi’s face turned pale.

There is an amazing bakery in Underwater Base 3. I once used the central elevator to buy some bread there, and it took about two to three minutes between floors as far as I remember. How long would it take to climb all those stairs? Did they even build stairs in the first place? Are humans insane to build a base so deep underwater? Baek Aeyoung finally let go of the panel.

“Or, get on the elevator, prepare to die.”

Baek Aeyoung looked at Yoo Geum-yi and me for the last time.

“The elevator is dangerous too. I have no idea how the elevator was affected by the torpedo shock. But it seems like it’s not leaking.”

Baek Aeyoung, who kept muttering unsettling words while messing with the panel, turned Yoo Geum-yi’s face pale as a sheet. I must have looked the same. It’s going to be a hellish 120 seconds. Finally, the light came on the button for Undersea Base 3, the only one in the elevator.

Recalling movies that were based on water, I asked, “Isn’t the base less pressured when it fills up with water and we go out?”

“The base would collapse before that.”

Terrific. Baek Aeyoung quickly finished explaining. If I had been an engineer, I think my neck would have been grabbed several times already due to the stupid questions I’ve been asking Baek Aeyoung. But she never hit me for asking too many questions. How much did the guy in the laundry room provoke her to be punched by her?

As Baek Aeyoung, with her great patience, got off the elevator, she said, “I hope you both make it safely.”

Seeing Baek Aeyoung’s tense face, Yoo Geum-yi and I replied enthusiastically to dispel the tension.

“We’ll see you in good health later!”

“Take care! See you later!”

After Yoo Geum-yi’s farewell, the elevator doors closed. As the elevator began to ascend, Baek Aeyoung started to run back the way we had come. We could see her running toward the escape pod with her long legs through the tall window in the elevator. Her ponytail, tied up high on her head, swayed behind her like a horse’s tail.

At this, I could hear Yoo Geum-yi laughing incredulously. She was chuckling heartily. Sob—sob Ahahaha!

“166 meters? Ahahaha! Unless I turn into a spider, it’s impossible. I can’t even hang on to a horizontal bar for three seconds. I won’t be able to climb even 2 meters.”

“I’m the same. So, let’s wait for someone else’s help.”

We suggested overcoming this situation by our efforts only moments ago, and in less than 10 seconds, we were waiting for others to help. Neither Yoo Geum-yi nor I are good at surviving. It’s expected; we are people who only sit and work. How could we have any advantage in a disaster situation?

“What if no one comes?”

“Well, we can’t do much then.”

As I plopped down on the elevator floor, I heard a sound as if Yoo Geum-yi also sat opposite me. Then after a few seconds, I heard a sniffling sound. Oh dear, missy. I felt like sobbing aloud too but clenched my teeth and kept silent.

Suppressing the urge to cry, I spoke softly into the darkness of the spacious elevator that could accommodate at least 50 people.

“I should’ve followed Aeyoung-ssi if I knew this would happen.”

Upon hearing me, Yoo Geum-yi sobbed a few times before responding.

“...Who could’ve known we’d get trapped in an elevator. We can’t change the path we’ve walked. Don’t regret. Even if you do regret, it won’t produce any better solutions.”

“You sound hopeful, Geum-yi-ssi.”

“I suppose I am.”

“That was pure admiration, not sarcasm.”

“I know. But being pessimistic won’t make things any better.”

I heard a sniffling sound followed by sobs. Then silence ensued. I wonder how much time passed. In the midst of the enveloping silence, Yoo Geum-yi suddenly shouted.

“We can’t just sit here like this!”

The sudden loud voice startled me, making me jump.

“Huh?!”

“What if no one comes? Whether we become spiders! Or threaten the elevator to ascend! We have to do something with our own power!”

She sounds full of energy. I thought about the snake and cat in my backpack. ‘What sin did they commit to be stuck here with me? Right. I’m not alone. And whining here won’t change the situation.’

“What should we do?”

“Turn on the pad light and come over here.”

As I approached as instructed, I found Yoo Geum-yi sitting next to the elevator button. I pretended not to notice her reddened eyes. Leaning on the light from the pad, Yoo Geum-yi was examining the wires under the elevator buttons that Baek Ae-young had pressed earlier. There were countless wires exposed in the light, but I had no idea what they were.

“Do you know what these wires are for, Geum-yi-ssi?”

“No, I haven’t got a clue.”

“You sound hopeful, Geum-yi-ssi.”

Laughing at my comment, Yoo Geum-yi giggled along with me. We were both going crazy. Then, suddenly, without us doing anything, the elevator lights flickered, and then the light was restored.