Chapter 64

Chapter 64

Alright. The current situation doesn’t completely match the events in my dream. But why are real people getting affected in the same places they were injured there? Shouldn’t I be writhing around from abdominal wounds then? Imagining that shark rending into me, I rubbed my unhurt stomach against the phantom sensation. Kang Soojeong eyed the child steadily before querying,

“He’s not yours?”

“No.”

“Where’d you find him?”

“Asleep in room 80 in the West district.”

At my reply, Kang Soojeong’s brows knitted.

“Wasn’t that room vacant?”

“I wouldn’t know well.”

“Is that so? He’s sleeping pretty sound despite the circumstances.”

Recalling the sedatives in my pack I struggled not to divulge Henry’s name.

“I think someone probably drugged him to sleep.”

“Our side’s helicopters couldn’t have brought him. Did American brats airlift and dump him? Why leave him in the West District, why not in the North district then? Hey! Nikolai! This kid one of yours Russians?”

Engaged with his team, at his Captain lifting a chin, Nikolai immediately strode over. After peering at Henry’s face he declared to Kang Soojeong.

“Look at him. Not a hint of Slavic features. Does he resemble one raised racing across Russia’s frozen steppes, inhaling air that scorches your lungs?”

“How should I know? White people all look the same to me.”

Nikolai cast an exasperated glance then responded.

“He’s clearly no Russian. Ask those who hail from warmer climes. Oh right. Any of you happen to see Dmitri or Irina from our team?”

Both Kang Soojeong and I rapidly shook our heads no. Nikolai briefly sighed before walking back to his group. Kang Soojeong checked the child’s pulse and peeked at his eyes, patting down his pockets and finding nothing. She scratched a cheek then snapped some pics of Henry with her tablet.

“I came out wearing no underwear.”

I didn’t want to know...though it seems he at least located pants. The reek of alcohol still clung to the Russians. While A Team engineers wore dark suits, everyone else appeared destitute. My soaked garb notwithstanding, all the rest were drenched below from wading through the flood and hastily throwing on whatever was closest. Victor had on just pants, brawny torso fully exposed. Sophia wore a flimsy tee with shorts, also waterlogged. She had probably fell over at some point.

Every Russian stood barefoot, apparently unable to locate shoes with belongings adrift throughout. Nikita wrung out her soggy pants leg then rolled them up grumbling. Witnessing that I likewise removed and squeezed my socks dry. Resigning myself I tugged the sticky pants up into makeshift shorts. Spotting the shivering Sophia, Yoo Geum-yi stripped off her long sleeved cardigan to offer despite initial refusal. Insisting at Sophia’s visible trembling Yoo Geum-yi added gently,

“You look very cold.”

Sophia, who was looking at Yoo Geum-yi’s long-sleeved T-shirt and long jeans, took the cardigan and said.

“Thanks. I’ll put it to good use.”

Still trembling, Sophia swiftly donned it. Without a word I drew out a towel from my pack and passed it over for her dripping hair. Sophia nodded thanks as she blotted just enough dampness before handing off to Victor, who directly gave it to Vladimir. Vladimir lobbed the untouched towel at the boisterously noisy Nikolai. Nikolai proceeded to vigorously mop his drenched face and head with it, commenting aloud.

“What’ll we do Team Leader? More pragmatic to head to another zone than fix all this right? I still see double of you, Team Leader.”

“...Let’s relocate to North District. The miners may not have breached inner base so escape pods could remain.”

Kang Soojeong along with Lee Jihyun and Jung Sanghyun debated utilizing the central elevator shaft, the latter gentleman pushing that option against Jihyun’s composed objections.

“Sanghyun-ah. The elevators can’t possibly operate normally under impacts this severe. If they get stuck midway we’re done for. Prayer’s the only answer here.”

“What if there’s no pods left in the other zone?!”

Listening to Jung Sanghyun, Lee Jihyun pondered briefly before responding.

“Then we find alternate escape methods. Head to East district’s submersibles, or shift zones at least. Speculation achieves nothing. Records currently show zero pods have launched yet clearly none actually remain right? Same for the nonfunctional elevators that may be running fine.”

“And if we still can’t get out?!”

“Then we all kick it together. We’d have company, wouldn’t feel lonely eh Sanghyun-ah?”

Kang Soojeong beamed, cheerily thumping Jung Sanghyun’s back. Sulky with no comeback, Jung Sanghyun finally just plopped down in a funk. For whatever reason he kept redirecting frustration and anger over our plight toward his teammates. No one’s thrilled to linger here. No pleasing some people.

My mouth felt purely salty so I fished out a strawberry candy from my pack to suck on. My soaked clothes clung unpleasantly and I felt the abrupt vacancy where fled stamina used to dwell. I too settled myself on the floor. Chatting with Nikita nearby, Yoo Geum-yi approached me. I fished out some candies to pass around the others, offering the pouch to Geum-yi as well.