Chapter 73

Chapter 73

As Kim Ga-youngs voice grew lower and lower, seeming upset at the memory, Yoo Geum-yi comforted her in a soothing tone while stroking her back.

Dont stress over it too much. You already got out of there, eonni . Youll never have to go back into that awful dorm again. Just think about getting out of here now.

I hope that bastard trips and breaks his nose on the way out.

We all laughed at Jihyuns curses. I also pondered if I had any encouraging words for Ga-young and replied,

Not taking the evacuation pod back then mightve been a blessing in disguise.

When Ga-young looked at me, I gave a sly smile and added,

Since we met each other.

Ga-young watched us and squeezed her eyes shut, shaking her head wildly.

Listen, Im not the type to get touchy-feely emotional okay? Im a logical, scientific thinker you know? How are you all so cheesy.

Im a liberal arts major too. Very cold-hearted.

I studied science as well. Extremely objective.

Us engineers are obviously science people. Very tough individuals.

We teased Ga-young as we slowly walked towards the evacuation pod port. Occasionally we could hear her snorting. The posts talked about typing while crying with no copy-paste, or thinking everyone else had escaped leaving them alone in the entire Fourth Underwater Base. Too scary to be singing by themselves with no one else in the dorms. Watched horror movies together with the researchers the day before but didnt dare look behind, wondering if someone was there.

It mustve been very frightening in the darkness. Though for me too, I was scared every time I went down. As we walked I dug through my bag and took out some sugar-free candy, passing it around. Having something sweet dissolve in my mouth calmed me. Talking made me feel even more at ease.

We slowly ambled our way to the west buildings evacuation pod port. There was discussion of leaving Yoo Geum-yi and Kim Ga-young at the entrance while Jihyun and I checked inside the port first. Hearing this, Yoo Geum-yi shook her head.

Lets go in together.

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Its scarier with just you two in this hallway!

Seeing Yoo Geum-yi look warily up and down the deserted corridor, Kim Ga-young vigorously nodded her head. .Geum-yi mustve been very frightened. Wow, waiting alone while we went to the west building dorms mustve been hard on her. Surveying the eerie surroundings, Kim Ga-young gave an exaggerated shiver before speaking,

Theres safety in numbers.

I snickered at her words since it reminded me of a joke a friend once told me.

If a bomb goes off you should run away so as not to die together.

If something might explode around us that badly we should just die, no?

When Yoo Geum-yi said that, Lee Jihyun made an ambivalent expression before instructing Kim Ga-young and Yoo Geum-yi to walk behind her and me. The four of us entered the evacuation pod port where two engineers were in front of the pod controls. Seeming startled at our arrival, they held monkey wrenches at the ready as if to throw them and asked sharply,

Stay there and speak, dont come closer.

Why havent you escapedMarcus?

When Jihyun questioned them like so, one person waved upon recognizing her face. Still holding his tool, the other engineer looked us over and said,

The monitors showed the podes malfunctioning so we didnt board. What about you all?

We just got here wanting to use the pod.

Then theres no one left now I guess.

Obviously since it flooded. A thought suddenly occurred to me and I asked Harry,

..What was in room 20?

None of your concern.

And he didnt elaborate further. The man called Marcus directed a question at Jihyun.

What are you all planning to do? How will you escape?

Jihyun coolly threw his own medicine back at him.

Thats our business.

Giving him the same dismissive response Yoo Geum-yi received earlier. They all seemed completely unwilling to share any escape-related information, not feeling mutual goodwill. Jihyun stretched her arms back and waved them, signaling me and the others to slowly back away. Seeing this, Marcus jeered,

Dont be scared. We wont randomly attack you or anything. You dont look to have anything worthwhile anyway.

Harry made mocking feints as if to charge us while laughing. I flinched but Jihyun showed no reaction, only watching fixedly until everyone else had exited the pod port before finally leaving last.

The people who escaped on the pods must all be dead now.

A chill seemed to run through Yoo Geum-yis body making her shudder violently as she spoke those words. Walking beside her, Kim Ga-young firmly grabbed her shoulder with one hand. After Jihyun drew a cross and muttered a few lines she let out a deep sigh. She then said quickly to Kim Ga-young nearby,

Ga-young eonni . Please write on the Underwater Base message boards that the west building evacuation pods cannot be used, all disabled. Use pods with caution when escaping.

Hearing that, Kim Ga-young hurriedly took out her waterlogged but vinyl-wrapped tablet from her bag. Her fingers danced rapidly over the keyboard. Glancing warily behind as we walked down the corridor, Jihyun asked me,

What should we do now?

Huh?

What will happen?

Theres gunfire from the east building with people escaping from there into the central building. And some armed people there start shooting everyone dead. In the dream I ran away to the East District building.

Glancing around the passageway nervously, Yoo Geum-yi mustve been frightened. Gazing towards the central building corridor, Jihyun seemed to be considering whether it was wise to enter.

So like Moohyun-ssi said, if we go into the central building we might encounter armed people?

If we dont head there immediately, what should we do instead?

Why not sprint full speed now from the central to East District building instead?

Having silently listened to the discussion between Jihyun and me, Yoo Geum-yi asked me,

Is the East District safe?

Her question made me feel choked, like a hand suddenly gripped my throat. Hearing Yoo Geum-yi and thinking it over, the East District building was not secure whatsoever either. Didnt Ha-yoon die in the elevator there? Seo Ji-hyuk took a bullet to his knee too. Plus Kang Soo-jeong and Jung Sang-hyun already went that way with still no news I sensed an ominous premonition. That Blue Dragon twisting its body around the elevator to watch us and the terror of running over there.

Ah no, its not safe either. Armed people also wait by the escape pod port there and shoot at you.

Then how did you escape?

By taking the elevator that keeps malfunctioning from blackouts.

..So one way or another, we have to ride the East District building elevator up into another Underwater Base.