Chapter 335: Accident (5)

Chapter 335: Accident (5)

Identifying something within the pitch-black darkness was no easy feat.

Most of the time, the 'darkness' people thought about wasn't really dark at all. Especially for those who lived in cities where the sunset heralded the incoming night and the thriving nightlife--trying to understand what 'true' darkness was like would be quite difficult for them.

Within the pitch-black darkness where not one ray of light could enter, human eyes would lose their capabilities and become unable to discern anything.

For such a reason, Choi Yeon-Ha briefly had to wonder seriously about if she had gone blind. Despite her concerted efforts to focus her eyes and look at her surroundings, she couldn't see anything. A lot of time had to go by before she finally detected a blurry something above her.

Drip...

And then, a liquid droplet fell from that blurry something to Choi Yeon-Ha's face.

'Isn't this...?'

She thought this droplet was water. But this droplet felt too viscous to be purely water. Besides, her sense of smell, now heightened after the loss of her sight, was ringing alarm bells in her head. This smell was somewhat familiar but also not quite familiar to her.

'...It's blood!'

The liquid droplets falling around her brows had the acrid scent of blood. That was when Choi Yeon-Ha finally realized what was happening here, and her jaw dropped. This was blood. Which meant someone was bleeding from his wound. Back when the tunnel collapsed, the only other person with her was Kang Jin-Ho...!

“M-Mister Jin-Ho?!” Choi Yeon-Ha urgently cried out. At least, that's what she tried to do. Her strained, withered vocal cords couldn't produce proper sounds. Only a tiny little voice, turbid from dust and pain, leaked out from her throat.

“A-are you... okay?”

Her mind was fully awake now. Thankfully, Choi Yeon-Ha had definitely survived the cave-in. And, judging from the dripping blood, Kang Jin-Ho seemed to be injured quite badly.

'How long was I out for?'

Choi Yeon-Ha tried desperately to cling to her fading consciousness. She couldn't see anything, and her entire body was screaming in pain, too. On top of that, she even witnessed the horrifying sight of the tunnel crumbling and falling on top of her. After looking at all these factors... It seemed crystal clear what kind of situation Choi Yeon-Ha was in.

Choi Yeon-Ha tried to reach up. Even a simple movement like this was enough to intensify her body's screaming, but she still focused as much as possible not to be rough with her touch, then carefully felt around the space above her.

“Urgh...”

She thought she could touch something warm up there and soon, was greeted by a subdued and pained moan that wasn't hers.

“...! Mister Jin-Ho!”

As she suspected, Kang Jin-Ho was above her, facing her. Judging from how she couldn't sense much weight pressing down on her, he must be on all fours to keep his body weight off her.

“Mister Jin-Ho!”

“...Keep it down, please,” Kang Jin-Ho replied in a half-cracked voice. It was a hushed little whisper, the kind that told the story of how difficult things were for him just by listening to it. “Please... don't shout. It's ringing in my head.”

Choi Yeon-Ha silently nodded. She couldn't tell if her head movement could be seen in this pitch-black darkness, but there was nothing she could do other than desperately follow Kang Jin-Ho's commands.

'I'm scared.'

Once her confusion died down, it was quickly replaced by a tidal wave of fear. Her fully-functioning mind analyzed her current situation, her reality. The darkness without a speck of light signified how she and Kang Jin-Ho were trapped within the collapsed tunnel. Although she should celebrate not dying immediately as the debris came down on top of them...

'Can we even get rescued?'

Choi Yeon-Ha's mind quickly wandered into the worst-case scenario, where it might have been better to die when the cave-in occurred. At this rate, the two of them might starve to death pretty soon. Or even from dehydration.

The darkness suddenly grew misty in Choi Yeon-Ha's view. She failed to notice the tears in her own eyes while touching Kang Jin-Ho's face. “Y-you are... bleeding...”

“It's nothing to worry about,” said Kang Jin-Ho.'

“But, you are...”

Kang Jin-Ho wordlessly shook his head. Choi Yeon-Ha sensed his head movement from her hand, then clenched her teeth.

'I... I need to get a hold of myself!'

If their situation could be improved by her throwing a hissy fit or pouring out a series of tearful curses, Choi Yeon-Ha would've done it dozens of times. No, make that hundreds of times! However, reality didn't work that way. Nothing would change even if she lost her mind.

Tears continued to trickle out of her eyes as her emotions tried to run wild, but Choi Yeon-Ha knew she mustn't do that. Anxiety and fear were infectious, after all.

“Are you okay?” Choi Yeon-Ha cautiously asked.

“Yes, I'm okay.”

'Right. We need to get out of here through our own strength...!'

Not doing so would subject Kang Jin-Ho to the sight of Choi Yeon-Ha slowly withering away and dying from dehydration right underneath him. As far as punishments went, this seemed way too cruel for letting his guard down only for a brief moment.

“Are you listening, Mister Jin-Ho?”

“...Yes, I am.”

“I'm sorry, but...”

“Mm?”

Choi Yeon-Ha raised her shaking hands and covered her face. She was still trying so hard to stem the unstoppable tears even now. “If... If it's not too much trouble... Can you say something to me? I... I'm really scared right now, you see...”

“Ah...!” Kang Jin-Ho lightly bit his lip.

Indeed, it must be terrifying. Even Kang Jin-Ho was feeling lost and unsure right now, so how much worse must it be for her?

Being trapped in darkness after a tunnel collapsed on top of them was more than enough to drive anyone mad from the intense mental trauma.

“There is... no need to worry so much, Miss Choi,” Kang Jin-Ho muttered while doing his best to sound calm and composed. “We'll get out of here soon enough.”

“Really...?”

“Yes.”

Although Kang Jin-Ho wasn't confident, reassuring her this way didn't require his complete confidence, to begin with. He wasn't lying about getting out of here soon, after all. Whether they were physically getting out of here or only their souls would leave this place... Well, that was a separate issue, but still.

“So, I recommend you get some more sleep, Miss Choi.”

“...But, I've been unconscious until now.”

“Even then,” Kang Jin-Ho spoke in a firm voice. “Remaining awake consumes your energy. And you'll lose water from your body if you keep talking like this. That's why sleeping is the best option for now.”

“I... I don't think I can sleep...”

“Close your eyes and relax.”

“...I'll try.” Choi Yeon-Ha's trembling eyelids slowly closed. Kang Jin-Ho confirmed that and quietly clenched his fist.

'I'm responsible.'

Choi Yeon-Ha getting trapped in here was all Kang Jin-Ho's fault. No matter what he said in his defense, he'd not be able to avoid this responsibility. As such, it was his sworn duty to get Choi Yeon-Ha out of here as safe and sound as possible.

No matter what it takes!

“Mister Jin-Ho, I can't sleep.”

“It's fine. Just stay still and be calm.”

“...Can I ask you something, Mister Jin-Ho?”

“Yes, you can.”

Choi Yeon-Ha's lips parted cautiously before closing shut. She seemed to be hesitating for a bit, then a pained voice finally escaped from her mouth. “We... We can get out of here alive, yes?”

Kang Jin-Ho could tell how much Choi Yeon-Ha thought about this question from her tone of voice. Despite knowing that she couldn't see him, Kang Jin-Ho nodded anyway. “Yes, we can.”

“...Really?”

“Yes.” Kang Jin-Ho nodded again and then even did something he normally never did—adding more to his answer. “Believe in me.”

Choi Yeon-Ha opened her eyes again. She silently looked up, and Kang Jin-Ho briefly wondered if her still eyes could see his face right now.

She probably couldn't. But she kept staring as if she could before closing her eyes again. “I do believe in you.”

Kang Jin-Ho didn't say anything else, then reached down to her with his still-fine arm. He lightly tapped on her pressure point, sending her into a blissful slumberland. Once he confirmed that she was asleep, crimson streaks of light began leaking out of Kang Jin-Ho's eyes.

'I will... get out of here alive!'

I don't care what I must do, but both of us will get out of here alive. And when I do...!

I will make you all regret it!

Those who dared to do this would soon learn what it meant to attack him like this. The crimson aura began oozing out of the enraged Kang Jin-Ho to fill up the surroundings.

Its color seemed so vivid despite the lack of light in this space.