Beacon of Light in the Dark Sea

Chapter 63

Walking along I glanced into rooms that had contained snakes to check. Where were they? Which room was it again? I found the snake in room 74. But with the kid on my back and the cat bag strapped front, their combined weight left me unable to do anything. I put Henry back on the bed then grabbed the snake by hand. Opening my cat bag I added it to a small side pocket.

Coexist! Please try even if you hate it!  

I resealed the cat bag and hefted Henry onto me again. Outside the flood surpassed our thighs, and further down I could glimpse Russians parting the currents heading for the central stairwell.  

“Let’s go together!”

I started jogging as swiftly as I could with my burdens. My pace was probably slower than an actual land turtle’s but it couldn’t be helped. With water at thigh level my body tended to float, making walking difficult. Clutching Henry on my back plus my own weight, by some miracle I managed not to topple over. Bracing his rear end in one hand against the wall with the other, I swallowed back the impulse to weep. We had barely passed room 68… I can escape. I can get out! Even did it in a dream! I can succeed! I’m not afraid! Not afraid!  

The central stairwell looked farther than me becoming a tycoon this instant. In the distance, Nikolai let out a whistle as he walked. Grabbing the hand of Sophia beside him, they tumbled over. I heard Victor and Vladimir cursing as they worked to get the pair on their feet. Ah, that section there must be slippery.  

With Victor’s aid, once standing Sophia threw a punch at Nikolai’s cheek that felled him again. Watching that scene I endlessly admonished myself not to fall. One after another they vanished from my view ascending the stairs, the last being Victor who’d arrived at the central stairwell located by room 40. His eyes met mine passing room 55. I shouted with all my might toward them,   

“Don’t lock the door! I’ll be right there! I’ll seal it myself!”

As the flood climbed to waist level, about one-fourth of my bag had sunk under. The cat inside commenced a frenzy. I clenched the strap handle in my teeth to slightly tilt the bag, extracting it from the water. Maybe I had Henry positioned wrong, but he kept slipping down my back. Without halting I had to hike him back up several times. No falling. If I don’t fall I can make it out. Keep moving steadily without stopping and I can escape. Don’t be scared. Freaking out won’t improve matters here! We can all get through this!  

The deluge filling the dorms was like the grim reaper dragging ceaselessly at my ankles and midsection. My pace remained sluggish. I struggled not to succumb to terror. If dread flooded my whole being I felt capable of abandoning animals and child alike to flee alone.  

…It’s okay. I can get out. I’ll grab each pet owner and the kid’s parents by the collar when we meet. Why the hell leave them behind without a care as the place floods? We nearly died because of that! And don’t bring unauthorized creatures or children into restricted areas, dammit! I can escape. Stay calm… If I find the stairwell barricade lowered when I reach it in this state, I’ll probably break down bawling.

I finally made it to the central stairwell. Spitting out the bag strap clenched between my teeth, I naturally hung my head then peered up the steps. The barricade remained open above. My eyes brimmed with tears, comforted they hadn’t abandoned me after all.  

I started ascending, biting my lip until remembering it’s a bad habit and relaxing my face. I clung to the railing with one hand, entrusting my whole body to its grip more desperately than I’ve ever clung to anything. Supporting Henry’s rear end, twice I slipped on the drenched steps before somehow staggering up to the top. I did worry briefly the animals or kid may have been harmed from my falls but had no capacity to check them.  

The instant I exited the stairway I set Henry down then wheezed for breath, clutching the door frame. The tide chased right on my heels, just two steps behind. I punched a button on the nearby panel seemingly for lowering the barrier. Only after it sealed shut did I realize I was panting like a dog, tongue lolling out as I gasped for air. I made it out. Escaped the dorms. Accomplished one thing at least. Too spent for anything but breathing I collapsed flat on the floor to rest. I recalled Baek Ae-young timing our gathering of supplies. Remembering her remark about wasted moments I counted to 100 then rose again.  

After a brief respite I resumed walking, burdened by an estimated 6kg cat and 25kg kid. As I trudged along I thought I’d crossed this route previously with Victor, adjusting Henry again when he slipped. If events followed my dream I should encounter Shin Haeryang, Baek Ae-young and Seo Jihyuk at the escape pod dock next… No cable cars this time. Strength suddenly surged through me. My soaked clothes chilled me and the weights on my back made me want to pitch over, yet anticipation of seeing them again heartened me.  

People milled around the escape pod port when I arrived. The Russians, Geum-yi, Carlos and several others turned to eye me as I squelched over leaving damp footprints. Abruptly, one waiting by the boarding area approached. Exceptionally tall with a sturdy build.  

“We meet again. Doctor.”  

Kang Soojeong smiled at me. In a daze I clasped her extended hand, gazing wildly around. Huh?What’s Kang Soojeong doing here? Where are Shin Haeryang, Seo Jihyuk and Baek Ae-young? Clutching her hand I shook it, disconcerted by developments deviating from my dream. Did the missing people already escape on the pods? Now we survivors have to flee the same way again?

“Did Team Leader Shin Haeryang already escape on one of the pods?”  

“Yeah…well.”  

Kang Soojeong grinned impishly.  

“We tricked him onto one. He’s probably panicking as it ascends now.”

“You called saying a pod seemed broken, asked him to take a look then shut him in right?”

Two people I didn’t recognize stood apart near Kang Soojeong. The woman approached me smiling, chin length hair barely brushing her jawline. She eagerly extended a hand I reflexively shook.  

“Hello. I’m Lee Jihyun from the Engineering B Team. Seems you’re familiar with my Deputy Leader?” 

“Yes, we’ve met before. Nice to meet you, I’m Park Moohyun.”  

“You’re the newly arrived dentist yes? I meant to visit but our schedules never aligned. Glad we could finally meet.”  

“Any discomfort I should know about?”

“My upper teeth sting a bit when I ingest cold things.”  

“I see. Once we escape I’ll do my utmost for you.”  

“Let’s work hard to get out together then.”  

Jihyun waved briefly at Nikita from Engineering A Team then swiftly moved off. Approximately 3 meters from where she stood, a man with height akin to Baek Ae-young watched everyone resentfully with a deep scowl, arms crossed. When he utterly ignored me I took that as cue for no conversation and likewise withdrew. Unable to contain my curiosity I asked Kang Soojeong,  

“Who’s that guy? Also from Engineering B Team?”

“Ah, Jung Sanghyun. He’s our tech and is pissed off. Just ignore him.”  

“Why so?”

“He tried to board but I forced him out and shoved Ae-young in instead. Just ’cause I made one injured girl take priority over his perfectly healthy ass he’s bitching up a storm.”   

“Was Baek Ae-young-ssi sick? She seemed fine when I saw her recently.”

“I thought so too, but her voice was hoarse, like her throat hurt. And she kept wincing and clutching her chest so I worried it might be heart problems and sent her up first.”

Throat? Left chest? Like a phantom caress then abrupt choking, a nasty sensation trickled down my spine. Inside the collapsed cable car Baek Ae-young’s form lingered vividly before my eyes. That shrill incessant ringing and the despair of the floor falling away, and the unending spurts of blood…I struggled to banish the foul mood, posing more questions to Kang Soojeong.  

“Is Seo Jihyuk-ssi alright? He came by the clinic not long ago.”

“Oh him. Whining his left leg hurt so he couldn’t walk, throwing hysterics all over so I shoved him onto a pod first as well. Just minutes earlier he’d been prancing around fine then suddenly claiming to be in agony, rolling on the floor clutching his perfectly sound leg! Sheesh. What a performance.”  

“You said…his leg was unhurt?”

I asked despite the hairs on my nape and shoulders prickling. Kang Soojeong tittered.  

“He was spouting nonsense like his leg felt shot, reminiscent of the past when his arm took fire apparently. But I checked and his bare leg looked totally normal. He tried every trick to get aboard so I figured he’d just be useless deadweight and sent him packing.”  

Kang Soojeong twirled a finger at the sky. Just as I opened my mouth to respond, the previously silent Jung Sanghyun interjected sullenly.  

“So why’d you let Jihyuk-hyung go first instead of me?”

“Because Jihyun gave her spot to him. How come you didn’t get her to yield to you then?”

“Baek Ae-young was perfectly healthy ’til this morning!”  

“We all saw her rasping voice. Unless you also thrashed around shrieking with your pants off before everyone?”  

At Kang Soojeong’s retort, Jung Sanghyun stomped over to Carlos muttering under his breath. Watching him walk off Kang Soojeong shook her head repeatedly.  

“I prioritized getting the injured out first. Higher ups will likely verify later we adhered to proper evacuation protocols, I didn’t abuse discretion just favoring certain people.”  

Kang Soojeong’s attention turned toward the child I’d laid exhausted on the floor. Despite his sodden limbs Henry slept soundly. Gazing at that obliviously untroubled Slamdunk forehead granted me temporary respite from the surrounding chaos and my own rattled state.