CHAPTER 22
I pants as I run, roaming my eyes to see any traps in my surroundings. I was almost caught by the foothold earlier and this time I almost strip in the thin wire that connected to the shotgun upon the three. I'm scared but I can't let my fear take over me. But then, I'm scared if I continue to run like this and fought with the other toys, the child might...
I shook my head and stop for a while. I held my stomach. I don't see anyone in this area, the maids might be somewhere. I hope they are safe.
"Found ya," I stiffened once I heard Jinnie's voice from behind. I quickly turned around and see her standing in the tree roots with a wide grin on her face. She looks like Barbie when she smiled like that but when she glared at me she, even more, look like master Hwang. I almost forgot that the other masters will be joining in the game, to hunt the maids. "This game excites me!" She giggled and jump in front of me.
I quickly back away resulting in her stepping on the ground instead. I gasp when the ground she stepped on suddenly cracked. She has the power like master Hwang. I stumble to run away from her. I heard her scream in frustration but soon laughed like a maniac. The masters indeed want to kill me but why? Why are they so eager to end the maids? Even me?
'This is their fault, it's them why...'
Homin's voice echoed in my head. Them? Is he talking about the masters except for master Junghwan? I stopped running as soon as I realized something about my past. I looked around me to see if Jinnie's still chasing me and to my horror, she is. I run again but this time my abdomen starts to hurt. I stopped and held the tree, I wince in pain. This is what I'm talking about. I decided to crawl under the tree with huge roots to hide there for a while. I hugged my stomach in fear thinking the child inside me might be dead or something. I looked down on my tights, checking if there was blood but I didn't see anything. I sigh in relief. This child is master Yangs and if ever the masters find out about this they'll kill the child and hurt the youngest master for lying to his elders. I sigh, sweat rolling down on my forehead.
I peeped through the spaces, checking if Jinnie is still outside but I don't see her anywhere. I didn't even hear her passing. Maybe, my face pales in horror as I think Jinnie is still out there, waiting for me to come out. Sticky saliva caught my attention as it slowly dripped in front of me near my face. I froze as my heart skip a beat in fear. My eyes began to water as I slowly looked up only to see Jinnie. Before I could run away someone dragged me out under the tree and throw me on the ground. I looked up to see who is it and my face paled up seeing master Hwang holding a knife. His hair was almost covering his eyes as it was growing a bit longer. He wasn't wearing the suits that he always wore, instead, he was wearing casual clothes with blood on it. A button-up shirt with a cardigan on top and jeans. He wasn't wearing shoes or slippers to cover his barefoot from the rocks and dirt.
I quickly crawled away but he quickly grabbed my ankle and pulled me close to him. He turned me around and sat on my tights. I wince because of his weight. He smiled after seeing my pained face. He reached my face and touched my cheeks before leaning his face close to mine. Just when I suddenly found myself inside of the ward again and master Hwang was on top of me.
"Did I tell you to stay away from Gong Pil? He's dangerous!" He said.
I don't know but my body moves again against my will. "Why he's dangerous? He's been my friend since middle school." I said with my head furrowed. Master Hwang huffed before getting off of me.
He sat beside me but I didn't get up. He looked down on me and then brushed my hair with his slender fingers.
"But he becomes bad these days. I just want to be his friend but he shoos me away because I'm no one." He said and pouted. I swatted his hand away from my hair but he only held it and tangled our fingers together.
"Because you've been bad to Homin. As I said we're not your enemy but Han Jihae itself and his friends." I said and pouted. "Junghwan caught you being friends with them. Do you know how bad they are? They even steal someone's lunch and sneak to take smokes." I added as I force myself to get up despite my aching body.
"They're bullying me. I don't want to be their new member but they threatening me. They even want you to be their's," He sadly said and start sniffling. Just then I noticed that he already crying. I heard that Hyunsung is a dramatic guy and he easily gets hurt because of his strong emotions. Junghwan and he have similarities. And I think I'm the only one who is tough enough to handle things. I turned to face him and pet his head.
"Don't worry I'll protect you."
The door suddenly swung open and Jihae with his goons went inside.
"Protect him huh?"
I cough and tried to adjust my vision when I noticed it become blurred all of a sudden. I blink as tears escape from my eyes. I looked at master Hwang that I used to protect before. Master Hwang is out of it, he's been bullied by master Han with the rest and I believe like master Junghwan, he's been forced to be one of them. He was forced because...
I leave them behind after Cha Homin's death. Master Hwang was pleading with me not to leave along with master Junghwan's beg but I play numb and become selfish because of my grief. I'm the reason why they suffered. Because of my selfishness. The real bad here is me and the rest of the masters. Master Hwang and master Junghwan aren't bad at all. They have just been forced to do all these things to hurt me and to take revenge as well.
That memory when I was in Sydney when master Leelex was begging not to leave. That's master Hwang and that wasn't under the shed but in the wards. I dressed up as a janitor, covering my face with a gas mask.
Master Hwang was hugging me while the youngest master is crying beside me and hugging me too from my side.
The rest of the masters was swearing me because I did something wrong, the reason why they're next to be operated on and have the chance to die. They knew that it was me but I played I wasn't.
"Please don't leave me! Don't leave us, please! Bring us-me with you please!" Master Hwang begged but when I heard the footsteps coming, I hurriedly pushed them away from me.
I turned around and pulled the cart as if playing as a real janitor to escape from this place. But master Hwang chased me and pulled my arm, turning me around to face him. "Why are you leaving us?! I thought we were friends! I thought you'll going to protect me but why to leave me!" Master Hwang yelled out in pain.
I remove his hands from my arms and shook my head. "I'm sorry." The only thing I can matter even in this situation I want to say something more. Something more to make them understand that I'm doing this to let go of my past just like Homin said before he died.
I start to walked away as I pulled the cart full of damaged machines. But then again, master Hwang chased me, stopping me from leaving, begging me to take them with me but when the nurses noticed us they start dragging master Hwang back to his room. The youngest master is already out of sight but I know that he walked away, can't watch this painful scene anymore, and knowing that I will leave without them is sure hurts him so much.
"No! Let me go!" Master Hwang struggled but the nurses keep on dragging him back to his room.
Once nurse scooted towards me and asked, "What's going on? Did patient seven did--"
I quickly shook my head. I cleared my throat to make my voice different from my original voice. "No, I don't know why is he acting like that but I guess...he went crazy," I said.
I noticed master Hwang's sudden silence and I glance at him. My heart sank after seeing his pained face as more tears rolled down his face. My heart clenched even more and I decided to turn around and leave this place immediately. I didn't turn around despite master Hwang's calls and pleading.
I didn't look back.
I snap out from my past and looked up on master Hwang. I felt something pain around my neck as my throat hurts, I can't breathe. Master Hwang was choking me. I held his hands and struggled to breathe but I know that I can't, I can't fight free. I'm too weak. I gasp as tears escape from the corner of my eyes. Maybe death is the only way to pay for my sins.
"I-I'm sorry...I'm sorry..." I tried to mutter, squeezing his wrists. "I'm sorry...I-I..." I cough as my breath is slowly taken away as my throat hurts so much. My vision began to fade, slowly. "I regret...everything...I'm sorry Hyunsung." I mumbled and mouthed his name.
"I can't kill you..." He whispered and let me go. I cough and gasp violently for air. "Even I want to I just can't...I can't..."
He stood up and start dragging back under the tree. Wait, what is he doing? Is he trying to save me? Why?
I noticed Jinnie glared at us both. I looked at master Hwang. He cupped my face and pressed his lips on mine as if he was saying his last goodbye by kissing me.
"First thing you need to do is to kill the servants. Take this," He whispered when he pulled away and hand me the journal I'd been seeking of searching. "You can see the map there."
I confusedly take it before looking at him with worry in my eyes. What is he trying to do? Is he trying to help me out? He cupped my face again and caressed it.
"You need to eliminate the guards first, then the caretaker, Mr. Lawrence, and the cook. Last are the conductors. The masters will be hungry after then and you take that opportunity to escape."
"Wait, why are you telling me this?" I asked as more tears start to pool in my eyes again. My heart clenched just seeing him crying as well.
"Because I want you to live. I want you and the children to live." He whispered and kissed my forehead. I feel him shaking as he sobs quietly.
I slightly pulled him away. What does he mean by children? "What do you mean?"
Master Hwang smiled as faint tears continue to roll down his face. "It's Junghwan and my child. Remember when I stuck my tongue deep inside your throat? I get ahead of them." He chuckled between his silent cries. "It's our child." He said with a broken smile. Like I always think, for them, anything is impossible. Master Hwang planted his seeds inside me before master Junghwan and now both of their children are growing inside me with my blood and flesh.
I was about to ask him more but I scream when Jinnie suddenly crawled towards me with incredible speed with her deformed appearance. She doesn't look like a normal kid. She even looks like a monster. Her long arms and nails are stretching to reach me. Her eyes were marbles and I don't know how her eyes become so many and her sharp teeth grinding together against her long tongue. She's leaking just like her father while screeching so loud. She's trying to reach over me but master Hwang held the back of her neck with his long claws before throwing her away from the tree. Master Hwang faced me again.
"Run straight, don't look back." He said. I was about to speak but instead, I scream once I saw Jinnie's long fingers stuck on master Hwang's shoulder. Master Hwang hissed and groan loudly. He then grabs her daughter's long hands and throws her away again. He picked a thick wood and stab it right to Jinnie's stomach. The kid whimpered but instead of dying, she seems become eager to kill his father. She looks so mad.
I covered my mouth after seeing Jinnie squirm before standing up again. She crawled towards master Hwang and jumped on his shoulder. He immediately hit her away with his claws. He picked more woods again and tried to hit Jinnie but Jinnie is too fast to dodge all master Hwang's attack.
I feel scared for master Hwang. He isn't bad after all, I knew he only did this for the masters. I knew he didn't want anyone to get hurt or me. He can't die, he can't let me escape and leave him again. No, I don't want to leave him. I'm the one who'll protect him. I'm the one who will save him not himself! I'd done bad enough and it's time for me to pay Junghwan and Hyunsung back.
"No, please..." I whispered between my sobs. It's hurt to watch master Hwang protecting me against his daughter. Just when I remember what his daughter said. She said that he wants a baby brother. All along, I was pregnant without me knowing. But why, why my stomach didn't grow swollen. Is it because it's waiting for Junghwan's? Or master Hwang doesn't want me to give birth to his child in this kind of place with monsters around not until I get out of here. Because he knew, he knew the other masters will kill the child. And now that, I'm completely pregnant with both of their child, Junghwan and Hyunsung are planning to help me out of here to deliver the two-child safe.
I tried to crawl out but master Hwang glared at me as if warning me to just stay here. I can't help but cry out of agony. I watched as master Hwang flew near to the wire that linked to the rocket launcher that was pointing at his head. Master Hwang look at me again but this time he smiled, a true smile. He mouthed 'I love you.' Before looking back at Jinnie again with a stern look. Even his away, I know he mouthed those words. What is he trying to do? No!
Jinnie screeched so loudly before crawling faster to master Hwang. Master Hwang closed his eyes as Jinnie attacked him, stabbing right on his chest until it pierced in his back. Jinnie move forward and master Hwang hugged her, stepping backward until he touched the wire and triggered the rocket launcher not far away from them. Everything seems to move painfully slow as I watched the rocket launch towards them and suddenly a loud explosion make my hearing fade for a while with a loud beeping sound. I can feel the ground shake a little with the strong impact from the explosion. I can't see anything, everything is so bright. Did I die too? But no, I was away before the explosion.
"I'll be waiting for you...always." I heard master Hwang whisper behind my ears.
I gasp and open my eyes. I can't see anything, just thick smoke from the explosion. I crawled out under the tree and find my way to where the last thing I see master Hwang. I crawled and crawled until I grasp onto something. It's the wire. I crawled again until I realized that I can't find where master Hwang was. Is he dead? Just when I touched something like dust against my fingers and in it was a thick thread. I stared at it, it was master Hwang's string. Jinnie doesn't have one so it's probably from master Hwang.
Is he really dead?
The smoke soon faded and I felt my chest tighten, seeing dark liquid splattered everywhere with master Hwang's claw. I see his daughter laying without her limbs but she's still alive. I can notice her chest moving up and down. I painfully crawled towards his cut claw and touched it. It was covered in blood, his blood but I didn't feel disgusted. I feel like my soul was torn in half. I let my tears roll down my face. I took his hand and hugged it closed to my chest. I close my eyes and begin crying out in grief. I tightened my hug on his hands.
Why does he have to die? It's me who deserves to die. Why did he risk his life for me to live and get to the finish line? The guilt only increase inside me as I cried. I can hear Jinnie wincing in pain. Oh, the daughter of a bitch is already awake. I stood up, still embracing master Hwang's hand. I went to the tree where I hide earlier, where the last place he talked to me, asking me to live, to keep safe. I shakily sigh as I kneel in front of the tree. I start digging using my bare hands. I dig as I silently cried, whimpering in pain and grief. The pain increases even more as I remember the past. Our past, happy or bad, or sad, I remember Cha Homin died and now master Hwang. Hyunsung...
I placed the hand in it before covering it with rocks and formed a mountain with it. I wipe my tears in my arms. I glance at the journal that aimlessly laying beside master Hwang's grave. I shakily took it before standing up.
I walked timidly back to where Jinnie is. I saw her still wincing while crying in pain. She got no limbs, she's been shot by that rocket launcher but why is she still alive while Hyunsung isn't. Why did she survive why he wasn't. It's too unfair. Why do the bad people always live in the end?
I looked at my feet when I step on something. A sad smile formed on my face. I crouched down and pick the knife.
"Why did you let yourself die? I didn't even pay you yet." I talked to the knife while looking at it. "I'm supposed to make up my mistakes but I think it will be useless you think?"
My eyes move to Jinnie. She's already crawling away with blood flowing out from her mouth. I walked towards her. Because of her master, Hwang is gone. I watched her cough and cry until she stop moving. I checked her pulse and I closed my eyes for a while before opening it again. She's dead.
I must go to the finish line. That's what master Hwang wants. I drop the knife and run fast as I could despite my shaking legs. I won't cry anymore but my tears won't stop from falling. I'll just let it be. I run, dodging every trap I can see. I can hear the explosion and the screaming from the people who got into that explosion but I didn't dare to stop.
I need to get to the finish line and remember what master Hwang said.
Escape from here.
I ran and ran until I finally reach the finish line but of course, I didn't win. San is already in the front with the other maids and the toys, and I'm the last one who gets to the finish line. The toys aren't completely unlike the maids.
The maids run to me and hugged me for some reason. I just hugged them back and I can't help but cry again while laughing. Chanting along with them, saying victory.
-
"Well...the maids made it." Master Han said while looking at us. They aren't complete unlike before. Master Hwang is gone and they seem to notice his absence based on how their face is sullen.
"Hwang is always stupid indeed." Master Leelex chuckled and rolled his eyes.
I remain looking at the masters in anger. Master Junghwan didn't say anything but I can sense that he was sad. He was forced not to cry in front of the elders.
"Wait, where's my daughter? What happened to master Hwang?" Barbie suddenly asked as panic raised inside her.
"Why don't you ask Twenty." Master Kim said and eyed me.
"What? Why him?" Barbie asked in confusion and looked at me. I didn't dare to look at her in the eyes. Her daughter just died because of me even master Hwang. I know it's my fault but no matter how I blame myself, this will never change. "Hey, worthless! What happened to my husband and daughter?" She asked, emphasizing the word husband.
I can't answer her. I can't speak, I can't move my mouth. I clenched the journal master Hwang give to me. My tears came again. "T-they...already..." I swallowed all the pain that was blocking my throat. "...gone..."
"What do you mean by gone?!" Barbie asked, frustrated already but I can hint at the worry in her voice. I can feel Seulji holding my shoulder.
"They already dead because of him." Master Kim intervened and I clenched the journal even more. "That stupid dramatic boy sacrifice his own life to keep twenty safe and even it's against the rules to keep the player alive, he broke it by saving him from your daughter."
"What?! So you mean they fight because of this worthless piece of crap?!" Barbie yelled and points an accusing finger at me.
"Watch your mouth bitch!" Xion scolded but that didn't stop Barbie.
"Yes and that's why they have already gone."
Barbie quickly shook her head. "No, that's impossible. They can't die, right? Like you masters." She said, not convinced at all.
"We can die if we want to." Master Lee said. "And Hwang choose to die to save him. So stupid and about your daughter? She still has the blood of human so she can die easily."
"No! You're lying!"
Barbie glared at me and I quickly crawl away, hugging my stomach to protect the two-child living inside me. Barbie marched towards me, fuming in anger but I can see tears begin gathering in her eyes. Xion, Seulji , and Yeonjun blocked themselves to protect me while Beom and the rest of the maids run to me as if they knew.
"Don't you dare hurt Sunoo!" Seulji warned but Barbie only laughed angrily before shoving them to the side and grabbing my arms.
"Tell me twenty! Are they lying right? Master Hwang and my daughter isn't dead right? They still here somewhere right?" She asked as tears flowed down her face. "They still alive and come back here soon right?! Right?!"
I hope they were still alive. How I wished master Hwang is still alive. I looked down.
"Don't just look down! Answer me!" She screeched, shaking me violently and I shook my head. I choked and cried. "What is this a prank?! Freak you!" She cursed and pushed me harshly. I almost stumble but master Junghwan hurriedly to my side and hugged me.
"They still alive! They are just somewhere in the forest! They can't be dead! No!" Barbie start to hysterical, pulling her hair and crying out in grief too. The toys walked to her, trying to comfort her. She cried aloud and scream, calling master Hwang, especially her daughter.
I can't stand this anymore. I closed my eyes and buried my face on master Junghwan's chest. I can feel him embrace me tighter while I hug the journal master Hwang gives to me while repeatedly saying sorry. My chest clenched once the memory of him before he died flashed in my mind. I couldn't help but cry in agony, sobbing hard in master Junghwan's chest.
"Don't cry Sunie hyung. He'll always be waiting. He is still here, waiting for us...you."
-
The game is indeed just like that with full of sympathy and sadness. Barbie is still crying while her companions are helping her to get into her room. The masters didn't say anything but I can hint at the smirk on master Han's face.
We went all inside of the mansion while the butlers clean the mess in the forest. Once I stepped inside, I felt cold. The memory of when I first came here flood my mind. In this door where I first see master Hwang and the way, he scared me by hearing my voice. I looked up and see the huge painting of the masters that hanging in the grand stair. They were all complete in that painting. In that painting, I can see master Hwang's serious face that seems to look back at me. My heart clenched again and I feel like crying again but no. I shook my head and headed to my room.
I noticed master Junghwan completely locking master Hwang's room. I took a deep breath and decided to head inside my room. I'm completely alone in this room master Leelex gives. I sat silently on the bed, looking into space.
"I'll never forget..."