Damyang, 2013
Dark clouds gathered over the bamboo forest, casting an unusually gloomy atmosphere for an autumn day. Inside the house, the firewood burned brightly, creating a warm contrast to the dark, windy climate outside. Kim Hana, busy with her orphanage documents, sat beside her husband Yoon Siwoo, who was engrossed in the local newspaper.
"NGO worker brutally murdered by a psychopathic killer," Siwoo read the front-page headline aloud.
"Ahhh, why do you keep reading those things?" Hana complained.
"These murders are getting out of hand. Why aren't the authorities taking stricter action against the killer?"
"No one is going to do anything… not when the authorities themselves are involved in these killings," Hana murmured, but Siwoo heard her.
"What? Hana-yah… do you know something about this?" Siwoo asked, his voice tense.
"No… nothing."
"Honey, these days I feel like you're hiding something from me."
"Even if I am, it's to protect you and Seong-ah."
"So my gut feeling was right all along. Kang Minseok didn't give you this house for nothing, did he? What did you promise him?"
"This house is not a gift, Siwoo. I just helped him a little… and asked to live here until Seong-ah graduates."
"Still, it's wrong, Hana! How could you hide something so important for eight years? I only found out when I glanced at the house ownership documents," Siwoo said, feeling betrayed.
"I had no other choice."
"Why? Were you so fed up with our past lifestyle in Seoul? Was it that difficult to stay the way we used to?"
"Seong-ah was on the verge of death after that awful road accident! We had no money to treat her! Helping Kang Minseok for his political agenda was the only choice I had left."
"And what was that help?"
"..."
"Hana… what was that help?"
"Naming Myeongdo orphanage contributions under his name for the elections… creating Myeongdo orphanage to build his righteous image in the public eye."
"Hana??? I just can't… believe this…. So why are you so scared now? You must have gotten protection from Minseok, right? Why do you look paler every day?" Yoon Siwoo thundered, his voice full of suspicion.
Kim Hana, tears streaming down her face, looked up at her husband, unable to articulate the bitter truth she had faced a month ago and could not bear any longer.
"He… Minseok… is using the children from the orphanage…"
"Using? For what?"
"For human sacrifices… to strengthen his power in politics, to expand his empire, to dominate the drug business, to amass wealth… for his power-hungry self…"
Yoon Siwoo was stunned by her revelations. He had always sensed something wrong at the orphanage, but this was beyond comprehension.
"What the hell are you saying, Hana?!!" he screamed.
"Yes, he's using the older blind kids from the orphanage for human sacrifices, and the children who are blind and deaf as weapons to kill his enemies, making them addicted to human flesh. Siwoo… I need to stop this… I… I have to stop it… those kids are under my trust… how can I live in peace? How?? I… I have to stop this…"
Kim Hana began speaking like a madwoman, her eyes unfocused, her mind tormented by her daughter's future, her own karma catching up with her, her husband's eyes full of suspicion, the burden of a gifted house, and the guilt of child sacrifices… all because of one grave mistake she had made to save her daughter.
As the tense atmosphere thickened inside their home, heavy rain poured down in the bamboo forest. After a few moments of silence, three loud knocks on the door echoed through the house. Those knocks sent shivers down Hana's spine. Yoon Siwoo stood up to open the door, but Hana grabbed his hand and pushed him back onto the sofa.
"No… do not open the door," she cried.
"Why?? It must be Seong-ah!" Siwoo tried to reason with her.
"No… that's not Seong-ah… Seong-ah won't come back tonight…"
The knocks grew more intense,
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
Kim Hana walked towards the door, Yoon Siwoo looking at her in shock, "Hana… what… where… are-" he tried to stop her.
The door opened slowly, and as it did, a force from outside pushed it open, knocking Hana to the floor.
"Just do whatever with me! Kill me! Please leave my daughter alone…. Leave her… please…" she pleaded, clasping her hands, rubbing them together.
A mysterious figure in a black coat stood at the door, staring coldly at the crying Hana. After a few seconds, he left a note on the floor and walked out. Hana crawled to the door, grabbing the note:
'Handover Myeongdo Orphanage. Leave Damyang. Time starts now.'
"Honey… Siwoo… let's pack our bags… let's run away," Hana trembled as her husband hurriedly embraced her.
"Do you really want to hand over Myeongdo to that demon? The brave Hana I loved would never do that. We will save the children. They are your children, Hana… you brought them to the orphanage!"
"What about Seong-ah?? She's our child! She's our own child! How can she live alone?" Hana cried while hugging Siwoo.
"Do you want to risk the lives of 100 orphan kids to save one life? Are you sure you would never regret it?" He patted her back gently.
Hana cried the entire night, not sleeping for even a minute. As the morning sun rays entered through the windows, illuminating the dark house, her eyes, dry from tears, suddenly burned with determination. Her trembling hands gained strength, driven to save her dear ones.
Kim Hana grabbed her personal diary and wrote down the entire history of Myeongdo orphanage, her deal with Kang Minseok, the suspicious charity donors, names of the two blind kids who were sacrificed using demonic rituals, and one deaf child who went missing recently. She detailed the illegal drug business led by Kang Chaewon and the use of teenage kids in the orphanage as test subjects for studying drug effects. Every piece of information she had painstakingly gathered was penned down.
She dialed a number on her secret residence phone, knowing her cell phone was being tracked,
"Sungtae-yah… I need your help… My daughter will reach Seoul after her graduation ceremony… help her with whatever she needs… I've transferred our savings to her account… Help her find our small apartment in Namyangju… Please, look after my darling… I'm trusting you, Sungtae, please look after her…" her voice trembled, tears welling up as she spoke with her university best friend.
"Hana? Suddenly? What happened?? Yoon Siwoo is doing well, right?" Sungtae asked, confused.
"Don't ask. Just listen. Yoon Seong-ah is your responsibility after us."
"After us? What do you mean??? Hana!!"
Kim Hana abruptly ended the call, unable to control her tears, and sobbed as she looked at their family portrait. A small, happy family of three was all she had ever wanted in life. But cruel fate had written something else on her destiny.
.
.
.
Yoon Seong-ah turned the next page of the scanned diary, almost reaching the end of the prints. Her heart pounded, knowing the upcoming entries detailed her parents' brutal murder. Unable to hold back her tears, she banged her wrist on the desk in anger.
"Moon Ji Hoon? The missing child from the orphanage... was he sacrificed like the others or used as a test subject?" She scratched her head, trying to piece together the fragmented clues. Ten years ago, he was thirteen. Today, he would be twenty-three. Where could he be now?
Her phone rang, diverting her attention. It was Haneul.
"Found any clues?" she asked immediately.
"Seong-ah," a familiar voice replied.
"Hangyul? How did you—" she started, but he cut her off.
"Do you believe me?" he asked.
Seong-ah had no answer. She stayed quiet.
"Have you ever loved me?" he continued.
Again, Seong-ah had no answer. She remained silent.
"Your silence spoke a thousand words, Yoon Seong-ah," he said, laughing like a maniac.
"Hangyul, listen to me—"
"No need. You wanted information; you got it. I've heard everything," he said before hanging up.
Seong-ah threw her phone onto the bed in frustration. A few minutes passed as she stared at the ceiling, lost in memories of Lee Hangyul. Despite her awareness of her feelings for him, she couldn't bring herself to accept them. The muted television caught her eye, flashing a news headline:
'Heir of the Phoenix Group, Lee Hangyul, surrenders himself.'
"Why would you do that, Hangyul?" Seong-ah muttered, unable to process his actions. Grabbing her bag, she tied her hair into a ponytail and rushed out of her apartment. The memories of their time together flashed before her eyes. She tried to hail a taxi, but it was 5 AM, and all nearby cabs were booked. Confused and desperate, she decided to walk to the intelligence center. The freezing cold winds couldn't distract her from her swirling thoughts.
Why am I running to him? It doesn't matter if he is ruined, right? That was the plan all along… right? How can I not push down my emotions this time? Why can't I think with my brain? My heart is not listening to me… He's innocent… He hasn't killed a single person in this whole serial murder case… not even his father… Why would he surrender? Such a fool… emotional fool… I'm doing this just because I know he is innocent, right? I don't have any feelings for him, right? Right… wrong?
Seong-ah was out of breath from running. She had sprinted all the way to the intelligence center without realizing it. Her heart raced, and her thoughts were a storm. She climbed the stairs to the building where Hangyul was held for interrogation. Security officers stopped her, but she resisted.
"Let me go! I want to meet Senior Detective Haneul!"
"Yoon Seong-ah, media reporters are not allowed in this building," one officer said.
"But I'm not here as a journalist!" she yelled.
Realizing yelling was futile, Seong-ah dialed Haneul's number, but it was off. Desperation mounting, she recalled Professor Sungtae mentioning a passage between the two buildings via the common terrace. She had no choice but to take the risk.
"Professor, I'm trespassing in the D tower of the center," she whispered over the phone.
"What? Where are you right now? Seong-ah..." he panicked.
"Please manage this last thing for me. Bye bye! See you later!" Seong-ah pleaded, hanging up.
Professor Sungtae sighed, looking out his office window. "Hana, your daughter takes as many risks as you did," he muttered. Memories of Hana's last call ten years ago resurfaced, and a sense of déjà vu made him restless. "Yesul, get to the intelligence center now. I need your help," he called his niece.
Seong-ah reached the terrace, running towards the interrogation room. Security was tighter than usual. She hid behind a staircase, waiting for the officers to leave. But more officers arrived by the minute. Growing anxious, she felt a hand on her shoulder and turned, startled, to see a masked girl in a black cap.
"Sunbaenim, it's me… your favorite student," the girl whispered.
Recognizing the voice, Seong-ah realized it was Park Yesul, Professor Sungtae's niece.
"You brat! Where have you been?" Seong-ah hissed.
"Shhh! Lower your voice," Yesul said, covering Seong-ah's mouth. "Uncle asked me to help you escape Lee Hangyul."
"Escape? We're not kidnapping him! I just need to talk to him," Seong-ah said, shocked by Yesul's excitement.
As Yesul found an opportunity, she made a loud noise, running in the opposite direction and distracting the security officers. Seong-ah, hidden in the darkness, went unnoticed. She quickly ran inside the interrogation room, finding a lonely Lee Hangyul, head down, hands folded.
Seong-ah knocked on the glass panel, but Hangyul didn't move. She hesitated, then went inside, tapping his arm. "Hangyul, can you hear me?"
No response from him; he didn't flinch. Seong-ah was scared. She kneeled down and separated his folded hands forcibly, holding his wrist to check his pulse. It was beating slower than normal. She tapped his cheeks, "Hangyul! Get out of it! Can you hear me? Look at me!"
After a few seconds of effort, Hangyul slowly lifted his head and stared at the empty wall. He placed a finger on his lips, signaling Seong-ah to be quiet. "He's watching us," he uttered in broken words.
"Who?" Seong-ah was confused.
"Father."
Seong-ah understood. Hangyul was experiencing the side effects of breaking off from the antidotes given by Dr. Danny Park.
"Can you walk? Stand up."
"Where?"
"To your father."
Seong-ah pulled him up from the chair. He almost fell from the sudden motion. She smiled, "Hangyul-ssi, run fast, we're escaping the jail."
Lee Hangyul, now fully back to his senses after seeing Seong-ah's face, was mesmerized by her actions. She held his hand tightly as they ran out of the interrogation room. She was running ahead of him, constantly looking back to check if he could keep up.
Hadn't she denied loving me just a few hours ago? Why is she going to such lengths to get me out of here? Why is she taking such a risk for me? Who am I to her? What are we? Can we become something meaningful? Am I being too emotionally dependent on her? Why must I follow her blindly?
Hangyul was indeed following her blindly, unaware of their destination. As he glanced behind him, his father in a black overcoat grew more distant and eventually disappeared. The dark figure, the shadow that had haunted him for a decade, was none other than his father—a face revealed to him the night he was caught at the forest park. His father had seemed sad, staring at his son with dark eyes. But today, as Hangyul ran away and his father became a distant figure, his lips formed a smile, and his eyes seemed to give a final farewell.
Their escape was interrupted by sirens blaring through the building, signaling someone fleeing the interrogation room. Police officers poured out of their offices, and security guards ran toward the third floor. Seong-ah pulled Hangyul toward the terrace to escape from Tower A. But as they reached it, a force of security guards surrounded Tower A's exit.
"Wait… don't panic," Seong-ah said, clutching his hand.
"I'm not. But why are you breaking me out?" Hangyul asked.
"Shut up," she replied.
They were interrupted by a loud call. "Sunbaenim!"
Seong-ah recognized Yesul, bruised but determined.
"What happened to those officers? Are you all right?" Seong-ah asked.
"Don't worry about me. Just take your man and run away," Yesul replied.
"No! I need to know, Seong-ah. Why are you doing this? I have nothing left, no one cares if I rot in jail! Who are you to rescue me? What are we?" Hangyul demanded, shaking her shoulders in anger.
"You have me! I don't want you to rot in jail! I want you by my side! I want to run with you! I want to take my last breath in your arms! Do you hear me? Lee Hangyul, I want you! Please come with me. This is the last time I'll risk both our lives," Seong-ah screamed, tears streaming down her cheeks.
A small smile spread across Hangyul's face. He took her hand and held it tightly. "Let's go."
Police forces closed in from every direction, leaving no exit. Hangyul and Seong-ah clasped hands and followed Yesul to a secret fire escape door. They slid down a narrow passage to the ground behind the Intelligence Center building.
As they emerged, they were confronted by a firm figure standing in the bright opening. It was Kim Haneul. He had seen them running from the interrogation cell and was impressed by their escape through the center's tight security.
"You know this is a criminal offense, right?" he said, targeting Seong-ah.
"I know, but I also know that Hangyul is innocent," she replied sternly.
"Let the court decide that."
"The court can never see beyond the evidence, Haneul. Let me do it my way."
"A lot of lives depend on this case," Haneul said, glancing at Yesul, who was smiling secretly.
"Just give me some time, Haneul. Please, let me prove his innocence."
"Three hours. I'll take Hangyul away if you can't find any evidence by then. Deal?"
"Deal."
Yoon Seong-ah held Lee Hangyul's hand and ran out of the center's private exit.
As they disappeared into the early dawn, determination and desperation fueled their flight, knowing that every second counted in their race against time.