Phoenix stood on his balcony, his body leaning against the window as a precaution. He was ready to retreat to the safety of his room at a moment's notice, should the situation turn sour. On the adjacent balcony, Alexander and his cohorts lay motionless, appearing as if they had succumbed to unconsciousness. However, Phoenix couldn't be sure whether their state was genuine or a clever ruse, perhaps a joint trap with Lydia to lure him into vulnerability.
The possibility that they might spring into action just as he crossed the precarious gap between the balconies, a mere ten centimeters but slick with snow and fraught with peril, was not lost on Phoenix. A simple push from Lydia, and he could find himself plummeting from the 24th floor. With these risks in mind, he carefully directed his next moves.
Phoenix instructed Lydia, pointing his gun at Alexander and the others, to tie their hands securely behind their backs using the ropes he provided. He also remembered Alexander had a gun and commanded Lydia to retrieve it for him. Lydia's frustration was evident in her response, accusing Phoenix of being overly cautious. However, Phoenix remained steadfast, understanding the necessity of extreme caution in this ruthless environment.
Lydia, weakened from hunger and exhaustion, complied with Phoenix's commands, albeit reluctantly. She managed to secure the men with ropes and cautiously extracted the pistol from Alexander's pocket, all under Phoenix's watchful eye. Despite her frustration, she understood that trusting Phoenix was her only viable option for survival, especially given her refusal to cross her own moral boundaries and the dire consequences that would follow.
Earlier, Lydia had masterminded a plan to incapacitate Alexander and his group by secretly administering a heavy dose of sleeping pills into their food. Unbeknownst to the men, as they consumed their meal, they were unknowingly sealing their fate. Lydia's action, borne out of desperation and survival instinct, was a calculated risk that played out in her favor.
Once the group was rendered unconscious by the sleeping pills, Lydia painstakingly dragged each of them out to the balcony, exhausting the last reserves of her strength in the process. The cold outside air was a harsh reminder of the stark contrast between the false safety inside and the perilous world beyond.
During lunch, the unsuspecting group devoured the laced soup while Lydia, maintaining her ruse, served herself a portion before retreating to safety. The men's snores soon filled the room as they succumbed to deep slumber, confirming to Lydia that her plan had succeeded.
Phoenix, upon receiving Lydia's message, coldly directed her to drag the unconscious bodies out onto the balcony, exposing them to the brutal cold. Lydia complied, fully aware of the risk she faced should they awaken. Phoenix, meanwhile, prepared himself for the next phase of his plan.
Phoenix then took a water pipe and sprayed the unconscious men, transforming them into frozen figures in the sub-zero temperatures. This merciless act was a stark testament to the brutal reality of their new world. The men, once ordinary neighbors, were now mere ice sculptures, a grim reminder of the harshness of their existence.
Lydia, shivering inside, watched the scene unfold, her body trembling not just from the cold but also from the realization of the cruel necessity of their actions. The warmth of Phoenix's apartment seemed a distant dream as she endured the icy grip of their reality.
Finally, Phoenix, acknowledging Lydia's compliance and resourcefulness, invited her into his fortified haven. Lydia hurriedly entered, eager to escape the cold and the horrific scene she had left behind. As she stepped into the warmth, she began shedding her layers of clothing, overwhelmed by the sudden change in temperature.