A hard surface presses against my back, rough cold and course. Open the eyes to see a black sky, the sun already set. Look left and see the Labyrinth gate and Wodao upon the earth, look right and see police officers chilling on car doors. Look to the sky again. Endless ocean of stars calms my rushing mind.
I slowly move, ready for the onset of pain, yet confused when none comes. Stand fully, both feet on the ground, head held high. No pain assaults me, no smells of blood either. Slowly take off the hide and leather to remove my shirt. Underneath the fabric, I see a scar. It's snug in the middle of my plexus. Made by my own blade, thin yet very apparent.
An officer notice me and call out, "Hey! Are you one of the Hunters that went in?"
Though shock at breathing had already claimed my mind, his words fell upon deaf ears. I stay staring at the scar. Touching it, nothing comes of it. No pain, no shock, no nothing. It's just a scar. Lifting the left arm up, I don't see a scar where Crimson cut into me. Ribs and skin feel normal, so is it only the thing that kills me? I touch over my back and feel the exit scar, just as thin and just as apparent.
"What is going on?" escapes my lips.
The Officer speaks again, "Are you one of the Hunters? Answer now!"
Shake the head and look over to him. There are three officers looking at me. I ask them, "Are you saying something to me?"
The lead officer nods, "Yes, are you part of the squad that entered?"
"I am, why do you ask?"
"I ask because they haven't exited yet. Could you answer some questions?"
"No."
"Mhm, so why... What?"
He obviously wasn't expecting me to not comply, so when he does realize his expression is one of befuddlement. I snicker a little at it.
"Why won't you answer my questions?"
Give him a good 'ol smile, "Because I'm waiting for my Squaddies. Don't worry, once they're here I'll answer the questions I can."
He tries to say more but stops himself and says, "Fine.", and that ends it.
I look away from him and towards the door now. How long will they be inside? Knowing not when they would exit, I lay off side off the door, eyes to the stars.
-
The stars had shift before Golden Light exited. Seung was the first out, head dropped low, looking at the ground. Next was Iseul, then Seong-Jin, then Seok, all with the same sad look.
They don't even notice me, though I am off to the side. Nobody says anything as they exit, only the sound of slight drizzle is audible. To break this terrible glumness, I ask, "You, what happened? Did someone die?"
Seok responds with tears starting to well in his eyes, "Yes, yes someone did. And we couldn't do anything to stop it..."
He raises his head and looks at me with my shit eating grin. He Immediately teleports over to me and asks, "How are you alive!? I thought you died!"
Upon hearing my voice, the other three look up. Seung is the first to respond with a rush and yelling "CHOEHABU!"
I get near tackled with a hug from Seung while Iseul gives a content smile and Seong-Jin desperately tries to hide his relief. It's nice knowing that people worry about you, even if they've known you for less than a day. Wait, they've known me for less than a day, why do they care so much?
Underneath a mountain of steel and man, I say, "You know, I'm really glad you're all this concerned about me, but why are you all so concerned about me?"
Seok asks from somewhere, "What do you mean?"
"I mean, why do you care about me? You've all known me for less than a day."
Seung answers instead of Seok, "It's because we killed you, a team-mate. A rookie with stars in his eyes comes over to our squad. On the First, the FIRST, expedition we go on with him, he dies. He stays behind so that we don't fall too," her voice starts to break, "we let you die."
Looking from Seung to the others, they all share that sentiment. Seung hugs me even harder while starting to whisper, "I'm so-" "Aight I'ma stop you right there. If you apologize, I will punch you."
Seung pulls away while giving a look of shock but I continue, "I chose to stay in there. I chose to fight Crimson. I, Me and no one else, chose to die so that you all would live. To apologize would to spit in my sacrifice. So keep you chins held high, you're not in the wrong."
Seung tears up a little before bowing, "Thank you."
"No problem, on the bright side, I got two things from this. We don't have to worry about me dying, and I got a pretty rad scar. Wanna see?"
Everyone besides Iseul replies, " " "No!!!" " "
Iseul, on the other hand, meekly says, "Yes."
I smile at her and then at everyone else, "You heard her, can't leave a lady waiting."
And I pull my shirt up, showing the scar to Iseul and everyone else. Iseul surprisingly smiles at it while everyone else gags. Well Seok and Seong-Jin gag, Seung who actually sees the scar says, "Oh it's not that bad. You had me worrying it was actually bad."
I say while pulling my shirt down, "If I hadn't killed myself it would've been worse." in a lighthearted joking way. Though it would seem, that I missed the mark as everyone's concern rises. I try to salvage the original mood by saying, "It was so he wouldn't get the last hit in. He slashed my side pretty good!"
My efforts were not only in vain, but only added napalm to the forest fire. A small sigh comes out, "Don't worry too much. I'll bounce back."
Iseul asks, "So you're not hurt?"
Oh very much so, but I can't say that, "No, not really. Besides needing therapy for a few years I'll be fine."
She nods, "If you need any help, tell me."
"I will."
While conversing with Iseul, Seok went over to the police, I ask her, "Why did he go over to them?", gesturing to Seok and the police
"To increase the class of the Labyrinth, it's no longer an E-Class with the advent of a Greater Red in it. A Squad of D+ is a minimum if we want to stop the Labyrinth from overruling."
Another question, "What's Overruling?"
She gives me a questioning look. Upon seeing no answers, she continues, "Overruling is when the contents of a Labyrinth spill out and it Overrules this area, bringing it to the Endless Night."
"Oh, thank you."
She gives a soft, "Mhm", of acknowledgement
Seok gets done with the police and comes over to us. Once over he starts to speak, "I've informed the police about the situation. They'll contact the Hunter Association and request a stronger squad. In the meantime, we're to head back and cash in the Cores that Iseul grabbed. Let's go."
And he starts walking, leaving no room to question. We walk out while I look give one last glance at the Labyrinth doors.
My plexus scar starts to ache so I turn away. Looking into the sky, a vow is made in my heart, a vow to Kill Crimson.