Chapter 2:
Joon's heart pounded as he charged through the inferno. The air was thick with smoke, stinging his lungs and blurring his vision. Flames licked at the walls, consuming everything in their path. The sound of crackling wood and distant cries for help filled his ears.
Gripping the axe tightly, he pushed forward. Every step felt instinctive, his body responding with precision he didn't understand. He felt the heat against his face, but his focus was razor-sharp.
"Over here!"
The faint voice of a child reached him again. Joon turned toward the sound, navigating through the chaos. He found the source in a corner of the room—a small girl huddled under a table, her face streaked with soot and tears.
"It's okay!" he called out, his voice steady despite the panic around him. "I'm here to help you."
The girl stared at him with wide, terrified eyes, clutching a stuffed rabbit to her chest. Joon crouched low, extending a hand.
"Come on," he urged gently. "I'll get you out of here."
For a moment, she didn't move, frozen by fear. Then, as a beam above them creaked ominously, she scrambled out and threw herself into his arms.
Joon lifted her, cradling her against his chest. "Hold on tight," he said.
With the girl securely in his arms, he retraced his steps, his mind racing. He could hear the building groaning under the pressure of the flames. Time was running out.
"Stay low!" a voice shouted from ahead. Joon looked up to see another firefighter—a woman in full gear—motioning him toward an open doorway.
"This way!" she yelled.
Joon nodded and followed her lead, his arms tightening around the child. They navigated through the collapsing structure, finally bursting into the open air.
The rush of cold night air hit Joon like a wave. He stumbled out of the building, the girl still clinging to him, and collapsed onto the pavement. Around him, firefighters worked to control the blaze, their shouts mingling with the hiss of water against fire.
"Over here!" the woman from before called, rushing toward him. She knelt beside him, checking him over. "You okay?"
Joon nodded, coughing as he tried to catch his breath. "She's fine," he rasped, gesturing to the girl. "She's safe."
The firefighter gave him a look of approval. "Good work, rookie. You've got guts."
"Rookie?" Joon muttered, confused.
But before he could question it, the girl's parents rushed over, enveloping her in a tearful embrace. Watching their reunion, Joon felt an unfamiliar warmth bloom in his chest. For the first time in what felt like forever, he felt… useful. Alive.
The fire was finally extinguished hours later. Joon sat on the back of a firetruck, his gear heavy and sweat-soaked. He stared at the smoldering remains of the building, still trying to process everything.
"What is this?" he whispered to himself.
"Hey."
Joon looked up to see the woman who had helped him earlier. She pulled off her helmet, revealing short-cropped black hair and a face streaked with soot. She handed him a bottle of water.
"First fire, huh?" she asked, sitting down beside him.
"Uh… yeah," Joon said, unsure how else to respond.
"You did good in there," she said, taking a swig of her own water. "Most rookies freeze up their first time, but you handled it like a pro."
Joon forced a small laugh. "Thanks. I guess adrenaline kicked in."
"What's your name?" she asked.
"Joon. Joon Park."
"Nice to meet you, Joon. I'm Captain Seo. Welcome to the team."
Team? Rookie? Joon's mind reeled. He looked down at his hands, calloused and rough—a far cry from the pale, frail fingers he'd had as a cancer patient. He touched his face, feeling the strength in his jawline, the unfamiliar sturdiness of his body.
This wasn't his body.
Or maybe it was now.
"Captain Seo," he said hesitantly. "How… how long have I been on the team?"
She gave him a curious look. "You joined three months ago. Are you okay? Did you hit your head in there?"
"No, no," Joon said quickly. "I'm just… tired."
"Understandable," she said, standing up and stretching. "Get some rest, rookie. You've earned it."
Joon nodded, watching her walk away. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm in his mind.
Three months? How could that be possible?
And yet, as he looked down at his firefighter uniform, the weight of the axe in his hands, it felt… right. Like it belonged to him.
But what did this mean? What was happening to him?
Joon clenched his fists, staring at the rising smoke in the distance. One thing was clear: his old life was gone. Whatever this was, it was his reality now.
For the first time in years, he felt strong. Capable. And despite the confusion and fear swirling in his mind, a part of him was eager to see what came next.