After resting for a while, I finally recovered enough strength to get up. My back still felt stiff from lying on the cold, hard floor, but the overwhelming exhaustion was gradually fading. Around me, the damp air of this underground corridor still clung to everything, but now it felt slightly more bearable compared to when we were desperately running for our lives.
I lifted my head and saw Hyunsuk sitting cross-legged not far from me, his eyes alert, watching the darkness of the tunnel. It seemed he had taken the watch, letting Olivia and me recover. When he noticed I was awake, his expression softened with concern.
"Are you feeling better, hyung?" he asked quietly, his voice low so as not to disturb Olivia.
I took a deep breath and tried moving my shoulders and arms. My body still ached, my muscles protesting from being pushed too hard, but at least I could move.
"I'm fine," I replied with a small smile, doing my best to appear reassuring. "I've recovered some strength."
Even though I tried to ease the atmosphere, the pain spreading through my body couldn't be ignored. It felt like I had just been hit by a car—my body was heavy, stiff, and sore. Slowly and carefully, I stood up and walked over to Olivia. Her breathing was steady, but she remained unconscious. Her face was pale and calm, as if in a deep sleep.
Judging by the state of her injuries, Hyunsuk had done his best. The scrapes on her arms and legs had been cleaned. Perhaps using the little water we had, Hyunsuk had carefully washed them, even applying some to her bruises, despite having no medicine or ice to reduce the swelling. At least the wounds were no longer at risk of infection.
However, the bruise on her right leg was severe. I estimated that if there was no ligament damage, it would take two to three weeks for it to heal. But in our current situation, we couldn't let her walk on her own. She would need to be carried the rest of the way out of this cursed place.
Since there was nothing else I could do until Olivia woke up, I decided to replenish my energy. My stomach began to growl, and my body needed fuel. I opened my bag and pulled out one of the military rations we had found earlier. Inviting Hyunsuk to eat with me, we both sat with our backs against the moldy wall, sharing a heavy silence.
"Wow, my ration pack has a lot of good stuff," Hyunsuk said with cheerful surprise as he opened his. He looked both surprised and happy.
Hyunsuk's ration included pasta with tomato sauce, chicken pieces, a few meatballs sealed in a small pouch, and dry bread as a side. There was even a bit of cheese sauce in a separate container. Seeing his food, I smiled faintly. It was a luxurious meal for someone trapped in a place full of darkness and fear.
I opened my own ration. It contained white rice and a mixture of chicken in thick brown gravy. Not as fancy as Hyunsuk's, but still far better than going hungry.
"Hyung, I guess you weren't as lucky," Hyunsuk said with a chuckle.
I glanced at him and clicked my tongue. "You idiot, you should appreciate every meal in front of you," I replied while chewing slowly. Even though the sauce was a bit salty and the rice slightly hard, it felt like heavenly food after all the running we had done.
We ate in silence, occasionally taking turns glancing at the dark end of the corridor. The sound of dripping water from a leaking pipe above echoed as a constant backdrop. The warm scent of the rations began to fill the small space we had taken shelter in. And perhaps because of that aroma, Olivia, who had been unconscious, suddenly groaned softly and opened her eyes.
"Noona, you're awake," Hyunsuk said immediately, his voice filled with relief and concern.
Olivia slowly blinked, trying to focus her vision as she lifted her upper body.
"Yeah… How am I?" she asked, her voice weak but conscious.
"Besides the scrapes, your leg has some bruising, so you might have difficulty walking," Hyunsuk answered gently. He sounded careful, not wanting to make her feel worse than she already did.
Olivia lowered her gaze to her leg. Her eyes showed understanding of the difficulties ahead. From her expression, I knew she was weighing the situation. She was a smart woman and surely aware that her condition would add to the team's burden.
I stepped closer and sat beside her. With a firm yet warm voice, I said, "Don't worry about it. I'll get you out of here."
"Yeah, that's right, noona," Hyunsuk added confidently. "We're not going to leave you behind."
Olivia looked at the two of us. A meaningful smile spread across her face. Her eyes began to well up—not from pain, but from being touched.
"Thank you… for your help, Mr. Lan. Even though I was unconscious at the time, I could feel that it was you who helped me," she said softly.
I held back a smile and shook my head slightly. "No need to be so formal. We're a team, and we've agreed to help each other. It's my duty—and Hyunsuk's too—to help when one of us gets hurt."
Olivia bowed her head. A tear nearly fell from the corner of her eye. She wiped her cheek with the back of her hand and let out a long sigh. Her past was filled with betrayal and distrust. In her previous life, she had been surrounded by two-faced colleagues, and every act of kindness had hidden motives. It was hard for her to trust others.
At first, she wasn't entirely convinced of my or Hyunsuk's intentions. Her caution and guarded nature made her seem friendly only out of formality. But during our recent escape—when her body was paralyzed by pain and her mind consumed by exhaustion—she was saved by people she had known for only a few days.
Now, she truly felt that my and Hyunsuk's presence was not just luck—but an invaluable blessing in this dangerous place.
With tearful eyes and a trembling voice, Olivia spoke again, "May I join you for a meal?"
I chuckled softly. "Of course you can. We still have a few rations left. Pick whichever you like."
Hyunsuk had already opened his bag and pulled out an extra ration, handing it to Olivia with a wide smile. Olivia took it and slowly opened it. Though her hands were still slightly shaking from weakness, she began to eat calmly between the two of us.
For a moment, even if just briefly in a world full of terror, we felt human again. Sitting together, comforting one another, and sharing a meal—simple things that felt deeply meaningful in our current situation.