In the hotel bathroom, thick steam filled the air. The bathhouse was warm and heavy with the smell of soap, mixed with faint traces of disinfectant that could not fully wash away the memory of blood and decay.
The four women soaked together in the large tiled bath. Their shoulders slowly relaxed as the heat seeped into their tired bodies, easing the tension they had carried for so long.
"Why is the stench so hard to get rid of?" Hae-in groaned, scrubbing her arms again. She twisted slightly and looked over her shoulder. "Claire, can you help me wash my back?"
Claire nodded and moved behind her. She was the last female student with Hae-in and Na-rin. She had long brown hair and an athletic build. Her face was calm, her eyes quiet and observant as always. She took the cloth and gently washed Hae-in's back.
"Is your leg okay?" Claire asked.
