I'm still alive

"Old man!"

What awakened the night full of silence and despair was radio, which began to ring noisily with heavy drinking. As soon as the radio rang, I began to run to the central building and ran into an old man in the middle of the night's road. Then he quickly called after the old man who hurried along, gasping for breath.

'You want to see me out of breath, asshole! Why are you calling me!'

You look like you're out of breath while asking a real question. I rushed to the central building with a short answer that I would first arrive and ask, and hurriedly opened the central door. Then slowly, across the hall where the lights begin to light up, enter the already lit conference room.

Then there are already countless people gathered and busy looking at the roar and light flames unfolding outside. As soon as I arrived, I put down the equipment on my desk that was still wet from sweat, and at the same time I asked the old man.

Did you know that was gonna happen?’

'Uh.'

The old man answered casually and lifted the telescope, but it was never as light as the aftermath of the short answer. The old man's plate was turned over less than two days later, as expected. The newly evolved ones flocked to the area to find other survivors, not us, and are expected to eventually bring out a strong force of bombing to stop the bursts of soldiers guarding the blockade area.

How big is it that he's doing that? A cold sweat ran on my back, and a dry needle went over my throat.

‘ .’

Silence, stillness, and in between, the heterogeneous and destructive external elements that strain us surround the atmosphere. Someone exhales quietly. Still beyond the window the sparks from the bombing roared, and the roar that came through the darkness vibrated the air finely.

A march towards the outside of them! Of course, if you think about it now after it happened, it was possible enough, but it was a new phenomenon that you never expected when you were franticly defending the barrier. But the really strangely hopeless news came as another opportunity for us trapped here.

'How far is it!'

It's no time for you to lose your mind. I quickly broke the stillness and gave the people a loud order. Then, the first to come to his senses, the silver-rimmed glasses quickly sent a radio message to somewhere, and soon received the exact location from the observers and marked it on the map.

I clenched my fists and turned my eyes along the red line, and soon I could be sure that this bombing was heading out of the containment area. At that moment, the atmosphere in the conference room began to heat up. The old man, who trudged from over there, quickly came to my side and emphasized, chewing words out to people.

'You know what it means to get those assholes out of the bombing card. I don't have time to hesitate and think. It's a real timing fight from now on.’

The government lied that it had covered up the situation and completely suppressed it. But the fact that the government took out a card of bombing, which can be immediately noticed by the outside world, was evidence of how serious the situation in the outer region is.

As the old man said, this was a crisis that came down to our throats, and was also the only chance to get on board the surging waves and face another phase. His fist, which he held tightly, was tightened and his heart, which was beating slowly, supplied endless blood of speculation.

Yes, it penetrates the confused organ plate. We face a situation in which we have no choice but to make a head-on breakthrough over the government and the enemy at the same time. On the tightrope, I put my hands on the desk, holding the tension tight, and began to give instructions in a long time with a strained voice.

'Are you fully familiar with the escape route?’

'Yes, group leader. We've narrowed down to four paths that they think are the most favored and the most vulnerable. However, there are many opinions that large-scale movements will inevitably lead to detection.’

To my question, Park Dae-bak, who was pouting his lips in that corner, slowly walked out and answered in a powerful voice. Rumor has it that Park Dae-bak harassed the hostages and squeezed information day and night.

For there was no one but a strong man to do the simple and cruel thing, so I trusted him and entrusted him with the work, and the faith was rewarded with four ways which were frantically marked on the map.

The red line, the extension that connects our lives. I painted the line of hope unshakable in my determination and put firmness in my mind. At that moment, my eyes looking at the map move frantically and my head, which had stopped in despair and fatigue, accelerates.

'When we get to the sealed area, let's mix the common people and the children and divide them into two groups. And send it the safest way. Then the number of people exposed will decrease as much as possible.’

I nodded frantically when I heard the old man speaking beside me. Most of the people gathered here with the intention of protecting the precious. a struggle for others, not for oneself It gave me the courage not to hesitate to walk the steepest thorny path. I was frantic with information on the map and reached the end of the busy meeting.

'I'll set the preparation period for one day. We aim to arrive as soon as possible, and please provide us with adequate food and firearms. Please make sure that all personnel are available and that there are no changes......... Take the power from Eden.’

I've been holding out all the way here. We've walked really well against the world that screams to die and strangle us. Even though I open my eyes, the memories I've experienced so far are blindfolded. From the humble goshiwon building to this position leading all survivors.

I didn't feel proud and worried, but the burden of pressing down on my shoulders slowly spreads out like an additive to me. But the more I do that, the more confident I am and the more I hold on to my slow-moving heart.

'Let's get out alive.’

Their purpose was to eat us. The purpose of the government was to hide us. So what was the purpose of our survival so far? The question was now in the primal source heating up the heart.

Live, save, live. The bond that ran only for survival tied us together, giving us the courage to face that danger. At the word that penetrated life exactly, the group gathered near me and nodded slowly.

*

As the morning dawned, as we had expected, their attacks began to diminish significantly. And by the time of the afternoon, there was no sight of them near the Wall, and the bombing that continued through the night took place simultaneously and gradually expanded its scope. All of them followed that loud noise. After a week and three more days, Eden was finally able to escape their siege.

‘ .’

I can hear people running around busily outside the group leader's window. an escape order issued overnight The residents were naturally embarrassed, but their bodies were moving busily at least with the efforts of the cadres. An employee who commands people with a loud voice and who follows the instructions with a pale face.

Some are frightened, and others shed tears at the fact that they have to leave. But the sense of homogeneity that has woven us together has led them all to stagger.

Group leader, we've got you.’

At the moment of contemplation, the door of the group leader's room opened and Eun-te's glasses appeared looking tired. And next to it, two staff members of the broadcasting station, seeing their faces for the first time in a long time, were bowing their heads to me with a full stiff face.

I lowered my head, facing them, and soon sat down in the chair slowly, with the sound of the silver-rimmed glasses telling them to go out. The two slowly approach me and sit slowly on the chair I have quietly arranged.

Have you eaten?’

I spoke with a faint smile on my face to release their expression, which seemed a little stiff. Then the two of them slowly nod their heads and smile at me, making eye contact with me. The suspended project, which seemed to be going out soon, was caught up in a sudden situation and isolated with us.

But contrary to my expectations of being depressed, the two were carrying camcorders and cameras to cover the entire reality of Eden's people and the scene.

'You've been through a lot.’

I honestly don't know how they see me. But for me, at least sitting here, these two were the first outsiders to cooperate with us. Everyone tried to cover up and kill us, but these two did not turn away and held Eden's hand.

And these two are still not abandoning their duties as journalists to tell the truth that will come to light in the future. I slowly closed my eyes and took out a briefcase from the drawer and put it down in front of them. Then the two open their eyes wide, surprised to see if they know what this is.

'It wasn't something I'd have anymore.’

"But, sir...….’

The old briefcase contained all the classified documents collected from the station that day. Goods received from these two in return for saving. But the day before I left Eden, I decided to return this briefcase to them.

And Kim Chang-sik, who saw the briefcase in front of his eyes, stammered, shaking his voice, and the woman at the station next to him looked at me helplessly and eventually bowed her head. I asked them to do so.

'Please take it with you. Maybe you need this.’

The moment they go out of the containment area, they are powerless to be placed in a wind tunnel. But the paper and materials contained in the briefcase will serve as a knife to stab the government in times of crisis and be the only bargaining chip we can wield.

And I leave the briefcase to those two who can use this weapon most efficiently. Kim Chang-sik grabbed the handle of the briefcase with his trembling hand, and the woman who seemed to have grown attached to the people eventually shed a tear.

*

Whoo.

I breathed a long breath and enjoyed the chilly early spring weather with my whole body. From my mouth came the breath of tobacco smoke, and the whole body hardens with tension. But the old man's hand, which rose over my shoulder, gave me a boost, shedding all the despair and sorrow he had accumulated.

a puffy puff

Tighten your hands with leather gloves and lift the gun down in front of you. At that moment, the wind blows from behind me and tells me it's time to start.

'Let's go.'

With that short word of mine, the radio began to sound frantically, and the guards and the party, who protect people from all sides, shouted loudly. Before my eyes was Eden's main gate, which had always kept us firm.

But the guards who open the front gate cut off the one way of escape for today, hurry down the barrier and join our pack.

a dead duck

The front door opened with a heavy sound, and I turned my head for a moment and looked at the countless people standing behind me.

All the people who lived in Eden were in a long group. Everyone was carrying as warm clothes as possible and minimal luggage as we ordered. After that, the rear car team led by Park Dae-bak was pulling the items we would use throughout the trip, and near the parade was a fully armed guard and a group of people busily running around. Although it was only one day's short notice, competent Eden executives put a perfect stepping stone to this reckless operation.

My heart is beating. Between the half-open doors there are a lot of people we've killed, and in the middle of it, the path we're headed for shows up. All right, nothing. It was the moment when it was revealed that the old man's words of timing fight were the answer.

No more waves of six-sidedness were seen isolating us. Although I don't know how long this will last, the only chance this time was the last question and answer the grey city gave me.

I clenched my teeth. The head of a huge procession that will be the first and last of my life. This position was scarier and scarier than any start. But thinking about my child and my company behind me, my whole body starts to feel tired.

Eden's front door was completely open. As I take off my steps, my memories pass by like a flash of lightning. I raised my hand loudly as I walked, and I fully enjoy the breath that people exhale. And after that, countless people hear footsteps. Like a bird trying to get out of a narrow cage and fly up, paradise is finally taking its first step out of the world. I slowly lifted the gun towards the front.

There will be plenty of lies and fears before me as I have been. It was like a mudslide that never fell, no matter how unclean it was, and a future that would never change. But on the contrary, the path I had taken was a life without regret, full of truth and courage.

And it's time to make the thorny path ahead the way I've walked.

I can talk.

I'm still alive.