𝐯𝐢𝐢. 𝐤𝐢𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐞

Soojin knocked on the door of apartment 1408. They waited not so long for them to open, but at first, they couldn't see anyone, it was too dark. The teenagers looked at each other unsure.

"Come in," said the man inside, "Don't be afraid, I have problems with walking"

Soojin bit her cheek, but walked to the room. She bent to untie her boots. Hyunsoo closed the doors behind them.

"Take off your shoes," said the girl, and he nodded his head

The lights turned on. When they walked deeper in the room, they saw a man that helped them earlier, sitting behind the desk, holding this big gun with which he cut the monster in half.

"My name is Han Dusik," he said, "What's yours?"

The boy didn't say anything, so Soojin talked.

"I'm Mae Soojin, and this is Cha Hyunsoo," she pointed at the boy who nodded his head, holding her down a bit

"Your boyfriend is a little shy, isn't he?" said the man

Soojin's cheeks turned red from embarrassment. Hyunsoo felt a lump in his throat as he looked down.

"He's not my boyfriend, and yes, he is a little shy" she murmured, "The important thing is, how can we save the kids, sir?"

"Oh sorry, I thought... Never mind," Dusik waved his hand, "Well.... It's all on you," he rode to them on the wheelchair. He tapped himself on the knees, "I'm not that efficient like you"

They weren't expecting that. The man was smiling softly.

"I used to be a legend in Cheonggyecheon. You heard? They can build any tank as long as you have a blueprint," he sounded excited when he was talking about that

None of the teenagers said anything, not sure how to answer to that. Dusik sighed.

"That means, I can transform your little weapons into something more useful," he smiled, "Hand me that, boy"

Hyunsoo looked at him surprised, "What?"

"Your stick, moron" Soojin rolled her eyes

"Oh...."

The boy walked to Dusik, handing him his stick, but he pointed with the knife, making the man flinch. Soojin shook her head embarrassed, while Hyunsoo turned the stick to the other end. The man on the wheelchair took it from him.

"Very smart technology," he chuckled, looking at the tape around the knife, so Soojin blushed again

Dusik put a stick on the desk, and rode behind it. He put on dark glasses to protect the eyes, taking in his hands something, that Soojin didn't know how to describe. He started repairing boy's stick or whatever he did.

Hyunsoo looked down at Soojin's feet. She was wearing fluffy socks, one of them was blue with snowflakes, while the other one was in red-green stripes. While she was looking super badass in her big, black boots and with a harsh look on her face, under it, she had these socks. He smiled to himself

"Cool socks," said Hyunsoo quietly, waking the girl from her thoughts

She looked down at her feet, and then at the boy's. He also was wearing two different socks.

"Yours are cool too," she looked at him and smiled

Dusik finished making up the boy's stick after nearly fifteen minutes. He sighed, „All done"

The girl smiled, but Hyunsoo didn't react, looking at the photo on the desk. Dusik pick up the stick, and click on something. The loud buzz made them flinch. Around the knife appeared blue trickles.

"They still move around with their heads chopped off," said Dusik, "A kitchen knife can't do a job. But this can"

Soojin looked at the knife she was holding.

"You think.... I can kill them with that thing?" asked surprised Hyunsoo

"No, you can't"

"How do you know that?"

"I just know it," that's valid, "Avoid them at all costs. If you come across one, run as fast as you can. Don't even let them see you, alright?"

The teenagers nodded their heads.

"Then, why don't you give us one of your biggest weapons?" Hyunsoo pointed behind him

The man turned around for a second, "It's no good. This can only fire a few shots at a time. I already fired one. I might need another one. Besides, the last bullet is reserved for me only. So I don't die old," he put two fingers to his chin, like a gun. No one said anything. The man pulled out his hand to the girl, "Gimmie that"

She gave him her knife, making a man chuckle again.

"There's nothing I can do with that," he said

Soojin tried not to show that she felt disappointed. "Oh, okay," she pulled her hand to take a knife back, "Thank you for..."

"But I didn't say I let you go with this thing," said Dusik, and he bent under the desk. The girl looked at Hyunsoo, confused, "I can give you this"

He straightened up, holding in his hand a big machete. The teenager's eyes widened, and Soojin's mouth opened a bit, as she smiled.

"I can take this?" she asked shocked

"I was holding this for a special occasion, but I think you need this more. I have this," Dusik smiled and patted the big fire gun in front him, "Give me one second, and this machete will electrocute too"

The girl nodded her head rapidly, and whispered to Hyunsoo: "You heard? I'm gonna have a machete!"

"I heard, I'm standing right next to you," he said, but he was amused, because of the girl's reaction

It took less time to improve the machete than the broom stick. After a few minutes, Soojin was holding the weapon in her hands, looking at it amazed.

"You think you know how use it?" asked Dusik

"We'll see," she shrugged

"Then I think y'all are ready to go," the man clapped on his hands, "Go save kids"

The teenagers nodded with their head, and went to put on the shoes. Hyunsoo put on the backpack, that he earlier took off.

Soojin turned to Dusik, and bowed to him, "Thank you so much for your help, sir"

He waved his hand, "It's nothing. Good luck"

The teenagers left apartment 1408. Soojin twisted her head to Hyunsoo, and the boy looked at her.

"Let's go"

They needed to get on the 12th floor where the kids live. It's kinda long way to go. And behind every corner, there could be a monster.

They didn't waste their time. The corridors seemed empty. Soojin started thinking if most of the people living in the building left for work and died outside, or did they hide in their rooms.

She heard a growl from far away. Then another one was much louder. Soojin looked around. She wasn't sure from where the monster is coming.

Hyunsoo noticed a half open elevator. He grabbed Soojin's wrist, and pulled her in this direction.

"Get in," he whispered

The girl nodded her head, and walked to the elevator, which was a bit lowered. When she walked in, the first thing she noticed, was a horrible stink. The girl sat on the one side of the elevator, Hyunsoo on the other, hiding behind the doors.

In the middle was laying a box with old fishes. Flies were flying around, buzzing loudly.

"Oh gosh, that stinks"

Soojin put a hand to her face, covering nose and mouth, trying not to throw up. The steps outside get louder. When the girl looked up, she noticed a camera that was lighting on red. But then it disappeared.

All the lights in the corridors, everywhere, got turned off. Teenagers looked around confused. There's no power in the building.

Hyunsoo started to get up from the floor, but Soojin shook her head, meaning it still could be outside. But the boy stood up anyway.

The blind monster appeared in the doors, making Hyunsoo flinch. He growled, his arm extended, and hit the box with fishes.

Hyunsoo stabbed him with his spear, while Soojin tried to cut his arm. And she actually did that. Maybe not the whole arm, only the tip, but it was hard to swing the machete in the elevator.

Hyunsoo pushed the monster, getting out from the big box. She took Soojin's hand, helping her walk out.

They were running through the corridors, trying to lose the monster. The girl turned her head quickly, only to notice that he is behind them. Not only that, but he swung his arm to them. Soojin grabbed Hyunsoo's by his jumper and pulled him on the floor behind the corner. The teenagers fell on the ground when many things, looking like branches of the tree, hit the walls, crossing between each other. The girl couldn't stop the gasp when one of them, flew right next to them. Hyunsoo was breathing heavily.
The monster snapped the branches of the walls, snarling loudly. The cabinet, that was standing on the corridor, fell on the floor. In the air were flying feathers from the pillows that got ripped. Soojin sat down slowly, and so did Hyunsoo. She went to the corner, sticking her head out to see a monster coming closer to them. She looked around for something to throw, like she did earlier. The green ball laid right there. Soojin took it in hands, and swung her arm, throwing the ball in the other direction from them. The ball started hitting in every wall, on the ceiling, the floor, making monster confused. He was spinning around, snarling angry.

Hyunsoo stood up and ran to the monster. He stabbed him in the back, getting him electrocuted. Soojin's eyes widened, as she stood up. The monster was shaking and growling, trying to catch the boy with his hands. But finally, he fell on the floor, still shaking. Hyunsoo breathe heavily.

Soojin walked to him, "Come on. We are still on 14th floor"

The boy nodded his head. Without meeting any other monsters, they ran two levels down. They started looking for apartment 1210, hoping that the kids in there are still alive.

It wasn't so hard to find the right room. The teenagers stood in front of the doors. Soojin looked at Hyunsoo, who nodded his head. She knocked on the door. For a long time, no one answered.

"Kids, we are here to help you," said Hyunsoo with deep voice, a lot deeper than he's usually talks

Soojin looked at him surprised, "Jesus, why did you say that like that, it would even scare me," she knocked again, and said quietly, "Kids, don't be afraid. We're not monsters"

Hyunsoo looked at the girl. When she tried, her voice sounded very calming.

They waited for a second, when the door opened. In them, stood the little girl, the same one that they saw in the window. Soojin leaned on her knees, her face on the same height as the girl's.

"Hi," she smiled softly, "Can you let us in?"

She nodded her head, and opened the doors more wide. The teenagers walked in. The room was dark, the only source of light was two candles and the flashlight that was holding the little girl. On the floor was sitting an even younger boy, tears were shining on his face.

The girl went to sit down next to her brother. Soojin and Hyunsoo took place in front of them.

"What's yours names, kids?"

The little girl pointed at her brother, "He is Yeongsu, and my name is Suyeong"

The girl smiled to herself hearing those names.

"Are you here to save us?" asked a little boy. Teenagers nodded their heads, "Do you think you can save our dad?"

Soojin felt her stomach twist. How to tell a small kid that his father turned into a creepy monster?

"What?"

"Our dad fell down the building and hit the ground," cried Yeongsu

Hyunsoo sighed, "I know"

"Maybe he's still..." started the girl, but she was interrupted

"I'm afraid nobody can survive a fall from 12th floor," said Hyunsoo, making Suyeong sob

Soojin looked at him and furrowed.

"Jesus, Hyunsoo..." she turned her head to the sibling, "I think he was trying to say, that the most important thing now, is to rescue you. Your dad is a strong, grown man, he for sure can beat monsters alone." she was lying to them, obviously. The girl hugged her brother, "You for sure are hungry, huh?" They nodded their heads. Soojin took off her backpack, and from the small pocket she pulled out two chocolate bars, "Here"

The kids took it from her, opening the candy.

"Thank you," said the Yeongsu

"There's a man on the 14th floor that has more food for both of you," said Hyunsoo, "In order to get there, we'll have to go into the hallway. There might be monsters," the kids nodded, "How old are the two of you?"

The girl sobbed, "I'm nine, and my brother is six years old"

Hyunsoo smiled a little, "You know, those are perfect ages to fight monsters" Soojin was watching him, also smiling. She noticed tears in his eyes. She put a hand on his arm, trying to comfort him, "Don't worry, okay? I'm... We are gonna protect you"

Soojin looked at the kids, taking her hand off the boy's arm, and taking the girl's small hand, "Just stick with us, and you'll be fine" the siblings nodded their heads, "Then we better be going"

She stood up, and helped the girl. Yeongsu had in his hands a toy of dinosaur, holding it to his chest.

Hyunsoo turned to the sibling, "You must know that outside there is a monster who can't see, but his hearing is very good. Don't make any noise. And don't move"

The kids nodded their heads.

Soojin and Hyunsoo went first on the hallway, and when the kids wanted to walk out, the boy stopped them.

"Wait a second," he put a hand on Soojin's arm, and pulled her a few steps back. She looked at him confused, "If something happens, take the kids and go. Don't wait for me"

Soojin furrowed, "What do you mean if something happens?" boy's fingers hold her tighter, gripping into her arm. Hyunsoo clenched his eyes, like if he was having some pain in the head, holding his head down, "What's wrong? Do you think you're turning?" she whispered

"Just promise me," murmured the boy

"Hyunsoo, I can't just leave you," she said worried, "We are team"

"Soojin..." the boy sighed, raising his head, and looking at her, "Don't make a problem out of this, and promise me, if something happens to me, you'll just keep going. Please"

The girl bit her cheek, "Alright, fine, but it doesn't mean that something has to happen to you. Now let's go, we're making kids scared" Hyunsoo took a deep breath. They came back to kids, who looked at them confused, "Hey, everything's alright. Let's go, we need to hurry"