CTLI — Chapter 16

It was laughable. Everything that had happened until now had been absurd—but nothing felt as unreal as this conversation. Should I feel grateful that he was finally being somewhat honest with me? My head was a mess.

Even so, the small blinking numbers in front of me flashed insistently, as if refusing to let me turn away from reality. Screaming that this was the truth.

<< 71 : 49 : 05 >>

What happens when that time runs out? I tore my gaze away from the persistent numbers and forcefully pulled my hand from his.

Choi Dohyun, who had been holding on tightly, simply watched as if he understood, then released his grip and stood up. He gave my shoulder a few gentle pats, perhaps thinking I needed some time alone, and turned to head toward Yoon Seohwa.

“Yoon Seohwa.”

“Ah, yes. Are you two done talking?”

“I thought we could rest a bit more before we go.”

“I think that sounds good too.”

Hearing her cheerful voice, I bowed my head a little further and wiped my face. Do others act and speak the way she does too? Had I been like that myself?

Quietly, I looked through my fingers at Choi Dohyun.

He was talking with a smiling face, chatting with Yoon Seohwa, but he didn’t seem happy. He spoke with her as if it were perfectly natural, reassured her when she was uneasy—but never once tried to revive her the moment she died.

Come to think of it, it was the same in the memories that had vanished. When we kept wandering and dying because we couldn’t find the exit, Choi Dohyun didn’t look terrified—he looked frustrated.

So what would he have done if I had died and he’d escaped this place? Would he have turned back time and tried a different method? Or would he have rewound it only after confirming I was useful, like now?

Or maybe, just like before, I had been discarded and rewound again and again in some erased memory.

A cold chill dug into my bones. I bit down on my lower lip and clenched my fists. Even the pain of flesh being pierced couldn’t clear the fog from my mind.

---

“Watch your step above!”

“Ugh, the smell—it’s seriously making me want to puke.”

“If you puke here, it’s going to hit me! Be careful!”

At Choi Dohyun’s panicked shout, Yoon Seohwa burst into laughter, her whole body shaking. It was absurdly loud. I silently crushed the head of a falling zombie and moved further inside. As I helped pull up the arms of Yoon Seohwa and Choi Dohyun climbing up behind me, I heard the sound of heavy water pouring down.

But since we’d already done this once before, the second time was easier. I wanted to ask the zombie—whose head had been cut off that day but had still spoken—something, anything, but it was just like the others, repeating the same phrases over and over.

“It’s better than I thought.”

“Is that so.”

I nodded quietly at Yoon Seohwa’s soft comment, and swept the flashlight methodically across every corner. It felt strange to see her alive and moving in the same space where she had once died.

“Are you okay? You seem tired…”

She came closer and gently took my hand. Even though it was filthy and caked with zombie blood and debris, Yoon Seohwa didn’t hesitate. I nodded and placed my other hand over the back of hers, patting it softly. It was warm.

“I’m fine.”

“But if you get tired, let me know, okay? I’m just tagging along with the two of you, but… I’ll help however I can.”

“She’s right. Hyung, don’t push yourself.”

Their kind voices mingled. I broke from Yoon Seohwa’s gaze, which had been fixed gently on me, and turned to Choi Dohyun. He also had his brows furrowed in concern, but that was all. Maybe it was just my bitterness, but I didn’t find it comforting.

I suppressed the urge to ask if he was only worried because restarting the game after dying was too much of a hassle. Releasing Yoon Seohwa’s hand, I moved forward.

“The rain should stop soon. We’d best get going.”

“We’ve climbed quite a bit. The exit must be close, right?”

“Yes.”

At her cautious remark, I nodded and grabbed the ladder. Choi Dohyun followed behind without a word. As we climbed higher, the sound of the rain pounding above grew louder. It felt like we were getting closer to the surface, and my heavy body felt a little lighter.

At the top of the ladder, I sighed with relief upon reaching flat ground, then continued walking without pause. The exit wasn’t far ahead.

I reached up and pushed aside the heavy manhole cover, creating just enough of a gap to squeeze through. I climbed up first to assess the situation outside.

“Ghh…!”

Groaning, I crawled out on all fours, palms scraping against the ground. Rain poured down, striking my body with a thunderous roar. I nudged the manhole further open with the tip of my foot and reached back to help Yoon Seohwa up.

“Haaah…”

Was it the cold rain, or the overwhelming feeling of being back outside? The moment she climbed up, Yoon Seohwa stood upright and looked up at the sky. Then she spread her arms wide and let the falling rain hit her.

“Hyung…!”

Ah—I’d forgotten about Choi Dohyun. I quickly reached down and grabbed his hand, pulling him up. As soon as he crawled out, he flopped onto the ground and stared up at the sky. I sat next to him and let out a long sigh.

Dark clouds filled the sky. Rain poured, thunder roared. It was just like before, but somehow, my heart felt strangely light.

“We should probably find somewhere to stay.”

Yoon Seohwa said brightly, kicking at the rain puddled around her feet like a child.

Without a word, Choi Dohyun raised his hand from where he was lying down and pointed to the right. A small villa made of red bricks stood nearby—the same one we’d stayed in before. The only place where we could live comfortably.

“Let’s go there.”

I nodded and got up, and Choi Dohyun groaned as he rose slowly to his feet like a dying man. Yoon Seohwa, looking around cautiously, scurried over and took her place between us, walking forward with determined steps.

Without a word, we entered the villa, and nothing happened during that time. As if it were natural, Choi Dohyun picked up a white A4 paper from the shoe cabinet and nodded. I gently patted Yoon Seohwa’s back as she stood tense and wary.

“This place is safe.”

“…That’s a relief. I really want to wash up now. And change clothes too…”

“I think there should be hot water. If you head into the bathroom first, I’ll bring you some clothes.”

“Thank you.”

With a rustle of footsteps, Yoon Seohwa went into the bathroom. Just like last time, I searched the house and found a few candles. After placing them around the house and lighting them, I washed my hands in the kitchen and then entered one of the rooms and opened a drawer.

There should be something she could wear.

“Hyung, the clothes are here.”

Following behind me, Choi Dohyun opened another drawer and pulled out some clothes. I nodded once in thanks and took them from him. From the bathroom, I could hear running water and her humming. After being stuck underground longer than us, it made sense that a wash would feel good.

“I’ll leave the clothes outside the door.”

“Yes! Thank you!”

With Yoon Seohwa’s cheerful thanks in the air, I headed to the kitchen. Choi Dohyun trailed closely behind like a lost puppy. Thinking he might be hungry, I pulled out a pot, filled it with water, and grabbed a packet of ramen from the cupboard.

“Aren’t you tired? Let me do it.”

“I’m fine.”

My body was heavy, but still lighter than it had been that day. Choi Dohyun came closer and, as if displeased, snatched the ramen packet from my hand and yanked me back by the arm. That limp, sluggish person from earlier was gone, replaced by someone forceful and aggressive. I frowned and opened my mouth.

“What are you doing?”

“I’ll cook it. You sit and rest.”

“Choi Dohyun.”

“There’s no need to overdo it.”

With those words, he sat me down and tossed the ramen onto the table carelessly. The way his face looked in the flickering candlelight was slightly unpleasant—even though there was no reason for it to be.

“……”

“But if you insist, I won’t stop you.”

I couldn’t read what he was thinking. Choi Dohyun stared at me with a furrowed brow, then gradually relaxed his face and turned toward the stove. If not for the stench clinging to our bodies, it would’ve been easy to believe we were just living a normal life in that peaceful home.

The bubbling of boiling water, the spicy scent of ramen filling the air… And then, clunk—the sound of the bathroom door opening. Yoon Seohwa stepped out, freshly washed and drying her hair, looking refreshed.

“Wow, that ramen smells good. You two should wash up too.”

Clean and tidy, Yoon Seohwa dashed into the kitchen with a bright smile. With all the grime and soot washed off, she looked much younger than I expected. Only then did I realize—I didn’t even know her age. I stood up and asked,

“How old are you, Yoon Seohwa?”

“Me? I’m twenty-one.”

“Twenty-one?!”

So young. My shocked face was joined by Choi Dohyun’s stunned voice. Yoon Seohwa blinked wide-eyed and stiffened.

“Yes… why?”

“No, I just assumed you were around my age…”

“Twenty-one and twenty-five aren’t that different.”

My sisters were about that age too, weren’t they? Twenty-one? Or was it twenty-two…? No—was it just turning twenty? I recalled the kids in their graduation photos as I headed toward the bathroom.

Behind me, I heard Yoon Seohwa exclaim in disbelief—twenty-five?! They must’ve assumed they were all around the same age. But that thought quickly vanished as I clenched my fist at the image I had just recalled.

Sisters? I only had one younger sister. Strange memories kept bubbling up on their own. Which made me think—maybe those memories had something to do with Choi Dohyun.

In the corner, the countdown timer blinked like a warning. I stopped thinking and stepped into the bathroom.

---

Yoon Seohwa was incredibly quick to adapt. Maybe that’s how she’d managed to survive on her own until now. After just a few lessons, she picked up how to handle a gun—clumsy at first, but fast to learn—and even in moments that could rightfully be called exhausting, she responded with a calm smile.

“Mister, watch out!”

Ever since my age had been naturally revealed, she’d started calling me more casually. I told her it was fine, and she laughed out loud as if it amused her. Maybe it was because of those siblings who didn’t exist in my memories—she felt strangely familiar, like a real younger sister.