Among the bustling crowd of tourists flocking to the seashore, the meeting between all those involved except for Kim Hodong and Lee Minhyuk takes place, a some sort of rushed reunion as Byul gets to see her fellow Dyskaryo members left. She rushes up to them, pulls Danbi into a hug before saying how much she had missed her, and turns to Uncle Remy before the old man envelops her hands in his, mentioning about how he is happy to see her so healthy.

Seonghwa, Hongjoong, San and Yeosang look on, understanding how much it must have meant to her; they were the very people who helped her to get back on her feet as she stepped away from Wonderland. They only politely stand by the side, watching as they exchange quick check-ups with each other, then promising to meet again at their last gathering point before everything starts tonight.

Before they part, Danbi hesitantly approaches San, studying his face before she sticks out her hand, uttering, "I never got the chance to say this, but I'm truly sorry for beating your ass and drove your head against the lockers that day. Hope we could reset."

Her lipstick is as bright as he remembers when he first saw her, and he titters in amusement as he shakes her hand. He expected it to be rough and be full of callouses, but what he touches is soft that he feels as if her hand could slip out of his grip if he doesn't hold it firmly enough.

"You really tore my pride that day, probably wouldn't have survived if you didn't stop when you saw who I was, Kim Danbi. Now that I know your name you seem friendlier and more approachable, not like some kind of silenced enemy with red high heels."

Yeosang clears his throat as he sees San and Danbi shaking their hands much longer than necessary, putting his own palms together and claiming, "Ah, right. I think we can start preparing ourselves for tonight. Right, Seonghwa, Hongjoong and Byul?"

Danbi quickly slips her hand out of San's grip, muttering something inaudible as she goes to Remy's side and the two vanish among the group of tourists flooding the market. Like a father and daughter duo spending their weekend visiting tourist attractions, they stop by some stalls, looking through some of the souvenirs sold and street food put out on the tables. They look almost normal, if not for the fact that Danbi keeps looking over her shoulder, stealing glances at Byul, who has finally moved on with the rest.

"Danbi," Remy calls out to her, putting down one of the multitude of decorated seashells the sellers are promoting on the table.

When she gives no response, he calls out her name again. The third try, when it seems that she is only staring into the distance without any focus, he lightly put a hand on her shoulder, and this startles her to an extent that she almost drops and lets the seashell in her hand to break into pieces.

She places back the decorative item before turning to him while being as expressionless as she can get. Too much is reeling in her brain, but she can't find the right words to verbalize her individual thoughts so she only shrugs, follows Remy through the pathways of the crowded market while keeping a lookout for any possible followers but find only tourists with brim hats and monopods, plus sellers promoting their items in the loudest voice, looking to outdo each other.

Just as she's about to step out of the market with Remy a few steps ahead of her, she catches sight of a familiar face, body facing straight to her. The figure looks like a tourist at first glance; khaki pants with a flowered shirt and he lowers down his shades, making a point to stare at her.

Remy doesn't notice that Danbi has stopped walking, her attention caught by the familiar figure. The figure then does a gesture to her, and she smirks. She returns the gesture, nodding slightly as he cocks his eyebrows and puts his shades back on, before turning around to lose himself among the crowd.

"Danbi! What are you still doing there?" Remy utters, prompting her to move faster.

She turns around for one last look to the figure, but he's already gone. She catches up with Remy, head somewhat cleared but still disorganized. Tonight, the plan will change its course and what they had planned earlier might fall through.

Sorry, Han Byul. Looks like you won't get what you're planning to do and I'll make sure of that.

---

Hongjoong and Byul stand in front of the monitor that Yeosang has set up for them, analyzing their different plans and studying maps to familiarize themselves with the pathways on the island. San and Seonghwa have been playing around with the weapons they brought; the firearms and explosives - all usage in detail repeated to them by Yeosang, ensuring that only the right ones are used at a suitable time.

Danbi has her legs crossed as she observes her team members, following every move of each and every one of them, her demeanour extremely calm as opposed to them. Even Remy seems to be pacing back and forth as they continue devising, throwing in ideas on how it's going to be in around two hours from now. She's the only one who doesn't seem to be panicking, as that's how it usually goes for her anyway. She's relatively unfazed with how the world goes, and she barely bats an eye even when death is chasing her to the core.

Lee Minhyuk has called to inform that the high-profile investors will be attending the 'dinner' he kindly arranged at the seafood restaurant just a few steps away from the boat the Bifidensis members are about to have their annual meeting, providing insights on the layout of the restaurant while they prepare to take them out remotely.

When everything is set up and the only thing left is the actual execution of the plan, each of them seem to claim their own spot in the hotel room, praying and mentally preparing themselves for the simultaneous missions.

Before Danbi and Remy position themselves to target the investors and Kim Hodong takes his place among the Bifidensis board members, the remaining five will be well on their way to Wonderland, which could take around an hour of commute. As soon as the plan near the sea is set in motion, the showdown at the island will start.

A tad lot of work, but it's not that they're going to leave the island anyway.

"You seem to have a lot on your mind."

Danbi looks up to see San near her, holding an expression that she can't quite put a finger on. He's handsome, she thinks, but doesn't say it. She thought the same during their first encounter at the subway station, but figures that she should have chucked that away when they were literal enemies.

But now as they're on the same side it's hard for her to banish the thought away, even more when he's looking at her with those damned eyes of his and the way his dimples appear whenever he talks. She tears their eye contact by looking down when she realizes that she has been staring at him too much.

Fuck feelings, she decides. No good out of it. But when he asks whether he could take a seat beside her on the sofa, she thinks again, well fuck.

"Trust me, I look like I think a lot, but my thoughts are disjointed most of the time," she replies as she reaches out for a cushion. "I'm the type to not think and just do it. Sometimes that impulsive nature costs me a lot." She shrugs.

He leans against the furniture, looking at her from the side before his eyes travel to Byul, who is leaning against the balcony while talking to Hongjoong seriously, but occasionally some laughter escapes her, so it's hard for him to discern the air in this room. Everything's a mess of feelings. He's seen Seonghwa continuing to stare at the same picture of Akira on his phone, zooming in and out as he sighs again and again. Meanwhile Yeosang has his phone beside him on the bed, and he would steal glances at it whenever a notification pops up.

They know what they're in for, but it doesn't necessarily mean that they accept it. It's more of them trying to convince themselves that what they're doing will finally bring peace to those who are left, even though it means sacrifcing their own lives. Staying back would amplify the detrimental effects the Bifidensis have on them, and so before it gets out of control, it would be better if they stop it first.

"I guess you're not like the others?" she asks without context, pulling her legs up onto the sofa as she hugs them.

"What do you mean?"

She points to Seonghwa. "That dude has been staring at the same picture of the girl for almost half an hour now." Then she turns to Yeosang. "That one looks like he's waiting for someone to text but it never comes." She looks at both Byul and Hongjoong before thinking, "I know that Byul is missing Jeong Yunho and her daughter like crazy but she's trying to divert her attention by talking to Kim Hongjoong instead. I know her too well." She puts a hand to her temple. "Okay, I retract my words. It seems like you and Hongjoong are not like the others. You don't have anyone to miss besides your team members? No... lover or some sort?"

"If I say I do but I don't show it, what're you going to say?"

His response takes her by slight surprise that she darts her eyes away, before pursing her extremely red lips. "Nothing, just wondering. I'm amazed at how not one of your team members follow the rules of the 'no relationship' clause. I'm not under the Bifidensis anymore but I still feel like they're going to hunt me down and cut my throat if they find out I do have a boyfriend." She snarls.

"You do?"

"I did, I guess. If you could call him that." The muscles in her face contract as she utters, "Too bad he's trash though; cheated on me with some chick 10 times skinnier than me or something. Guess that's what I got for trying to date some dude from Desire."

"Hey," he interjects, slightly offended. "That's heavily stereotyping." The corner of his lips lift up as he gestures towards Seonghwa. "Seonghwa's from Desire and he's probably the most loyal man I've ever known. Had eyes for only one girl for years even though she wasn't ready for a relationship. Stayed waiting for her." He leans back, crossing his arms and says in a smaller voice, "I'm from Desire too."

"And, you're implying that you're not trash like how my ex is?"

He chuckles. "Never been in a relationship to prove that, so you only have my word." He looks at Byul from far before muttering, "Couldn't get someone to like me, though."

"I would say prove it to me but there's no time left," she says cheekily. "If only I met you earlier."

"I'm the most inexperienced when it comes to relationships but was that a confession?"

"I told you I don't think when I do or say something. It's impulsive."

"It's impulsive but it doesn't change the fact that the small thought did cross your mind for half a second."

She pauses, before closing her mouth as she titters. "You got me. What?" She shrugs. "I find you good-looking and I thought you'd make a great partner. Nothing much about it." Her expression remains unfaltering, making San who's starting to malfunction as he hears her saying that. She looks at him amused, cocking her eyebrows as she relays, "Really? Why are you so red, looking like you're about to burst? Never had a girl confess to you straight?"

"No," he squeaks. "You're the first girl to ever show the slightest interest in me."

"Weird." She snorts and leans towards him, eyes travelling down to his lips as she licks her own, a playful smile on her when she sees that he is starting to freeze, the only part moving is his darting eyes.

"Kim Danbi," Byul calls from the balcony, as she leans against the railing with her elbows on it. "Guess you never changed one bit, always trying to make men flustered now, aren't you?" She chuckles, before glancing at San. "He can't even move a muscle thanks to you."

Danbi slams her back against the sofa, laughing. "It's been a long time since I managed to make any man flustered, feels fresh now that I got an innocent one. Let me guess, you must be the type to not even get their first kiss yet?"

"I did," San mumbles.

"Oh?" she sounds surprised that she throws back her head and laughs again. "Ah, don't take it to heart, Choi San. I just like playing around, but," she shrugs, "doesn't change the fact that I think you're good-looking though."

"Look at you making him red," Remy comments as he takes a seat next to her. "Possibly the only member who's so relaxed when we're about to see the end tonight. Not sure whether I should be worried for you or not."

She chuckles then gives the cushion to him. "Come on, Uncle Remy. You know how I'm always like this; death is always around the corner it's not supposed to faze me anymore. Because unlike the others," she observes them one by one, "I have nothing to lose."

---

Surrounded by the ships docked at the jetty, their boat rocks slightly when hit by the waves, as Hongjoong observes the restaurant through his binoculars. The unsatisfactory view causes him to angle his body to make sure that he can get at least a look through the large windows on one side of the restaurant, but when it's hard for him to see anything he leans to the side... until he loses balance and splashes into the cold water, catching a sigh of disappointment from Seonghwa before his head plunges under water.

With the binoculars hung around his neck, he looks up from the surface of the water to see the rest of his team members rolling their eyes so hard they could probably see their brains.

"Are you sure you're about to follow us?" Byul asks as she rests her arms on the gunwale of the boat. "You can always go back home, Mr. Strawberry."

"Shut up, raspberry. Now someone better pull me up before I freeze to death."

They heave him up, and with matted hair stuck to his face he receives a message through his lenses; a confirmation message from Lee Minhyuk to tell them that the investors are already on their way to the restaurant. After coordinating with his uncle for the presence of the Bifidensis board members, he starts up the engine, receiving this as a signal for them to start their journey to Wonderland. With Seonghwa behind the wheel, and the propeller rotates as they undock.

"Here's to a journey full of misery," Yeosang mumbles under his breath as he does a gesture that looks like he's giving a toast.

San does the same gesture, purposely hitting his hand against the hacker's. They look at each other before nodding solemnly, their eyes bearing no shine as they sigh, look towards the far sea, the speck on the horizon getting closer, becoming bigger and about to take the form of their traumatizing journey. San stays well in the middle of the boat, avoiding the splashes of water onto their vehicle like it's hot lava and he's about to get burnt.

Seonghwa notices how San is sitting in the middle of the vehicle, hugging his knees to his chest and he nudges Yeosang to take over to maneuver while he goes over to him, plops down next to him and weaves his hands together.

"I'd offer you a soda and talk about life to distract you, but we don't have soda on this boat and our lives are shit to be talked about right now," Seonghwa starts. He puts his clasped hands in between his knees, leaning forward.

"Life is always shit," San replies. "For me, at least. Before or after it's the same, but at least I met you guys. Wouldn't trade that with anything else. The island is a trap for most but you'd probably laugh if I say that it happened to be my solace too. That training centre gave both the good and bad memories for me."

Seonghwa throws his vision upfront, looking past Yeosang maneuvering the boat and sees the silhouette of Wonderland, the island sitting firm even with thousands of trainees being trapped and locked away with no way out. From far, it could have even looked like an inhabited island, but it is the place they take orphans to, stripping them of their lives they should rightfully have. According to San, it could be a trap to some, but it could also be a solace to some.

"You were running away," Seonghwa decides. "From the person you're scared of becoming."

"After my sister passed away, my reckless life turned into something worse, and I got involved with more street fights in Desire. It was easy money because I channeled the rage I had towards the world and the unfairness of life, until I thought I was invincible." He chuckles, "It would be funny if we met each other in the past, because I'd definitely be humbled if I had known you. But I guess our worlds are different; you're involved with Medusa while I was just the nameless 'dimpled kid who would beat you up' on the streets."

"When did you decide to do it?" the oldest enquires, locking his gaze on green-haired San.

"When I thought the fights I had were not enough for me to channel all my anger to, that was when I decided to pick up the knife and kill him. My stepfather."

The oldest nods slightly. "I see. Word that went around the facility-"

"-was that I skinned him alive, cut him into pieces and threw them all in the very same lake he tried to drown me in. That was what made Choi San a popular trainee at KTC, wasn't it? The crazy trainee who killed his stepfather mercilessly, not even the least bit apologetic towards what he did. That was why the other trainees feared me, because they said I'm a maniac that should've gone to an asylum instead."

"Is it true, then? How merciless you were when you killed him?" he asks him, but the former's face already shows that he doesn't believe the rumours even one bit. He trusts his very own team member, despite the bad things that go around the facility.

"You do know how people blow things way out of proportion on the island because we literally have no other forms of entertainment except by selling stories? To make it more sensational, you add spice to the story, pat it up a bit and present it."

San sighs heavily.

"I tried killing him, I did. I went to his house in Treasure, I searched for him and worked up a scene. I crashed into his house and found him on the bed, barely living. He was dying because of some respiratory disease. I dropped the knife instantly and ran away; I couldn't believe that I tried to kill a man, no matter how much he had done to me. KTC somehow caught up to me, recruited and tried to instill into us that murdering is something normal and you see everyday. I might be a delinquent but that was not what I wanted. When I was locked up I thought that maybe isolating myself could help me return back to myself. All I got was that this world is smaller than you think; everything will come back to bite you one day."

San scuffs his heels against the floor, managing a weak chuckle.

"It wasn't any better, and I think that I've lost the person I was back in Desire. But... I don't know whether I actually wanted to go back to who I was. Sora and I lived in fear every day because of our stepfather, and running away from him was the best decision we've made. That was, until I became a trainee, met the rest of you, realized that I'm not alone in this world."

Seonghwa stays quiet; allowing San to tell him everything. This is the first time the younger has let his past bare, because no matter how close they were, it's always hard for him to verbalize it.

"That is why," San looks at Byul who's sitting far from them, probably oblivious to their conversation because of the winds and the roaring sound of the engine. She seems to be out of it too; her mind travelling to somewhere... or in particular to someone.

"That is why," he repeats it. "It took me a hard rejection by the girl I liked for me to get back some sense into me. I'd always thought that I would need to protect the person I like; I looked down on her, all I thought was that she's weak and that I didn't believe in her abilities. I didn't respect her as a person; I only looked at her as someone who could feed my pride; who would need my protection so that I'd feel needed."

Seonghwa tracks San's gaze and his falls on Byul too, who's still staring into the distance as she bites her nails. The oldest knows who San is talking about, yet Seonghwa never points it out.

"It's natural to feel that way," Seonghwa says. "Especially considering the environment you grew up in and what you went through... But, I'm glad that you understood why and corrected it yourself. You will find someone you like genuinely; egos and traumas aside."

San snorts. "You mean in another life? Seonghwa, we're not going out of that island."

He points into the distance, where the island has finally presented itself in all its glory. The training centre is of course concealed behind the magnificent trees, giving a false first impression to those who came from the mainland - but it's not like any one of the general public do come here, to them it's merely an unoccupied island with nothing interesting to offer.

Yeosang pulls the boat up to the seashore, killing off the engine as he turns to Hongjoong, asking for their next move. The leader moves upfront, discerning the current situation on the island. Everything's quiet, tranquil. No movement, and even those on board are staying still as if they're statues.

Hongjoong squints in the distance, sees that there is the entrance where people could pass through among the dense leaves and greens, but there is an invisible security system in place. It will definitely trigger an alarm for the authorities inside if they pass through, giving them no chance to ambush those inside without being caught first. He takes a moment to decide, and when he's finished, he turns to them and he relays his plan.

They're going to have to sneak into the compound through the sides; making sure that they'll pass by the security guards without them noticing, and even then they'll try to make sure that they won't harm the guards. They're not looking to go against those on the lower position in the hierarchy; what they're going for are the directors and trainers of the system. The enablers of the inhumane module - they only want to fight those who had a choice in becoming one of the higher-ups, and not those below who were only forced to work because the centre gives them a decent pay.

Hongjoong receives silent nods from the rest, only waiting for the cue from those on the mainland to start. All of them scramble to get up when they receive simultaneous messages on their lens; it's from Danbi.

6 targets taken down and the other 5 poisoned, all pronounced dead. Panic all around but nothing to worry for us. Good luck.

Hongjoong closes his eyes, rubs his palms over his face as he composes himself. The rest want to offer a word of consolation, but their mouths are tightly shut.

The investors and Bifidensis board members... those who had only watched the sufferings of thousands of trainees, gone, just like that. How their lives had come to this...

Rest in peace, Uncle Hodong.

He takes a deep breath, releases them before he turns to his 4 team members, looking at their faces one by one as he nods. His uncle is gone for what he had been fighting for since years ago, and he's not about to watch it go to waste. He gestures to them, and they immediately understand.

Wonderland is about to go up in flames.

And all of them are going to be here to witness it.