Director Na Daehee curls her lips into a mocking smile, walking down the stairs followed by the others behind her as they trace their movements with their weapons. She shrugs as she positions herself in front of Han Byul, reaching out a hand to inspect her face. She narrows her eyes when Byul doesn't resist, even when her sharp nails are digging into the skin on her cheeks as she clamps her fingers around the latter's face.

"Not scared of death are you, pretty one?" she asks, pushing away Byul's face as she releases her grip. "You really think 5 people will be enough to go against all of us? You have no idea what you're going against."

"We aren't scared of death," Byul mentions as she steps back, resting her rifle against her shoulder as she aims yet again. "When I've experienced that twice, another one should be nothing."

"Oh?" she chortles. "How brave. 5 against 10, someone who knows all your tricks and skills, someone who has trained you. Doesn't sound like a smart move."

Seonghwa nods to Hongjoong and San, before he fishes out a canister and throws it among the directors and trainers, immediately pulling back his team members as gas starts to escape, blinding them momentarily. They take this opportunity to whip out their weapons, scattering around as they find their opponents.

Their battleground is only in the training centre, so they can't run away anywhere. It's where they start, and it's where they'll end.

Hongjoong goes for two of the trainers, preferring to go in bare-handed as he charges at them, knowing that they are ones who prefer to fight without weapons. They swing their hands simultaneously to aim for his body, but he uses San as leverage to launch himself up, sending kicks to their faces but they remain rigid.

Seonghwa and Yeosang result in exchanging flying bullets with their opponents, ducking and hiding behind structures as they train their eyes to find the right target. Their targets are moving all over the place, making it hard for them to focus on one as they shoot, giving no chance for rest as they continue firing. In their magazines go, the empty bullet casings falling to the floor with a distinct clink, but it still doesn't hamper down their opponents.

San is pinned down to the floor by two of the trainers, with him thrashing about as he opens his jaw and bites down hard on one of their arms. He escapes from their grip, and before they can register what's going on he somersaults before battering their bodies with his kicks. It doesn't prove to be effective as they stay well on their feet, taking in the hits like they're merely being rained with water.

Without being able to see what's coming, Byul's rifle gets knocked out of her hand as a bullet hits her shoulder fired by Daehee as she chortles, pushing back the former with her fist. Byul collapses to the ground, clutching on to her wounded shoulder. She reaches out for the rifle but it's out of her reach, and the director presses her foot on her arm.

"Still wanting to go against us? Look around you, idiots. You can't even get past us and you think that you'll be able to take down this whole complex? How foolish of you to think that you'll be able to walk all over us." she spits. "Look at your friends. They're only tiring themselves."

Byul lifts up her head to see what the director meant and it's true; Seonghwa and Yeosang have been running around showering their bullets but barely anything hit while they sustain injuries, Hongjoong is currently going against three of them but he's not showing any signs of emerging as the winner while San is being held back, surrounded by another three. As the pain in her shoulder becomes more pronounced, she grits her teeth and bumps her head against the floor.

What were we thinking, when they know all about us? They trained us, honed our skills. Foolish, foolish, foolish. But that's why we're here; not to win but to die together with them. In exchange for the disappearance of KTC.

She looks up to the roof of the lobby, through the window placed where she can see the night sky, before she squints her eyes, noticing something moving. It's coming closer, closer and closer to the window before... the window pane collapses in shards, leaving behind only the grille over it and making them crouch as the pieces fall to the floor.

All simultaneously turn their heads to the new opening, in disbelief at the deafening sound of the revolving helicopter rotor, followed by the sight of two people they know well - Remy and Jung Wooyoung side by side, stationed behind machine guns. Behind them, Danbi tries hard to steady herself before she takes the hailer.

Danbi announces, "Hello, bitches. Nice to meet all you ugly asses again. Director Na Daehee, looks like you aged badly. Oh, even from up here that skin looks horrible. I'm doing great by the way, thanks for asking."

Remy nudges Wooyoung as their fingers curl on the triggers and they smirk. They fire.

With the sudden intrusion from the rest, the directors and trainers are taken by surprise that they forget they have their own weapons, plus aiming to someone in the helicopter is a tough feat when they can't even look up without having a bullet coming their way. They run around trying to miss the bullets, while Hongjoong and his team members seek refuge. Yeosang helps Byul to get up, inspecting her wound before she waves him away.

Everything happens in slow motion for them; one of the trainers got hit, then another, until all the trainers were taken out without them moving a single muscle. Two of the directors take the chance to run back to where they came from, but are hit in the back, blood spurting out as they roll down the stairs, already dead. Looking around, Director Na looks for a chance to escape as she ducks and tries to reduce the surface of her body exposed.

Remy and Wooyoung work seamlessly well together, each claiming their territory as they let the bullets rain, fuelled by their memories of being trapped inside for nothing but pain and anguish. They stop when they notice no or minimal movement from the directors and trainers, already holding on to the last sliver of life.

Yeosang holds up a hand to indicate to those on the helicopter that he's going from behind his protection, asking for them to cease any gunfires. He looks around, counting the bodies and he approaches one of the trainers, he holds up his collar, blood out of his mouth as he coughs.

"Who was it? Who did this to all of us? When did it start? The drug!" Yeosang shouts at him. He's desperate for answers to so many questions, before the timer for the bomb goes off and before his life escapes the trainer.

"Bringing down... KTC... won't affect... the production..." the trainer manages to sneer even with blood trickling down his cheek and chin. "It's not... just KTC... this is a... worldwide... chain..." he sputters. "Stupid youngsters... KTC is not the only... training-" The trainer laughs before coughing violently as his eyes bulge and he lies still, his lifeless eyes staring at the ceiling.

"You bastards!" Yeosang releases his grip on the collar when no sign of a pulse could be palpated. He hits his fist repeatedly on the floor, almost splitting open wounds on his knuckles before San holds him back, trying to stop him from injuring himself more.

At the same time Byul notices that Director Na is missing, and she guessed that the head director has slipped away noiselessly amidst the chaos and smoke. She stands up to stalk the director but Hongjoong holds on to her arm, eliciting a shout from her as the wound on her shoulder from the bullet hit sends a signal that she perceives as sharp pain.

"Where are you going?" Hongjoong says, hard.

"Director Na has escaped, and I'm not letting her out alive. Not when I still have something unsettled with her," she replies in the same tone as him, ripping her arm out from Hongjoong's grip.

"Aurora," Seonghwa starts. "7 minutes, that's all we have before the first bomb goes off." He sweeps his vision to the shattered window where Danbi and the rest are already on a mission to break open the grille. He holds her shoulder and prompts her to look at him. "We better see you on the seashore by the time this place crumbles, do you understand?"

She nods.

"I'm going with you," Hongjoong cuts in.

"No you're not; all four of you get the hell out of here. This is something personal."

She slides away from them before they can protest, the map on where the director could have gone sketched on her lens. If it's from the lobby from where she has seen the director has gone to, there could be two choices of routes and she takes her first instinct, but only when she comes to a dead end does she turn around so fast that her footsteps must have echoed throughout the whole complex, possibly announcing the director of her arrival.

She passes the trainees' dorms, driven by the thought of making it out of here alive, but not before she sees the woman that had ruined her life drop dead in front of her. Her brain works trying to find the place where the director could have gone to escape the facility.

She rips off a part of her shirt as she runs to use as a makeshift bandage for her shoulder, the knowledge she had learnt during her university years coming to visit her at this time - what happens when you bleed excessively, what kind can infect an open wound and the horrendous diseases you can get after the initial period of incubation. She uses her teeth to clamp on the knot, pulling it tight as she takes another turn.

Since the facility is under total lockdown, no conventional ways can be used as even the windows are barred- unless you go somewhere the trainees aren't allowed to go. The common area for the Bifidensis board members, directors and trainers, where, according to their blueprint has a balcony that overlooks the sea. Perfect for when you are in a desperate bid to escape. Can't leave without injuries, but at least you're alive.

At least.

Byul arrives at the pathway that leads to the common area at the end, as she increases her speed before taking out her glock to fire twice at the director who's only starting to unlock the door towards the balcony. The director takes the shot as she hits the door with a lame thud before falling to the floor, the side of her torso bleeding at where Byul had hit her.

"You're not going anywhere!" She raises her glock to aim at her chest before the director puts her palms together in an effort to plead for her life.

"Who- who are you? I can't remember you- but- but if I ever did anything wrong to you-" She distances herself away from Byul, leaning against the door.

"You did wrong to everyone in this centre. Of course you can't remember, but-" Byul spits as she exposes her arms. "You told me that these burn marks will be the death of me someday. How does it feel knowing that these burn marks will be the death of you?"

Byul glances at the countdown- less than 3 minutes until the bombs go off. From the pouch stuck to her body she takes out a picture as she crouches near the director, before shoving it into the her face.

"You told me that emotions make you weak, but look at where we are now. We're living as a happy family, and you're still here, still miserable with the thought of other people getting their happiness while you don't. I thought that you would have even the slightest pity when you'd lost a child yourself. But you decided to turn heartless because you can't bear to see anyone else getting that life you don't."

The director looks at the picture with a fire of hatred in her eyes, a low growl escaping her throat as she winces in pain at the wound on her torso. The blood is spreading on her shirt.

It's a picture Byul had taken together with Yunho and Hwayoung at Dazzling Bridge on the day of her birthday. In the picture, all are beaming widely while Hwayoung is held in between Yunho and Byul.

"Trainee #899-" she sputters, "You were- you were dead."

"I'm honoured you still remember me although it's been 6 years." She raises the glock to the director's forehead before she lowers it down to her chest. Tears are pooling in her eyes but she holds the weapon steadily, the muzzle aimed straight without any barrier. One pull and the director will be gone, but she needs to ask her last questions to her. "Why... did you make me believe that Jeong Yunho betrayed me? And why did you make me choose between my child's life and my own? What did you get out of it?"

The director's weak hand travels behind her waist but Byul is quick in slapping the gun out of her hand, making her essentially defenseless in this situation. With a shallow breath she reaches out to dig her nails in Byul's shoulder, but her grip is weak.

"Because you... are a foolish young woman... just like me... You... think that love... would follow you... until the... end... but... they end up... betraying you... just like how... my husband killed my child... and I had... to choose... between saving my own life... or my child's..."

Byul shrugs off her grip and says through gritted teeth, "Making someone else suffer the way you did won't make you happy. You're only making sure that if you don't get the happiness you thought you deserve, then no one else can." She wipes away her tears. "You say emotions make you weak, and it's true. I can't live without him and my daughter, but it's what makes you human. And that's what I want to be; a human. Not some mere specimen."

The director coughs up blood, before wiping the mess with her sleeve. She looks at Byul before muttering, "You... still... love him... even after... what you... heard..."

Byul titters, "I told you that I love Jeong Yunho, even though I thought he never did. The feelings that you deem unnecessary was what brought in another beautiful life into this world." She stands up, gives herself some distance before she looks away and drops her gun to the floor. "You kept your promise; you let my baby live, even when you killed me. I won't kill you with my own hands, but I won't see you again."

She looks at the director with an unreadable expression, glancing at the countdown where there's only 40 seconds left before the first bomb goes off. She doesn't have time anymore to turn back and escape through the lobby, so her best bet is to go to the balcony and jump.

Into the sea.

"What are... you... waiting for? Jump... and save yourself... Go back... to your... lover and your daughter...." the director manages.

Byul frowns as her mixed emotions come in the way, a feeling of guilt creeping up as she sees her condition. She steps forward as she claims, "Guilt... do you even have that? When you asked me to sacrifice my daughter's life?"

The director gives off an evil laugh while holding on to her torso. "No."

Something shifts in Byul's eyes as she looks down at her, scoffing. "It looks like those who have no feelings will maintain that until the end. Just because love doesn't work out for you... doesn't mean it won't for anyone else."

She looks at her countdown. 15 seconds to go with no more regrets.

"Aurora!" a voice comes shrieking from behind her and she spins around so fast to see someone bolting at her. She doesn't have time to say anything as the person scoops her up and they dash outside, bursting through the doors and jumping from the balcony just in time as the building explodes.

It's like fireworks going off all at once; the sparks igniting into something bigger and grander but leaving behind only a crumbled building, its foundation destroyed as the flames catch on to every available material to burn. She flinches and her body shakes as her eyes glaze over, reminding her of the time her house caught on fire and killed her parents.

The blinding and resounding explosion assaults her senses, making her body shiver at the thought of the fire ravaging her body next. A warm hand is put over her ear to block the sound and his body protects her from seeing the imploding structure as they fall, fall and fall until it seems endless. The wind feels so strong against her back as the person holds on to her tight, fixing his body position mid-air so that he'll be the one to break into the water surface first.

As another big explosion goes off, they plunge into the sea water, but she is still held on tight. She winces silently as the salt stings the wound on her shoulder, but through the water surface she takes her time as she spots the hazy image of the moon in the sky.

It's not the crescent moon today.

They stay afloat, finally getting their head above water. She looks at the person in front of her in wonder, how the circumstances of him being here are not aligned at all, but yet here he is, desperately trying to move the wet hair out of his eyes.

"Jeong Yunho!" she shouts. "Did you leave our daughter at home alone, and come here?"

He manages to clear his eyes of the hair before he blinks a few times. "I left her with Mingi although I don't trust that guy to take care of her, but at least it's an adult. And of course I'd need to come here! She asked me to go save you and I don't want to disappoint our daughter. I realized that I didn't want to let you go again. Not when Hwayoung is there, waiting for her mother to come back. Not when I know how much I wanted to say I love you. There, I said it. I can't let you go alone like I did last time."

"Did I... did you confess to me again... while we're in the middle of the sea with no possible help and we're probably going to die being eaten by sharks?"

"Oh," he chuckles before hitting the water surface with his palms, looking like he's about to fly. "Don't worry, Jongho's coming to rescue us." He peers over her shoulder and does an excited wave, bobbing up and down in the water when he spots the youngest from far. "Look, he's coming!"

She looks at him with so much love in her eyes before she lowers them down, contemplating something. He's still waving Jongho over, looking past her. She looks over her shoulder to see how far the youngest is from them, before turning to him and cupping his face.

"What- what are you- doing?" Yunho stutters as she locks his face in place. "In- in the middle of the- sea."

"What I've always wanted to do and apparently according to Seonghwa, if this was a book, what the readers wanted to see."

She rests her forehead against Yunho's, taking in a deep breath before she kisses him. Her lips part slightly as she places them on his lips, allowing him to melt deeper into the kiss. She circles her arms around his neck as he circles his around her waist, leaving no gap between them as they release their feelings they've put on hold for so long. She pulls away and he kisses her cheek before hugging her so tight he could've crushed her.

She hisses in pain and he pulls back, looking worried. "Don't tell me you're injured."

"I got shot in the shoulder, but it's nothing." She grimaces.

"It's nothing?!" He widens his eyes. "Hwayoung's going to get angry at me if you go back hurt. I promised to her that I'll make sure you come back safe and sound without any injuries."

"Don't worry, I'll distract her so she won't get mad at you." She chuckles before giving him another kiss.

The fireworks go off again.

Yunho whines when their lips separate, and laughing, she pinches both of his cheeks until they turn red. He lets his emotions bare as he starts to cry, coupled with the approaching sound of the motorboat Jongho's maneuvering.

He sobs harder, and awkwardly she pokes his cheeks before asking, "Why... are you crying? I'm here."

"Because-" he says. "I- I thought I'd lost you again like I did last time, when I wasn't even there for you. When I thought that Hwayoung had to grow up without seeing her mother at all. I- I missed you a lot. And I heard everything- everything that you said to the director. How you still- loved me- although- when you thought I- didn't." He pouts as he tries hard to subdue his tears.

She dabs away his tears but she can't help but laugh again, thinking that he looks cute while crying and pouting. "But you're here for me now; looks like my prayer has been answered. I didn't realize how much I wanted you to be there, until I turned around, saw you running towards me and you jumped off the building without a moment's hesitation. What are you, Spiderman?"

"I am for you," he sniffs.

The motorboat stops a few metres away from them, avoiding from hitting them as Jongho throws a float for them to hold on to. Yunho helps to push her onto the boat before he follows suit, with Jongho revving up the engine to gather with the rest.

Yunho and Byul lie down on the floor, too tired with everything that happened in the blink of an eye. The sky seems to be much wider, now without the KTC building blocking their view.

It's a beautiful night.

They look up to the sky as they let their hands naturally intertwine, with him brushing his thumb softly against the back of her palm.

She taps a finger on the back of his palm. It's not the crescent moon today.

His brushing stops before he taps his finger in the same manner. It doesn't matter anyway because whatever moon it is, I finally found you again. He lies on his side, careful in not touching her injured shoulder as he hugs her.

And I'm never letting go.