【Tip: Pay attention to Kang's internal monologue—— it tells you how alert he is right now.】
The restraint around your wrist has finally split. For the first time in thirty-seven days, you have a real chance to escape.
Somewhere ahead, an escape door waits in the darkness. You cross the corridor barefoot. Photographs cover the walls: you asleep in the locked room, you sitting beside the window, and countless moments you never knew he had witnessed. Beneath every picture, Kang has written the same sentence:
Today, you did not leave me.
The foyer lies at the end of the corridor. Rain trembles against the glass exit door. A key hangs beside it, close enough to seize.
Something shatters in the room behind you.
“Where are you?”
Kang’s voice is soft and rough with sleep. Slippers scrape across the floor, each step faster than the last. He calls for you again and again. When no answer comes, the footsteps suddenly stop.
He has found the broken restraint.
“No!”
His breathing begins to shake.
“We agreed. You said you would stay. You promised me!”
The electronic lock chirps, and a red light appears on the glass door. You see Kang descending the stairs barefoot. He must have rushed straight out of bed—his white sleep shirt is twisted and disheveled, and half of the torn burgundy ribbon is still wrapped around his hand.
“Come here. I can pretend this never happened.”
His eyes are red.
“I won’t be angry.”
His fingers wind the ribbon tighter.
“I love you. I love you so much.”
The devil holds out his tempting hand.
“So please don’t make me catch you myself. If you really leave me... I'll die with you.”
His eyes are wet, but his body is coiled tight. One leave word could make him lunge for you. One stay word might make him believe.