So this is how it ends after all.
Michael thought quietly as he listened to the screams pouring down over him. I believed that with you, I could struggle until the very end.
“No, this can’t be. This isn’t what I meant to do.”
Through his blurry vision, Michael could see Hyungoh, trembling violently with his face covered by both hands. Perhaps his trauma about his father had been rekindled. It was heartbreaking to see his slender body curled up tightly, sobbing. Michael wanted nothing more than to go to him and embrace him, but he couldn’t move a finger.
“I’m sorry, Michael…”
His voice was pitiful. He kept blaming himself endlessly, not even noticing the nosebleed that dripped onto the floor with no sign of stopping.
Choi.
I don’t want to die alone. Michael’s arm, lifted with great difficulty, failed to reach him and circled through empty space where only dust particles floated.
His vision gradually darkened as if the lights had gone out. This feels familiar. It’s as if I’ve returned to my childhood, trying to sleep inside a cage with iron bars.
Though corroded from years of neglect, the iron bars were surprisingly solid, making escape impossible. There was no freedom, no hope in that life that now enveloped him once again. Perhaps he had never truly left that cage all along.
…An angel fluttering modest wings, soaring freely.
Why was he thinking of the being Maria had admired now, of all times? He wondered if she had met a satisfying end, if she had truly become a free angel enjoying eternal happiness.
Drowsiness was overtaking him. As his senses dulled, he felt as if he were being sucked somewhere. Angel, an angel. With a surging feeling, Michael surrendered to a long sleep.
* * *
The hands fidgeting with the remote control were extremely cautious.
“You’re saying something interesting, Hunter.”
What would I gain by dying with you? His languid tone was laced with mockery.
“Somehow you seem convinced that I’m going to die.”
“Of course. It’s entirely possible.”
At last, Hunter drew a gun from behind Marsha’s back and aimed it at Federico.
“So hand over the remote to me now.”
Federico calmly faced the gun barrel. As all playfulness disappeared from his face, Hunter demonstratively released the safety.
“Are you going to kill me?”
“I’ll answer after I get the remote.”
“I’d prefer you answer first. It’s an important matter to me.”
“Ha, you want to be stubborn even in this situation?”
His thick-jointed fingers hovered around the button. Hunter rolled his eyes irritably before answering after careful consideration.
“I am not your brother, Fede.”
“……”
“I don’t love you, and I have no intention of doing so in the future.”
So I won’t die with you. After finishing his words, Hunter frowned slightly and lowered his gun. The eyes looking at him couldn’t possibly appear more empty.
Silence continued for a long time. The eyes showing no signs of life slowly closed and then revealed themselves again. Hunter and Marsha meticulously monitored every minute movement. Federico’s fingers still gently swam around the remote’s button.
“…While you stood at the crossroads of life and death, a thought suddenly occurred to me.”
Federico opened his mouth while caressing the corner of his lips.
“Unlike when I was young, living in this world isn’t so enjoyable anymore. This old, tired body is bothersome, and all the achievements I’ve made over the years have become meaningless. Even the bet between you and me that took so long has ended, hasn’t it? So I’ve started thinking thoughts I wouldn’t normally entertain.”
As you probably already know, I’m good at accepting reality, Hunter. Even if that reality is negative.
“Therefore, I know exactly when my end will come. I’ll enjoy even that moment.”
It was an exceptionally bright smile that hadn’t been seen for a while.
“…Fede!”
As Federico raised the remote high with his lips stretched into a wide smile, Hunter cursed and quickly pulled the trigger.
“Because I’ll meet the death I desire.”
Bang.
The gun fell onto the cement floor, creating a numbingly heavy friction sound.
The tremendous recoil felt like it was crushing his arm, involuntarily drawing out a groan. His body trembled uncontrollably, so he took a deep breath, filling his lungs with as much oxygen as possible.
“Haah…”
He pressed his sweat-soaked forehead. His head was pounding painfully. Perhaps that was natural when a gunshot rang out in an enclosed space. After calming his tense body momentarily, he took a step with Marsha’s help.
He approached Federico and took the remote from his hand. It wasn’t difficult to remove the fingers that seemed like they would crumble with just a little pressure. When he lifted the head that had fallen back, blood was seeping through the roughly pierced forehead.
“He looks satisfied.”
Marsha murmured softly. Just as she said, Federico appeared to be faintly smiling. Hunter frowned as he watched a streak of blood run down his bloodshot eyes.
“He looks satisfied?”
How could he be satisfied when this wasn’t the kind of death he wanted? Hunter released his head. As he limped toward the exit of the control room, a prickling sensation made him turn back again.
Sitting alone in the empty control room, Federico looked lonely. …Pathetic, Fede.
He found it hard to walk away. Letting out a hollow laugh at himself for feeling this way, he forced his legs to move.
Marsha, who was supporting Hunter with her shoulder under his armpit, stole another glance at the control room, still plagued by doubt.
He could have pressed it easily. Marsha thought. Above all, she couldn’t shake off her uneasiness about his expression—smiling without any lingering attachments—which truly did look satisfied, as she had said.
