As the needle pierced his skin, Ire winced involuntarily at the stinging sensation. Blood flowed through a transparent tube into a palm-sized pack. While watching it, the doctor came to check that the flow was steady.
It was the same doctor who had drawn Ire’s blood when he first entered the unit.
“Belated congratulations. How’s military life? Tougher than when you were a trainee, right?”
Ire gave an awkward smile. The doctor told him he’d get used to it, that being a Private was always the hardest. The blood pack was already half full. The doctor mentioned anemia and other tests, but it seemed like more blood was being taken than before.
“When you bleed a lot in battle, you get a transfusion. In the old days, there wasn’t artificial blood like now, so people gave their own. It was called donation, and they gave you bread for it. Back then, some people gave blood just to get that bread. Funny, right?”
Ire didn’t know where to laugh. Was it funny that people bled themselves to eat?
After finishing, the doctor pressed cotton to the needle site, then handed him a piece of candy, saying it was instead of bread. He added that Ire should eat a good meal today. As Ire got off the bed, his head spun as expected. He sat down briefly, then stood and left.
The barracks were chaotic. Except for the new recruits, the rest of the squad was in combat uniforms, packing gear. Park Woo-jin came up, chewing gum, and said, “Hand.” When Ire held out his hand, Park spat the gum into it. Ire frowned, and Park hit him in the back of the head with a thud, yelling at him for frowning at a superior.
“Clean the barracks every day until we’re back. If there’s even a speck of dust, you’re dead.”
If Ire argued there was cleaning staff, he’d just get hit again. “Yes, sir,” he replied. With that, the squad left in a rush.
Ire threw the gum into the trash and sighed. A comrade across from him stared, then looked away. Ire couldn’t tell if it was pity or relief.
“Where are those guys going?”
Ah. He’d told him not to talk to him before.
He regretted it, but the boy replied more readily than expected.
“They said a sudden deployment order came down.”
“Where to?”
“I heard they’re going to Area C.”
Area C? When Ire lived in District B, he’d often seen soldiers move that way, but never a whole unit—just a truck or two. He paused in thought and went outside. From the hallway window, he saw military trucks lined up, soldiers boarding one by one.
Seo Young-jun’s words about the rebel force in Area C, and Major Kim Seon-oh, came to mind. Had they found the base?
While his head was full of questions, Seo Young-jun came out of the neighboring barracks. He stretched, yawned, and leaned on the window, looking outside.
“Wow, seeing them like that really feels like the military. Until now, it felt like summer camp.”
“I heard they’re going to Area C. Did you know?”
“Yeah. My senior’s pissed about being deployed on his day off. Says we’ll just show up and act tough. Even if they’re rebels, they’re nothing. You know what? They don’t even have guns. They fight with shovels.”
Ire was listening quietly when Seo nudged his shoulder, suggesting they play cards or billiards instead.
Before he could finish, Oh Nam-gi appeared in the distance, waving. Seo muttered that he was a traitor. Oh came over, sighed, and started complaining.
“Cut me some slack. I just want an easier military life.”
“Then keep it easy. Don’t act friendly.”
“Why are you mad? Ire should be mad.”
“Did you hear that, Ire? Curse this bastard.”
“I apologized to Ire the next day!”
“Good job, you bastard.”
While they bickered, Ire’s eyes stayed fixed on the window. One by one, the vehicles passed through the main gate and disappeared. Silence settled over the empty training ground. Then, it began to rain. Soon, the heavy downpour turned the grounds to mud.
“Your condition is good today.”
“Yeah. That’s a relief.”
“Doctor, but… is it true he bit someone?”
“Shh—don’t say unnecessary things. Check if the medicine is going in properly.”
The young nurse turned, then froze.
“D… Doctor…”
Her voice trembled. Matteo, who had been lying motionless, was now sitting up, staring at them. The head nurse also turned and was equally startled.
She hid her expression and approached cautiously.
“Are you conscious?”
“……”
“Do you know where you are?”
Matteo didn’t answer. He looked at the restraints on his wrists and ankles, then pulled at them. The nurse hit the emergency button and tried to calm him.
“Patient, please don’t move.”
The bed shook, and Matteo suddenly screamed. As both women backed away, two security team members and a doctor rushed in.
The doctor gave the order for a sedative. One guard pressed Matteo down, and the doctor injected the drug into the hose. His breathing calmed as the sedative took effect. The guard loosened his grip and turned away.
“Kuaaaak—”
Matteo sprang up. With sudden strength, he snapped the restraints. He lunged and bit into the guard’s neck. Blood sprayed across the room.
Screams filled the space. The door slammed shut. Outside, alarms blared. A broadcast instructed patients and staff to evacuate to other buildings.
Breathing hard, Matteo looked down at the bleeding man beneath him, eyes dazed. He reached for the keys and gun on the man’s waist.
Just then, the door burst open. Two guards raised their weapons.
“Drop the gun!”
“……”
“This is your second warning. Drop it!”
Matteo turned toward the window. As he ran, someone shouted behind him. Using a chair as a step, he threw himself through the glass.
With a crash, his body flew through the air and hit the ground. He blacked out briefly. When he opened his eyes, rain blurred his vision.
Staggering, he pressed a key. A car’s lights blinked in the lot. He ran. Shouts and gunfire erupted behind him. Screams followed.
He started the engine, rammed the gate. The iron bars bent. Tires screeched. The car shot out onto the road.
“Lord… have mercy… forgive my sins and deliver me from evil…”
Tears streamed down Matteo’s face. His hand on the wheel shook. His shoulders heaved. Sirens wailed behind him.
A bridge came into view. Below it, the river roared. He pressed the gas harder.
Dodging oncoming cars, he veered right. The car smashed through the guardrail and teetered.
It tipped.
Matteo held the wheel tightly and shut his eyes.
I offer you the last breath of my life. Purify my defiled soul and lead me beyond death into your arms, Lord.
Police cars swarmed behind him. Officers got out, guns raised.
The car tipped over completely and plunged into the river.
And in that final moment, Matteo smiled.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.