Superstar From Age 0

How long had three adults and a child been walking?

A low rumble echoed, still unfamiliar to their ears.

The survivors jolted, reflexively lifting their heads.

“Are there still bombs left to detonate…?” murmured Raymond Wish, who had become hyper-alert after losing one of their own.

It felt as if he had returned to the battlefield.

Every direction was a potential threat—front, back, sides, above, and below.

“It seems to be from behind.”

“Let’s move forward.”

Jackson Miller, supporting the injured Lee Hyun-woo, took a step forward.

Raymond Wish moved cautiously, vigilant of his surroundings.

Then it happened.

Whether something was tripped or it was merely the remnants collapsing, it was like a domino effect.

In an instant—

Boom!

Through the rising dust and falling stones, Raymond Wish caught sight of two figures.

Above them loomed a pile of rocks, ready to collapse. His body moved before his mind, driven more by the sensation that arose from the loss of Ian Weaver and the dazed Lee Hyun-woo than a desire to save them.

It was an instinctive reaction, like a professional hazard ingrained in his body.

“…Such bad luck.”

Pushed by something, Jackson Miller fell to the ground, protecting Lee Hyun-woo with all his might, determined not to let go this time.

The vibration subsided, and they slowly got to their feet.

The dust settled.

“…!”

“Raymond!”

The sight that unfolded made the two adults and the boy collapse in dismay.

Raymond Wish lay on the ground, gasping for breath, his lower body buried under a pile of rocks.

From between the stones, a red liquid seeped out.

“…Go.”

“Just hold on for a moment. We’ll get help right away…”

Cynthia Lindberg was frantic, not knowing what to do.

Jackson Miller quickly examined the pile of rocks, his face a mask of panic as he tried to free Raymond Wish.

“…We can clear this…”

Lee Hyun-woo, clutching Ian Weaver’s bag tightly, was pale as a ghost.

It felt like an inescapable nightmare.

Not only the kind Ian Weaver but also the strong and fearsome Raymond Wish had been swallowed by the darkness.

Lee Hyun-woo couldn’t imagine escaping this hell.

Drip-drop.

Sand trickled down, indicating the vibrations hadn’t fully ceased.

“This place will collapse too…”

Raymond Wish’s calm words made the adults close their eyes tightly, then open them again.

Tears seemed imminent, given the dire choice they faced.

Cynthia Lindberg, tears welling up, took a water bottle and some food from the bag that the shell-shocked Lee Hyun-woo was holding.

“We’ll leave some water and food here for you.”

“…Take it with you. My lower half is completely crushed.”

“Here! We’ll leave it! Just… hold on until we can bring back a rescue team.”

Raymond Wish, drenched in cold sweat from the excruciating pain, did not respond.

An unbearable groan escaped from Raymond Wish’s lips.

“Let’s go,” came the whisper.

The first step was the hardest, but the second came easier.

The trio moved in silence, their lips sealed with determination.

“We need to get out and call for rescue.

The faster we move, the higher the chances of saving Raymond,” Cynthia Lindberg said, her voice trembling.

Yet, no one nodded in agreement; their resolve unspoken but understood.

A haunting melody filled the air, a familiar soundtrack now distinguishable by its subtle variations.

The screen had darkened ever so slightly from the [Survivors – Theatrical Release], the colors more vivid against the backdrop of ‘traces of death’ that were nearly invisible in the original cut.

Bloodstains scattered haphazardly, a shoe protruding between rocks, shattered glasses, and torn fabric caught the eyes of Song Yu-jung and Lim Ye-na.

It was as if the shadow of death extended beyond the television screen.

Cynthia, compass in hand, led the way. Lee Hyun-woo took the middle, and Jackson Miller brought up the rear.

Turning back, Hyun-woo saw Jackson, still trapped in guilt, offering a strained smile.

“I can dodge faster than you with that injured leg.”

Silence.

Clutching Ian Weaver’s backpack, Hyun-woo faced forward again, his face shadowed with worry.

Can we really escape from here?

No, we must stay strong. We will make it out.

Right?

Ian’s backpack felt heavy with significance.

But as always, misfortune wasn’t content with a single visit.

Boom!

A bomb exploded nearby, and Jackson, who boasted he could evade faster, failed to dodge the falling debris.

Hyun-woo, blocked from the path ahead, could only cry as the fate of the man who had saved him remained unknown.

From the beginning until now, the one who had saved him had vanished.

I should have thanked you sooner… Right?

Cynthia Lindberg cradled Ian Weaver’s backpack, comforting the crying child.

Now, she was the only one left to protect the child.

“Let’s go. We must. Quickly, to the rescue team…”

With tears in her eyes, Cynthia swallowed her fear.

***

Cynthia Lindberg, worried that Ian Weaver’s yellow backpack might burden the injured Lee Hyun-woo, took it from him.

“You’re better off carrying this than me with my injured leg,” Hyun-woo said.

“Really? Yes, you’re right.”

With the compass in hand, Hyun-woo limped ahead, and Cynthia, shouldering Ian’s backpack, followed.

“Sister, there’s no path left.”

Hyun-woo’s words, filled with a newfound vigor, allowed Cynthia to breathe a sigh of relief internally.

That must be it.

They had walked a long distance. Perhaps they had reached the end of the basement level one near the north gate, or maybe the path was completely blocked by collapsed debris.

Cynthia chose to think positively.

“Let’s go up!”

“Up?”

“The basement level one isn’t that big. It looks like we’ve almost made it!”

Cynthia Lindberg’s voice, bright and clear, brought a smile to Lee Hyun-woo’s face.

“Really?!”

Hyun-woo’s bright expression took Cynthia by surprise, causing her to flinch and then nod awkwardly with a forced smile.

“So, let’s go up.”

“Yes!”

When the light shone above, they discovered a hole.

Hyun-woo slowly climbed the rocks towards it.

The stones were unsteady, and he stumbled a few times, but he managed to enter the hole safely.

“Can you move?”

“Yes!”

Hyun-woo smiled brightly, his face filled with hope. Cynthia, feeling a surge of strength herself, smiled back.

“Sister! Lift Ian up first!”

“…!”

Cynthia, about to shoulder the yellow backpack and climb, looked up in dismay.

Hyun-woo was smiling brightly, without a hint of trouble. He tilted his head, puzzled by Cynthia’s frozen stance.

“Sister, quickly, Ian…”

Hyun-woo urged, reaching out his hands as if to grasp those of a child.

Cynthia remained motionless, unable to extend her hand.

Disaster struck suddenly.

An explosion sounded.

The pile of rocks Cynthia was climbing crumbled, and she slid down with the yellow backpack. Hyun-woo and Cynthia’s eyes drifted apart.

“Sister! Ian!”

Amidst the collapsing debris.

Cynthia disappeared without a scream.

Hyun-woo couldn’t tear his eyes away from the darkness.

A tremor started at his fingertips, his vision spun, and his heart pounded.

The silence was so profound he felt like vomiting.

He hadn’t saved everyone. Again, he had failed.

And once more, he was left alone.

Just him…

As panic threatened to engulf Hyun-woo, a warm presence enveloped him. Startled, he opened his eyes to find a child with a worried frown.

Ah.

Not yet.

Hyun-woo bit the inside of his cheek as he locked eyes with Ian Weaver. His heart swelled at the sight of Ian, scared and sad, yet thinking of Hyun-woo first.

There was still one person left.

“Let’s go! Ian!”

Now, he was the only one who could protect the child.

“Let’s call the rescue team and come back!”

Hyun-woo forced a cheerful tone.

Seeing Ian Weaver’s brightening expression, Hyun-woo finally understood the hearts of adults.

Song Yu-jung and Lim Ye-na couldn’t look away from the screen.

It was a sweltering summer morning, but they couldn’t feel the stifling air. Hyun-woo’s smiling face on the screen sent chills down their spines.

The room seemed filled with a chilling presence.

Hyun-woo crawled through the passage. Young Ian Weaver, not crying, followed obediently, and Hyun-woo smiled fondly.

His face scraped against protruding rebar, and his palms and knees were wounded. The exhausted child would crawl, rest, then move again.

“It’s blocked…”

The narrowing passage was completely obstructed.

The rocks wouldn’t budge, and even the last light from his phone went out.

Darkness.

The all-consuming darkness arrived.

Hyun-woo’s body shook. Good-hearted Ian Weaver looked at him with concern.

“…It’s okay. Don’t worry.”

Contrary to his words, Hyun-woo’s breath quickened. His vision turned pitch black. Ian Weaver burrowed into Hyun-woo’s embrace as his body shook.

The narrow passage was filled just with their presence.

Feeling a solid warmth, Hyun-woo instinctively embraced it.

After so much had happened, both mentally and physically exhausted, Hyun-woo found comfort in the faint warmth mingled with his body heat.

“…Really?”

“…Maybe?”

Hyun-woo smiled faintly.

In the silent space, only one set of breaths could be heard.

—–!

Then, a sound.

Hyun-woo’s eyes snapped open.

There was a sound.

Whether it was the vibration of an explosion or a hallucination, he couldn’t tell. But Hyun-woo wanted to restore the cooling warmth in his embrace.

He wanted to save this child. At least this one.

“…Sa…!”

Hyun-woo tried to shout but only croaked, his throat parched.

‘No…!’

His voice wouldn’t come out.

His heart sank, but he couldn’t give up.

Hyun-woo thought for a moment, then lifted his right arm and grabbed a stone slightly larger than his fist.

He fumbled around in the dark.

Lee Hyun-woo, embracing Ian Weaver tightly, found a spot that seemed sturdy enough and struck it with the stone in his hand.

Thud!

Once.

Thud!

Twice.

Thud!

Thrice.

His lips were parched, and no voice came out, but the sound of the thuds was all he could muster. Yet, Hyun-woo did not give up.

Thud!

Please.

Thud!

Someone’s here.

Thud!

Save us.

Thud!

Please… save us.

Time felt long, though it was short, and Hyun-woo’s strength seemed to wane with each weakening sound.

Then, a trickle of sand fell.

Hyun-woo’s face turned desolate, a learned fear from past experiences.

It’s going to collapse.

He let go of the stone in his right hand and clutched Ian Weaver even tighter.

I’m scared.

So scared.

Truly… terrified.

Breathing became a struggle.

Unbeknownst to him, as he held his breath, larger stones began to fall onto his jet-black hair. Hyun-woo curled up and trembled.

That’s when it happened.

[Survivor found. Survivor found.]

A heavy voice rang out.

Hyun-woo jerked and slowly lifted his head at the sound.

Through his blurred vision, he saw movement.

There was light.

‘Ah…’

Tears streamed down Hyun-woo’s face as a wave of relief threatened to overwhelm him.

The sounds of rescuers moving, clearing debris, and securing the passage filled the world.

[Are you conscious? We’ll get you out now.]

Clutching at the fraying thread of consciousness, Hyun-woo gasped for air in the widening passage and moved. It was tight, but he could move.

[Don’t move just yet…!]

As a small hand and arm, different from the boy’s, appeared below him, the rescuers were momentarily speechless.

Song Yu-jung and Lim Ye-na, too spent to speak, watched the screen with a look of despair.

[…A doll?]

A rescuer, with a puzzled expression, roughly pulled out Ian Weaver, or rather, a baby doll, from the hole.

The half-crushed doll, dirty with blood and dust, seemed to epitomize the horror of the terror attack.

Only then did Hyun-woo emerge.

[Ambulance!]

A rescuer beside the stretcher-bound Hyun-woo turned at the sensation of being pulled. Hyun-woo, who seemed to have lost consciousness, faintly opened his eyes.

The rescuer spoke.

[We’ll get you to the hospital in the ambulance right away…]

Despite his pale face, Hyun-woo’s eyes were more intense than anyone else’s. He moved his lips.

The rescuer, halting his words, bent down to listen.

“…Down there…”

A faint voice was heard.

“…There’s someone.”

…!

The rescuer inhaled sharply, looking at Hyun-woo with trembling eyes.

Hyun-woo continued with difficulty.

“I think I crawled for about 30 minutes. The name is Cynthia, Cynthia Lindberg…”

A parched voice spoke.

“And from there, south for 10 minutes… west for 5 minutes… the name is Jackson Miller.”

The rescuer took a deep breath and gestured.

Someone quickly turned on a recorder.

The rescue team became busy.

“And,”

Hyun-woo, with closed eyes, took a deep breath and spoke.

“From there, east for 5 minutes, south for 15 minutes… then east again for about 15 minutes… south for 5 minutes… the name is Raymond Wish.”

Hyun-woo truly wanted to save everyone.

Tears streaming, Hyun-woo gasped for breath, and the rescuer spoke.

[Don’t worry. We’ll go save them right away.]

Only then did Hyun-woo’s hand, which had been clutching the rescuer’s clothes, let go. The television screen showed Hyun-woo’s relieved face on the stretcher.

***

The sound of machinery drilling through stone echoed.

Stones tumbled down.

As an empty space appeared, a rescuer with a flashlight surveyed the area and picked up the radio.

[…Missing person found. Missing person found.]

The voice was somber.

[…Body found, believed to be Raymond Wish.]

***

The blood-red sunset illuminated the earth.

From above, the camera captured the collapsed Galleria Mall, dozens of ambulances and fire trucks, and the busy movement of people and rescue dogs.

The camera panned down.

A report came through a rescuer’s radio.

[Body found, believed to be Cynthia Lindberg.]

[Body found, believed to be Jackson Miller.]

Just before.

The last report came in.

[Body found, believed to be Raymond Wish.]

The camera passed the face of a rescuer with a heavy heart.

Outside the wide-open ambulance.

A person, seemingly a paramedic, was communicating with someone.

With many tourists at the Galleria Mall whose identities couldn’t be immediately confirmed, the rescue team actively used video calls to identify survivors.

But that was only possible if someone was alive.

“Are there any Asian tourists among the survivors?”

“No. So far, no Asian tourists have been found among the survivors.”

“Damn…”

The paramedic’s gaze turned towards the ruined Galleria Mall.

Having visited the mall before, the paramedic knew how many Asian tourists frequented the place.

“Still no room in the hospital?”

“Yes. There are so many patients coming in…”

Leaving the bitter conversation behind, the camera moved into the ambulance.

Inside, a boy lay treated for emergencies.

The faint sound of Lee Hyun-woo’s breathing through the respirator could be heard.

Slow but steady, Song Yu-jung and Lim Ye-na anxiously breathed in time with him.

Then it happened.

Beep…

Without warning, the heart stopped.

The cruel sound blared through the speaker, followed by frantic footsteps. But the sound of the stopped heart was louder.

The noises tangled together.

Amidst the cacophony, Hyun-woo’s face filled the screen.

The boy, who had wanted to save everyone and had tried his hardest to do so, wore a smile more content than ever before.