Everyone was in Rowan’s house: a cramped room, dim lighting; now there wasn’t metal music, just sirens and footsteps in the corners. The smell and flavour were a mix of beer and humidity, and the place was warm.

Jeongin felt a sensation to gaze at something, and when he turned around, he saw it: the exact same vending machine he saw when he met Rowan.

‘Is it serious?! You still conserve it? I told you, you should bring it back; now we’re in more trouble.

‘And I remember to tell you I wasn’t going to return it’.

‘There’s no time for this sh#t, and Jeongin, god! I can assure you if they capture us, we will be in more trouble about other things than this stupid box!’ Yelled Paulina.

‘OK guys, I enjoyed having great communication, but can we leave?’ Dilka added.

‘Sure!’ Rowan said, and went to his vending machine to collect some beers and kissed it. Then, he picked up his outfit, and created a hole in the ground.

‘Just remember, guys, we won’t hurt them’.

Rowan was digging in the ground, looking for something so far from the cops, and when he noticed he moved so far, he sank his path, and repeated the process.

20 minutes later.

‘Can we stop? My legs are hurting me!’

The group stopped walking when they heard Paulina’s complaints, in the middle of rock layers, dense plant matter decomposition smell, and a sensation of thick, sticky, heavy clay.

‘I thought you used to move faster in the ground’.

‘Me, but when I’m with people, I… can’t…’ Rowan was in shock; a memory invades his head without permission.

Some years ago.

‘Come on, Kandue, hurry up’.

‘I can’t do too much if I’m waiting for you, guys’.

‘What a sh&tty power you have, Kandue boy’.

Rowan and other people were moving in the ground, transporting some drugs and guns to someone else. They’ve stolen to deliver to his boss.

‘Move! Move!’

‘Why don’t you improve your power and make us get out of here quickly!’

‘Yes, no one will care if you change your appearance.’

Every shout Rowan was listening make him feel nervious, his hands were tembling and digging slowly like a baby, his legs were blocked like a ancient corpse, and his breath was cover of earth.

I can’t believe I left my country to start this shit again, but if I do something, they can go after…

‘Wait! Wait! Wait!’

Rowan didn’t notice he sank a big hole, and many of his group were underground now; the only survivor, Hải, was sopper his breathing, and wide eyes.

‘Agh…ag… so…sorry,’ Rowan sobbed, showing his hands.

Hải and a few of the survivors who had just stood up from the ruins hit him. Rowan was on the floor, covering himself and asking for mercy, ‘Please! Please, s…top! I’m sorry!’ but they continued kicking, and his blood was festering with earth.

When Rowan and the group finally arrived in the boss´s flat, Rowan was covered in blood and purple bruises, leaving his skin swollen and stiff like a mummy’s. He was in front of his boss, kneeling next to Hải.

The man was wearing a blue suit, a tattoo on his neck that was hard to see due to the outfit, and prostheses in his limbs.

‘Listen carefully, Rowan, the only reason you’re not dead is because of Hải’s sympathy; you should thank him,’ he said while he was poiting Hải with his hand. ‘Furthermore, you didn’t lose the rudimentary equipment, so, for me it’s fine, but you’re going to work more replacing the corpses’.

Rowan was looking at him with sparkling eyes, ‘Yes, sir Vũ Hoàng’. He was getting closer, and expanding his hand to Rowan.

The present

Dilka was trying to touch Rowan’s shoulder and see if he was in the same world, but in that moment, Rowan took her hand off; his eyes were spewing fire, and his mouth was being devoured by his memories, ‘stop!’

‘What the f&ck?’ Rowan!’ Paulina screamed.

‘Are you ok?’ asked Dilka with eyes wide and alert.

‘I… just… wait for it…’

‘No… my mates, I don’t want to kill all of you,’ Rowan thought.

After a while, Rowan made a hole in the earth to see the world above. Dilka was holding him. ‘Why didn’t you get one of those drones? This could be easier’.

‘I told you, I think it’s expensive, and I need someone who can sell me those gadgets’.

‘My friend Lâm knows those kinds of people’.

Jeongin gives the signal to go out, and Rowan blocked the exit.

They didn’t know where they were, but the grey buildings and the sound of traffic led them to a small alleyway; the neon lights were at the top.

‘Now we don’t have a home; I suggest our lord maintain us,’ Paulina mocked.

‘Oh yes! We can have a sleepover!’ Dilka laughed.

‘Oh! Sure! Just let me… find a place for each one’.

Please guys, don’t make a mess in my room- not holes and not fire, but anyway, Paulina got a point.

‘By the way, now I was thinking, if they know about me, and they suspect everyone in the group is a stranger, I think they would be interested in your friend, Paulina; you should advise him.’

‘You’re right, and we can’t forget Anna; I’m gonna tell her, too’.

The problem is, Dilka is living in the same neighborhood as me; if the police are in her house, they will be in my house soon, and my dream… damn, I don’t want to say this, but…

‘Guys, for now I remember I have a mess in my house, just give me time, and tomorrow you can visit me, ok? And if there’s a problem, you can hide yourself with me’.

Ok, I think that sounds better. I’m so sorry, but… this is hard. If they got captured by cops, my dream is over; the government will call me a traitor for working with other people. But I’m going to do this, as Dilka said; if it’s my destiny to work with them, then they won’t be captured. I… what am I saying? I’m a bad person, and this is stupid.

Jeongin said goodbye to each one after they arrived in the flats, and he went to his house.

At his house, he was checking the emails. First, he answered his parents and told them everything was ok; his father was still angry with him because Jeongin's work repairing gadgets and hacking other systems wasn’t a real job. He didn’t want to talk about his dream, which was a waste of time to mention to his family. So, he said goodbye.

He saw Jasol Jun-yeong in the audio transmission.

‘Hey! What’s up, Jeongin? ’

‘Flawless, what about you?’

‘Fine! Well… the part of moving all my belongings to the university is horrible, but I will be ok, what about you?’

‘Seeing the positive side, what do you think about your dreams? I mean, if you want something, but it happens in the way you wouldn’t like’.

‘To fulfil my dream but not as I’d wish? Hmm, that’s rare; I don’t see your—’

‘Ok! Just imagine you entered the university because you’re local, and handsome, like an idol, and not because of your efforts.’

Jasol took a long breath before answering.

‘I see it now… huh… It’s a hard question. I Think, I could continue, after all; these are my dreams, yes! It’s hard to acknowledge I’m here because of my brain, but Jeongin, you don’t remember how many people try so hard to achieve one dream, no matter what it is?’

‘You believe in destiny?’

‘Not exactly, but I’ll take it, and change it in a way I’d like to have it before.’

Jeongin nodded, and after a pause, he spoke, ‘Would you be able to continue even if a big army is against you? Like the government?’

‘Wow, that’s an interesting question, hmm. I wonder who or what is making you think that? But anyway, answering… your question…’ he was scratching his neck. ‘Yes! Definitely yes! Jeongin, if a damned rage demon is behind me, I’ll do everything in my power. If I don’t follow my dream, what’s my purpose? What should I still fightin for?’

‘Yes…you’re right’.

‘Jeongin, you abandoned the school, your parents, and your home, for what? To come back? If you have the opportunity, take advantage now; later, there won’t be another opportunity. If you can’t resolve it now, you won’t be able to fix anything later.’

Jeongin nodded and said goodbye to his friend. He was looking at the transmitter turn off, without signal, colour, nothing, just watching that mirror without life.

I can’t believe I was thinking of delivering them, even though what was supposed to happen? I’ve seen it; they work with the mafia, they blame other people to clean their hands. Even if I inform them, they would shut me away.

Jeongin was looking at his old poster, a cartoon character of his favorite sarpionist.

If I don’t resolve it now…my… our reputation, I won’t be able to fix it later. I think I know where to start, but I’m not sure if I should make a rebellion…

In another place.

Inside a building, on the top floor, was Chun Moo-hyun, the leader in this region, looking at the cities and buildings smaller than him.

‘You were looking for me?’ asked a man with a black Parka with a fur-trimmed hood and braids in his hair.

‘Yes, Jae-seong, I’d like you to remote all the transmitters near your location. We cannot permit people to listen to Kim’s transmission. I know it isn’t complete, but people continue are talking abou it.’

‘I’ll do as much as I can; there are a lot of these bastards’.

‘Another thing… call Kim Eun-ju, and tell her she must be ready for the video’.