Alexander asked as he guided Seongji to the top floor. "Sir, may I ask why you're searching for Vin Jin so urgently?"
Seongji stopped. Worry appeared on his face. "There's someone here that he shouldn't meet."
Jerry asked from behind, "Why?"
Seongji gave a worried chuckle. "Someone might die."
---
The old man guided Daniel, Vin Jin, Vasco and Jihan through the emergency stairs. "It's a blessing that you guys met me. You might not run into the Workers while going down."
"Old man, shut up and walk," Vin Jin said.
The old man nodded. "Sorry."
Daniel asked, "We can find Jinyoung Park, right?"
The old man nodded. "If we keep going, we'll arrive at the second basement floor. There, you will find the person you're looking for."
Daniel nodded. "Thank you, old man. Let's quickly go to the second basement floor."
They all stopped midway. Daniel's eyes widened.
"You really came."
"Hm?"
"Good thing I waited here."
"You're...!"
Taejin took a drag of his cigarette. "Are you busy? Let's move after resting a bit." His eyes widened as they fell on Vin Jin. "Oh. A monster. An eyeball monster."
He took another drag and approached the group. "What's up with you, Vin Jin? You were part of Allied too? It's been a while—"
Vin Jin grabbed his face and smashed him headfirst into the ground before he could finish.
Everyone looked at Vin Jin.
"What are you looking at? Piss off. There shouldn't be any witness," Vin Jin muttered. His face darkened with fury.
Taejin grabbed Vin Jin's hand that covered his face. "Vin, did you come here to kill me?" His face twisted into a mock smile. "Then this time, I'm really looking forward to it."
Vin Jin grabbed Taejin's neck and pulled him forward before slamming him down again.
Taejin laughed. "Vin Jin, are you mad? It's been a while. Let's start with a greeting."
He grabbed Vin Jin's collar to push him backwards, but he couldn't move Vin Jin at all.
Vin Jin tilted his head. "What's this? Were you trying to push me? Whatever. Greetings are nice. But farewells are better."
He grabbed Taejin's hips and slammed him against the wall.
The concrete cracked behind Taejin's back. He dropped to the ground and coughed. Blood sprayed from his mouth.
Vin Jin walked toward him. His eyes were calm and brown.
Taejin wiped the blood from his lips and stood. He grinned. "You got stronger. Good. I was getting bored."
Vin Jin grabbed Taejin's collar with his left hand and drove his right fist into Taejin's stomach. The punch sank deep. Taejin's body bent forward but the grin stayed on his face.
Taejin grabbed Vin Jin's wrist and twisted it, trying to break the grip on his collar. Vin Jin's hand didn't budge. Taejin brought his knee up into Vin Jin's ribs. The knee connected solidly. Vin Jin didn't react.
Vin Jin pulled Taejin forward and threw him over his hip. Taejin's body flipped through the air and hit the stairs. He rolled down several steps before catching himself on the railing.
Daniel stepped forward. "Vin, should we—"
"Stay out of this." Vin Jin didn't look at him.
Taejin climbed back up the stairs. His nose was bleeding. He rolled his shoulders. "Do you know what happened to me here?"
Vin Jin didn't answer. He walked down the stairs toward Taejin.
Taejin rushed forward and grabbed Vin Jin's waist. He tried to lift him for a throw. Vin Jin spread his stance and dropped his weight. Taejin couldn't lift him. Vin Jin brought both his hands down on the back of Taejin's neck and drove him face-first into the stairs.
Taejin's forehead hit the edge of a step. The skin split open. Blood ran down into his eyes. He pushed himself up and spat blood onto the stairs.
"If you want to kill me, go to hell and come back. Like me."
Vin Jin grabbed Taejin's arm and twisted it behind his back. He pushed forward and slammed Taejin's face into the wall. He did it once, twice, three times. The wall dented with each impact. Taejin's nose broke with a wet crack.
Taejin drove his elbow back into Vin Jin's ribs. The elbow hit hard. Vin Jin's grip loosened slightly. Taejin spun around and grabbed Vin Jin's collar with both hands. He pulled Vin Jin toward him and headbutted him. Their foreheads collided.
Vin Jin's head barely moved. Taejin felt the impact reverberate through his own skull.
Taejin headbutted him again. Pain shot through his forehead this time. It was like hitting a wall.
Vin Jin stared at him. His eyes were still brown and calm.
Taejin grinned. Blood covered his teeth. "There you are. Let me see those eyes turn bloody."
Vin Jin grabbed Taejin's wrists and squeezed. His fingers dug into Taejin's skin. Taejin's grin faltered. He tried to pull his wrists free but Vin Jin's grip was like iron.
Vin Jin twisted Taejin's arms and forced him to his knees. Taejin gritted his teeth. His wrists were turning white under the pressure.
Taejin swept his leg out and caught Vin Jin behind the knee. Vin Jin's leg buckled but he didn't release Taejin's wrists. He fell forward and drove his knee into Taejin's chest. The impact knocked Taejin onto his back.
Vin Jin kept hold of one wrist and twisted Taejin's arm. He placed his foot on Taejin's elbow and pulled. Taejin's arm straightened. The joint strained.
"Get up. You're following the steps of the bitch I once killed."
Taejin's eyes widened. His grin disappeared. He grabbed Vin Jin's ankle with his free hand and dug his fingers in. His nails broke skin. He twisted his body and kicked up at Vin Jin's face. The kick connected with Vin Jin's jaw. Vin Jin's head snapped to the side.
Vin Jin released Taejin's wrist and stumbled back a step. Blood ran from his split lip.
Taejin rolled to his feet. His twisted arm hung at an odd angle. He rotated his shoulder and the joint popped back into place. He grimaced but kept standing.
"You think I'm like my father?" Taejin laughed. The sound was harsh. "I am better. I survived this place. I survived things worse than you."
Vin Jin walked forward. "You're worse."
Taejin rushed in and grabbed Vin Jin's shoulder and sleeve. He dropped his weight and pulled, trying to throw Vin Jin over his hip. Vin Jin planted his feet and didn't move. Taejin pulled harder but got nothing.
Vin Jin grabbed the back of Taejin's belt and lifted him off the ground. He turned and threw Taejin down the stairs. Taejin's body tumbled down fifteen steps. He hit the landing hard and lay still for a moment.
Taejin pushed himself up. His ribs ached. His arm throbbed. Blood covered his face. He climbed the stairs slowly, one step at a time.
Vin Jin waited at the top.
Taejin reached the landing and threw a punch at Vin Jin's face. Vin Jin caught the fist in his palm. His fingers closed around Taejin's hand. He squeezed.
Taejin felt the bones in his hand grind together. He threw a punch with his other hand. Vin Jin caught that one too. He squeezed both fists at once.
Taejin's fingers started to go numb. He kicked Vin Jin in the knee. The kick landed but Vin Jin didn't let go. He kicked again and again. Vin Jin's stance didn't break.
Vin Jin pulled Taejin's arms wide and stretched him out. Then he drove his forehead into Taejin's face. Taejin's already broken nose shattered completely. Blood sprayed across both of them.
Vin Jin released one hand and grabbed Taejin's throat. His thumb pressed into Taejin's windpipe. He lifted Taejin off the ground and walked forward until Taejin's back hit the wall.
Taejin's feet dangled. He grabbed Vin Jin's wrist with both hands and tried to pull it away. The wrist didn't move. He kicked at Vin Jin's stomach and chest. The kicks landed but Vin Jin's grip didn't loosen.
Taejin's vision started to blur. His kicks were getting weaker.
A red glint appeared in both of Vin Jin's eyes.
Vin Jin's grip on Taejin's throat tightened. Taejin made a choking sound. His face was turning purple. He clawed at Vin Jin's arm but nothing worked.
Vin Jin released Taejin's throat and grabbed his shoulder and opposite wrist. He turned his body and pulled Taejin over his back. Taejin flipped through the air and slammed into the stairs. The concrete cracked beneath him.
The red glint faded from Vin Jin's eyes.
Taejin rolled onto his side. He gasped for air. His throat was crushed and bruised. He pushed himself to his feet. His breathing was labored and ragged.
Vin Jin walked down the stairs toward him.
Taejin grabbed the railing and launched himself at Vin Jin. He wrapped his arms around Vin Jin's waist and drove forward, trying to tackle him down the stairs. Vin Jin spread his stance and grabbed Taejin's back. They struggled in place and neither gave ground.
Vin Jin brought his fist down on Taejin's spine. The punch landed between his shoulder blades. Taejin gasped. The impact rattled through his entire back. He drove his shoulder harder into Vin Jin's stomach but it felt like pushing against a tree.
Vin Jin grabbed the back of Taejin's head and drove his knee up into Taejin's face. The knee connected with Taejin's already shattered nose. Blood splattered across the stairs. Taejin's head snapped back but he kept his grip on Vin Jin's waist.
Vin Jin brought his knee up again and again. Each impact made a wet sound. Taejin's face was a mask of blood but his arms stayed locked around Vin Jin.
A red glint appeared in both of Vin Jin's eyes.
Vin Jin reached down and grabbed both of Taejin's wrists. He squeezed. The bones in Taejin's wrists began to crack.
Taejin screamed. His grip broke. Vin Jin pushed him away. Taejin stumbled backward down the stairs and barely kept his balance.
Vin Jin grabbed Taejin's collar and sleeve. He lifted Taejin off the ground and threw him against the wall. The concrete cracked. Taejin dropped to the ground.
The red glint faded from Vin Jin's eyes.
Taejin stood up again. His wrists hung at odd angles. Both were broken. His face was unrecognizable. But he stood.
"With the same hand that once brought death, I don't mind killing another."
A red glint appeared in Vin Jin's eyes once more.
Vin Jin walked toward him.
Taejin tried to lift his broken wrists. He couldn't. He tried to grin but his shattered face couldn't form the expression anymore. "Go ahead. I've been dead for a while anyway."
Vin Jin grabbed Taejin by the front of his shirt with both hands. He lifted him up and slammed him into the wall. He did it again and again. Each impact left a crater in the concrete. Taejin's body went limp.
Vin Jin held him against the wall for a moment longer. Then he released him. Taejin slid down the wall and collapsed on the stairs. He didn't move.
The red glint in Vin Jin's eyes faded. They returned to normal brown.
Vin Jin looked down at Taejin's broken body. His face showed nothing. He turned and walked back up the stairs past the others.
"Tsk. You're not worth killing," Vin Jin said. His voice was flat.