Promise (Sweet Home)

1.6: The Fifteenth Floor

"We're almost there." Na-ri whispered to the two, "Just a few more steps and-" She went quiet seeing the monster in front of her.

The blind creature stood at the exit of the staircase, "I can't see..." It groaned as it scanned the area around it.

Na-ri turned to the kids and signaled for the two to be quiet. They nodded and held onto the sides of the teen girl.

None of the three made a sound, let alone moved an inch until the creature was gone, scraping against the walls with its sharp fingers as it left.

Finally leaving, the three continued their trek once again, this time a bit slower incase they come across another encounter. What they forgot to realize that the protein monster was still behind him.

Hearing the heavy thuds from behind, the kids grabbed onto Na-ri and held on tight, trembling with fear. Na-ri held one of cards just in case, along with her remote to shock if needed.

Thankfully it wasn't.

Na-ri noticed the blind monster from the corner of her eye and immediately ducked, bringing the two kids along with her. From above a branch of the monster's arm rammed straight into the other.

Using this as their chance, Na-ri guided the kids around the two fighting creatures and out into the hallway as silent as she could. All holding hands, they all suck past and made it to safety, or rather a safer area than before.

They made it through, but not on the right floor.

Yu-seong spoke up, "Ah, Na-ri?" He called, "You said to go to room 1408, this is the fifteenth floor."

Na-ri turned to the kids, "The fourteenth floor isn't safe right now, the monsters are fighting, but don't worry we'll circle back and be there very soon, okay?" She gave them a reassuring smile, to which they mirrored.

She led them down the hallway once again before loud thuds echoed from down the hall. They turned around to find the protein monster hot on their heels.

Na-ri sighed and held onto her cards, "Just great." Suddenly, a woman appeared in front of the monster with her stroller.

"Ms. Im!" Na-ri yelled to the woman, "Get out of the way, it's not safe." She hoped the older woman would comply, but sadly she didn't.

"Please, don't hurt the children." She requested the monster with a soft voice. "You can do that, right?"

The monster smiled, and for a moment it seemed like they would compl. Instead, Ms. Im was sent crashing into a wall.

Na-ri pulled out her cards and threw them at the monster, one by one sticking to its flesh. Seeing she had enough, she pressed the button on the remote, and instantly a jolt of electricity was sent through the monster's body, sending it into a brief state of unconsciousness.

Using this, Na-ri led the kids past the monster, retrieving her bloodied cards on the way and ran down the hallway, finding Hyun-su.

"Hyun-su!" Na-ri cried as she ran over to him, instantly taking him into his arms. "You're alright." She buried her head into his shoulder, tears starting to form.

She felt a shaking hand wrap around her waist, "I promised you, didn't I?" Na-ri leaned back a little to see him adorning a soft smile. Despite his bloodied appearance, he was still something to admire.

Na-ri then heard footsteps approach, revealing two new figures: Jae-hoon and

"Ji-su!" Na-ri squealed, running over to the girl. They immediately ran to each other and embraced in a hug.

"You're not dead!" She lightly squealed, "Thank God!" Ji-su slapped her on the shoulder, "Of course, I wouldn't be dead, geez." Na-ri laughed, but it was cut short by heavy footsteps thumping towards them.

"Not again," Na-ri sighed, "This thing doesn't know when to quit." She then gestured for the kids to stay close to her, as Hyun-su pushed her behind him, protecting from the front.

"Go, get them out of here." He spoke to which Na-ri nodded, taking the kids to the fourteenth floor. Before she left she looked over to Ji-su, "Stay safe." She nodded as well as Na-ri took off.

They finally reached Du-sik's apartment. Na-ri unlocked the door and ushered the kids inside. The two sat on Du-sik's bed as Na-ri continued to pace around the apartment.

Du-sik watched from his desk, "Na-ri, why don't you rest. You look exhausted."

"I'm not resting until Hyun-su gets back. What if he needs help? That hulk of a monster is not easy-" Dusik sighed, "You're boyfriend will be fine, now sit down and have some food." He gestured to the food layed out in front of him.

Na-ri shook her head, "No, I'm going to go back out." She then headed out the door before turning back to Du-sik, "And please, for the last time, he's not my-"

The lock turned on the apartment door and in came Hyun-su. "The kids..." He began, "Are they alright?" Na-ri nodded.

"And you?"

Na-ri rose a brow, "Me? I'm fine, why wouldn't I?"

Hyun-su smiled, his features softening, "Good, I'm glad."