Rain, Rain, Go Away

Embrace the Collapsing World

A cold wave sent shiver down their spines when a group of men clad in black suits, black skull masks, and helmets, wielding katanas, emerged from the shadows. They grabbed Nimesh and Tae-hoon to the ground, one of them yelled, "Who are you?"

Tae-hoon, mustering a hint of courage, stammered, "I...I... am a survivor, just like you. We need shelter from the rain." The sound of raindrops hitting the ground grew louder, and one of the masked men sneered, "You want shelter, huh?" He grabbed Tae-hoon, and was about to throw him out into the acid rain.

Nimesh pleaded, "No! Please don't do this!" Just as the masked man was about to toss Tae-hoon outside, a commanding voice halted him. "Wait!" The gang's commander had arrived on the scene.

"Bring these guys to the court!" the gang boss bellowed, his han-bok traditional dress added a stark contrast to the room. His soldiers swiftly obeyed, dragging Tae-hoon and Nimesh before him.

The two captives found themselves in a grand hall, adorned with dusty chandeliers. At the far end of the hall, a throne sat atop a raised dais, where the gang boss took his seat. He removed his mask, revealing a face marred by scars and a burned, sightless eye.

"Please, sir, let us go!" Nimesh pleaded, but his words were met with a swift punch to the gut from one of the soldiers. "Don't open your mouth in front of his majesty!" the soldier growled. "Only he will allow you to speak."

The gang boss, sipping on a packaged juice, gazed at the two captives with an unblinking stare. "So, you're locals... from Daejeon?" he asked, his voice low and menacing. Tae-hoon and Nimesh nodded in unison, fearful of what might happen next.

The gang boss's one eye narrowed. "All Daejeon residents fled or took refuge on Jeju Island. Where were you when it happened?"

Tae-hoon explained, "Sir, I was trapped in my apartment and nimesh here was too afraid to step outside."

Tae-hoon's curiosity got the better of him. "Sir, why Jeju Island? And what's happening to our country?" A tear rolled down his cheek.

The gang boss's expression turned grim. "Even educated guys like you didn't get the news? World War 3 has begun."

Nimesh and Tae-hoon's eyes widened in shock, their faces pale with horror.

Tae-hoon's voice trembled. "World War?"

The gang boss's expression turned bleak. "Russia, China, and North Korea formed an alliance and launched a surprise attack on Europe and Western societies. This prompted the USA and its allies, including us (South Korea), to retaliate."

He paused, collecting his thoughts.

"But this time, it wasn't just a conventional war. It escalated into a nuclear conflict. North Korea had been secretly developing a deadly toxin for decades. They succeeded in creating a chemical that could manipulate the rain, turning it into acidic in nature. They could control the area of destruction by altering the rain's trajectory."

The gang boss's one eye seemed to bore into Tae-hoon's soul.
As the boss grasped for a breath he continued, "They started with Seoul, and it was over in an instant. No one had time to react. Daejeon was next, and now... now we're here, fighting for survival in a world that's been torn apart."

Nimesh's voice barely audible, whispered, "All of this happened in just a week..."

The gang boss's expression turned cold, his one eye glinting with a fierce intensity. "Accept it, this country is now a barren wasteland. The old government has collapsed, and I am the new ruler of this land. The clowns who once led us are gone, and we will now be governed by the ancient rules of kingship."

The gang boss's words hung in the air, leaving Tae-hoon and Nimesh to process the enormity of their new reality.

The man standing beside the gang boss stepped forward, his eyes scrutinizing Tae-hoon and Nimesh. "You both look capable. Join our army, Join Jiphyeons, and we'll provide you with food, water, and shelter. All we ask in return is your loyalty."

Tae-hoon and Nimesh exchanged a hesitant glance. Just moments before, their only hope was to find safety. Now, they were being recruited into a mysterious and deadly organization.

Nimesh's voice trembled. "Sorry to say this, but we just want peace and a safe shelter."

The gang boss's expression darkened, his sword inching closer to Nimesh.

Tae-hoon intervened, desperate to defuse the situation. "Sir, why don't you come with us to Il-nam's asylum? You'll be safe from the acidic rain there too."

The gang boss's demeanor shifted, his interest piqued. "Il-nam's asylum? Is it a government building?"

Tae-hoon nodded. "Yes, sir. We heard on the radio that it might be the key to a safer future-"

The gang boss's voice cut through Tae-hoon's words. "Water."

The gang boss sheathed his katana, his expression unreadable. "Prepare the caravan. We're heading to the asylum at the next interval."

Nimesh's eyes darted to Tae-hoon, a silent warning flashing between them. Tae-hoon's attempt to appeal to the gang boss's humanity had seemingly worked, but Nimesh's instincts screamed that something was off.

Little did they know, the Jiphyeon organization was the government's arch-nemesis, playing a pivotal role in the country's downfall. The boss's sudden interest in Il-nam's asylum was far from altruistic, and Tae-hoon's mistake would soon prove to be a costly one.