Camouflage tents were set up all along the perimeter of Gyeongpo Beach, hidden in plain sight. It was too early in the year for citizens or tourists to crowd the area, so The Ringmaster was certain her people could remain here for several weeks. They were hiding from the government, each and every one of them listed as criminals. It was much easier to stay out of sight when the group was smaller. However, she didn’t hesitate to take in any fugitive that sought aid.

“They’ve found us!” The yell came from across the camp, closest to the beachfront. The Ringmaster had just laid down for what felt like the first time in weeks. With a small exhale, she rose from her makeshift bed and left her tent rather calmly. It wasn’t until she saw the settling debris that she realized who the government had sent after them.

Sprinting through scattered tents, it took her no time to come face-to-face with South Korea’s first hero himself, 777.

It was a sight to behold: the man was hurling boulder after boulder towards the scrambling criminals. Everything they had just set up was coming down in seconds. “Turn yourselves in, so this can stop.”

“Who the hell are you to tell us what to do?” The Ringmaster yelled back, causing his attacks to cease momentarily as his eyes focused on her knowingly. “You’re just like us, except you decided to become a government puppet.” Tears were filling her eyes, anger seething inside of her. “We’re just trying to live!”

There was a shake to his head, his left hand raising as a boulder built itself next to him from the debris and little rocks on the ground. “We all signed the same contract. Please…just turn yourselves in.”

“And if we don’t?”

By that time, the boulder had fully formed, and it was hovering next to 777. “Please, don’t make me do this. Think about your people.”

The tears had now fallen to her cheeks, and she wiped her face with the back of her sleeve. “You should think about your people.”

777 sighed, but before he could pull another attack, The Ringmaster herself forward with great speed. Quicker than he could react, she had her hands on him. The boulder fell to the ground immediately, and 777 fell to his knees. She could feel his power diminishing from beneath his fingertips, and his fading energy only fed hers.

“Run—” She started to scream to her people, but she was interrupted by a strong pair of hands taking hold of her waist. Within seconds, The Ringmaster was being flung halfway across the camp. All she could hear were the screams of the criminals. When she was able to pull herself to her feet, she limped as fast as possible back to the beachfront. 777 was gone, and so were several of her people. “Where? What happened?”

One of the younger criminals who had recently joined sat forlorn in the middle of a destroyed tent, staring straight ahead. “It was The Real. He took them. He just…took them.”

“Don’t worry. We’re gonna get them back.”