Chapter 20: 19:47 – A Countdown to First Death [04:13am]

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Changsun stared at him. Ringmaster? What sort of fancy, prancy name was that?!

“What do you want?” he no longer cared about anything else. Sorrow seeped at his heart. He just wanted this man to go away.

“Why you of course Changsun,” the voice was so deceptively friendly. “I want to help you!”

“Well you can't” Changsun growled, turning back and clutching his sister’s cap close.

“How do you know?”

“Can you bring back my sister,” Changsun whispered fiercely. His eyes glittered with unshed tears. “She stuck in stasis isn’t she? She has 24 days doesn’t she? So rescue her! Do something!”

“I can’t.”

Changsun turned back to the man; he tried very hard to hold back the tears. “Then don’t taunt me with some impossible hope!”

“I would normally say I could try, but the enforcers work in a different manner." The Ringmaster tried to soothe Changsun. "Those who are culled are not only erased from this world, but from stasis as well. They don’t allow any chances for errors. The culled are dead and it is impossible to think elsewise.”

“Then…” tears began trickling down Changsun’s cheeks.

“But I can offer you something else,” the voice came closer.

Changsun just sniffed. 

“Revenge.”

Changsun leaned away from the Ringmaster with a jolt. “What?!” he yelped. “I don’t want revenge.”

“Don’t you?” The Ringmaster questioned, his voice sounding like he didn’t believe Changsun. There was something about his derisive tone that almost made Changsun doubt himself. “Don’t you want to get revenge against the enforcers for culling your sister? Perhaps the government? I know what they did to your parents. Or even…Byunghee?” the last words were a tease of darkness. A devil’s invitation.

Changsun jumped. “Who are you?” he demanded. “How do you know about Byunghee? And my parents?!” Suspicion, bright purple and well deserved.

The Ringmaster made a soothing sound. “Changsun, Changsun,” he waved his hands calmingly. “I have connections to the enforcers and the government. I know everything. And I want to help you get revenge on all of this.”

“Why?” Narrowed eyes, suspicion everywhere.

“Because I want to get revenge on them as well! They stole something very important from me, and I want the government to pay. Help me!” he urged. “And I’ll help you!”

"Then it's just you who wants revenge!" Changsun pointed out. 

"Perhaps, but are you saying you share no hate for the enforcers, for the government? None at all?" 

Changsun bit his lip, eyes flicking downward momentarily. 

The Ringmaster continued, "Think of it Changsun. Together we could take down the government. Doing so would destroy the enforcers. Two birds, one stone."

“That would just cause chaos,” Changsun spat.

“Yes. But, you need to destroy first before change can come about."

"What change?" Changsun narrowed his eyes. "I thought you only want revenge?"

"Doesn't everybody?" The Ringmaster shrugged. "But revenge is short-lived. What comes after that is the possibility of change! We could reinstate a new form of order! A better one! No corruption, no differentiations between people, no poverty, no crying children in the streets, no parents trying to escape from reality...”

Changsun flinched, but whether the Ringmaster noticed or not, he continued, “Imagine that. Two birds with one stone. Revenge and a chance to offer others a proper life. To take down those who look down from above, to rid the world of those who care naught about other lives. To replace money and position with smiles and laughter.”

Changsun couldn’t help but listen, so bewitched he was by the words that the people of the mid-levels had waited to hear for so long. Change. 

“What about that white collar government official earlier? He didn’t care what his judgment wrought. And the enforcer? He was only thinking of his position. And what did it cost you? Your sister. Your future.”

“What are you asking?”

“Join me. Help me take down the government. I need your help. The help of someone who truly wants change, who doesn't fear going against the tide of authority. Someone who knows the true meaning of loss. Do so and I will make sure you will be with me at the frontlines, one of the selected few who the new world will revere as those who stood up against corruption and changed it all.”

Changsun shook his head. “I don’t want to be revered. I don't want revenge."

The Ringmaster frowned slightly. "But do you want change?" he asked in a voice that could only be described as the calm before the storm. So still it was that it felt deadly. 

Changsun his lips and squeezed his sister’s hat harder. "Yes."

"Then," The Ringmaster extended one hand towards Changsun. "Join me."

Changsun stared at the smooth palm, unmarred skin unnerving him. "No."

"What?" The Ringmaster's eyes flickered. "Don't we share the same goals?" 

"Yes but...I need proof. Proof that you can carry out what you say you will."

The Ringmaster stared at him, eyes gleaming unnervingly with their bottomless black pits. Then, a crack of white. A gleam of teeth. "I should have expected nothing less. Very well. Watch closely," he said and reached out with the unmarked hand to touch the cold, steel bars. Changsun's eyes were riveted on them as the Ringmaster pulled out a small tablet-like machine and affixed it to the bars. Then, with hands flashing faster than Changsun had ever seen from a governmental official, the Ringmaster's fingers were dancing over the keyboard in harsh movement and suddenly the bars were shaking and disintegrating and with a soft snick they slipped away into the darkness. It was like watching a pixillated video game turn to blackness, one square at a time. Like fire, the ripple raced up the bars and the tablet dropped from thin air where the Ringmaster caught it. 

Changsun stared at the entire charade with an open mouth. Gone were the bars. 

"Convinced?" The Ringmaster quirked. 

Changsun nodded slowly, still barely able to compute what he had just seen. "T-that-"

But his words were cut off as the hammering of steel tipped boots entered the room. "What's going on!" came a rough shout. Changsun jerked his head upwards to see the gleam of an enforcer's visor and a masculine build in the halo of the corridor's light. Then, everything happened all at once. 

In the corner of his eye, Changsun saw the Ringmaster's hand fly to his tablet again, but his eyes never left the entering enforcer. In the same moment, the enforcer's hand flew to the taser at his side - the same machinery that had played a hand in his sister's death - but he was too slow and the Ringmaster's right hand was outstretched, tablet in hand, pointing at the man. And a hand tapped a command on the screen and suddenly the enforcer froze. 

The Ringmaster let out a small sigh of relief. "Well, well," he mused and got to his feet. "Look's like I get to show you more proof."

"Uh...what?" Changsun was flabbergasted by what had just happened. "What did you do? How did you freeze him?"

"I am a man of many talents," the Ringmaster said airily. "And now, it's time to leave. Before more enforcers like our dear Enforcer Kim arrive."

"Enforcer...Kim?!" Changsun's eyes widened as he realized this was the man who had cruelly taunted him earlier. The man who had spoken down to his sister. And here he was...frozen...at their mercy. 

"Yes," the Ringmaster just dusted the invisible lint off his immaculate black jacket. "Now let's go." 

"B-but...what about him?" Changsun pointed at Enforcer Kim. He walked right up to the man, peering in close at his eyes. And then he got the shock of his life as Enforcer Kim's eyes flickered. 

"He's still moving!" Changsun yelped. 

"Why of course," The Ringmaster frowned. "It's not like he's dead or anything."

"B-but..."

"But he's a liability," the Ringmaster's mouth curved into Cheshire smile. "And so...we should treat liabilities as liabilities are treated so."

"What?" Changsun's eyes grew wider with horror as he realized what the Ringmaster was about to do. "W-"

ZAP! 

In one swift movement, the Ringmaster lifted the Enforcer's taser out of his holster, flicked the dial to the highest setting and then it straight into his chest. Frozen, he had no chance. Changsun watched as Enforcer Kim's eyes rolled backwards, and even after it was certain the man could be nothing but dead, he could not even collapse, held by the Ringmaster's magic as he was. 

Changsun stared at the standing corpse. Moments ago he had hated the guts of this man, of the person who had taunted his sister, who had walked away and was without doubt, corrupt. And yet…to see him dead before him… Changsun just couldn’t feel any sense of victory from this. His insides were heaving, like a land-dweller on a boat. 

“Is this how you plan to take down the government?” Changsun’s mouth felt unaccountably dry. “By killing them off one by one?”

"No. But if they interfere with my plans, I will not hesitate to use force. You asked for proof that I can do what it takes and I have given you evidence. So Changsun. You are mine. Come with me and together, we shall wreak venegance against those who steal. Claim what is rightfully ours, including a new world. Think of it!"

Changsun did. He closed his eyes and thought hard. What this man was offering was a double edged sword. A chance like this may never come again, it was a once-in-a-lifetime shooting star. But to grab this star was to risk burning your hand. Siding with the Ringmaster could bring everything crashing down. He could destroy more than he could save. But-

For noona…,Changsun thought.

"Come," The Ringmaster pushed the Enforcer to one side. At his touch, the corpse collapsed, like a puppet with its strings cut. "We have work to do." And he strode out of the door. 

"Wait." Changsun called after the man. The Ringmaster stopped and turned. "Promise me one thing," he gulped. 

"What?"

"That I get to decide who we kill and who we don’t. I don’t want…unnecessary deaths…”

The Ringmaster stared at him for a moment. Whatever thoughts went on his head, Changsun could not guess.

Then, “Very well.” An assent. “So long as you are willing and able to be consulted, I will only orchestrate death under your consent. Agreeable?”

Changsun swallowed. He felt something was wrong, but the phantom sensation of drying blood on his hands warring with the silk of his noona’s cap was becoming overbearing and dizziness was swirling in his head.

“Come, now.” The Ringmaster’s voice turned gravelly. “The enforcers will be returning soon.”

Changsun felt cold sweat slide down his brow. Now or never. For his noona.

Changsun was breathing hard, but in his mind, all he could see was that pale extrended hand. To agree or not? To accept or not? To take or not to take?

For noona.

The Ringmaster exited the room, his shoes making soft clipped noises against the marble. And Changsun followed. 

► PLAY

Joon POV

I gasped and rolled out of the memories. Everything was so clear. Byunghee’s betrayal, the white collar’s judgment, my sister’s death and then the Ringmaster’s offer. As well as his deceit.

I had not wanted revenge against Byunghee. Granted I had been angry at him, but it was the Ringmaster who had suggested I needed such a thing. And to remember only that? Of course I would have thought that was my goal...

But no. My true goal wasn't revenge. It was change. 

I clutched my head. The pain felt fresh, like my sister had died only yesterday. I wanted so bad to cry, but I had cried enough.

“Changsun!” came a yell. I looked up to see Byunghee gripping his bars so tight his hands were white and calling for me. “Changsun! Are you okay?!”

“Byung…hee…” I whispered. I remembered his story. Passing out, in hospital for two days. My declaration of revenege that was not my own. Whispered words "Don't you want revenge?" haunted me, brainwashed me. I didn't want revenge. No...not my brother right? What was going on? 

I wanted to cry at the unfairness of everything. My memories were just messing things up even more. Byunghee had never betrayed me…

“Changsun!”

“I’m…fine…” I choked out. “I just remembered everything, that’s all.”

“And?” Byunghee stared at me with such ferocity that I was taken aback. He cluthed the bars so tightly the skin pulled taut. 

“And…” And what? What was I to say? That I had remembered wrongly? That Byunghee was not at fault and, oh, and if only we had listened to each other, both then and now, would everything be different?  

“Aish!” I growled, throwing my frustration outwards.

Seungho and Byunghee flinched. “What’s wrong?!”

What was wrong? Everything!

I turned. I couldn’t stand looking at their faces, so filled with concern. I couldn’t show them the turmoil of expressions that rolled across my face, a ship fighting storms across the wide ocean. And then I saw a dark corridor. Reprieve. I knew I was being a coward, but I needed time. Time to think. To decide. To re-evalutate my entire purpose.

“Changsun?” Byunghee’s voice was so worried, so innocently worried about me that I gritted my teeth and nearly broke down there and then.

But I couldn’t. It would only spur more questions.

So I turned and ran.