"RUN!"
They sprint down the staircase, urgency clawing at their heels. They must reach the ground floor before the killer is unleashed. Floor Three, Tom slows significantly. His breaths grow heavier, his limbs aching unbearably. He stops briefly, hands braced against his knees, wheezing.
"I - I can’t keep up. I need to rest."
But rest is not an option. Not now. The others continue forward. The distance between them widens. Tom’s head spins, dizziness setting in. Despite his exhaustion, he forces himself to keep moving. He has no choice. On the sixth floor, the Hammer Killer clutches his weapon tighter, his glare locked onto the final seconds.
"FIVE. FOUR. THREE. TWO. ONE. ZERO!"
The steel bars lift. The killer grits his teeth, veins bulging, his fury consuming him. He charges toward the staircase. A new warning rings through the halls with a red alert again.
"The Hammer Killer has been released. Passengers please head to the bus immediately.”
A bloodcurdling roar erupts, shaking the walls. The passengers scream, horror clawing at their chests. Heavy footsteps pound the ground. Getting closer. Faster. Their panic escalates, their sprinting frantic. Tate leads, his athletic speed guiding the others forward. They burst into the main hall. The bus is waiting. Doors open. Tate plants himself by the entrance, pulling up each passenger. Pearl climbs first, followed by Lyly and Karen. But where’s Tom?
He is at the ground floor. Struggling forward, wheezing. Sweat dripping from his skin. And behind him, the killer is coming. Tate snaps to attention, his urgency multiplying.
"HE’S COMING! RUN!"
"MOVE! OLD MAN!" The girls cry out, urging faster movement.
Tom feels the heat of death on his back. He doesn’t dare look over his shoulder. He throws every last ounce of strength into sprinting. The Hammer Killer nearly reaches him. His fingers twitch, inches from making contact. Excited, he leans forward, stretching his arm. Tom senses his presence looming over him. A choking terror consumes him, tears pooling in his eyes. He lunges ahead. Inside the bus, Tate leans forward, extending his arm.
"GRAB MY HAND!"
Tom reaches his hand to Tate. But it’s still too far. Beside Tate, Pearl mirrors his motion, offering her hand as well.
"I’ll help you, too."
Tate blinks in mild shock, then laughs softly, refocusing. Tom comes closer and closer. The Hammer Killer raises his weapon, preparing one final devastating strike. The bus passengers watch in suspense, their breaths held in terror. Pearl screams.
"JUMP!"
Tom lets out a desperate scream. He jumps. He pushes off with his left foot, launching himself forward. His arms reach out toward Pearl and Tate. Both brace themselves, grabbing onto his wrists, pulling with all their strength. The hammer slices through the air, its deadly force barely missing the back of Tom’s neck. The Hammer Killer staggers, his balance disrupted, crashing onto the ground. Tom is hauled into the bus, his large frame collapsing onto both rescuers. The clock inside the "Heart" pillar strikes 11:00 AM. The bus doors seal shut. The engine roars to life. The bus departs and leaves the first station behind.
On the ground, the Hammer Killer lies sprawled, his failure burning into his mind. From behind, heavy boots stomp against the pavement. Measured. Unwavering. Determined. The killer’s eyes snap upward, his expression twisting in horror. His lips part, trembling, voice barely forming words.
"The Landlord…"
The figure before him looms, clad in traditional mourning robes, his face concealed behind a theatrical mask - half blue, half red - his lips dusted in pale powder. He tilts his head slightly, assessing the fallen executioner. Then, he chuckles, cold and indifferent. Without hesitation, the Landlord retrieves a matchbox from his sleeve. He strikes a match. Its small flame flickers in the dim light. Then, he drops it onto the executioner’s cloak. The fire ignites instantly - spreading at an unnatural speed, consuming the Hammer Killer. His screams reverberate through the ruins, but the Landlord does not falter. He turns away, his deed done, walking without pause into the Justice Garden.
Raising a hand, the barrier surrounding the Supreme Court trembles, its surface fracturing like shattered glass. It retracts into itself, morphing into a sphere. The Landlord grasps it, and in his palm - it transforms into an urn. The protective shield vanishes completely. Immediately, the poisonous virus seeps into the court. The walls decay, cracks snake through the structure, the polished floors stain, and the gardens wilt into lifeless husks. The once pristine courthouse crumbles into its true state - ruined and desolate. The Landlord smirks, then disappears into the void.
Inside the bus, Pearl and Tate lie motionless on the floor. Tate pushes off Tom’s weight, shifting upward. Lyly rushes over to help Pearl sit up, concern written across her face.
"Are you okay?"
"I’m fine."
Pearl forces a small smile, standing up alongside her friends, moving toward the back seats. Tate prepares to get up until Tom clutches his sleeve. He turns sharply, catching the older man’s pleading stare. His tone drops cold.
"What do you want?"
"H-help me up… I need water…"*
Tate raises an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over the man’s disheveled state. Then, without hesitation, he brushes his grip aside, muttering.
"You’re not injured. Your arms and legs work fine. The fridge is over there. Get it yourself."
He walks away, ignoring the man, heading toward Pearl’s seat. Tom scowls, his exhaustion weighing him down, his muscles aching from exertion. He clutches the back of his neck, a sharp pain throbbing through his skin. His breaths come uneven, his body still trembling from adrenaline. He wipes the sweat off his brow, his gaze drifting toward the back seats - watching the others laugh amongst themselves. A bitter resentment coils in his chest. Then, he notices something off. His seat doesn’t feel right. When he looks down, his blood runs cold. Dolls. A dozen lifeless eyes stare up at him from beneath his weight. A choking fear grips him. He jolts upright, frantically swiping the dolls off him, his screams echoing through the bus. Desperate to escape, he hurries to his original seat, retrieving his inhaler, gulping air between panicked breaths. Still thirsty, he spots a half-empty water bottle nearby discarded by Lina.
Without hesitation, he grabs it, chugging greedily. Lyly watches with a smirk, arms crossed.
"A cruel bastard like you? Seeing you this pathetic? Looks like justice does exist."
Tom glares, tempted to lash out but his body betrays him. He collapses into his seat, wheezing against his inhaler. Lyly props her chin on her hand, mocking him further.
"Save your breath. If you pass out, none of us are going to carry your fat body anywhere."
"Lyly, stop antagonizing him."
Karen, watching, senses the tension. Lyly rolls her eyes, dismissing her friend’s caution. Meanwhile, Pearl notices the bruise forming on Tom’s neck. Her eyes widen.
"You have a bad bruise. You should ice it."
"What?"
He touches his injury, wincing slightly.
"Damn it.”
He suspects it’s from the near-miss hammer strike earlier. But right now, his exhaustion outweighs his concern. The announcement sounds again.
"Congratulations! The first station has been cleared. Remaining passengers: 5. First to board the bus: Pearl. The Platinum Pass belongs to her. Please select: Claim a ticket for the next stop OR eject someone from the bus!"
Everyone’s gaze shifts to Pearl. She glances around, then confidently chooses.
"I’ll take the next ticket."
Her name appears on the itinerary screen, marked "Completed." Tate remains quiet.
Lyly, dissatisfied, speaks up.
"That’s a waste! You could have removed someone such as him!"
"That’s her choice."
"What are you defending him? You keep protecting that worthless man!"
"NO!"
Karen waves her hands in immediate denial. Tate intervenes, calming the tension.
"It is her decision. Next time, you can make yours if you have the platinum card."
"Ok, fine. Next round, I’ll be first and I’m kicking him off."*
Tom scoffs, eyes narrowing.
"Watch your mouth, brat. You might be the next one to die."
Lyly glares, but bites back her anger. The computer announces.
"The bus will arrive at the next stop at 12:55 PM. Destination: Vietnam-Korea Institute of Science and Technology (VKIST). Lunch will be prepared upon arrival. Enjoy your journey.”
ns216.73.217.39da2
and then Add to home screen.