A heavy THUD! echoed in the dark.
Light flickered back.
The jacket gangster hit the floor hard, a sharp grunt tearing from his throat as Woori slid behind, dodging the hit.
The metal pipe clattered, on the ground right between Woori's legs.
Woori stumbled back, chest heaving, glass crunching under his shoes.
The jacket gangster growled, and went for another swing.
But before it could land, Woori instinctively kicked the gangster's wrist, cancelling the swing. Then he quickly stood up, turned around and ran.
He bolted through the shattered doorway, boots slamming against the metal floor. The wind roared against his face as he burst into the next compartment.
Passengers gasped and shrank back, parting instinctively to make way.
Their eyes wide, their bodies pressed against the seats and walls, whispering in shock.
Woori barely heard them. He just kept running, pushing aside the passengers in the way.
"Move! MOVE!" The jacket gangster shouted, shoving past as he struggled to keep up with Woori's pace..
The people flinched away, their fear rooted deeper than instinct.
Woori's breath broke into ragged gasps as he looked at them, their pale faces flickering under the dying lights.
A bitter thought flashed through his mind.
"Aren't any of you going to help me?!"
Woori's lungs burned.
Each breath scraped against his throat as he stumbled through the aisle.
He reached the end of the compartment and grabbed the next door, rattling the handle.
Click. Click.
It was locked.
He yanked harder, slamming his palm against the glass.
"Come on, come on!" he gasped.
But the latch didn't budge. The lights above flickered, buzzing faintly as the train swayed.
He turned, pressing his back against the cold doorframe.
His chest rose and fell, breath ragged, the sound of his heartbeat drumming in his ears.
Woori's eyes darted down the aisle.
The jacket gangster was there, stopping a few meters away, the faint hum of the train filling the space between them.
"Not bad," the gangster said.
He tilted his head slightly, eyes locked on Woori.
"You're a good runner."