The service stairwell was narrow and dark and smelled like old paint, exactly like Jin remembered.
The emergency lights were on, little red bulbs over every landing that turned the concrete the color of rust. There was only room for two people side by side, so they went down in a long line, one after another, hands on the railing, trying not to make any noise. Every footstep echoed. Every breath sounded too loud.
Jin went first. He had the kitchen knife in his hand and nothing else.
Behind him, he could hear the line stretching back up the stairs. Seul right behind him. Joon behind her. Echo and Eun-bi somewhere in the middle, with Soo-yeon's little flame bobbing along near them like a candle. Jae-gyu all the way at the back, his heavy steel footsteps thudding on every step.
Nobody talked.
