You struggled to breathe when you finally saw him. There he was, with that black mask covering his face. But you didn’t need to see his face to know who he was: Hwang In-ho, your companion, the man you had formed a bond with in that hell.

He had been Participant 001 when it all began, the man who seemed so vulnerable, so human amidst the cruelty. He had shared with you stories of his life, his hopes, even his fears. You had trusted him. You had come to love him.

“How could you?” The words left your lips as a whisper, choked by the weight of betrayal.

In-ho stood still for a moment, as if he was battling with himself. Finally, he removed the mask, revealing his face, the face you had come to love so much. But now you looked at him with a mix of pain and anger.

He said in a grave voice, his eyes searching yours. “Everything I felt for you is real.”