The stranded SRC Flatliner is somewhat lopsided as Seokga, Kisa, and Somi reappear on the tenth deck. He glimpses his fallen sword and snatches it up, reverting it to a cane and leaning heavily on it, glad to once again have the support for his right leg. Yeomra has gone to the seven hells to imprison Jang and free Soo-min (offering her a reincarnation deal in exchange for her suffering). The death god is also sending out a team of reapers to find the lost soul of the murdered Captain Lee.

“Hajun!” Somi gasps in worry, and hurries with a panicked desperation across the slanted deck toward the door. She only falls twice in her haste before she disappears.

Kisa laughs softly beside him, and he turns to her, memorizing her blue-flushed cheeks and shy smile. “I mean it, you know,” she whispers, and when she reaches up to gently brush a strand of his wet hair from his eyes, Seokga thinks he just might die. “I know the answer to the Ship of Theseus question now, Seokga, and I…I was wrong before. I love you because for my soul, loving you is like breathing. It’s all it knows how to do. It’s all it wants to do, and it’s dangerous, almost…I would plunge into hell’s river for you…I would face the Mad God for you. Because I love you, Seokga. In this life and the last.”

“Kisa…” He fumbles for words, but he cannot catch any. There are no words in any language that can adequately describe what he feels for her, what it means for him to hear her say that. As if taking pity on his struggles, the red thread glows before sending a rainbow of emotions sparkling down its length toward Kisa, whose eyes widen. Blue, red, yellow, pink, purple, green…All in varying shades, all beautiful. All breathtaking.

“I know,” she breathes, “I know.” And then she is kissing him, running her hands through his hair, pressing her body against his. Her lips are so sweet against his, and when her nose bumps against his Seokga wonders if he has found in Kisa a religion outside of his own to worship.

Hwanin screams as his small hands reach for Seokga in the sick bay, where the medicine cabinets are completely strewn across the floor and the lightbulbs flicker haphazardly above. Seokga feels like screaming himself as Hwanin wipes his snotty nose all over his bare chest, but finds himself cradling his brother close, an unspeakably soft emotion rising up in his throat and choking him. Hwanin screams and screams, as if enraged with Seokga for leaving him.

“I’m sorry,” whispers Seokga, and he’s apologizing for so much more than the baby understands. “I won’t leave you again.” Hwanin looks up at him with teary, watery blue eyes and reluctantly falls silent before closing his eyes and sinking into an exhausted doze.