6. Eternal Darkness (3) adios, soida

Dr. Hee-jae, this is Kate. I remember your presentation from long ago. You spoke about the necessity of artificial hibernation as a means to postpone life. I believe that your dream will save you, and perhaps, it could save many others too. The items you requested will be delivered by tomorrow. There was something I omitted in my previous email. I wish you health and safety. Thank you. From Kate at Valkama Research Foundation.

Feeling as if someone had straightened out my plummeting spirits, I hoped all my suspicions about them wanting to kill me were just misunderstandings. Though I was still confused about what to believe, Kate's last email seemed genuinely sincere.

***

There was something I wanted to do for Do-hyeon. I took out the teleporter and followed the clinking sounds to the kitchen. Do-hyeon was mixing milk with cereal and offered me a spoonful saying, "Try this." I took it from him and showed him the teleporter in my other hand.

"Do-hyeon, let's go to your hometown with this."

"My hometown isn't a place you can go with a teleporter."

He took the teleporter from me and placed a spoon in my empty hand.

"Then, let's go somewhere similar to your hometown. I think I know such a place."

I wanted to show him Celluabay, the place I saw in a documentary.

"No. I don't want to add to your misfortune. Using the teleporter could lead to something bad, you said."

"It's okay. I'm desperate enough to handle it all."

Do-hyeon grabbed my hand, placed it over his head, nodded, and watched me as I finished the bowl of cereal. Then, I activated the teleporter.

I felt a vibration from Do-hyeon.

"Do-hyeon, something came in on your phone."

My gaze was fixed on the teleporter's screen which read 'adios.'

"A message?"

After checking his phone, he put it away as if it was nothing.

"I want to ask the person who made this why it says goodbye as soon as you turn it on. Adios."

"That might not be a goodbye."

Suddenly, Do-hyeon said that. I stopped placing my finger on the teleporter and turned to look at him.

"What do you mean?"

"If you reverse adios, it becomes soida, which means 'to ring' in Finnish. When the teleporter turns on, it probably means an alarm rings somewhere. The person who made this made a mistake."

"Wait, Finnish?"

I was surprised and asked.

"Yes, Finnish. As in the language spoken in Finland."

A thought struck me. I remembered what Thompson had said at Sun-woo's university. Finish the darkness. Could it mean not to end darkness but that he simply went to Finland, a country of eternal night during winter? Sun-woo didn't go to end darkness; he just went to Finland during its winter.

"I think I know where Sun-woo is."

The address for the stopover point was stored in my phone.

Do-hyeon grabbed my arm. I had the teleporter out, heading to the kitchen, following the sound of Do-hyeon preparing cereal. He offered me a spoonful, "Try this," and I showed him the teleporter in my other hand.

"Do-hyeon, let's use this to visit your hometown together."

"My hometown can't be reached with a teleporter."

He took the teleporter, handing me a spoon instead.

"Then, let's visit a place similar to your hometown. I think I know just the spot."

I had hoped to show him Seluabay, as seen in a documentary.

"No, I don't want to bring you any misfortune. Remember, using the teleporter could lead to trouble," he cautioned.

"It's alright. I'm desperate enough to handle whatever comes."

Do-hyeon gently pulled me closer, indicating it was time to leave, after ensuring I finished the cereal. I then activated the teleporter.

Suddenly, Do-hyeon's phone vibrated.

"Do-hyeon, you've got something on your phone," I observed, focusing on the teleporter's screen displaying 'adios.'

"A message?"

He checked his phone briefly and then pocketed it as if it were nothing significant.

"I want to ask the creator why it immediately says goodbye upon activation. Adios."

"That might not actually mean 'goodbye.'"

Do-hyeon speculated unexpectedly. I paused, turning to him with curiosity.

"What else could it mean?"

"If you reverse 'adios', you get 'soida', which in Finnish means 'to ring.' Perhaps the teleporter indicates that an alarm is triggered somewhere upon activation. It seems the creator made an unintentional error."

"Wait, Finnish?"

The mention of Finnish intrigued me.

"Yes. Finnish, as in the language from Finland."

An idea sparked in my mind. I remembered Thompson's words at Sun-woo's college about "finish the darkness." Could it not mean ending darkness, but rather, heading to Finland, known for its endless night during winter? Sun-woo might not have been trying to end darkness but simply went to Finland during its wintry season.

"I think I might know where Sun-woo is."

The stopover point's address was saved on my phone.

***

Do-hyeon held onto my arm. Prepared to leave, I had the teleporter ready, following Do-hyeon's offer of cereal. "Try this," he said, handing me a spoon, while I presented the teleporter in my other hand.

"Do-hyeon, let's use this to go to your hometown," I suggested.

"My hometown isn't accessible via a teleporter," he clarified, exchanging the teleporter for a spoon.

"How about we go somewhere reminiscent of your hometown? I believe I know the perfect place."

I was eager to show him Seluabay, remembered from a documentary.

"No, I don't want to add any trouble to you. Remember what you said about the teleporter causing problems," he reminded me.

"It's okay. I'm ready to face whatever comes with enough desperation," I assured him.

Do-hyeon nodded, signaling readiness to embark, after making sure I finished the cereal. Then, I activated the teleporter.

His phone vibrated suddenly.

"Do-hyeon, you received something on your phone," I noticed, focusing on the 'adios' displayed by the teleporter's screen.

"A message?"

He briefly checked his phone, then dismissed it as trivial.

"I wish to ask the creator why it immediately bids farewell upon activation. Adios."

"That farewell might not actually mean goodbye," Do-hyeon conjectured unexpectedly. I halted, intrigued, and faced him.

"What else could it be?"

"Reversing 'adios' gives 'soida', which in Finnish means 'to ring.' It implies that upon the teleporter's activation, an alarm might sound somewhere. It appears to be an oversight by the creator," he explained.

"Finnish?" I inquired, surprised.

"Yes, Finnish, as in the language spoken in Finland," he confirmed.

A thought illuminated my mind. Thompson's remarks at Sun-woo's university about "finishing the darkness" came back to me. Could it not mean to end the darkness but rather indicate heading to Finland, known for its perpetual night in winter? Sun-woo didn't depart to end darkness; he simply ventured to Finland during its wintry period.

"I believe I might know Sun-woo's whereabouts."

The address for the stopover point was securely stored on my phone.