Burnt and Hidden Marks: The Final Inferno
[C#1 Newsroom (Night)]
The anchor was delivering the news.
Anchor: This is a special news bulletin. A wildfire in Inju City, Gangwon Province, is raging out of control. We'll now connect with our reporter on the scene. Reporter Lee Jung-soo!
Reporter: Yes, this is Inju City, Gangwon Province.
[C#2 News Footage]
Clips depicting the disaster situation flashed by as the reporter's voice continued over them.
The disaster report aired live. The flames, fueled by fierce winds, showed no signs of dying down. Instead, the fire rapidly expanded, eventually reaching nearby residential areas. "Hurry, hurry!" Firefighters worked desperately to evacuate civilians and contain the blaze, their hearts growing heavier by the minute.
Reporter (V.O.): As of now, there are an estimated 6 fatalities and 37 injuries, though exact numbers are still pending...
It was the same with any accident scene. Material losses were inevitable, but the hope was always for zero loss of life. Yet the reports of deaths and injuries already confirmed burned deeper than the fire itself—blacker than the scorched earth before their eyes. And that was only "as of now." God forbid those numbers climb higher...
Please stop here. Please.
Deep in the mountains under the jurisdiction of the Northern Fire Station, where the wildfire still raged, people clung to life, desperately awaiting rescue. But the disaster's scale was immense, and reinforcements from across the nation hadn't fully arrived. With time and manpower short, they faced the agonizing task of dispatching a team to save those survivors.
The fire chief pondered deeply, but time pressed for a swift decision.
That's when it came.
"We'll go!"
A voice rang out without hesitation. Lee Geon-woo, and... his reliable comrades. Won Jong-su. Moon Hee-yeon.
They stood ready.
* * *
In 2020, when Woojin was in his original timeline, there existed a specialized unit under the Forest Service called the Wildfire Disaster Special Suppression Team, far more equipped for forest fires and disasters than regular firefighters. In massive blazes like this, where emergency orders were issued, the National Fire Agency and Forest Service collaborated.
But in 2012, the film's setting, no such unit existed yet. Which meant only National Fire Agency firefighters could enter the depths of Yunmae Mountain.
And with a minimal team.
Thud-thud-thud-thud!
Lee Geon-woo, Won Jong-su, Moon Hee-yeon. The firefighting helicopter carrying the three drew closer to the rescue site.
From the air, the wildfire was a spectacle beyond words—stinging the eyes even from afar.
"It looks even worse from up here... Think anything could survive that?"
Moon Hee-yeon muttered, mouth agape.
"Hey, Moon Hee-yeon! You gonna say that crap right now?!"
Her quiet mumble carried clearly through the headsets, prompting Won Jong-su to bark.
It was a wake-up call that sharpened their focus—a reminder of "There are still people in there. Firefighters exist to save lives. Nothing's more important than that! Got it?!" The sharp words that had snapped Woojin awake from his virtual failures and fears echoed in his mind.
"S-Sorry!"
Moon Hee-yeon flinched, bowing her head meekly.
Lee Geon-woo stepped in to ease the chill between them. They were comrades who would soon trust each other with their lives in the line of fire. No room for frozen tensions.
"Jong-su."
Hoo. Won Jong-su sighed and turned away.
"Hee-yeon, I know you didn't mean it like that. Chin up."
"...Yes."
Lee Geon-woo patted her shoulder with a gentle voice.
"No matter the situation, we go in believing they're alive. That's who we are."
"Right."
"People get edgy when dark thoughts creep in, right Jong-su?"
Lee Geon-woo smiled, glancing between them.
"...Sorry for yelling."
"No, my apologies, sunbae."
Before big operations, nerves frayed over trivial things. Clashes happened, then melted away quickly.
As their brief exchange wrapped up, the helicopter reached the optimal descent point overhead.
Typically, they targeted the fire's head—deep ravines or sheer cliffs inaccessible on foot, as close as possible to the survivors.
"Me, then Jong-su, then Hee-yeon."
"Okay."
"Yes!"
They rappelled in order without delay.
Thud.
The three plunged fearlessly into the inferno.
"Which way?"
"Hold on."
The heat hit immediately. Panting roughly, Won Jong-su pulled out the topographic map.
200 meters below the drop point. That's where the spark of life flickered.
"Let's go!"
The real race against time began.
They dashed through the flames. Moon Hee-yeon blazed the trail, Lee Geon-woo and Won Jong-su following with rescue gear.
Just 200 meters, but treacherous fiery terrain slowed them.
Moments later.
"Over here—people!"
"That way!"
A desperate cry pierced the roar. They rushed toward it.
There were the five survivors they'd prayed to find alive. Covered in soot and burns, but no immediate life threats.
Cough, cough!
The survivors hacked violently; some were already limp. Lee Geon-woo and Won Jong-su quickly fitted masks over their faces.
If they could just retrace their steps to the waiting helicopter without incident...
Then, in that instant, "W-Wait a sec..."
A man, coughing desperately with a face of despair, approached Lee Geon-woo.
"M-My wife and daughter... they're still down below..."
"...?!"
"She felt chills suddenly, went back to the campsite first..."
He clutched Lee Geon-woo's hand, voice hoarse and broken.
"Please find my wife and daughter. I beg you. Please..."
He clung, sobbing.
Thud.
His heart sank.
* * *
In the tall chroma-key studio, Woojin took position on the mark.
"Ready."
His signal broke the silence. Director Ra nodded quietly.
"Shoot."
"Yes, Director."
Assistant Director Yeo Min-seok called out.
"Scene 76, take 1."
"Ready—action!"
Woojin's body sprang to life, drawing all eyes. The camera glided on rails behind him.
This was his solo stage.
I'll go. Jong-su, Hee-yeon—take the survivors and get out first!
In the extreme crisis, he couldn't evacuate five exhausted souls alone. At least two were needed.
Without hesitation, Lee Geon-woo sent Won Jong-su and Moon Hee-yeon ahead, hurling himself deeper into the blaze.
Once they vanished from sight with the survivors—
Thump-thump!
Woojin's frantic footsteps echoed through the studio, tense and urgent, mirroring his character's desperation.
From the cut, his subtext—unspoken inner thoughts of 'Father...'—echoed that single word.
Twenty years ago (in Woojin's original life). Had his father felt this when he charged into the burning house at his grandmother's wail of "Our grandson's still inside!"?
Woojin reached out toward that unimaginable resolve. Through this scene.
The main camera's close-up filled the monitor.
Drip.
A natural tear fell from Woojin's gritted teeth as he ran.
"Wha—tears..."
Yeo Min-seok swallowed hard.
Director Ra reacted the same.
"...Keep rolling."
On screen, Woojin was a storm of uncontrollable emotion. His sobbing run was so raw—
"......"
Cast, crew, even extras held their breath.
Minimal setup—just dry ice fog in a green void. Yet one firefighter's desperate bid to save a woman and baby moved everyone to tears.
Woojin's expressions and movements exploded with Lee Geon-woo's presence, dominating the studio.
To think a twenty-seven-year-old actor could delve this deep...
Yeo Min-seok gaped at the monitor, awestruck.
Director Ra, knowing why Woojin's emotions ran so profound, clenched his fist silently.
As Woojin reached the studio center—
A human shape emerged through the flames ahead. A woman collapsed face-down.
"Open your eyes! Hey!"
Desperate plea. But...
"......"
No response. Eyes shut, no breath. CPR yielded no pulse.
"Damn it..."
Despair, defeat, helplessness. He couldn't fulfill the husband's plea. The grief awaiting that man...
Tears streamed endlessly from Woojin's knowing eyes.
No time to grieve. At least save the child.
Crunch.
Something snagged his foot. Hidden under leaves by her body—a plank.
Beneath it, a tightly wrapped bundle.
Woojin cradled it carefully. Unwrapping revealed the motionless baby, eyes closed.
Please!
He laid the infant on the plank gently.
Hoo.
Breathed into the tiny mouth—
Press-press.
Thumbs compressing the chest.
Please... you have to live, baby. Please!
Sweat and tears poured like rain.
I don't care if I die—just save the baby.
Lee Geon-woo's wish. Baek Woojin's heart.
A teardrop traced Woojin's jaw to the baby's cheek.
That moment—
Waaah!
The longed-for cry rang out.
"Thank you, thank you. Hic..."
Woojin clutched the baby, sobbing freely.
"Whoa..."
All watchers were speechless.
Three cameras captured the long take flawlessly. His explosive presence filled every second, solo, aidless.
Silence reigned, breaths held.
Hic.
Woojin rose, hoisting the woman on his back, baby in arms.
He ran back the way he'd come.
The main camera pursued on rails.
"Cut!"
As Woojin hit the studio end, Director Ra's crisp call shattered the suffocating hush.
Clap-clap-clap-clap-clap!
Thunderous applause hailed the actor's pinnacle performance.
Amid it, ...Father. Woojin's inner echo lingered.
The enduring aftertaste whispered: his layered understanding of his father was finally complete.