• ᴛʜʀᴇᴇ •

...🅃🄰🄴-🄷🅈🅄🄽🄶...

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The discordant sounds grew more distinct as I neared a classroom labeled Grade 8.

I slowed my pace, attempting to look casual as I peered through the door's window.

Inside, a group of students had formed a tight, erratic circle.

They all had their backs turned to me, their shoulders twitching in a way that felt fundamentally wrong.

An oppressive atmosphere hung over the room, accompanied by a sickening, metallic stench that hit my nostrils like a physical blow.

I wrinkled my nose in disgust and stepped inside.

"Hey, what are you doing?" I called out, my voice wavering.

The figures turned in unison.

My heart plummeted into my stomach the moment I saw their faces.

They weren't human. They weren't animals. They weren't ghosts or victims of some recognizable disease.

They were Zombies.

Staring at those gore—stained faces, only one thought flashed through my mind: Train to Busan.

The movie I had watched years ago suddenly became a survival manual.

Instinct took over; I bolted from the room.

I ran with every ounce of strength I possessed, but even though the creatures moved with a disjointed, limping gait, they were relentless.

I skidded to a halt as I rounded a corner.

More of them.

My escape route was effectively sealed—a pack of monsters ahead of me and the original group closing in from behind.

My eyes widened as they lunged, their jagged teeth snapping for my flesh.

In a moment of desperation, I spotted a baseball bat leaning against a nearby locker.

I snatched it up, swinging wildly to clear a path, and sprinted toward the infirmary.

I slammed the pharmacy door shut the moment I crossed the threshold, gasping for air as I tried to settle my racing pulse.

After I managed to explain the situation, I realized that only Jung-Kook truly understood the gravity of the reference.

He knew exactly what a Train to Busan scenario meant for our survival.

As Jung-Kook turned to speak to Jack-Son, the door behind me groaned and buckled.

A massive force splintered the wood, and I was thrown forward, crawling frantically across the floor as grunts and guttural snarls filled the room.

A zombie loomed over me, inches from a lethal bite, when a hand gripped my collar and hauled me up.

Jung-Kook.

He pushed the entire group into the inner medicine storage room, slamming the heavy door and locking it tight.

My adrenaline—fueled instincts took over, and I pulled him into a fierce, desperate hug.

I wanted to break down, but I knew I had to remain the anchor.

He hugged me back, his voice steady despite the chaos outside. "We will survive, we will not die. Like the protagonists in Train to Busan, we will fight back."

I nodded, focusing entirely on his voice.

I was just grateful he was alright. Alive. With me.

I vowed then to save myself, him, and everyone else.

I would give everything I had.

"What should we do now?" Hyung-Sik asked.

I stepped back from Jung-Kook, looking at my friends.

Everyone was terrified, clinging to one another for strength.

Bo-Young and Jim-In were sobbing openly, and while Ho-Seok looked to be on the verge of a breakdown, Jack-Son held him close, whispering words of encouragement.

We shared our fears and our resolve in that cramped room.

"We will try our best," Jung-Kook repeated, patting my shoulder reassuringly.

...​◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤...

...🄰🅄🅃🄷🄾🅁...

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The woman hurried through the sterile corridors of the lab, a silk scarf pulled high to mask her face.

She slipped into a restricted cabin, her eyes scanning the desk until she found the documents she was looking for.

She snatched a heavy envelope from the drawer and pulled out the contents, spreading the papers across the table to photograph them with her phone.

As she read the technical data, her heart sank.

Her hands grew numb, and the pages fluttered to the floor as the weight of the revelation shattered her soul.

She wept, the bitterness of betrayal stinging worse than any physical wound.

She had loved Lee Min-Ho, trusted him, only to realize she had been a pawn in his global gambit.

He had fed her nothing but lies.

She retrieved the fallen papers and stared at the heading:

𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Chemical Compound OC (Octane Concentration)

OC is a volatile agent designed to manipulate cellular division within a living host. Upon contact—via mucous membranes or direct bloodstream entry—the chemical spreads exponentially. OC targets the nervous system, systematically dismantling the brain's control centers. Both the conscious and subconscious minds are forced into a state of permanent dormancy, which cannot be reversed unless the chemical is entirely neutralized within the cells. The transformation occurs within minutes, and in some cases, seconds, turning a human into a predatory organism with no biological expiration date. OC is a prohibited substance; it is a deadly catalyst that awakens the primal 'monster' hidden within brain architecture.

— Lee Min-Ho

The name at the bottom of the page made her feel physically ill.

Min-Ho, the man she had championed, had used her to facilitate a massacre.

She had helped him, believing his work was for the greater good, only to realize she had helped birth a disaster. And in the end, his victory was hollow.

The world was on the brink of collapse.

Wiping her eyes, she stuffed the papers into her bag and sneaked out of the massive facility.

She walked through a deserted marketplace, the silence of the city eerie and unnatural.

She was desperate to make amends for her role in this tragedy.

"By hook or by crook, I will haunt you, Min-Ho," she hissed through gritted teeth.

In her haste, she collided with an elderly woman.

The stranger fell hard, appearing unconscious.

The lady immediately knelt to help her up, offering a frantic apology.

She held the woman’s arm to help her across the street, but suddenly, the elder's eyes shifted to a sickening, milky red.

Before the lady could process the change, the woman lunged for her arm.

She recoiled just in time. "Grr... urrr..."

The growls coming from the old woman were inhuman.

The realization hit her like a lightning bolt. "So, she's a zombie too."

She noticed a bite mark on the woman's shoulder, where blood—a dark, necrotic shade of red—was oozing down her arm.

The lady turned and ran, her breath coming in short, panicked bursts.

She ducked into a small shop to hide, but the sound of her labored breathing drew more of the living dead from the shadows.

They limped toward her, their joints popping.

She fled once more, her mind set on a single destination. "Min-Ho, I will not let this slip. I know how to fix this."

She ran toward the one man who held the key.

Toward Min-Ho.

...​◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤...

"The CCTV footage is useless! The subject escaped through an open window!" Min-Ho screamed, his office in a state of total disarray.

He hurled a chair across the room, watching it shatter against the floor as he vented his frustration on the furniture. "I told her to secure him, and she tied those knots so loosely he just walked out!"

"Boss, someone is here to see you," a secretary announced, peering tentatively into the room.

"Let them in," Min-Ho snapped.

A moment later, So-Yeon entered.

Min-Ho didn't hesitate; he stormed toward her, his hand flying out to grab her hair.

He slammed her head back against the wall. "Fucking bitch! I shouldn't have trusted you with this!"

He growled, slamming her back again.

A thin trail of blood began to seep from her hairline, disappearing into her collar.

"Min-Ho, you cheater..." So-Yeon screamed, the pain fueling a sudden surge of strength.

She twisted his wrist, forcing him to release her, and shoved him hard enough that he fell back onto the floor.

"You betrayer! I helped you, and this is how you repay me?" She landed a sharp punch to his jaw.

"So-Yeon, stop it!" Min-Ho yelled.

She froze at the sound of her name coming from his mouth.

The anger collapsed into tears, and she backed away from him.

Min-Ho stood up, smoothing his clothes as he approached her. "So-Yeon, do you realize the magnitude of your mistake? You tied those knots too loose! He escaped, and now he’s roaming the streets turning everyone into monsters!"

So-Yeon’s tears intensified. "Min-Ho, you lied to me! You told me you were developing a vaccine for a new disease! I trusted you! I illegally procured the OC chemical for you without even knowing what it was! And now, the reaction is spreading... it’s a disaster!"

"Then what? It’s your fault he got away! If I had handled the restraints myself, we wouldn't be in this position! You are the reason for this catastrophe!" Min-Ho’s words were venomous, designed to crush her spirit.

"You bastard! Fine, blame me for the escape—but what about the why? Why are you turning people into monsters?"

"Because I want to!" Min-Ho declared, his eyes gleaming with a manic light.

"I want humanity to experience a deathless existence! I want people to live for a thousand years without the fear of dying!"

"Your 'crazy experiment' has destroyed Seoul, Min-Ho! People are biting and eating each other! They are zombies!"

"So what? Now they will live for decades. They can never truly die, So-Yeon," Min-Ho said, letting out a sinister, chilling laugh.

"Min-Ho... remember my words. I will save this city. I am the reason this happened, so I will be the one to solve it. I will help the survivors and expose you for what you are. Remember that I loved you." So-Yeon turned and walked out, her heart heavy with grief.

"Love, my foot! You’re just the crazy bitch who gave me the OC!" Min-Ho shouted after her.

So-Yeon wept as she exited the building.

He was right about one thing.

She was a criminal now.

She deserved punishment just as much as he did.

As she walked down the street, she passed an electronics shop where a news broadcast was playing on several screens:

What has happened to the city of Seoul? Our citizens are acting like predatory monsters, attacking anyone in sight. This city, which was blooming like a flower yesterday, is now a wasteland. The most devastating reports are coming from the 'Seoul International School.' Students are currently trapped in their classrooms. While some have been rescued, many remain inside as we have been forced to seize all entries and exits. These creatures possess unnatural strength, making it difficult for officers to enter, even in tactical gear. Several officers have already been turned. Who will save the future of our city? Students are contacting us via mobile phone while parents wait outside in agony. What is the cause of this outbreak?

Stay tuned...

So-Yeon’s heart shattered as the screen showed the distraught parents.

She began to run toward the school as fast as her legs would carry her.

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"Yes, yes! Please hurry, Officer! we can't stop the zombies anymore!" Hyung-Sik shouted into his phone.

They were fortunate that their signal was still holding, allowing them to maintain contact with the authorities.

They had sent photos of their location to the police, but the rescue teams were being pushed back by the sheer number of infected in the corridors.

"I think they’re gone. I don't hear anything," Ji-Eun whispered, pressing her ear against the storage room door.

Silence.

"There’s no sound at all. Should we check?"

"Joong-Ki and I will go," Tae-Hyung decided. "Everyone else stay back until we give the signal."

Tae-Hyung gripped the knob and slowly, silently, eased the door open.

He peered into the pharmacy. "It’s clear," he whispered, giving the group a thumbs-up.

They emerged into the main room, the sound of their own footsteps making them jumpy.

They stepped out into the corridor.

It was hauntingly quiet.

"Maybe they left?" Ho-Seok whispered, hopeful.

"Don't count on it. They’re still here somewhere," Jung-Kook warned.

He reached out and squeezed Tae-Hyung’s hand. Bo-Young did the same, gripping Hyung-Sik’s bicep.

Every couple held tight to their partner; Jong-Suk took Ji-Eun’s hand firmly.

They moved in a cautious line.

Tae-Hyung→Jung-Kook→Bo-Young→Hyung-Sik→Yoon-Gi→Jim-In→Nam-Joon→Seok-Jin→Ji-Eun→Jong-Suk→Joong-Ki→Yeo-Been→Ho-Seok→Jack-Son.

They navigated the third floor and made it down to the second-floor landing.

Everything seemed abandoned.

Tae-Hyung led the way, his eyes darting toward every shadow.

"V Hyung, be careful," Jung-Kook whispered, terrified for him. But as the eldest, Tae-Hyung knew he had to lead.

They were halfway down the hall toward the next flight of stairs when Jim-In’s foot came down on a piece of broken glass.

A sharp crunch echoed through the hollow corridor.

Jim-In let out a pained cry.

The silence was shattered.

From behind them, the sound of shuffling feet and wet grunts erupted.

A pack of zombies was limping toward them.

"Go! Run!" Yoon-Gi shouted, grabbing Jim-In and helping him forward.

The group bolted, unaware that another group of infected was waiting for them at the base of the stairs.

Tae-Hyung skidded to a stop, and the rest of the group slammed into one another in a frantic pile-up.

They were trapped.

Zombies were closing in from the back, and a fresh wave was blocking the path ahead.

Chaos reigned, but amidst the terror, they tightened their grips.

Just as Tae-Hyung looked to Jung-Kook for hope, each of them held onto their partner, drawing strength from the only thing they had left—each other.

...​◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤...

...Tbc......

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