Blackmail: The Path Ahead is Dark
"Ah, tch."
I blinked awake from sleep. I'd run around so much today that exhaustion had knocked me out right there in my seat. A few slaps to my cheeks finally cleared my head.
Time..
I pulled out my smartphone. It was 4:22 p.m. My head felt fuzzy from dozing off sitting up, which delayed me grasping my situation.
Right. I came to Rocket Mart.
Crack, pop. I stretched, checking my body. No injuries, nothing broken or wrong anywhere. But my head spun a little. The stale underground parking lot—twelve days after the apocalypse—felt oxygen-poor.
Still, I can make it to the Northdong Office like this.
Mana was full at 24 already. I'd left around lunchtime, so regen had topped it off. I cracked open a few canned goods from my bag, tossed the wooden plank, and grabbed the pry bar.
A pry bar in the parking lot, huh. It struck me as odd, but I decided to count my blessings. No more bashing zombie skulls till my hands hurt.
I stood, tidied up roughly, and prepped to leave. No reason to come back here anyway.
Creeeak. The door opened to an empty underground parking level 2.
Nothing.
Good—no raiders ambushing me while I slept, no hidden zombie horde, no surprise mutant attack I didn't know about.
Drip. I headed upstairs amid the sporadic water drops. Still quiet on level 1. Scanning around, I went back to the entrance I'd used.
Clank. I cleared the barricade carts and unlocked the door.
Creeeak.
Where..
A few zombies outside, but they'd lost interest completely. The ones pounding the door hours ago had wandered off.
No, there they are.
I quickly spotted where the hundreds had gone: clustered near the police box where I'd caused the explosion, groaning grrrraaah.
No need to stir them up.
Timing must've been bad earlier—zombies converging when I moved, spotting and charging at the noise. But with me gone and only the blast and fire sounds echoing in the silent city, they'd all swarmed there.
I slipped out carefully, dashed straight down the intersection this time, then climbed the downhill wall. Even with zombies gone, one popping from a blind spot behind a car or building could repeat the mart entry fiasco.
That way, I traversed the upper intersection via the wall and returned to the rear mountain trail out of the city center.
Thud, thud.
Hoo...
Dirt underfoot, I checked my phone. 4:58 p.m. Nearly five.
Tough call.
At the trailhead, I pondered. Heading to Northdong Office now, no way to check the mart today.
Even dragging Jeong Suhyun along..
Six or seven, it'd start darkening.
No guarantee I can clear the mart before sunset.
Realistically, sorting Rocket Mart would take hours. Exploring its dark guts after dark? Suicide.
So, postpone till tomorrow. Zombies cleared from villa and trail ages ago—no awkward cohabitation with Jeong Suhyun; better rest and head out early.
Thud, thud. Decision made, I turned toward Happiness Villa.
The next morning, 9:12 a.m. Minimal gear and pry bar, I left the villa.
Ugh..
Shaking off the nauseating corpse stench, I took the rear mountain path to Northdong Office. Same route as yesterday. Still no zombies; the city below remained a wasteland.
Northdong Office back gate.
Ugh.
Lighter load made vaulting easier, but wall-climbing since high school still sucked. Chest tight, I slipped through the back door I'd used yesterday.
Creeeak.
Office interior unchanged. Up the stairs to the fourth floor for Jeong Suhyun.
"Jeong Suhyun."
Knock knock knock.
Passing empty rooms, at the last one, I called.
"Jeong Suhyun?"
No answer. Past nine—still asleep? Or killed himself? After yesterday's talk, possible.
Bang! Pry bar in hand, just in case, I busted open his door.
Empty, thankfully. Then, tired voice behind me.
"...Kim Junyoung?"
"..Ah."
Jeong Suhyun stood there in light clothes, damp hair—morning wash.
I sighed inwardly with relief, eyeing him. He stared back, puzzled.
"Why the yelling this early? What's up now?"
"Thought you'd offed yourself."
"Why would I? If I wanted to die, I'd have done it before."
He chuckled dryly, tapping his head like 'Nah?' This guy swung wild—yesterday suicidal, today chipper. I sighed, flopping on the sofa.
Hoo...
He grabbed his outerwear, asking.
"So, why're you here? Didn't you say Rocket Mart yesterday?"
"Yeah, about that."
I explained leaving, the explosion, Rocket Mart events, no signs of life, something suspicious inside.
"...No people? Can't be..."
"What I saw wasn't zombies or people."
"Serious."
His face darkened. Dude should be thrilled the Northdong Liberation Army scum vanished.
"Sh-shouldn't you be happy those Northdong Liberation Army bastards are gone?"
I eyed him suspiciously. He waved it off.
"...No, not that. If armed teens all died there..."
"What?"
"Means something tough for civilians lurks."
True.
"And captives they dragged there? All dead too."
Also true.
"Too bad. Nothing we can do."
Wrong. I twirled the pry bar.
"Why nothing?"
"Kim Junyoung?"
Uneasy eyes.
"Why else come here?"
I smirked—you know. His face fell; he got it, sighed.
"I said I can't last time. Scared."
"They're all dead."
"How do you know? Could be lying. Anyway, no go. Hate zombies, people—something worse? Hell no."
He plopped on the sofa, repulsed. Real fear, then. Fine.
"Can't be helped."
"Yeah, head back then..."
"Ice Spear."
"......"
I summoned one by his head. He froze, chilled, eyes aggrieved.
I grinned.
"Die? Or come?"
"...This your true colors?"
"Yep."
"...And if I refuse?"
"Tragic accident happens?"
Of course, if he called my bluff, problem. I'd killed zombies, resolved to kill people—but actually doing it? Hesitation. But he didn't seem the type.
Haa... Deep sigh.
He'd killed three already—risky companion. But his behavior so far? No direct threat.
"....Fine. No choice. What now?"
"Good. Pack and to the mart."
"......"
Classic bully-the-weak type, hardcore self-preservationist. No open rebellion risking his neck.
As expected, minimal fight.
Hoo... He packed from his room. I watched briefly, then sprawled on the sofa, staring at the ceiling. Annoying now.
Suicide? Could cause a scene outside. Or whip around and shoot. But obsessing over this same-age guy—not even a chick—sucked. Suspecting people tired me. Overthinking him tired me. Ashes Veil had my back anyway.
Soon, packed Jeong Suhyun approached blankly.
Clack.
"All set."
But his load made me grimace. Ridiculous.
"...Vacation?"
Huge travel bag on his back—three times mine, stuffed who-knows-what.
"And that?"
Waist draped in box mags, clinking with every step.
No army marches like that...
"Prep thoroughly, right?"
Defiant. He proudly showed off, resolute.
"Zombies anywhere, anytime. Plenty ammo."
Clack. Belt of mags.
"Week's rations. Isolation risk. Water, emergency tent too."
Bulging bag.
"Meds, soap, wipes—all packed. How's that?"
Proud, chest-thumping grin.
"....."
I shut my mouth. This guy—murder shock, hate going out? Bull. Just wanted an excuse outside.
Sigh, I stood.
To his proud stare:
"Whatever—dump everything from the bag."