Northhyang General Hospital (1)
March 23rd, early dawn. I dragged my stiff body and packed my gear. A smartphone for the flashlight, my pry bar, and some food and water.
"...I'm off."
"Got it."
There had been no issues for the past three days. With Jeong Suhyun and Kim Jungshik leading the way, Our Love Church was running smoothly. The black guys hadn't shown up either. Looked like they'd backed off after losing their two surveillance users.
"I'll be back by tonight. Or maybe later."
"Understood."
I exchanged brief nods with Jeong Suhyun, who was on night watch on the second floor, and set out. They'd handle things fine on their own now—I had my own goals to chase.
Creak.
Thud.
I made eye contact with Jeong Dojin on watch at the back door, slipped out of the church carefully.
Clack, clack.
From there, I headed slowly down toward the luxury villa complexes. The quiet city echoed only with my footsteps. The gray dawn sky cast a depressive pall over the upscale neighborhood.
'So that's where those bastards are.'
But no humans in sight. Lights were out everywhere except Our Love Church, and even the lit spots showed no shadows inside.
'Good enough.'
I'd planned to kill them on sight if they showed during those three days, but oh well. Guess they didn't wanna die either. Still, if I caught them, they shouldn't expect an easy death—they'd wasted three days of my time.
With that, I slowly made my way toward the old downtown.
'Same as always.'
The old downtown appeared, divided from the rich area like a clear line. Still packed with dark red flesh masses.
'No raids either.'
No signs of life inside at all. The cityscape, with the flesh wriggling indifferently as if I didn't exist, felt like a silent hell.
'Hoo...'
I took a deep breath. Today's goal: figure out what those blood clump zombies really were. Targets as planned: the general hospital and the two schools. First up, the closest hospital.
Squelch.
Tsk.
I trudged through the dark red flesh masses that never got easier to stomach. But after a couple back-and-forths, I could spot the hospital easily despite the coverage.
Squelch.
It was a familiar place even before the apocalypse, and no raids had hit it yet.
'Here we are.'
[Northhyang General Hospital]
I stood before the hospital. Flesh piled especially thick here. The exterior, blanketed like human skin, was grotesquely horrific. I'd passed by once before and hoped I'd never have to come.
'Ended up here anyway.'
Thud.
Still, I had to go in. Time was short for me—and for all of us.
Squish.
"Ngh..."
Flesh burst against my skin as I vaulted the main gate. Too bad it was locked; had to use my body from the start.
'Gonna have to ditch these clothes.'
Thump.
Clang, clang.
After shaking off my body, the first thing in view was the hospital parking lot. The green emergency room entrance and the main gate on the right barely poked through the flesh.
I paused at the sight. If Jeong Suhyun were here, he'd have bitched about burning it all down for a dozen reasons. It looked straight out of a horror flick.
"Hah..."
A dry laugh escaped. Not would have—he definitely would. He'd pushed to torch Rocket Mart the second it felt off.
I considered it for a sec but shook my head. I'd lucked into the seventh remnant back then, but this time I had a purpose. Plus, no open flames near hospitals—no gas stations, not even EV chargers. Couldn't burn it like last time even if I wanted to.
'Wish I'd picked Fireball.'
Next skill up, something fire-related would be nice. Fire always had the answers.
'Whatever.'
Can't use what I don't have. I shook it off and pried the main gate open with my bar.
Plop, plop.
Falling chunks of dark red flesh. Sticky blood pooled on the floor as I reached for the handle.
Click.
Locked. Same drill at the ER—every door sealed. Upper windows seemed open, but with multiple entrances, couldn't rule out anything inside.
High chance...
'They barricaded after the fall and holed up.'
24/7 access for a general hospital and ER, so only explanation for locks.
"Ice Spear."
I summoned spears naturally, backing up. If it won't open, make it open—my power turned impossibles real.
Whoosh.
Two spears formed beside my head and shot forward.
Bang! Bang!
Shatter!
ER door exploded in one hit. Silence followed the racket. Peering in, pitch black despite dawn—lights all out.
'Hoo...'
Rustle.
I flicked on my phone flashlight, easing into Northhyang Hospital to scout the ER and first floor.
Dead quiet inside. No surrounding flesh or corpses—just occasional bloodstained, dried footprints.
'Zombie outbreak for sure...'
But enough to guess something went down. ER bed curtains bore old, blackened bloodstains.
'Barricade traces.'
Door to main building showed barricade remnants—smashed desks, cots. Patients and staff held off zombies till overrun. Handprints and footprints screamed desperation.
'Tragic.'
But not what I wanted. Needed bones, blood clump zombies, or a new ruin remnant. Zombies avoided flesh, so probably none—but ER first floor empty anyway.
'Blood's fresh-ish, weird.'
Squelch.
Sticky blood meant recent activity. Something remnant-like dragged people in, did something.
'...Why move them?'
Hospital vast; maybe territories. ER as temp holding for prey, then dragged deeper to eat.
Bang!
I cleared the ER barricade—debris blocked paths without noise.
Thud.
'Nothing here either?'
Quick to pre-fall reception—first-floor admin. Same as ER: traces only. No corpses, flesh, bones. Just vanished people, bloodstains aside.
Whole first floor like that. Offices, admin, ultrasound, X-ray, MRI, general clinic—event signs, no spawns.
I sighed.
'Too deliberate.'
Like hiding from someone. Checked ceilings, storerooms, blind spots—nothing. Thorough against ambushes or watchers, yet spotless, like nothing wrong.
'That's why I'm right to come.'
I grimaced. First time here, but not first flesh spot. Pre-Northdong Station, that small supermarket...
'Flesh and bones inside.'
Exterior flesh long infested interior; four skeletons left. But Northhyang: exterior infested, interior unnaturally clean. Like screaming "all good."
'Crude intelligence. Childlike, beastly.'
Assuming they avoided me, I pieced it together. Confirmed on second floor.
Thud.
Second-floor department hall...
'...!'
Whoosh.
Stepped in—something flew at my face. I twisted, fired Ice Spear instantly.
Bang!
Splatter!
Concrete crunch, water balloon pop. Hit something, but no relaxing.
'...That's...'
Far down hall, wriggling thing visible.
"Ice Shield."
Summoned behind me first.
Crack.
Shield shattered sound, sized to hall instantly. Rear secure.
"Ice Spear. Ice Spear."
Four spears around me: two overhead ready, two aimed ahead.
'Four doors maybe.'
Midway doors; advanced slowly, bar ready. Shields and spears auto-respond.
ENT, pediatrics, endocrinology—checking doors, nearing downed thing.
Gurgle.
At 5m: phlegm rattle from wriggler.
Thud thud thud thud thud.
Hall end: ceiling crawlers, countless horrors.
Crack crack crack.
Goosebumps like giant roaches.
'Fuck.'
Whoosh.
Bang!
Four spears exploded on ceiling.
Splat.
Dozen dropped. But ceiling-full horde kept coming.
"Ice Shield."
Crack crack.
Bang!
Shield forward block.
Thud!
Crack!
Thump!
Horde slamming shield.
Crack crack.
I shoved forward shield relentlessly.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
Endless impacts echoed.
Grrrrrind.
Shield pushed to end undeterred.
Hit wall...
Sizzle crackle.
Flesh-bone crush; motion stopped.
'Hoo.'
Scanned all around. Might be stragglers.
'Clear.'
Reason they hadn't attacked sooner: intelligence. Distinguish threats like wild beasts—weak to strong, strong to weak. Invade turf, they strike.
'Definitely remnant.'
Too smart for zombie mutations.
Thump!
Bang!
Shield to nearby stairwell. Dropped down.
'Looked it from the start.'
Inspected crushed ones. Most mangled, but shapes clear.
Squish.
Blood clump zombies. First sight, name fit perfect.
All skin flayed, body pure clumps. Faces human: eyes, nose, mouth. Bald, bloodshot eyes, five 1m tentacles from mouth. Arms twisted, legs half-degenerated to four limbs.
Matched Lee Euna's Northdong Station description.
Clink.
Summary: six-limbed freak with five mouth tentacles.
Squelch.
Tsk.
Lifted shattered head. Tentacle tips: dense fangs like predator teeth, flesh scraps stuck—use obvious.
'Made those skeletons with these.'
Tsk. Turned away.
Quiet around. All attackers dead, sure. But not over. Hospital six floors; second unfinished, no damn alert yet.
'Hah.'
Maybe wrong. Just COVID-23 mutated zombies; my unique immunity ignored if no turf breach. Like zombie flicks where protag's safe.
But in this shit world of zombies, status windows, skills... If mine's unique and they ignore only me, linked obvious.
Plus.
'Rocket Mart one had turf too.'
Too many similarities.
'No attacks outside or first floor. But...'
Hit second floor instant—something triggered. Stared at distant third-floor stairs, deep in thought.