Fractured Sanctuary
Kim Yunjin blinked. "Unnie, unnie."
A hazy feeling. "You okay?"
"Ah, yeah."
In front of her was Lee Seoyul. The woman their leader, Kim Junyoung, had rescued—the daughter of outpost member Lee Yoon.
"Really?"
The young-looking face twisted with worry. "Hmm, no fever though."
A cool sensation touched her forehead. "You look like you're in pain. Rest if it hurts. I'll tell Yuri for you."
"Fuck... no."
"Hehe. I told you not to swear."
"What can I do? It's a habit."
At first, she'd been wary. The face looked so innocent. From what she'd seen so far, kids like that were rotten inside.
But.
"Where's Yuri?"
"Yuri went to eat first."
"And the boss?"
"Junyoung... seems like he went out again. Can't see him."
"I see."
"Yeah."
From spending the past few days together, Lee Seoyul was just a kid playing at being grown-up. She'd tried acting mature a few times, forcing herself to seem adult, but it was all obvious—a young girl through and through.
And that's exactly why Kim Yunjin had warmed up to her so quickly. Seeing right through someone meant seeing their heart, too.
Crunch.
"Ow. Go on ahead. I'll catch up. Can you handle dinner today instead?"
"Ah, sure. Yuri and I got it."
"Yeah, and don't skimp like last time."
"...Why bring up that one time."
"Gonna tease you about it forever."
"Ugh, whatever. So, you'll watch Mina-unnie then?"
"Gotta. Now go."
"Ah, yep! See you at dinner, unnie!"
Pat pat pat. Lee Seoyul ran off.
Kim Yunjin stood, stretching. Empty Classroom 401. She changed clothes, then headed to the corner.
Snooore.
Snooore.
She had to look after the woman who slept like the dead, even amid chatter. She gently placed a hand on the woman's shoulder.
Tap.
"Eek?"
The woman jolted awake in terror. Kim Yunjin waved her hands quickly.
"It's fine...?"
"...Huh?"
The woman opened her eyes, then looked at her with sad ones. "...Yunjin-ssi?"
"What's with the formal? I said call me Yunjin."
"...Sorry."
It was Yoon Mina. Former nurse officer before the fall. Now a flag summoner with the same age as her. But unlike Kim Yunjin, she'd suffered horribly at the hands of the Liberation Army.
She helped the sweating Yoon Mina sit up. "...Arms and legs okay?"
"Yeah, no pain. No phantom stuff either."
"Bathroom okay?"
"Yeah, still."
The Liberation Army had severed her limbs. And... she'd endured things too awful to think about.
"......"
Kim Yunjin looked at her with pity, then quickly schooled her expression. From Choi Yuri's incident, she'd learned pity was the worst approach.
Yuri cussed me out for that, didn't expect it.
First time she'd heard curses from her. Followed by an immediate apology, but it stuck.
'The more you do that, the more pathetic I feel.' Or something like that.
So to avoid repeating the mistake, she treated Yoon Mina the same as everyone. Or tried to. It didn't always work.
"Can you stay alone here a bit?"
"Huh? Ah, yeah, sure. Even alone."
"Why do you talk like that? Fine, I'll take you and go see Suhyun-ssi."
"No, I'm not great with guys yet..."
"Got it. Just stay put then."
Truth was, Yoon Mina knew, and Kim Yunjin knew she knew. Her face always gave her away when she said stuff like that. But personality and situation kept them from bringing it up.
She knew Yoon Mina's story inside out, and vice versa. No need to make things awkward by blushing.
Yoon Mina turned her head. "Yeah, go ahead."
"Back soon."
Hoo.
She sighed, stepping out. People were hard.
Nice weather.
Rattle.
The door opened to a quiet hallway. No men's chatter.
...Back door repairs, right?
The big meeting had announced outpost defenses starting today. Ready for the boss to return anytime, adjust to his moves on a dime.
Guys must be on that.
Working hard.
Truth was, this outpost amazed her. First people she'd met post-fall were like Kim Kwonyong.
The ones who'd kidnapped and groped her. Liberation Army. Cruel, stupid bastards.
They fought among themselves nonstop.
Always brawling—killing, smoking, fucking. Curses never left their mouths.
No control.
They ignored Kim Kwonyong. Outside her locked pastor's room, shouting matches constant. Men spewed filth, brutal.
Amazing.
But this outpost creaked along fine. Under the inscrutable Jeong Suhyun and ever-boisterous Kim Jungshik, everyone moved like clockwork.
Can't have zero complaints.
She knew people. Selfish, always me-first. Her joining Kim Junyoung's group had panned out as expected.
Show your skills, join us. Liked that.
Didn't expect this unity, though. Figured women or people issues would blow up.
Nothing so far. Yesterday's Hwang Jinseok thing wasn't even that.
Tap tap.
She walked on.
Rattle.
"...Who... oh, Yunjin?"
Classroom 409 opened to Jeong Suhyun spacing out with his rifle. The man she suspected most. Not quite human.
Jeong Suhyun.
"Suhyun-ssi."
"Yeah? Something up?"
"Afternoon shift's Lee Yoon-ajusshi's, right?"
"Nah, swapped. Junyoung said nights better for Lee Yoon-ssi."
Truth was, this place ran because of him. No gaps, joined before her.
Jeong Suhyun.
"Then why here? Nothing to see."
"Just... bored."
"Confession bombed, huh?"
"How'd you know?"
"Saw you earlier. Sprinting from the cafeteria before the meeting."
Haha. He laughed.
She hated how he got under her skin. Maybe more than Hwang Jinseok's occasional advances.
"...Doesn't that get tiring?"
Wasn't always like this. First meeting, he reeked of normal guy faking adult.
"Gotta do it. To not die."
But sometime, he changed. Grew cold, moved superhuman. Like chasing mad Kim Junyoung.
Kim Yunjin's eyes narrowed. "Be honest. You're a monster. Not human."
"How many times now."
"Over ten? Dunno. Suspicious. People don't change like that."
"If I wasn't human, wouldn't I pin you here? No people around."
"Could be a scary monster who plans that far."
"Read too many novels, Yunjin. Better raise proficiency fast. You're at 70."
"...That skill's too OP, right?"
"Wanna shoot magic like Junyoung."
Jeong Suhyun sighed heavily. Moments like this, he didn't seem monstrous. Or maybe she didn't care if he was.
She plopped beside him, voice low. "...We gonna make it?"
"We have to."
He replied softly. She spoke worriedly. "What if something happens to the boss."
"He'll be fine. What problem for that monster?"
"Don't call our boss a monster."
Jeong Suhyun finally turned, looking troubled. "Damn, he didn't reject it? Hurts."
"Heh. Yeah. Confident in myself. Oh, you're not my type, Suhyun-ssi."
"Fine, you're great."
Kim Yunjin grinned, stroking her face. He turned away, exasperated.
"Hehe."
She leaned back victorious. Truth was, after Kim Junyoung, Jeong Suhyun was comfy. Always took her teasing.
Silence flowed. Then he spoke. "Yunjin."
"Yeah."
"...You don't really have to keep that quiet."
That.
Her face hardened. "No need. Boss and outpost matter more."
"Still family."
"Hmph, family my ass. I'll make a new one. Ten kids with our boss."
"Crazy. Fine, whatever. Don't get families who get along."
"Whatever. New sis Seoyul's cuter anyway."
She shook her head. Knew why he said it.
But that person wasn't family anymore. Same-age little sis. Kim Yuna.
"That psycho bitch tried getting me drunk and handing me to guys. Die or not, don't care."
Long estranged. Didn't know she'd pull Liberation Army shit.
"After mom and dad died, I fed her with tutoring. Lived for her, no sleep. So happy when she got into Yuseong Uni. But she betrayed me."
"Yeah."
"Talking family means admitting I lied to boss from start. Can't change story now."
"I'm fine, not Junyoung? He won't care."
"Still."
At Our Love Church, she'd lied to Kim Junyoung. Parents out of touch.
Actually dead three years. From twenty, she'd tutored to feed Kim Yuna.
Worked hard, lived for her. Overjoyed at Yuseong acceptance.
But betrayal. Where it twisted? Her fault for just earning money, no proper upbringing? Or poor care after parents' death?
But Kim Yuna tried selling her—her sister who'd raised her—to guys at a "party".
Lucky suspicious Kim Yunjin reported to cops, handed men over. Cut ties with Yuna but kept financial support.
"Didn't expect this shit. Watch out, Suhyun-ssi. Don't tell Seoyul."
Kim Yuna crossed the line. Liberation Army or not, selling women, dying by boss—irrelevant now.
"Got it. Why tell me?"
"You won't blab. Like before, don't tell anyone. Sorry to Dojin and Yuri."
"...And if?"
"Then what..."
To her, Kim Yuna was less than dust. Just hoped Kim Junyoung returned safe.
"Got it. Fine."
"Hehe, good."
"That hehe creeps me out."
"Gonna go. Gotta wash Mina-ssi. Hang in there, Suhyun-ssi."
"Yeah. Come here if trouble."
"Call me for injured."
"Sure."
Rattle.
She headed to 401. Talking to Jeong Suhyun lightened her head.
Time to work.
Mind straight. No harm to boss or outpost meant staying sharp.
First Mina, then help Yuri with dinner...
Knock knock.
"Mina-ya. Coming in."
Front door of 401. Called out—Yoon Mina startled easy from trauma, hated sudden door bangs.
"...Mina-ya?"
Kim Yunjin frowned. Asleep maybe.
Could be dozing like before.
She eased the door open.
Far off, Yoon Mina against the wall under blankets. Looked asleep.
Sighed, stepped forward.
"......"
Or tried.
That instant.
...?
Wrongness. Felt out of place.
Rattle.
She slammed the door—bang!—and bolted.
Thud thud thud.
Overreact maybe. But she trusted her senses.
Instinct. Whatever.
Running, evidence hit: She'd left Yoon Mina lying down. Couldn't stand alone yet.
Rattle.
Then—door opening.
Thud.
Something flew.
Whish.
Thwack!
"Aaaagh!"
Something hit her back. Pain exploded.
Breath caught. Agony.
Thump.
Kim Yunjin face-planted.
Words hard. But she screamed with all she had.
"Hah! Jeong Suhyun-ssi! Suhyun-ssiiii! Jeong Suhyuun!"
"Ah, fuck."
Familiar young male voice behind. Then tap tap tap fleeing.
Bang!
"What! What's happening!"
409 door flew open. Rifle-armed Jeong Suhyun burst out.
Voice weak. "H... Hwang Jin... ugh! Seok... f-first floor."
"Heal quick! Check Mina-ssi!"
Tap tap tap.
Clunk.
Bang!
Jeong Suhyun barked, dashed downstairs rifle-ready.
She confirmed, healed self fast.
"Ugh!"
Pain faded. Probably organ damage, broken bones. D-rank heal stabilized quick.
Tap tap tap.
Rushed to 401. Checked abandoned Yoon Mina.
No way.
"Mina-ya!"
Snooore. Breathing.
But neck bruises, blood from lower abdomen.
"Th-that fucking bastard."
Rage surged. Hwang Jinseok. What grudge? Just lust? Touched Yoon Mina for that?
No. Any reason, dared touch boss's outpost.
"I'll kill him."
Healed Yoon Mina quick, laid her down, flung door open.
Jeong Suhyun gone, but Hwang Jinseok wasn't alone surely.
That instant.
Bang!
Bang bang!
Loud gunshots outside.