Drainage Ditch (1)
“Hyung, you serious?”
Yang Min-cheol stood in front of the spot Go Cheon-su had led him to, his face blank with disbelief.
“We’re sleeping here?”
What Yang Min-cheol was pointing at wasn’t a building. It was a sunken concrete structure.
“Why not? Looks good to me.” Go Cheon-su grinned. “Hasn’t had water flowing through it for days, so it’s all dried out inside. And no one’s gonna bother with a place like this.”
“Well, yeah, but……”
“It’s dark around here, and we’re beat. This is the outskirts—no real threats in sight. Let’s not take dumb risks and just crash.”
What lay before them was a small drainage ditch. Wide enough for one person to fit in pretty comfortably.
“We crawl into this concrete-topped ditch and sleep there.”
The ceiling stretched about four meters by eye—perfect for two guys neither over two meters tall to stretch out.
“Gotta check it first, right?”
Go Cheon-su shone his flashlight into the ditch. Fortunately, it was empty.
“Looks good.”
“Safe?”
“Yeah, safe. Now let’s block the entrance.”
Go Cheon-su casually grabbed a huge rock from the roadside and grunted with effort. Yang Min-cheol hurried over to help.
“W-We’re blocking the entrance with this?”
“Yup.”
After barely managing to drag the rock into place, Go Cheon-su made a face like he was done with it.
“Damn, that’s heavy. You do the rest—you’re young.”
“……”
Yang Min-cheol stared at Go Cheon-su, let out a small sigh, and started hauling more rocks over.
Go Cheon-su yelled at him.
“Hey! Don’t block one entrance yet! Just stack ’em up in front!”
It was obvious. For survival, this was nothing to Go Cheon-su.
“Lemme see.”
Go Cheon-su poked his head into the unblocked entrance and slowly slid his body inside.
“I’ll go first, yeah? It’s a pain to crawl in deep, so I’m being nice.”
“Ah, thanks.”
Whether it was payment for the rock-hauling labor, Yang Min-cheol’s face lit up.
“What a goof……”
Go Cheon-su muttered under his breath, gripping a thick stick with a sharply bent end, then crawled all the way in.
Damn, this is basically a coffin.
He could lie down and rest, but the space for moving was tight. Looked like he’d have to play dead to sleep.
Eh, whatever……
He was exhausted. After watching Yang Min-cheol, who’d crawled in backward, block the entrance with rocks, Go Cheon-su closed his eyes.
Sleep came fast. Faster than on any bed.
***
“Ngh.”
Morning. Even in this world, birdsong woke Go Cheon-su—to a splitting pain he could barely handle.
“Ah, shit. Knew sleeping on concrete would suck……”
Kraaaah!
A guttural roar nearby shut Go Cheon-su up.
Zombie.
One, by the sound. Stay quiet, and it’d pass.
“Mm…… Hyung, you up?”
But Yang Min-cheol woke up at the worst timing.
Thud.
Go Cheon-su tapped his foot to signal, but Yang Min-cheol didn’t get it.
“Oh, you’re up! I just woke up too……”
Kraaaah!
Yang Min-cheol finally clued in and shut his mouth, but the zombie had already noticed.
Splat.
The zombie tripped into the ditch, half-rose, and lurched toward Yang Min-cheol.
Kraaah!
Yang Min-cheol tapped Go Cheon-su’s foot frantically as the zombie shoved rocks aside, roaring.
Oof.
Go Cheon-su sighed at Yang Min-cheol’s silent flailing.
Plan’s busted. Hang tight.
Still, props to Yang Min-cheol for not screaming and charging down blindly to save himself. Go Cheon-su had positioned them this way in case of zombies up top—not stomping on heads—but the kid wasn’t selfish.
Tap-tap.
Go Cheon-su signaled with his foot and shone the flashlight on Yang Min-cheol. Meeting eyes, he whispered.
“Make noise. Loud.”
“Huh? Oh! Aaaah!”
Yang Min-cheol got it and drew the zombie’s attention. Go Cheon-su shoved rocks aside from his head.
So damn heavy.
Rocks clattered out one by one. But with Yang Min-cheol baiting from the other side, the zombie stayed put.
“Whew.”
Go Cheon-su swung the stick out first, peeked to confirm the coast was clear.
“What a pain in the ass.”
Out and stretching his stiff body, Go Cheon-su scanned around. The zombie was still raging at Yang Min-cheol’s entrance.
Doesn’t it know I’m out?
Go Cheon-su sighed at Yang Min-cheol’s ongoing screams.
“Quit messing with the kid!”
The zombie whipped around and stood fully at Go Cheon-su’s shout.
1 - 09:57
Go Cheon-su eyed the timer, picked up a good rock.
“Don’t zombies have manners when people sleep?”
Whoosh!
The rock nailed the zombie’s head.
Kraaaagh!
The pissed zombie climbed out. Go Cheon-su beckoned it mockingly.
“Yeah, come on in.”
Fully lured, it charged and swiped. Go Cheon-su dodged back.
Thud!
The zombie faceplanted into the ditch again.
“Sheesh, acrobatic much?”
Go Cheon-su dropped a massive rock on its head.
Crunch.
Zombie dead, no need to look.
◈ "That was kinda dangerous just now."
Go Cheon-su smirked at Han Do-choe’s sponsorship.
“Thanks, Han Do-choe. You always got my back.”
It had been risky. He had the sharp stick, but zombies swarming both sides would’ve sucked.
“Min-cheol, you good?”
But last night, this was the best spot. No regrets.
“Think of it as morning exercise.”
Clearing rocks from Yang Min-cheol’s head, the kid’s eyes went wide in shock.
“H-Hyung. The zombie?”
“Smashed it.”
Yang Min-cheol crawled out, pieced it together, and sighed in relief.
“Phew. We lived.”
“Yeah, had my heart in my throat.”
Bad luck.
“But thanks to you, hyung. I was scared shitless.”
“You were pretty bold yourself. Baited it good on cue.”
Sincere. Yang Min-cheol scratched his head sheepishly.
“Glad you think so. I’ll do better from now on……”
“Good.”
Go Cheon-su stretched again.
“You’re probably stiff too—loosen up.”
Moving with tense muscles was the worst. Be ready to run from any monster.
“No point sticking after your yelling—let’s move and grab a bite.”
“Got it.”
“Let’s go.”
Walking, Go Cheon-su looked around. Clear sightlines. Air a bit crisp, he glanced at the sky.
Sun’s barely up.
Good it wasn’t dark for that mess.
“Hyung, starving, right?”
“Yeah, after all that thrashing.”
Yang Min-cheol apologized awkwardly.
“Sorry. Keep needing your help.”
“Just know I saved your ass—that’s enough.”
“Find a real kitchen, and I’ll cook you something hot.”
“Ha.”
Go Cheon-su’s dry laugh made Yang Min-cheol sheepish.
“Guess that won’t cut it.”
“Who said no? Just reminded me of something bitter.”
“Bitter…… memory?”
“Yeah. Guy named Jeong Min-gyu. Don’t end up like him.”
Yang Min-cheol tilted his head, confused, but Go Cheon-su ignored it. Day’s out—focus on moving.
“Here.”
Go Cheon-su handed over biscuits and a small canned drink—from Myeongseo Elementary.
“Real food at the destination. This’ll tide you over.”
“No stopping?”
“Gotta keep going.”
Roars echoed nonstop somewhere. Better not stop.
“Guide the way first.”
Go Cheon-su knew the taxi company direction, not safe paths. That was Yang Min-cheol’s intel from walking it post-apocalypse.
“Hear those roars over there?”
Yang Min-cheol pointed at a building.
“Ran into a huge human-shaped monster on all fours that way.”
Fun my ass. Go Cheon-su snorted and heard the rest of the threats from Yang Min-cheol. Mostly zombies en route—not an issue for him.
“Aaaagh!”
Until someone screamed past them mid-walk.
“Help!”
Taxi company was 40 minutes away. Go Cheon-su rubbed his face—stealth out the window.
“Min-cheol, hide.”
Yang Min-cheol ducked into building rubble. Go Cheon-su joined, peeking out.
Thud! Thud!
“Ah, fuck. Another Big Head.”
Tough bastard again.
“Silver lining……”
The screamer had its attention.
“Hyung, what now?”
Yang Min-cheol gulped.
Go Cheon-su shrugged.
“What else? Skirt around.”
“But that guy……”
“Min-cheol.”
Go Cheon-su said lowly.
“Wanna take his place? I won’t stop you.”
“No! L-Let’s go.”
Good, he got it. As Go Cheon-su detoured, Yang Min-cheol yelped.
“Hyung, wait!”
“What.”
“Monster on that path too. Not sure if it’s still there.”
Go Cheon-su frowned. Yang Min-cheol rushed to explain.
“Thought I’d go in order. Didn’t wanna confuse you……”
“What was it.”
Go Cheon-su’s voice was sharp.
“Spit it out.”
“Frog.”
Go Cheon-su’s face hardened. Yang Min-cheol pressed on, determined.
“Just saw the back—huge though.”
“For real?”
“Yes.”
Go Cheon-su groaned softly.
Hell Frog nearby too?
Headache. So close, yet everything tangled.
“Min-cheol, listen up and remember.”
“Yes.”
“That’s a Hell Frog.”
Monster with a insanely long tongue like a skewer.
“Never stand in front of a Hell Frog. Never.”
“Hell Frog, huh? But what happens if you……”
“Told you. Tongue like a skewer. You’re shish kebab.”
But no panic yet. Might’ve moved.
“Let’s check it out.”
Stepping off, Go Cheon-su froze.
“Wait—no.”
Round the corner: familiar back.
“Hyung, what’s wrong?”
“Hell Frog’s here.”
“Ah.”
Yang Min-cheol shuddered out a breath.
“What do we do?”
“Dunno.”
One Hell Frog? Find another detour.
“Let’s try this way……”
Grooooowl.
Big Head roar—right nearby.
“Huh?”
Grooo.
The Big Head, chomping a person, stared right at them.