Nursing Student Kim Ha-ryeong (1)
“Ah, shit, this……”
Yang Min-cheol had something draped over his shoulder. Go Cheon-su yanked off the burlap sack and examined the wound closely.
“What the hell are you doing hiding this?!”
It was a deep gash dug into his flesh by something sharp. Seeing the pooled blood, Go Cheon-su let out a heavy sigh.
‘I thought it was just his hand that was messed up.’
He said it happened during a brutal fight with some old bastard. That alone was a serious injury, but it paled in comparison to what he'd been hiding.
“We need to treat this fast.”
Jang Seo-yeon peered at Yang Min-cheol's wound alongside him and spoke up. Go Cheon-su knew that much. The problem was getting to a hospital.
“Jang Seo-yeon, do you know any hospitals around here? The closest one.”
“Not really.”
But Jang Seo-yeon made a troubled face.
“I think there's just a performance hall and big roads in front of the arboretum. We'd have to move a bit to find a place to treat him.”
“Got it.”
Go Cheon-su scanned the area and spotted what looked like a warehouse. Thwack! It was padlocked, so he swung the axe he'd just picked up.
‘What the hell.’
The blade glanced off the lock, leaving a red mark, but with his mind racing, Go Cheon-su swung again.
Crack! The lock shattered.
Go Cheon-su stepped inside and found a wheelbarrow.
“Jang Seo-yeon!”
He dragged it out, and Jang Seo-yeon shot him a look like she'd seen every lunatic in the book.
“No way you're planning to cart him in this?”
“Yeah.”
Carrying him and running wasn't a bad idea, but it would burn through their stamina. They'd already drained themselves in the fight—wasting it all just getting to a hospital would be putting the cart before the horse.
“Load him up quick. We gotta go.”
“Hang on……”
Jang Seo-yeon hesitated but knew there was no better option, so she sighed and hoisted Yang Min-cheol.
“Go Cheon-su. You and me, we're cursed, I swear.”
Thud. Yang Min-cheol was settled in the barrow.
“Yang Min-cheol.”
Go Cheon-su called out, but there was no response. He was definitely breathing, but unconscious.
‘Shock, probably.’
Go Cheon-su didn't know much about that stuff. All he could do was pull the barrow.
Rattle-rattle.
The balance was shaky, but it rolled fine enough. Pushing hard, Go Cheon-su yelled as he picked up speed.
“Jang Seo-yeon! Scout ahead and guide us!”
He didn't have Yang Min-cheol's instincts, but having her run point was plenty helpful. Jang Seo-yeon stayed a few meters ahead, scanning around and gesturing back at him nonstop.
‘Nobody around, huh.’
Once they cleared the arboretum, all Go Cheon-su saw were massive roads and blocks packed with performance halls. The open sightlines were nice, but the eerie emptiness drew a sigh from him.
“Go Cheon-su!”
While he zoned out, Jang Seo-yeon up ahead waved frantically. He hustled the barrow over and stopped in front of her.
“A clinic……maybe.”
A two-story building had a clinic sign on one floor. It listed multiple specialties on the sign despite only using one level.
“This place okay?”
“You gonna nitpick rice cold or hot right now? If you're not carrying him, I will.”
Go Cheon-su waved her off, handed over his backpack, and slung Yang Min-cheol over his back.
“Don't wanna drop him on the stairs again. Keep watch.”
Jang Seo-yeon took point up the stairs. Once she confirmed no monsters, she signaled. Go Cheon-su followed slowly.
Creeeak.
The clinic door's rusty hinges let out a chilling screech. Jang Seo-yeon, embracing her scout role, went in first.
“Clear.”
She checked room after room and gave the all-clear.
“Whew.”
Go Cheon-su laid Yang Min-cheol on the small operating table and exhaled.
“Jang Seo-yeon, you know what to do in a situation like this?”
They'd gotten him here, but treatment was beyond him. Jang Seo-yeon looked awkward and shook her head.
“No clue.”
“We're screwed.”
“Can't we just stitch it up rough and shove some pills in him?”
Even that was impossible without knowing the steps.
“Brothers, any ideas?”
He asked the viewers, but got nothing useful—just vague stuff like what Jang Seo-yeon said.
“Damn it.”
Go Cheon-su poked around urgently, then swallowed hard.
“What the hell is this.”
There was nothing. No surgical tools, bandages, syringes—nada.
“Maybe in another room……?”
He checked the others. Still nothing useful, just a few pill bottles.
“Ah……”
Ting.
As he sighed, a faint clatter echoed from somewhere.
Go Cheon-su pocketed the mystery pills and stepped into the hall, scanning.
‘What was that?’
It was so quiet he wasn't sure.
“Brothers, hear anything?”
“What? Problem?”
Jang Seo-yeon saw his face and asked warily. Go Cheon-su rubbed his own.
“We gotta bounce. Now.”
“Why? Something come in?”
“Dunno. Bad feeling, no meds.”
There were antibiotics, but oral ones useless on an unconscious guy.
“Let's go.”
They needed a pharmacy. Go Cheon-su turned his back; Jang Seo-yeon loaded Yang Min-cheol piggyback-style.
“I'll watch our six.”
She took point again. Heading for the exit, Go Cheon-su froze.
Ting.
Another sound.
That's when it hit. Spotting the chat, Go Cheon-su whipped around.
“Huh?”
Someone stood behind the reception desk.
“What……”
A young woman in white clothes.
“What the.”
So startled, Go Cheon-su froze up.
He knew that.
“Go Cheon-su, hurry……”
Jang Seo-yeon turned from the door and spotted her too.
“Huh……?”
Go Cheon-su frantically gestured at the stunned Jang Seo-yeon.
‘Don’t provoke her!’
Who knew what kind of person she was. He signaled Jang Seo-yeon to stay cool and approached slowly.
‘Maybe just a misunderstanding!’
They hadn't checked behind the desk on entry. If she saw them as intruders and was glaring, they could just leave quietly.
Tap.
She moved her foot. As she closed in, Go Cheon-su shoved Jang Seo-yeon toward the stairs and bolted down.
But she pursued relentlessly.
“Hold up!”
Go Cheon-su spun around.
“We're leaving. So don't follow.”
“……”
She stopped, staring blankly. Her hair was a mess, dark circles under her eyes. Go Cheon-su gulped.
‘Normal……right?’
Her gaze was vacant. Her outfit wasn't casual—hospital garb?
He tried again, confused.
“Don't follow. We're going.”
No need to tangle if she didn't attack first. Provoking her risked alerting friends, escalating things.
“……No can do.”
As he turned to go, she spoke softly.
“You'll die if you leave.”
Go Cheon-su flinched at her stare.
“What?”
“You die if you leave.”
He glanced at the stair exit. Nothing special.
“What……”
“Even if you die?”
She tilted her head. Go Cheon-su scowled.
“What're you talking about?”
She seemed to ramble, but it unnerved him.
“Hey, Go Cheon-su.”
Jang Seo-yeon tugged his arm.
“Let's just go. She's off.”
He agreed, but not with her right there. Sure enough, the woman turned her eyes darkly on Jang Seo-yeon.
“Not ‘seems off’—I am off. Everyone says so.”
“What.”
Jang Seo-yeon grimaced and yanked Go Cheon-su again.
“She's nuts. Move it.”
“If you go……”
She lunged closer.
“You'll die, I said?”
“Stay back!”
Go Cheon-su drew his axe one-handed.
“Come closer, no promises on your life. Whatever your game, drop it. We're leaving. End of story. Got it?”
“That guy's life ends too.”
She eyed his back.
“Shock, looks like. Poor thing. Gonna die like that.”
“Hey!”
Jang Seo-yeon exploded.
“Who the fuck are you?! Quit the bad omens and fuck off!”
“Wanna know?”
She rummaged in her pocket. Go Cheon-su tensed, axe raised, as she pulled something out.
A student ID. Totally out of left field, but Go Cheon-su couldn't believe his eyes.
‘Nursing department……?’
Student ID
Kim Ha-ryeong
Department: Nursing | Year 4
The photo matched her haggard face. While Go Cheon-su gawked, Kim Ha-ryeong pocketed it.
“Checked? I came to scrounge too. Now, can I treat the patient?”
As she stepped closer, Go Cheon-su reflexively thrust the axe.
“Hold on! We can't just let you……”
“Gonna let him die?”
Kim Ha-ryeong feigned impatience.
“He's dying soon. Botch the shock treatment, he's gone. Know what to do first? Shove random pills down his throat? Choke him? Bandage later and call it a day?”
She clutched her throat. Go Cheon-su shut up. So did Jang Seo-yeon. They had no comeback.
“Better alive. Finally found a live one.”
Kim Ha-ryeong smiled faintly.
“Let me keep him that way.”