Pohang Airport (3)
"We're screwed, this...!"
"-Can't get the keys out?"
"Park Jun!" Go Cheon-su yelled again toward the gap.
"Get out here first!"
But Park Jun didn't respond, as if he couldn't hear. Clang! Crash! Clatter! The chaotic noises just kept echoing.
Damn it...! He should've sent him in prepared for whatever was inside. Park Jun had no weapon on him right now.
Clang-clatter!
Park Jun's screams went on for quite a while. But judging by how the sound kept shifting near and far, he hadn't been caught and torn apart yet.
Rooooar!
Through the gap, he glimpsed a zombie with its pant leg clamped in Heukgu's jaws. The zombie twisted around, reaching down, but Heukgu dodged and vanished from sight again.
No way...
Woof! Woof!
Heukgu's barks rang out several times too. After repeated thuds of footsteps, a familiar face suddenly popped into view through the gap.
"Hyung!"
It was Park Jun.
"Hurry! Get out now!" Go Cheon-su reached out to him.
Park Jun tossed over the keyring first, a bundle with several keys dangling from it.
"Hyung! Use that to..."
Park Jun didn't even finish before he was yanked back inside.
"Jun-ah!"
A zombie must've grabbed his leg. If he stayed like that, it'd bite him for sure.
Grrrrrr!
Suddenly, a snarling intervention cut in.
Thanks to Heukgu's help, Park Jun squeezed back through the gap and started crawling out fast.
"Quick! Quick!"
Following Go Cheon-su's frantic gestures, Park Jun belly-crawled furiously and finally emerged from the gap.
"Hah... huff... huff."
Go Cheon-su let out a sigh of relief as he watched Park Jun roll on the ground, catching his breath.
"Phew. You okay?"
He couldn't just ask—he checked Park Jun over for actual injuries.
Thankfully, no bite marks. Go Cheon-su sighed again and glanced back at the gap.
"Wait, what about Heukgu...!"
Right then, Heukgu strode out confidently, as if answering his call.
"Heukgu!"
Go Cheon-su rushed over and grabbed him.
"You rascal!"
After confirming Heukgu was fine, Go Cheon-su grinned.
"Good boy...!"
Now they just had to use the keys and get out of here.
"What a relief."
Jin So-ryeong patted her chest and spoke to Park Jun.
"I really thought something bad happened. You're incredibly brave, kid."
"Nah."
Park Jun stood, brushing dust off his clothes.
"Glad I could help somehow."
Go Cheon-su skimmed the chat as he held the keyring, then turned to Jin So-ryeong.
"Colonel, how about we head out now? No reason to stick around longer."
"Yeah, let's."
Jin So-ryeong gestured to a small key soldier nearby.
"Alright, let's move out quick."
"Us too."
Go Cheon-su gathered Park Jun and Heukgu.
All that remained in their wake was the faint wail of the zombie trapped behind debris.
"Prep fast!"
The keys were for the cars in the nearby parking lot.
"We're getting out of here ASAP!"
Jin So-ryeong swiftly directed her soldiers. Well-trained as always, they quickly fetched the vehicles and lined up.
"Ride with me."
She invited Go Cheon-su into the SUV she was boarding.
"Dog okay too?"
Jin So-ryeong nodded at his question.
"Of course. Hop in."
"Thanks."
As he turned, Go Cheon-su spotted Park Jun chatting with some soldiers in the distance.
"Jun-ah!"
Park Jun startled and ran over.
"Yeah, hyung!"
"What're you doing over there?"
"Oh."
Park Jun sighed faintly, smiling awkwardly.
"Some folks I was with before. Just catching up."
"Ah, got it?"
Go Cheon-su pondered briefly, then shoved Park Jun's back.
"Then go ride with them."
"Huh?"
"You said you know a bunch. Pick one of theirs."
"Don't get the wrong idea, bros."
It wasn't that. Jun had his own group originally. He didn't know the details, but Park Jun had spent more time with these soldiers than with Go Cheon-su. Realistically, in his position where he couldn't prioritize anyone, letting Park Jun stick with them was better.
"You really mean go?"
Go Cheon-su nodded at the hesitant question.
"Yeah, go ride with 'em. We're not splitting for good anyway."
It was also a chance for more reunions and chats.
With a faint smile, Park Jun ran off to the soldiers at Go Cheon-su's wave.
"Alright, let's roll."
Go Cheon-su got in the back seat first with Heukgu. Just as Jin So-ryeong, who'd directed the other soldiers and civilians aboard, opened the passenger door to follow...
Thud.
A rumble from the ground.
"What the—?"
As Go Cheon-su frowned, more heavy booms shook the earth.
Kabooom!
It was from the airport. Go Cheon-su whipped around to see cracks spiderwebbing across the building as smoke billowed up.
"Colonel!"
"I see it!"
Jin So-ryeong barked at the driver.
"Go! Now!"
Vrooom!
The car peeled out. As if on cue, the building split and collapsed.
Kabooooom!
"...!"
Go Cheon-su's eyes widened at the crumbling structure.
We almost died!
He'd suspected trouble since the escalator collapse, but total demolition? No way he saw that coming.
Rumbbbble!
And it didn't end there. The collapse seemed secondary—the ground itself was quaking violently.
"Earthquake...?"
Go Cheon-su peered out the window at the ground. Cracks webbed out like spider veins.
Earthquake...?
It shook like one, enough to agree with Jin So-ryeong, but something felt off to Go Cheon-su.
No, this is!
Kabooom!
Something erupted from the ground.
"What is that?!"
Jin So-ryeong's shout matched his shock. Bursting through the earth was something like a massive bald human head.
Just... enormous.
Groooar.
The Big Body, head exposed, slowly shattered the ground as it ascended. The cars swerved away from the splitting earth and sped off.
"No way, damn it!"
Go Cheon-su shouted in horror.
"Why the hell's one buried here too?!"
It emerged like some buried spaceship from an alien war—way too surreal.
"Everyone, stick close and follow fast! Straight to the port!"
Jin So-ryeong radioed the trailing soldiers.
"Colonel, where exactly are we headed?"
Even in the chaos, Go Cheon-su needed to know the destination.
"Ingok Port... but..."
Ingok Port—from the map he'd seen on the plane—didn't look like a big harbor.
"They got a ship there big enough for all of us?"
Jin So-ryeong's face hardened at the cautious probe.
"Probably."
"Probably?"
"Troops who left ahead said they'd prep it. They left the cars as promised, so the ship's ready too."
Fair enough, but Go Cheon-su had to ask about the other port.
"Pohang New Port's nearby too— not considering that?"
"That's for massive steel freighters. Even if there's a ship, boarding's tough. Friend works there—I've visited a few times."
So Jin So-ryeong actually knew Pohang New Port better.
This okay?
Ingok was new to her too. Better a known spot, but if the ship's prepped there, no choice.
Thud! Boom!
How many were hiding? The ground kept rumbling nonstop.
"Bros, any way to deal with those things?"
Big Head was tricky enough—a full-grown Big Body? Headache city.
Evade? That's what they were doing. Short lifespan's a silver lining... but only if it doesn't grab us.
"That way!"
Jin So-ryeong yelled at the driver. She'd been here before—knew the roads a bit.
Bump!
Something slammed the undercarriage.
Screeech!
The driver gripped the swerving wheel, screaming.
"Aaaah!"
"Hold steady!"
Jin So-ryeong grabbed the bucking wheel to help.
"Stay sharp or we don't make it!"
But the car wobbled, speed dropping. Meanwhile, the other vehicles surged ahead.
Go Cheon-su's eyebrow twitched. The others pulling ahead was fine—Jin So-ryeong might've ordered it. The issue was survival.
"Hurry up!"
The driver straightened and floored it, but they were already lagging.
"Ah, damn..."
Insane. As Go Cheon-su swallowed his curse...
Rumbbbble!
The ground split between them and the lead convoy, a Big Body head surging up.
"Aaaah!"
The driver panicked, yanking the wheel.
"Ngh...!"
Go Cheon-su tumbled inside, grabbing Heukgu and groaning.
"Drive straight, damn it!"
Stabilizing took forever. When Go Cheon-su finally looked out, his car was separated, veering off alone.
"Where the hell are we going?!"
"Monster blocked the road! Picking a lane!" the driver yelled back in panic.
"Lane?"
Go Cheon-su blinked in confusion as Jin So-ryeong explained.
"Pohang New Port. That's the direction."
"Pohang New Port..."
Words from lips never stayed mere talk. He'd just mentioned it, and fate twisted: separated from the group, just the three of them heading there instead of Ingok Port.
"Colonel, you said you've been there, right?"
At least she'd visited.
"I know it... but..."
She looked troubled.
"Not well."
"Still, we gotta remember."
Go Cheon-su raised a brow.
"We need a ship there."
No choice now. Big Body chasing or other monsters—had to evac fast.
Clunk.
The car jolted hard.
"Damage to the vehicle! Won't last like this..." the driver warned Jin So-ryeong and Go Cheon-su.
Cars had limits anyway. Jin So-ryeong swallowed dryly, locking eyes with Go Cheon-su.
Now, only one path lay ahead.