Chapter 20. Passengers (2)
Thud—!
"...Hic!"
"It's okay... it's okay..."
A wolf on the other side slammed into the bathroom door, and the rusty hinges screamed as the door rattled violently. Sua couldn't hold back anymore and started sobbing with hiccups, while Jiwoo bit his lip hard and hugged his little sister tight.
Bang—! Crack!
On the second impact, the plywood door split right down the middle with a sharp crack. Through the gap, bloodshot beastly eyes and yellowed fangs reeking of rot peered in. The monster licked its chops and pulled back, its shadow showing it was about to smash the door completely.
'Still half an hour to go...!'
Jiwoo recalled the message from that big bro whispered in his ear. Desperately, he clutched Sua's waist and dragged her backward, pressing tight into the corner behind the toilet. He had no idea how much longer this would buy them, but he had to do something.
The next moment, just as the monster hurled its whole body at the door—
Whoosh—!
"Huh?"
The windowless bathroom suddenly lit up bright. Jiwoo craned his neck to peek through the door gap. Through the hole, he saw a streak of intense red light pierce right between the wolf monster's eyes.
And then—
BOOM—!
A deafening explosion that could shred eardrums ripped through the narrow PC bang hallway.
"Aaaah!"
"Urk..."
The blast sounded like a bomb going off. Jiwoo screamed and flattened himself over Sua, smothering her completely under his body. Moments later, a heavy thunk echoed from outside the door as something massive hit the floor.
"...?"
Jiwoo held his breath, still prone. Silence fell.
The foul stench that had filled the bathroom was overtaken by an acrid, unidentifiable smell mixed with the metallic tang of blood. No more pounding on the door, no more beastly breathing. Just the faint buzz of wings—like flies—circling outside before fading away.
"Brother... you're heavy..."
"Shh, stay still, Sua."
Jiwoo forced strength into his trembling legs and slowly rose. Cautiously, he peered through the shattered door gap.
'That...!'
On the dark hallway floor lay the massive wolf monster, head more than half blown off, a pool of blood spreading beneath it. Horrific.
His stomach churned a bit, but relief washed over him too.
'Did that big bro come...?'
Just as Jiwoo scanned further—
Step, step.
Footsteps approached from the PC bang hallway. Jiwoo sucked in a breath, tensing up again. Was it the big bro? Or another monster?
The steps halted in front of the wolf's exploded corpse.
Then, an unexpected voice echoed into the cramped bathroom.
"How'd this thing even get the door open? ...Did I get it?"
A young woman's voice, oddly bouncy and perky. The footsteps checked the wolf corpse, then headed to the bathroom door.
"You guys in there? It's safe now. Your big bro... uh, big sis is here."
Jiwoo had expected a man's deep voice. Blinking in confusion, he realized the rescuer was supposed to be a big bro or a mister, but the person outside was a woman. Fidgeting with the phone clutched in his fist, he cautiously replied through the cracked door.
"...Who are you?"
***
"Did I get it?"
I kicked aside the half-smashed PC bang door with my sneaker and eyed the fallen wolf. On the hallway floor sprawled a gigantic wolf monster, sniper round smack in the head, brains and all blown clean off, blood pooling wide.
I fanned away the fishy blood stench and gunpowder reek as I approached the farthest stall in the bathroom.
'Almost too late...'
I peered through the split door. There, huddled terrified and clinging to each other, were two tiny kids. Faces smeared with dirt and tears, the boy—who looked like the older brother—gripped a phone in his hand.
I cleared my throat lightly and spoke as warmly as I could.
"You guys in there? It's safe now. Your big bro... uh, big sis is here."
"Who are you...?"
"It's the big bro from the whisper message. Not a big bro anymore, though... I'm a big sis now..."
At my awkward greeting, the twelve-year-old boy stared up at me wide-eyed. His pupils trembled faintly, screaming can I trust this person?
"..."
His face screamed disbelief, but he glanced back and forth between my face and the massive wolf corpse at my feet, swallowing hard.
"Brother... who is it...?"
His seven-year-old sister, trembling in his arms, sniffled the question. Jiwoo hesitated a moment, then fixed his gaze on my face and answered.
"...The person who came to save us."
He didn't seem fully convinced it was the big bro from the messages, but I saw his shoulders relax just a fraction. No longer seeing me as a threat—his guard was down a notch.
"What's your name?"
"I'm Jiwoo, and this is Sua..."
I smiled and offered my hand.
"Got it. Jiwoo, let's get outta here first. Smells like hell."
I led them outside. The drones patrolling overhead joined up, three of them circling protectively above our heads.
"Whoa... robots..."
"They're fast..."
Sua gaped at the drones slicing silently through the night sky, tear tracks still fresh on her face. Jiwoo's tense expression softened as he stared blankly at them too.
'Good.'
The siblings couldn't hide their curiosity at the flying machines. The drones had eased their tension a bit.
Their awe grew even bigger at the sight of my massive train parked smack in the middle of the tracks.
"Brother, look at that!"
Now extended to car 3, my train finally looked properly train-like on the rails. Jiwoo and Sua froze in place, speechless.
"A tr-train...? Is that a train?"
"Yeah. Super sturdy, so even wolves can't get in. Hop on for a bit."
I opened the door to the new car 3, the general passenger compartment.
With a satisfying psshhh, the door slid open to reveal warm lighting, plush carpet, and comfy seats— a world away from the ruined hellscape outside.
"Come on, sit down."
"...Mom said not to go with strangers..."
"Shh, Sua... she saved us..."
"...Okay."
Even as he said it, Jiwoo kept sneaking glances at me. Still, they decided to trust me—partly because I'd saved them, but also thanks to my looks, I figured. I mean, no matter how you sliced it, I looked totally harmless now.
A soft smile whenever they glanced my way did wonders to ease the tension. Who knew turning into a girl would pay off like this.
I guided the still-dazed siblings inside, settling them into the cushy seats. As their butts hit the wide cushions, deep sighs of relief—"Haaah..."—escaped their lips.
Now I noticed their lips were cracked and dry. I grabbed two chilled water bottles from the back of the train, twisted off the caps, and handed them over.
"C-Can we drink this...?"
"Yeah, go slow."
Jiwoo and Sua nodded eagerly and gulped it down. I told them to sip, but whatever. I gave a wry smile.
Thirst must've been brutal—they didn't care that water spilled down their chins, soaking their collars.
'They must've been hiding a while.'
Up close, the kids looked rough. Thin outer clothes stretched and torn in spots, pale cheeks and bony hands caked in dirt and weird black smudges like soot.
"Hang tight, I'll grab some wipes and snacks. Stay put."
"Okay..."
I gave them quick instructions and headed to car 2's storage. Figured wet wipes to clean those grimy faces, and kid-friendly stuff like chocolate bars and sweet cookies.
Good thing I hadn't sold all the snacks. Rifling through car 1's corner, I grabbed a pack of wipes, cookies, and some sugary juice pouches, then headed back to car 3.
"Here, wipe your faces and eat—"
I burst in cheerfully, words dying as I clamped my mouth shut.
"..."
Just ten minutes ago, the twelve-year-old brother shaking like a leaf, edgy as hell, and his seven-year-old sister sobbing in his arms.
Now those two little ones had drained the water bottles, hugged tight side-by-side on the seat, and were breathing deep and steady in sleep.
They could've each taken a seat, but no—they crammed together on one, filling it completely.
Water and warmth had melted their tension away.
"Sleeping like the world doesn't exist."
I quietly set the snacks and wipes down in front of them without a sound. Gently brushed the hair off Sua's forehead, then draped the cozy blanket from the seat over the curled-up pair.
'Got a ton of questions...'
What they'd been through, what happened to their parents, where they'd been hiding, if they had anywhere to go next. Plenty to ask and confirm.
But for now, I dimmed the cabin lights a couple notches for a snug vibe.
"Let 'em sleep a bit... must've been rough."
In this monster-ravaged world, peacefully watching these kids snooze felt like a nice reward. After nothing but monsters, drones, and marimo, their sleeping faces soothed my soul.
I watched the siblings sink into deep slumber a moment longer, then tiptoed out, closing car 3's door softly before slipping back to car 1's cockpit.
"Scan the area."
Just in case, I tasked the drones with recon, then pulled out my recipe book for the first time in ages.