Rescuing So-hyun
Kidnappings always go sideways in the weirdest ways. I couldn't care less if other people died, so why did this girl keep sticking in my mind? Even I couldn't figure it out. I figured I was some kind of sociopath, but the way I empathized with So-hyun made me doubt it. Wouldn't it be better for my life if I just killed her? Normally, yeah, but getting all emotional during a zombie outbreak wasn't exactly welcome.
Should I kill her? She'd die on her own if I left her. "We've got tons of food at my place, so send me your address. Don't come out of the house, and when I call, that's when you run out."
"R-really? But what if you die too, mister?"
"Zombies die if you run 'em over with a car, right? I live in Gangwon too, so it's fine. It's close."
"Thank you!!! I can cook too, and I don't eat much!"
"Got it, so put some clothes on and wait."
I got her address anyway. Chuncheon was about thirty minutes away. I hoped the roads weren't a total mess yet.
*
I'd decided to go rescue So-hyun, but that didn't mean I was giving up on the guns. My rational side still ranked So-hyun below guns, no question. Guns are crucial. In this brutal world ahead, nothing's more precious than firepower. I'd grab the guns, head straight to the address she'd sent, pick her up, and bring her back home.
...But how would she react to the two women tied up? Would she scream? Piss herself and cry like A-ram had earlier? Part of me was curious, but I didn't want So-hyun hating me. Weird. Though the second she saw them, hating me would be inevitable.
Mulling it over, I drove to the school I'd scouted. That's when things went off-script.
"Hurry up and load it!!!"
A man in army fatigues was yelling at some young soldiers. They were all scrambling to load cargo onto a two-and-a-half-ton truck.
...They were stealing my guns.
This was bad. The rifles were fully loaded with magazines attached, ready for live ammo. As I watched, the officer who'd been shouting approached my car and knocked on the window.
"What are you doing here? Head home now."
"...My little sister's renting a place nearby. I need to pick her up. I saw you soldiers and pulled over to ask about the situation."
"Where does your sister live?"
"Chuncheon."
His face brightened a bit at that.
"We think Gangwon is still safe for now. Seoul, the capital area, and major cities are total chaos with zombies. We're heading out now with these firearms."
"...I see. Stay safe. Thanks."
"Sergeant Choi! All loaded. Get in quick!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Alright then. Pick up your sister safe and sound, and stay secure at home."
"You too, Sergeant."
And just like that, my guns were gone. Off to Seoul to arm civilians and mobilize the reserves? Most Korean guys know how to handle guns anyway. I checked the warehouse for anything the soldiers might've missed, but it was stripped bare—no boxes left.
My guns... Guess I'd have to practice my archery more. The guns were a lost cause.
[So-hyun]
Gangwon was still safe, he'd said, so why was this girl calling again? Something happen?
"What?"
"S-sob... J-just scared... You really coming, oppa?"
"Yeah. On my way."
Her voice was thick with tears. Normal reaction to hearing zombies were real.
"The world's not really ending, right...?"
"Feels like it is. But you won't die."
"R-really?"
"Yeah. Got a shit-ton of food."
"...How much?"
"Enough for like a hundred years? If it goes bad, we'll farm."
"...Really?"
"Don't believe me? Fine."
"N-no, I believe you! Totally believe you!!! I believe everything you say, oppa!"
I'd meant I'd show her with my own eyes if she didn't believe me, but she took it like I might ditch her and clung desperately. She'd switched from "mister" to "oppa" somewhere along the way.
Oppa didn't sound bad. "Mister" had its cute charm too.
"Gangwon's still pretty safe, so zombies should be scarce. Relax."
"C-can't you stay on the phone?"
"...Do what you want."
Driving was boring anyway. Her chattering wasn't half bad.
I said she didn't have to hang up, but then... silence.
"Told you not to hang up, now you're quiet?"
"I'll talk!!! Um... uh... so..."
"No need to force it. Just stay on."
"T-today... I used the money you gave me for tteokbokki. You know rose tteokbokki? It's trending lately. I always wanted to try it..."
Were all the good Korean citizens actually hunkering down like the government said? Roads were dead empty. Tires gripped smooth as I floored it, her babble like background music, straight to her place.
Normally thirty minutes, but I pulled up in about twenty.
"So... I was gonna get chicken tomorrow, but with this mess, no way, right?"
"Come out. I'm here."
"R-really? Okay, coming down now!"
Phone still on, I heard her thudding footsteps. Stairs pounding through the speaker, then she burst out the door with a massive backpack like a turtle shell.
"Mister!!!"
I rolled down the window and waved. She yelled "mister" and ran over.
Wait, why mister again...? She'd been all "oppa" on the phone, but face-to-face, back to mister. Kinda shocking.
"Back seat."
She yanked open the rear door, shoved her bag in, hopped aboard, and slammed it shut.
"Mister..."
"...Oppa earlier, now you're over it?"
"N-no, oppa! Oppa if you like oppa!"
"...Oppa it is."
"Yes! Oppa!!!"
I pulled out smoothly and headed home. Glancing in the rearview, our eyes met a few times. Each one, big grin. Cute as hell.
...Cuter than I thought.
The video had her all stiff and serious—no cute vibes. But this smiling face? Changed my mind. Some people transform when they smile. So-hyun was one.
"You know what I write about, right?"
"Yeah...! The virgin sacrifice thing..."
She met my eyes clear and steady, like she'd vowed to.
Saved her life, so she'd offer her virginity? "I'm okay with it too!"
Cute pose, but no lust stirred. Wasn't trying to demand her virginity—just showing I wasn't a good guy.
"There are two girls from earlier contacts at my place..."
"Oh... You rescued them too."
"...Way more intense than you imagine."
"It's fine!"
We'll see about that.
*
Thanks to the soundproofing, no screams from the tied-up women when we hit the yard. Maybe they'd yelled themselves out and passed out.
"Here we are~!"
So-hyun's eyes had gone wide at the thick concrete walls and stayed that way.
"W-whoa, super sturdy..."
"Right?"
Thick high outer walls, surveillance cams everywhere. Even a ladder to climb up for shooting. Archery now, but...
Her awe made me wanna brag more, so I took her to the warehouse.
"Food storage here."
"Whoa...! Insane...!!!"
"This is electronics, clothes, that stuff."
"Wow... So much...!"
The clothes were embarrassing to show—slammed the door quick.
"No starving here...!"
"Right?"
"But... how'd you prep all this?"
"Hmm... Secret."
"Okay...!"
Smart, sweet, cute—she was a keeper. Smiling contentedly, she trotted over and hugged me tight.
"...Thanks, oppa."
She melted into me, tension gone. I stroked her hair naturally. Boldly, she squeezed her eyes shut and tilted her face up.
Anyone could see: kiss me. Her awkward pout screamed peck, not kiss.
Neither, though. I pinched her lips playfully and led her inside.
"Oppa!!!"
She yelped in embarrassment. Wonder if she'd still after seeing the two women.