Screams in the Storm
Shwaaa!
Amid the torrential downpour, a few gunshots rang out, followed by wisps of pale smoke rising into the air.
Kang Youngman, who had been clutching Kang Minyoung tightly, gritted his teeth against the impending pain. The Youngest shoved aside Second, who had dropped his gun, positioning himself as a human shield.
But it wasn't the group that fell.
Instead, the soldiers aiming their rifles began collapsing one by one.
Gray brain matter mixed with rainwater and flowed away somewhere.
Soon, a hazy figure entered Han Jaejeong's line of sight.
A man in a black-stained gown, bald head catching the pounding raindrops.
It was none other than Park Yi-hyun-seok.
His eyes were half-dead as he held a gold-plated pistol.
As memories of that pistol flashed through Han Jaejeong's mind, the rest of the group froze in place.
Finally realizing the shots came from a pistol, not a rifle, Kang Youngman turned his head.
Splash! Splash! Splash!
Park Yi-hyun-seok approached, stepping through puddles in the cratered, debris-strewn ground.
Click!
The group instinctively raised their weapons.
Though he'd helped in this life-or-death moment, to them, Park Yi-hyun-seok was the root of all this chaos.
They couldn't fathom his intentions.
Yet he strode forward without a care, his soulless gaze and expression rendering the group unable to pull the trigger.
Park Yi-hyun-seok headed straight for Han Jaejeong.
Facing the barrel pointed at him, he simply stared silently.
A brief silence fell.
Convinced there was no hostility, Han Jaejeong lowered his gun.
"Put off killing me for now. We need to get out of here first. The safe zone... it's done for."
Park Yi-hyun-seok said, scanning the group.
But the looks they gave him were far from friendly.
There was no reason to trust him.
Just before the missiles hit Yeouido, this man had done everything to kill them.
The cold reception didn't faze him. He passed by nonchalantly.
"I'll take the lead. Come with me, and the soldiers won't fire. Let's go."
The group's eyes turned to Han Jaejeong. After a moment's conflict, he followed Park Yi-hyun-seok.
There simply wasn't time to think it over.
Moreover, the gunfire from deep within the safe zone had noticeably died down.
Zombies could swarm them any second.
With Han Jaejeong at the front, the group ran after Park Yi-hyun-seok without pause.
Contrary to expectations, no threatening soldiers or zombies appeared on the way to the NS Group Bunker.
They seemed drawn inward by the explosions and gunfire.
Han Jaejeong thought it fortunate as he rounded the corner with Park Yi-hyun-seok, the bunker coming into view.
Then, as if lying in wait, black shapes began emerging one by one.
A massive scream shattered the pouring rain, echoing across the area.
It was a Crazy Mom.
No—Crazy Moms.
Disbelief flashed across the group's faces.
They'd never seen them gathered like this.
And the effect of their simultaneous shrieks was devastating.
A few hurriedly fired, but the screams had already spread far.
Halting midway between the Tower and bunker, the group frantically scanned their surroundings.
The path the thunderous screams had swept was utter silence—easy to detect any approaching foes.
Han Jaejeong glanced toward the safe zone's interior, where the Tower stood.
No gunfire, no screams there.
Only the relentless rain pressed down on the eerie quiet.
"We need to move."
As Park Yi-hyun-seok urged the momentarily stopped group, a roar of countless zombies erupted from the safe zone's depths, slamming against buildings and scattering.
The sheer scale evoked the gas station horde in their minds.
Rooooar!
Then came a bellow unlike any zombie—a Water Balloon, its body swollen to bursting, led an uncountable wave of infected.
All eyes turned to the bunker.
They had to run now.
This side's outer wall was intact; the only exit was through the bunker.
Detouring to the river via another route meant a long trek to the bridge.
If they reached the bunker in time, they could escape safely regardless of numbers.
Everyone sprinted with all their might.
Soaked to the bone and on treacherous ground, they couldn't match their usual speed, but the bunker wasn't far.
Han Jaejeong, leading, glanced back.
Kang Youngman ran with Kang Minyoung; Second and the Youngest flanked Anna.
In the distance, the zombie wave flickered.
The storm made it feel like staring at a horizon.
They needed more speed.
Han Jaejeong planned to open the riverside door upon arrival and wait.
Running blind like this offered no grasp of the full situation.
Park Yi-hyun-seok's breathing closed in right behind.
The doctor was keeping up surprisingly well.
As the two reached the bunker—
Han Jaejeong halted abruptly.
Park Yi-hyun-seok did too.
The riverside bunker door was slowly closing.
It wasn't designed to open or close on its own.
Far too heavy.
Through the narrowing gap, Han Jaejeong locked eyes with someone.
They clearly knew he and the group were approaching.
Yet the door kept closing.
If he wasn't mistaken, it was Lee Yeon-hui—the woman who'd given him the murder clue.
Behind her, a man shifted a massive rock.
Once shut and blocked, no opening from below.
"Don't close it!"
Han Jaejeong bellowed, squeezing out his last strength. The nearly shut door swung wide again.
But it wasn't Lee Yeon-hui who opened it—her boyfriend, the murder suspect.
Beside him, scowling Lee Yeon-hui glared reproachfully before vanishing somewhere.
Anyway, the door was open.
Standing before the riverside ascent, Han Jaejeong shoved the arriving group onward.
Zombies approached, but not close enough to overwhelm yet.
They stumbled in craters, crashed into obstacles, trampling each other—speed dropping visibly.
In that window, everyone reached the riverside safely. Han Jaejeong, alone now, shook off his throbbing thigh and thick forearm, escaping the bunker.
Already aboard a boat, Lee Yeon-hui hunched over the controls, checking everything.
Even then, she sharply yelled at her boyfriend amid the group.
"Close that door! Please!"
Gone was the meek fear from his interrogations.
Only a razor edge cut from her lips.
Hearing it, Han Jaejeong grabbed the door.
But he couldn't shut it.
Faces of Lee Beom-sik, Gaon, and Lee Hyun-soo—still missing—flashed in his mind.
"Close it quick! What are you doing?"
The anxious man nagged, relaying Lee Yeon-hui's sharp real-time barbs.
"I'll handle it, so get to the boat. Uncle, take Minyoung and go first. You're the only one who can drive it. You two too."
Han Jaejeong directed Second and the Youngest, but no one budged.
They all knew exactly who he was waiting for.
The three missing were precious to everyone.
"Go already! I'll close it at the right moment and follow. Move! No time for arguing!"
Han Jaejeong yelled, veins bulging in frustration. Reluctantly, they began departing one by one.
Now only Park Yi-hyun-seok remained beside him.
"Not going?"
Han Jaejeong asked irritably, but the doctor didn't respond.
He just stood in despair, listening to the approaching zombie roars.
Han Jaejeong stared at him.
A man who rarely showed emotion on his face, now so openly raw—it felt odd.
Or amusing, in a way.
Like realizing too late, as everything he built crumbled.
The uncharacteristic vibe made Han Jaejeong decide not to pry.
What words were needed now?
If Park Yi-hyun-seok hadn't helped, or zombies weren't swarming, they'd be at each other's throats anytime.
Being together was uncomfortable, plain fact.
Suddenly, Han Jaejeong recalled Park Yi-hyun-seok had a son.
A man who doted on his child—reaching here alone meant something dire happened.
The irony hit him.
Just hours ago, the group and Tower folk had guns trained on each other.
Undeniably.
Had Park Yi-hyun-seok not fled post-bombing, he'd have died horribly by Han Jaejeong's hand, like Kwon Jeong-woo and the soldiers.
Yet now, facing death, he'd saved the group.
Atonement or not, it baffled them.
One thing clear: without his help then, at least half would be dead.
Reasons? Safe zone's fall erased the fight; zombies became common foe.
Han Jaejeong didn't care which.
If it meant dodging death, even awkward alliance was bearable.
Vrooom!
The boat's motor hummed from the riverside.
Turning, they saw Kang Youngman at the helm, nosing the boat toward the river.
Time to go.
Han Jaejeong knew, but couldn't close the door.
Waiting felt like someone might appear.
"For your comrades?"
Park Yi-hyun-seok asked, tracing Han Jaejeong's gaze to the bunker entrance.
"Yeah."
"If anyone's joining, it has to be now. Once zombies hit the bunker, we'll be the safe zone's sole survivors."
Han Jaejeong didn't reply.
He knew it was obvious, but time remained.
Zombies descending the visible entrance? He'd shut it in a heartbeat.
But not yet.
"Not curious?"
"About what?"
Park Yi-hyun-seok pressed, eyes fixed.
"The others from the Tower. You haven't asked once."
"Does it need asking? If they're not here, reason's one."
Park Yi-hyun-seok read situations fast, as always.
"Why'd you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Save us?"
Park Yi-hyun-seok adjusted his glasses, gave a hollow smile.
Then said nothing.
As Han Jaejeong sighed, resigning—
Tat-tat!
Someone entered the bunker entrance.
From toes up: the Work Leader's closest sidekick.
Eyes meeting Han Jaejeong's, he sprinted desperately.
"Huff! Huff! Thank you."
Reaching the riverside, he bowed repeatedly, gasping.
But Han Jaejeong's gaze stayed on the entrance.
Another appeared.
Combat boots—soldier.
Han Jaejeong's hopeful glint faded to disappointment.
"Hey! Fuck! Don't close it! Close it and you're dead!"
Bellowing furiously: the Division Commander's son, Squad Leader of Kim Chan-yeol's unit.
Why was this landing-op grunt here?
Han Jaejeong nearly asked about the group, then gave up.
No way this punk cared for others.
Squad Leader safely ascended.
Glancing back, Kang Youngman watched from the helm with regretful eyes.
Lee Yeon-hui stayed silent—no more urging, perhaps after a stare-down with Anna's vigilant glare.
"Close it quick! What're you doing?"
Squad Leader scratched at Han Jaejeong's nerves, oblivious.
"Close it! No more coming. Nobody behind me!"
Han Jaejeong's silence fueled his tantrum.
"We'll all die like this? Fuck, who the hell are you waiting for?"
"Shut your trap and get on the boat before I kill you here."
But it wasn't Han Jaejeong who answered.