The Doctor's Sacrifice
The doctor, fed up with listening, pulled out his pistol and aimed it at the Squad Leader.
"You bald fucking psycho…!"
"Try talking shit one more time if you wanna die. You clearly don't know me yet."
Gulp!
Meeting the doctor's eyes, the Squad Leader swallowed dryly without realizing it.
This guy was nothing like Jeong I-jin or Jaejeong—the vibe was completely different.
With that chilling glare and a gun in hand, he looked dangerous enough to make even a hardcore psychopath weep.
The Squad Leader had at least enough sense not to push further and bolted toward the boat.
Watching it all, Jaejeong grinned in admiration.
"Feels damn good."
"There's shit you say and shit you don't. Especially not to your elders…"
Jaejeong smirked, and the doctor scowled.
"What's so funny?"
"Nah, just never seen you pissed off like this before."
"You wouldn't be? Some snot-nosed kid talking smack about my bald head…"
As the two bantered, zombie groans echoed from the bunker like they were right outside.
Looked like the Squad Leader was right—no one else was coming.
"Hoo…"
Jaejeong let out a long sigh and gripped the door in resignation.
Dragging this out any longer would put everyone at risk.
It was really time to go.
Creeeak!
Jaejeong flexed his arm, and the massive door slammed shut in an instant.
Thud!
"Hold on."
The doctor grabbed Jaejeong's arm and stared at the bunker entrance.
"…Sounds like a human voice."
Jaejeong perked up his ears too.
Something was audible amid the zombie roars, but it was muffled.
The sounds grew clearer, bit by bit, approaching the bunker.
Soon, frantic footsteps on the stairs came with a desperate shout.
"Ah! Help! Get lost! Stay back!"
Bolting into the bunker was none other than Hyun-soo.
Jaejeong's face, wilted like a dying flower, lit up with relief.
He reached out hurriedly.
"Hyun-soo!"
"Huh? Hyung!"
"Get up here quick!"
Hyun-soo grabbed Jaejeong's pot-lid-sized hand, and his body shot up to the riverbank like he'd ridden an amusement ride.
"You alone?"
Jaejeong kept his eyes on the stairs as he asked. Hyun-soo's eyes went wide.
"What? You mean someone's still not here?"
His gaze shifted to the riverbank, spotting the missing face on the boat, and tears welled up.
"…They're still not here?"
Jaejeong nodded.
Lee Beom-sik never showed.
Not coming by now meant he was either holed up somewhere safe in the zone—or turned into one of them.
Probably the latter.
Just as Jaejeong stared at the stairs with faint hope, countless shapes poured into the bunker.
He squeezed his eyes shut, shoving thoughts of Beom-sik aside, and slammed the door with all his might.
Creeeak! Bang!
The doctor and Hyun-soo jammed the rock against it from the side.
This weight would hold for a while, if not forever.
Thud! Thud!
Zombies climbing over each other battered the door right after it shut, shaking the heavy rock side to side.
Urgency flashed in the doctor's eyes.
"Let's go."
Jaejeong nodded. Hyun-soo looked shocked that the doctor had helped with the rock.
'Why the hell is this guy here?'
But there was no time for questions.
Escape first.
The three sprinted for the boat on the riverbank.
The jolting thuds at their backs made their rain-soaked legs feel leaden.
Hyun-soo boarded first, Jaejeong right behind.
Thankfully, the boat was big enough for everyone.
Jaejeong extended a hand to the doctor still on the bank.
He couldn't just leave the guy after coming this far.
Sure, part of him wanted to ditch him thinking back on everything—but the help in key moments was undeniable.
And there'd been plenty of decent times that left a bitter taste.
For now… he had to bring him.
Jaejeong wasn't heartless enough to abandon a rival like this.
"Get on."
Jaejeong's massive hand clasped the doctor's.
But the doctor just gripped back—didn't budge.
"What're you doing? No time."
Jaejeong tugged again, but the doctor stood rooted, gazing at the riverbank with lonely eyes.
Finally, he removed his rain-fogged glasses and spoke leisurely, out of place in the chaos.
"Even crossing the river, you won't last a day like this. It's been a while, but the last confirmed rescue signal was the train station. The ticket attendants. Meet them, board the train, head out of the city. That's your safest bet right now."
In other words, he wasn't coming.
All eyes on the boat locked onto him.
Jaejeong couldn't respond, face twisted in disbelief.
One step onto the boat and he'd live—why throw it away?
Reading Jaejeong's expression, the doctor sighed shortly.
Then he rolled up his sleeve on the gripped arm.
Instantly, everyone on the boat drew weapons, aiming at him.
A child's tooth mark was tattooed on his arm like a bite.
Black veins snaked up from the wound like tree branches, stopped by his tied necktie, staining his arm pitch black.
As Jaejeong eyed the tiny tooth shape, piecing together what happened—
Thud!
The bunker's door burst open, unleashing a zombie wave.
"This… is my last shred of conscience. Forgive me."
The doctor slapped the boat twice.
Smack! Smack!
Staring straight into Jaejeong's eyes with a serene, gentle face no one had ever seen.
Youngman, who'd watched silently, grimaced bitterly and gunned the engine.
Jaejeong didn't let go.
Couldn't.
Rival or not, this wasn't how he wanted it to end.
A shootout would've been easier to stomach.
Leaving him like this would haunt him forever.
Vroom!
The boat pulled away from the bank, and their clasped hands slowly parted.
A raindrop on the doctor's chin fell as they finally released.
On the shrinking riverbank, zombies swarmed, blackening everything.
The doctor, now fingertip-sized, still locked eyes with them.
Moments later.
Zombies engulfed him like a wave, and he vanished.
That was it.
The safe zone built on countless sacrifices, the power struggles within, the survivors—all crumbled into a hollow dream overnight.
Memories of those people and irreplaceable days flashed through their minds.
But reality offered no such luxury.
Not even time to mourn.
As always, no room for sentiment.
From the moment they left the safe zone, every sense had to revert to months ago.
Every breath worrying about the next, every moment demanding the best choice.
Mistakes meant death.
Gazing across the river from the boat, Jaejeong's eyes had changed.
Problems piled up like mountains right in front of them.
No firecrackers to lure zombies, Anna out of arrows.
Weapons? Just a few rifles.
No drinking water, no place to dry soaked clothes.
Jaejeong scanned the group.
Time to check combat readiness.
Youngman and Anna were fine.
No arrows? Give 'em anything—they'd handle their share.
Hyun-soo was green but survived ordeals.
Second and Youngest would manage.
The rest were issues.
Minyoung went without saying; Lee Yeon-hui looked fragile, and the Work Leader's sidekick cowered in terror.
At least Yeon-hui's boyfriend might pull his weight if ordered.
The Squad Leader? Unreliable.
No standout skills beyond bossing people around.
Out of eleven, only six solid fighters.
Meaning half carried the rest.
Jaejeong leaned into Youngman's ear at the helm.
"Hold up, stop for a sec."
"Got it."
Youngman halted mid-river, grasping the intent.
He'd worried since takeoff too.
Chaos had ruled till now, but reality demanded facing facts.
Know the situation to chart the path.
Jaejeong stood before the puzzled group.
"Casual talk. First, detach bayonets from all rifles."
Second, Youngest, Squad Leader, and rifle holders complied.
"Minyoung, Yeon-hui—grab one each."
Second and Youngest handed them over quick.
Youngman didn't flinch at Minyoung arming up like before—experience dulled it.
"Not forcing. But when shit hits, protect yourself. Every moment's a crisis now. Next, guys."
Jaejeong eyed the Work Leader's sidekick, Yeon-hui's boyfriend, and Squad Leader.
"You three. Nah, Squad Leader's good. You two—what's your names?"
"Jo Min-gyu."
"Jeong Sang-ho."
Yeon-hui's pudgy boyfriend was Jo Min-gyu; the sidekick, Jeong Sang-ho.
"Right. Min-gyu, Sang-ho—man up, do your part. And I'm clear: lag behind, you're done. Saving one could kill us all."
"Wait."
Sang-ho pushed down his fear and spoke.
"Speak."
"Where we headed?"
"Train station. Why?"
"…And after?"
Sang-ho wiped rain from his face.
"Gotta leave Seoul."
"Fine. But how the hell we getting there? Say we reach the station—then what?"
"Got a better idea?"
Jaejeong probed.
Sang-ho had none, as expected.
"We'll figure it out. Train station's crawling inside—who knows how many zombies."
"Get off."
"What?"
Question marks exploded on Sang-ho's panicked face.
Jaejeong was firm.
"Off the boat."
He aimed his rifle.
Sang-ho swallowed like a mute.
"Anyone unhappy—out now. Not your personal taxi service."
Jaejeong scanned them.
No complaints after that display.
"From here, I call shots. Stay sharp, no stragglers."
That was his verdict.
Seoul's crowds meant zombie hordes.
Better flee the city.
Settling here, dodging death daily? Nah—head to suburbs or small towns for better odds.
Tons of hurdles to board a train, sure—but same staying put.
Every step like boarding under siege.
Finding shelter mid-Seoul for this crew? Near impossible.
Plus, rain and wind masked them—proven fact.
No telling when next chance.
Die here, die there? Might as well try leaving.
"Let's go."
Jaejeong slung his rifle and clapped Youngman's shoulder.
Infected People