The Soldiers of Mapo Station
"...Are you alright?"
The ceiling above me was unfamiliar. My head throbbed with a dizzying, chaotic sensation, but slowly, the reality of my situation began to dawn on me. The subway... I was inside a subway station.
"Yeeun!"
At that moment, with a sharp snap, a flick to the forehead sent a jolt through me.
"...Huh?"
I saw Jang Yeeun’s face smiling down at me. Her shoulder was wrapped in thick bandages, but her expression was bright.
"I'm right here."
A wave of relief washed over me at the sound of her voice, and I let out a dry, breathless laugh. ...My vision is a bit blurry. Will I be okay?
"Where is this? What happened?"
As if answering my question, a man in a white coat approached.
"I am Military Surgeon Kang Jinho."
Hearing his clear voice, I looked around again. Everyone was in a safe place, and the fact that we were inside a subway station brought me some comfort. It meant we had definitely made it inside the station. But there were still so many questions.
Just then, I noticed a young man walking toward us, looking timid. He flinched as he approached, while a stern-looking soldier behind him kicked him, treating him harshly as if he were being punished. My voice slipped out before I could stop it.
"...Why are you doing that?"
I tried to sit up, but Jang Yeeun gripped my hand tightly. The warmth radiating from her fingertips calmed me. However, the stern soldier behind us shouted.
"I am terribly sorry!"
He grabbed the young man by the collar and dragged him in front of me. "This damn fool is the one who shot your companion while we were executing an infected Wuhan Virus patient!"
I froze at his words, and the soldier bowed at a ninety-degree angle, apologizing profusely. I tried to brush it off with a wry smile, saying, "Well, things like this shouldn't happen again," but he kept bowing and apologizing from the side.
"...But this guy, even when both of you had collapsed, he went past the barricade and carried you both inside. So please... please forgive him..." Tears welled up in his eyes.
"...No, you can't make me angry like this."
I tried to tell him it was fine, but he just swallowed his tears and kept his head bowed.
"Thank you so much," he said, standing up, only to kick the young man in the shin. He let out a long, heavy sigh.
"...Please, stop."
When I spoke, he finally calmed down and pointed at the young man. "This bastard's name is Park Geonho. Work him to the bone. You can do anything to him except kill him." He smacked the young man on the head hard once more. "Explain this place, Mapo Station, to them. Tell them how things are running."
Park Geonho nodded quickly. "Understood."
...Soldiers really have it rough, too.
Park Geonho apologized to us again and began to speak. Honestly, I was getting a bit annoyed, so I said, "Please, stop it," and he nodded quietly.
At that moment, the military surgeon called me aside. I looked at Jang Yeeun, and she said calmly, "Go ahead." Ah... subconsciously...
The surgeon led me into the subway car and spoke quietly. "Your body temperature is a bit low. Are you taking any medication?"
I shook my head. Then, the surgeon lightly touched my elbow. I pulled my arm away, startled by the touch. ...I'm still not used to this.
"You seem to be suffering from severe malnutrition. You’re too thin. It would be best if you ate something. If you're severely malnourished, your body temperature drops easily."
He handed me a chocolate bar. "Stay strong. Someone with such a pretty face..."
The surgeon then looked at my wrist. In that instant, I subconsciously covered it. The damn scars from the slashing still remained on my wrist. That damn yandere bitch... I just nodded, whispered a quiet "Thank you," and lowered my head. Then, I walked back to where Jang Yeeun was waiting.
"Still, it would be good to rest here for a while."
At Jang Yeeun's words, I decided to enjoy a moment of peace. There were more soldiers at Mapo Station than I had expected—about one company, roughly 150 people. There were four exits in total, but all of them were thoroughly blocked by barricades. The elevators were boarded up with planks, just like the ones we saw at the apartment complex. Soldiers stayed on the first and second basement levels, while the third basement level was stocked with military supplies and food, with volunteers and soldiers taking turns patrolling. The fourth basement was for men, and the fifth was for women and children. The military surgeon was there too. Apparently, women also served as nurses when needed. This structure was in place because the fifth basement was directly connected to the subway tracks, allowing for a quick escape in an emergency. However, some subway stations had been overrun by the infected, and there were reports of the ROK military fighting battles at other stations, leading to line closures. Still, Mapo Station was considered relatively safe. They said fierce battles were currently raging on Incheon Line 1 and the Airport Railroad.
After the introduction, we settled into our assigned spot and sat comfortably. Park Geonho even brought us food so we could rest more easily, and for the first time in a while, we relaxed. But I didn't intend to stay here long. My goal was clear: to go to Seoul National University with Jang Yeeun and use her blood to create medicine—a vaccine. To achieve that, there was no need to stay here for long. But for now, couldn't I rest for a little while? I decided to let go of all my thoughts and enjoy the peace here. Feeling that Jang Yeeun might be doing the same, she lay down beside me and looked at me with a faint smile. Her smile felt like a warm light in a cold world. I knew that this peaceful time would eventually come to an end, but until that day arrived, the desire to simply enjoy this tranquility grew stronger.
Jang Yeeun chuckled at my reaction and whispered quietly into my ear.
"...Getting shot in the shoulder, it was actually a stroke of luck."
At that moment, I stiffened in surprise. What did she mean? What on earth was she talking about?
"...The bite wound on your shoulder... it got torn up when I was shot."
For a moment, I stared blankly, unable to understand.
"They did a body search when we came in."
"A body search?!"
A body search...? While I was frozen in shock, Jang Yeeun laughed out loud, watching my face.
"A woman did it."
I felt a bit more at ease at that, but my face still turned bright red. Then, Jang Yeeun added playfully,
"Why are you like this? You said you had a girlfriend before, didn't you?"
Feeling my face burning, I wrapped myself up in the blanket.
"I don't know."
Jang Yeeun held my hand tightly and smiled. Her warmth calmed me down.
The night was deep, and the events that took place in a remote corner of Mapo Station were even darker.
In a place lit by a faint glow, the Lieutenant and I shared a cigarette.
There were no words between us. Only our faces, turned toward each other.
I took a drag, and in the short plumes of smoke, only our own silence flowed.
"Geonho."
"...Private Park Geonho, sir."
I tensed up at the Lieutenant's voice and looked up. His voice sounded weary and heavy.
"Got a light?"
"Yes, sir." I pulled out a small lighter and lit his cigarette. A moment later, silence returned. We smoked our cigarettes, looking at each other without a word. I wanted to break the awkwardness, but my mouth wouldn't open easily.
"Hoo... Geonho."
"P-Private Park Geonho, sir."
"You know you can't just brush off shooting a civilian, right?"
"...Yes. I am aware."
The Lieutenant dropped his head slightly and sighed heavily.
"For now, I'll do my best to handle the report. Even if I say it wasn't a misfire, but that it went off during a struggle... you know what I mean?"
"Yes. Thank you, sir."
The Lieutenant took another drag and sighed again.
"I know the situation, so I'll try to talk them into not giving you a disciplinary action... but it might depend on the battalion commander's discretion. Keep that in mind."
"...Yes. Thank you, sir."
"When we return later, keep your mouth shut. Well, I don't even know if a return is possible in this situation."
"Yes, sir. Understood."
"Was there something the operations officer told you to write?"
"Yes. He told me to write a statement."
"Right. Write that and go see the platoon leader. He said he has something to tell you."
The Lieutenant flicked his cigarette butt to the ground and stood up.
"Yes, sir. Understood."
"Don't be too scared. Just don't cause any more accidents."
The Lieutenant left one last remark and patted my shoulder.
"Private Park Geonho... thank you, sir."
"Forget it. Go on. Come to think of it, I heard the situation in Gimpo is bad. So don't let your guard down just because we're in a safe place."
Damn it, hell... this can't go on. The battle raging at Gimpo Airport isn't a one- or two-day fight. The infected keep crawling in endlessly, and we're in a state where we can do nothing but hold on. We can't see the sky, and we have nowhere to run. The situation is horrific. Damn it.
The voices coming over the radio, saying that support is impossible. How many times have I heard that now? Other subway stations are saying the situation isn't good either. They say they're in the middle of battles with the infected and can't provide additional support. Damn it!
At that moment, I threw the radio. The metal parts bounced in the air, and the clattering sound echoed in my ears. Even that sound made my mood worse. My subordinates were still reporting the situation next to me, but I didn't want to hear it.
"Colonel, the infected are crossing Exit 2! The front line is on the verge of collapse!"
"Colonel, additional infected are gathering near Exit 3! We need to deal with that side too!"
...I know. I know the front line is worsening and that we're fucked. Do you think I'm acting like this because I don't know?
"I know! I know we're fucked!"
I barely suppressed my voice, which felt like it was about to explode, and now heat was rising through my entire body. How long do I have to hold out? How long?
"Colonel, there must be a way to handle the situation..."
"Stop talking!"
Fear was etched onto the faces of my adjutants. In their eyes, there was a helplessness, as if they already knew the answer. Because they knew that no one could change the situation anymore.
...But what could I do? I gathered my gear again and forced my exhausted body to keep going. Somehow, I have to hold on. If I am the Colonel of this unit, I have to lead these people. If I fall here, everyone dies. The moment Gimpo Airport is breached, the Line 9 and Line 5 subway tunnels will be breached in an instant.
"Let's just watch until we die, damn it."