Chapter 26

As though spellbound, Do Muwon followed Yu-su’s figure as it melted into the darkness.

The zombies that had filled the building had already drained away like an outgoing tide. The group climbed to the second floor, putting down the few creatures that remained, all of them missing their lower bodies or so badly mangled that they could no longer move properly.

It was a mixed-use building, with shops occupying the lower floors and studio apartments above. Leaving the endless roar outside behind them, they reached the second floor, where bloodstains and scraps of flesh covered the corridor.

Jeong Yu-su’s gaze immediately settled on a travel agency.

Its large, once-sophisticated door had already been broken and now hung from its frame in tatters, so they continued past it. After passing a nail salon and a skincare clinic, Yu-su stopped in front of a Korean medicine clinic.

Do Muwon approached the entrance first.

“Here?”

“Yeah.”

“Wait.”

He pressed his cheek against the translucent door and held his breath, listening. After several seconds, he slowly pushed it open.

The door offered no resistance.

His expression darkened further. He swept the beam of his flashlight across the interior and gave a faint whistle. When nothing stirred in response, he glanced back at the others and nodded.

“It’s empty. Let’s go in.”

The Korean medicine clinic was in severe disarray. One of the massage chairs from the waiting room had been pushed against the door, and there were unmistakable traces that something had been eaten there.

Joo Hee-eun slipped inside, braced her trembling legs, and spoke in a small voice between ragged breaths.

“Someone… huff… someone must have been staying here.”

“They probably went up to the roof,” Muwon surmised.

“I suppose so.”

Jeong Yu-su gestured for Do Muwon to inspect the herbal medicine room and the reception counter, then moved away to check the division head’s office and treatment room himself.

“The herbal medicine room is locked,” Muwon reported. “The counter’s empty.”

“Nothing here either,” Yu-su called back.

“Um, Assistant Manager?” Hee-eun tested the entrance. “The door won’t lock. Should we block it with these massage chairs?”

“Move aside. I’ll do it.”

The moment Do Muwon stepped toward the massage chair, however, the clinic door burst open.

Four people stumbled into the room and recoiled in shock when they found themselves facing Do Muwon, his mountain-like frame covered in chunks and smears of zombie remains.

“Zombies…” someone gasped.

“They’re people,” another voice corrected.

As Do Muwon spoke, Jeong Yu-su swept his flashlight over the newcomers.

There were four of them: a gaunt middle-aged man, a sturdy-looking younger man, a spirited middle-aged woman, and an elderly woman leaning heavily against her for support.

Do Muwon broke the standoff with a shrug.

“Looks like we’re the uninvited guests.”

“I suppose so…”

The sturdy young man stepped forward. Although he was smaller than Do Muwon, he appeared to be their leader. He ushered the others farther into the clinic before facing them.

“Were you people staying here?”

“Yes. Who are you, and why are you here…?”

“We were running from the zombies and came in through this building,” Jeong Yu-su explained. “We didn’t realize anyone else was already here.”

When he finished speaking, silence settled over the room once more.

After cautiously studying both groups, Joo Hee-eun stepped forward. “I’m sorry to ask, but we can’t go anywhere else at this point. Could you let us stay here?”

“Hmm…”

“That would be difficult.”

As the young man hesitated, the middle-aged woman beside him tugged at his sleeve. The rejection in her expression was unmistakable.

“We barely have enough food for ourselves, and… you know that, Jujae.”

The man called Lee Jujae bent closer to the middle-aged woman, and the two began whispering. Fragments of their conversation drifted across the room.

“Rescue in three days.”

“Until then.”

“Dangerous.”

“Inside.”

Their discussion dragged on until Jeong Yu-su finally prepared to speak.

“Aaaah! Aaaaaah!”

A zombie’s screech cut through the clinic, freezing everyone in place.

Heavy, uneven footsteps pounded along the hallway outside. The two groups held their breath and exchanged tense glances, waiting until the creature had completely passed the clinic and disappeared farther down the corridor.

Only after the sound had faded did Jeong Yu-su take several steps toward the others and lower his voice.

“We have no intention of fighting you or taking anything by force.”

“Well, I should hope not,” the middle-aged woman retorted.

“We only need somewhere to stay until the rescue team arrives in three days. For now, I think we should block the door.”

As soon as Jeong Yu-su finished speaking, Do Muwon strode forward.

“I’ll do it.”

“No, wait.” The woman moved to stop him. “We haven’t given you permission to…”

“Ma’am.”

Lee Jujae interrupted her with a shake of his head, then stepped forward to help Do Muwon move the massage chairs.

Once all three chairs had been wedged firmly against the entrance, everyone retreated toward the rear of the treatment room as though they had silently agreed upon the arrangement.

The two groups sat facing each other with a treatment bed between them, serving as a makeshift barrier. Jeong Yu-su placed his flashlight on a shelf, and its beam finally illuminated every face clearly. The atmosphere remained painfully stiff and suffocating. Surprisingly, the first person to break the silence was the middle-aged woman who had objected most strongly to allowing them inside.

She looked toward Jeong Yu-su.

“About earlier… I’m sorry, young man.”

“Oh…” Yu-su shifted awkwardly. “No, it’s fine.”

“I hope you understand that I didn’t have much choice. In a situation like this, you can’t simply let strangers wander in whenever they please, can you?”

Jeong Yu-su nodded, and Lee Jujae joined the conversation with a more relaxed expression.

“We’re all a little sensitive because we’re starving. Why don’t we introduce ourselves first?”

“Let’s do that,” Yu-su agreed. “I’m Jeong Yu-su. I’m twenty-nine.”

“As you heard, I’m Jujae. Lee Jujae. I’m thirty-eight, and I run the gym in this building.”

Despite his youthful appearance, Lee Jujae was unexpectedly close to forty.

The middle-aged woman who had spoken earlier introduced herself next.

“I’m Jung Yeong-ae. This is my mother.”

“Pleased to meet you,” the elderly woman said. “You young people must have had a terrible time getting here.”

The gaunt middle-aged man lowered his gaze. “Shin Daeseok. I’m the building’s security guard.”

Jung Yeong-ae had a somewhat stout build, while Shin Daeseok, whose hair had begun to gray, was still wearing the security guard’s cap that matched his occupation.

“I’m Joo Hee-eun. I’m twenty-seven, so please feel free to speak casually with me. I work at the same company as these two, and we’ve been traveling together. Also…”

Grrrrrrumble.

The roar of someone’s stomach cut her off.

The white-haired grandmother, whom Jung Yeong-ae had introduced as her mother, gave a feeble smile. The wrinkles around her eyes deepened with embarrassment.

“Oh, my. I’m sorry. How shameful, making such a sound at my age…”

Seeing her rub her withered stomach, Jeong Yu-su leaned forward. “You said earlier that you were starving. Is there no food left here?”

“No,” Lee Jujae answered. “We searched the surrounding area while things were noisy outside, but all we managed to find was water and a few drinks.”

“Ah…”

Do Muwon and Joo Hee-eun both looked toward Jeong Yu-su. Their expressions made it clear that the decision rested entirely with him. Yu-su considered it for a moment before unzipping the makeshift bathrobe backpack he had been carrying.

“We have some snacks and bread. Let’s share them.”

Amid a chorus of growling stomachs, they arranged apple cookies, chocolate bars, packets of nuts, and caramel biscuits neatly across the treatment bed.

The sight of the food drew an audible gasp.

“Are you sure you can spare all of this?” Lee Jujae asked.

“Yes. It isn’t much, but it should be enough to take the edge off your hunger. Please, eat.”

“If it weren’t for that son of a bitch, we’d have twice this much…!” Hee-eun clenched her fist, unable to suppress her frustration.

Lee Jujae’s eyes widened. “Son of a bitch?”

“Yeah. One of our coworkers was running with us, but the bastard shoved me when things got dangerous and took off with the bag.”

“Wow.” Lee Jujae grimaced. “He really is a son of a bitch.”

“Tsk, tsk…” the elderly woman muttered.

Joo Hee-eun suddenly turned toward Jeong Yu-su.

“Come to think of it, Assistant Manager, are you all right? You took a pretty bad fall.”

Her willingness to talk had gradually softened the mood between the two groups. The gazes directed toward Jeong Yu-su now carried a trace of concern, perhaps helped by the sight of the sociable Joo Hee-eun opening the packets and passing the food around one piece at a time.

Jeong Yu-su merely furrowed his brow.

“What about you, Hee-eun?”

“I’m perfectly fine. I wouldn’t have fallen at all if I hadn’t gotten distracted.”

“That’s a relief.” Yu-su glanced down at himself. “Um… I think I’m bleeding, so I’m going to check the wound.”

“Where are you planning to do that?” Jung Yeong-ae asked.

Lee Jujae and Shin Daeseok exchanged a brief glance.

After a moment of silence, Jeong Yu-su answered, “The director’s office looked empty.”

“Ah… Right. All right. Go take a look.”

Jeong Yu-su rose and headed toward the division head’s office.

Do Muwon glanced at Joo Hee-eun. She nodded, silently telling him to follow, and he soon disappeared after Yu-su. Among those who remained, quiet whispers continued about the helicopter collision and the collapse of the building outside.

Meanwhile, Jeong Yu-su entered the director’s office, opened the window, and stared blankly out at the ruined world.

***