The Plotted Ki-chul
"The car's broken down—we'll have to walk the rest of the way!"
Out here in the wilderness, finding another vehicle was impossible.
Ki-chul frowned, checking his phone.
"It's less than ten kilometers to the coast. Once we reach the shoreline and board a boat, we'll be safe."
The students all understood this.
Zombies possessed terrifyingly keen hearing and smell. The slightest noise or scent could draw them in.
Even when they tried to rest in the car the previous night, no one had managed to sleep. Anxiety pressed down on them, every creak or whisper making them fear the undead were about to descend.
Thankfully, the night had passed without incident. But if they lived with that constant tension every day, they would collapse long before zombies could devour them.
---
In the group, a lanky male student leaned toward a girl with concern.
"Jenny, don't worry—I'll protect you."
Jenny glanced at his stick-thin frame and rolled her eyes.
"You'd better worry about protecting yourself first. And another thing—call me Kim Jenny from now on."
She ignored his wounded expression, returned to the car, and shouldered her backpack.
The others followed suit, packing their belongings.
From the shadows, Zhao Dongxu's expression darkened. A flicker of cruelty passed through his eyes.
He had chased Kim Jenny for two and a half years, yet she never spared him a glance.
You bitch… You forced me to do this.
The thought burned in his mind.
---
Just then, Ki-chul emerged from the car with his own pack.
"Hey, brat—what are you standing around for? Grab your supplies. No one's going to share food with you."
On the way here, they had stopped at a gas station. After clearing a dozen zombies, they had scavenged the supermarket, cramming the car full of food and water.
But now, they could only carry what their bodies could handle.
Zhao Dongxu pasted on a smile. "Alright, Ki-chul-sensei."
He turned to the car, but once out of Ki-chul's sight, his eyes went cold.
If he wanted his plan to succeed, the troublesome teacher had to go. With only two men in the group—himself and Ki-chul—removing his rival would give him free rein.
But it wouldn't be easy. He had seen Ki-chul knock down three zombies barehanded.
---
A few minutes later, seven or eight students set out with Ki-chul toward the beach.
Ten kilometers wasn't far, but burdened with heavy backpacks, it would take at least two hours.
Half an hour in, the students were already exhausted, panting heavily. Zhao Dongxu, out of shape from years of laziness, lagged worse than anyone.
Then, in the distance, they spotted a small town.
"There's a car!" a girl cried.
Sure enough, a pickup truck sat abandoned on the roadside. No zombies were in sight.
"Teacher Ki-chul, should we check it? If it works, it could save us so much time," the girl urged.
Ki-chul hesitated, then shook his head.
"No. It's too close to the town. If zombies rush out, we'll be trapped. We're close enough to the sea—let's not risk it."
The students nodded reluctantly and pressed on.
Only Zhao Dongxu fell back, eyes gleaming. Quietly, he slipped away toward the pickup.
---
Minutes later, he reached the vehicle. Peering inside, he grinned.
No zombies. Keys in the ignition.
He tossed his pack onto the seat and turned the key. The engine roared to life on the first try.
But instead of driving off, Zhao Dongxu pressed the horn hard.
"BEEEEEP—"
The shrill blast shattered the silence.
Almost instantly, the town erupted.
Zombies poured out from alleys and side streets, their roars rising into a chorus. Within seconds, dozens sprinted toward the sound, their numbers swelling by the moment.
Once the horde was nearly upon him, Zhao Dongxu floored the accelerator—straight toward his unsuspecting companions.
---
The group had stopped in their tracks, alarmed by the horn.
In the deathly quiet, the noise was unmistakable.
"Teacher Ki-chul! Zhao Dongxu is missing!" a girl suddenly shrieked.
Ki-chul's face hardened.
"Damn it!" He realized at once—Zhao Dongxu had gone for the truck.
"You all keep moving! I'll check it out!"
But before he could act, the pickup appeared at the end of the road, barreling toward them—followed by a swarm of zombies.
"Get in the truck!" Zhao Dongxu shouted, feigning urgency.
Ki-chul glared, fury in his eyes. "I'll deal with you later."
Still, he hurried to help the students scramble into the truck bed. Only when everyone was aboard did he reach for the vehicle himself.
The zombies were still sixty meters away. Plenty of time.
But Zhao Dongxu had been watching. The moment Ki-chul reached for the side, he stomped the gas.
The truck roared, lurching forward—knocking Ki-chul hard to the ground.
"Bastard!" Ki-chul bellowed, pain shooting through his body.
It was no accident. Zhao Dongxu wanted him dead.
Clenching his teeth, Ki-chul forced himself up and sprinted after the truck, rage burning in his chest.
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