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Translator: penny
Chapter: 007
Chapter Title: Escape
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The day of the decisive battle dawned.
Lunchtime.
This was the perfect time to eat—and to escape.
As I descended the stairs to the parking lot, my phone rang. It was Cha Director.
"Yes, Director."
- The President and cabinet members have been hit. They were holding a cabinet meeting in Busan when zombies attacked.
I already knew, but I played dumb.
"So now Martial Law Commander Bang Chan-jun takes over?"
- The Defense Minister is acting on his authority. But as you said, real power will go to the Martial Law Commander.
Cha Director knew the Defense Minister was an indecisive gray-zone type of guy.
That's why he admitted real power would end up with the Martial Law Commander.
"He's dangerous. You know that better than anyone, Director."
- He's reached the top position now. Things will change.
"You know he's not the type."
- There's no other way right now. All we can do is hope the Prosecutor General and commanders give good advice.
Cha Director was in a position where he had to obey orders, so he had no way to stop it.
I had to eliminate the Martial Law Commander myself.
Then make sure Ground Operations Commander Jang Tae-yang took charge. He had outstanding tactical skills, and more importantly, he cared deeply for his men, making him perfect for a crisis.
- Where are you headed? Uoju will be temporarily released in six days.
"I saw the news. I'll head to the Hanlight Resort in Haeundae first, then move on."
- Checking out Hanlight Group?
"Conveniently, I'm with Oh Jong-seong, CEO of Hanlight Resort. I'll verify things there."
- Got it. Be careful.
I ended the call and headed from the third floor to the second when I ran into a group of people.
What stopped me was the grandmother.
A middle-aged woman stepped forward, her face tearful.
"We heard you're leaving. Take us with you."
"What are you talking about?"
"We overheard your friend on the broadcast earlier. He said you're going to the Haeundae resort."
Song Seok-gu, that idiot.
I'd told him to keep it secret, but he'd blabbed it on his stream and got caught.
"We came for my mother's seventieth birthday trip, and this happened. Please take us too. The AC barely works, and Mom's suffering. We have relatives in Haeundae."
"Take us too. We live in Haeundae. They say it's safe there."
A young couple joined in.
Five from the grandmother's family, plus the couple—seven in total.
They were blocking the way, so I couldn't just push through, and with the grandmother watching, it wasn't easy to be harsh.
Above all, we didn't have time.
"Let's go, quick."
"Thank you."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The seven-seater SUV had Song Seok-gu at the wheel, with me in the passenger seat.
Right behind us sat Bok Cheol-su and Bok Su-jeong, and in the very back: Ma Tae-beom, Oh Jong-seong, and Ye Ji-ah.
Ma Tae-beom was full of complaints.
"What if they followed us?"
"We'll split in Haeundae. Their home's there."
I wanted to chew out Song Seok-gu for leaking the secret but held back.
He was driving, so better to talk privately later.
The zombies in the parking lot had already been cleared by Ma Tae-beom.
I checked the rearview mirror: two cars following us.
"Bro, alleys?"
"Safer that way."
"Got it."
As we pulled out of the parking lot, zombies were huddled in corners, tearing into corpses.
"Lunchtime for them too, huh?"
"Not the time for jokes. Focus on driving."
"Yes, sir."
The sky was growing overcast.
Ye Ji-ah spoke up.
"Was rain in the forecast?"
"Nope."
"Feels like it's about to pour."
"Weather Service is never right anyway."
"They say it's hard to predict lately because of the climate crisis."
I kept my eyes forward, listening to Ye Ji-ah and Ma Tae-beom chat.
No major threats until we passed the Community Welfare Center.
Zombies had wandered into houses and the center itself; the roads were empty.
"Lucky none here."
"Zombies must like busy streets. Good call, bro."
"Quiet and drive. Road's narrow."
"Understood."
"Whoa, ahead!"
Ye Ji-ah spotted it first with her sharp eyes; soon everyone saw the zombie horde.
They blocked the road like a cavalry charge.
I snapped.
"Veer left!"
Song Seok-gu yanked the wheel left.
Vreeeeooom!
A blaring horn.
A motorcycle was coming from the opposite direction.
Barely enough room for one vehicle.
Crack! Scraaaape!
The right side mirror shattered, fender scraped, sparks flying.
The bike squeezed through by a hair.
"Hey! You fucking asshole! Wanna die, die alone!"
Song Seok-gu yelled out the window.
Ma Tae-beom glanced at me and said.
"Downhill ahead. You know this route?"
"Left at the next alley."
"You a cabbie or something?"
"I know the area."
"Seok-gu, zombie horde soon."
"Huh?"
Song Seok-gu blinked in confusion, then his eyes widened.
Zombie pack 150 meters ahead.
"How'd you know?"
"That biker looked pale as a ghost. Fleeing zombies."
"National Intelligence Service elite, alright."
"Sounds sarcastic."
"Not at all."
"Left turn. Steep downhill after."
We turned left as I said, and an inclined staircase appeared.
"Fuck!"
No wonder Song Seok-gu cursed.
Nearly 45-degree slope.
"Hold on tight!"
Thud-thunk!
The car lurched forward, shifting everyone's weight.
Thunk-thunk!
"Hit the brakes!"
"Brakes aren't working!"
Bam—bam!
Heads smacked the headliner.
"My head's gonna crack!"
"Ow!"
Railing at the end of the stairs.
At this speed, we'd crash through and tumble.
"Floor it once!"
Screeeeech—
Thankfully, brakes caught right at the end. Song Seok-gu wrenched the wheel; tire smoke stung my nose.
"Man! Thought that was my life flashing before my eyes!"
Ma Tae-beom sounded shaken.
"Brakes really failed back there."
"Baek, check the car when we stop. You seem handy."
"Will do."
Bok Cheol-su proved useful after all.
"Bro, where to?"
"Straight, left at the fork."
I checked the rearview.
The trailing car was there, but not the one behind it.
Inexperienced driver crash?
Ma Tae-beom looked back.
"No sign of the young folks' car."
"Drive a bit more, wait at the fork. Left turn to unpaved road. Straight to gas station sign, stop there. Convenience store attached."
"Bro's a human GPS."
"Hurry."
"Food at the store. Starving—skipped lunch."
A few zombies loitered at the fork.
I glanced at the shopping district.
Most shutters down—people hiding inside, maybe.
I pulled out my smartphone, checked news.
"New updates?"
Ma Tae-beom asked; I replied while scanning breaking news.
"Zombies spotted in Incheon Songdo too—sealed off."
"Spreading nationwide."
"Japan's obliterated. China sealed borders. Spreading to US, Europe, South America. Africa's dying from Super Ebola."
"North Korea?"
"Affected by China, probably."
Song Seok-gu chimed in.
"So they nuke us?"
"Who knows."
"We're dead then."
"Nuke or zombie bite—which you prefer?"
"Do zombies think? Looked brainless."
"Pure instinct. Bloodthirsty monsters."
"If I turn, kill me quick. Might still be conscious."
I just listened to Song Seok-gu and Ma Tae-beom.
I already knew North Korea's fate.
Caught off-guard by zombies from China, infected North Korean troops joined them southbound. They'd shatter our lines, even overrun Gangnam as the Maginot Line.
Had to find and destroy the lab making those Chinese zombies.
That was my mission.
The car turned left at the fork onto the dirt road.
Quiet outskirts.
Gravel patches, puddles everywhere.
Ma Tae-beom asked.
"Convenience store here?"
"Yep."
Development area in progress.
Half-built structures dotted around.
The store was for construction workers—first reason it existed here.
The bumpy gravel made the car jolt constantly.
Then.
"Convenience store!"
"Where? Where?"
"There!"
Everyone got excited.
Stomachs growling, apparently.
We parked 50 meters out.
"Wait here. I'll scout."
Bok Cheol-su got out too.
"I'll check the car."
"Thanks."
No sunlight pierced the clouds—rain brewing.
Felt like the world shrouded in death's veil.
I advanced cautiously, scanning around.
Bloodstains on the ground.
Dry—been a while.
Eerie silence hit as I reached the store.
Atmosphere of something happened—or about to.
I peered through the glass door.
Blood splatters on the floor. Upset drink cups, scattered snacks, broken glass.
Zombies had been here, no doubt.
But no one inside visible. I opened the door, checked left: writing on the wall.
[Zomb]
Blood-written letters. Clearly scrawled while fending off a zombie to warn others.
Didn't finish before vanishing where?
Then.
Thud-thud-thud!
Quick footsteps.
I turned: five from the trailing car running up.
"No one's here! Thought I'd starve."
"Move!"
The middle-aged woman shoved me aside.
Nothing like her pleading back at the hotel.
Like someone entering vs. leaving the bathroom.
Exactly.
The grandmother went in too, and they crammed kimbap, bread, lunchboxes, milk, coffee into their mouths.
I grabbed two kimbap rolls and two drinks, headed out.
"Bros! Jackpot! Convenience store here? For real? Unbelievable! Gonna raid it all on stream!"
Song Seok-gu was filming loudly.
"Working hard."
"Gotta for super money rain."
Song Seok-gu grinned and entered.
I approached Bok Cheol-su checking the car.
Hood open, pressing tires with a pen.
"Teacher, what're you doing?"
"Checking brake pads. This ticking sound means okay. Hood's fine too. Probably that kid panicked."
"Glad you're here."
"If I help."
"Eat."
I handed him kimbap and drinks.
"Thanks. Can we hit the store too? Those folks in the back car looked starved."
"Go ahead."
I looked at Oh Jong-seong in the back seat.
"Not hungry?"
"Pass. Can't eat that crap. Hurry to the resort."
"One sec."
Then.
Song Seok-gu came sprinting back, face ashen.
"Bro! Zombie! Zombie! Zombie!"
Screams erupted from inside the store.