[TV News plays]
"...What they're calling a virus on social media—it spreads. Who knows? This could be a chemical attack. That's why the military and police are involved..."
**
I spoke briefly with the women in Room 401.
They had come on a trip to cheer up one of them after a breakup and had been drinking the night before. When they woke, chaos had already begun outside. They saw the same things I had from the window.
They were too scared to leave, so they hid inside. Then suddenly, I walked in through the door.
They were understandably terrified.
And then—
"Is this... a zombie outbreak?"
Smart. She went straight to the core of it.
"...It might be. But I don't know. I came to find out—and now I'm trying to escape."
I was honest. No point in giving false hope.
"Then how do we get out?"
Maybe not smart—maybe just someone who enjoys making things harder.
"...Still figuring that out."
A pause, followed by a skeptical silence.
"Anyway, I promise—we'll escape together. For now, this is the safest place. Please hang in there. If you need anything, come find me."
I left the room.
It had been a difficult conversation.
Then—
"Lieutenant!"
Se-hyun's urgent voice.
Where?
"Where are you?!"
"Here, sir!"
Room 403.
I rushed in.
Se-hyun stood apart from Ji-won.
"Something's wrong with him."
He was right.
Ji-won sat on the bed, staring at me.
His eyes—empty.
The same eyes I'd seen more than once today.
"Ji-won. Hey. You okay?"
I approached cautiously.
He stared at me and whispered hoarsely:
"...Water..."
Se-hyun handed me a water bottle from the fridge. I opened it and stepped closer.
Then—a voice from hallway.
"Um... Can we have some water too?"
Ji-won turned toward the voice.
I stepped between him and the door.
Without turning, I said, "Could we bring it later, please?"
Ji-won suddenly stood up.
...He shouldn't be able to do that. Not with his injury.
I kept my eyes on him.
"Please go back inside."
No response. No footsteps.
Then he lunged.
"Graaah!"
His right arm didn't move—but he attacked with everything else. Teeth, left hand.
It wasn't complex—but it was relentless, and this was a confined space. I hesitated. He was one of my own.
Then—
"Aaaah!"
A scream from the hallway.
Ji-won turned toward it.
"No, dammit!"
I desperately grabbed him, but didn't know how to subdue him.
He shoved me aside and bolted for the door.
Bang! Se-hyun quickly slammed and locked it.
Now it was just us three—and we had to subdue him.
I needed Yoo. But he wasn't here.
Then I'd do it myself.
Ji-won bared his teeth again. Se-hyun slowly edged closer.
Ji-won lunged—at Se-hyun this time.
Se-hyun braced—
Thud! He kicked Ji-won's side.
Ji-won crashed to the floor—but began crawling toward me.
Still trying to bite.
Why bite?
I shoved the water bottle into his mouth.
He knocked it away, but I used the opportunity to lower my stance and shoulder-tackle him.
It hurt like hell—but I pinned him down.
I straddled his chest and pinned his arm with my knee.
He kept snapping at me.
I instinctively knew—I can't let him bite me.
I headbutted him.
Didn't want to hurt him—just stop him.
But he didn't stop.
Still—I had the upper hand. For now.
Then I noticed the commotion outside.
"Captain!"
Yoo's voice.
Click-clack—the door handle rattled.
Voices murmuring.
"Opening the door."
Se-hyun.
I nodded, too exhausted to speak.
The door opened. Troops entered.
Ji-won was still resisting.
Everyone froze.
"He's... a zombie..."
Click—someone chambered a round.
"Stop! You bastard!"
"Dong-hoon, don't!"
Yoo and I shouted.
Yoo shoved Dong-hoon.
Bang!
The shot made Ji-won turn toward Dong-hoon—but nothing else happened.
The gunshot drew another scream.
"Aaaah!"
The radio crackled.
"Sir, people are coming this way. I can't count how many."
Silence followed.
We could hear Ji-won grinding his teeth.
And faint sobbing—beyond the wall.
I couldn't grab the radio.
I had to pull back the sentries.
Couldn't send Yoo—Dong-hoon might act again.
"Someone! Tell the sentries to come inside now!"
Someone ran out. Footsteps. The door closed again.
Still pinning Ji-won, I asked:
"Yoo, can you see through the window?"
But he was still wrestling Dong-hoon's gun.
Another soldier glanced at him—then silently moved to the window.
They exchanged a look, maybe.
Silence.
The soldier at the window scanned the outside.
"They're closer than before. But they can't get past the barricades. Still... they're almost at the pension."
He whispered—but we all heard.
The barricades were helping.
Then:
"That damn burden. We should kill him."
Dong-hoon.
"...We don't know anything yet."
I replied.
"He's dead weight—and a zombie. It's infectious, right? We have to kill him! He brought them here!"
He was panicked, furious.
I raised my voice.
"It's not just about Ji-won! Don't say 'zombie'! The guy in 502 was normal. Should we kill you if you get bitten and growl?!"
"..."
He said nothing—but he was still furious.
My thoughts were clear:
If we kill those bitten without question, the fear alone would paralyze us.
We'd rather die trapped than risk leaving.
And these are still people.
Even if they're dangerous—we won't survive killing them.
"Shit."
Dong-hoon muttered.
Then—
"Then what do we do?"
Another soldier, skeptical.
"We restrain him. Keep him alive."
Yoo didn't argue. He covered Ji-won's mouth with a towel.
Then pulled out cable ties.
I suddenly wondered—Why does he follow my orders so well?
Not the time.
He silently tied Ji-won's left hand.
"Sir, lift your knee for a sec."
I eased off. He tied Ji-won's hand to a belt loop.
When he moved to the right hand, I reminded him—Ji-won couldn't move it.
Mouth covered, both hands restrained, Ji-won still lunged.
But he was no longer a threat.
We tied him to the sink in the bathroom.
It was done.
Should I explain that he's safe?
Or that I won't abandon them?
Too much stress today.
I've never faced anything like this.
"Stay here. Yoo, take over."
I grabbed a water bottle from the fridge and left Room 403.
I walked to 401.
I hesitated.
What do I say?
I knocked.
No answer.
I knocked again.
"Sorry—but I'm coming in."
The door didn't open. It was locked.
I still had the key.
Using it felt wrong. Like I'd bring them more fear.
I sighed.
"I brought water. Please open the door."
Just faint sobbing.
"...I'll leave it here. If you need anything, let me know."
I placed the bottle and key down—and left for Room 403.