3. Train Station

The weather wasn’t good.

Though the heavy rain had stopped, the sky was still blanketed in dark clouds. I hoped it wouldn’t rain again until we at least reached the train station—but there was no way to check the forecast anymore.

“It’s a bit chilly outside. You should wear something warmer.”

Maybe it was because our last stop had been so comfortable, but Choi Dohyun acted like he was out on a picnic. Or more accurately, like I was a child he had to fuss over. He kept trying to dress me in something thick—saying I’d warm up after walking was pointless. The more layers I wore, the more it would weigh me down.

“I said I’m fine.”

I made a face at the garishly fluorescent padded jacket. Was he really telling me to wear that? It wasn’t even winter. It was just chilly because it was still early morning.

My blatant displeasure made Choi Dohyun awkwardly fiddle with the jacket, then toss it into the corner before hurrying back to my side.

“Then at least eat properly before we head out.”

It didn’t seem like he was waiting for my answer. Maybe he expected another refusal, because he was already heading into the kitchen before I could say anything. I silently took off my outer layer and followed him.

“Ramen okay?”

That was basically the only food we could cook here, so I nodded. Choi Dohyun washed a pot and filled it with water, then placed it over the gas stove.

A clean house. Hot water. Working gas and electricity. It almost felt like we’d returned to normal life. If it weren’t for the gun on the table, I might’ve believed it.

“Can you handle spicy food?”

“Anything’s fine.”

“Then I’ll make what I want to eat.”

“Alright.”

I answered flatly and turned toward the window. Out in the dark alley, a zombie was crawling along the ground. The only thing I could think was—we’d been incredibly lucky yesterday. If we had run into zombies the moment we stepped outside, we might not have made it.

As I stared blankly at the scene, thoughts of Yoon Seo Hwa crept back in. It would’ve been nice if she were still with us. Even in that short time, I’d gotten used to her chatting beside us—and now the silence felt hollow.

The guilt I had pushed down deep began to rise again. If I’d just been a little more alert, she might have lived. The weight in my chest tightened.

“Hyung.”

Fingers snapped next to me. Choi Dohyun glanced down at me as if studying my expression, then gently placed two clean spoons on the table and sat across from me. The bubbling of the boiling water sounded strange and unfamiliar.

“How much farther to the train station?”

“If nothing unexpected happens, we should arrive before the afternoon.”

“I think we’ll definitely make it.”

He said it so lightly that I almost asked what made him so sure—but I kept my mouth shut. There was no need to obsess over the worst-case scenario. We needed to be prepared, yes, but not fearful.

“Hey, hyung.”

“Yes.”

“When we make it to the protected zone, where will you go?”

“…I’m a soldier. I’m obligated to return to duty.”

A question with an obvious answer. My face must’ve made it clear what I thought, because Choi Dohyun smiled awkwardly and shook his head, as if to say, “Never mind.” A brief silence passed, but then he scrambled up, saying the ramen was ready.

I let out a quiet sigh.

“Over here!”

Smash—a box burst open with a loud crack. I raised my gun in silence and blew the head off a sluggishly advancing zombie, while Choi Dohyun, unfazed, pulled grenades and magazines out of the shattered box. We were standing in front of a convenience store.

“Nice. I think this should be enough.”

Grenades and ammo scattered in front of a convenience store—what the hell. I already knew it was too late to question this kind of thing, but every time I saw it, it still made me feel a bit ridiculous.

Still, the man in front of me darted around like a fish in water. He’d managed to find guns in a civilian apartment, got his arm torn open by a stray nail, and then casually sprayed something on it to heal the wound like it was no big deal.

It was the same spray he’d used on Yoon Seohwa. Only now was I starting to understand why he’d said he might be able to save her. Even while he carried on with his bizarre antics, I walked beside him in silence. My lips, sealed shut like they were under someone else’s control, no longer felt strange.

“Here, you carry this.”

Choi Dohyun handed me one of the grenades he’d picked up. He’d been fussing over me all morning like it was his job. I still wasn’t sure how reliable he was, but it seemed useful to have at least one, so I took it without protest. He beamed and gave my arm a light pat.

Chattering like that, we steadily made our way toward the train station. We arrived earlier than expected, with plenty of time to find somewhere to rest. Zombies appeared now and then, but none of them were particularly hard to deal with.

“Are we heading straight up?”

“Yeah. We need to scout the area and find a place to stay until backup arrives.”

“Okay.”

Choi Dohyun replied with a stretched-out, easygoing tone, then bounded up the stairs. Telling him not to go alone wouldn’t have mattered—so I quickly followed after him. The stairs were caked with filth and human remains, and every step produced a sticky, peeling sound as our soles pulled away from the gore.

“…Save?”

Choi Dohyun muttered something ahead of me and came to a stop. I thought he said more, but I couldn’t make it out.

Instead of asking, I moved ahead a few steps to see his face. The carefree expression he wore earlier had stiffened slightly with tension. Silently, I checked my magazine and looked up.

At the top of the stairs—the entrance to the train station—at least a dozen zombies were crawling out, drooling.

I hadn’t expected it to be easy to get in. Honestly, I figured the trip up to now had just been unusually smooth. Craning my neck, I rolled it once, then pulled the trigger.

Bang!

The zombie in front took the bullet straight to the head—and yet, instead of falling, it staggered, glanced around as if momentarily confused, then charged toward us with shocking speed.

Damn it. They’re all mutants, aren’t they?

I felt cold sweat running down my back as I spoke.

“Let’s fall back a little. One wrong move and we could tumble down the stairs.”

I grabbed Choi Dohyun’s arm, pulling him back. A zombie lunging at us lost its balance and rolled down the steps, crashing hard. While I looked around for a better place to fight, Choi Dohyun calmly fired his weapon, the shots spaced evenly, like he’d never frozen up.

“We’re going to need to sever all their necks.”

“There’s a plaza that way. Think you can run?”

At my question, Choi Dohyun nodded without hesitation. The zombies were charging at us at an alarming pace, but their position on the stairs made them clumsy, not particularly threatening. A quick trip or a kick to the chest sent them tumbling helplessly.

I swept the shin of a charging zombie with my foot and watched it fall, thudding as it tumbled down the steps. It would’ve been nice if that was the end of it—but it clawed its way back up, undeterred. I couldn’t hide the grimace on my face.

The sky was overcast. The air stank of dried blood. With zombies crawling and howling their way toward us, it really did feel like we were in the middle of hell.

“Watch out.”

That was the last thing Choi Dohyun said before charging forward. I stuck close behind. The sound of our feet slamming the ground seemed to act like a signal—zombies rushed at us even faster. The gunshots earlier must’ve drawn the others in like ants to sugar.

“We’re not gonna be able to cut all their necks one by one!”

He shouted in panic, clearly seeing the same thing I was.

“I was thinking the same thing!”

It was obvious that trying to take them out one by one would take all day—maybe even more. As we hurriedly fled toward the plaza, I grimaced when I saw more zombies crawling out just a short distance away and came to a halt.

Instead of heading straight into the plaza, going through the smoking area looked like a quicker and safer route. Tch. Clicking my tongue, I reached into my bag and pulled out the grenade Choi Dohyun had handed me.

Didn’t think I’d be using this so soon.

“When I pull the pin, run that way.”

“Got it. What about you? You’re coming too, right?”

“Yes.”

Choi Dohyun, his eyes filled with worry, nodded. I couldn’t tell where his anxiety stemmed from. As soon as I pulled the pin, he took off toward the smoking area, and I threw the grenade as far as I could—toward the stairs, where the zombies were crawling up.

They trampled over one another in a frenzied scramble, their hunger for the living grotesque.

“Hyung!”

Boom! The ground shook violently. No matter how far I’d thrown it, the grenade’s blast radius was no joke. I lost my balance from the shockwave, and zombie chunks burst apart and flew everywhere. The stench of rot filled the air as black blood gushed out in streams.

Ugh. I barely held back the urge to puke and broke into a run. Even while I ran, surviving zombies and others emerging from the opposite side lunged at me. One grenade wasn’t nearly enough. I’d expected it, but there were just too many of them.

“Duck!”

Choi Dohyun, up ahead, suddenly stopped and shouted. He was holding a grenade. I quickly twisted my body and dove behind a nearby bench.

Boom! Another explosion rocked the ground, and zombie shrapnel flew violently in all directions. At the same time, a large decorative structure nearby collapsed with a thunderous crash.

“Ugh…!”

Something sharp grazed my cheek—maybe a flying fragment. Wind gusted in, and raindrops began to fall from the already gloomy sky. When the rumbling finally stopped and I looked up, the path to the smoking area was completely blocked by the fallen structure.

“Damn it…”

Zombies trapped underneath the rubble twitched and groaned, but soon went still.

But there was no time to be relieved. There were fewer than before, but zombies were still around, and Choi Dohyun was now stuck on the other side. If there were no zombies, I could’ve climbed over or crawled through, but in this situation, that was a stretch.

“Are you okay?!”

“I—I’m fine! What about you?! I’m sorry! I didn’t think that thing would collapse!”

Choi Dohyun’s voice trembled with panic. Gunshots rang out between his words, likely from zombies attacking. I wiped the blood from my cheek and stood. Waiting for one of us to find a way through would only drain stamina. I reloaded my gun and spoke up.

“Can you make it inside the station?!”

“Huh? Yeah! I think I can get inside but… are you really okay?!”

“Don’t worry about me!”

Who was really worrying about who here? I sighed, shot a zombie in the head, staggered from the recoil, then whipped out a knife and jammed it into the neck. I yanked it hard.

Crack. With the sound of brittle bones breaking, the zombie’s head rolled across the ground.

“Then I’ll see you inside! We’re right in front of it anyway! Just—don’t push yourself too hard!”

His footsteps faded as he ran. He’d be fine. He had the skills to find a safe place, not to mention that spray that healed wounds in seconds. I didn’t need to worry much.

Besides, even if he died, he could turn back time to just before. All I could do was hope he’d find shelter and stay hidden.

[Grrrk, grrrgh.]

But first, let’s deal with the ones charging at me. Forcing up the corners of my mouth, I raised my gun in the pouring rain.

Bang—one zombie toppled backward, motionless. Fortunately, it looked like not all of them were mutants.