CTLI — Chapter 8

Seeing the moss clinging to the walls, the sticky black residue, and the bugs crawling along the surfaces, I quickened my pace. The deeper we went, the louder the sound of dripping water echoed around us. The light from outside was growing fainter, and I moved forward relying solely on the flashlight’s beam.

Before I could even complain about the strain of bending over, I climbed a small ladder attached to the wall to go up.

“It’s bigger than I expected.”

Choi Dohyun looked around as he muttered, having followed me up. I handed him a spare flashlight I had in my pocket. “Thanks, hyung,” he said automatically as I lifted my light to inspect above.

Three meters? Maybe three and a half? It seemed about that high. The width was roughly the same as well. I tore my eyes away from the unnaturally white webs hanging above and turned back. Choi Dohyun didn’t seem bothered at all by the foul sewer stench, thoroughly checking the surroundings instead.

“At this size, even if zombies show up…”

Just as he said that with a smile and flicked the flashlight around, a deafening noise boomed out.

Boom!

The floor shook violently as if we were hit by an earthquake. I grabbed Choi Dohyun’s wrist with a pale face. Along with the harsh tremors came the sound of something collapsing.

Just when I thought it would go on forever, it stopped abruptly. Nothing appeared. My heart was pounding in my chest as I steadied my breathing and tightened my grip on my gun.

“I think the entrance we came through got blocked.”

Choi Dohyun, who had been startled, calmly looked back the way we came and noted that no light was coming through anymore. A chill swept through me as my limbs went cold. My heightened senses were making every pulse in my body throb as if to remind me of their presence.

“Is that all?”

In response to my quiet, almost whispered question, Choi Dohyun paused thoughtfully before nodding.

“Yes, I think that’s all.”

He sounded certain, so I didn’t press him further and continued walking into the darkness. Each step splashed wetly, grating on my nerves. Even the trickling water sounded like the cries of monsters or zombies. Damn it. I bit down on my lower lip.

“Hyung.”

We had walked for a while when Choi Dohyun called from behind. I stopped as well, straining my ears. From not too far off, we could hear a strange sound.

It could’ve been people whispering, or maybe the echo of wind blowing through the tunnels. I even thought I heard a dog barking. What the hell is that? I crouched slightly, ready for anything.

Glancing up at the ceiling, I saw dense white webs. So thick, it looked like someone had piled up clouds. A bad feeling crept over me, but not wanting to alarm Choi Dohyun, I said nothing and took another step forward.

The moment I stepped into a puddle with a splash, a rapid scuttling noise echoed. No way—that monster again?

I swung the lantern around, checking behind us and the ceiling. Nothing.

“Keep going forward.”

Choi Dohyun whispered close behind. I turned my head slightly to glance at him, but as always, he didn’t look the least bit anxious.

I silently nodded and continued forward. Squish, squish, squish… the sound of our steps in the water rang loudly. Three sets? No, we were two—so one more? Was it that monster? A mutant zombie? Or something else?

“…You people.”

It was a woman’s voice.

I raised my hand to halt Choi Dohyun and lowered myself slightly. His arm slid around my waist as he pulled me tightly against him, his hand brushing over my back.

Was he afraid I might bolt forward? I tapped the back of his hand reassuringly, but he only tightened his hold.

“Is it a person?”

Meanwhile, the woman’s voice continued. I raised the flashlight and checked carefully ahead, but saw nothing. Her voice echoed, as if coming from some distance. My small flashlight couldn’t reach that far.

“Answer me.”

The voice was clear but trembled at the end. I could tell without seeing that she was gripped by fear.

Knowing Choi Dohyun had his gun aimed, I reached over and slowly lowered his muzzle. Thankfully, he didn’t resist, releasing his grip. I wished he’d let go of my waist too, but that didn’t seem likely.

“…We’re soldiers. Are you alright?”

Despite my cautious response, there was no answer from the other side. Instead, that whispering resumed. Were they discussing something among themselves?

Even so, I couldn’t relax. Were they really civilians? I nervously stroked the trigger guard with my finger. This area should have already been cleared…

Then again, maybe not all were rescued. But could someone really survive here this long?

I glanced at Choi Dohyun and took a step forward. He pulled me right back again, not letting me stray from his side.

After all, Choi Dohyun had survived alone. I couldn’t assume others were helpless either.

“…Why is this… happening?”

Choi Dohyun’s muttered words briefly disappeared, like static, before reaching my ears. Before I could ask what he said, another splash echoed.

I narrowed my eyes and pushed the flashlight a bit further ahead.

Thump, thump, thump…

Despite my racing heart, what appeared in the dim light was a short-haired woman. Tense and stiff, she held a fairly long mallet. Her face scrunched up under the glare of my flashlight, so I lowered it slightly.

Only then did she seem to register us, gasping audibly.

“You’re really… alive.”

Despite how wary she had been, the woman approached boldly. Choi Dohyun finally released my waist and let out a breath of relief. I quickly raised my gun and aimed it at her to stop his movement.

Flinch. The woman froze. Choi Dohyun looked at me, confused.

“Hyung?”

“I just need to confirm a few things.”

“…Alright.”

The woman calmly lowered her mallet and raised both hands above her head.

Good. I nodded at her cooperation, swept my flashlight past her, and finally spoke.

“Are you the only survivor here?”

“Yes, for now.”

“For now? How many were there originally?”

“There were ten. I’m the only one left.”

“Didn’t you hear the rescue announcements?”

“I did. But it wasn’t safe to leave. We had no weapons, and this place is crawling with zombies and monsters.”

I grimaced at the mention of monsters. The woman, clearly nervous, wet her lips and spoke again.

“There’s a zombie that can mimic human speech.”

“…Mimic speech?”

Choi Dohyun asked, stunned. She nodded slowly and raised her hands higher.

“It mostly just repeats the last thing it heard.”

So that’s why she was wary, even after hearing us talk.

I narrowed my eyes and asked, “Are you really the only one? I heard what sounded like people talking.”

“That might’ve been the zombies. As you can see, it’s vast and deep down here.”

“…I see.”

Maybe it was echoes.

I finally lowered my gun. The woman let out a heavy sigh and picked up her mallet as she walked over.

Up close, she looked emaciated. Her clothes were barely rags, and she reeked of sewage.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be threatening.”

“No need. I understand.”

Despite my blunt tone, she offered a faint smile. Her relief seemed genuine.

Choi Dohyun cautiously asked, “How did you survive until now…?”

“You mean how I stayed alive?”

“…”

“Surprisingly, a lot of food washes down here. And there’s plenty of water, obviously.”

As she spoke, she kicked at the stagnant water irritably. Drops splashed up, and Choi Dohyun flinched, recoiling from the smell.

She shrugged lightly.

“There was a loud noise and the ground shook, so I came to check… Guess I was lucky to run into people. Did you handle the monster by the entrance?”

“…Monster?”

“…Yes, the monster… Was it not there?”

At our confused expressions, her face hardened.

A bad feeling crept over me. Before the chill could crawl up my spine—

Bang!

A massive sound rang out again.

I stiffly turned my head and raised my flashlight to the ceiling, where something sticky dripped down.

[Screech, screeech, kreee.]

It sounded like nails dragging across a chalkboard. The grotesque black mass was covered in pulsing, grotesque veins and sprouted human-like hands.

Its bristly hairs and multiple twitching eyes reminded me of a spider.

“…You’re not saying that’s the one, are you?”

“…That’s the one. You didn’t see it?”

My calm question made the woman stutter. Our eyes briefly met, both full of disbelief.

It stared straight at us, as if confirming whether we were truly alive.

If we moved, it would chase. That was certain.

[Screeech.]

The mass split open to reveal rows of sharp teeth. Sticky liquid dripped from its mouth. It looked like it was licking its lips.

“I know a path it can’t enter.”

“…How long will it take?”

“It’s close. About two minutes if no zombies show up…”

She replied in a crawling voice.

I nodded and glanced at Choi Dohyun. He grimaced at the creature, but when our eyes met, he forced a smile.

“No wonder this is all happening…”

With his static-laced murmur as our signal, we turned and ran forward.

Splash!

The sound of water exploded beneath us as the monster roared and chased after us. The sickening squirm of dozens of bugs echoed clearly in our ears.