💫

 

The next day, after breakfast in the silence, the group gathered at the back door. 

 

Tension flowed from the sight of the seven of them each checking their guns.

 

“What’s with this atmosphere? If anyone saw us, they’d think we’re going to our deaths. They’re much weaker than the people we fought last time. They don’t even have guns.”

 

“Still…”

 

“Didn’t they say those bastards worked you to the bone? Don’t worry, I’ll take care of them all. How dare they exploit people as handsome, pretty, and cute as us? I’ll teach them a lesson. Okay?”

 

“…”

 

Despite Dayoung’s bright voice, the faces of the group remained heavy. 

 

Minho, seeing Dayoung like that, smiled and spoke, “What’s this about a girl ‘taking care’ of them? Our Dayoung’s mouth is starting to resemble Dohun’s.”

“Hyung! I don’t use such crude language. Why are you like this?”

 

“…”

 

“Why is everyone so quiet? Wow. This is a frame-up. A real frame-up!”

 

“Dohun hyung. When you were guiding me through the mall and telling me the precautions yesterday, I noticed your mouth was pretty foul.”

 

“What??? Hey! Han Theo!”

 

The group finally burst into laughter at the back-and-forth between Dohun and Theo. 

 

As Dayoung said, they weren’t going to their deaths, so they could afford to relax a little.

 

“I’ll beat them all up for you. Trust your noona, okay?”

 

“Wow. I really love our noona, but that word choice wasn’t it just now. It was cheesy.”

 

“Dohun hyung, why are you like that to Dayoung noona!”

 

“Theo, aren’t you being too biased towards noona?”

 

“Noona saved me. She’s my benefactor. So no matter what, I’m on noona’s side.”

 

Theo, who had been at the shopping mall for less than a day, had already blended in with the group. 

 

Dayoung recalled remembering how she had envied Theo’s personality while reading the novel. It was because he was a bright, cheerful character who was quick to pick up on social cues and knew just what to say to people. 

 

On top of that, he was very charming, so readers loved him regardless of gender.

 

“Here, I’ve packed some food in this backpack.”

 

It was roughly a ten-hour walk to their destination. 

 

They probably wouldn’t be able to return today. 

 

Jangwoo handed over a large backpack. Dayoung smiled at the sight of the group squabbling over who would carry the single bag. 

 

Although tension filled the air and worries were piled high, seeing them bicker and play-fight like a bunch of puppies put her mind at ease.

 

Of course, their physical size was far too large to be called little puppies. 

 

The winner who ended up carrying the backpack was Dodam.

 

“This is much lighter than an empty bag, I’m telling you. My shoulders feel heavy, so my mind feels at ease. I love it.”

 

“You know, if you look at Dodam closely, he doesn’t seem quite normal either.”

 

“Who here is actually normal?”

 

“True.”

 

Dayoung tightened her shoelaces and pulled her hair up into a tight, neat bun. She then looked at the group.

 

“Alright. I’m off.”

 

“Be careful out there!”

 

“Don’t get hurt!”

 

Bidding farewell to the group, they exited the shopping mall. 

 

They were able to travel relatively at ease until they reached the northern barricade. 

 

They chatted in hushed tones, gossiped, and ate the chocolate they had packed. They moved under the hot sun, taking breaks along the way.

 

After passing the barricade, the group gradually began to grow tense. 

 

They arrived near the building in the Gyeonggi Province area where the group had previously stayed by 6 PM. They had managed to get through the zombies faster than expected. 

 

The group decided to rest for about an hour for their tired bodies.

 

Dayoung, who was watching the men rushing out of the building to eat dinner through her binoculars, quietly asked Ian and Jiseok, whose faces were frozen with tension.

“Are you scared?”

 

“…”

 

“If you’re scared, it’s okay. You don’t have to go in.”

 

Trauma doesn’t always come from overwhelmingly major events. 

 

Depending on the impact, one can feel fear even when facing unarmed men. The trauma of having killed his brother. 

 

The memory of being beaten by men who overpowered them with numbers. 

 

Things like that could become traumas.

 

“Those bastards seem to go crazy over women. I can go in alone and shoot them all dead.”

 

“That’s… too dangerous.”

 

“You know my shooting skills, right? I can kill them all the moment I enter.”

 

“Even so. This is my revenge. Just seeing the building makes me shudder and feel afraid. But… I want to be the one to get revenge for my brother.”

 

“Then, brace yourself. Don’t break down after coming this far.”

 

“Okay.”

 

Ian and Jiseok nodded at Dayoung’s words. 

 

This was the revenge for his brother that he had dreamed of for months. He couldn’t break down now. They spent an hour stretching their stiff legs and shoulders. 

 

Some of their strength had returned, and their stiff bodies had loosened up.

 

“Dodam, how many have gone in so far?”

 

“Fifteen people have entered so far. Two women are going in now.”

 

“Since about twenty left earlier, that means three are missing.”

 

“Three men are entering now.”

 

“That’s everyone. We go in ten minutes.”

 

Dayoung scanned the building with her binoculars. 

 

They were careless, with no one even standing guard. The group set down their bags and checked their guns. They checked the pistols holstered at their waists and their ammunition belts.

 

With Dayoung in the lead, the group carefully moved toward the building. 

 

Dayoung, standing at the entrance, raised her hand and made a fist. 

 

The members following her held their breath and stood behind her. Dayoung assessed the situation inside and whispered quietly.

 

“Two tangos inside. Dodam, stick by my side and take the left. I’ll take the right.”

 

“Roger.”

 

Dodam stood next to Dayoung. Dayoung nodded her head to signal one, two, three, and the two entered inside in turn and pulled their triggers. 

 

Pew— Pew— 

 

Two soft whooshes were heard, and two men silently collapsed.

 

“Clear.”

 

“Clear.”

 

Dayoung and Dodam faced each other and whispered softly. 

 

They turned their muzzles and went further inside. Dodam gestured to the members outside, and they also entered the building. 

 

Floor by floor, the group quietly took care of them one by one. 

 

When they reached the second floor, a woman’s moan came from a corner.

 

The group checked each door one by one from the front, advancing step by step. When they entered a middle room, one of the three people Ian had mentioned was lying on a bed. 

 

A man with six rings in one ear.

 

“Hands up. If you scream, I’ll shoot.”

 

“…”

 

The man raised his hands at Dayoung’s words and stood up from the bed. Dodam approached the man, covered his mouth, and tied him up. 

 

Ian’s eyes, looking at him, were filled with anger.

 

“For now, Minshik oppa, you guard this bastard.”

 

“Okay.”

 

“Ian, I know you’re furious, but it’s better to come out than stay here.”

 

“Yeah.”

 

Everyone except Minshik came out into the hallway. 

 

Then, they began opening the doors one by one again and pulled their triggers. 

 

Reaching the last room, Dayoung hurriedly opened the door at the sound of a woman choking and thrust her gun muzzle inside.

 

“Hands up.”

 

The man on top of the woman looked at Dayoung in bewilderment at the suddenly opened door. 

 

Dayoung fired a shot into the ceiling, then aimed her gun at the man again.

 

“Hands up.”

 

“…”

 

Cough. Cough, cough…

 

Hayun and Dodam approached the bed. Hayun subdued the man, and Dodam picked up the blanket and covered the naked woman. 

 

Seeing the dark bruise spreading across the woman’s neck, Dayoung pressed the gun muzzle firmly against the man’s head, but then she looked at the man and turned her gaze to Jiseok.

 

Jiseok nodded silently. Dayoung signaled to Hayun with her eyes, and Hayun covered the man’s mouth and tied his hands. 

 

Dayoung gently patted Jiseok’s trembling hand.

 

“Let’s take this bastard to where Minshik oppa is. The woman should stay with Seojun.”

 

Dayoung bent her fingers, counting how many she had shot. 

 

Two at the entrance, three on the first floor, five on the second floor, two live ones. 

 

Twelve in total, plus one woman.

 

“Six men and one woman left. Let’s go to the third floor.”

 

After handing over the man to Minshik, the five of them headed up to the third floor. 

 

And just as expected, the sound of a woman’s screams filled the third-floor hallway. The sound was coming from a room in the middle. 

 

It seemed like it was probably the leader’s room of this group.

 

“These bastards. Let’s clear each room as we go.”

 

Dayoung quietly opened the door and took them out one by one. 

 

After three shots were fired, it was the turn of the room from which the woman’s voice was coming. Dayoung took a deep breath and carefully opened the door. 

 

Immediately visible upon opening the door was a bed, and on it, a woman with her hands tied, accepting a man.

 

Dayoung’s eyes met the woman’s, and Dayoung raised her index finger to her lips. 

 

Shhh… 

 

Dayoung walked quietly over, pressed the gun muzzle to the man’s head, and said.

 

“Hands up.”

 

The man’s physique was larger than imagined, and it seemed like if the man pushed the gun away, Dayoung’s body would be pushed back too.