Gangnam, Ground Zero

Barricades

They keep a steady pace, consulting Taeyeon's map whenever they start to get turned around. There's a million reasons that he fears they can't just haul themselves over the fence and walk to freedom. For all they know, Seoul's power is running through the barricade like a farmer's electric fence.

It becomes second nature to dodge and slip past the infected, heads turned to the ground as they keep moving. It seems to work well enough until Taeyeon is tugging on his sleeve, her voice frantic.

"Get your gun. Get your gun!"

She insists in a panic, pointing towards the creature whose soulless dark eyes she accidentally looked upon. Taeyeon is gripping the baseball bat, ready to swing as the things comes towards them, but she looks like a deer ready to bolt.

So Seungcheol pulls one of his guns, switches the safety, aims and pulls the trigger.

4:02: First kill.

The corpse hits the ground, bullet hole straight through its chest. He's thanking his hand eye coordination and the perfectionism of being an idol for being the only reasonable explanation for why his aim actually worked.

"Thank you."

Taeyeon breathes, turning to pull him into a hug. He gives her a tight squeeze, being super careful with the gun still in his hand. After his success with the first shot, Seungcheol begins to feel more confident. Instead of cowering they start to power through the infected citizens.

It takes a bit of time for Taeyeon to work up the nerve to actually hit one of them, but she risks it to save his neck. Seungcheol had been picking off a few, his back turned to one he'd accidentally already made eye contact with. When he turned around again, Taeyeon was grinning at him, her bat planted firmly on the chest of the zombie she took down.

By the time the barricades around the city are in sight, dawn is breaking. The rosey hue is filtering through the city buildings as Taeyeon lets out a delighted laugh. With no infected in sight she takes off running, calling for him to hurry up. Seungcheol follows, but the nearer they get to the barrier the worse the pit in his stomach feels.

Bodies are littered at the base of the fence and-

"Yeon!"

Seungcheol shouts, needing a quick way to get her attention. She freezes, hands reaching for the fence as she turns back to look at him. She seems to pay no mind to the bodies at her feet, like escape was clouding all her other rational thoughts.

"Step back. Just step away."

He urges from a good foot ten feet away and she reluctantly retreats to his side. Only then do her eyes widen as she seems to come back to her senses. Seungcheol creeps up to the fence, listening for any hum of electricity. But there's not a whisper of any current traveling through the metal.

"They were shot."

Taeyeon says, her voice pained and Seungcheol looks to her. She's pointing out past the barricade, to a collection of soldiers just barely hidden by the trees. Whether they were notified by Seungcheol's shout, or had seen them too close to the barricade, they choose to emerge now.

4:45: Government corruption uncovered.

"Let us out."

Seungcheol growls, fingers curling around the fence and one of the soldiers raises his rifle. Taeyeon let's out a startled little shriek and it spooks him into putting it down again.

"Get away from the fence."

"Let us out!"

Seungcheol doesn't bat an eye at the soldier's request. He feels Taeyeon hurry over, setting a light hand on his shoulder and urging him to do as they say. He's not fazed by the collective of rifles pointed at him, but takes a small step back for her sake.

"We're not infected, so just let us go free."

Taeyeon suggests but the soldiers remain indifferent. Rational thought leaves his mind and Seungcheol pulls his gun, staring them all down. Only one gives any reaction at all, perhaps trying to calm the situation.

"My kids are huge fans of yours."

"And what? You want my autograph?"

Cheol snarls and hears Taeyeon laugh. She mumbles something about how they're going to die and the government is corrupt. One of the soldiers requests he puts the gun down.

"Nobody knows? Do they? Nobody out there knows a damn thing, and you intend to keep it that way until everyone in here is dead."

Seungcheol spits out, putting the gun away and turn his back. There's no hope here, no hope trying any other exit in Seoul. They're trapped and it's going to remain that way for a long time.

He's got his hands in his pockets, walking away as Taeyeon is shouting and pleading for them to help. Afraid they'd shoot her just for some peace and quiet he goes back to collect her, putting an arm around her shoulders and turning her away. Tears are streaking down her face as she melts into his touch.

Her calm came from a certainty that she could easily get free and keep living. With that certainty ripped away, she's struggling to keep herself together at all. Seungcheol pauses for a moment and looks over his shoulder at the soldiers who no longer seem so impassive.

"I hope I haunt your nightmares."

He grins, watching one of them turn visibly pale. Two others avert their eyes. Only the leader of the group is still trying to look tough and Seungcheol laughs, gesturing along the fence at the bodies. Men and women they most likely killed.

"I hope we all haunt your nightmares."

And with the soft curses of a few of the soliders, he leads Taeyeon away. No idea where they might be going, only knowing they're not getting anywhere just standing helplessly out here.

4:49: Hope is lost.

They barely manage to stumble their way back through the wreckage in the streets, nudging open the door to a small electronics shop. With the door barred and a quick sweep of the place to ensure everything is empty and locked, he settles next to Taeyeon on the floor. The only sounds are her sobbing, which breaks off a piece of his heart.