Gangnam, Ground Zero

Guard Up

"God let this actually work because if I'm talking at a camera that isn't recording I'll shoot myself."

Seungcheol says softly as he gazes down the camera, watching as Taeyeon just sends him a skeptical look, then makes a gesture urging him to talk. So he does.

"If anybody out there is listening, know that everyone in Seoul is either dead, or not far from it."

Straight to the point, having no clue when their broadcast will be cut out, he has to provide a lot of information fast. If they're even broadcasting. And that's a big if.

"I'm going to sound crazy when I say that there's an actual zombie apocalypse, but that's not even the real problem. The government is leaving us here to die and they don't want anyone to know. Soldiers are shooting survivors that try to cross the barricades, hell, we were nearly killed by a small military team a block or so away."

The aching in his chest reminds him constantly of how he was shot. Like he was one of the infected, like he was a creature that was going to cause harm. It was sickening and it made Seungcheol angry to an unexplainable degree.

"So if you can hear me, or if you care about anyone left alive in this city, help free us."

He feels ridiculous, pleading to a camera. Begging an invisible audience for their help. Life or death rides on whether or not that camera is actively working. And then it depends on if anybody actually cares when they see it. Who would care? Maybe they know, maybe everybody is happy with sealing Seoul away forever.

"Damn it all! Nobody is going to believe a word of this Taeyeon! What's the point?"

He shouts and her head appears around the side of the camera. There's fire in her eyes as she starts his way and Seungcheol uneasily runs a hand through his hair. She stalks right up to him, keeping only an inch between them. Her rage is absolutely volatile.

"This was your idea so don't you give up on it so fast! And you listen to me, we're getting out of here even if we have to drive a car through the barricade!"

"That's actually not a bad idea for plan C."

He admits and she rolls her eyes at him. She's trying not to smile at him or call him an idiot. He feels like an idiot. He definitely deserved her shouting at him. They're both slowly losing their grip on both hope and sanity, clinging to one another trying not to lose it all.

"Okay, let's make a deal. We run through this one more time, see if we can get anymore lights on the control console to turn on. And then we get the hell out of here."

He suggests and Taeyeon nods. She flashes him a smile and heads up to go fiddle with some controls, and he watches her go. He should go with her. But no, she can handle herself. Cheol's feet keep moving himself forward and back slightly, like he body can't decide where to go. His fingers graze over the cut on his cheek, it's long and fairly deep.

It'll probably scar.

Silly thoughts about how this might screw up his idol career because it wouldn't fit soft concepts dance through his mind. And then he hears a shriek echoing down the halls. It sends a jolt of anxiety down his spine as he places the tone as Taeyeon. He's staring at the door, waiting for her to come back through it.

And she does, hurling herself into his arms at full speed, having sprinted like a track star. He puts a comforting arm around her as the infected corpses come into view. Pulling his gun he takes down two without batting an eye. One more press on the trigger, but nothing shoots. Seungcheol starts swearing as he realizes the mag is empty.

He pushes Taeyeon behind him, releasing the magazine and rapidly replacing it with one of the new ones tucked in his pocket. The relief he feels, when a bullet shoots as he pulls the trigger and the creature collapses, is immense. Taeyeon could've died what the hell was she thinking! The thought alone makes his heart rate spike.

"God you're lucky you ran like hell. Never go unarmed, by yourself, ever again."

Seungcheol pulls her into a hug and he's not mistaken when he feels her trembling. They both act tough, pretend that they're not scared about staring death in the face. But when you're defenseless it's like the first time all over again. You feel like a kid afraid of thunder, with no way to stop the storm. Taeyeon holds him tight, taking a deep breath.

"Never, I'll never do that again."

"Ow! Don't squeeze so hard. I was shot remember?"

He laughs softly, an effort to relax her. She giggles quietly and gives him one more squeeze before letting go. He doesn't want to stay here any longer, he's worried that those two military men from earlier might still be alive and could be coming for them at any moment. He's afraid his gunshots might draw them in.

"Screw doing this again. Let's just get out of here fast."

He insists, getting rid of the mic and mic pack. He turns to look past the camera, at Taeyeon's bat and she goes to collect it. For a second he allows his eyes to linger on the camera, wondering if there really was anyone watching. Taeyeon returns, the bat resting on her shoulders and he leads her towards the back exit.

"Do you think any of that worked?"

"My heart says yes, my brain says no."

Seungcheol's words are realistic and Taeyeon nods, she understands. Her eyes say that she's exhausted and Seungcheol feels the same way. Grabbing her arm as soon as they're out of the building, he drags her in the direction of the first residential looking buildings he can see.

"We need rest, or else I'm worried that our next fight isn't going in our favor."