bite me | markhyuck

9

— Chapter Nine —

The sun was finally breaking through the clouds but Donghyuck didn't pay much mind to it. He instead leaned down, picking up Mark's jacket and the gun in its pocket.

It was just as heavy as it had been but now a little warmer. It felt big in Donghyuck's hand and he hesitated to put his second hand on it. Could you blame him? He had literally heard how Mark shot that one zombie with this exact thing that he was now holding. It had ended a life, if you could consider the zombies living beings. Donghyuck didn't know how Mark had so easily pulled the trigger. Not only because the gun seemed hard to handle but also because he himself would have hesitated to shoot. Sure, the creature hadn't been human anymore but it still maybe could feel pain.

Now thinking about it, Donghyuck realized that they knew nothing about the zombies except that they originated from the Neovirus which got transmitted through saliva or blood. That was it. The lack of information was rather scary and again Donghyuck wished for Jeno and Jaemin by his side, the latter surely would be able to tell Donghyuck more about how the virus worked in the victim's body.

Donghyuck placed the gun on the kitchen counter, visible to see and yet not too close to easily grab it. Hopefully like this Mark wouldn't be able to get the gun without Donghyuck noticing it. After their previous exchange Donghyuck didn't really trust the man anymore.

It would turn out to be the right decision when Mark next stepped into the kitchen a few hours later. Donghyuck had only been dozing off and eating some of the snacks. Upon hearing Mark's footsteps he opened his eyes and said "Good morning."

Mark didn't reply and Donghyuck frowned. Was the man really that arrogant that he couldn't even greet Donghyuck anymore or at least acknowledge his existence.

"Fine." Donghyuck mumbled and stood up, joining Mark in the kitchen. The man was just casually running his hand through his dark hair but when his eyes fell on Donghyuck he groaned.

"I kind of forgot you existed. Was ready for my morning coffee." he said. Donghyuck had to bite back a comment on how they had literally gone shopping merely a few hours ago but instead he tried his best to smile and asked "Could you maybe make me one as well?"

"Are you dumb?" Mark just replied and Donghyuck scoffed. Nevermind, Mark was still as much of an asshole as before their little shopping trip.

"No, but you are an asshole." Donghyuck muttered under his breath but Mark must have picked it up nonetheless as he turned to Donghyuck. And the latter didn't know how it happened but suddenly he felt the cold metal of the gun on his jaw as Mark just casually stood in front of him and said "You don't get to talk with me in that tone, sunshine."

It was safe to say that if Donghyuck hadn't been fully awake yet, he would be now. Hyperaware of the weapon pressing against his skin, the thumping of his racing pulse against the gun. The cool was soothing but that was pretty much the only good thing about it.

"Do you understand?" Mark just asked, his tone still as neutral as ever. He didn't seem to think of this as a big deal but to Donghyuck it definitely was. He gulped, then nodded weakly as he replied "I understand."

"Good. Now leave me alone and let me make my coffee. I'm trying my best to get the internet up again so don't bother me. If you don't we might can celebrate with the Soju."

Again Donghyuck nodded and breathed out in relief when Mark pulled the gun away. It must have left a bruise by the way Mark had harshly pressed it into Donghyuck's skin.

The young man stumbled back a few steps and then just watched in silence as Mark made his coffee and then disappeared into his room again. And while Donghyuck absolutely died out of boredom, Mark did really get the internet back up. For ten minutes that was, but it was enough for Donghyuck to check up on Jeno and Jaemin who both bombarded him with even more worried messages. Apparently, according to Jeno and an arctic or Jaemin had sent, the Neovirus was way more contagious than anyone had thought and had now spread over Seoul and also other parts of the country. While the government was trying its best to rescue people, it was struggling to keep up with the zombies which were also growing more violent over time, now having destroyed many parts of the lively districts of Seoul, especially Gangnam.