𝐁𝐑𝐔𝐓𝐀𝐋 ─ all of us are dead

𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦

The speakers squealed, making the zombies turn their attention away from Rosie and towards them.

"Students and teachers of Hyosan High School," Rosie knew that voice too well. It belonged to Ms.Park. She smiled lightly when she realized that her teacher was safe. "I'm Park Sun-hwa, the English teacher. Something strange is happening throughout the school. Some students are attacking others indiscriminately."

Rosie quietly yet hurriedly started walking towards the Broadcasting Room. "So please flee and find a safe place. And if any student or faculty hears this and is able to, please call the police and the fire department. Students, hide somewhere safe until help arrives."

Rosie kicked a zombie who ran towards her. She was breathing heavily. "If you can get out of the school -"

"- It's kinda impossible," Rosie mumbled, carefully walking, looking around for zombies.

"Please get out," Ms.Park continued, "I'll say it again. Some students are -"

Her voice broke, tears forming in her eyes. "Hey, everyone. You're okay, right? You're not hurt? I don't know what's going on here or how this whole thing happened, but still, find a safe place and hide. I, I'm sorry I can't help."

Rosie was close to reach the Broadcasting Room. "Don't get hurt, okay? Please, let's stay alive and meet again. Okay?"

Though before she could make her way towards the Room, the speaker went off, and at the same time, Rosie's pocket-knife dropped. The clink of the metal hitting the tiled floor brought the zombies attention to her - again. She turned around almost instantly, groaning as she did so.

"For fuck's sake," she muttered under her breath before picking up her knife and running away. Away from the Broadcasting Room. The zombies ran after her, snarling and growling. She turned around the corner, entering the first classroom in the corridor. Luckily for her, the class was empty. She shut the door, picking up a stick of a broken desk, she used it to lock the door. She hid behind a desk, observing the blood covered windows and glass on the door. The class was a mess.

Someone was here, she thought to herself. She just wished they were safe. She sat there, thinking, letting it sink that everything happening was in fact real and not just a dream.

Gyeong-su was in a very bad mood. First, he didn't know where Rosie was, he didn't know if she was safe. Then Na-yeon pissed him off by making false accusations, claiming that he'd turn into a zombie because he got scratched - and the scratch was not even given by a zombie, he got it when he threw the CPU outside the window to save their lives.

On his way to the Recording Room, he paused, looking at Ms.Park, he asked, "Do you know where Rosie is? Or if she's safe?"

"I," Ms.Park glanced at others before looking at him. "I don't know where she is, but I'm sure she's safe. She's a strong and smart girl, Gyeong-su. Don't worry about her."

Even though Ms.Park told him not to worry about Rosie, she herself was anxious. She smiled timidly, nodding her head slightly. His shoulders slumped as he made his way inside the Recording Room. He sat on the chair, playing with his fingers.

Knowing she had to get out of there as soon as possible, she stood up, leaning outside the window. Climbing out of the window was the best way out. She didn't know how many zombies were out in the corridor, waiting to eat a human; and she didn't want to run and waste her energy more. She stepped out, inhaling sharply when she looked down. If she fell, she'd die, and she doesn't plan on dying anytime soon.

Slowly and carefully, she walked on the thin platform that was present there. There was a thick pipe there. All she had to do was reach there and climb her way down, looking for some people, and if she couldn't find anyone, she'd climb up to the rooftop.

She took a deep breath before turning around, holding the pipe as tightly as she could. Without hurrying, she slided down the pipe carefully. She stopped when she noticed that she was on the same floor as the Broadcasting Room. Letting out a breath, she turned out, holding the edge of the wall tightly as her leg slipped. Her heartbeat quickened, trying to stand up straight stabaly.

After a few tries of making sure she wouldn't slip again, she walked on the left side towards the Broadcasting Room's windows. She could hear faint voices - normal, human voices - and tried to not get too excited. Her leg hit the window, alerting the people inside the Room.

"What was that?" Dae-su asked, turning towards the window.

Joon-young fixed his spectacles, taking a small step towards the window. He spotted a leg. Someone was standing there.

"Looks like someone is out there," he announced. "Do you think it's a zombie?"

"Do something, do something," Na-yeon whined. "Don't just stand there."

"Zombies aren't stable. I don't think it's a zombie," Bare-su said, slowly making his way towards the window, Cheongsan alongside him.

The two boys stumbled back, startled, when someone landed inside. They let out a breath of relief when they realized who it was.

"Rose!" Bare-su said happily, rushing over to hug her. She happily hugged him back.

"How are you guys? Are you okay?" she asked, looking at everyone after they let go of each other.

She got positive replies from everyone. Except Na-yeon. She simply sat on the chair, crossing her arms, looking away. Rosie shrugged.

"Is that Gyeong-su?" Rosie asked when she spotted him inside the Recording Room.

"That's him." Bare-su confirmed.

"Why's he sitting inside?" she furrowed her brows, looking at Bare-su.

"Because Na-yeon thinks he'll turn into a zombie -" Nam-ra started. She was cut off by Dae-su.

"- And threw a hissy fit about it even though he wasn't bitten by a zombie, just scratched."

Rosie scoffed, "Wow."

"I know, right?" Cheongsan said, shaking his head.

"It's been more than twenty minutes," Woo-jin informed. "If he was actually bit or scratched by a zombie, he would've turned already."

When she started walking towards the door of the Recording Room, Ms.Park asked, "Where are you going?"

"In?" she asked, confused.

"He won't let anyone enter," she explained Rosie. "He shouts at whoever goes in and kicks them out."

"Well," she twisted the knob of the door, opening it. "Let's hope he listens to me."

"Oh, he will." Dae-su tried to whisper, but it came out loud. Rosie rolled her eyes, walking inside the Recording Room. Everyone on the other side of the room pressed their faces on the glass, seeing everything taking place.