지금, 당신이 어디에 있든 (Now, Wherever You Are)

II

Gwi Nam watched as On Jo and Gyeong Su helped lift Su Hyeok back onto the platform. He watched calmly; not loosening his grip on me, but calmly all the same. It was weird. I suspected it for a moment, but brushed it off, thinking he was just being attentive so at the minimal attempt to charge at him he'd either use me as a human shield or threaten to throw me off the edge. I was stupid; I should have suspected it more. As soon as Su Hyeok was back on his feet, I was thrown to the floor and, in the blink of an eye, I was watching On Jo's arm extended, her sleeve pulled back and blood threading down from where Gwi Nam's teeth were perforating her flesh.

-

I was right, On Jo didn't turn. I knew she wouldn't. In a way, she did turn, to be fair, but not into a full zombie, she became a half human, like Nam Ra.

We were walking hurriedly on the streets of the neighborhood town, like On Jo's Dad instructed us. I noticed there was no one behind me anymore. The people who were behind me vanished. On Jo and Nam Ra. I started to get back by instinct, making the way we had just run in reverse, until I found them, Nam Ra leaning against a wall and On Jo by her side, trying to help her relax.

"No!" Nam Ra screamed when she saw me. "Get away! Get him away from me. I'll hurt him. Please, go away."

On Jo came to me. "You have to go. When she's calmer we'll catch up to you. Go. Go, now. You have to go."

I didn't want to go, but what other option did I have? I stood frozen, oblivious to On Jo's pleas for me to go. I froze at the realization of what was about to happen. We would have to leave On Jo and Nam Ra behind. I heard someone coming. It was Su Hyeok. I heard the muffled sounds of On Jo's voice as she spoke to him. I felt him grab my arm and pull me and guide me on our way. When I noticed we left the two girls behind, we were already jogging and almost catching up to the rest of the group.