By the time you and Cheong-San reach the top of the next flight of stairs, you're met with another hindrance as the girls struggle to break open a padlocked classroom.
"Can we go somewhere else? I can't get it open!" I-Sak's voice is loud, but it wavers, giving away just how panicked she is.
"Where?!" That's not up for discussion! We're completely surrounded!" Dae-Su groans from exertion, solely blocking off one end of the hallway while the other half of the group mirrors him, forming a protective wall around the door.
"Guys, we don't have much time left. They can't hold off the zombies for long and their strength will only deplete from here." You squeeze by I-Sak, relieving her from futile attempts at miraculously getting the door to open. Out of options, you resort to kicking the padlock as hard as you can with the heel of your foot. Pain starts to shoot up your leg along with the vibrations from impact as you relentlessly attack the steel lock but you choose to ignore it. In your peripheral vision, you can see I-Sak eyeing you apprehensively, half scared for the approaching consequences, and half concerned for the possible aftermath of injuries. Regardless, anything is better than imminent death.
"Try harder!" Na-Yeon screams beside you while doing nothing to help.
"Can't you see that's what we've been doing?!" I-Sak shoves Na-Yeon away in anger.
Swiftly, On-Jo is at your side with a fire hose, handing you the metal end where water spouts out and you convey a silent thanks for her quick thinking by your gaze alone. With renewed fervor, a remaining spark of hope, and a quick prayer to any divine being listening, you slam the brass nozzle with all your strength into the shackle, bypassing the locking mechanism as it breaks.
"Everybody in! NOW!"
Na-Yeon pushes you to the side as you try to help the others in before you, intending to only save herself. Losing your balance, you slam into someone, but they hold you steady against their chest.
"Are you okay?" Wu-Jin asks, turning his body quickly so that you're closer to the classroom door, protected.
"Yeah...thanks," you say sincerely, but remove yourself from his hold as everyone jostles one another to get inside.
The moment Dae-Su slams the door closed from the inside and slides down against the wall soon after, you finally take notice of how loudly your heart pounds in your ear. From the damaged windows, incessant snarls resonate, and suddenly a bloody hand clutches Dae-Su's head, his loud and deep scream making you jump as you whip your head his way, only to see Cheong-San climb a table and smack the hand away. Bless Joon-Yeong's nerdy heart for trying to help, but his fire extinguisher breaks more windows than zombie heads, resulting in a swarm of arms sticking down blindly reaching for humans.
"Let's flip the desk sideways to keep the door blocked," Cheong-San proposes, watching the monsters guardedly. "We can also stack the chairs around the class for better defense."