𝐈𝐍 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐋 | 𝑨𝑶𝑼𝑨𝑫

31 | Blood, Sweat and Veins

"Throw this over!" Nam-ra yelled, gathering the extensive blue tarpaulin lying on the floor in haste with the help of Joon-yeong, Ji-min, On-jo, Ms. Park and Hyo-ryeong.

When the tarpaulin was thrown, it blew like a parachute before it lethargically fell down, occupying the whole staircase where the swarming frenzies are; pushing themselves against the material, their snarling and growling continues, clawing the thick plastic that's shielding the group on the other side who are in their right state of mind while the others gave their all on holding to it tight, preventing the tarpaulin from giving in.

"You alright?" Su-hyeok pants, his chest visibly moving up and down too much on rhythm.

Jaewon hummed as a yes to his question but he didn't seem to hear it by how loud his breathing was— everyone's breathing, in addition. Searching for any signs of wound or a bite, from her head down to her legs, cupping her cheeks as he tilted his head side to side, checking on her, before his big hands went down to Jaewon's arms, caressing it up and down after satisfying the strange feeling of needing to keep her safe and not hurt in any ways; having this sense of responsibility within him towards the said lass.

Starting another round of fighting with the zombies that slipped in on the side that was left ajar. Lunging at them before grabbing them with clawed hand, snarling with wide-open bloody mouth ready to munch on them. Sounds of animalistic growls and sprinting footsteps on the cold floor reverberating through the walls of the enclosed hallways getting louder and louder within milliseconds as they increase and get closer rapidly, making it hellish and Herculean of an ordeal.

A hand grasped on Jaewon's from behind, swiftly pulling her up the stairs away from the two guys that are keeping those who attack away from getting further. Cheong-san smacked the zombie's head with the black metal he has that was supposed to attack Jaewon before she was pulled out of its sight, thankfully.

Jaewon is now beside the railing, astounded that Na-yeon dragged her out.

"Leave it on them," Na-yeon said, her words played with Jaewon's appalled brain.

"I can fight them, I may get bite I'm not gonna be one of 'em."

"You sure 'bout that?" Asked Na-yeon, Jaewon doesn't know whether this supposed to be an insult rather than a hint of concern, until Na-yeon added, "Don't you get it? Su-hyeok was fighting with those while being agitated for you. His mind was occupied with two things— mainly about you, how's he gonna have his full attention on preventing himself from getting bit when his mostly thinking about you? Just stay here and help him lessen the negative thoughts bugging in his brain by staying out of the scene."

Jaewon hung her head low, registering the latter's words when a very unexpected individual came. Taking his time on every steps he took, not minding and jerking those who come and block his way facilely with his one free hand and a girl– a zombie to be exact, on the other. Keeping a good grip behind the snarling, bloodied zombie's cloth, his presence tensing the atmosphere furthermore than how it already was.

Su-hyeok, and especially Cheong-san halted out of shock and perplexity when Gwi-nam was revealed behind the tarpaulin— dried blood covering his deep wounded left eye, plastering a maniac-like grin directly at Cheong-san who was trying to regain his normal breathing state after all the work he did. However, his lungs gave even shallower breath out of his airways with Gwi-nam on the sight.

Vast amount of zombies ran to them after having the chance to do so when Gwi-nam's arrival. The thing that they can only do the best for the time being was pushing and kicking them, realizing Cheong-san is the only one who has a weapon, Jaewon decided to give hers to him.

"Su-hyeok!" She yelled for him to hear and when she got his attention on her, Jaewon threw the metal tube she got which he caught like this weapon was made for him as the metal went flying onto his hand perfectly making it look like a magnet was attached to the both of them.

Afterwards, she hurried to help them hold on the tarpaulin seeing how they were struggling with it. A bunch of ravenous animalistic used-to-be-humans versus a team consisting of six normal ones to keep their not-so-strong shield. Indeed. This is a hell of an experience for the rest of a person's life.

"Hey Dae-su!" Joon-yeong called, needing more hands, the latter helped with Wu-jin tagging along leaving Gyeong-su with the door.

Gripping onto the material as their meantime safety barricade depended on it, Jaewon was baffled watching him throw some attacking zombies off, is Gwi-nam on their side or is he gonna be their main enemy? It could also be both, she thought.

The answer is just either on the three.

Su-hyeok grabbed the chance when he had to land a fist on Gwi-nam's side yet it was no use to even make him stumble, only making Gwi-nam shift his attention on him, fuming. Taking Su-hyeok troubled as this became an advantage for Gwi-nam to punch him on the jaw which made Su-hyeok stumble and press his back to the dirty white wall behind— fortunate of him, he still had the tube in hand, he stabbed the zombie coming for him on the gut. Knowing better no to let the pain take over him and stand up in the midst of the chaos.

Stopping the male zombie using his weapon on its chest, kicking it back afterwards. Gwi-nam jerked forward, hands on the railing for support making Cheong-san backed away in alert, each other's eyes on one another for four seconds. Cheong-san did the first move by crashing the metal on Gwi-nam's cheeks with great force only for the latter to throw his head on the opposite side— not even a yelp due to the agonizing pain when the end of the hard metal met his face was produced by him— his grin immediately wiped out, it was changed with a dead serious aura in a blink of an eye.

On-jo lets go of the plastic as she decided to take turns on banging herself on the damn doors. Adrenaline rushing through their veins by the thought of dying anytime soon if the doors take any longer to let them out. Hands stinging hot from the friction as their palms collided with the plastic for too long that was being pulled down as they try to keep it the opposite, not wanting it to slip off.

An attempt on hitting Gwi-nam for the second time failed when he used the metal Cheong-san has in hand to pull him close.

"Give me your eye, huh?" Gwi-nam whispered demanding on gritted teeth as if he wanted to squeeze Cheong-san right here.

The fuming one had his both hands all over Cheong-san's face as his thumb reached over to the latter's left eye to gouge Cheong-san's eyeball.

"Rara–" when Jaewon looked to the side, she only realized her cousin is now gone, she panicked, "Nam-ra!"

The commotion between Cheong-san and Gwi-nam caught her eyes and was utterly shocked when Gwi-nam pushed Nam-ra aggressively harsh when she tried stopping Gwi-nam from hurting Cheong-san that made the girl went flying to the wall beside where the buttons of the door is situated.

"Nam-ra!" She went to her cousin, helping her sit up as she caress Nam-ra's back ever so gently as the girl clutched her hands into a fist, squeezing her eyes in throbbing pain. Before Jaewon turned back to Gwi-nam who has Cheong-san still on his hold.

"Gwi-nam."

Gwi-nam looked up at the owner of the voice, looking back down at Cheong-san only to whip his head to Jaewon one more time to check what he saw was real.

"Y-You're alive," he felt relieved that his ex-friend is alive after seeing her bleed nonstop almost to death, gasping in agony.

"How f*cking dare you," Jaewon spat, reddish blue veins crawled up from her neck where the bite was located up to her white scleras. If glares could kill, Gwi-nam would be dead by now.

☾⋆⋆✩✩✩★✩✩✩⋆⋆☽

Guys, huhu I'm crying I don't know what to do! I feel like an irresponsible writer for forgetting Ms. Park still exists in this chap! (╥﹏╥)(╥﹏╥)