The Infected ⬩ (G)I-DLE

Five

"Rise and shine, losers." Soojin rasped as she held a cup of warm water. The glass clanked against the door, Yuqi groaned. Her back, she really needed to start stretching it.

"Damn, who's in the bathroom? So long." Soojin chuckled, pointing at the small bathroom. Its door was shut, but light was escaping from the crevices. Yuqi shook her head, she could feel Shuhua sleeping soundly next to her. So it's the girl...Miyeon. Yuqi decided. She yawned, clasping a hand over her mouth to spare everyone from smelling her morning breath.
"Care to make us some breakfast, Soojin? Don't use everything, though." Yuqi pleaded, hearing her stomach grumble at the thought of food.

"Sure, whatever. Don't expect me to make some 3-star Michelin food, though." Soojin grumbled, slamming the door as she started to move toward the pantry. Yuqi rubbed her puffy eyes, then stretched her arms. She shook Shuhua.

"Wake up, Shushu." Yuqi shook Shuhua, growing impatient as the latter did not respond. Yuqi chuckled, smirking at Shuhua. "Soojin is watching you." She giggled as Shuhua sprung forward, her cheeks turning a blossom hue.

"STOP UNNIE! It's not funny!~" Shuhua whined, pouting at Yuqi.

"You're so cute~" Yuqi mocked, not being able to crush the urge. She raised her fingers toward Shuhua's cheeks and gave them a tearing pinch.

"AWOIHAWO! YUQI-UNNIE!" Shuhua tried to muffle her scream, the pain declined the attempt. Her cheeks turned more crimson.

"Oops.." Yuqi giggled, patting Shuhua's head. "My bad, each time you pout, I want to pinch your cheeks." Yuqi chuckled, trying to avoid Shuhua's piercing glare. "Anyways," She cleared her throat. "MIYEON, ARE YOU DONE, YET?"

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"Breakfast's done, lazy asses." Soojin snorted, she walked over to the small wooden table and helped herself to the pancakes. The soft pancakes, cakey with fluffiness. Soojin swallowed a huge bite and washed it down with water. "Here." She nudged the dish toward Miyeon, who looked flawless–though, she almost got turned into a zombie.

"Thanks..." Miyeon mumbled, grabbing the fluffy pancakes and taking a small bite. "This is good. Did you make this?" She complimented. Soojin chuckled.

"First time in the kitchen?" Soojin smirked, cockily. "I made it, yeah." She stared at Miyeon, examining the girl top to bottom. "Damn, why are you so shiny?" Miyeon frowned.
"I gave you a compliment and now you're insulting me?"

"No, I mean. You, ugh. You can't even take a compliment." Soojin rolled her eyes as she glared at Miyeon.

"Wait, wait. I'm sorry. I thought you were arrogant. I mean you're part of the gang..." Miyeon stammered, struggling to find the proper words. Soojin shrugged.
"I understand," She continued after taking another bite. "People side-eye me all the time. I don't harass or assault anyone." She laughed, the hoarse voice. "Oh, you're finally out!" Soojin exclaimed, sarcastically as she waved Shuhua and Yuqi to sit on the empty chairs. "We should actually properly introduce ourselves." Soojin started, gesturing to their tired forms. "You can start, Yuqi."

"Oh." Yuqi stuttered, but did not fail to grab the pancake. She started to brush her hair into place, fixing her expression. "I'm Song Yuqi, sophomore at NIA." Yuqi scrunched her face trying to pull the swagness out of her. "You"–she gestured at Miyeon and Soojin–"probably know, Shuhua's my best friend." Shuhua and Yuqi made eye contact, Yuqi kicked Shuhua under the table. She waved her hand in the air and created an elaborate handshake. The latter did not respond to the gestures.

"Anyways, I'm Yeh Shuhua!" Shuhua smiled brightly as she looked directly at Soojin. "Freshman. I'm a huge fan." Soojin swore as she saw Shuhua's lips crack wider. Like Cheshire... (nope, not promoting itzy)

"Now, I'm Seo Soojin, Junior. Yeah, I'm part of a gang. I'm not like the others though." She reassured, avoiding Shuhua's gaze.
"Um," Miyeon squeaked. "Cho Miyeon, a Senior. I guess we all go to NIA." She sighed, chewing the last bits of her fluffy pancake. She dusted the crumbs from her fingers. "So, um. What are we going to do? Stay here forever?"

"I guess not," Yuqi mumbled, trying to think. She tapped a finger against her forehead. "We have to–" Yuqi's short comment was cut off. "Do you hear that?" She questioned. Soojin, Miyeon, and Shuhua all opened their ears wider. The sound of metal against metal erupted. The loud shrilling screech. The scratching became pounding as the sound crescendoed.

"Who is that?" Soojin stood up, sprinting toward the knocking. Miyeon stumbled behind, trailing Soojin as she chased Soojin and handling two blades. Shuhua clutched her temples, Yuqi grabbed Shuhua's sides and grabbed the clean machete. The noise started to continue, growing louder and louder, more rapidly. Allegro, they call it.

"WHAT DO WE DO?" Miyeon screamed, trying to put her voice over the growing pounding. The metal sparked. She cradled the blade close. Soojin moved onto the opposite side of the opening. Her blade was also pointing to the entrance, the metal glinted.

"I DON'T KNOW!" Yuqi shouted in response, "WHAT IS EVEN HAPPENING?" She yelled, hugging Shuhua close. The opening sprung as zombies started to pour in. The metal door falling from its frame. The loud clatter echoed. Soojin gestured to Miyeon to not attack yet. Yuqi's eyes widened, "Whatever, you do, Shuhua-ah. Don't scream." She placed a hand over Shuhua's brown eyes, who nodded. The slight movement confirmed.

"Now!" Soojin whispered as she and Miyeon quickly aimed for the disheveled heads and thrusted their hands forward. Dark blood started to coat the machetes and the floor. Soojin chased after the infected as she continuously, in a rhythm, stabbed each one in their heads. The growling grew louder, as did the snarling.

"Help! Please!" Miyeon called. Her body was no longer visible, her voice was clear. Yuqi scanned the room as she could see zombies cornering the girl. Yuqi opened Shuhua's hand and placed the handle of a small sword.

"Protect yourself, okay?" The cowering girl nodded, clutching her ears. Yuqi twisted her blade, the light shined off the clean blade. She drove the blade forward, stabbing as many zombies as she could. She pulled the blade out, revealing Miyeon...well, now a much red Miyeon. Wet, warm blood sprayed her face and shirt, staining the wooden floors. Miyeon wiped much of the blood away from her sleeve.

"There's more coming!" Soojin cautioned, taking care of the majority pouring in from the door. "We have to go now!" Yuqi nodded, picking up Miyeon.

"C'mon, Shushu-ah. We have to go!" She helped Shuhua up, stabbing some of the bloodied figures before moving toward the back doors.

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"Now where?" Soojin asked, twisting the rear window. She pulled her red sleeve down, covering her hand. Wiping the window, the squeaking reverberated through the car. The car twisted right, then left, then proceeded forward.

"I don't know, we have to find a new place." Yuqi scrunched her eyebrows, squinting at the distance as they drove toward the school. Once again. The once-elaborate school building now appeared ambushed. Gory zombies and bloody handprints were smeared on the smooth cream-walls. Shuhua winced at the sight, the wine-colored substance dripping onto the concrete. The puddle splashed as the infected sauntered over. Yuqi softly pressed her foot on the pedal.

"Don't make any noise." Soojin pressed a finger against her red lips. The nearby infected twisted his crooked head toward the noise. He stomped. Closer and closer. The red prints marking the road. The man thrusted his arms in the air, cracking his back. He moved toward the car. "Cover yourselves." Soojin mouthed, gesturing to the soft blanket. Shuhua and Miyeon rushed to unfold the cloth and ducked under.

"Aguhu," the man grumbled, slamming his face into figured glass. His hands printed with gore.

"It's fine.." Miyeon mouthed, struggling to calm Shuhua. Yuqi pulled up a little part of the baby pink blanket. She squinted through the cracks. Light seeped through the crevices as she saw the zombie move away from the car. Yuqi shot up quickly.

"Now or never, guys." She slammed the brakes and turned away from the school, running over a small girl.