Vengeance

fourteen

As Han and Seonghwa turned into the stairwell, they nearly collided with Yuta and Jackson who were just rushing out.

"You found two? Wait is that—"

Jackson nearly fell back against the stairs as he stared at Chan's snarling form.

"It's him. We don't know if the cure will be able to save him but...we had to try."

"We'll save him. We'll find a way."

Han and Seonghwa smiled and started up the staircase.

"So they must've rescued two already. That leaves six more. That is, if Changbin's team hasn't already rescued anyone. We've got to hurry and get back down there to look for him. I'm not letting you leave without him, Seonghwa."

"Han, we have to be objective. We can only save the ones we see first. I can't make a special trip just for him."

"I know it's just—I owe it to you. After everything you did for Minho. Everything Hongjoong did. Both of you saved his life when I wasn't there. So...I'm not letting this plane leave without him, okay? Even if it gets me in trouble, I'm helping you. We're going to save him."

Seonghwa looked at him with soft eyes, almost slowing his pace as they raced towards the plane.

He wasn't taking no for an answer.

After they'd secured the two zombies in the hold and started their way back down, Seonghwa couldn't stop thinking about Han's words.

Jisung didn't owe him anything. It was luck that had placed him and Hongjoong there when Minho needed them. Hell, if Seonghwa had won the argument, Minho would still be sitting in the coat room right now, bleeding out.

He'd probably be dead.

Seonghwa didn't deserve any praise from Han. He hadn't ever felt like anything he did was above and beyond. It was what was best for the group in the moment. He felt guilty going along with his enthusiasm.

But it was the only way he stood a chance of saving Hongjoong from this hellhole.

He bit his lip, keeping the words down as they took off into the hallway again.

"He can't be far now. He must be around here somewhere," Han whispered, glancing in every window as they passed.

Seonghwa kept his eyes forward, seeing the corner closing in on them again.

They pressed on, slowing as they approached the turn. Seonghwa went first, peering around the corner.

His heart sank.

He wasn't there.

"We have to keep going," he said through gritted teeth, his body filling with a fiery determination. He could hear the clock counting down in his head, felt the rush and scuff of the others collecting other marks, felt his pulse rising in his chest, his heart beating out of control.

Han nodded, sensing his panic and rushed onwards, looking into windows and doors, desperate for a sign. He needed to do this.

As they got further and further down the hallway, it got quieter and quieter, making Seonghwa all the more worried.

He felt his control slipping as he began tearing open doors without careful inspection, muttering reassurances aloud to himself as they searched and searched.

He had to be here. He was still here somewhere.

"Hey, Seonghwa slow down. You're going to hurt yourself at that pace!" Han said quietly, grabbing his arm as he tried to yank open the next door.

Seonghwa turned, eyes wide in panic.

"He has to be here," he said firmly, ripping away and reaching for the door again.

Han didn't want to get in his way but it seemed like he was getting careless. Sure the zombies were much fewer than before and much less responsive, but that didn't mean they weren't still zombies. And the quieter it got, the more concerned he was getting.

But Seonghwa wasn't thinking about any of that.

He'd been strong for everyone else but it was all fading as he saw his one chance slipping through his fingers, just when they'd gotten so close.

"Come on! Look! He has to be nearby!"

Jisung followed his orders, shaking his fears from his mind. He knew Seonghwa was rushing but this wasn't his first time dealing with the zombies. After facing the feral ones head-on so many times, this was probably a piece of cake.

He was letting his own cowardly fears cloud his judgement. Sure Seonghwa was emotional. But anyone in their right mind would be in his situation. And honestly, considering his situation, he was handling it pretty well. He had to have faith in him.

After all, Seonghwa was the one who was there for Minho and the others. Not him.

"I know he's here. I have to find him. I have to."

Just hearing the words over and over drove a knife through Jisung's heart. He was helpless to do anything but listen to him.

But suddenly, the words were cut short.

Han had been a few rooms behind, trying to ensure they weren't missing any viable candidates, but when he looked up, his train of thought immediately derailed.

"Saem?"

The word was so quiet, Han almost didn't hear him. Seonghwa stood in the doorway of the dressing room, staring at a child inside. He hadn't heard everything about what went down at the end of the escape but Minho had talked about this kid.

The brother of that crazy chick.

But he was shot in the head. He should be dead.

"You're Park Seonghwa, right?" the boy smiled, taking a step forward. Seonghwa flinched backwards. His fist tightened around the gun in his holster.

"H-how?! How are you even...?" Seonghwa stammered, backing away.

"The special serum has a little secret to it," Saem grinned. "You see, my sister is really, really smart, and she manipulated the regenerative agent. For the special ones, there's a reserve power cell."

Seonghwa fell back against the wall, his hands shaking. Han stared forward, eyes wide.

That meant...

She was still here.

Kyungsoon.