Vengeance

fifteen

Wooyoung slowly approached the cabinet, listening to the soft attempts at escape. It almost didn't sound like a zombie.

He looked down at the puddle of blood on the ground again, smelling the scent of death clearly. It didn't make any sense.

He stepped away slowly, turning back to Changbin in the hallway.

"I don't understand, what's going on?"

Changbin shook his head.

"That's why I went to get you. I don't know. I just figured movement meant something. I think we should open it."

Wooyoung looked back at the door, watched as it shook with each blow.

Maybe the two had been trying to escape ever since they'd turned. If the zombie serum had acted fast enough, it was possible they survived the gunshot wounds and turned. But he'd assumed the shots were to the head.

It was all too confusing.

"What if it's a trap?" Wooyoung said quietly, gripping his holster.

"I'll take them out," Changbin said deliberately, slipping his weapon from its holster and cocking it.

Wooyoung nodded, biting his lip.

Cautiously, the two reentered the room, positions themselves outside the cabinet. Changbin stood a bit behind him, gun at the ready. Wooyoung reached down towards the bolt, his fingers shaking.

He'd never even considered this as a possible outcome. He'd been so convinced they were gone. The chance that they could still save them had set hope coursing through his veins, yet the fear of having it all crushed was holding him back.

But he needed to know.

He undid the latch, jumping out of the way as the doors swung open.

The stale scent of rotten flesh filled the room, wafting out of the case. Wooyoung nearly gagged, covering his nose and coughing. Changbin's aim hardly shook as he kept his gun pointed at the open doors.

"W...Wooyoung?"

Wooyoung covered his mouth as a cry burst from his throat.

Mingi sat looking next to normal, his knees tight to his chest, his knuckles dripping with blood. And next to him...

Yunho's body lay limp against the corner, rotted beyond recognition.

He fell to the floor, caught between grief and relief, as sobs racked his body.

"Mingi," he gasped between breaths, his fists clenched as he looked up to meet his eyes.

Mingi slowly slid from his cramped position, stretching his long legs to the ground. But he didn't leave the cabinet.

"How are you...?" Changbin started, his gun returned to his hip as he fought tears, staring at the sight before him.

"I don't know," Mingi said quietly.

He was completely sentient. It was almost as if he wasn't even a zombie.

Wooyoung took it upon himself to reach the gentle giant, wrapping him in a tight embrace.

"You're okay," he sobbed, ignoring the smell, ignoring his infection, ignoring the rush for time.

In this moment, all that mattered was Mingi.

Tears rose to Mingi's eyes as he shook with grief.

"He didn't make it. He died for me. He killed himself so I wouldn't be alone up there and now...I'm alone down here."