약속 | 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝘽𝙪𝙨𝙖𝙣.

십

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𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐏 𝐁𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐍 𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐆 out of the bathrooms, their movements cautious and measured as the train rattled on through the tunnel. The dim light barely illuminated their path, casting eerie shadows that danced along the walls. Everyone peered out, their eyes widening at the sight of the infected huddled in the center of the cart. The grotesque figures swayed and twitched, but were of no threat to them at the moment. As long as they couldn't see them, they were safe.

Even so, Seok fought off a groan, bowing his head in exhaustion. He was so tired of fighting, and he was sure the others felt the same. The continuous struggle had worn them down, and the thought of having to push past the mass of infected was daunting. The sheer number of people in their group made the task seem insurmountable. He glanced around at the weary faces of Yong-guk, Seok-Woo, and Sang-Hwa, each of them mirroring his fatigue.

Suddenly, a gentle tap on his shoulder drew his attention. Seok peered down to find Y/n staring up at him before she gestured elsewhere in the dark cart, pointing towards the overhead racks. His jaw fell as he realized what she was suggesting. The racks, typically used for luggage, stretched above the seats, offering a narrow but potentially navigable path over the heads of the infected. He swallowed hard, considering the audacity and danger of the plan. But as he looked around at the others, he saw the spark of understanding in their eyes.

Despite their exhaustion and the fear gnawing at their hearts, they recognized the necessity of the idea. Nodding slightly, Seok turned back to Y/n, a silent agreement passing between them.

One by one, everyone carefully climbed onto a seat and reached for one of the overhead racks. Everyone was split evenly into two groups; Seok-Woo, his daughter, In-gil, Yong-guk, and Y/n were on one side whereas Samg-Hwa, Seong-kyeong, the homeless man, and Seok were on the other. They all moved with deliberate slowness, not wanting to make so much as a single sound as they were hovered inches above the heads of the monsters below them.

Seok's heart ached with frustration as he and Y/n were separated once again. Their reunion had been brief and bittersweet, and now, she was just out of reach. He tailed the end of his group, his gaze frequently drifting over to Y/n, ensuring she was safe.

They inched forward, the overhead racks creaking slightly under their combined weight. The infected below remained oblivious, their collected ghastly moans overpowering the sounds that the rails were producing. But then, a sudden thump echoed through the cart, causing Seok's heart to fall. He tensed, eyes darting in the direction of the noise, fearing the worst as he watched as the swarm of infected shifted, their attention drawn to the back of the cart. There, on the ground, lay a bag. Seok exhaled a shaky breath as he realized what had happened.

One of the men in the front must have come across it in their path and had to toss it aside. The sound had startled the infected, drawing them away from the cart's doors.

'Good.' Seok thought to himself, relief flooding through him as the groups inched forward, methodically tossing a few more bags from the overhead racks to create a safer path. The infected below reacted to each thud, shifting their focus and moving further away from the cart's doors. Slowly, they created enough distance to make their descent.

Seok-Woo was the first to carefully climb down from the railing, his movements deliberate and controlled. He stepped onto the seats with the grace of someone acutely aware of the precariousness of the situation. Once he was on the ground, he turned and helped his daughter down, his hands steadying her until she was safely beside him.

At the same time, Sang-Hwa was helping his pregnant wife, Seong-kyeong, navigate the descent. His strong arms supported her, ensuring she moved with ease and without unnecessary strain. Seok, growing evermore impatient to get out from his current position, decided not to wait for the ones in front of him to get off and instead took it upon himself to hop down from the overhead rack with a quiet thud. His eyes immediately sought out Y/n. He carefully hurried over to her side, weaving through the maze of seats until he reached her.

He extended his hand and Y/n took it, her touch warm and was enough to make her classmate's stomach churn. As Seok pulled her to the ground, he couldn't resist the urge to pull her into a brief but tight hug. They clung to each other for a heartbeat before they reluctantly broke apart.

When Sang-Hwa reached the end of the aisle, he carefully opened the door, the soft creak of the hinges barely audible over the low rumble of the train. One by one, the others slowly began to file out. Seok-Woo, In-gil, Yong-guk, and Y/n followed closely behind whilst the homeless man, still working on getting down from the railing, moved with less confidence.

His movements were awkward and unsteady, and just as he was about to join the others, his foot slipped on one of the seat's coverings. He tumbled to the ground with a loud crash, the noise reverberating through the cart.

Everyone turned around in alarm, their eyes widening with fear. Instinctively, Su-an tried to walk over to help him, her small frame moving with a child's unthinking compassion. But her father, Seok-Woo, quickly pulled her back, his grip firm and protective. They watched in horror as some of the infected stirred, their heads snapping up, eyes vacant but ears attuned to the sound. Though they hadn't yet seen the group, the crash had agitated them.

The homeless man lay on the ground, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he covered his mouth with one hand, trying desperately to muffle his breathing. Seok-Woo, his mind racing, handed his daughter to Sang-Hwa, trusting the strong man to keep her safe. Sang-Hwa nodded, pulling Su-an close and shielding her with his body. The rest of the group huddled together, their faces pale with fear.

Y/n grimaced, unable to bear the sight of the homeless man's plight. She turned away, burying her head in Seok's shoulder, seeking comfort in his presence. Seok rested a hand on her back, rubbing it gently in a soothing gesture, his eyes never leaving the scene unfolding before them.

Seok-Woo moved with a quiet urgency, making his way toward the homeless man. When he reached him, he grabbed a hold of his jacket, pulling him up with a firm tug. Together, they began to walk toward the rest of the group, their steps quick but cautious. Just as they were a few feet away, the train emerged from the tunnel, blasting the cart with sudden, blinding light. The stark illumination revealed the full horror of their situation. The two men dove into opposing aisles, trying to remain hidden from the infected, who now moved with more agitation.

The rest of the group crouched out of sight, their breaths held.

The infected, momentarily disoriented by the brightness, hesitated. Seok-Woo and the homeless man exchanged a tense glance, their hearts pounding in their chests. With the group crouched and hidden, they knew the slightest movement or noise could give them away. Minutes felt like hours as they waited, the train's relentless forward motion their only constant.

A few stragglers began to make their way toward the end of the cart. Seok-Woo's heart pounded in his chest as he glanced over at Sang-Hwa, who harshly whispered, "Get over here." He nodded, steeling himself before looking up to assess the situation. His breath caught as he noticed one of the creatures dangerously close to discovering them, its head turning this way and that, searching for the source of the earlier noise.

Seok-Woo's focus shifted to the homeless man, who looked on the verge of breaking down. Tears welled in his eyes, and his body trembled with fear. Seok-Woo waved to get his attention, signaling that they were going to make a run for it. The homeless man's eyes widened, but he nodded, understanding the urgency.

"One," Seok-Woo whispered, his voice barely audible over the distant sounds of the train. "Two..." A few seconds passed and on the silent count of three, they moved. But as the pair began to sprint, the homeless man accidentally stepped on an empty soda can that he hadn't noticed in the moments leading up to this very moment. The can crunched loudly under his foot, the noise echoing through the cart. He gasped, his eyes wide with panic.

"Run!" Seok-Woo shouted.

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Genuine question: do any of you find this book boring and/or anticlimactic in the slightest? Please, be as honest as you're comfortable with.