Neverland | TOMORROW X TOGETHER

Chapter 2

We had shut ourselves in for a few hours now. The sun and moon performed a waltz, bringing a night sky to grace our presence and that of the world's newest residents, the Moa's. Despite all of our phones going directly to voicemail, we persisted in trying to reach our families. My phone battery was now at 43%, far less than what it had been before the turmoil started. From the corner of my eye, I saw Taehyun get up and move a chair aside so he could see out the store window.
"It's dark; is it safe to go outside?" His eyes were optimistic as he turned back to face us. Soobin shook his head.
'I don't want to risk it; who knows where they're hiding.' A whine sounded.
'It's over! We're already dead!' Kai dropped his face into the palms of his hands, his back shaking. I reached out a hand and gently caressed his back, hoping it might ease his discomfort, if only momentarily. Still, I was at a loss for what to say to him. With a sniff, Kai wiped tears with the sleeve of his hoodie. 
'We can't give up easily.' Soobin started, 'There are many people who didn't make it as long as we have,' Yeonjun quipped.
'You're acting like we should be proud of that.' He gave Soobin a menacing glance. Soobin pursed his lips.
'I didn't mean that at all.' He spoke in a harsh voice. 'All I want is for us to keep trying. We are capable of doing this.' Yeonjun rolled his eyes in response. Jumin glanced down at the screen of his phone, his wide face glowing.

'The government made a post.' We all sat up straight, Kai hiccuped gently and sniffed. Jumin tensed his fingers and pressed the volume "up" button. The president's voice sounded from the phone speaker.

'People of Seoul, as you are undoubtedly aware, are infected with the Moavirus.' He got started. 'The viral video that many of you have seen is authentic; the epidemic is far more deadly than we first thought.' He glanced at a card in his hand. 'Please remain inside and keep yourself away from people if you experience or witness anyone with any of the following symptoms.' I bit my lip, causing the thin skin to gradually come off. 'Dilated pupils, paranoia, and biophobia.' Biophobia has always seemed strange to me. How would you live in a world where nature is all around you? The president went on, 'The urge to self-inflict deep wounds and Oleander flowers growing out of said wounds,' his gaze met the camera. 'The hunger to devour and kill.' We were met by an instantaneous quiet, devoid of any scuffling or breathing. The president hesitated, his gaze fixed on the camera as if in desperation.

His pause seemed to stretch on forever. We exchanged uneasy glances, each of us lost in our thoughts. I missed my mum and my sister, still worried they might have gotten lost to the hordes out in the streets. Taehyun tapped the floor, 'I wonder if he has anything hopeful to say.' No one answered, the president had simply run out of words to say, just like we had run out of options.

'There are designated safe zones established throughout the city,' the president finally continued, his voice trembling slightly, A drop of sweat rolled down to his jaw. 'We urge everyone to make their way to these zones if it is safe to do so. Maps and instructions will be sent in a text message to all phones containing a Korean SIM card.' 

All of our screens lit up with a notification. I looked down at my screen and unlocked my phone. A text from the government showed in my inbox. The text stated the same information the president had said a few seconds prior and contained addresses of safe zones in and around Seoul. 

'There's one not too far from here.' Soobin looked up from his phone, his voice a mixture of hope and fear.
Kai looked up, his eyes puffy and red, his lashes wet. 'But how do we get there without getting caught by them?' he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.  I saw Taehyun nod in agreement.
Soobin stood up. 'We need a plan,' he said. 'We can't just sit here and wait till they break through and get us.' 
Jumins head turned slowly, looking around the store. 'But, we've got enough food here. Can't we just sit here and use that till the government finds us?' 
Soobin's head snapped towards him, 'They won't.' He began. 'The government won't risk any soldiers going through city areas, it'll cost them too many men.' 
Yeonjun raised a brow, 'What's with the sudden opinion change? Just a second ago you were against us leaving.' Soobin picked his backpack up and threw it over his shoulder.
'We won't be wandering around without an end goal. We have to move, and we have to move now, while it's still dark.'
Yeonjun scoffed. 'And what if we run into them? What then? We don't have anything to fight them off with, and I doubt skateboards will do anything other than give them a concussion.'
'He's right.' Taehyun said, looking at the map on his phone. 'But we don't have much of a choice. I don't want to stay here. It's dangerous. We need to find something to defend ourselves with.'