❝If only...❞ || All Of Us Are Dead

Four

1 DAY LATER

Hye-rin

I sit against the tree with Su-Hyeok resting his head on my shoulder. I try to shake the memories from my head, feeling disgusted at myself.

Mi-jin stands in front of me, with Ha-ri, using her new archery skills to shoot down the zombies.

There's so many of them, and I know we need to move. Su-Hyeok would want to get back to Cheong-san and the others. He cares about their safety more than his own.

I put his arm over my shoulder, standing up as he grunts, and I see the veins on his arm start to spread. All the lines go in sync, showing on his neck.

"Mi-jin!" I call out. She turns to face me, Ha-ri stepping in front of her. "Mi-jin, we need to find somewhere to keep low. He can't make it up all those stairs again."

Mi-jin looks around, and I've never seen her in so much distress. She nods behind her, down the small hill I got bitten on, and through the woods to a building site.

She crouches down in front of me, staring me dead in the eye. "I know we just met, and I know you want us to stay together-"

I already know where this is going.

"But, we need to get Su-Hyeok to safety, and we need to get the others, too," Mi-jin says. "Well, I will. With Ha-ri. Get Su-Hyeok to the building site and I'll meet you there with everyone else in a day or two."

"Day?!" I exclaim, way too loudly. I lower my voice, Su-Hyeok beginning to get heavy against me. "Mi-jin,  please, please come back. You have to. And make sure everyone else is safe first." I'm basically saying Su-Hyeok's lines for him.

She nods, and just like that, once again, she's going, dashing down the field with Ha-ri as the horde grows behind them.

I haul Su-Hyeok up, slowly walking us both into the forest, the leaves crunching under our feet.

I sigh, seeing the construction site up ahead, and upon hearing the growls coming from inside, I know its not safe for the others.

I'll secure it later, I tell myself, but, for now, Su-Hyeok.

1 DAY AGO

Hye-Rin

"Su-Hyeok?" I ask, going to step towards him. Mi-jin puts her hand tightly on my shoulder.

I push her off, stepping towards Su-Hyeok. He's shaking. Is he-

He turns around, one of his eyes glowing red and his hands shaking badly.

He grabs either side of my face. I look up at him in suprise.

"Hey," I whisper. "You ok?"

Worry overwhelms him. His grip tightens, and I can feel blood from his hands trickling onto my cheek.

"Bite me!" he yells at me, desperately.  "Bite me, Hye-Rin! Please!"

"What?" I manage to stutter out.

He takes his hands off my face, holding out his bad arm, the bite clear.

"I'm already turning," he says, his voice shaking, "Save me, Hye-Rin. Do it!"

Mi-jin goes to pull me away, but I shrug her away.

"Turn around," I tell her and Ha-ri quietly.

They go to stand by the bathroom entrance, and I know I don't have much time.

My own hands are shaking now, as I hold Su-Hyeok's arm in front of my mouth.

I hear the sound of the veins coming out around my eye, and I feel myself tearing up. No, I tell myself. Pull away. Run.

I close my eyes, digging my teeth into his arm, the blood falling down his arms, mixing with my tears.

As I pull away from him, I turn around, crouching down on the floor, feeling the tears trailing down my face.

I bit someone.

I fucking bit someone.

I...

Su-Hyeok wraps his arms around my shoulders from behind.

I avoid looking down, knowing what I just did is there. I gulp, silently praying the sickness feeling in my stomach will go away.

"It's ok, Hye-Rin," he whispers to me. "You did it, it's OK."

No it's not, I want to yell back at him, but I can't find the words to. My mouth stays glued shut, as much as I want to open it.

"I'm sorry," I say to him, quietly, so quiet I can barely hear myself.

He gently kisses the back of my neck.

He pulls me up off the floor, at the sudden screams coming from by the door.

"It's ok," he whispers to me, taking my hand in his. "When I wake up, I hope you're the one next to me."

And, with that, his fingers unravel themselves from mine as he hits the floor with a thud.

PRESENT DAY

Hye-Rin

(one hour later)

I made it into the construction site, and using all my strength up, I managed to take us both up to the top floor.

It's very dusty up here, with unfilled windows and building materials set everywhere over the floor.

A pile of bricks is next to us, some of them fallen and some over by the unstable stairs.

Zombies walk past us without a second glance. I sigh with relief, suddenly finding it easier to breathe when the realisation hits.

They're not after us; we have their blood in us.

I look to Su-Hyeok, the smile fading on my face when I see him still passed out.

I put his head on my shoulder, blinking away my tears.

"Come on, Su-Hyeok," I whisper. "Wake up. Please."