Plague 2023 (Plague 2022 Season 2)

Episode 24

The room was silent, each person grappling with their own fear and guilt. But the uneasy peace was shattered by Hamin, who, his voice low and filled with dread, said, “Let’s end his life while he’s sane enough. I don’t want to watch him turn into that—”

“No!” Sae Joon Hyun’s head snapped up, his voice fierce and unwavering as he glared at Hamin. His hands still held Jaeyeon’s face, warm and steady, even as his own heart raced with fear. “You are not touching him.”

FRACTURED LOYALTIES: BEYOND THE BREAKING POINT

The tension in the room was palpable as Sae Joon Hyun’s voice echoed off the cold, cracked walls of the convenience store. He stood tall, his posture rigid with protective anger, shielding Jaeyeon, who was curled up on the floor, his trembling form a stark contrast to the steely determination in Sae Joon Hyun's eyes. The room was thick with unease, the air almost suffocating as the others exchanged nervous glances. Hamin, still trying to reason, opened his mouth to speak again.

"Hyeong. Be reasonable. He is not human anymore—" Hamin’s voice was tentative, pleading, but Sae Joon Hyun cut him off with a fierce glare.

"Oh yeah? Zombies don’t sit in a corner crying, wondering what they did to deserve this or talking about how useless they feel!" Sae Joon Hyun snapped, his voice rising with each word. The sheer intensity in his voice made everyone flinch. "You guys are walking around with Yon in your group. When I protested against him, like Hailey did, did Jaeyeon join me? Did he say he wanted to live without Yon around? No. He was the first to accept the situation. The most understanding. So don’t give me that ‘he’s not human’ bullshit. He’s more human than any of you can ever be."

His words hung in the air, heavy and charged. The night outside seemed quieter than usual, as if the world itself was holding its breath in the wake of Sae Joon Hyun's outburst. The flickering light bulb above them buzzed, casting erratic shadows that danced across their strained faces. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, but his resolve was unshakable.

Sae Joon Hyun’s hands clenched into fists as he prepared himself for what he would have to do. He would fight them if it came down to it. He would fight them all if it meant keeping Jaeyeon safe. He wasn't just protecting his friend; he was protecting the trust Jaeyeon had placed in him, a trust born from a secret shared in the dead of night at the metal base, long before, when their journey to Jeonju had to begin.

Jaeyeon had confided in Sae Joon Hyun about the strange wound that had started to develop on his forehead. It scared him back then, but not for the reasons the others might think. He wasn’t afraid of Jaeyeon turning into a zombie or losing control. He was afraid of what the group would do if they found out, afraid they’d lose sight of the person Jaeyeon still was beneath the strange affliction. Sae Joon Hyun had kept that secret, guarding it fiercely as they traveled, and he wasn’t about to let them betray Jaeyeon now.

"Hyeong—" Eugene started again, his voice more cautious, but Sae Joon Hyun was having none of it.

"No, Eugene." Sae Joon Hyun’s voice was steady, brooking no argument. "I won’t let you do anything to him, no matter what you say. He was with me," he paused, his eyes flicking towards Yuri and Eunhye, "and some of us here from the beginning of all this. I know him better than any of you. He won’t hurt anyone. He’s not a monster. He’s not a zombie."

Eunhye and Yuri exchanged guilty glances. They knew exactly who Sae Joon Hyun was referring to when he said “some of us,” but neither had the courage to stand by him now, to voice their agreement. Their silence was deafening, and it cut through Sae Joon Hyun more than he cared to admit. He turned back to Jaeyeon, who was still rocking back and forth, his face buried in his arms. The sight of his friend, reduced to this by fear and distrust, ignited a fresh wave of anger in Sae Joon Hyun.