Girls Never Die || TripleS

10 - Contagion

The girls around Soomin tried to move away from her despite being packed like sardines in the firetruck. After the initial complaints of disbelief, the group went radio silent, unsure on how to proceed.

Chaeyeon spoke first with tears already forming in her eyes. "You're sure it was from a zombie?"

"She was getting crushed by one," Yeonji answered from the front with her bat out. "Me and the archer girl had to save her."

"I don't think a normal person could do that much damage," Kotone added with a frown. She looked around. "What do we do?"

The group fell back into silence, feeling the bumps and ridges anytime the firetruck would cross over a crevasse on the road. Hyerin cleaned the tip of the arrow with shaky hands. Sohyun frowned through unfocused eyes, the blood on her forehead dripping onto the floor. Xinyu shifted her gaze back and forth between Soomin and her bodyguard in worry. Nakyoung watched Soomin through gritted teeth. Jiwoo clicked her tongue and looked away with furrowed brows. Chaeyeon pressed her forehead against her knee and shut her eyes tightly.

"...I say we ditch her," Yeonji said. Her statement was immediately countered with noisy protests from the other group.

"What?" Seoyeon exclaimed, louder than anyone. She tried standing up but was crushed by the surrounding bodies. "We're not doing that!"

"I mean... She's infected, isn't she?" Yeonji frowned.

"The inmatedid say that..." Hyerin tapped her arrow nervously as she looked at Soomin with eyes filled with anxiety.

"Yeah, but that could've easily been a scare tactic," Nakyoung argued. "People like him will lie to get out of anything."

Kotone rolled her eyes but held her tongue.

Mayu looked over with trembling hands. "What if she turns while we're all in the truck? Wouldn't we be in trouble?"

All eyes turned to Mayu, then to Soomin. The girl looked surprisingly nonchalant given the situation.

Yooyeon leaned over towards Soomin with a pensive stare. "How are you feeling?"

Soomin poked a scratch wound and winced. "Kinda hurts. Burns a lot."

"What about mentally?"

The gunner scratched her head and shrugged. "I feel fine."

With a nod, Yooyeon retreated with her back flushed against Nakyoung's front. She leaned over to pull Seoyeon's notebook out.

"You're not serious," Jiwoo deadpanned. Yooyeon ignored it and started writing in the notebook.

Kotone nudged her head towards the scientist. "What's that for?"

"I'm documenting the case. It's crucial information," Yooyeon answered under her breath. "It has been a few minutes since the scratch. If Soomin was infected and were to turn, it would be important to know how long it takes."

"So, what? We're just gonna leave her in here with us until she's a liability to all of our lives?" Mayu shakily spoke.

"Y'all can ditch me if you want." Soomin sided with the fearful survivor.

Nakyoung sighed. "We are not throwing you out." She emphasized every syllable. "We'll think of something else."

"What if we just tied her up?"

The people's attention turned to Sohyun. Her eyes were half open as she leaned her head against Xinyu's seat. She looked ready to pass out at any moment as the blood on her face dried up.