Girls Never Die || TripleS

12 - Retention

 "We're running out of food."

Hayeon looked up to her professor as he spoke in the middle of the gymnasium. Students and staff alike turned their attention to him from everywhere, either sitting down on the bleachers or standing in a corner. She sat cross-legged alone with her back against the wall.

Hayeon had counted the number of survivors in the gym. They totaled thirty-six, including her. Twenty-eight of them were students, and the remaining eight were adults; five teachers and three miscellaneous staff members.

The number was abysmal.

Still, it was far too many people to keep alive. Hayeon looked over to the front of the bleachers. Their supplies of water and food were stored in colorful plastic boxes, the kind school gyms had. Many of the boxes were still full. Their area hadn't been hit until a couple weeks ago. For some insane reason, the adults refused them the right to leave school grounds and evacuate, threatening them with expulsion. For some even more insane reason, the students actually decided to stay, including her.

Well, she didn't want to stay, but her parents forced her to. She wondered where they were; they probably deserted by now. Hayeon chuckled at the thought, hoping they were at least alright.

Hayeon snapped out of her reverie when the group of survivors gathered in the center, surrounding the teacher. With a sigh, she pushed herself up with a grunt and joined them. She pushed herself to the front, ignoring the judgmental looks from her classmates.

"How long will the supplies last us?" Another teacher asked.

The professor sucked in a breath, glancing over at the supplies. "With our numbers, only a couple more days."

Fearful murmurs surrounded Hayeon. The girl herself was worried.

"What should we do?" A student raised his hand and asked. The tag on his uniform read 'Han Yujin.'

"Should we leave?" added a female student. Her name said 'Lee Wonhee.'

The teacher passed a hand over his rough and untrimmed mustache, furrowing his brows.

"I believe we'll have to send someone out," he announced.

More murmurs echoed through the large gymnasium, crescendoing into loud voices of protests against the idea.

"Who?" A voice spoke in the back of the crowd, silencing everyone. The group quickly caught on and started eyeing each other. Many of the gazes landed on Hayeon. One of them was from Chaewon, the girl whom she loved to relentlessly tease, and who'd always retaliate with a scream and a punch to her gut.

Before she could think, Hayeon's hand shot up. "I think Chaewon should go."

All conversations froze and everyone leered at Hayeon. Chaewon was a block of ice, boring her eyes into Hayeon in utter shock. Hayeon swallowed tensely at the silence.

"Wow." A boy scoffed. "Already throwing someone under the bus?"

Hayeon sucked in a short breath. "If we're sending someone, then we should send someone who can fight. Chaewon knows martial arts." Her words slipped out one after the other without her being able to stop. "If one of the zombies runs after her, she could probably fight back, or even kill it!"

"Kill it? Seriously?" Someone chuckled in disbelief.

"Jeong Hayeon, are you seriously doing this?" Chaewon muttered, her eyebrows twisted together.