Plague 2024 [Plague 2022 Season 3]

Episode 4

Without another word, Hamin closed the door with a final, heavy clang. The sound echoed through the hallway, sealing the doctors and the zombies inside the room. The tension in the air shifted as Eunhye turned fully away, her steps heavy as she moved forward, her mind racing but her face calm.

Behind her, Yuri stood watching, her face pale, as the others exchanged nervous glances. They all felt it—the gravity of what had just happened. But none of them spoke. The hallway was filled with only the sounds of their breathing, the quiet that followed the storm of emotion and confrontation that had just taken place.

They had survived. But so much had been lost in the process.

DESCENT INTO CHAOS: GRASPING THE EDGE OF DEATH

The elevator descended in a tense silence, each person lost in their thoughts, hearts heavy with anticipation and dread. The faint hum of the elevator and the occasional shift of movement was all that accompanied them as they descended deeper into the unknown. Faces were stern, eyes distant, all of them bracing for what might be their last chance at saving their friends—or at discovering they were too late.

When the doors slid open with a soft hiss, the basement lay before them. It was an eerie, dimly lit space, thick with the smell of oil and dust, untouched except for the only red car parked near the far wall. The group cautiously stepped out, their footsteps echoing off the concrete floor.

Jaeyeon finally broke the silence, his voice low yet firm, "We don’t know what the CEOs are like—who they are, what they’re capable of. If they’re in that secret room, we need to stay sharp. No mistakes."

Sae Joon Hyun, who had been scanning their surroundings, nodded in agreement. He glanced at Eunhye, noticing the cold, distant look in her eyes, her anger still simmering beneath the surface. "Noona," he called softly at first. "Noona, let’s keep our weapons loaded and ready. Even the remote—for backup, just in case," his voice was louder this time, but Eunhye remained silent, her gaze unfocused.

Sae Joon Hyun's brow furrowed, concern seeping into his voice. "Noona? Eunhye Noona! Ya, Minho Eunhye!" He gripped her shoulders firmly, shaking her slightly to snap her out of her daze.

She blinked, startled, as if pulled from a dark place. "Ah, yeah... Sorry. What is it?"

"Keep your weapons ready," Yuri answered for Sae Joon Hyun, her tone gentle but pointed.

Eunhye nodded slowly, but the cloud of her thoughts hadn’t fully lifted. Sae Joon Hyun let go of her shoulders, his worry still evident. "Noona... what’s wrong?"

For a moment, she didn’t answer. Her eyes fell to the floor, and she swallowed hard. "I’m scared," she admitted quietly. "I’m scared to walk through that door. What if… what if we find them like before... like zombies again?"

Sae Joon Hyun was about to speak, but Hailey, her voice trembling, stepped forward. "But... there’s still a chance, Eunhye. There’s a chance that Yohan and the others are alive. I would rather ride on that chance than regret never looking at all. I want to believe what that man said. I just want to."

Yuri placed a comforting hand on Hailey’s shoulder, nodding in silent agreement. The fear was palpable, but so was the glimmer of hope.

"I’m scared too," Eugene admitted, his voice uncharacteristically small. "You, Sae Hyeong, and Yuri Seonsangnim—you’ve at least seen them. You know what it could be like, zombie or not. But... we don’t even know what to expect." His gaze drifted to Eunhye, imploring her to understand. "Still, I’m hoping—against all the odds—that we get to see Jay and the others again."

Yon, who had been quietly observing the exchange, spoke with cold resolve. "Noona, let’s hope those bastards didn’t lie to us."

They all nodded, gathering strength from one another, and Jaeyeon led the way toward the red car, the sole vehicle in the basement. The car’s rear faced outwards, and as Jaeyeon approached it, his eyes scanned the floor beneath the hood. "There really is a lever here," he confirmed, bending down.

At his words, everyone rushed over. Weapons were clutched tightly in their hands, their eyes darting around, waiting for whatever might come next. "Alright," Yuri said with a deep breath, her fingers trembling as she tightened her grip on her gun. "Time for the truth to come to light."

Jaeyeon nodded and, with a firm grip, pulled the lever. The sound of hissing filled the air, sharp and sudden, making them all step back instinctively. The floor beneath them began to shift, revealing a hidden door that slid open with a low, mechanical groan. Beneath the door was a staircase leading further down.

"Yon, Eugene," Sae Joon Hyun called out. "Stay here and stand guard. Don’t let anything get through this door."

Yon nodded curtly, positioning himself on one side of the entrance while Eugene took the other. With a final glance, Sae Joon Hyun, Jaeyeon, Hailey, Eunhye, and Yuri descended the stairs into the unknown.

The staircase led them into a stark, sterile corridor bathed in a cold white light. The walls gleamed, unnaturally clean, with no markings or signs of life. At the far end of the corridor was a single, heavy door. It was the only entryway in the entire hall.

Jaeyeon reached for the door, pushing against it, but it didn’t budge. "Locked," he muttered.

The stench of sterile chemicals and medicine hung thick in the air, making Eunhye gag as she covered her mouth. The scent was suffocating, overwhelming, as if they had walked straight into a lab where horrors had been concocted.

Without warning, a blaring siren erupted, echoing through the corridor, as the white lights flickered violently between red and white. The oppressive noise disoriented them, the emergency alarm sending panic rippling through the group.

"What’s going on?!" Hailey shouted, shielding her eyes from the flashing lights.

Before anyone could respond, the floor beneath Sae Joon Hyun gave way. A trapdoor snapped open with a metallic clank, and Sae Joon Hyun fell, his body plunging into the darkness below. His hand reached out in desperation, but his voice was caught in his throat before he could even scream.

Jaeyeon reacted in an instant. He dove across the floor, skidding on his stomach, and managed to grab Sae Joon Hyun’s hand before he disappeared completely. Jaeyeon’s muscles strained as he held on tight, his other hand gripping the edge of the trapdoor to keep himself from sliding in after him.

Sae Joon Hyun winced, biting back a groan. His arm throbbed with pain—the same arm that had been shot months ago. The old wound wasn’t supposed to hurt anymore, but now the pain returned with a vengeance. Still, he gritted his teeth and held on.

Jaeyeon strained, his body trembling with effort. "I’ve got you, Hyeong!" he grunted through clenched teeth.

The others were slow to process what had just happened, their minds struggling to keep up. But once they realized what was happening, they rushed forward. Hailey grabbed Sae Joon Hyun’s other hand, pulling with all her might. Yuri clutched Jaeyeon’s legs, anchoring him in place, while Eunhye wrapped her arms around Yuri’s waist. Together, they pulled, their combined strength barely enough to drag Sae Joon Hyun back up.

It took only a few seconds, but those seconds felt like an eternity. They hauled him out just in time as the trapdoor slammed shut behind him with a terrifying finality. Sae Joon Hyun gasped for air, his body shaking as he realized how close he had come to being cut in two by the closing floor.

His shoes, however, weren’t so lucky. They had been caught in the door and sliced clean through, the remains lying in two neat pieces at the edge of the trap.

Jaeyeon sat back, panting, his chest heaving. "Hyeong," he said, shaking his head. "You’ve got to be more careful."

Sae Joon Hyun chuckled weakly, his forehead damp with sweat. "Is it my fault the floor decided to break apart like that?" He mock-scoffed, his breath still coming in ragged bursts. But his heart was still racing, and he could feel the fear lingering, just below the surface.

They all sat for a moment, catching their breath, the cold air of the corridor pressing in around them. What lay beyond that final door was still a mystery, but they knew one thing for sure: nothing about this place was going to let them leave easily.