Rain, Rain, Go Away

Embracing Chaos

On the other side of Daejeon, a sense of unease settled over the small apartment shared by Jeong-yun and his fiancée, Yuna. Though they had managed to find safety within the concrete walls, their supplies were dwindling at an alarming rate.

Jeong-yun's eyes scanned the nearly bare shelves, his mind racing with the daunting task of finding more food and water in a city torn apart by chaos. Yuna, sensing his worry, placed a gentle hand on his arm, "What are we going to do now?" she whispered, her voice barely audible over the distant sounds of destructive rain falling.

Jeong-yun's jaw clenched in resolve as he pulled Yuna close. "We'll figure something out," he promised, trying to sound calmer than he felt. "We just need to hold on a little longer, rescue team will surely arrive"

Yuna's voice was laced with desperation as she grasped Jeong-yun's arm, her eyes wide with fear. "No one is coming to save us, Jeong! If we remain here, the roof has already started to leak, and the acid rainwater droplets have begun to fall, We have to seek shelter now"

Jeong-yun's expression was grim, but he remained silent, his mind racing for a solution. That was when he saw it - a plume of red smoke rising from a distant building. His eyes locked onto the signal, and a spark of hope ignited within him.

"It's the asylum, isn't it?" he exclaimed, a hint of excitement creeping into his voice. "I think it's a message, Yuna. A message that there's safety there. We have to go, now!"

Yuna's gaze followed Jeong-yun's, and as she saw the red smoke, a glimmer of hope appeared in her eyes.

(While at the parking of Mr.Nam's Apartment)

As the torrential rain finally subsided, Tae-hoon and Nimesh emerged from the area, wrapped in polythene sheets that will protect them from the acidic downpour. They took a deep breath, surveying their surroundings before setting off once again.

Tae-hoon who is familiar with the city's layout, took the lead, his eyes scanning the horizon for any signs of danger. "If we keep moving and take shelter during the rain intervals, I think we can reach the asylum by tomorrow morning," he said, his voice steady and reassuring.

Nimesh nodded, his eyes fixed on Tae-hoon as he struggled to keep up. As a newcomer to the city, he had limited knowledge of its layout, and he relied heavily on Tae-hoon's guidance. "How far is it?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of concern.

Tae-hoon hesitated, his gaze sweeping the desolate landscape. He replied "It's on the other side of the city"

As Tae-hoon and Nimesh trudged through the desolate area, they were met with a gruesome scenes. The remnants of a once-thriving city now lay in ruins, a testament to the devastating power of the acid rain.

The road was littered with the skeletons of humans, their bodies contorted in twisted poses, a grim reminder of the horrors that had unfolded. The concrete buildings, once proud and sturdy, now stood as crumbling monoliths, their walls cracked and broken.

Even the trees, once green and vibrant, now stood as barren, lifeless sentinels, their branches like withered fingers reaching towards the sky. The air was heavy with a noxious, acrid smell, like burning plastic and ozone. A sickly green fog clung to the ground, casting an eerie, otherworldly glow over the devastated landscape.

The silence was oppressive, a heavy blanket that suffocated all sound. It was as if the very life had been drained from the city, leaving behind only an unsettling stillness. Tae-hoon and Nimesh exchanged a wary glance, their footsteps echoing through the deserted streets like a death knell.

"It's like everyone just... vanished" Nimesh whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of their own breathing.

Tae-hoon's expression was grim. "I don't think everyone had a choice" he replied, his eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of danger. "We need to keep moving. We can't stay here."

As Tae-hoon and Nimesh reached the highway, a rugged jeep suddenly screeched to a halt in front of them, blocking their path. Three men, clad in construction helmets and menacing scowls, glared at the pair from within the vehicle.

"Give us whatever you have!" one of the men barked, brandishing a rusty knife. Nimesh, looking every bit the innocent civilian, hesitated before speaking up.

"The only valuable thing I have is my watch, sir," he replied, his voice trembling slightly.

The thief's expression darkened, his anger rising. "Shut up! Just give us your bottle of water" he snarled, his eyes fixed greedily on the precious resource.

Tae-hoon, sensing the situation was about to escalate, quickly intervened. "Here, take it" he said, handing over the bottle of water.

The thief's gaze lingered on Tae-hoon, as if searching for any sign of defiance. "You sure you only want this?" Tae-hoon asked, his tone neutral.

The thief's response was a crude, dismissive curse. "Get lost!" he spat, before turning to his companions and accelerating the jeep. The vehicle sped away, leaving Tae-hoon and Nimesh to breathe a sigh of relief.

As they watched the jeep disappear into the distance, Nimesh turned to Tae-hoon with a concerned expression. "This is really strange! why did they want water above valuable watch" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Chill out nimesh, water ain't worth like money, they are probably drunk" Tae replied,

Tae-hoon's eyes scanned the horizon, his mind racing with the implications of their encounter. "We need to be now more careful" he said finally. "There are desperate people out there, and we can't trust anyone."

As they trudged along the empty highway, the clouds above them grew darker, their rumbling thunder a ominous warning that another torrential downpour is about to happen, Tae-hoon and Nimesh exchanged a worried glance, their eyes locking in a shared moment of concern.

They were in the middle of nowhere, with no shelter in sight. The vast expanse of the highway stretched out before them, Panic began to set in as they scanned their surroundings, searching for any way of cover. But there was nothing - no buildings, no trees, no canopies to shield them from the coming disaster.