UNDEAD ARISING

Chapter 6 - Targeted

Ryujin searches the crowd in hopes to see Chaeyoung while the iron gate is being lowered shut once again. Those who are still waiting for their turn for the test inside the safe side of the wall we're advised that there had been a breach on the perimeter and those who were deployed outside were already called back to the base.

However, Ryujin can't find Chaeyoung. 

But amongst the crowd, she spotted their Drill Sargent and called his attention immediately, "Sergeant!" She yelled out loudly, making her way through the crowd.

"Park Chaeyoung... she's not here." She says panting, trying to catch her breath while attempting to speak calmly as she could to her superior despite how her heart's rushing her.

"Ah, yes... she had been deployed on her first mission by Colonel Park. Don't worry, Ryujin. She's with that man. She'll be safe." The older man with a mildly grown beard answered as he pats her head which made the girl's eye twitch in annoyance. 

Her superiors always pat her head, treating her like a kid despite her cold and quiet demeanor. She's the youngest in this batch and she had always tried her best to get into this batch of trainees just so she could be with the person she considers as her sister. 

Ryujin has always been serious, rarely smiling despite Jaehyun's and the others' unamusing antics. Chaeyoung was the first person to comfort her after being rescued by Yoongi's team 4 years ago. Chaeyoung's smile was the first brightness she saw after growing up in the littlest space and unfamiliar household miles from the base. 

She had always been in the dark, scared of monsters and even the people around her. And even after the rescue, Ryujin showed no emotions until she saw Chaeyoung smiling at her, telling her that she's safe. From that day on, she was attached to Chaeyoung and looked up to her as if she's her blood sister. She never knew how sibling's love felt like, but after meeting Chaeyoung, she understood the feeling of caring for somebody.

"What do you mean deployed? This is still a test, right? Sargeant? All privates must return to base in case of a perimeter breach." She questioned, heartrate increasing making her hands tremble as she clenches them tightly.

"Well, the colonel must've needed more help. Chaeyoung's quite talented after all." The sergeant replied with the softest tone to console the girl. 

"The colonel needed help from a soldier ranked lower than him?!" Her tone rises as she questioned him again. However, her tone no longer amuses this man as his brows furrows tightly, "Look, Specialist Shin, I know you're worried about her but this is the reality. Once you're in this field of work, there's no getting out. You can't choose the time, place and the situation the top brass will assign you in. And not everyone returns... facing the reality is hard but it's not a choice for everyone. If you have more questions then I suggest you talk to the brigadier general." The older man then turns his back on her while all she could do is stand there trembling in annoyance and anxiousness. 

"That's the first time you questioned a superior," Jaehyun says nonchalantly, now standing behind the aggravated girl. Like her, the first person Jaehyun looks for, the moment the breach has been announced is Chaeyoung. But unlike Ryujin, the guy knows how to keep his cool despite being too worried that he almost tried to sneak out the gate the moment the superiors confirmed that everyone is already accounted inside. 

He knew that the three of them will be tested separately as they're included in the ranked top 10. He somehow had the feeling that the colonel would want all of them in his team. Who wouldn't want the best in their team? However, he wished that he never did his best so he can watch over these two on moments like this. Although, he never have thought there would be one final test.