ECHOES OF TERROR: PURSUED BY THE HUNGRY DEAD

The past [2 years back - 2024]
Day 17 since the group came together
Seoul, South Korea

Jeha crouched low inside the dimly lit meat shop, his breath shallow as he peered through the glass doors. The doors, plastered with hastily taped pamphlets, offered little solace against the horrors outside. Beyond them, the zombies shuffled aimlessly, their decayed faces twisted into grotesque masks of hunger. Their vacant, darting eyes seemed to search for the source of Kaneisyeon’s cries—a sound that had become deafening in the oppressive silence of the shop.

"I can’t go out..." Jeha whispered to himself, his voice trembling with despair. He cradled the infant against his chest, his hands clammy with sweat. Kaneisyeon’s wails grew louder, piercing and insistent, a heartbreaking plea for the mother who wasn’t there. Jeha’s efforts to comfort her had only made things worse, her tiny body writhing as her cries echoed through the small, grimy room.

Outside, the zombies turned their heads sharply at the sound. Their movements grew purposeful, their aimless shuffle transforming into a coordinated surge toward the shop. Soon, their decaying hands began battering the doors, their moans rising in an unholy chorus. The pounding grew louder and more insistent, each impact sending vibrations through the fragile barrier.

Jeha’s heart raced as he held Kaneisyeon tighter, her cries now a frantic crescendo that seemed to fuel the zombies’ assault. With a sickening crunch, the glass doors began to crack. Jagged lines spiderwebbed across the surface, and Jeha felt his stomach lurch.

The glass shattered in an ear-splitting crash, and shards rained down onto the greasy floor. Kaneisyeon’s cries reached a fever pitch, her tiny voice trembling with terror. Jeha gritted his teeth, his eyes darting frantically around the room. The zombies were seconds away from flooding the shop, and the narrow space left him with no way out. He couldn’t fight them, not with Kaneisyeon in his arms, and he couldn’t silence her cries without harming her.

His gaze fell on the small window high above the meat storage fridges. It was his only chance—a slim, precarious chance. The problem was clear: the window was too high, and he couldn’t climb it with the baby in his arms unless he found a way to secure her to him.

Jeha’s eyes scanned the room. Broken furniture lay scattered on the greasy floor, mingling with shattered plates and the stench of rotting meat. His frustration mounted as he realized there was nothing here that could act as a makeshift harness.

“Ah…” he muttered under his breath, panic creeping into his voice. He moved quickly, setting Kaneisyeon on the cleanest chair he could find. The infant’s cries cut through him, but he forced himself to focus. He shoved one of the large tables against the broken doors, the weight of it buying him precious seconds as the zombies clawed and moaned outside.

Breathing heavily, Jeha undid the buttons of his shirt, revealing a lean but muscular frame underneath. He tossed the shirt onto another chair, its relative cleanliness a faint comfort amidst the filth. Gently, he lifted Kaneisyeon, her tiny face red and tear-streaked.

“You miss your mama, don’t you?” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. His hands worked quickly, wrapping the baby securely in the sleeves of his shirt. “I’ll make sure you see her soon, Kaneisyeon,” he promised, his voice steady despite the chaos around him.

He tied the shirt snugly against his chest, creating a makeshift sling that cradled the baby close to his body. Picking up a discarded saddle from the floor, he turned his attention to the fridge beneath the window. With a grunt, he pushed it over, the metallic crash reverberating through the shop. He climbed onto it, his movements swift and desperate.

The zombies broke through the table barricade just as Jeha swung the saddle at the window. Glass shards cascaded down, and he shielded Kaneisyeon with his body, wincing as the sharp edges cut into his arms. He tossed the saddle onto the street outside and grabbed the jagged window sill.

“Ugh…” Jeha winced as he pulled himself up, the glass biting into his palms. The zombies poured into the shop, their guttural growls growing louder. He glanced back briefly, his heart pounding at the sight of them spilling into the room.

Gritting his teeth, Jeha grunted as he swung one leg over the sill, ignoring the searing pain of the glass digging into his skin. Blood trickled down his arms, but he didn’t stop. He had made a promise—to In-Ha, to himself—and he wouldn’t break it.

With one final effort, Jeha vaulted out of the window, holding Kaneisyeon close as he landed hard on the pavement below. He rolled instinctively, absorbing the impact as his back slammed against the ground. Pain shot through him, but he wrapped his arms protectively around the baby, shielding her from harm.

For a moment, he lay there, gasping for breath as the world spun around him. The sound of the zombies inside the shop was still loud, but the street ahead was momentarily clear. He tightened his hold on Kaneisyeon, her cries now quieter, though still heart-wrenching.

“We’re safe,” he murmured, his voice barely audible over the pounding in his ears. “We’re safe for now.”

With trembling hands, he pushed himself to his feet, cradling Kaneisyeon against his chest as he staggered forward, his determination burning brighter than the pain coursing through his body.

Jeha cast a quick glance over his shoulder, his heart pounding as he hoped against hope that the zombies had lost his trail. Instead, the shattered window and the noise from his desperate escape had only served to direct them. A few were already spilling out of the shop, stumbling onto the road with guttural snarls. One zombie, its pale, decaying face twisted into a grotesque snarl, fell forward with a sickening thud. Its clouded white eyes locked onto Jeha as it emitted a bloodcurdling growl.

“Seriously… give me a break,” Jeha muttered under his breath, clutching Kaneisyeon tighter against his chest. His grip on the saddle in his other hand tightened instinctively as he turned and sprinted forward. The sound of his feet hitting the pavement echoed around him, loud and unforgiving. He knew he was making too much noise, but what choice did he have? The zombies would sniff out his blood soon enough, drawn by the metallic scent oozing from the cuts on his arms and legs.

Kaneisyeon’s cries cut through the oppressive atmosphere like a sharp knife, growing louder with every step. Her wails felt like a beacon, calling out to the creatures pursuing them. Jeha grimaced, his jaw tightening. He glanced down at the baby, her tiny fists flailing as if protesting the chaos around her.

“You’re having a difficult time, aren’t you?” he murmured softly, his voice barely audible above the snarls and the pounding of his own heartbeat. “It’s scary, isn’t it? But don’t worry. Brother will keep you safe.”

Despite the terror clawing at his chest, Jeha forced a smile, his lips curving upward in a small, reassuring gesture. To his astonishment, Kaneisyeon’s cries faltered, her tear-streaked face lighting up with a giggle. The sound was pure and innocent, a stark contrast to the horrors surrounding them.

Jeha chuckled, the sound strained but genuine. “Haha. It took just a small smile to keep you from crying? You’re strong, baby Kaneisyeon,” he said, his voice trembling with a mixture of exhaustion and determination.

The baby’s brief moment of joy gave him a renewed sense of purpose, and he pushed himself harder, his legs burning as he sprinted. Behind him, the snarling and growling of the pursuing zombies grew louder, their relentless hunger spurring them on. Jeha’s mind raced as he tried to think of a plan, any plan, to keep them both alive.

The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the empty streets. Nightfall was approaching, and Jeha knew he couldn’t keep running forever. He had to find shelter, somewhere safe to wait out the night. But where? His eyes darted around, scanning the desolate buildings for any sign of refuge. Most doors were either bolted shut or too exposed to provide any real safety.

Then, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted it—a large mansion looming in the distance. Its once-grand gates hung askew, broken and rusted, a telltale sign that it had likely been overrun at some point. The dark windows stared back at him like hollow eyes, foreboding and unwelcoming. But it was his best chance. If there were zombies inside, he would just have to fight them. He had no other option.

“There,” he panted, his voice hoarse. “Let’s go there.”

With renewed determination, Jeha adjusted his hold on Kaneisyeon and sprinted toward the mansion. The baby, now calm and secure in his arms, seemed to sense his resolve, her small hands clutching at his shirt.

Behind him, the zombies’ snarls grew louder, their ragged footsteps closing in. Jeha gritted his teeth, forcing himself to ignore the pain in his arms and legs. He could feel the weight of their presence, a suffocating reminder that his time was running out.

As the mansion loomed closer, Jeha’s mind raced with questions. Was it truly abandoned? Were there more of those creatures waiting inside? It didn’t matter. He had to take the risk—for Kaneisyeon, for himself, for the slim chance of survival.

With one final burst of speed, Jeha barreled toward the broken gates, his heart pounding in his chest like a war drum. Whatever lay ahead, he would face it head-on. He had no other choice.