ECHOES OF TERROR: FLIGHT FROM THE INFECTED

The month had crawled by with agonizing slowness. For thirty long days and nights, In-Ha and Yon had labored tirelessly, perfecting the vaccine that could tip the scales in humanity's favor. Now, they were ready to leave for the US grids, a journey fraught with uncertainty but also hope. Sae Joon Hyun, however, was battling his own demons. His arm throbbed with a dull, persistent ache—the bullet wound that should have healed was far from it. Ji-won had been tampering with it, and Sae Joon Hyun hadn't dared to complain or seek help. In-Ha and Yon had their hands full, and his own discomfort seemed trivial in the face of everything. So, he bore the pain silently, as if it were penance.

The Jeep roared down the desolate road, its engine a sharp contrast to the eerie silence of the world around them. Zombies lunged at the vehicle, their grotesque forms illuminated briefly in the fading sunlight before being left in the dust. The car was faster, much faster, but the image of the zombie capable of firing a gun haunted In-Ha’s mind. The thought chilled her—if zombies continued to evolve, humanity's extinction was not just possible; it was imminent. A grim reality loomed over her: once humans were wiped out, the zombies too would perish without a food source, leaving the earth barren and lifeless.

As the Jeep sped onward, the weight of this bleak future pressed on her chest. Yon's humming and rhythmic bobbing provided a strange counterpoint to the tension, but even his energy couldn't entirely dispel the somber atmosphere. Time slipped away, and by late evening, they reached their destination: the Korean airport. The drive there had been punctuated by sporadic zombie attacks, but Jaeyeon, ever resourceful, had dealt with the threats swiftly.

The group disembarked cautiously, their senses on high alert. Sae Joon Hyun was the last to step down, his gaze locking onto Jaeyeon. “You should’ve stayed back,” he muttered, his tone a mix of frustration and concern.

Jaeyeon only stretched lazily, his demeanor calm as ever. “You know I couldn’t do that,” he replied, but before he could elaborate, a sudden bark shattered the stillness. A dog emerged from the shadows, snarling and charging straight at Sae Joon Hyun. Instinct took over. He grabbed the animal’s jaws with one hand and its front paws with the other, struggling to keep its snapping teeth away from him. The infected dog’s eyes were a milky white, its pupils reduced to pinpoints, and its drool glistened with an unnatural greenish hue.

Sae Joon Hyun released the creature and leapt back, but the dog wasn’t deterred. It lunged again, relentless in its pursuit. This time, Jaeyeon intervened, pulling Sae Joon Hyun aside just in time. The dog skidded across the pavement, growling and baring its teeth as it prepared to attack once more.

In-Ha gritted her teeth. “It’s infected,” she said, her voice tinged with both anger and sorrow.

Sae Joon Hyun shook his head, his resolve firm. “I’m not hurting an animal. Run for it!” he shouted.

Without another word, the group sprinted toward the airport’s glass doors. Yon glanced over his shoulder at the pursuing dog and mumbled under his breath, “Lucky you, these guys have a soft spot.”

Behind them, the officers who had escorted them called out, their voices fading as the Jeep sped away. “Be careful! Reach out to us once you’ve made it!”

The group dashed into the airport, their shoes pounding against the cold, sterile floor. Sae Joon Hyun led them through the abandoned terminal, navigating the maze of broken kiosks and overturned luggage carts with practiced ease. He guided them toward the helicopter that had brought him to Korea two years ago. Though time had passed, it was unlikely anyone had moved the aircraft. After all, how many survivors had the knowledge or skills to fly a helicopter?

Their breath came in ragged gasps as they reached the hangar. The infected dog barked furiously behind them.

The tension was palpable as Sae Joon Hyun led the group down the dimly lit corridor of the airport, every step filled with uncertainty. The faint sound of their hurried breaths mingled with the sharp growls of the infected dog trailing mere inches behind them. Jaeyeon, In-Ha, Yon, Ha-neul, and Joon-woo stayed close, their footsteps echoing like a frantic drumbeat against the hard floor. Sae Joon Hyun's heart pounded in his chest, his memories guiding him as he retraced the path to where they had left the helicopter two years ago.

He swallowed hard, his throat dry with fear. What if it wasn’t there? What if someone had taken it? What if— He shook his head, banishing the spiraling thoughts. But doubt clawed at him relentlessly, and he couldn’t help squeezing his eyes shut for a moment as they approached the hangar.

A flicker of relief coursed through him when he saw it—the helicopter, still parked in the same spot as before, dust-coated but intact. His breath escaped in a shaky exhale, and a wave of gratitude surged through him. “It’s right there!” he shouted, his voice breaking with urgency and relief.

Without slowing, Sae Joon Hyun turned back to his group, his voice commanding despite his racing heart. “I’ll get in the cockpit! The last person to board, shut the door immediately!”

They didn’t need to be told twice. Feet pounded against the tarmac as they sprinted toward the helicopter, the infected dog matching their pace, its growls growing louder. Sae Joon Hyun’s fear spurred him forward, adrenaline fueling his every step.

Reaching the helicopter, he yanked open the cockpit door and jumped in, his hands moving instinctively to the controls. His fingers trembled as he flipped switches and adjusted levers, recalling the procedures from two years ago. The console lit up with a faint hum, and the rotor blades groaned to life, cutting through the stale air as they began to spin.

One by one, the others climbed aboard, their movements frantic but precise. Yon pulled In-Ha up as Ha-neul and Joon-woo clambered in after them. Jaeyeon was the last, his body taut with tension as he slammed the door shut behind him, cutting off the infected dog’s snarls. The creature barked and clawed at the door, its eyes wild and unseeing, but the helicopter was sealed tight.

Outside, a few zombies on the runway turned their attention toward the commotion. Their guttural growls pierced the air as they broke into a sprint, closing the distance between them and the helicopter with alarming speed.

“Come on,” Sae Joon Hyun muttered under his breath, his fingers flying over the controls. The rotor blades whirred faster, kicking up a storm of dust and debris. The zombies were almost upon them, their decayed hands reaching out—

With a shudder and a lurch, the helicopter lifted off the ground, soaring into the air just as the zombies lunged. The creatures snarled in frustration, their outstretched hands falling short as the aircraft ascended, leaving them behind.

Inside, the group collectively exhaled, the weight of their escape settling over them. Sae Joon Hyun remained focused, his hands steady on the controls as he guided the helicopter higher into the sky.

Jaeyeon leaned forward, resting his hands on the back of Sae Joon Hyun’s seat. His lips curved into a bittersweet smile as he said, “Memories, huh, Hyeong?”

Sae Joon Hyun didn’t turn, his gaze fixed on the horizon, but his voice was heavy with emotion. “Two years,” he murmured, his tone laced with exhaustion and quiet despair. “We’ve been living in this hell for two years.”