The villa was quiet, the group scattered across the property doing their usual tasks. Daryl was sharpening arrows on the porch, Rosita and Glenn were working in the barn, and Rick was double-checking the electric fence. Ji Hyo, feeling unusually restless, decided to retreat to her room for a moment of peace.

As she walked in, she froze mid-step.

Sitting on the wall above her bed was a large, spindly bug with long legs that seemed to twitch menacingly.

“...No,” Ji Hyo whispered to herself.

The bug didn’t move.

She took a cautious step forward, then stopped, her eyes locked on the creature. Suddenly, it twitched, and Ji Hyo let out a blood-curdling scream.

---

The Group’s Reaction

Her scream echoed through the villa, startling everyone.

“JIHYO!” Rick yelled, sprinting toward her room, gun drawn.

Daryl bolted inside, crossbow in hand, followed closely by Michonne with her katana. Tara and Abraham were right behind them, weapons at the ready.

The door to Ji Hyo’s room flew open as the group burst in.

“What happened?!” Rick shouted, scanning the room for threats.

“There!” Ji Hyo pointed at the wall, her face pale. “It’s on the wall!”

The group followed her gaze, weapons raised, only to see… a harmless bug.

“Are you kidding me?” Daryl said, lowering his crossbow.

“That’s what you screamed about?” Rosita asked, trying not to laugh.

“It was huge!” Ji Hyo protested, backing further into the corner of the room.

“It’s a bug,” Abraham said, shaking his head. “Not a walker.”

“Bugs are worse,” Ji Hyo muttered, crossing her arms.

---

The Flamethrower Revelation

After a few moments of awkward silence, Michonne stepped forward, using her katana to gently flick the bug out the window.

“There. Problem solved,” she said.

“Thank you,” Ji Hyo said, still visibly shaken.

Tara smirked. “You’re afraid of bugs, but you can fly a helicopter, drive a Hummer, and survive a walker apocalypse?”

“I don’t like bugs,” Ji Hyo said defensively. “They’re unpredictable and creepy.”

“What would you do if there wasn’t anyone here to help you?” Glenn asked, half-joking.

Ji Hyo hesitated, then sighed. “Okay, fine. I usually have… a flamethrower.”

The room went dead silent.

“What?” Rick asked, raising an eyebrow.

“You have a flamethrower?” Daryl repeated, looking genuinely shocked.

Ji Hyo nodded. “Back in Korea, my manager gave it to me as a joke when I told him how scared I was of bugs. But it turned out to be practical. I used it more times than I’d like to admit.”

“You used it?” Rosita asked, her tone incredulous.

“Yes,” Ji Hyo replied. “It’s efficient. One burst, and the bug is gone.”

The group exchanged looks, equal parts amused and baffled.

---

Searching for the Flamethrower

“Please tell me you brought it with you,” Abraham said, grinning.

“I did,” Ji Hyo admitted. “It’s in the storage room.”

“Why haven’t we seen it?” Rick asked, his curiosity piqued.

“I didn’t think you’d need it,” Ji Hyo said. “But now that I think about it, it could be useful for more than just bugs.”

“Useful?” Eugene said, adjusting his glasses. “A flamethrower could be quite effective against walkers in confined spaces or large hordes.”

“Yeah,” Daryl said with a smirk. “Or, y’know, bugs.”

---

Unveiling the Flamethrower

Ji Hyo led the group to the storage room, where she pulled out the flamethrower. It was sleek, compact, and well-maintained, clearly more than just a novelty item.

“Holy hell,” Abraham said, running a hand over the metal. “This is a serious piece of equipment.”

“You really used this on bugs?” Michonne asked, her tone dry.

Ji Hyo shrugged. “I’m thorough.”

Rick chuckled, shaking his head. “You never cease to amaze me, Ji Hyo.”

---

A New Strategy

Later that evening, the group gathered around the firepit, the flamethrower sitting nearby.

“I think we should keep it handy,” Rick said. “It’s unconventional, but it could come in handy if we ever face a large group of walkers.”

“Or another bug,” Tara added with a grin, earning a playful glare from Ji Hyo.

The group laughed, the tension from earlier melting away. Ji Hyo couldn’t help but smile, feeling a mix of embarrassment and pride.

“You can laugh all you want,” she said. “But when this flamethrower saves your life, you’ll thank me.”

“We already thank you, Ji Hyo,” Glenn said, his tone sincere.

As the group settled in for the night, Ji Hyo felt a warmth in her heart. Even in the chaos of the apocalypse, moments like this reminded her of the importance of laughter, connection, and the surprising things that brought people together.