SRW | Chapter 13

The surviving students had gathered near the library building. We joined them and caught our breath. Only fourteen of us had made it. Six were dead. The shock was evident on everyone’s pale faces. But I was stunned for a different reason. Only six?

“…Let’s go in.”

Lee Hyunwoo’s voice trembled as he spoke, drenched in sweat. The entrance to the building was close enough to see clearly, and there was no sign of monsters. If the first floor was clear, we could safely make it to the second-floor clubroom.

Hyunwoo gulped and took a step forward. Even in the dark, I could see his body shaking. Too much weight for an eighteen-year-old kid to carry. I patted his shoulder. Partly to steady him as a leader, partly to push him back.

“Step back.”

He hesitated at my gesture but eventually nodded. I took the lead, stepping toward the library.

One step. Two steps. Just as we reached the door—

Thwip—!

An arrow shot from the second floor grazed my cheek and pierced the shoulder of a boy behind me. Before anyone could react, Bear clamped a hand over the boy’s mouth.

“Mmph—!”

The arrow lodged in his shoulder was… mine. The compound bow I’d stashed in the clubroom.

You’ve got to be kidding me.

Some bastard was using my gear. I looked up. Through a slightly open window, I could see the bow. And next to it, the barrel of a hunting rifle aimed downward. My rifle! And I barely had any ammo left! The unfairness of it burned, but this wasn’t the time. The clubroom was stocked with weapons. If those inside decided to kill us, it’d be over in seconds.

Slowly, I unwrapped the bandages from my hand and dropped my collapsible baton. Raising my hands in surrender, the others followed suit, discarding their weapons.

A window creaked open. A pale, slender arm reached out. Then three more windows slid open, small hands gripping the edges. Girls? They were all holding something…

“Run.”

“…Huh?”

“Run!”

A flare shot toward us, spewing thick smoke and sparks. Bam—! Hiss—! Another followed. Those crazy bitches are wasting my supplies! I snatched my baton off the ground, grabbed Kim Jaeyoung’s arm, and bolted. The bright flares drew monsters swarming from the darkness.

“Aahhh!”

“Help me—!”

“Mom! Mom!”

A glance back confirmed it. The students who’d barely made it this far were being torn apart. More monsters poured from the shadows as we ran. I swung my baton, clearing the path ahead, and shouted:

“To the cafeteria!”

The supplies I’d hidden in the empty clubroom had backfired. People who should’ve died survived, and now they were threatening my life. Just like in my dream, we were heading to the school cafeteria. It was like fate was laughing at me, reminding me I was doomed. My breath came in ragged gasps. My vision blurred. If I collapse now, we’re all dead.

Kim Jaeyoung’s calmness shone in the crisis. He used everything. People, objects. He used them to maximize survival odds. When he was useless, he stayed close, never a burden. Sharp instincts. If he awakened an ability… Yes. He’ll save me. Kim Jaeyoung will—

I steadied my breathing. No matter what, I had to keep him alive.

*

“Someone’s outside.”

Nam Jinsu, peering through newspaper-covered windows, startled and ran to the staff cafeteria. The mood was grim. A girl with horrific injuries had just died. The survivors that were drowning in despair perked up at his words. But Jinsu shook his head frantically.

“Not rescue teams.”

“Then… monsters?” Hwang Sooyeon’s voice was sharp. A third-year and the dead girl’s best friend. She was on edge after earlier arguments. The cafeteria worker, Kim Boksoon, patted her back.

“They looked like people…”

“Let’s check.”

As class president Yoo Yeonha stood, Sooyeon glared. He avoided her gaze, leading the group to the kitchen. Sooyeon remained frozen in place.

“Somang…”

Her best friend, the one who understood her better than family was gone. Crushed bones, ruptured organs. They’d gagged her screams with cloth, held her mouth shut in shifts. Then she suffocated. Yeonha had been the last to cover her mouth. He’d apologized in tears. Others called it unavoidable. But Sooyeon couldn’t forgive them. Not when they all looked relieved she was dead.

“They’re humans! We have to help!” Yeonha’s voice rang out. He’d seen something outside and was desperately trying to convince the others. The response was cold. A group was fighting off monsters, but saving them risked everyone here. Yeonha stamped his foot in frustration, then grabbed a kitchen knife.

“Hyung! It’s suicide!”

“But my friend’s out there—!”

Even in the dark, he recognized him. That flawless figure could only be that guy. Yeonha’s heart pounded as he clenched a kitchen knife.

Then—laughter.

Ha. Hahaha.

Sooyeon had lost it, laughing loudly despite the need for silence. A few rushed to silence her, slamming the door shut. “She finally lost it,” Jinsu muttered. Yeonha shuddered, remembering Somang’s last moments. The knife clattered to the floor.

“We… can’t just let them die.”

‘You killed my friend, but you’ll save yours?’ Sooyeon’s voice seemed to echo. Yeonha’s voice shook, but he held firm. Then Kim Boksoon hefted a frying pan.

“They’re someone’s children too. We should try.”

“Ma’am…!”

“You’re both insane! How do we fight those things?”

“What if we lure them toward the cafeteria entrance? The tempered glass is strong, and it’s far from the kitchen…”

“The building walls are already collapsing, and you think some tempered glass will stop them?! No way. I can’t do this.”

The group was split. Some argued to save the outsiders, others refused. Yoo Yeonha bit his lip. Every second counted, and they were wasting time debating. He turned back to the window.

“…Huh?”

Five or six students were sprinting straight toward them. But there’s no door here. Why are they—?

Instinctively, Yeonha jerked back.

CRASH!

Something smashed through the window, hurtling into the far corner of the kitchen. A chunk of concrete, jagged rebar jutting out. If that had hit someone… A cold shiver ran down Yeonha’s spine. The glass splintered, then shattered completely as a figure vaulted through the wreckage.

“J-Jaeyoung?!”

Yeonha’s face lit up. The face he’d been desperate to see. Jaeyoung’s uniform was stained with blood, but his movements were sharp. No sign of injury. Before Yeonha could even step forward, Lee Hyunwoo, Kang Deokho, and first-year Oh Hanbit tumbled in after him. They scanned the room, tense and silent, ignoring the stunned survivors.

Kang Deokho snatched a kitchen knife off the floor and hurled it outside. Jaeyoung checked the gas burner on the table. After confirming the canister was full, he then grabbed a spare and bolted back out.