ZFS Chapter 28

“What the hell.”

 

“It came from the convenience store! I’ll go check it out!”

 

Tae Yujun immediately bolted toward the store. He rushed over, panting, and when he reached the entrance, he saw a zombie inside, flickering under the bluish light. Without hesitation, Tae Yujun threw open the door and dashed inside.

 

The zombie stood in front of the beverage fridge. Sin Jehwan was crouched behind the cashier counter.

 

“Come out this way!”

 

At Tae Yujun’s shout, Sin Jehwan finally seemed to register that someone had come for him. He flailed his limbs, trying to crawl out from behind the counter. He had to lift the countertop to escape, but in his panic, he only managed to knock over the items on the display shelf, struggling to get out.

 

“Ugh, aaah… please help me!”

 

Tae Yujun ran to him, his face turning deathly pale. The zombie thrashed its arms, sending snack bags and cup noodles flying, even toppling an entire display rack. With the store in complete disarray, Tae Yujun had only one option.

 

He swiftly pulled out his scissors, and while he handled the zombie, Sin Jehwan barely managed to crawl out from behind the counter.

 

“Haah… haah. Are you alright?”

 

Breathing heavily, Tae Yujun glanced over at him. Sin Jehwan’s face was drenched in sweat, his complexion awful—and in his hand, he was gripping a single chocolate bar. Just one.

 

Looking over at the shelves, it was clear—that had been the only one left. Everything else was gone.

 

“…”

 

Did he really come here just for that one chocolate bar? From what Tae Yujun overheard earlier, this wasn’t his first visit—he must’ve known the stock situation.

 

A surge of anger rose in Tae Yujun’s chest. They’d just barely avoided getting attacked by a zombie—for one damn chocolate bar.

 

“You seriously came here just for this?”

 

“…I’m sorry.”

 

“Hah. Just go already.”

 

Tae Yujun let out a long sigh. Sin Jehwan, still pale as a ghost, walked out of the store, still clutching the bar tightly.

 

The bunker representative scolded him harshly. Sin Jehwan bowed his head over and over, offering repeated apologies—even to Tae Yujun.

 

“Forget it. Let’s just quickly head back.”

 

Tae Yujun was desperate to return. He took the lead, pulling the cart, not once looking back to see what kind of expression Sin Jehwan wore as he followed.

 

The food team loaded up the cart with supplies and passed back through the fire shutter. After transporting everything to the central area, the bunker representative stepped forward and shook hands with Won Hyuk and Tae Yujun.

 

“Thank you so much. Because you took the lead, we found the courage to fight.”

 

“Not at all. It was thanks to everyone working together.”

 

“I was pretty great in that fight.”

 

Won Hyuk crossed his arms smugly. Tae Yujun gave the others a small bow, silently asking for their understanding.

 

But Sin Jehwan’s reaction was noticeably off.

 

“Um… Brother?”

 

He suddenly began coughing harshly. Shivering, he kept rubbing his forearms. Despite wearing thick clothing, he looked chilled to the bone.

 

“Are you feeling okay?”

 

Tae Yujun stepped closer. Sin Jehwan immediately backed away. But Tae Yujun could clearly see the bloodshot streaks in his eyes—the whites were completely flushed, as if his eyeballs might pop out at any moment.

 

Tae Yujun froze. Sin Jehwan hastily turned to leave, slipping his hands behind his back.

 

“What’s going on with you?”

 

At that moment, the bunker representative stepped in between them.

 

“Sin Jehwan?!”

 

He shouted in alarm. A middle-aged man nearby stumbled back.

 

“Jehwan was bitten… he was bitten by a zombie!”

 

The words spread like wildfire. People backed away as if the Red Sea had parted, pointing at Sin Jehwan.

 

“Was he really bitten?”

 

“Are you sure?”

 

“Do something about it!”

 

Their voices were filled with horror, outrage, and pure, instinctual fear.

 

“I… I… ah… I mean…”

 

Sin Jehwan looked around, dazed and panicked—and then blood began to drip from his eyes.

 

“Eek!”

 

“Ahhh!”

 

People screamed. Some collapsed, others ran. Amid the chaos, the bunker representative seized Sin Jehwan’s wrist.

 

“His hand. There’s a bite mark on his hand.”

 

He stared at him with cold eyes.

 

“I-It’s fine. Really… i-it was just a little bite.”

 

Sin Jehwan panted, unable to hide his panic.

His right hand had already turned a dark, purplish hue, as if the cells had necrotized.

 

“Quarantine him.”

“Kill him!”

“You have to kill him right now!”

 

Voices erupted from all directions.

The bunker representative bound Sin Jehwan tightly with rope.

Though he struggled fiercely, a few men stepped in and quickly overpowered him.

 

“No!”

 

A sharp scream tore through the air.

It was Yuna—the woman who’d just shared a tearful farewell with Sin Jehwan—charging in like she’d lost her mind.

 

“Don’t kill him! Please!”

 

She wailed—a sound more beast than human—making Tae Yujun hold his breath.

 

“Jehwan! Jehwan!”

 

The bunker residents remained cold.

A few restrained Yuna, while others forced Sin Jehwan to his knees.

They pressed him down so hard the piece of chocolate in his hand fell out.

He scrambled to pick it up and clutched it tightly.

 

Tae Yujun furrowed his brow.

That was definitely the chocolate they’d brought from the convenience store earlier.

Why was he so obsessed with it? It made no sense.

 

“Please, mister. Don’t kill me.”

 

Tears streamed down Sin Jehwan’s face—proof, perhaps, that his human self still lingered.

Though foul-smelling and mixed with blood, no one could deny what flowed out were human tears.

 

“Spare me. Please.”

 

“We have to deal with him now. He’ll turn into a zombie in thirty minutes.”

 

A middle-aged man glanced at his watch, clearly frustrated.

Nearby, Sin Jehwan sobbed and choked.

Yuna was nowhere to be seen—likely taken elsewhere.

 

“…I guess we’ll have to send him out.”

 

The representative muttered.

But even for him, this was outside the bounds of routine.

They’d left bitten people outside before, but never had one made it inside.

And this would be the first time he’d have to carry out an execution in front of everyone.

 

Being the representative didn’t make it any easier to kill Sin Jehwan, who, until recently, had worked, eaten, and spoken with them.

 

As he hesitated, the crowd grew more agitated.

Shouts and curses rose.

Criticizing him for not killing Sin Jehwan already.

 

Then, Won Hyuk stepped forward.

 

“Brother…?”

 

“Just a moment, Father.”

 

Won Hyuk gave Tae Yujun a brief glance, then approached the representative.

He spoke in a quiet voice.

 

“I’ll take responsibility. I’m an outsider. It’s better if I’m the one to kill him.”

 

“…You’re saying you will kill him?”

 

“You’re the representative here.

Killing one of your own won’t be easy.

That’s why I’ll take the role—someone from outside.”

 

“If you’re willing, I’d appreciate it.”

 

Won Hyuk gave a short nod, then turned and grabbed Sin Jehwan by the collar, dragging him up.

People started screaming.

 

“Please, spare me! I’m fine! I’m human!”

 

“Come with me.”

 

Without another word, Won Hyuk dragged Sin Jehwan toward the southern shutter—the one they’d first entered through.

All along the way, Sin Jehwan convulsed, seized, and vomited.

His bloodshot eyes could no longer focus, and dark, reeking tears streamed down his cheeks.

Drool hung from his lips.

His fingers, stiff and curled, crushed the chocolate in his grip.

 

“I… human… I’m a person.

Need to… give… chocolate.”

 

His words were still human—but just barely.

Even so, Sin Jehwan spoke on, as if begging to prove it—he was alive, he was still human.

 

“Hgg… khhk… don’t kill me.

Not yet… haven’t… given her… the chocolate just yet…”

 

Sin Jehwan and Won Hyuk reached the shutter.

Sin Jehwan thought only one thing was bound to happen next—to be beheaded and left on the street.

 

Even in his fading consciousness, despair surged.

He wanted to see Yuna.

He had to give her the chocolate she loved.

 

But then Won Hyuk spoke first.

 

“I’m not going to kill you.”

 

“…Khhk… not… going to?”

 

“That girl behind us—she’s your lover, right?”

 

Sin Jehwan cracked his neck and looked back.

Through blood-red vision, he saw Yuna, silently sobbing.

 

“Yu… na.”

 

Hearing her name, Yuna gasped for breath and crumpled.

Won Hyuk looked at her—weeping, pounding her chest endlessly—and then at the crushed chocolate in Sin Jehwan’s ashen hand.

 

“…Yu… na.”

 

“Yeah. I’ll send you out with her.

 

That’s why you came, isn’t it?”

 

Yuna staggered forward, nodding.

She threw her arms around Sin Jehwan, hugging him tightly.

The chocolate dropped to the floor.

Won Hyuk picked it up, brushed it off, and handed it to her.

Tears streamed down Yuna’s face as she accepted it.

 

“Go now.”

 

As soon as Won Hyuk pressed the shutter button, the steel bars began to rise with a heavy sound.

The two, locked in an embrace, stepped outside.

At last, standing beyond the boundary of humanity, Yuna wiped her tear-stained face and gave Won Hyuk a deep bow.

 

Without replying, Won Hyuk pressed the button again.

The steel bars slammed shut, severing inside from out once again with a heavy sound.

 

As he turned and walked back into the bunker, a piercing scream of a woman rang out at once—then silence.

 

Maybe that was the best ending they could hope for.

 

Won Hyuk shook his head, pretending he hadn’t heard a thing.