TENSION IN SEOUL

As the helicopter descended gracefully towards the Seoul airport runway, the passengers couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over them. Despite their unconventional mode of transportation, they had managed to land safely, greeted only by the eerie emptiness of the usually bustling airport. No one seemed to bat an eye at their unorthodox arrival, a fact that both surprised and relieved them.

Stepping out of the helicopter, Sae Joon Hyun took charge, his gaze fixed on the aircraft behind them. "I'll talk to someone about this," he declared, pointing a determined finger in its direction. His companions nodded in agreement, trusting his ability to handle the situation.

Jaeyeon, his attention drawn to his blood-stained shirt, couldn't hide his discomfort. "I'll definitely have a shower first," he remarked, a hint of urgency in his voice as he surveyed the damage.

Meanwhile, Sae Joon Hyun turned his attention to Eunhye, pushing a suitcase towards her with a sense of urgency. "You were carrying that rifle in this, right?" he asked, his tone serious.

Eunhye, taken aback by the sudden inquiry, nodded hesitantly. "In the front zip, yes," she confirmed, wondering why he was asking.

Sae Joon Hyun's expression remained unreadable as he insisted, "Yeah. But why are you—"

Before he could finish his sentence, Eunhye's confusion grew as he interrupted her. "It's your luggage though," he stated matter-of-factly.

"My...?" Eunhye began, her voice trailing off in disbelief.

"Don't ask. Just take it," Sae Joon Hyun urged, a sense of urgency underlying his words as he pushed the suitcase into her hands.

***

Back in America;

Standing outside the supply room in the American airport, Yuri watched with concern as Sae Joon Hyun made a move towards the door. "Hey, where are you going?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry.

"To get Eunhye's suitcase. It's right there," Sae Joon Hyun replied confidently, gesturing towards the supply room.

Yuri's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? Are you insane? Creatures are standing in front of the supply room. You can't sneak behind them so easily," she exclaimed, her concern growing with each passing moment.

But Sae Joon Hyun remained undeterred, his determination unwavering. "I can. I will," he declared, his voice steady despite the danger that lay ahead. Turning to Yuri, he added, "Give me your toy phone. We need something to carry our stuff in anyway."

Yuri hesitated for a moment, weighing the risks against the potential reward. Ultimately, she reached into her pocket and handed him the toy phone, a silent gesture of trust in his abilities.

***

Yuri couldn't help but scoff at Sae Joon Hyun's bold plan. "Hah... What an amazing fan," she remarked  sarcastically under her breath, unable to contain her amusement at his determination.

Eunhye stepped forward, gratitude shining in her eyes as she patted his head. "Thank you, Sae Joon hyun," she said sincerely, her appreciation evident in her voice.

Sae Joon Hyun, taken aback by the unexpected gesture, couldn't help but smile. "I'm only one year younger than you," he replied slowly, his words filled with warmth.

"Since we are friends now," Eunhye began, her voice soft yet determined, "let's meet later someday. Whenever I get a break from my work, let's hang out."

Moved by her sincerity, Sae Joon Hyun nodded eagerly, his heart filled with gratitude for the genuine connection they had forged amidst the chaos of their recent adventures. "Yes, let's," he agreed wholeheartedly, a sense of excitement bubbling within him at the prospect of spending more time with his newfound friend.

As their conversation came to an end, Jaeyeon turned to Sae Joon Hyun, breaking the momentary silence. "I'm off to my home. What about you, hyeong?" he asked, curiosity evident in his voice as he awaited Sae Joon Hyun's response.

*Hyeong is a term used by a younger male to address an older male. Noona is a term used by a younger male to address older female. They can be seniors at work or school or simply someone older to them by age.*

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the Seoul airport, a trio of colleagues exchanged farewells amidst the quiet hum of departure. The air held a sense of anticipation, as if waiting for something unseen yet palpable to unfold.

"Well, I'll have to head back to my TV station," Sae Joon Hyun mused, his brow furrowed with contemplation.

Yuri, scratching her head in thoughtful agreement, nodded. "I'm going home as well."

Eunhye, her expression resigned yet determined, simply shrugged. "Work."

Their laughter tinkled through the air, a brief respite from the weight of their respective responsibilities. With waves exchanged and goodbyes spoken, they parted ways, each disappearing into the maze of corridors that led to their destinations.

Sae Joon Hyun, however, felt a ripple of unease as he walked away from the gleaming glass doors that marked the threshold of the airport. Despite the bustling sounds outside, of vehicles and of marketing, the terminal seemed oddly subdued, devoid of the usual throngs of travelers and the cacophony of announcements.

"Something is off," he muttered to himself, his footsteps echoing against the road. He couldn't shake the feeling of disquiet that settled in the pit of his stomach.

He turned around and approached the glass doors, he paused, his gaze sweeping over the expanse of the runway beyond. It was then that he noticed it – the absence of planes, the eerie stillness that hung heavy in the air.

"There weren't any planes... no one came out when a helicopter landed on the runway... and there wasn't a single person in the airport except some officers who didn't seem to care..." His voice trailed off as realization dawned, a cold shiver creeping down his spine.

Suddenly, a sense of urgency seized him, propelling him forward as he pushed through the glass doors and onto the tarmac. The silence enveloped him like a suffocating cloak, broken only by the distant whir of helicopter blades slicing through the air.

And then he saw it. Panic surged within him as he scrambled to make sense of the surreal scene unfolding before him.

"Oh, shit," he breathed, his heart pounding in his chest as he realized the gravity of the situation.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

As the day drew to a close, Jaeyeon relished the familiar feeling of exhaustion that washed over him. With a sigh of relief, he stepped up to the door of his home, his muscles protesting with each movement after a long day.

"Ah! What a long day," he remarked to himself, his voice carrying a hint of weariness as he stretched his arms above his head, muscles protesting with each movement.

With a sense of anticipation, Jaeyeon eagerly gripped the doorknob, eager to finally unwind in the comfort of his own space. But as his fingers closed around the cold metal, a sudden chill raced down his spine, sending shivers coursing through his body.

For a moment, he hesitated, his mind racing with a flurry of unsettling thoughts. Was it just the fatigue playing tricks on him, or was there something more sinister at play? With a sense of unease gnawing at his insides, Jaeyeon took a cautious step back, his senses on high alert.

"Dae, I'm home," he called out, his voice tinged with uncertainty as he scanned the dimly lit hallway, searching for any sign of movement or life.

But the only response that greeted him was the eerie silence, the stillness broken only by the faint hum of the air. Jaeyeon's heart began to pound in his chest as he struggled to shake off the sense of foreboding that lingered in the air like a thick fog.

With each passing moment, the feeling of unease grew stronger, enveloping him in a suffocating embrace. Jaeyeon's mind raced with a thousand questions, each more unsettling than the last.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

As Yuri made her way home, a sense of lightheartedness enveloped her, reflected in the cheerful tune that escaped her lips as she sang along to an imaginary melody. The weight of the day's worries seemed to lift with each step, replaced by a buoyant energy that propelled her forward.

"Lala~" she trilled, the sound echoing through the quiet streets as she approached her doorstep. With a sense of anticipation, Yuri called out to her roommate, eager to share the warmth and comfort of their shared space.

"Eunnie, I'm home," she announced as she fumbled for her keys, the familiar jingle of metal against metal signaling her arrival.

With a soft click, the door swung open, revealing the familiar sights and sounds of their cozy apartment. Yuri skipped inside, her spirits soaring as she shed the burdens of the outside world like a heavy coat.

But as she glanced around the room, something caught her eye – an open window, its curtains billowing gently in the evening breeze. Frowning in confusion, Yuri made her way towards it, her footsteps faltering with each uncertain step.

"Eunnie, why'd you leave this open?" she called out, her voice tinged with a hint of reproach as she reached out to close the window.

But as her fingers brushed against the cool glass, a sudden chill raced down her spine, sending shivers coursing through her body. A sense of unease washed over her like a tidal wave, freezing her in place as terror gripped her heart in its icy embrace.

For a moment, Yuri stood there, her mind reeling with a thousand questions, each more terrifying than the last. What had caused the window to be left open? Was someone else in the apartment? The fear that crawled over her skin seemed to suffuse the very air around her, filling her head with panic and dizziness.

Clutching her bag close to her chest, Yuri's breath came in shallow gasps as she scanned the room, searching for any sign of danger. But to her mounting horror, there was nothing – no sound, no movement, only the oppressive stillness of the empty apartment.

And yet, despite the absence of any tangible threat, Yuri couldn't shake the feeling of dread that lingered in the air like a dark cloud, casting a shadow over her once carefree spirit.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Eunhye's footsteps echoed softly in the empty hallway of her building as she made her way towards her dorm. The comforting solitude of the weekend spread around her like a warm embrace, the absence of her bandmates only adding to the sense of tranquility that enveloped her.

As she stepped into the elevator, the soft hum of the machinery accompanied her ascent, the only sound in the otherwise silent building. With a quiet sigh, Eunhye emerged into her dorm, the familiar space welcoming her home with open arms.

Humming softly to herself, she made her way towards the bathroom, the melody dancing on her lips like a secret shared between old friends. With practiced ease, she splashed water on her face, the cool liquid washing away the grime and exhaustion of the day.

Dabbing her face dry with a towel, Eunhye's gaze met her reflection in the mirror, the dim light casting shadows across her features. She took in the sight before her – the smooth curve of her eyebrows, the dark pools of her almond-shaped eyes, the rosy flush of her cheeks.

A soft smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she traced the contours of her face, her fingertips brushing against the cool surface of the mirror. With a playful boop to her own nose, she tied her hair up in a loose bun, strands of ebony cascading around her face like a veil.

Turning away from the mirror, Eunhye's attention turned to her wardrobe, her fingers sifting through the fabric as she searched for a change of clothes. The air was thick with anticipation, the quiet broken only by the sound of her humming and whistling.

But then, a sudden sound pierced the tranquility – a low, guttural snarl that echoed through the room like a sinister melody. Eunhye's heart skipped a beat as she froze in place, her blood running cold with fear.

"No... no..." she whispered, her voice barely audible above the ominous growling that filled the room.

With trembling hands, she approached the window, her pulse quickening with each step. Peering outside, her worst fears were realized – dangling from the ladder next to her window was the grotesque, blood-covered body of a creature, its snarling mouth twisted into a macabre grin.

Horror gripped Eunhye's heart like a vice as she stumbled backwards, her mind racing with a thousand terrifying possibilities. And then, as the realization dawned on her, a cold dread settled in the pit of her stomach.

"Oh no... they're here... the country that caused this... isn't America... it's... South Korea..."

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

The streets of Seoul were shrouded in darkness, the only illumination coming from the flickering streetlights that cast long shadows across the pavement. Jaeyeon's heart hammered in his chest as he ran, each footfall echoing in the empty streets as he raced ahead, a creature hot on his heels.

With a glance over his shoulder, he could see Yuri, her figure silhouetted against the dim light of the street lamps as she too fled from the pursuing horror. Fear clutched at his throat like a vice as he pushed himself to run faster, his muscles burning with exertion.

Crossing the road in a desperate bid for safety, Jaeyeon's mind raced with a single thought – the airport. It was their best chance of escape, a sanctuary amidst the chaos that threatened to engulf them.

"TOWARDS THE AIRPORT!" he shouted, his voice strained with urgency as he gestured towards the distant terminal. Yuri, her eyes wide with fear, nodded in understanding, her feet pounding against the pavement as she followed his lead.

As they drew closer to the airport, a sense of desperation seized them, their breaths coming in ragged gasps as they fought to outrun the relentless pursuit behind them. But just as they reached the threshold of safety, Jaeyeon's heart sank at the sight that greeted them.

"Incoming!" he screamed, his voice barely audible above the roar of the approaching horde. Sae Joon Hyun, his gaze fixed on the glass doors of the airport, turned to see the two figures hurtling towards him, a tide of monsters nipping at their heels.

"Oh damn," he muttered under his breath, his mind racing as he searched for a solution amidst the chaos. Spotting a car nearby, he knew it was their only chance at escape.

"TOWARDS THE CAR!" he commanded, his voice cutting through the air like a knife as he waved frantically towards their only hope. Jaeyeon, his muscles burning with exhaustion, wasted no time in grabbing Yuri by the hand, his grip firm as he pulled her towards the waiting vehicle.

With every ounce of strength they possessed, they sprinted towards the car, the sound of their pounding footsteps drowned out by the roar of the approaching horde. Fear gnawed at their hearts as they raced against time, their only hope of survival hanging by a thread.

As the car roared to life, the engine's growl drowning out the cacophony of snarls and growls that echoed through the night. With a sense of urgency, Sae Joon Hyun slammed his foot on the accelerator, the vehicle lurching forward as they surged through the throng of creatures that blocked their path.

Jaeyeon's heart raced as he pushed Yuri into the car, his fingers gripping the door frame tightly as he hung on for dear life. With a surge of adrenaline, they hurtled through the streets, the darkness swallowing them whole as they raced towards an uncertain destination.

As they approached a looming manor on the horizon, Sae Joon Hyun's knuckles whitened on the steering wheel, his eyes scanning the imposing structure for any sign of safety.

"No choice, get down," he commanded, his voice urgent as he pulled out the key and brought the car to a screeching halt. With a sense of resignation, Jaeyeon nodded, his mind racing with a million unanswered questions.

"That looks safe, I guess..." Jaeyeon muttered to himself, his voice tinged with uncertainty as he leaped out of the car. Yuri followed suit, her movements hurried as she slammed the door shut behind her, the sound echoing through the silent night like a finality.

But even as they sought refuge within the walls of the manor, their respite was short-lived. The creatures, sensing fresh prey, closed in around them, their menacing forms encircling the house like vultures.

With a grim determination, Sae Joon Hyun scanned the interior of the house, his grip tightening on the gun in his hand he had held onto him – a weapon forged in desperation, its metal stained with the blood of their enemies from the very first encounter.

"Safe," he signalled to his companions, his voice firm despite the tremor that threatened to betray his facade of bravery. But even as Yuri sank to her knees, her breath coming in ragged gasps, Jaeyeon could offer no solace, his own mind swirling with confusion and fear.

"What's going on?" Yuri cried out, her voice trembling with uncertainty as she searched for answers amidst the chaos that threatened to consume them.

Jaeyeon could only shrug helplessly, his mind grasping for a shred of understanding in a world gone mad. In the darkness of the manor, surrounded by the relentless onslaught of the creatures outside, they were left with nothing but their wits and the grim certainty that their fight for survival was far from over.

As the tension in the room thickened like a suffocating fog, Sae Joon Hyun's voice cut through the silence, his words heavy with the weight of uncertainty. "I think... it all began here... in Korea," he murmured, his gaze fixed on the ground as he slid down against the wall beside Yuri.

"But..." Yuri began, her voice trailing off as she struggled to make sense of the chaos that surrounded them.

"The number of these creatures in America were hardly any, compared to these streets, I mean," Sae Joon Hyun continued, his brow furrowed in thought. "If Korea is not where it started, then maybe it is where most fell victim to... whatever this is."

Yuri's eyes widened in comprehension as the implications of Sae Joon Hyun's words sank in. The enormity of the situation weighed heavily on her shoulders, the reality of their predicament becoming all too real.

"I don't care where, why, and how it started. Not right now," Jaeyeon interjected, his voice firm with determination as he paced back and forth across the room. "Four of us flew here, and four of us need to leave. Eunhye Noona is still out there somewhere."

His words hung in the air like a solemn vow, a reminder of their shared responsibility to one another in the face of unimaginable horror. But even as they grappled with their own fears and uncertainties, Sae Joon Hyun's voice broke through the tension once more.

"She definitely knows by now," he said, his eyes narrowing as he squinted into the distance, as if searching for answers amidst the darkness that surrounded them.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

The night air was thick with tension as Eunhye's frantic gasps filled the silence, her heart pounding in her chest like a drumbeat of dread. With trembling hands, she gripped the makeshift weapon in her grasp, the wooden stick's pointed end glinting menacingly in the dim light.

"Ah! Ah! Get away from me," she cried out, her voice laced with a mixture of fear and determination as she faced off against the grotesque creature that lurched towards her with outstretched arms. Its movements were awkward and disjointed, a macabre parody of human motion that sent shivers down her spine.

With a swift motion, Eunhye thrust the pointed end of the stick towards the creature, the wood piercing through its flesh with sickening ease. A guttural groan escaped its lips as it thrashed and writhed, its limbs flailing wildly as it struggled against the onslaught of pain.

Summoning every ounce of strength she possessed, Eunhye kicked the creature away with trembling legs, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she fought to keep the rising tide of panic at bay. With a quick glance around, she spotted a nearby bike – her only hope of escape in a world gone mad.

With a surge of adrenaline, she leaped onto the bike, the engine roaring to life beneath her as she tore through the empty streets with reckless abandon. But even as she fled into the night, the echoes of her encounter lingered like a haunting refrain, the memory of blood and violence staining her mind like a scar.

As the wind whipped through her hair, its ends dipped in crimson, Eunhye clenched her teeth against the overwhelming onslaught of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. In the darkness, the faces of her newfound companions flashed before her eyes – a beacon of sanity amidst the madness that surrounded them.

"What about the others? I know they must have figured it out by now..." she murmured to herself, her voice barely audible above the roar of the engine.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

As the tension in the room simmered like a pot on the verge of boiling over, a sudden interruption broke the silence. Sae Joon Hyun's voice cut through the air, his tone tinged with surprise as he felt the small vibration of his phone in his hand.

"Huh? I got a message?" he exclaimed, his fingers moving quickly to retrieve the device from his pocket. With a sense of urgency, he unlocked the screen, his eyes scanning the notification that awaited him.

"Eunhye..." he muttered under his breath, his mind racing with a thousand questions as he opened the message to reveal its contents.

"Tell her about where we are," Yuri interjected, her voice firm with determination as she fixed Sae Joon Hyun with a pointed look.

"Way ahead of you, teach," Sae Joon Hyun replied with a wry grin, his fingers flying across the screen as he typed out a response to Eunhye's message.

With a few quick taps, he sent off the message, his heart heavy with the weight of uncertainty as he awaited a reply. In the dim light of the manor, the glow of his phone cast long shadows across the room.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

[Location: Seoul central school, South Korea.
Classroom C
Same time.
Same day.]

In the dimly lit classroom of Seoul Central School, the atmosphere crackled with tension as four students grappled with the harsh reality of their predicament.

Jay, with his tousled hair and easy grin, leaned back in his chair with a look of exasperation etched across his angular features. His dark hair fell in unruly waves around his face, and his sharp eyes betrayed a hint of mischief as he surveyed the boarded-up windows that sealed them off from the outside world.

"Bro, what the heck... Did we do something wrong in our previous life?" he lamented, his voice tinged with frustration as he ran a hand through his disheveled locks.

"Shut up, Jay," Eugene interjected timidly, his eyes darting nervously around the room as if searching for an escape route. Eugene's soft features and innocent expression made him appear younger than his peers, and his slender frame seemed to shrink under the weight of the tension in the room.

"You shut up, Eugene," Jay shot back, his irritation bubbling to the surface as he turned to face his friend.

But before the argument could escalate further, Mina intervened, her presence commanding attention as she silenced their bickering with a single glance. Mina was tall and composed, with dark hair pulled back into a tight ponytail and sharp features that spoke of determination and resolve. Her steely gaze left no room for argument as she addressed the squabbling boys.

"Both of you shut up," she commanded, her voice firm and unwavering as she silenced their protests.

Undeterred, Jay persisted, his tone laced with defiance as he challenged Mina's authority. "Who died and made you the boss, Mina?" he retorted, his words dripping with sarcasm.

"Ugh, you are unbelievably loud, Jay! Shut up," Mina shot back, her patience wearing thin as she struggled to maintain control of the situation.

Eugene, caught in the middle of the fray, offered a nervous laugh in a feeble attempt to diffuse the tension. "Haha. You deserve it, Jay," he chimed in, his words falling on deaf ears as the tension in the room continued to escalate.

Mina's patience finally reached its breaking point as she slammed her hand down on the table in front of her, her eyes blazing with frustration. "No! Just! Shut! Up! You! Both!" she exclaimed, her voice echoing in the quiet confines of the classroom.

The room fell silent as Eugene offered a sheepish apology, his gaze downcast as he realized the gravity of the situation. Jay, chastened by Mina's outburst, muttered under his breath, his frustration giving way to resignation.

"How long are we going to be here for?" he muttered, his voice tinged with defeat as he surveyed the barricaded windows that trapped them within the confines of the school building.

Mina, her expression grave, shook her head solemnly. "We're stuck here. Those things will get us if we go out. Plus, we're only four people. We can't possibly hold them all out," she admitted, her voice heavy with the weight of their predicament.

Jay turned his gaze towards Minyoung, the girl huddled in the corner with her head buried between her knees. "Can't believe we're stuck in this school building..." Eugene sighed, his words hanging heavy in the air as they all grappled with the harsh reality of their situation.