SURVIVE

CHAPTER NINE: PLANS

A month later

“So, let me make it clear again, because we’re already doing this tomorrow.”  Miyeon said, as she stretched her limbs, Soyeon nodding at her while smiling.

“So, you’re going to take Yoona with you, together with Song Jin and Shuhua. I’m going to go with Minnie and Yuqi, and the last team would be Jaechan, Sungwoo and Soojin. Is that all right?”  Miyeon said, as Soyeon nodded, putting out the radios for tomorrow’s trip, as she stared at her room, a place she wouldn’t see again for a long time.

“And why would you assume that I’ll go with her?”  Miyeon said, as Soyeon sighed patiently sighed at them.

“Minnie unnie doesn’t want me or the child to go to the dangerous missions, so she made us go to the port first, since I’m the leader as he says, and protecting Yoona is our top priority. That’s also why she made you go with her, because he wants to protect you, he just doesn’t want to admit it.” Soyeon said without batting an eye to Miyeon, who blushed slightly that she turned to the side and hid it.

“Minnie unnie entrusted Jin Oppa to protect me, if you’re also worried about me or something.” Soyeon said, as Miyeon smiled and fixed Soyeon’s hair, picking up the paper full of the plans they are about to do the next day.

“So… we’re going to the hospital, and Soojin and the others are going to go to this big grocery store… for what?”  Miyeon asked, as Soyeon nodded at that.

“We’re going to pick up supplies that we can give to the people in Paradise, in exchange of them letting us stay there. You’re going to the hospital to pick up supplies there, so listen to Yuqi unnie and obey her, alright?” Soyeon said, Miyeon nodding at that.

“While Soojin and the others are going to pick up supplies and some basic needs like food and stuff. We’ll have these modified radios from Minnie unnie that is muted a little, so it would not attract any noise. Unnie also added a function that when this little button is pressed, it will send a warning to the other teams.” Soyeon said smiling proudly as she pressed the button and triggered a silent alarm that made the radio vibrate, the words DANGER: RADIO1 written on it, also written on the three radios.

“The two teams that would go to the city would regroup at the square and go to the port together, but if something worse happens we would communicate and just go to the port separately.” Soyeon said, as she turned off the radios for the meantime, putting them away in a safe place for tomorrow.

“And since there is a precinct near the port, we would be the ones in charge for the weapons that we can use just in case we need to fend off hordes of zombies while waiting for the boat that would take us to Paradise.” Soyeon said, bringing out a small map and encircling the places where the three teams would go.

“And do you think it would work? No offense, but we all would be separated from each other by having this teams.”  Miyeon said, Soyeon nodding at her opinion.

“I formulated this along with the other people’s suggestions because I think it would be better than having ten people going through these places one by one. It would attract a lot of undead attention, and we would have a lot of trouble protecting each other and the child altogether.” Soyeon said, fiddling with the spare paper, folding it without any form.

“I know it is a risk, having this separate teams, but at this point it is our only chance at getting to the port. We don’t even know the state of the city after a month, since we’ve only ventured onto small distances, getting what we need in little trips, prolonging our supplies. Not knowing the field we’re playing on is also a risk, but it is something we have to take if we want to survive.” Soyeon said, picking up the paper from Miyeon, who nodded at all that.

“You should rest, unnie.” Soyeon said, Miyeon nodding as the leader went downstairs, tucking the paper in her pocket as she made her way to the living room, finding her sister and Yuqi huddled on the dining room, cups of coffee in front of them as they talked about something.

“How are you two going to explain to Miyeon unnie that you two teamed up to investigate the source of the virus that you think originated in Song Medical University?” Soyeon said in a hushed voice, as Minnie raised her brow, Yuqi leaning onto her seat and clearing her throat.

“How do I know? I know you two have been planning that ever since you read the contents to Chan’s letter a month ago, and you guys theorized that some of the research still might be in the hospital where you worked on, Yuqi unnie. Tell you what: I don’t agree in any of this.” Soyeon said, as Minnie sighed and looked at her.

“If you don’t agree on this, then why did you still include the hospital in the trip for tomorrow?” Minnie asked, as Soyeon smiled at her.

“Because we really need some medical supplies, unnie. But I believe I cannot control if you two decide to make a last-minute stop and decide to prod around the hospital.” Soyeon said, as Minnie sighed at that.

“And I believe there’s a catch in that.” Minnie said, Soyeon nodding at that.

“Protect Miyeon unnie, since you volunteered to put her in your team.” Soyeon said, Minnie chuckling at that.

“Of course, I’ll protect her. But if she becomes a bitch during the trip, I’d feed her to the zombies myself.” Minnie said, Soyeon nodding as she knew that her sister wasn’t joking, as he emptied the cup and put it on the sink, patting her sister’s head and going to the sleeping quarters for the boys, which was the guest room.

“Still awake? We have a big day tomorrow.” Yuqi said, as Soyeon sat down, leaning her chin on her hand, staring at Yuqi, who silently enjoyed her cup of coffee.

“Aren’t you scared?” Soyeon asked, Yuqi raising a brow at her.

“What do you mean by that?” Yuqi asked, as Soyeon chuckled and leaned back on her chair, scratching her neck nervously, then stared unto Yuqi’s eyes.

“Scared that I’m probably sending us to our deaths?” Soyeon said, and Yuqi could see the fear in her eyes, the doctor smiling at her.

“Now you know the feeling of having lives on your hands, Soyeon.” The doctor casually said, lifting the cup to her lips, taking a small sip of the caffeine drink.

“Now you know what I feel when I’m behind the surgeon’s table, scared out of my wits, wondering if I’m doing the right thing, holding a scalpel that could end a person’s life with one stroke.” Yuqi said, as she proceeded to hold the girl’s hand, Soyeon staring at her eyes that for a moment, full of fear, but vanished as soon as it flashed onto her eyes.

“But you and I are different, you know why?” Yuqi asked, staring at Soyeon, who widened her eyes at the girl, who moved closer towards her.

“You are brave, love. We believe in you; I believe in you. So, let’s both stay alive, alright—”

Soyeon pulled the doctor close, staring at her eyes, as Yuqi smiled at her, cupping her cheeks as she nodded, Soyeon closing the distance between the two of them as she put a small kiss on the girl’s lips, pulling away immediately, a blush settling over her cheeks as Yuqi patted her head.

“Survive and wait for me at the port, and you might get another one of those kisses, Soyeon.” Yuqi said, as Soyeon nodded, the doctor finishing the last sip as she put the cup on the sink, the two of them going up to the rooms, falling asleep with their arms around each other.

Meanwhile, Soojin stared at the night sky, a hand on the scar over her stomach, her wound from a month ago completely healed, as he thought of the reason behind the stab wound, as he stared at the katana that hung on the guest room, the weapon that he would use on the next day.

“You stabbed yourself in front of us.” Minnie had said a few months ago, but the words are still etched on her mind.

If she stabbed herself, then why did he see her brother stab her that day?

A million questions ran on her head, not having an answer as he sighed, staring at the night sky.

Somehow, he had two girls that always appeared in her dreams, calling her sister, but he couldn’t recall a name, or their faces, as her dreams erased itself from her mind when he wakes up, not letting her remember a name, or a single face.

He gritted her teeth, placing her palms over her face as he frustratingly tried to remember, trying to recall even just a name—

None, again, as Soojin shook her head, groaning out of frustration.

“Hey, you alright?” a voice said, as Shuhua went in her room with a smile, Soojin smiling at her as she offered her a seat on the chair in front of her, the girl nodding as she sat down.

“Why aren’t you sleeping yet?” Soojin asked, as Shuhua pouted, shrugging her shoulders.

Cute, Soojin thought, as he waited for an answer from the girl.

“I couldn’t sleep, knowing that you would be in danger tomorrow and I’m not. It’s like… Like they put me with Jin Oppa because they know that I’m afraid of blood. I’m not just a liability, and I can do things—”

“I requested for you to be put on Jin’s team, Shuhua.” Soojin said, folding her arms as she widened her eyes.

“And why is that?” Shuhua said, Soojin knowing that she’s getting furious by the minute.

“Your fear of blood will surely put the teams at risk, as we would have you as our priority, and not the main priority of getting supplies for Paradise, to put it bluntly.” Soojin said, as Shuhua only looked at her.

“So, it would be benefitting everyone if you would stay with Soyeon, Song Jin and the child, which could be even better than you, since by being trained, she could fire a gun easily and shoot people in the forehead without a sweat, unlike you.” Soojin said, as Shuhua scoffed at that.

“And who are you to say that?” Shuhua asked, as Soojin sighed at her.

“Your savior—”

“Funny when you can’t even remember our names, sister.” A voice said, coming from Shuhua’s mouth, as Soojin widened her eyes, her strong façade disappearing, as he felt short of breath, Shuhua looking at her without emotions, but slowly her features changed, shifting without fail, as if glitching—

She knew that face.

She knew those faces, as she saw the faces of two people smiling at her, their eyes having no emotion.

“Gahyeon… Jiu.” He uttered, as blinding light exploded from Shuhua’s body, blinding Soojin as he closed her eyes for a moment, opening it again as he saw their faces, smiling at her, this time having happiness in their eyes, as he rushed and hugged them—

Gahyeon cried in pain as she clutched her neck, Soojin widening her eyes in horror as he saw her slowly turn into the undead, Jiu slowly becoming the same, as he shouted her names—

No voice came out, no matter how he tried, as he slowly watched them turn into those monsters, having nothing he can do.

“Remember what you have to do, Seo Soojin. Do what you have to do, and you’ll see them both alive.” A voice said, someone he had seen before.

She shouted until her throat felt sore, watching the two girls growl at her, jumping on her and enclosing their mouths around her flesh, taking a bite—

“WAKE UP!”

She opened her eyes and found herself in the same room, her body sweaty as he shook herself from the dream, the face of the two girls etched into her mind including her names, as well as the warning that played back on her mind nonstop, as he clutched the nearest arm he could grab, which was Shuhua, who looked visibly alarmed.

“Unnie, you alright? What happened?” Shuhua asked, as Soojin breathed heavily, trying to calm her fast beating heart, while he held onto the girl, who nodded while patting her back, trying to calm her down.

“I’m alright, don’t worry.” Soojin said, thanking Shuhua as he drank the cup of water the girl brought her, sitting down on her bed and hugging her knees, trying to hold onto the faces of the two girls he saw in her dream, trying not to let them go as he held onto their names.

“Are you sure you’re alright, unnie? You look shaken up.” Shuhua said, as Soojin smiled at her, but Shuhua could see that there was an immense pain and sadness on her eyes:

One that cannot be hidden by a smile, she thought, as she rushed and hugged the man, who was a little bit shocked as he managed to hug the girl back, sinking her head onto the girl’s neck, Shuhua sighing and patting her head, comforting her.

“Why are you here, by the way? You should be sleeping; we have a very big day tomorrow for the trip to Paradise.” Soojin said after Shuhua released her from the hug.

“Just came to check on you, and also because I can’t sleep.” Shuhua said, as Soojin chuckled and patted her lap, Shuhua blushing before proceeding to lie down on her bed, laying her head on her lap as Soojin played with her hair absentmindedly.

“Your boyfriend might be mad that you’re here, Shuhua-yah.” Soojin said as Shuhua looked up, brows raised, confused.

“Boyfriend? Who? I don’t have a boyfriend, unnie.” Shuhua said with a chuckle in her tone, as Soojin chuckled at that.

“I’m talking about Jin, Shuhua-yah. You two seem close.” Soojin said, as Shuhua chuckled at that, shaking her head.

“He’s just a friend, unnie.” Shuhua said, as Soojin chuckled, having the girl sit up and look at her, the girl blushing at the sudden eye contact.

“So, I can do this?” Soojin said, then proceeding to put her lips over the girl’s, the two sharing a soft, a sweet kiss, Soojin pulling away as he cupped the girl’s cheeks and smiled, the girl having a red tinge on her cheeks.

“You better sleep, Shuhua.” Soojin said, putting a kiss on the girl’s forehead, the girl nodding and going out of the room.

She didn’t see a silhouette of a person going inside the room, closing the door, as she happily went to their room, falling asleep with a smile on her face.