SURVIVE

CHAPTER ELEVEN: OF PORTS AND RESCUE SHIPS

Yuqi’s team was the first to arrive, with the doctor rushing to hug Soyeon as soon as they got out of the car, Minnie sighing with a smile on her face as she saw the scene unfold, while Song Jin nodded at her, smiling, while Shuhua had Yoona asleep on her lap.

“How are things when you guys arrived here?” Minnie said, Soyeon nodding at her, holding Yuqi’s hand.

“It was peaceful, too peaceful. It’s as if the undead are avoiding water intentionally, or something must be drawing them to stay inside the city or something. Anyways, unnie, can I talk to you?” Soyeon said, Minnie nodding at her as the two of them distanced themselves from the group.

“Looks like we both have news to divulge, huh?” Minnie said, Soyeon sighing as she nodded at Minnie.

“Miyeon found this man who seemed to be trapped inside the medical vault, living off of IVs and all that stuff. Tell you what, I don’t trust him one bit.” Minnie said, Soyeon taking a look at the man who sat on the back of the truck, talking to Miyeon.

“What’s his name?” Soyeon said, Minnie sighing at that.

“Rin Hayano. I figured he’s Japanese or something.” Minnie said, as Soyeon chuckled at that, realizing who he was.

“That’s Rin Hayano, right. One of the models signed to Jaechan’s firm.” Soyeon said, nodding at Minnie who raised her brow, nodding at that bit of information.

“Anyways, how about you? What were you going to tell me?” Minnie said, Soyeon sighing as she got ready to deliver something she learned about.

“I know why Soojin’s face is like that. Someone came to her room after Shuhua allegedly visited her last night, and probably beat her up.” Soyeon said, Minnie widening her eyes at that.

“Eh? But who?” Minnie said, Soyeon nodding at that.

“It’s—”

“They’re here!”  Miyeon said, as she climbed off the back of the pickup truck, Soyeon sighing at the interruption as she went off to her best friend, Minnie figuring out that he could ask her sister later about that matter.

“Oppa, you can rest, if you want.” Soyeon said, as Jaechan nodded, looking dazed as he went next to Shuhua, sitting down, Soojin bringing her hand down onto the trunk of the car, almost punching it and wounding her hand if not for Minnie who stopped him from doing so.

“His bandmate saved me… I should have been the one who died there, Minnie, Not that man.” Soojin said, ruffling her hair in frustration, Minnie patting her back.

Soyeon hugged her best friend tight, his resolve and the façade he put up dissolving to pieces as he felt his tears fall again, gritting his teeth as he cried again, his heart getting heavier and heavier as he gritted his teeth, trying to stop the tears from falling, trying to stop his heart from breaking, but nothing happened, as he felt a large void clawing onto his heart.

“I should have shot that monster before it even reached him. It’s… it’s my fault…” Jaechan said, as Soyeon shook her head, rubbing his back and comforting him.

“It isn’t anybody’s fault, Oppa. Sungwoo wouldn’t want you to keep crying like this, right? The best thing you could do now is to not let his death be in vain. We’ll find the ones who are behind this and make them pay.” Soyeon said, as Jaechan nodded at that.

“Did… did you call the people at the Paradise already?” Jaechan said, changing the topic, Soyeon nodding at that.

“They’d be here soon, don’t worry, alright?” Soyeon said, the man nodding as he asked to be left alone, Soyeon following his wishes.

“There, now you wouldn’t worry about having Rin with us, huh, Minnie?”  Miyeon said, scoffing at her, walking away—

Yuqi grabbed her hand and slapped her, the others widening their eyes at that as Miyeon staggered back, her hand flying up to her cheeks, Yuqi glaring at her.

“Listen, alright? I’m not defending Minnie because he’s Soyeon’s sister or anything, okay? What you said was inappropriate to everyone, to this situation that we have. It’s inappropriate to Jaechan, it’s inappropriate to all of us. So, would you please stop spewing up nonsense just because you’re angry at Minnie for something he had done a few years ago, and just shut your mouth? We don’t need that here.” Yuqi said, Soyeon pulling her away from the scene as Miyeon just stood there, unable to say anything, her cheek red from the slap Yuqi gave her.

“Unnie, I understand that what Miyeon unnie said might have been offensive, but there are calmer ways to address a situation.” Soyeon said, Yuqi widening her eyes at what Soyeon had said.

“That’s it? No scolding or anything or something along the lines of not hurting your best friend or whatever?” Yuqi said, Soyeon sighing as she tucked a stray hair beyond Yuqi’s ear.

“I myself think that what Miyeon unnie said was too much, unnie. It’s no time for jokes.” Soyeon said, as she nodded at Yuqi, who went off to Jaechan, talking to him, carrying Yoona away so the psychologist, Shuhua, could talk to him.

Soyeon decided to go to Miyeon, who was sitting on the back of the pickup truck, Rin nodding at Soyeon as he went away from them, giving them distance to talk while he sat on the planks of the port, waiting for their rescue.

“Sorry for all that… Just got caught up in my stupid pride and emotion.”  Miyeon said, Soyeon sighing and putting a hand on her shoulder.

“Unnie, seriously. You have to stop being angry to Minnie unnie if this is what’s going to always happen. You can’t cage yourself in anger forever; plus, unnie had her reasons why he left, alright?” Soyeon said, Miyeon sighing as she nodded.

“I’ll try, Soyeon, alright? Sorry for earlier.”  Miyeon said, scratching her nape nervously, Soyeon smiling at that.

“Anyways, what’s the deal between you and that Rin guy? He looks like he has a liking on you.” Soyeon said, sitting on the back of the pickup truck while the others stood guard, wary for some undead that might wander around and attack them suddenly.

“Oh, please. I just saved him, and besides I’m not looking for someone at all. Just wanna survive through the day, and luckily the self defense classes the agency taught us seem to be useful now.”  Miyeon said, Soyeon tilting her head.

“Well, it seems too much to be just a coincidence, unnie. It’s like they anticipated that this would really happen, and thought of that.” Soyeon said, Miyeon chuckling at that.

“What? That’s silly. How can our agency possibly know that a pandemic would break out—”

“Well, come to think of that… I went up and asked other artists, and turns out the two of us are the only ones the agency taught self-defense to, including guns and marksmanship. You still think it’s just a coincidence, unnie?” Soyeon said, as Miyeon widened her eyes, not knowing that one bit of information.

“You’re getting into something, Soyeon. So, could it be that our agency is tied to the people behind all this?”  Miyeon said, Soyeon nodding at that.

“That’s why after we settle in at Paradise, we have to set out to investigate the source of the pandemic, or everything that was written in Chan’s second letter. Minnie unnie is the one who insisted that the information be kept between me, her and Yuqi unnie until we decide what we would do.” Soyeon said, purposely withholding information as Miyeon nodded at that.

“Anyways, we have to get ready soon. We have to work hard once we’re on that place.” Soyeon said, her eyes lighting up as she saw the shadow of a ship, coming from the horizon, showing it to Minnie as they all got up to their feet—

“There’s a lot of the undead coming, we have to eliminate those.” Song Jin said, giving the others guns as they took stance, the others firing onto the horde that was coming near them, the corpses falling dead with every shot, but more seem to be coming, as the boat drew closer.

“What the hell is this? It seems like they went here at the same time that we would go out of the city!” Song Jin said, firing onto the undead, the horde nearing them as they speak, firing all their guns but the hordes seem to be doubling in number.

“The boat’s here, we have to go!” Soyeon said, letting the others go as she, Song Jin, Minnie and Soojin stood guard, continuously firing onto the zombies while the others made their way to the port, Soyeon gritting her teeth as she fired endlessly, the horde too close to their liking s they were forced to move back, Soyeon looking back to see that all of the people are all on the boat already.

“We have to go, now!” Soyeon said, the others nodding as they ran towards the boat, occasionally firing onto the undead that went too close to them, as they managed to climb onto the boat, kicking away and firing onto some of the zombies that managed to get close to the boat, some of the undead falling onto the waters and never going back up again.

The boat sped away, Soyeon sighing heavily as she saw some familiar faces among the horde, some people she had seen every day, and she couldn’t help but collapse down, Yuqi and Minnie catching her before she fell down the ground.

“Come one, love. It’s okay to be scared, we’re all scared here. You can let it down now.” Yuqi said, Soyeon’s tears falling as she buried her face onto Yuqi’s neck, her bottled up emotions bursting out as she cried, her crying drowned out by the noises of the boat.

“We’re pleased to welcome you to Paradise.” A man said, coming from the driver side, Jaechan rising as he had his eyes widened, surprised at the man, who also stared back at him.

“Jin?” Jaechan uttered, the man breaking his professional façade as he rushed in and hugged the man, his tears falling again.

“You’re… You’re the only one, aren’t you?” The man weakly said, Jaechan weakly nodding as he pulled the man into a hug, the others only watching the scene as the boat went farther from the shore.

“Hanjin… He was bitten because he saved me from getting bitten by one of those things. Sungwoo… He sacrificed himself to save us and for us to get here.” Jaechan said, the man named Jin sighing as he nodded, ruffling his hair as he nodded again, taking in the information.

“All of you are safe. That’s… That’s what matters. We’ll hold a funeral for those who had fallen, and carry on living, and not let their death be in vain. Rest up, the leaders want to see you immediately after you arrive there. After the boat ride, there would be a twenty-minute ride from the port to the main base, so you guys would have a lot of rest time.” Jin said, as he disappeared onto the driver side, the others staring at the port, slowly disappearing into the horizon.

“Twenty-minute ride…? That feels like an isolated prison to me, Soyeon.”  Miyeon said, Soyeon nodding at that as she wiped her tears off, looking at the horizon they were nearing to, but it was endless water all around.

“And where would we even go? I’ve lived all my life in Seoul and there are no other islands nearby that we could take a thirty-minute boat ride to.” Jaechan said, joining the conversation, as he sat next to Soyeon, the girl holding his hand tight.

“I told you all, as soon as I see something wrong, as soon as we see something wrong, we’d get out of this place as soon as we can, alright?” Soyeon said, the others nodding as they soon neared the port, where some other men with a huge bus was waiting for them, the ten of them going inside the bus like prisoners, a grim feeling going inside the vehicle.

“I feel like a convict with this.” Shuhua said, Soojin stiffening up beside her, Song Jin raising his brows as he saw that, a grin appearing on his lips for a split second.

“Soyeon. Who punched Soojin again?” Minnie said, Soyeon sighing as she pinched her side.

“We can’t discuss that now; we have to appear peaceful in front of those people, or else we won’t be able to stay that peacefully here.” Soyeon said, Minnie widening her eyes at that.

“So, you’re saying that we act peaceful?” Minnie said, Soyeon nodding at that as Minnie sighed, leaning back on her chair.

“Don’t even think of fighting with Miyeon unnie, or I’d personally push you out of Paradise, or lock you with her in a room together until you two decide that you can talk.” Soyeon said, giving her a glare, Minnie sighing as she nodded at that.

“We have to talk to Soojin and Shuhua and Song Jin Oppa after the leaders see us, alright? You have to help me, unnie.” Soyeon said, as Minnie raised a brow.

“Why do you--- wait. You think he did it?” Minnie said, leaning closer, Soyeon sighing and nodding at that.

An hour and thirty minutes before

“We’re here, go to the port and hide, you two. We’ll just go to the precinct and pick up some weapons for late, alright?” Song Jin said, as Soyeon nodded at the two of them, her and Song Jin driving off as Soyeon looked back, seeing the two girls finding a suitable hiding spot.

“Are you sure they could manage? We could take them with us while we get some weapons.” Soyeon said, Song Jin shaking his head.

“I’m sure they could manage, Soyeon. Don’t worry.” Song Jin said, as Soyeon sighed, putting her elbows upon the window sill.

“Shuhua’s with a child, Oppa.  Miyeon unnie would be angry if she learns that you left her alone.” Soyeon said, Song Jin not answering as he drove off, stopping in a nearby precinct.

“Oh? Why didn’t you tell us you have wounds on your knuckles, Oppa? Yuqi unnie would have treated you if we knew you had that---” Soyeon said, picking up his hand, but Song Jin wrenched it away, causing her hand to hit the dashboard, sending a small hitch of pain from her wrist.

“it’s nothing, Soyeon-ah. Don’t worry about it, let’s go.” Song Jin said, as Soyeon raised her brows, then remembered something, widening her eyes as she remembered that Soojin had bruises on her face.

“So, you think…. You think that it was Song Jin who beat him up last night? For what?” Minnie asked, skeptical about what her sister is trying to say.

“All I know is that Shuhua visited Soojin last night, and the next day we see Soojin got bruises on her face and Song Jin Oppa has wounds on his knuckles that seem too much of a coincidence, isn’t it?” Soyeon said, as Minnie nodded at that, considering everything.

“He’s part of the police before this happened, Soyeon. I highly doubt that he’d pull off that kind of stunt, just because Shuhua likes Soojin and not him.” Minnie said, Soyeon sighing at that.

“But we are in the middle of a pandemic, after all, unnie. We had to kill off people last month, right? Even the police who tried to rob us off the supplies that we had went for.” Soyeon said, Minnie sighing at that.

“Song Jin hyung is different, Soyeon. He wouldn’t do that.” Minnie said, as Soyeon sighed and nodded, letting the matter go for now.

“We still haven’t even solved why Soojin decided to stab herself a month ago, after she killed her own brother. We’ve been too focused on making plans to go here that we hadn’t solved our own problems, and that includes yours with Miyeon unnie. I don’t wanna see Yuqi unnie slapping her again, so please… Take some time and fix your relationship with her, please?” Soyeon said, as the bus neared the entrance of the place.

The bus skidded to a stop, the men who received them assisting them inside, some women and some men nodding at them as the ten of them went to the entrance, some men at the top of the walls having guns, probably to guard the walls, not letting the undead enter the walls of the place.

“Welcome to the Paradise. I am Wallace Kim, the founder of this place. We had been living here before the pandemic ever started, and we are ready for any attack that may commence. If you are asking, how did we figure out that a pandemic would happen and got ready? We have insiders in everything, and we were deciding to rebel against our faulty government but this happened, and we are probably the safest place to be right now.” The man named Wallace said, the others nodding at that.

“So, in order to grant you the privilege of living inside our safe walls, we ask you to surrender every weapon you have, and we would keep them. The supplies you brought with you are also accounted for, and we thank you for doing that.” Wallace said, the others nodding as they started to line up, obeying the bodily inspection and surrendering their weapons, Soyeon and Minnie last in line, the older sister feeling uneasy.

“Something isn’t right here, and you know that, Soyeon.” Minnie said, as Soyeon sighed, pushing her to proceed onto the line.

They soon passed the inspection, with the ten people going inside the walls, without any weapon or anything but themselves as they walked towards the center of the place, guided there by people with guns.

“They look like prison wardens to me.” Minnie said, as Soyeon sighed and nodded at that, an uneasy feeling going inside her chest.

“Welcome, you all. You guys are the only ones who successfully interpreted the message and came here safely, in a month after we had relayed that message to all of the radios in the city. Thank you all for surviving, and I hope that you can live here harmoniously with us, your new home.” Wallace said, the officers then guiding the others, except for Soyeon, as the leader, Wallace, soon moved closer to him.

“I presume you are the one who leads your merry band, am I correct?” Wallace said, as Soyeon nodded, feeling awkward that no one but her is there, facing the leader of their new home.

“Um… Yes. But we worked in that together, and that’s why we are here—”

“But I understand that you are technically the one calling the shots here, are you not?” Wallace said with an uptight smile, Soyeon forcedly nodding at that, the man giving her a gentler smile, but Soyeon could tell that something was going on.

“Leading nine people sure is difficult, for a   woman like you. With a child even, that is superb work. What would you say to joining the leaders of this place? We sure need a fresh mind that could represent the youth.” Wallace said, Soyeon widening her eyes at the sudden offer to her.

“What…? But sir—”

“I believe that you could help us, Miss…”

“Soyeon, sir.  Jeon Soyeon.” Soyeon said, immediately supplying him with her name, earning a benevolent and understanding smile from the man.

“As I was saying, I believe you can help us, Jeon Soyeon-ssi. But no rush, you are just new here. I will give you a maximum of a week to decide, and the offer would no longer be valid exceeding that timeframe. Are we clear on this, Soyeon-ssi?” Wallace said, Soyeon only nodding at that as Wallace put a hand on her shoulder, smiling at her, then left, an officer guiding her to what looked like a girl’s dormitory, sectioned accordingly to her age bracket, as she went inside, her mind foggy and unclear.

“Why did the leader talk to you, Soyeon?” Yuqi said, hugging her as soon as she arrived, Miyeon and Shuhua staying in with her as Soyeon sighed, pursing her lips.

“The leader offered me a job to be one of the leaders here at this place.” Soyeon said, the others widening their eyes.

“It’s like they knew we had plans to get out of this place at any time.” Yuqi said, as she stared at Soyeon, who didn’t know what to do.