SURVIVE

CHAPTER TWENTY: SEPARATED FATES

“Wake up.” A voice said, shaking Yuqi awake as she felt herself moving, wherever she’s in vibrating with some moisture splattering towards her, tasting salty as she got up, shaking her head and looking around—

She widened her eyes as she saw a huge smoke billowing from the island, their boat speeding away as Yuqi fought against Mina and Jaechan’s hands, wishing to go back to the island, to go back to her—

“You can’t go back there, it’s overrun now. I’m sure that Minnie will have the instinct to go back to the city.” Mina said, forcing her to sit down.

“Why are we the only ones here? Where are the others, why did you leave them?!” Yuqi asked, furious as Mina gritted her teeth.

“I knew that Minnie would want Yoona to be safe, then Soyeon. I woke you and Jaechan up, since you two were the nearest to me. I didn’t have the time to wake up the others, so I asked Jaechan to carry you since you won’t wake up, and carried you towards the dorms where I had Yoona. We went to the headquarters and left the child there, since Soyeon insisted to take you away from here. Do you understand what I did now, Yuqi-ssi?” Mina said, clutching the handle of her katana as she sighed, looking towards the horizon.

“Minnie and your girlfriend are very strong people, Yuqi. I know that they will survive this, and eventually we will be all together again, possibly to stop this pandemic and find out what really happened.” Mina said, as Yuqi nodded, sighing as she stared at the island, slowly disappearing into the horizon, Jaechan giving her a silenced pistol.

“What happened when you were with Minnie?” Yuqi asked, as Mina sighed, putting her palm on her chin.

“We led Rin to his punishment, and he told us that Song Jin helped him to commit that murder of Rune. Even if Minnie didn’t tell me about what she found out, I realized it on my own, even before Song Jin told it, and when I knew that your friend, Miyeon, was abducted.” Mina said, picking up a stone that was on the boat and throwing it out towards the water, bouncing forward before sinking.

“Song Jin influenced Rin into murdering Rune as a distraction from what he really planned to do; which is to let Soojin, Jiu and Gahyeon have a window to get out of Paradise and take someone with them, which I presume is Miyeon.” Mina said, Yuqi widening her eyes.

“What is it?” Mina asked, as Yuqi nodded, getting ready to tell her what she had learned about Jiu.

“Shuhua told me about her doubts, and if Jiu came with Soojin, then this theory would be at least 80% true.” Yuqi said, Mina listening to what the doctor had to say.

“I pieced it all out when they told us their names and I knew that this might be true. They’re siblings, Mina. They were put in to meet us for a reason, which is to tie us all together and tear us apart. That was why Song Jin kept bullying and beating Soojin up when we first arrived here; it is to remind her of her true mission, which lead up to this moment.” Yuqi said, Mina raising her brow.

“Siblings? What do you mean?” Mina asked, Yuqi nodding at that.

“Their names are Seo Soo Jung, the rebel we faced in the first months of the pandemic that Soojin killed herself, Seo Soojin, Seo Minji or Jiu, the leader of the Pilgrims, and Seo Gahyeon, which is Jiu’s younger sister. Jiu herself mentioned that she had a brother and a sister, which wouldn’t be too impossible to say that the sister she’s saying is Soojin, who’s with them right now.” Yuqi said, Mina widening her eyes.

“Then there is a chance that they went here, in the city, possibly the night before, when we were busy guarding Rin?” Mina said, Yuqi nodding.

“There is a chance that we might be heading to the demons’ lair, or possibly the one behind all this. I trust you, Mina-ssi, since you frequently go here to take trips out of the walls. It’s been a year since I last went here.” Yuqi said, as she saw that they were nearing the port.

“Then let’s go to the place where I stayed before, though we might have to fight for it if worse comes to worse.” Mina said, Yuqi raising her brow at that.

“And where is that?” Yuqi asked, Mina smiling at that.

“The convention center, of course.”

“Mina will probably avoid the center since we went there before, and it might be infested by rebels again. Our best guess at surviving for the night would be a place that would offer us a fortress to the undead, then we will set out to find them in the morning.” Minnie said, Shuhua nodding as she had Yoona in her arms, the child sleeping, while Soyeon walked at the back, carrying a gun on her shoulder while she seemed lost in her thoughts.

“Are you alright?” Minnie asked, Soyeon nodding as she still looked distant, her thoughts elsewhere.

In Paradise, Minnie thought.

“You got used to the life you had in Paradise, did you?” Minnie asked, as Soyeon nodded, walking slowly as she looked back to the way where they came.

“We all got used to it, I think. It would not be a lie if I say right now that I thought we would be safe there forever, but it had to happen; I knew that. And yet I let myself get controlled by the people there.” Soyeon said, Minnie shaking her head at that.

“You did nothing wrong, alright? We have to survive together; You’ll get to be with Yuqi a very long time.” Minnie said, as Soyeon nodded, though Minnie could see the anxiousness in her eyes.

“I don’t know if Yuqi… if Yuqi told you about what happened before, when I snapped at her. I’m sure she’s angry at me.” Soyeon said, as Minnie shook her head at that.

“Don’t think like that, I’m sure Yuqi’s worried about you.” Minnie said, but Soyeon didn’t say anything again.

They walked for a long time, Yoona sleeping in Shuhua’s arms while the two protected her, Minnie using her baseball bat to take out some of the undead they had encountered while heading off to somewhere else, and soon they found themselves heading towards Soyeon’s apartment again, but something stopped Soyeon from coming there.

“No… we shouldn’t be here.” Soyeon said, dragging the two as they ran towards a small building that seemed untouched from the undead, which turned out to be a real estate office, as they locked the doors and proceeded to the rooftop, finding a small coffee shop there, void of people.

“Why?” Minnie asked, as Soyeon looked onto the direction of her apartment, seeing that the road had turned uncracked and full of moss and grass, but Soyeon wasn’t mistaken on what she saw.

“Tire tracks, coming from the garage. There.” Soyeon said, Minnie raising her brow at that.

“Maybe that’s the tire tracks we left?” Minnie asked, as Soyeon shook her head.

“There were still roads when we left this place. Whatever tracks we left would have been erased since the roads are now destroyed because of negligence. These tire tracks are still new, and the moss beside it had been freshly destroyed as well. They just left this place, and I’m sure someone’s been living in my apartment ever since we left.” Soyeon said, Minnie widening her eyes.

“And who would be living here? Rebels?” Minnie asked, Soyeon turning to look at her.

“That is surely a possibility, since they are isolated here while we were living in the island for a year. They know that we lived here because of the incident with Soojin and her brother. I do hope your girlfriend is safe with Mina and the others.” Soyeon said, Minnie widening her eyes and gritting her teeth, remembering what she had learned.

Soyeon noticed that, as she looked at Minnie, who seemed to be distraught.

“What, why?” Soyeon asked, Minnie pursing her lips as she began to break down, realizing everything and the truth dawning down on her as she realized her mistake, the graveness of everything.

“Remember that we got involved in an investigation about Rune’s murder and that Rin was the murderer, and we were with Rin the whole time, guarding him from escaping.” Minnie said, gritting her teeth.

“And? What happened? Is Song Jin also with Mina and the others?” Soyeon said, as Minnie looked at her.

“The murder with Rune is only a distraction for us, to the whole plan or what would really happen. Song Jin persuaded Rin into murdering Rune in the middle of the night so we would guard him and do not let him escape, when Soojin would abduct Miyeon with her sisters, Jiu and Gahyeon. The whole murder gave them a window so they could leave Paradise silently, and Song Jin himself is the final distraction, blowing up the walls and destroying the compound, so we wouldn’t know how they left, or where they really went.” Minnie said, Soyeon widening her eyes.

“Miyeon… Miyeon unnie is gone…?” Soyeon said, Minnie nodding at that as the girl sunk to her knees, worry gripping her heart.

“She isn’t gone; we’ll find her. I’m sure Soojin took her to the people who are behind all this; we will find her, Soyeon. But first, we have to regroup with the others, so we can find her easily.” Minnie said, gritting her teeth.

“I… we have to. Miyeon unnie’s the only family I have left, aside from you, Shuhua and Yuqi. We have to.” Soyeon said, Minnie nodding at that.

Soyeon decided to sleep on the problem, her way of “avoiding making any reckless decisions,” Yoona sleeping beside her while Minnie got alone with Shuhua, who hugged her knees.

“Are you alright, Shu?” Minnie said, Shuhua nodding at that.

“She has a reason; I’m sure of it. I know her, she wouldn’t do that on her own accord, something must have been controlling her, making her do that.” Shuhua said, Minnie nodding at that.

“I know you still trust her… but she kidnapped your best friend. Are you not… angry?” Minnie said, Shuhua shaking her head.

“Part of what I studied before this pandemic tells me that people do things for a reason, no matter what. Even if they do bad things, there are reasons, and we are the ones who have the responsibility on deciding if the reason is good enough for us or bad.” Shuhua said, Minnie tilting her head at that, unsure of what Shuhua was getting at.

“To put it simply, I knew that Soojin would go. I figured it out the first time she was displaying those symptoms that she was forgetting when put to situations near death; I knew that she would disappear, but I didn’t expect that it would be at this time.” Shuhua said, as Minnie widened her eyes at that.

“What…? You knew that she would turn on us? Then why didn’t you say so?” Minnie asked, Shuhua shaking her head.

“To tell someone that they would betray you, they would be paranoid and even try to get out of the place, getting away from you because they already know that they will hurt you. Contrary to only you just knowing it, you can keep them with you for a long time until they do the deed, and it would hurt less because you already anticipate it.” Shuhua said, Minnie widening her eyes at that.

“And you knew this when?” Minnie asked, Shuhua smiling at her, but Minnie could see a thousand untold stories behind those eyes.

“From the start.” Shuhua said, Minnie widening her eyes.

“What?” Minnie said, in disbelief as Shuhua nodded at that.

“She wasn’t the first one I saw when set out to find help for Song Jin Oppa when we were in the beach the day this all started. I saw her robbing someone near the coast, carrying the weapons that she must have stolen to get there. I also just pretended sleeping in the car ride, and I overheard the two of them talking, with Soojin unnie admitting that she was a criminal that Song Jin Oppa imprisoned. I also knew that Song Jin Oppa was the one who went into her room that day, but I didn’t say anything.” Shuhua said, tying her hair up as Minnie only looked at her in disbelief.

“How much else do you know?” Minnie said, as Shuhua looked down, fiddling with her fingers.

“I connected the dots of when Jiu was acting suspicious the night that she saved Yuqi from that mass of flesh, that she and Soojin were related. I followed them unnoticed, and I saw that they were mutants of some kind, able to control their undead state and summon their true form at will. If they’re like that, then Soojin unnie must be too, and she was brought to be with us in the beginning, blending in.” Shuhua said, Minnie nodding at that.

“And yet you don’t hate her.” Minnie said, Shuhua smiling and nodding at that.

“She made me happy this past year, and of course, she has a reason. She already grew close to us, and I know that she took Miyeon unnie for a reason. She would have taken me, or Soyeon, or even Yuqi. But she took Miyeon; what does that imply to you?” Shuhua said, Minnie raising her brow at that.

“That she’s a bad person because she kidnapped my girlfriend?” Minnie said, earning a knock to the head from Shuhua’s fists, who chuckled at that.

“Pabo. She took Miyeon unnie because she knows that for what Song Jin had planned, Miyeon unnie would only distract you from getting things done, and you would go for her first on instinct rather than me or Soyeon unnie. She knew that you would throw yourself into the fire for her, which would immediately kill you, but Miyeon unnie wouldn’t stand a chance without you. So, she took the thing that would distract you, keeping it in the devil’s lair for her own protection, and for you to also know where the main enemy’s lair is without her having to break the trust of the enemy.” Shuhua said, Minnie nodding at that, as she knew that what Shuhua was saying was making sense to her.

“Are… Are you sure that Soojin will protect her…?” Minnie said, Shuhua nodding at that.

“She will. I made her promise; unbeknownst to all of you, I had been taking measures into ensuring that Soojin unnie would not turn against us, but instead turn towards our favor.” Shuhua said, Minnie raising her brows at that, waiting for Shuhua to divulge her reason.

“Have you heard of psychological hypnosis, unnie?” Shuhua asked, Minnie widening her eyes at that.

“You did that to her?” Minnie asked, Shuhua leaning back and nodding at that.

“She had been telling me about these dreams that kept bothering her, and the lost memories that she wanted back in. That was why she disappears every night without you guys noticing, or which you thought to be Song Jin Oppa’s fault, but she stays in my room every night, and I use that method on her.” Shuhua said, Minnie nodding at that.

“Usually, it is against regulations or it is taboo to tell other people about a person’s psychological progress, but since this is needed, I will tell this to you, however not complete. There are things that only Soojin unnie should tell you, but these parts she gave me permission to divulge.” Shuhua said, Minnie nodding at that.

“In a year of doing that process, we were able to unlock her full memories, from the day that I found her up until before the attack to the Paradise. That means her having back the guilt of the death of her brother, the painful memories of Song Jin almost beating her to death, but she managed to overcome all of that, and soon came the dreams.” Shuhua said, looking sternly at the girl before her.

“There were two names that she uttered most of the time, another one appearing just before the attack; those three names are Gahyeon, Jiu and Wooseok. Park Wooseok. She didn’t tell me if her past memories before we found her were also unlocked by what I did, but by doing that method, I also was able to persuade her to do what it takes to protect us, and not harm us at all times. I don’t know if that is effective, but it was worth trying, since I already had my suspicions that she would turn against us and leave, together with Gahyeon and Jiu.” Shuhua said, Minnie nodding at that.

“This Park Wooseok… she didn’t tell you about who he is?” Minnie asked, Shuhua shaking her head at that.

“But if my theory is correct, this Wooseok might be the one behind all of this.” Shuhua said, Minnie nodding at that.

“So, there is a chance that Miyeon might be there?” Minnie said, Shuhua nodding at that.

“There you have it, Minnie unnie. A clue.” Shuhua said, smiling at that.

“A way to end this all.”

“Stop fidgeting there, you look like you’re about to piss your pants.” A voice said, Miyeon looking up to see Gahyeon smiling at her, her eyes red and unyielding, as if any moment she would lunge in and attack, killing her off—

Miyeon shook off that thought from her mind as she sat down, trying to relax as much as she could, not trying to fight against the chains that were keeping her from standing up, as she was promptly chained to the wall.

“You’re taking this all so calm, Miyeon-ssi. If I’m in your place, I would be panicking right now.” Gahyeon said, a hint of mischievousness in her tone as she moved closer, Miyeon’s heart jumping up to her throat.

“You’re the singer, right? Ah, the useless one in their group. Couldn’t even protect herself if she wanted to.” Gahyeon said, her long black nails touching her cheek, Miyeon flinching at the nail caressing her cheek—

Not a nail, ­Miyeon thought, as she had a closer look at the thing that was touching her, too close for her liking.

Hardened black flesh, which she made to be sharp.

“I could stab you with this, right here, right now. Wouldn’t that be fun?” Gahyeon said, a playful tone in her voice as Miyeon didn’t dare speak, for no voice would come through her throat, as she stared at her red eyes, anticipating the girl’s next move, anticipating what sudden pain she would experience.

“Ah, but Soojin unnie told me not to harm you or do anything that would cause you pain. Too bad we can’t have fun right now, right?” Gahyeon said, as she chuckled, Miyeon widening her eyes as Gahyeon thrust the sharp part of her skin closer, the pointy tip touching her cheek as she widened her eyes, afraid to move as it might wound her—

“What did I tell you about guarding her, Gahyeon?” a voice said, and immediately the pointed skin retracted back to her finger, Soojin dragging her with such force away from Miyeon and throwing her across the room, her back colliding to the concrete wall with a resounding crack, the girl falling down unconscious, Soojin just looking at her like nothing was wrong.

“You… You killed her…?” Miyeon said, Soojin shaking her head as she turned her hand into a blade, slashing onto the chains as she hoisted Miyeon up, gritting her teeth as she dug onto her neck, Miyeon widening her eyes as she ripped off something off her neck, throwing it down the ground as the weird device scrambled around, then latching onto Gahyeon’s unconscious body, disappearing under the flesh.

Miyeon widened her eyes and gasped softly as she saw Soojin’s neck heal instantly, the girl tilting her head left and right as she dragged Miyeon up gently.

“Take the hallway to your left, it would lead outside of this building. I already arranged someone to let you out of the gates, so get out of here as fast as you can.” Soojin said, pushing her out of the room.

“Wait! Why are you doing this?” Miyeon asked, Soojin smiling at her.

“I promised Minnie I will protect you, but this is as far as it would go. Lead them back here and I will personally open the gates for everyone to go in, and stop this once and for all.” Soojin said, smiling at Miyeon as she stared at her.

Soojin suddenly widened her eyes and shut the door, the glass letting Miyeon see what was inside as she widened her eyes, seeing Gahyeon stab her own sister in the back, drawing out her finger as Soojin knelt down the floor, the act knocking air out of her lungs as she gritted her teeth, unable to move as Gahyeon pounded against the glass door, unable to go out.

Miyeon then ran on her instinct towards the way that was pointed out for her, with her finding the exit of the damned place—

Her heart stopped as she saw Jiu waiting near the gates, then smiling at Miyeon as she walked closer, Miyeon widening her eyes as she saw her clutching a small knife. The girl then proceeded to throw the knife towards her, Miyeon closing her eyes—

She felt a small pain on her ear as she opened her eyes, feeling a small wound on her ear, the knife nicking her ear as she looked back, seeing Gahyeon with a knife stabbed on her forehead, the girl laying down on the wall, unconscious again.

“You may want to speed up your escape, Miyeon.” Jiu said, as Miyeon nodded, dazed as she went out of the compound, looking back at Jiu.

“Why are you doing this?” Miyeon asked, Jiu smiling at that.

“I am just following Soojin unnie’s orders, Miyeon. Don’t test me and just go.” Jiu said, Miyeon nodding as she ran away, running as far as she could go, not noticing that she found herself in familiar territory, as she knew that this was the street leading to Soyeon’s apartment.

Legs tired, she slowed off her walking as she thought where to go, her eyes looking at random buildings, as she saw a face looking far away in a rooftop—

A face, familiar to her.

Minnie.

Miyeon, overflowing with joy, rushed to go to the girl, Minnie still not noticing this as Miyeon forced herself to run towards the girl, a few steps closer from entering the building where she’s in—

A hand pulled her harshly, Miyeon widening her eyes as she tried to fight against her captor, but her captor was too strong for her as she got dragged away, from the building where her girlfriend is as she felt a man hoist her up, tears falling down from her eyes.

“You think this girl will help us? I don’t understand you, Yoon.” The man said, as he tied Miyeon up and put a gag over her mouth, preventing her to speak.

“I’m sure, of course, Lee. Wooseok said it himself; this girl will be our ticket into finding that woman, and killing her in revenge to what she did to one of my men, my best men.” The man said, as he stared at Miyeon, who felt tears blind her vision.

“She ordered someone to do dirty things for her, but she will pay for what she did to Soo Jung.” Yoon said, Miyeon finding that name familiar, as she slowly realized who it was, as she widened her eyes in horror at what the man said next.

“Wait till I find you and kill you, Jeon Soyeon.”