Three Strikes And You're Out For Good
He stood with his legs braced apart for balance.
His green eyes were narrowed, ears perked forward in deep concentration. His body both relaxed, and tensed. His grip on the wood in his hands tightened. He squared his jaw as the machine finally unleashed a ball. He took a deep breath in. And as he let it out, he swung the wood smacking the ball. An audible cracking sound came. The ball didn't go far, it was a practice cage. He was quick to return to his ready stance, before repeating the actions a number of times. He had reasoned with himself, it was best to get in the practice now for when the official season at his school finally came around.
Baseball was his sport.
For him, it was grounding. Relaxing. And gave him the chance to not think on much for a bit. As a beta-alpha, he had to be calm and level-headed. Though sometimes, he tended to be a bit snarky and sarcastic. It was bound to get an alpha to kick his ass one of these days. Alphas didn't like smart mouths. Though the omegas did manage to smile, so it was something. As was the life of any beta. Be they alpha tempered, or omega tempered. A balance, and finding what each wolf needed.
And what Kim Seungmin needed at this moment, was to simply focus on hitting the ball.
The bat felt natural in his grip, firm and sturdy. The wood relatively soft in his palm, and making that satisfying cracking sound renowned in the sport of baseball. It was the sound of dreams. The sound of hopes. The dream and hope that one day, Seungmin himself could make it to the big leagues. It was a long shot, but he was determined to make it. Even if others said he'd make a great artist as well. He's been caught a few times, singing some emotional ballad from any one of Korea's solo artists. And his few friends complimented his voice. Said he'd make an amazing singer himself.
Seungmin wasn't sure if that was the life he'd want. He wouldn't close himself off to the idea, but he wouldn't pursue it unless he saw few options. He was still focused on baseball as his career. But it mattered little. He had at least three years left of high school to determine what he wanted to do with his life. There was no rush, and no pressure either.
Only, there would be no chance to find out.
//
The sound of the cage was able to drown out anything happening outside it.
So Seungmin was not yet aware how eerily silent it was beyond his little practice cage. True, the other wolves weren't aware either. Though some were gaining that awareness. Enough for some concern and worry. Looking about, checking their surroundings. There was no breeze. The trees still. Not even a whisper of a breeze.
In this stillness, it was only a matter of time before the chaos in Seoul finally reached their ears. The screaming and many crashes. Sirens. It was enough to cause many at the practice arena to grow unsettled. But those like Seungmin, were completely unaware. When he was focused on his game, he had a hard time perceiving the world about him. He should have. It would cost him his life.
But at the same time, he was holding a baseball bat.
So, he likely would keep his life for a while longer.
With some of the others wolves growing aware, most decided it was best to perhaps head home. Or see what was going on. Just, answers wolves! Just as Seungmin finished his latest round, he finally noticed the odd silence surrounding the area. He turned and raised his face, sniffing. They were all such a unique hybrid, weren't they? Alphas were nose blind to the scent of other alphas. They could detect hints of testosterone and musk. But nothing else. For example, one alpha could smell like a campfire. But other alphas won't detect that campfire scent. Just the testosterone and musk. Maybe some sweat as well.
So alphas could never truly identify one alpha from the other based on scent alone.
Yet they could smell betas, both alpha and omega type, and omegas with ease. Made finding a mate easy as nature intended.
On the complete opposite side of the spectrum, omegas were nose blind to other omegas. Almost entirely. Though they could get a small hint of a floral scent. Nothing distinguishable. Powdery, floral, and maybe some fruit. Very, very light. The only way they knew it was another omega. They could not say, smell the orange blossom on another omega's scent. Yet they got a very light hinting of something floral. But they could smell betas and alphas with ease. For mate finding purposes, of course.
And betas, they could smell everyone. Even fellow betas. They were just nose blind to their own unique scent. So Seungmin wasn't sure what he smelled like personally. He never asked. No beta ever does. If a mate likes their scent, they will naturally state what it is through offhanded conversations and comments. This meant betas had incredible senses of smell. Alphas did too. Maybe better than a beta's. But with a drawback. So Seungmin scrunched his face as the waft of rotten and putrid something reached him.
Ugh, it was so disgusting.
Before he could truly identify what the smell was, gasps and screams erupted outside his cage. He looked to see other wolves scattering and running. Fleeing for their lives. He blinked and looked to see what was causing the commotion before him. He blinked once more to see a tail and earless wolf rushing for one not fast enough to escape. And without warning, tackled them to the ground. And began to eat them, as they screamed and tried to fight the wolf off.
Seungmin blinked a moment. Horrified yet, unable to look away.
He was brought from his almost silent horror watch, as one came to his cage and hit the fencing separating them. Seungmin jumped, blinking from his stupor. He scrunched his nose and tried not to breathe in that awful odor. Ugh, zombies. Why did they always have to smell so gross? Unafraid, Seungmin gripped his baseball bat more firmly in his grip. He had a weapon in his hand, and he'd fight his way out of here as he had to. He knew the best option for him, was to try and get home. Even if he never saw his family again, he had to find a safe place to hide and wait out the mass hysterical panic.
That was his home.
With the bat in his tight grip, Seungmin approached the entrance to the cage.
Ready to face this new world already, and fight his way home.
//
He stumbled as he entered the dark and quiet apartment that was his family's home.
His eyes wide, his face splattered with blood. His shoes were slick with the substance. He held the bat in his firm grip, even as it dripped more of the fluids to the hardwood flooring. It still smells so very awful. He did not call out, nor did he expect to see his parents. The city was a mess. Wrecked and ravaged already. And they were still panicking and trying to scatter. And Seungmin had very little recollection on just how he got back to his place.
Though the telltale signs were all over him. In the blood that dripped from him.
He'd fought his way back, but he was shellshocked enough to try and suppress the entire thing. He knew this was a way to cope with trauma. It wasn't healthy, but in a world of zombies and survival, he had few choices. One day, he may open up about it. To whatever wolves may yet survive. If they could earn his trust.
And that was just the thing about zombies and survival, wasn't it? The trusting others easily. It may seem easy at first. Familiarity, someone experiencing what the other had with slight variations. But it was never wise to trust anyone. It was survival of the fittest. Nature said to leave the cities. Return to her in any way they could. Live off the land, and take up a more tribal like lifestyle. But that meant finding wolves that retained some level of cognitive intelligence. And trusting them enough, to form a pack.
He doubted it was impossible. But it would be incredibly difficult to do. It would be their true and only chance at survival. But how that happened, depended on each wolf. And there were likely to be many more questions, and limited answers. But for now, Seungmin turned and locked the door. Then barricaded it. For the time being.
He set the baseball bat down nearby, and walked like his own version of a zombie. Even with electricity off, they still had water for a few days. And while he should conserve some of it, he wanted to wash the stench off. The shower would certainly help him relax, and forget it even further. The only wolves truly capable of killing and being able to take it well, were alphas. After all, alpha fights were dangerous and brutal. Even fatal and deadly to both opponents. But only when the fight warranted such aggression.
Even then, alphas didn't kill easily. And sometimes, they carried guilt with them. So for a beta-alpha like Seungmin, killing even zombies was a very difficult pill to swallow. They had been wolves once. He knew he'd adjust with time. He knew he'd grow used to it. But he needed time, and to just keep going. To keep doing it as necessary. His own life would depend on him doing so.
As Seungmin stood in the warm shower watching the bloody water fall down the drain, he took a moment to calm himself down further. He would adjust. He was okay. And any survivors after today would, and will do as he had done. He just hoped nature could expunge him of this feeling and forgive him. And any like himself. After he finally ended his shower and conserved what water he had left, he dried off and stumbled his way to his room. Without much thought or word, Seungmin collapsed onto his bed. Tomorrow was a new day, and a new world. He'd need the rest to face it.
Soon, he was fast asleep.