I Do Things Different
He had a different mindset from most other survivors out there.
Where others were running for their lives, he decided he would stick around a bit. Yes, it was a dangerous idea. Staying alone in a heavily infested city. But that was the beauty of it. Only the foolish, stupid, or psychotic would come to the city to raid it. But that could be some time. He stood on his balcony, hands coiled around the baluster. He peered down at the destruction around, and below him. Surveying it, feeling a sense of fire determination fill his chest. For now, the city was his. While other survivors would flee as soon as they could, he would remain behind.
First, he'd have to determine where exactly he'd call his temporary base. He knew he would have to leave the city eventually, but he would do so once the last of his stock piles of supplies had run dry. He'd raid a new location every day until he'd cleared the entire city of its supplies. He'd of course be keeping some for the future road he'd take. Never wise to leave the city with next to nothing. But it could wait. For now, Hongjoong just needed to find a good vantage point. A place with easy access to and from. And where zombies couldn't reach him with their blood soaked claws.
As his red gaze took in the devastation of the city he lived in, his gaze kept returning to a building at the very edge of it. A grin bloomed across his face. He was pretty sure he'd just found his temporary home. He'd take the roof, if he was lucky. He'd have to clear both his current building, and that one. He'd also have to check for a fire escape to ensure he could get to and from without any issues. With a destination in mind and a plan, Hongjoong turned to head back inside.
He could start part of his plan now.
Pack what was in his unit, and raid all the others. He had plenty of time today to do so. He'd make for the building on his radar the following day. It would take him that long, anyway. With a plan in mind, Hongjoon went through his unit, and began to gather all his necessary supplies. Mostly food and medical supplies. But a few clothes as well. He set them all on the coffee table in the unit, and thought carefully on how he went about this. Deciding what foods could last him for how long. How much he had of each. And so on.
Once he had it all figured out, he then went to grab his backpack from his closet. He then returned to the main living room area, and began to pack it as smartly as he could. Ensuring to keep the granola bar he'd have over the next few days out. He also packed a few water bottles. Mostly his reusable ones. He knew they'd make less noise, even with clothing to pad it. He also put his first aid supplies in his backpack as well. Once it was as full as possible, Hongjoong let himself relax a little. He was in no rush nor hurry to go anywhere.
He could take his time.
And he would.
Especially as he had to figure out what to do for a weapon. His claws now useless against the zombies. He went through a mental list of what he could use for a weapon. He knew it had to be long enough to keep some distance, but sturdy enough not break fairly easily. He couldn't exactly obtain a gun, they were illegal to own in Korea. Even soldiers couldn't keep them, they had to return them to the government. Although, with the outbreak did that still apply? Did all surviving military personal get to keep their guns? Surely they could. But they were troublesome in their own right.
Eh, whatever.
//
He'd found his weapon.
It was a very interesting cane he'd found one day, and bought because it struck him in a way. It was long and black. He had thought it may contain a hidden blade. No such luck. But he liked the look of it. The top was a large silver looking skull. He very much liked it. He wasn't normally drawn to images of death in any fashion, but the cane had really garnered his attention. It was sturdy enough, and long enough to give him some distance when taking out zombies. And it was all actually made of metal. So it would work wonders for him. He hated to bloody it up, but the circumstances called for sacrifice.
With a weapon in hand, Hongjoong took up his filled backpack. And with that, he finally left his unit. Prepared and ready to face the undead. Time to raid this complex, and then wait until sunrise the next day to make for his temporary spot. He did wonder if the cane would have the impact he hoped. He wasn't a necessarily strong alpha. Having spent much of his days at his studio. He wasn't athletic, nor had he worked out much. But, he did have a bit of a nasty temper.
He's never unleashed it before.
Preferring to try and be friendly if he could. Even if he was a bit of a recluse. Seemed his life would be one big isolation bubble. At least, for now. And to be honest, the introverted scorpio alpha didn't mind. He wasn't fond of big crowds, nor touch. So in a way, the zombie apocalypse worked wonders for his mental health. But he knew eventually, he'd need to find a pack. And a mate. If he was lucky in that department, of course. Even lone alphas craved companionship after so long. But he had time to figure out how he'd tell a good pack, from a bad one.
His grip on his cane grew tighter, to the point his knuckles were cut off from their blood supply. Time to see if he really had what it took to survive the city for a while. He'd only take out the zombies between him and his goals. He didn't need to kill all of them. If they deterred others from entering his city for the time being, then he'd merely keep note of where they were. And avoid them as best he could. But in buildings such as this, it would be inevitable. After all, they would stand between him and his supplies.
It would seem it was also time he put his alpha hunting skills to excellent use.
He remained silent and stealthy, eyes zeroed in on a zombie just standing in the hallway. Back to him. He wondered if it could smell him yet. Unlike in the vast openness of the outside world, the airflow inside was still. So the zombie had to smell him, didn't it? Perhaps he was wrong, for Hongjoong brought the cane down on its head as hard as he could. He hissed and growled, and continued. Even as blood began to splatter and paint the walls in its crimson and ugly blackish red hue. Hongjoong sniffed, pulling back. His cane now covered in the zombie's brain matter and blood. His face splattered with the same substance. But as long as he wasn't bit or scratched, he'd be fine.
He doubted he'd have this kind of luck all the time.
With a nod, Hongjoong turned and continued on to head for the top floors. He'd work his way down and out. For all the buildings he took. He'd probably raid the taller structures first. Get them out of the way. Then work his way to the single story buildings last. Then leave entirely. Could be some time. With his cane having been proven effective, and his own abilities it was time he made to strip the city clean of its supplies.
Up, then.
//
Just as he'd planned, he cleared out his entire complex.
He then made for the building he'd seen, the day after he finished clearing it all out. As he'd stuck to the alleyways due to thinking about it, he managed to avoid the massive amount of zombies in the city. As long as he kept an eye on them, he'd be fine gathering all the supplies he could from it. After he arrived at the building he'd selected at the edge of the city for his temporary place, he searched around it for a fire escape. He nodded, satisfied upon finding one. Good, he could come and go without having to traverse through the building more than once. He would go in and clear it of supplies and zombies. Then head to the roof, and keep the door locked. Just for safety measures. Who knew when the zombies would reoccupy the structure. But he'd have a chance this go around.
After taking in a deep breath to calm himself once more, Hongjoong headed inside.
Like before, he cleared out the zombies and each room of potential supplies. It was hard work, but it had to be done. Once he had everything, he headed for the roof as he had planned. He had made sure to grab something for a bit of shelter from the beating sun, and other weather. And once there, he locked the door. Putting a chain around the handle to ensure it couldn't budge. At least, for a few years. Until the rust ate away at it, and it crumpled to pieces on the wind.
Once on the roof and settled, Hongjoong approached the fire escape. He nodded once more, satisfied he could truly come and go without too many issues. He then set his backpack down under his tarp tent, and sighed as he sat and relaxed. He took a cloth out, and cleaned his cane. Best it stayed in working condition. He then ate a bite or two of his granola bar, and drank enough water to satisfy his thirst for the time being. He'd get some sleep, then start his raiding first thing in the morning. He hoped to make quick work of the city. The sooner he finished, the sooner he could plan for heading into the wilds of Korea.
He'd take time to survey the streets later. For now, a nap was in high order. He was tired. Exhausted, actually. As he laid down and let sleep come for him, his mind wandered. It wandered to the time he left the city for good. He wasn't sure where he'd go, or who he'd meet. How he'd know a good wolf from a bad one. He wasn't in a big rush to leave the city, but he did want to leave it when the zombies finally vacated as well. So he did have some time to figure out how to tell the good and bad apart.
As he drifted to sleep, he asked the gods and nature for their guiding hands. To lead him to a good ending. Somehow. What lay before him, he did not know. But he would face it with the same confident determination he had thus far. It would lead him to meeting some bad wolves that would leave him for dead. A rebirth, in a way. A pack of his own. The facility he could build a new and brighter future. And an omega mate that was everything he could have ever wished for, dreamed of, or wanted.
To being a real leader.
This was what was in store for Kim Hongjoong.
He just didn't know it yet.