CHAPTER 2

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Chapter 2: The Fall.

The once-bustling streets of Seoul had transformed into a battleground. The sky, still torn by the massive void, was filled with monsters descending like dark rain. The screams of terrified citizens echoed off the buildings, mixing with the sound of collapsing structures as the creatures laid waste to everything in their path.

Jung Hee and Eun Woo sprinted through the alleyways, their breath coming in ragged gasps. Every corner they turned seemed to bring more chaos—overturned cars, debris scattered across the ground, and terrified people scrambling for safety. But no matter where they ran, the monsters were always close behind, their glowing red eyes locking onto anyone who dared to cross their path.

Jung Hee's heart pounded in his chest, the weight of the situation pressing down on him like a lead blanket. He could feel the fear building inside him, but there was no time to let it consume him. Survive. Protect Eun Woo. Find a way out. These were the only thoughts keeping him moving.

Eun Woo, always the one to crack a joke or lighten the mood, was now dead silent, his face grim with determination. The laughter and playful banter from earlier in the day seemed like a distant memory, swallowed by the nightmare unfolding around them.

"We need to find shelter," Eun Woo said, his voice tight with fear but controlled. "Somewhere safe—somewhere they can't reach us."

Jung Hee nodded, scanning their surroundings. The city had been thrown into utter chaos, but they had to keep moving. Stopping now meant death.

"There," Jung Hee pointed toward an old building down the street, its windows dark, its doors seemingly intact despite the destruction around it. "We can hide in there."

Eun Woo didn't hesitate. Together, they ran, dodging the fallen debris and avoiding the monsters that were wreaking havoc all around them. The ground trembled as one of the larger creatures smashed into a nearby building, sending a cloud of dust and rubble into the air. They barely made it to the door in time.

Jung Hee shoved it open, and they stumbled inside, slamming the door behind them. The air was thick with dust, but it was quiet. Too quiet.

"Do you think they saw us?" Eun Woo asked, his breathing heavy as he leaned against the wall.

Jung Hee shook his head, trying to calm his own rapid breathing. "I don't know. But we can't stay here for long. We need a plan."

The silence in the building was deafening compared to the chaos outside. Every creak, every shift of the floorboards felt magnified in the stillness. Jung Hee's senses were on high alert, the adrenaline still coursing through his veins. His mind was racing, but there was no clear way out of this. The city was falling apart, and he had no idea where to go next.

For the first time, the full weight of the situation began to sink in. The monsters weren't just invading the city—they were destroying it. And there was no guarantee that the city would survive the night. Jung Hee's stomach twisted at the thought. How many people had already died? How many more would be lost?

Eun Woo, sensing the same fear that gnawed at Jung Hee, placed a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, we're going to get through this. We just need to stay calm."

Jung Hee nodded, though his mind was far from calm. He couldn't help but think about the people outside—his friends, his family. Were they safe? Had they managed to escape the monsters' wrath? He clenched his fists, trying to push the thoughts away. There was no time for that now. They had to focus on surviving.

Just as they were about to make a plan, a loud crash from the upper floor sent both of them into a defensive stance. Their eyes snapped to the ceiling, which groaned under the weight of something heavy. The floorboards creaked, and the sound of clawed feet echoed through the empty halls.

"They're inside," Eun Woo whispered, his voice barely audible over the thudding footsteps.

Jung Hee swallowed hard, his heart racing. "We need to move. Quietly."

Without another word, they began to creep toward the back of the building, their footsteps as light as possible on the creaky wooden floor. Every sound felt too loud, like it would give them away at any moment. The monster above them moved slowly, as if it were searching for something—or someone.

They found a stairwell and ducked inside, hiding in the shadows. The sounds from above grew fainter, but they weren't gone. Jung Hee peeked through a crack in the stairwell door, watching the creature's shadow move across the floor. It was massive, with long limbs and claws that scratched at the wood as it stalked through the building.

Eun Woo glanced at Jung Hee, his expression grim. "We need to get out of here before that thing finds us."

Jung Hee nodded, his mind racing. "There's got to be a way out..."

He scanned the room, his eyes landing on a small window at the far end of the hall. It was just big enough for them to crawl through, but it led to the outside—back into the chaos.

"It's risky," Eun Woo said, following his gaze. "But we don't have much of a choice, do we?"

Jung Hee shook his head. "No, we don't."

As quietly as they could, they made their way to the window. Jung Hee pushed it open, the cool air from outside rushing in. He could hear the sounds of the city's destruction growing louder as they climbed through, one by one.

The street outside was no safer than before. The monsters continued to pour out of the void, their numbers seemingly endless. Buildings crumbled under their weight, and fires had begun to spread, casting an eerie glow over the chaos.

But there was no time to hesitate. They needed to find a place where they could regroup and think.

"We head toward the river," Jung Hee said, his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at him. "If we can reach the water, we might be able to find somewhere safe."

Eun Woo nodded, and together, they ran once more, their bodies tense, their minds focused on survival. The world around them had become a battlefield, and there was no telling how long they could keep running.

But as long as they were alive, they would fight. They would find a way to survive this invasion, no matter what.

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End of Chapter 2

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