CHAPTER 3

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Chapter 3: No Safe Haven

The cool night air hit Jung Hee's face as he and Eun Woo slipped through the broken window, back into the streets of Seoul. The destruction around them was worse than ever—fires had spread across the city, casting an eerie orange glow that illuminated the monsters still rampaging through the streets. The once-vibrant city had turned into a nightmare of broken buildings, overturned cars, and abandoned lives.

There was nowhere to hide.

Eun Woo's breathing was heavy, his eyes darting around, scanning for threats. "This whole city's coming down," he muttered. "We need to keep moving. Fast."

Jung Hee nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. He had no idea where to go. Every path seemed to lead back into the chaos. The city streets that were once so familiar now felt like a maze, with danger at every turn.

The creatures descended from the void in waves, their black forms gliding through the air before crashing into buildings, tearing apart everything in their path. They were relentless, monstrous, their glowing red eyes scanning the ground for prey.

No one was safe.

"Come on," Jung Hee whispered, pulling Eun Woo along. "We have to head toward the river. If we can cross it, maybe we can find shelter on the other side."

They moved quickly, dodging rubble and trying to stay out of sight. The monsters were fast, but they seemed focused on the larger groups of people fleeing through the streets. Jung Hee and Eun Woo used the cover of debris and collapsed buildings to keep themselves hidden, but the city was rapidly becoming a wasteland.

As they moved through a narrow alley, they heard a low growl—a sound that sent chills down Jung Hee's spine.

He froze, his hand instinctively reaching out to stop Eun Woo. "Wait."

At the other end of the alley, a figure stepped into view. It was one of the creatures—tall and lean, its body black as night, with long, jagged claws that scraped against the ground as it moved. Its glowing eyes locked onto them, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop.

Eun Woo's voice was barely a whisper. "Jung Hee..."

The creature let out a deafening screech and lunged toward them.

"Run!" Jung Hee shouted, grabbing Eun Woo's arm and pulling him back the way they had come.

They sprinted through the alley, the creature's heavy footsteps pounding behind them. Jung Hee's heart raced, his lungs burning with every breath. The street opened up before them, but there was no sign of safety—just more wreckage, more chaos.

"This way!" Eun Woo yelled, pointing to an open storefront.

They darted inside, slamming the door behind them. The building was dark, empty, but it offered some temporary refuge from the horrors outside.

Jung Hee pressed his ear to the door, listening as the creature's footsteps slowed. It growled low, its claws scratching against the door. The noise sent a shiver down Jung Hee's spine, but the creature didn't break through. After what felt like an eternity, the sound of its footsteps faded as it moved on.

They were safe. For now.

Jung Hee let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, his body trembling from the adrenaline still coursing through him. He turned to Eun Woo, who was slumped against the wall, his face pale.

"That was close," Eun Woo said, his voice shaky.

"Too close," Jung Hee replied, wiping sweat from his brow. "But we can't stay here for long. They're everywhere."

Eun Woo nodded, but there was a flicker of fear in his eyes. "There's no way out of this, is there?"

Jung Hee didn't know how to respond. He had no idea how to stop the invasion or where they could go to escape it. The monsters had come from nowhere, and now they were tearing the city apart.

For a brief moment, the weight of it all pressed down on him. What if there was no escape? What if this was the end of everything? But he quickly pushed the thoughts away. They couldn't give up—not yet.

"We'll find a way," Jung Hee said, though his voice wavered slightly. "We just have to keep moving."

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Hope in the Dark

They rested for a few minutes, regaining their strength, before cautiously stepping back into the night. The city was quieter now, but the silence was more terrifying than the chaos. The monsters were still out there, lurking in the shadows.

"We need to find more people," Eun Woo said as they walked. "There has to be others still trying to escape."

Jung Hee nodded. "We can't be the only ones left."

As they made their way through the city's wreckage, they noticed a faint glow in the distance, near what used to be a park. It wasn't fire—it was something else. A group of survivors, perhaps? Jung Hee's heart lifted slightly. If there were more people, maybe they could stand a chance.

"Look," he said, pointing toward the light. "We're not alone."

Eun Woo's face lit up with a mix of hope and disbelief. "Come on, let's check it out."

They moved cautiously toward the light, sticking close to the walls and staying as quiet as possible. The glow grew brighter, and soon they could see figures moving in the distance—people. But as they got closer, something felt off.

Jung Hee's steps slowed. There was something unnatural about the light, something that sent a chill down his spine.

"Wait," he said, grabbing Eun Woo's arm. "Something's wrong."

Before they could turn back, a screech pierced the air, and a shadowy figure leaped from the darkness, landing right in front of them. It wasn't human.

The light had been a trap.

Jung Hee's heart sank as more creatures emerged from the shadows, surrounding them. Their glowing red eyes reflected the eerie light as they closed in.

"No safe haven," Eun Woo whispered, his voice filled with despair.

Jung Hee swallowed hard, his eyes darting around for an escape, but there was none. The monsters were everywhere.

For the first time, he felt the full weight of their situation—there truly was no safe haven. The world was falling apart, and there was nowhere left to hide.

But even in the face of certain doom, Jung Hee refused to give up. He tightened his grip on Eun Woo's arm, his heart pounding.

"We fight," he said quietly. "No matter what, we fight."

Eun Woo nodded, his jaw set in grim determination. "Together."

The creatures lunged, and the battle for survival began.

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End of Chapter 3