CHAPTER 5
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Chapter 5: On the Edge of the Abyss
The streets of Seoul were nothing more than a battlefield now, each block littered with debris, shattered glass, and the bodies of the fallen. The sky remained torn open, a massive, swirling void casting an eerie shadow over the city. Jung Hee and Eun Woo were exhausted, their bodies worn down from the endless running, fighting, and barely surviving.
For hours, they had moved without stopping, the only sound between them the heavy thud of their footsteps and the distant growl of monsters stalking the ruins. The once-familiar city was unrecognizable, its life drained and replaced with an ever-present threat. Every corner they turned held new dangers—creatures lurking in the shadows, watching, waiting for the moment to strike.
But now, after what felt like an eternity, they had finally reached the bridge. It loomed in the distance, spanning the wide river that cut through the heart of Seoul. The sight of it filled Jung Hee with a flicker of hope.
"We're almost there," Eun Woo said, his voice hoarse from exhaustion. "If we can get across, we might have a chance."
Jung Hee nodded, though every part of him ached. His legs felt like they could give out at any moment, his breath coming in shallow, ragged gasps. But the sight of the bridge spurred him on. This was their last hope—their final chance to escape the city and the horrors it had become.
As they approached the bridge, the sounds of the city seemed to fade into the background. The river stretched out before them, dark and still, reflecting the fiery glow of the destruction behind them.
Jung Hee stopped for a moment, his gaze drifting back toward the city. For a second, he allowed himself to remember what Seoul had once been—vibrant, full of life. Now, it was nothing more than a graveyard of shattered dreams and broken lives.
"We'll come back," Eun Woo said quietly, sensing the weight of Jung Hee's thoughts. "We'll fix this."
Jung Hee wanted to believe him, but the world felt too broken, too far gone to repair. Still, he nodded, clinging to that small shred of hope. They had to keep moving forward. There was no other choice.
But before they could reach the bridge, a low growl echoed through the air.
Both of them froze, their bodies tensing as the sound grew closer. It was the same growl they had heard too many times before—the sound of a predator stalking its prey.
Jung Hee gripped the makeshift weapon in his hand, his heart pounding. "They're close."
Eun Woo nodded, his eyes scanning the shadows. "We need to move—now."
They quickened their pace, the growl growing louder with every step. The monsters weren't far behind. The bridge was their only hope now, and if they didn't make it across in time, they would be overrun.
As they neared the entrance to the bridge, the first of the creatures emerged from the shadows. It was massive, its dark form rippling with muscle, its red eyes glowing with hunger. It let out a deafening roar, its claws scraping against the ground as it charged toward them.
"Go!" Eun Woo shouted, grabbing Jung Hee's arm and pulling him toward the bridge.
They ran, their footsteps pounding against the ground as the monster closed in behind them. The bridge stretched out before them, their only salvation, but the creature was fast—too fast.
Jung Hee's heart raced as he glanced over his shoulder. The monster was gaining on them, its massive claws tearing through the concrete with ease.
"We're not gonna make it!" Jung Hee shouted, panic rising in his chest.
Eun Woo's face was grim, but his eyes were filled with determination. "We will."
They reached the base of the bridge, the massive structure towering above them, but the creature was right behind them now, its breath hot on their heels.
In a last-ditch effort, Eun Woo turned and faced the monster, his makeshift weapon raised high.
"Get across!" he shouted over his shoulder. "I'll hold it off!"
Jung Hee hesitated, his heart screaming at him to stay, to fight alongside his friend. But there wasn't time. If they both stayed, they would both die. And if they didn't make it across the bridge, there would be no hope for either of them.
With a heavy heart, Jung Hee turned and sprinted across the bridge, the sound of Eun Woo's battle ringing in his ears. His legs burned, his chest heaved, but he didn't stop. He couldn't.
The other side of the bridge was just within reach, but as he looked back, he saw Eun Woo, still fighting, holding the monster at bay. He couldn't leave him behind. Not like this.
But just as he turned to go back, another growl echoed from the shadows.
More monsters.
Jung Hee's blood ran cold. They were surrounded.
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End of Chapter 5
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