Screams in the Depths

“One day, you might end up living outside the mine. If you learn the language, you could easily fit in where normal people live....”

As she stared into the boiling pot of potatoes, Heesoo felt a lump rise in her throat.

“Minjoo, have you... by any chance....”

“Yes?”

“Have you ever seen... ‘them?’”

“Them? Who?”

“The things outside the mine. Those things.”

Zombies. Maenoks.

They had never discussed the zombies before.

Heesoo usually just listened when Minjoo talked.

But Minjoo had never once brought them up.

Maybe she didn’t know they existed.

“What are you talking about? What’s outside the mine?”

“....”

Before answering, Heesoo looked into Minjoo’s bright, hopeful eyes.

In them, she saw dreams of a better future.

What would Minjoo think if she told her about the zombies?

She probably wouldn’t believe her.

Even if she did, Heesoo couldn’t fully explain them.

No, those things couldn’t be understood through words alone.