Fragile Morning

Dawn broke slowly, the gray light of morning casting long shadows over the construction site. The infected were still outside, wandering along the perimeter, their movements sluggish in the early light. Inside, the others stirred, their exhaustion evident in their hollowed faces.Eunwoo joined me by the fence, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Anything happens?"

I sighed, glancing towards where the girl was. "She's… changing. It's subtle, but the signs are there. Her breathing's different, and her eyes… they don't look right anymore."

Eunwoo frowned, his grip tightening on the makeshift spear he'd fashioned out of rebar. "We should've dealt with this earlier. She's a ticking time bomb."

"I know," I said, running a hand through my hair. "But think about it—if we understand what happens during the turn, maybe we can learn how to stop it. Or at least delay it. Keeping her here... it's a risk, but it's one worth taking."

Eunwoo gave me a long, hard look. "You're playing a dangerous game, Eunsu. If she turns and attacks someone—"

"I'll handle it," I interrupted firmly. "If it comes to that, I'll end it myself."

The words tasted bitter, but I meant them. Keeping her here wasn't just about studying her transformation—it was a harsh reminder of what we were against.

As we spoke, Hana emerged from the tent, her bow slung over her shoulder. Her sharp gaze fell on us immediately.

"She's deteriorating," Hana said bluntly, skipping any pleasantries. "We need to make a decision. Either we put her down now or keep her restrained and far from everyone else."

"I already told you," I replied, meeting her gaze. "I want to see how far the infection goes before she fully turns. If we learn something—anything—it can help us how to deal with them."

Hana crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed. "If she gets loose and takes one of us down with her?"

"I'll take responsibility," I said, my voice steady. "I won't let her hurt anyone."

For a moment, Hana just stared at me, her expression unreadable. Then she sighed, shaking her head.

"You better mean that Eunsu," she said. "Because if she turns and you hesitate for even a second, I won't."

"Okay, guys, we're getting so serious. Let's chill for a second," Eunwoo said, standing up and stretching with a yawn. "It's almost morning, so how about we scout the area and look for supplies? And yes, the construction site is good for now, but maybe we can find a more secure place. It's always better to have a plan B... and C."

He tried to lighten the mood, giving us a lopsided grin, but the tension in the air didn't lift entirely. Still, his suggestion made sense. If we stayed cooped up too long, we'd only invite trouble.

Hana raised an eyebrow but didn't argue. "Fine. Scouting is not a bad idea, but we need to be smart about it. We don't all go. We leave some people here to keep an eye on things, especially her." She gestured vaguely toward the tent where the infected girl was still restrained.

"How about you two go scout, and we'll stay here," Eunwoo said, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.

I raised an eyebrow at him. "Are you serious? You're the one who suggested scouting in the first place."

Eunwoo grinned sheepishly. "Yeah, but I think it makes more sense this way. You and Hana are better at moving quietly, and honestly, I'm still half-asleep." He stretched dramatically as if to prove his point. "Besides, someone's gotta keep things in order here. I'll hold the fort."

Hana sighed, clearly unimpressed. "So you just want to stay behind and relax while we do all the work?"

"Relax? No way!" Eunwoo protested, holding his hands up defensively. "I'll be keeping watch here, making sure everyone stays safe, especially..." He hesitated, glancing toward the girl.

I shook my head, smirking slightly. "Fine, Eunwoo. Stay here and be the fearless leader. But don't let your guard down."

Hana and I paused mid-step, turning back to look at Eunwoo. He stood there with a goofy grin, fist-bumping his chest in an exaggerated motion.

"Yeah, I got it. I'm starting to come to my senses. You can rely on me now," he declared confidently, puffing out his chest like he was trying to convince us—or maybe himself.

Hana raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "Wow, such bravery. Should we give you a medal now, or wait until we get back?"

Eunwoo rolled his eyes but chuckled. "Hey, I'm serious! You'll come back, and this place will be in tip-top shape. No zombies, no drama, just good vibes. You'll see."

I couldn't help but laugh quietly at his antics. "Alright, fearless leader. Hold down the fort. We're counting on you."

He grinned and gave us a thumbs-up. "You got it. Stay safe out there."

I placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it firmly. "Eunwoo, listen to me. If something happens here—if things go sideways—you save yourself first. No heroics, no hesitation. You hear me? Save yourself first."

He frowned, clearly not liking the idea. "And what about you? What am I supposed to do if you don't come back?"

"We will. We'll come back—maybe not tonight, but the next day," I said firmly. "I'll make sure to stay alive."

Eunwoo nodded, his expression a mix of determination and concern. "You better. Don't make me regret trusting you to go out there."

I smirked slightly, trying to lighten the mood. "Don't worry. I've got too much to live for, especially with you holding down the fort."

He chuckled dryly, but his eyes betrayed his worry. "Good. Just… don't do anything stupid, alright?"

"I'll be careful," I assured him, glancing back at Hana. She was already checking her gear, her bow slung across her shoulder and her expression unreadable.

I gave him a faint smile, trying to ease the tension. "You won't. Just keep the place secure, and we'll do our part out there. Deal?"

He hesitated for a moment before holding out his fist. "Deal."

I bumped my fist against his, a silent promise exchanged between us. Then I turned to Hana, who was waiting a few steps away. "Let's go," I said, glancing back at Eunwoo one last time.

As Hana and I walked away, I heard him mutter under his breath, "Man, I hope I don't mess this up."

I glanced at Hana, who caught my eye and shook her head, amused. "That guy," she said, her tone half-exasperated, half-admiring.

"Yeah," I replied, smiling faintly. "But he means well."

The morning sun was faint, barely cutting through the gray haze in the air. Hana and I had slipped out of the construction site early, the quietness of the streets amplifying every crunch of debris under our feet.

"We have to be quick, but quietly," Hana said, her voice low but steady. "The infected might still be lingering, even in daylight."

I nodded, gripping the makeshift weapon in my hand. "Let's hope there's something left at the convenience store. People must have raided it during the first days of this mess.

We moved cautiously, staying close to the walls and ducking behind abandoned cars when we saw infected shuffling in the distance. The streets, once full of life, now felt like a graveyard. Burnt-out vehicles, shattered glass, and scattered belongings told the story of panic and chaos.

When we reached the convenience store, the door was slightly ajar, creaking as the wind pushed it. Hana raised her bow, signaling for me to stay close.

"Let's check inside," I whispered, peering through the cracked window. The store was dimly lit, shelves mostly bare, but there was no immediate sign of movement.

"We should try to avoid contact with them if possible, but if things get bad, let's be ready to fight them in close combat."

Hana gave me a sharp look, her grip on her bow steady but hesitant. "Close combat is risky. We don't know how many could be back there."

"I know," I said, keeping my voice low. "But your arrows are limited. If we can avoid using them, we should. We'll only fight if there's no other choice."

She exhaled slowly, lowering her bow slightly. "Alright, but we move together. No hero moves, got it?"

"Got it." I nodded, gripping my weapon tightly as we crept closer to the back room.

We moved carefully, scanning the aisles. There were some canned goods, a few bottles of water, and a dusty first-aid kit shoved behind the counter.

"Jackpot," I muttered, reaching for the kit.

Hana smirked. "Don't celebrate just yet. Keep your eyes open."

As we started gathering supplies, a faint noise from the back of the store made us freeze. It was a low, guttural sound, almost like breathing but heavier. Hana's grip on her bow tightened, and I raised my weapon.

"Stay behind me," I said firmly.

"Stay quiet," she whispered, her eyes locked on the back room.

We weren't alone.