Episode 4: The One in Room 502

[TV News Broadcast]

"...a minor explosion occurred at a research facility in Yangyang County around 11 a.m. One researcher is missing, but no other casualties have been reported according to police and fire authorities..."

**

"AAAAAAHH!"

Jiwon's scream rang out. Every soldier turned toward the pension entrance.

A shadowy figure was biting down on Jiwon's shoulder.

I was too late.

I ran and kicked the door without hesitation. But it was sturdier than I expected.

It rattled violently but didn't budge.

A soldier, mid-barricade setup, ran over with a wooden stick from who-knows-where and started hammering at the door.

Sergeant Yoo joined me and began kicking alongside me.

The door held firm.

We kicked and slammed repeatedly. The stick eventually snapped, and pain shot up my ankle.

Finally, the door cracked with a deafening groan.

As the figure fully emerged, it lunged straight at the soldier with the stick.

He swung instinctively, striking the attacker directly in the face.

For a moment, I feared he had killed him. A soldier killing a civilian?

But then something unbelievable happened.

The man, struck full force, crawled across the floor toward Sergeant Yoo.

He couldn't stand, but he moved—slowly, obsessively, monstrously.

Some soldiers froze in place. Others lashed out in panic.

The soldier with the stick and a few others beat the crawling man without hesitation.

Sergeant Yoo and I were both paralyzed for different reasons.

That moment of horror sparked another wave of chaos.

"Stop!"

Yoo snapped.

I snapped back to awareness.

"Stop!"

"I said stop!"

Finally, the soldiers began to pull back.

"Is he dead?"

I asked.

No one answered.

No one moved.

It had to be me.

I stepped toward the body—if you could still call it that.

Strangely, I wasn't shaking.

What happens when someone dies?

I didn't know.

But this man was dead.

His bloodied face told me that clearly.

"We leave him here. But remember the location. We'll return and bury him."

My voice was quiet, but everyone was listening.

"Anyone know how to stop bleeding?"

A sergeant who had comforted Jiwon earlier raised his hand.

"I do."

"Treat Jiwon. Once you're done, we evacuate him. Understood?"

"Y-yes, sir."

The others responded softly. Sergeant Yoo took over.

"Team 2, with me. Move the body. Team 1, help Captain with Jiwon. Got it?"

Team 1 followed me into the pension.

Jiwon had collapsed in his own vomit. It was no longer disgusting. Everyone felt the same.

The sergeant began treating him.

"What's your name?"

"Sergeant Kim Sehyun."

He worked with practiced focus.

"Where'd you learn this?"

"I'm a nursing major. Assigned as a medic for this squad."

I didn't ask more.

I could guess the connection between Sehyun and Jiwon.

"Keep me updated. Everyone else, hold perimeter."

Meanwhile, Yoo led Team 2 to move the body inside.

Sehyun kept treating Jiwon.

Team 2 checked the upstairs rooms. Footsteps, doorknobs turning, doors rattling.

Then:

"Room 502, sir!"

"Copy. Heading up."

I repeated to myself, "Room 502, 502, 502..."

Yoo came through the radio.

"Deceased secured in Room 502."

I already knew, but replied anyway.

"Copy, Room 502."

"Bleeding stopped."

Sehyun was drenched in sweat, his hands covered in blood.

I grabbed the radio.

"Bravo squad, fall back to the barricade. Regroup."

Everyone heard me. Sehyun tried to lift Jiwon but struggled.

Before I could help, Team 2 returned and assisted him.

With everyone moving out, I felt compelled to see Room 502 myself.

Inside was the man we... killed.

Yoo hadn't covered the body.

I gently laid a blanket over him.

He looked... ordinary.

I stood quietly, bowed my head, and stepped out.

Back with the group, I said nothing.

The soldiers took turns helping Jiwon without being told.

That said more than any order.

Together, we left the alley.

Fear. Chaos. Death.

I had to report it all.

"Captain of Bravo Battery reporting. Unusual incident during recon sweep."

I left out Jiwon's breakdown.

I reported that he was injured while we fortified a position at the pension, and that a civilian attacked one of our men, resulting in the civilian's death.

The battalion commander was clearly displeased, especially at the last part.

"Who did it?"

"I did. He charged at me. I struck back without thinking."

"What the hell is wrong with you—"

Before he exploded,

"I take full responsibility. I failed to maintain control."

"We're returning. Unfit for duty."

I said it plainly.

"You little sh*t, you think this is over?"

"Jiwon needs treatment. We'll stop at the nearest hospital first."

I hung up.

Ending a superior's call is a massive breach of protocol.

...But who cares anymore?

I turned to the others.

All eyes were on me.

"Let's head back. But first, we treat Jiwon. Got it?"

Not a request.

"Where's the nearest major hospital? Look it up."

Yoo silently pulled out his phone.

"Gangneung Doweon Hospital is closest."

"We go there."

Everyone was already loaded up during the call.

Just as we prepared to depart, Yoo came through on the radio.

"Captain! I found news about the current Gangneung situation."

He sent a link.

[Gangneung Unrest Expands]

Another vague headline.

I clicked it.

Just a line:

"Military and police are containing widespread unrest, which has now spread beyond Coffee Street."

No real info.

The claim of containment was a lie.

Then my phone rang.

"Bravo, it's Ops Officer."

"Yes, sir."

"Commander is furious. Apologize when you return."

Sure. That's what matters, huh.

"Can you even make it out? Situation looks bad."

What kind of question was that?

"If you can't, find a fallback point and wait. I'll handle the report."

Don't act like you're doing me a favor.

"I'll assess the situation."

I hung up.

"Let's try to leave. We'll know once we see."

I started driving.

But we didn't get far.

A massive car accident blocked the intersection.

We couldn't move.

Wasn't this area under police control?

Then I saw him.

The officer who had guided us before.

Something was off.

"Grrrrkk... Hraaaa..."

Damn it.

Now even he's infected.

He charged at us, bloodied.

Worse, he wasn't alone.

At least ten others followed.

"Fall back to the barricade! Move!"

I radioed quickly.

Was it received?

Thankfully, the vehicles began reversing fast.

The infected couldn't keep up.

Just a hundred meters away, the world had collapsed.

The unrest had spread beyond Coffee Street.

Now, the whole city was ready to devour us.