Episode 6: Restraint
[TV broadcast plays.]
"...That virus people are talking about on social media—it's contagious. What if it's some kind of chemical attack? That's why the military and police are being deployed..."
**
I had a brief conversation with the women in Room 401.
Apparently, the three had come on a trip to console one of them after a breakup, and they'd drunk quite a bit last night.
When they woke up, the commotion outside caught their attention. They saw the same chaotic scene I was all too familiar with through the window.
They'd been too scared to step outside, hiding together, until I suddenly barged into their room.
They were completely freaked out.
...Yeah, that much was obvious.
Then one of them asked,
"What is this? Is it a zombie outbreak?"
Smart girl.
She cut right to the core of it.
"...It might be. But I'm not sure. I came here to investigate, and now I'm trying to get out."
I told the truth.
No point in giving them false hope.
"So how are you planning to get out?"
Maybe not smart—maybe just enjoys putting people on the spot.
"Still working on that."
"..."
A silent pause filled with skeptical stares.
"In any case, I'll make sure we all get out of here. For now, this is the safest place. Please stay put. If you need anything, let me know."
I left the room.
It had been an exhausting conversation.
Just then—
"Captain!"
It was Corporal Sehyun's urgent voice.
Where is he?
"Where are you?"
"In here!"
Room 403.
I rushed in.
Sehyun stood at a cautious distance from Jiwon.
"Something's wrong with him."
He was right.
Jiwon was sitting on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at me.
...Those eyes had no focus.
The same vacant stare I'd already seen too many times today.
"Jiwon. Snap out of it. You okay?"
I approached him carefully.
He continued staring at me and spoke, barely audible through his cracked voice.
"...Water..."
I glanced at Sehyun, who retrieved a water bottle from the mini-fridge.
I took it, unscrewed the cap, and took a few steps closer.
Just then, a voice called from the hallway—one of the women from Room 401.
"Um... could we get some water, too?"
Jiwon turned his head toward the voice.
...I stepped between him and the door.
Without turning back, I replied,
"Would it be alright if I bring it later?"
At that moment, Jiwon shot to his feet.
...No way. There's no way he could stand like that after his injury.
I didn't take my eyes off him.
"Please stay inside."
I tried again.
I hoped to hear footsteps or a reply from the hallway—but nothing came.
And then, he lunged at me.
"Graaaagh!"
His right arm seemed immobile.
Even so, he threw himself at me with terrifying desperation.
Using only his left hand and his teeth.
It was a simple attack, but in such a confined space—and considering he was my subordinate—it was hard to respond properly.
And then—
"Aaaaah!!"
A scream echoed from the hallway.
Terrible timing.
Jiwon's gaze snapped toward the sound.
"No, dammit!"
I grabbed at him with all my strength, but I had no idea how to restrain him.
He shoved me away with his left arm and rushed out the door.
SLAM—Sehyun slammed it shut.
CLICK—it locked.
Now it was just Sehyun, Jiwon, and me in the room.
We had to subdue him. No matter what.
How?
I need First Sergeant Yoo.
But he's not here.
...Then I'll do it myself.
Jiwon bared his teeth again.
Sehyun was slowly edging toward me.
Then Jiwon rushed at Sehyun.
Sehyun flinched.
WHAM—I kicked Jiwon in the left side.
He crashed to the floor, but that damn persistence again—he started crawling toward me.
Determined to bite me.
...Why bite, of all things?
I shoved the water bottle from earlier into his mouth.
He knocked it away, but I'd lowered my stance, so I managed to shoulder-tackle him.
WHUD—my shoulder felt like it shattered.
But I couldn't stop.
I mounted him, pinning his arm under my knee.
Even then, he tried to bite me.
Instinct told me—getting bitten was not an option.
I headbutted him.
...I didn't want to hurt him.
Just stop the movement.
Still, he kept resisting.
But I had the advantage now. Time to reassess the situation.
And only then did I notice the commotion outside.
"Captain!!"
First Sergeant Yoo's voice.
CLANK CLANK—the doorknob rattled.
The murmur of voices finally reached my ears.
"Opening the door!"
Sehyun said.
I didn't have the strength to answer, just nodded.
The door opened. Our squad rushed in.
Jiwon was still struggling. The soldiers froze.
"Is he... a zombie...?"
CLICK—someone chambered a round.
"Stop! You bastard!"
"Donghoon, don't!"
Yoo and I shouted at the same time.
Yoo shoved the soldier—Donghoon—aside.
BANG—
The gunshot pulled Jiwon's gaze toward Donghoon, but he was too late to react.
Another scream rang out.
"Aaaaah!!"
Then the radio buzzed.
"Captain, people are heading this way. I don't know how many."
And silence followed.
In that silence, I could hear Jiwon grinding his teeth.
Beyond the walls, it sounded like someone was sobbing.
I couldn't reach for the radio.
I needed to recall the perimeter guards.
But I couldn't spare Yoo.
Who knew what Donghoon might do?
"Someone tell the guards to fall back—get them in here!"
One of the men dashed out.
Footsteps echoed. The door closed again.
Still straddling Jiwon, I asked,
"First Sergeant, can you see out the window?"
But Yoo was still wrestling with Donghoon's weapon.
One of the others glanced at Yoo, then silently moved to the window.
They exchanged a look.
Silence.
The soldier at the window took a long moment.
He was clearly scanning every visible angle.
"They're a lot closer than before. But they're stuck behind the barricades. Still... they're almost at the pension."
He whispered it, but everyone heard.
The barricades weren't perfect, but they helped.
Then—
"That piece of shit. We should kill him."
Donghoon said.
"...We still don't know what's going on."
I replied.
"He's infected. A zombie. It spreads! We have to kill him. He's the reason they're here!"
Donghoon was losing it.
I raised my voice too.
"This isn't just about Jiwon! Don't call him a zombie! The guy in Room 502 was just a regular person too. If you get bitten and start growling, should we kill you too?"
"..."
Donghoon said nothing.
He looked conflicted, but the fury on his face hadn't faded.
This is what I thought.
We don't know if this is a zombie thing or something else, but if getting bitten turns us into 'that', and we abandon anyone it happens to—
Then we'll all be paralyzed with fear.
We'll choose to die locked inside rather than risk going out.
And above all... no matter what's happening, they're still people.
Even if they're a danger—killing someone changes you. You don't walk away whole.
"Shit."
Donghoon muttered under his breath.
Then—
"Then what are we supposed to do?"
Another soldier. He sounded cynical.
"We tie him up. Restrain him and take him with us."
Yoo didn't reply—just quietly took a towel and gagged Jiwon.
Then he silently pulled out a zip tie.
I wondered briefly why he followed my orders so readily.
...Not the time for that.
He calmly fastened the tie around Jiwon's left wrist.
"Captain, could you lift your knee for a moment?"
I eased off.
He secured the wrist to a belt loop.
He moved to do the same for the right hand, but I told him Jiwon couldn't move that arm.
Jiwon kept trying to attack, even gagged and restrained.
For now, he wasn't a threat.
We tied him to the bathroom sink pipe.
That part, at least, was done.
Should I explain that he's safe now?
Or that I won't abandon anyone?
I'm under so much stress today.
I've never dealt with anything like this.
"Everyone, stay here. First Sergeant Yoo, take command for now."
I grabbed a water bottle from the fridge.
Then I left Room 403 and walked to Room 401.
Standing outside the door, I hesitated.
What should I even say?
I knocked.
"..."
No reply.
I knocked again.
"Sorry, but I'm coming in."
I tried the door.
...It didn't open.
It was locked—and the key was still in my pocket.
Taking it out might scare them even more.
After a sigh—
"I brought water. Could you open up?"
Just a soft sound of someone crying.
"...I'll leave the water here. Let me know if you need anything."
I placed the bottle down—with the room key beside it.
Then I walked back to Room 403.