Chapter 8: Sleep

[TV News Broadcast]

(Expert interview)

"...According to the president's statement, both military and police forces have been fully mobilized. I mean, this is practically a war-level emergency, right? But they're blocking roads, grounding news helicopters—is that even legal? The public deserves to know what's going on. This isn't just any issue. This could impact the economy too..."

**

All channels for reporting are gone.

What am I supposed to do now?

Am I really allowed to just act on my own?

I feel completely cut off.

When I ended the call with the battalion commander, I was still thinking I'd figure things out and regroup with the unit. But now… it's different.

Maybe I'd call it loneliness—or fear.

We've got enough food and water for now, and we've still got the vehicle we can escape with. Tomorrow morning, I'll have to ask the folks in Room 401 if they brought a car.

So many things still left to confirm.

My eyes drifted toward Jiwon.

Tied up pitifully in the bathroom.

…Wait. Is he sleeping?

He is. So he can sleep too.

I walked over and turned off the bathroom light.

Since I was already there, I took a moment to study his face.

Just a normal face.

It's only the eyes and behavior that are different.

So then—what is this situation really?

A zombie outbreak? That's what the people in 401 said with confidence. Donghoon too.

Still, it's nothing like the zombies in movies.

If it were, maybe this would be easier.

They're contagious, aggressive, and yet... otherwise human.

Movies never showed it like this.

That's what's throwing me off.

Am I planning to escape from people… or something else?

How far has this spread?

I was trying to fall asleep, lost in thought, when—

Knock knock.

No voice followed.

Who could it be?

I opened the door.

Unexpectedly, it was the three from Room 401.

They hesitated before the woman in black cautiously spoke up.

"Um… is it okay if we talk for a bit?"

"Ah, yes. Of course."

They just stood there, awkwardly.

Should I tell them to come in?

I opened the door wider and said,

"...Would you like to come in?"

Only then did their hesitant feet cross the threshold.

They stepped in cautiously, glancing toward the bathroom.

"What brings you here?"

"Is that person... okay?"

I could see the distrust written all over their faces.

"Well... for now, yes. He's tied up securely."

"Why did you tie him up? He's a zombie, right? You're not planning to bring him with us, are you?"

…So that's what this is about.

"Or is the military conducting some kind of experiment? I mean, isn't it strange for a soldier to be keeping a zombie around?"

Ah. That hadn't even occurred to me.

A soldier with a zombie companion. What a horrible combination of words.

It must look suspicious. Terrifying, even.

I don't even know how to explain this situation to myself.

"I don't know how to convince you, but… he's a person."

The woman in white said,

"No, he's definitely a zombie. I saw it—he attacked you earlier. If that's not a zombie, then what is? That's why you tied him up, right?"

So she was the one who screamed and ran off earlier.

I sighed and answered.

"Yeah, he attacked me. I'm just as confused, but… to me, he's still a person."

They seemed a bit worked up now.

They started asking how I planned to bring him along, and since I needed to check whether they had a car anyway, I asked,

"Do you have a vehicle?"

"..."

They stared at me suspiciously.

"No. So if we don't have a car, you're going to leave us behind? You said you'd save us!"

Their emotions were clearly boiling over.

"Of course I'll save you. I only asked because I need to work out the transport plan. You'll ride with us."

They huddled and whispered among themselves before saying they understood, asked me to make sure they got enough food and water, and firmly stated they would not share a vehicle with "that person" in the bathroom. Then they left.

…Left a bad taste in my mouth.

I wish Jiwon would just say something. Anything.

What exactly are you, really?

A short while later, another knock came at the door.

Lots of visitors tonight.

A voice accompanied it:

"This is Sergeant Yoo."

"Yes, what is it?"

His voice carried a trace of hesitation.

"You mentioned earlier that we'd have a talk tonight, sir…"

Ah, right. I did say that.

And he actually remembered and came?

"Come in."

I opened the door.

He brought in three bottles of water and placed them in the fridge.

"Shall we begin the talk?"

"Well, since you're here… sure."

"I had a few questions, sir."

"Go ahead."

He always seemed to speak and act with certainty.

Which made me wonder—

"Why do you support me so much?"

"…It might sound rude, but you know our own battery commander, right?"

I do. The guy who spends half the day napping in his office.

A disgrace who barely shows up on-site.

"I used to envy Bravo Battery. You were always in the field, got along well with the troops, and swept every gunnery competition. We admired that."

That's kind of embarrassing to hear.

It's thanks to our battery's capable staff.

"And during the winter training at brigade, you stood up to the lieutenant colonels, sir. Told them not to look down on the artillery. That was incredible. Though honestly, I worried you'd be discharged for that."

Also embarrassing.

"The way you speak up when something's wrong and lead from the front—it made me envy your unit, even though it wasn't mine."

Didn't realize someone this competent thought so highly of me.

"You're giving me too much credit. But thank you. It's made a lot of things easier. Not that there's anything easy about this situation…"

Enough about me—

"How are Doyoon and Donghoon?"

He paused, as if choosing his words carefully.

"Donghoon seems okay. He's still uncomfortable about trying to save Jiwon, but…"

'Seems' okay, huh.

"He respects how you're always leading from the front, sir. Even though you keep calling on him, he says you're good at figuring out what needs to be done. He also overheard you talking to the battalion commander."

So he came after talking to Donghoon. As expected—sharp.

Looks like my read on Donghoon was right.

"And what about Doyoon?"

"…I'll have to talk to him."

What did he say?

"What did he say?"

Yoo paused, then seemed to decide to just be honest.

With a heavy sigh, he said:

"To put it plainly, he's the most terrified out of all of us. And maybe because of that… he said he wants to kill Jiwon and you, then escape. He went overboard."

…That's intense.

"Then I'll need you to keep a close eye on me."

I said it with a forced smile.

"I think he's just scared but can't admit it. So he's projecting it onto someone—lashing out. Don't worry too much, sir."

"Don't worry"—easy to say. But when someone unstable is holding a weapon, we can't afford to be careless.

I need to give this some serious thought.

…I'll talk to him tomorrow.

I sent Sergeant Yoo off so we could both get some rest.

Looked like he wasn't heading back to his room, though. Probably going to try persuading Doyoon again.

I hope he gets through to him, but it'll likely be difficult.

The only way to resolve their fear and frustration about me… is to talk to me directly.

That's why I told him to rest.

He must be exhausted too. Truly a remarkable man.

I couldn't fall asleep.

My mind was restless.

Was there any coke or something in the first-floor office?

I remember coffee, but maybe…

I decided to sneak downstairs.

The night was dark, but the streetlights were on.

Electricity and water still working—thank god.

When I got to the office, I was disappointed to find only coffee.

Should've known.

What am I doing, coming all the way down here for coke?

A silly craving.

On a whim, I hid behind the broken door and peered outside.

Since I was down here anyway, I figured I'd check the situation outside.

Fewer infected were wandering beyond the barricade now.

Among them, a bit further out, were some figures that appeared to be asleep.

…Asleep?

Just lying on the road like that—could they be sleeping like Jiwon?

I didn't know.

It'd be best to go check up close.

Would it be too dangerous to go alone?

Couldn't I just sneak out carefully?

If they really sleep—if they need sleep like we do—

this could be a breakthrough for our escape.

My heart began to race.

Just a little further. Just a short distance.

That's all I need.

This kind of thing is harder to do with more people around.

Right now—when I'm alone—is the perfect time.

...And who else could I even ask to do something this risky?

I took off my heavy combat boots to silence my steps.

It was dangerous, but I didn't care.

I kept my body low, moving carefully and quietly.

Staying out of the streetlights.

Only a few meters—just a bit more, and I'd have my answer.

I had to know.

I forgot all about sleeping.

Every breath had to be silent.

Even the sound of my sweat felt too loud.

I moved quieter than a shadow.

Crouched low, fingertips brushing the ground.

Always stepping only in the darkness.

It wasn't easy, but I was close.

I could do this.

Just a little more.

…It had looked so close at first.

But crawling slowly, tensely, it felt like forever.

By the time I reached the nearest figure, I was exhausted.

I controlled my breathing—it felt deafening.

Even the sound of sweat dripping seemed loud.

Carefully, I examined the figure before me.

Dimly lit, definitely a person.

…But hard to distinguish from the infected.

Maybe bitten, maybe not.

No clear signs.

Except—the blood around the mouth.

This person… I don't know if he's really asleep,

but he looks like he is.

If they really sleep—if that's a requirement—

then maybe we can avoid confrontation when escaping.

Then—

The figure I'd been watching began to move.