Seonghwa, Seungmin, and Jeongin had successfully rounded up all of the survivors, quickly making their way to the stairwell.

"Come on, come on, we're almost there! Once we're inside, we'll finally be safe," Jeongin smiled, keeping their spirits high.

Saem smiled, holding his hand tightly.

"Is my big sister really okay?? Am I going to see her on the roof??" Saem asked eagerly, and Jeongin had to quiet him just a little as his voice rose a bit too loud.

"Yeah, she is. She's helped us so much. You should be proud. She's pretty awesome," Jeongin smiled.

Saem smiled in glee, puffing his chest out as if presenting his sister's hand-painted t-shirt with pride.

Seungmin watched the interactions, his face softening.

They reached the stairwell and Jeongin led the group in, climbing the stairs as quietly as possible to minimize the risk of being followed. Seonghwa held the door, keeping an eye out for zombies in either direction.

They were finally going to be okay.

They had done it.

Except...

Minho still hadn't come back.

He knew he should've expected it but it still hurt. He felt guilty. He shouldn't have let him go alone.  It was too dangerous.

As the last member of their group entered the stairwell, Seungmin turned, looking at Seonghwa.

"Come on, we should get going."

Seonghwa looked down the hallway.

It was pretty empty.

The number of zombies walking around had decreased significantly. It was possible Minho was still out there.

"What time is it?" Seonghwa asked.

Seungmin checked the clock across the hallway.

"It's eleven. We've got an hour until the jet arrives. Why?"

Seonghwa bit his lip, looking at the empty hallway.

"I'm going after Minho. Keep everyone safe, okay? If I don't see him, I'll be back by 12. Otherwise, assume the worst and leave me behind."

Seungmin started racing down the steps, his eyes wide.

"Seonghwa, no! It's too dangero—"

But Seonghwa closed the door, taking off down the hallway.

He kept his eyes alert, checking into the different doors along the hallway. It was hard to see in the dark twilight so he made sure to stay silent as he made his way along the cool tiled walls.

It was hard to do, being as quiet as it was.

He paused, resting against a janitor's closet.

It was quiet.

Since when had it ever been quiet?

Just then, he heard a voice at the end of the hall.

A voice that was all too familiar.

A voice that felt like home.

"Hwa? Are you there?"

It was Hongjoong.

Seonghwa stumbled forward, racing to the end of the hallway.

"I'm here! I'm coming!" he called as quietly as possible.

"Hwa?? Why can't I see you?"

Seonghwa slowed, turning the corner cautiously.

There he was.

His small frame looking left and right, reaching out.

But it wasn't Hongjoong anymore.

His eyes were deep crimson, black veins coating his neck.

Blood running down his chin.

It wasn't Hongjoong.

It wasn't.

But...

"Hwa? Where did you go?"

Seonghwa's eyes filled with tears.

What was happening?

How could he speak?

How could he sense him?

"Joongie..." he whispered, his throat catching.

Hongjoong turned, finally facing him. Seonghwa stared at him, unable to move. Unable to do anything.

"Hwa? Are you there? Please...help me."

Seonghwa fell to the ground, his eyes swarming with tears.

It had been awful just knowing he was gone. Knowing he would turn. Letting go.

But now...hearing his voice...seeing his pleading expression...how could he....how could he just run the other way?

"Joongie...I'm here. I'm here."

Hongjoong slowly walked towards him. He twitched slightly as he moved but Seonghwa hardly noticed. All he could see were Hongjoong's scuffed shoes. His soft red hair, matted with blood. His hands, reaching for him.

"Seonghwa!? Why are you here!? I told you not to come after me—"

Minho froze as he noticed the zombie.

Noticed Hongjoong.

His expression softened.

"Shit," he whispered.

"Minho? Are you there?"

Minho walked around him, slowly making his way towards Seonghwa's fallen form.

"Minho? Please...help me..."

He shook his head, clearing the words from his mind.

Hongjoong was gone.

That wasn't him.

His eyes were scarlet.

It wasn't him.

"Please...Minho...I know where Chan is."

Minho froze, not turning around.

It was coherent speech.

Either he wasn't fully turned or something strange had happened.

But it couldn't still be Hongjoong in there.

"Minho...what do we do?" Seonghwa whimpered.

"I don't...I don't know," he whispered.

"Minho...Chan needs help. He's badly injured. Please...help us," Hongjoong muttered, stumbling forward towards Minho's back.

A tear fell down his cheek as he reached a hand down to Seonghwa.

"It's not him. It can't be him. We need to go."

Seonghwa just stared at Hongjoong, unable to move. Tears streamed down his cheeks.

"He's not even fighting! He knows it's us. We can't just leave him," he sobbed.

"I don't know what he is, but he's not Hongjoong. We need to get out of here. The real Hongjoong told me to make sure I get you out of here no matter what. So that's what I'm going to do."

Seonghwa finally let his vision shift, looking up at Minho.

"What about Chan?"

Minho looked away.

"I don't want to see him. Not after whatever they've done to him. We need to go. Now."

"Please...Hwa...I love you."

Seonghwa burst into tears, standing and holding onto Minho for support. Even with the gore coating his face, the crimson in his eyes—it was Hongjoong. It was.

But he wasn't really there anymore.

They had to go.

They had to leave him behind.

He nodded as Minho began running, pulling him along down the hallway.

That's when they heard a shift in Hongjoong's presence.

He started growling, starting to chase after them.

As if he'd just been waiting to attack.

As if a switch had been flipped.

As if someone was controlling him, like a puppet. Waiting to trap them.

Seonghwa didn't dare look back, unable to bear it. Neither did Minho.

The two sprinted as zombies who hadn't been there before began to pour out of the rooms along the hallway.

As if on command.

As if they'd been lying in wait.

Someone was in control.

This wasn't random.

"Hey! We need to clear a path! I have a grenade from the closet but I didn't want to use it indoors! If we shoot down enough of them, we should be able to make it!"

Seonghwa nodded, fumbling with his gun and aiming ahead of them.

Though Minho had much greater accuracy, with both of them shooting, they cleared a path right down the center, almost directly to the stairwell.

But there were still a few idling outside.

"Damn it! I'm out! You've gotta take them!" Minho yelled as he tried his best to knock the zombies back with brute force.

Seonghwa suddenly remembered the injury in his leg and felt his heart sink in his chest when he looked down at it.

Minho's pant leg was coated in blood, the wound having ripped open entirely.

He couldn't maintain this for much longer.

He shouldn't have even wasted his energy on Seonghwa. If he'd stayed hidden, the zombies might not have come for him.

Seonghwa took a deep breath, pushing down the self-doubt. He was the only one who could save him now.

He aimed the gun, firing at the zombies ahead of them, hitting two in the head and one in the arm. The third staggered towards them, blocking the way. He felt his hands shake as the zombie closed in on them, mouth open. But with a quick shake of his hands, he twisted the gun, grabbing the barrel and smacking the handle down onto its head, knocking it unconscious.

Seonghwa raced forward, practically clawing at the door handle until he held it firmly. Quickly, he swung it open, pushing Minho inside before he slammed it shut and twisted the bolt.

They fell to the floor, panting. Minho threw his head back against the wall, his chest heaving as he drew in oxygen. Seonghwa lay in a heap, having practically thrown himself against the stairs.

But just as they started to relax, they heard more growling. And screaming. And it wasn't coming from the hallway.

It was coming from above.