Seungmin saw the first open door to the right and charged in, pulling Jeongin behind him. There was only one phrase going through his mind.

Save Jeongin.

It was all he could handle.

Save Jeongin.

He stumbled back as a zombie swung at him from his right and he realized the room hadn't been entirely empty.

Pushing Jeongin behind him, he reached for a swivel chair to his side and held it in front of him, shoving the zombie towards the back of the room where two others were just starting to notice him.

"Close the door! We can trap these ones in the corner with whatever we find around the room but only if they're the only ones we're dealing with!" Seungmin called and Jeongin nodded, racing towards the door.

Seungmin kept pushing the zombie forward until he had reached a table to his right and he quickly yanked it in front of him, blocking the zombie's path just as another charged forward. He swung the chair above his head, cracking it down on the second zombie's skull, rendering it unconscious. It sank to the floor as blood seeped from its wound.

Seungmin grimaced but didn't have time to freak out. The third zombie had seen the failures of the other two and ducked below the table, reaching for Seungmin's ankles.

He let out a yelp as he stumbled backwards out of reach, almost colliding with the person behind him.

Hyunjin held onto his arm, keeping him from losing his balance. Seungmin's face lit up as he saw Hyunjin's slight smile.

"You made it."

"Yeah, now kick his ass," Hyunjin smiled while simultaneously getting out of the way.

Seungmin laughed and grabbed another chair, reeling back and swinging it down onto the zombie's face, just as it poked out from under the table, crushing it.

"Dear God, I'm gonna throw up," Hyunjin groaned as zombie blood sprayed his already stained white pants.

"At least you didn't feel the impact travel up your arms," Seungmin groaned, shaking his arms out.

He glanced around to see Jeongin holding the door and ran over to help him.

"Did you see Chan or Minho? Or either of the girls?" he asked but Jeongin shook his head.

"They're still coming. I know it."

Seungmin wasn't so sure. But he had to hope.

He finally let himself calm down, just a little. They were safe for now. After facing the zombies head on, it was clear to him that he wasn't ready.

They were all people. Even though they looked like monsters, they still wore their concert merch.

One girl was even holding their light stick, the strap tightly wound around her wrist as the device hung limply at her side.

They were people once.

And he just had to pretend they weren't.

He had to see them as monsters.

He hadn't been able to do it.

Not until...

Not until he'd seen the fear in Jeongin's eyes.

Then he knew how he could stomach it.

If it was to protect Jeongin, Seungmin would do anything.

"S-Seungmin, wha-what's happening?"

An icy chill ran through Seungmin's body at Hyunjin's voice. He sounded like he was terrified.

He turned his head and his eyes grew wide.

Hyunjin held up his wrist, showing a series of dark black veins slowly crawling up his arm. Seungmin's eyes didn't want to look any lower. They couldn't. He couldn't check.

"Seungmin, stand back," Jeongin warned, moving to step in front of him. But a loud bang on the door caused him to return, torn between the two positions of defense.

"No! No, there's no need to stand back. I-I'm not gonna hurt you. I would never-I could never h-hurt you, Minnie," Hyunjin stuttered, staring up at Seungmin with watery eyes.

Seungmin couldn't look at him. He finally let his eyes travel to Hyunjin's hand and he stumbled back against the door.

It was a bite mark.

On his thumb.

The black veins led right to it.

He...

He had been infected.

Seungmin looked up at him in horror.

No.

This couldn't be happening. He was just fine a minute ago! How could he change so quickly?! It didn't make sense! Was it one of the zombies in the room??

No, Hyunjin had never gotten close enough.

It had to have happened in the hallway.

When Seungmin had turned his back on him.

When he'd grabbed Jeongin and run.

He'd left Hyunjin to help Minho all by himself.

He was just trying to save their friend.

And now...

"Minnie? Am...am I gonna die?"

Hyunjin's face was coated in tears. His hands were shaking as he forced them out of his line of vision.

"No...no...you can't..."

But Seungmin knew there was nothing left to do.

He couldn't do anything.

Hyunjin was going to turn.

And he would have to hurt him.

"Minnie...I-I never told you. I...I know you already have Jeongin...so I never said anything...but if-if I-if-I'm going to die...I guess...it's now or never," Hyunjin laughed shakily and Seungmin didn't know how to respond.

"I-I like you, Minnie. I a-always have."

Seungmin felt a tear roll down his cheek.

"Hyunjin..."

"Stop! Don't look at me like some pitiful little puppy dog! I know you d-don't feel the same way. You d-don't need to sugar coat it. I just-I needed to tell you. Before I..."

Hyunjin let out a whimper as he dared another glance at his arm and almost fell over backwards.

"I-It's getting bigger!! You need to-y-you need to get out of here! I don't want to-h-hurt you!" Hyunjin sobbed, his chest heaving up and down as he started to hyperventilate.

Seungmin wanted to run to him so badly. To comfort him. To tell him everything would be okay.

But it was all a lie.

He wouldn't be okay.

He was turning.

And fast.

Save Jeongin.

"Seungmin! Stand back!" Jeongin cried from the doorway, but his eyes shone with tears as he looked at Hyunjin's sad form, curled in on himself.

"We can't...help him," Seungmin whispered, tears flowing down his cheeks.

"I don't want to go. I'm not ready. I can't-I can't become one of those! I can't! I CAN'T!"

Seungmin jumped back at Hyunjin's volume and Jeongin threw a hand across his chest. Hyunjin stood, walking towards them, his eyes red with tears. Jeongin tried to look assertive but his tear-streaked face told a different story.

"Don't come any closer!" he sobbed, not even brandishing a weapon he could use to attack.

"I won't...I won't hurt you. I can't...I can't become one of them. Please...just let me out."

Seungmin stared up at him.

"No! Just because you're infected doesn't mean we'll let them tear you to pieces!!"

"If I stay here...I'll end up hurting you. And I can't let that happen. Please. Can't you do one last thing for me?"

Hyunjin looked him right in the eye. Seungmin almost felt terror at the emptiness in his expression.

He had given up entirely.

He had no more strength.

Hyunjin, who was always so full of life. So full of joy. The one who always knew how to lighten the mood with his over-the-top reactions and silly comebacks. Whose smile could end any bad mood.

He was nothing more than a shell.

His friend was already gone.

He held back tears and nodded for Jeongin to open the door.

"Seungmin...are you sure? I don't want you to regret this."

"Let him choose how he wants to go," Seungmin whispered and Hyunjin smiled dully. It had no joy behind it.

Jeongin nodded opening the door just a crack as Hyunjin tore out of the room, and quickly slammed it shut. As soon as the door had closed, the two collapsed to the ground in tears.

Jeongin reached for Seungmin's arms and Seungmin pulled him in, holding onto him as tight as he possibly could.

They didn't have anything they could say.

What could you say?

Having to let go of one of your closest friends. Someone who'd practically been their brother for years.

Everything felt like a nightmare.

It didn't feel real.

Not even a minute after the door had shut, a loud gunshot sounded through the hallway.

So.

That was his plan.