ECHOES OF SURVIVAL: THE ROAD TO ANDONG

"Sae Joon Hyun—umph—" Eunhye's words were cut off abruptly as a hand clamped over her mouth. She twisted her head to the side and glimpsed the blurry figure of the person silencing her. It was Yohan. His eyes were wide with urgency, and he shook his head slightly, his gaze pleading with her to remain silent. She nodded in understanding, and he slowly released his grip. Together, they edged toward the window and cautiously peered out.

"We are doomed," Sae Joon Hyun muttered under his breath. The sight outside was grim—a massive net had fallen from the sky, encircling the hospital gates. Attached to the net were large, heavy metal balls, anchoring it tightly to the ground. Inside the enclosure, zombies thrashed about, their hands reaching out desperately toward the boys.

Jay stared at the net, his face pale with shock. "What... what is this...?" he whispered, his voice trembling. The sight of the zombies struggling against their confines was both terrifying and surreal.

Eunhye let out a deep sigh and slumped back onto her seat. In-Ha, who was sitting beside her, caught her eye and snickered, her eyes forming crescents of amusement. "Do you like Sae Joon Hyun?" she teased.

Eunhye responded with a disinterested look, her gaze shifting to the gun lying in the corner of the jeep. She picked it up, loading it methodically while maintaining eye contact with In-Ha. With a small, enigmatic smile, she seemed to convey that In-Ha's assumption was misguided, but she didn't bother to correct her.

In-Ha shrugged and the group cautiously hopped out of the jeep, creeping behind the five men who were their companions. They nodded at each other, acknowledging their mutual understanding as they silently exited the vehicle. A slight creak from the side of the building caught their attention, and moments later, two women in nurse's uniforms and a man in a long white coat appeared before them. The man, presumably a doctor, had a stethoscope draped around his neck.

"Are you all alright?" one of the nurses asked politely. The group nodded in unison.

"Did you guys throw that net?" Jaeyeon inquired, pointing towards the hospital gates.

The newcomers signaled for the group to follow them. They tiptoed behind the three figures, eventually arriving at a door—the back entrance to the building. In front of the door stood an aerial lift, a large metal box attached to two strong, durable cables stretching all the way to the highest floor.

"Get in," the doctor instructed. Ten at a time, the group took turns ascending in the lift. After four trips, all of them were safely on the first floor. The scene that greeted them was both heartening and chaotic—a large crowd of people had taken shelter in the hospital, a testament to the resilience and solidarity of the survivors.

"We are currently taking shelter in this hospital," the doctor began, his voice steady. "We've managed to save each other and make it here."

Eunhye slipped down onto the white tiles, exhaustion evident in her posture. "We have a patient," Yohan spoke up, pointing towards In-Ha. "Please help her."

The doctor nodded without hesitation and hurriedly fetched a stretcher. They wheeled In-Ha into a ward, locking the door behind them. The group waited silently outside, the air thick with anxiety and hope.

"She'll be fine," Yohan assured Hailey, who was wringing her hands nervously. She nodded, though her grip on her dress remained tight.

A woman from the crowd approached them, her appearance bedraggled yet kind. She wore an apron over a knee-length blue frock and was barefoot, her frizzy, dull blonde hair framing her face. "We have many staff uniforms here. You all should change," she suggested gently.

The group looked down at their blood-stained clothes, realizing how ragged and grimy they had become. Eunhye gazed at her own dress, recalling how long she had been wearing it since the chaos began. Just when they had come close to a semblance of normalcy, the nightmare had resurfaced.

"You can change there," the woman said, pointing towards a door marked 'Locker Rooms' with her faint, delicate arm.

They bowed in gratitude and entered the locker rooms. Eunhye's eyes were drawn to the steam escaping from the showers. "How long has it been since I entered a bathroom..." she murmured to herself. The sound of gushing water filled her ears, a soothing reminder of normalcy. They had used emergency measures for hygiene, but a real bath had been a distant luxury.

The group stood there, absorbing the moment of reprieve, knowing that while they were safe for now, the world outside was still filled with uncertainty and danger.

Hailey stood in front of the mirror, her reflection staring back at her. She was now dressed in a pair of blue pants and a matching shirt, a stark contrast to the grimy school uniform she had been wearing for days. With deliberate care, she tied her long black wavy hair into a tight bun, ensuring no strands escaped. Her black eyes shifted from the new clothes she now wore to her own face, as if reacquainting herself with her appearance.

She reached out and turned the faucet, the sound of rushing water filling the small space. Hailey dipped her hands into the stream, feeling the cool liquid cascade over her fingers before she brought them up to her face. She splashed the water onto her skin, the sensation both refreshing and invigorating. Taking a soft white towel, she gently patted her face dry, removing the last traces of dirt and fatigue.

As she looked at herself in the mirror, she saw a different person. Her face was clean, her pink lips full and vibrant, her cheeks holding a slight flush. Her physique was slender, her straight nose giving her features a delicate balance. This was a version of herself she had almost forgotten in the chaos that had engulfed her life.

"This is what I am..." she whispered to her reflection, her voice barely audible in the quiet of the room. There was a sense of reclaiming a part of her identity, of remembering who she was beneath the layers of grime and fear.

Her eyes traveled to the pile of dirty clothes on the floor, a stark reminder of the world outside this brief sanctuary. There lay her school uniform, now a tattered and bloodstained relic of her former life. The once neat and tidy outfit was now a symbol of the innocence and normalcy that had been ripped away from her.

"And this is who they made me..." she continued, her voice tinged with a mix of sorrow and resolve. The uniform represented the person she had become out of necessity—a survivor hardened by the horrors she had faced. It was a stark juxtaposition to the clean, composed image in the mirror, a reminder of the brutal reality that had shaped her recent experiences.

Hailey stood there for a moment longer, taking in both versions of herself. The clean reflection and the dirty pile of clothes were two parts of the same whole, each telling a story of resilience and transformation. She knew that while she could wash away the grime and change her clothes, the experiences that had marked her would remain a part of her forever. As she turned away from the mirror, she felt a renewed sense of determination, ready to face whatever came next with the strength she had found within herself.

The group spent a restless night in the hospital, grateful for the temporary respite yet haunted by the ever-present threat lurking outside. As the first light of dawn crept through the windows, their slumber was abruptly shattered by the piercing sound of a baby's cry. The group sat up, their eyes wide with shock and confusion. The cry seemed so out of place in their bleak world, yet it was undeniably real.

Yohan was the first to react. He jumped out of bed and marched towards the source of the noise, his heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and concern. He found a nurse sitting outside a room, her expression a blend of fatigue and gentle amusement.

"Is it the baby?" he asked breathlessly.

The nurse nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "I would say congratulations, but I guess you already 'heard' the surprise."

"How are they?" Yohan asked, his voice tinged with worry.

"They are fine. Sorry if you found the crying a bit disturbing. We are trying our best to calm her down," the nurse replied.

"I don't mind," Yohan said, his eyes softening with a rare smile. "It's rare to experience this when we are on the brink of destruction."

With the nurse's permission, Yohan unbarred the door to In-Ha's ward and stepped inside. The sight that greeted him was both heartwarming and surreal. In-Ha was sitting up in bed, gently patting the back of a tiny, wriggling infant. The baby's cries were subsiding, replaced by soft giggles.

"How is she?" Yohan asked, his voice barely above a whisper, as if afraid to disturb the fragile peace.

"Cute," In-Ha replied, her eyes never leaving the baby's face. She continued to soothe the infant, her touch tender and reassuring.

"I know," Yohan said, a smile spreading across his face. "I have to keep her safe, right?" In-Ha's voice was steady but filled with determination.

"Of course. Isn't it?" Yohan responded, his eyes meeting hers with a shared understanding.

"How could I not keep this child safe..." In-Ha's voice was soft but resolute as she looked at the giggling baby in her arms.

"Then there is no doubt to it, is there," Yohan affirmed.

"But—" In-Ha started to voice her concerns, but Yohan cut her off gently.

"We are leaving for Andong. Today," he said firmly.

"Huh?" In-Ha's eyes widened in surprise.

"We must get rescued as quickly as we can to keep this child safe," Yohan explained.

In-Ha nodded slowly, absorbing the gravity of his words. "You are right."

"Fight for her, Miss In-Ha," Yohan urged, his voice filled with encouragement.

"Definitely. I will. I have to. I want to," In-Ha replied, her resolve clear in her eyes.

Yohan smiled at the baby, feeling a surge of hope and purpose. Quietly, he walked out of the room, leaving In-Ha to bond with the child. As he rejoined the group, he felt a renewed sense of determination. They had to reach Andong. They had to secure their rescue, not just for themselves, but for the future that the baby represented.

Two hours later, the group gathered in the hospital's main lobby, preparing to leave. The atmosphere was tense yet hopeful, each member mentally steeling themselves for the journey ahead.

"Thank you for your hospitality. We will be leaving now," Eunhye said politely, addressing the hospital staff who had taken them in.

One of the two nurses stepped forward, her brow furrowed with concern. "But I would prefer you'd rather stay," she said, her voice tinged with worry.

Eunhye shook her head firmly. "We have somewhere to be."

The nurse hesitated for a moment before asking, "I see. Just for the sake of being sure—where are you all heading to?"

"Andong," Eunhye replied without hesitation.

A murmur rippled through the crowd of survivors. One of the men, his face lined with exhaustion and hope, raised his head at the mention of Andong. He stood up and walked towards Eunhye, then suddenly dropped to his knees, tears brimming in his eyes.

"M-may I join you guys as well?" he pleaded, his voice choked with emotion. Before Eunhye could respond, Jaeyeon gently lifted the man to his feet, supporting him as he swayed slightly.

Sae Joon Hyun stepped forward, his expression skeptical. "Why?" he asked curtly.

The man took a deep breath, steadying himself. "My name is Minwoo Na," he began, his voice steadying as he spoke. "Andong is where my grandmother lives. I want to make sure she is okay. Can I please come with you guys?"

Sae Joon Hyun frowned, clearly conflicted. "Hm. I don't know. We are a lot of people already," he replied, his tone indicating a reluctance to add another member to their group.

"You can come," Yohan said suddenly, his voice cutting through the tension. He looked at Sae Joon Hyun, whose glare was sharp and unyielding. Yohan felt a moment of hesitation under the intensity of Sae Joon Hyun's gaze but stood his ground. "I mean, I'd go for my grandmother as well, so..."

Eunhye glanced between Sae Joon Hyun and Yohan, sensing the undercurrent of disagreement. She took a deep breath and stepped forward, placing a calming hand on Sae Joon Hyun's arm. "It's okay. He can come with us. If it were one of our loved ones, we would do the same."

Sae Joon Hyun's expression softened slightly, though he still seemed wary. After a moment, he nodded reluctantly. "Alright. But he has to pull his weight and not slow us down."

Minwoo's face lit up with gratitude. "Thank you. I promise I won't be a burden. I'll do whatever it takes to help."

With the matter settled, the group gathered their supplies and prepared to leave. The hospital staff watched them with a mix of hope and apprehension, offering final words of encouragement and advice. The journey ahead was fraught with danger, but they were driven by the shared goal of reaching Andong and finding safety.

As they stepped out into the harsh light of the early morning, the weight of their mission settled over them. Each step was a step toward uncertainty, but also a step toward hope.