THREADS OF TIME UNRAVELED

Yon gripped Minwoo by the shoulder and, with a fierce shove, sent him sprawling onto the rough mat inside the jeep. Minwoo landed hard on his front, his breath knocked out of him. Ji-Hoon, his face taut with determination, quickly reached for the lock and swung the door open. He stepped back, making room for the inevitable chaos.

Yon, seething with anger, aimed a vicious kick at Minwoo, intent on ejecting him from the vehicle. But in the frantic heat of the moment, Minwoo acted with desperate swiftness. His hand shot out, grabbing Yohan by the leg-Yohan, who was standing too close to the unfolding drama. The sudden, violent pull yanked Yohan off balance.

With a sickening thud, Yohan tumbled out of the moving jeep and hit the asphalt of the empty road. His head struck the ground with a bone-crushing impact. Blood erupted from the wound, pooling around his lifeless form, his skull visibly shattered. The gruesome sight was enough to freeze the blood of anyone witnessing it.

Minwoo, driven by a madness that defied explanation, pounced on Yohan's inert body. His teeth tore into Yohan's flesh, ripping and chewing with a ferocity that spoke of something far beyond human rage.

"It... it happened again... my dream came true...?" A voice broke through the carnage, trembling and filled with horror. Her eyes, wide with shock, reflected the ghastly scene of Yohan's brutal end. She could scarcely believe what she was seeing-the nightmare that had haunted her sleep was now a horrifying reality before her very eyes.

Beep.. Beep.. Beep... Beep.. beep ..

Eunhye's hands were steady as she gently soothed In-Ha, whose nerves were frayed from the unfolding chaos. Jaeyeon, decisive and quick-thinking, took charge, sliding into the driver's seat and igniting the engine. The urgency was palpable as the question hung in the air, "Where are we going?"

"A hospital. Any hospital," Jaeyeon responded tersely, his foot pressing down on the accelerator, propelling the vehicle forward with determined speed.

_

Yon's fury erupted as he seized Minwoo by the shoulder, forcefully thrusting him onto the unforgiving jeep mat. Minwoo crashed down onto his front, the impact jarring his senses. Ji-Hoon, anticipating the turmoil, swiftly unlatched the door and stepped back, bracing for the impending clash.

Yon's aggression knew no bounds as he aimed a vicious kick at Minwoo, intending to eject him from the moving vehicle. But in the frantic struggle, Minwoo's movements were desperate and unpredictable. With a sudden twist, he latched onto Yohan's leg, inadvertently dragging him into the maelstrom. Yohan, caught off guard, was flung out of the jeep, his body colliding violently with the empty road.

The sickening sound of Yohan's head striking the ground echoed through the air. Blood spilled forth from the grievous wound, staining the asphalt crimson. As if possessed, Minwoo descended upon Yohan's prone form, his teeth sinking into flesh with savage intent, a macabre scene unfolding in the wake of their turmoil.

_

Hailey found herself in a disorienting state. Doubt clouded her mind as she grappled with a recurring dream that seemed to bleed into reality. "What... what is happening..." she murmured to herself, her surroundings a blur. "This is the sixth time I'm having this dream... or am I just reliving the same nightmare?"

Her head spun with unanswered questions, hands clutching her temples as if to steady her swirling thoughts. Her gaze fell upon the jeep mat, a seemingly innocuous detail that now felt laden with significance.

"Hailey Noona... You seem distant. What's wrong?" Yohan's voice, laced with concern, interrupted her reverie.

"Oh, uh, it's nothing... just lost in thought," she deflected, attempting to brush off the unnerving sense of déjà vu.

"What?"

Hailey's attempt at nonchalance faltered as she blurted out, "The Yohan in my dream... he's... he's so vivid..."

"W-what are you saying?"

Charyeong, ever the provocateur, chimed in with a teasing nudge, "Looks like she's got a crush on you, dude."

The sudden revelation struck like a thunderbolt, leaving Hailey reeling in shock rather than the anticipated embarrassment. "But if this isn't a dream, then what is it?" she pondered aloud, her thoughts careening towards improbable possibilities. "Time travel? It's absurd..."

Through the window of the speeding vehicle, the looming presence of the hospital loomed into view. Hailey's gaze fixed upon it, her vision momentarily blurred by the surreal scenes unfolding within its walls. Sae Joon Hyun and his companions, gripped by the sight of the undead within, were met with a determined effort from nurses and doctors, battling against the odds to save lives.

"Okay, Minwoo-ssi... you're out," her voice broke through the tumult, muttering to herself as she drew her attention back to the grim reality that now enveloped them all.

In the hushed confines of the hospital room, In-Ha's labor had been a whirlwind of pain and anticipation, culminating in the miraculous birth of the child. The newborn nestled against In-Ha's chest, a fragile symbol of new life amidst the chaos that surrounded them. Exhausted yet elated, they exchanged tender glances, the weight of keeping the baby safe settling in as they marveled at the tiny, precious being she had brought into the world.

Soon after, they were ushered into hospital gowns, the sterile fabric a stark contrast to the emotional intensity of the delivery room. It was a baptism of sorts, their first encounter with cleanliness and routine after the tumultuous events that had led them here. The bath was a moment of reprieve, a chance to wash away the remnants of sweat and anxiety, and to savor the quiet joy of bonding with their newborn.

As they prepared to leave, stepping tentatively into the hospital corridor, a figure emerged from the milling crowd. Hailey's heart skipped a beat as she recognized Minwoo immediately. His presence cast a shadow over the fragile peace they had managed to grasp.

"Can I join you guys, please?" Minwoo's plea hung in the air, tinged with desperation. Hailey's response was swift, her head shaking involuntarily like a puppet manipulated by unseen strings. "No, you can't," she stated firmly, her resolve palpable.

Minwoo's tears flowed freely, a silent testament to the depths of his longing. Sae Joon Hyun, moved by the raw emotion on display, attempted to intervene. "Stop crying... you can come—"

"No!" Hailey's voice cut through the air, a sharp refusal that brooked no argument.

"Why? He just wants to see his grandmother," Sae Joon Hyun pressed, his voice tinged with sympathy.

"No. He just can't," Hailey reiterated, her words laced with a finality that left no room for negotiation.

The rejection sparked a visceral reaction in Minwoo. Emotions flared unchecked, his eyes blazing with hurt and frustration. In a sudden, desperate move, he lunged towards Hailey, his demeanor shifting from sorrow to something darker. Yohan, ever vigilant, pulled Hailey protectively towards him, instinctively shielding her from Minwoo's advancing form.

In the chaos that ensued, Minwoo's grasp on reality seemed to slip. His anger manifested in a primal snarl, his features contorting with a feral intensity. Yohan, caught off guard by the sudden assault, stumbled backwards. His head collided with the unforgiving tiles of the hospital floor, a sickening crack echoing in the corridor.

As Yohan cried out in pain, Minwoo's actions took a grotesque turn. He seized Yohan's leg, sinking his teeth into flesh with savage abandon. Yohan's screams of agony mingled with the chilling silence of the hospital, a stark reminder of the horrors that lurked just beneath the surface.

Hailey, her heart racing with fear and disbelief, watched in horror as Yohan was dragged into the shadows, consumed by the monstrous frenzy that had overtaken Minwoo. The scene unfolded like a nightmare, shattering the fragile semblance of safety they had clung to moments before.

Beep... Beep... Beep...

Hailey's mind raced with a disquieting sense of déjà vu as she muttered to herself, grappling with the unsettling realization of being thrust back in time to a pivotal moment. The memory of Minwoo's violent outburst and Yohan's subsequent horrific fate haunted her thoughts relentlessly.

"What... did I do wrong last time...?" she murmured aloud, her voice a whisper against the backdrop of imminent danger. "I'm back to the time when we were heading for the hospital. Minwoo got to Yohan all this time. Maybe because he's a poor athlete?"

Yohan, catching wind of Hailey's troubled muttering, approached her with concern etched into his features. "What's wrong? Talking to yourself like that," he asked gently, his brow furrowed with worry.

Hailey hesitated briefly before formulating her request. "Ah, Yohan. I have a request," she began, her voice tinged with urgency.

"Go ahead," Yohan replied, his tone encouraging despite the uncertainty that lingered in the air.

"Can you wait here in front of the jeep?" Hailey's words spilled out in a rush, driven by a desperate need to alter the course of events unfolding before them.

"Hm?" Yohan's confusion was evident, but he nodded slowly. "When we reach... please wait in front of the jeep," Hailey reiterated, her gaze pleading.

"Uhm... okay, I guess..." Yohan acquiesced, though uncertainty flickered in his eyes. He sensed the gravity of Hailey's request, the weight of unspoken fears bearing down on them all.

As the group embarked on their journey through the hospital corridors, the atmosphere remained fraught with tension. They were accompanied by nurses and doctors, the very guardians of life now thrust into a battle against the encroaching darkness that had descended upon their sanctuary.

Yohan stood sentinel-like in front of the jeep, his posture tense with apprehension. Time seemed to stretch agonizingly as the lift carried the others to the first floor, leaving him isolated in a precarious silence.

Then, with chilling swiftness, the tranquility shattered. A zombie, driven by insatiable hunger and primal instinct, tore through the feeble netting that had served as a feeble barrier. It lunged at Yohan before he could react, its grotesque form pouncing with horrifying speed.

Yohan's instincts screamed for action, but it was too late. The zombie's ravenous hunger knew no bounds as it seized him, teeth sinking into flesh with a sickening crunch. Yohan's startled cry echoed briefly before being muffled by the creature's savage assault.

Hailey's heart constricted with dread as she watched from afar, her worst fears realized in agonizing detail. The scene unfolded with brutal clarity, each moment etched into her mind with a starkness that defied comprehension.

In the blink of an eye, Yohan was overwhelmed. His valiant effort to heed Hailey's plea ended in tragedy, his body now a tragic tableau of carnage amidst the sterile corridors of the hospital. The sound of tearing flesh and Yohan's anguished cries reverberated through the air, a haunting reminder of the merciless forces that now prowled unchecked.

Beep.. beep.. beep... Beep..

"I failed again..." Hailey's frustration simmered beneath her breath, a bitter acknowledgment of the relentless cycle she found herself trapped in.

"Failed what?" Yohan's voice broke through her reverie, concern etched into his features as he turned to her, seeking an explanation for her troubled demeanor.

"No... nothing," Hailey deflected with a forced smile, unwilling to burden Yohan with the weight of her inexplicable predicament. Inside, her mind raced with the anguish of repeated failures, each loop through time offering glimpses of hope only to cruelly snatch them away.

With a resolve born of desperation, Hailey mapped out her strategy anew. "Every time... if I do something different, when I travel back, the settings are different," she reasoned silently, her thoughts crystallizing around the elusive pattern of cause and effect. "Last time, I initiated a conversation with Yohan. This time, he talked to me first. So, I can tell that the difference is there. I can make changes. I can save him. But what am I doing wrong? Let's try differently this time."

The scene replayed, and Hailey seized the pivotal moment with a newfound determination. "Yohan, wait near the fire exit," she instructed decisively, her voice carrying a hint of urgency that Yohan couldn't ignore. He nodded in silent compliance, trusting in Hailey's unspoken intuition.

Meanwhile, as Hailey had foreseen, Minwoo's transformation under the virus's influence unfolded predictably. His plea denied once more, he succumbed to the darkness that now consumed him, his humanity slipping away in the face of monstrous hunger.

The chase was frenzied, adrenaline-fueled footsteps echoing through the corridors as they raced towards the designated fire exit. Yohan led the charge, his every step a testament to his determination to survive, and to protect those around him.

With a burst of strength, Yohan slammed open the door to the fire exit, ushering the group into the narrow stairwell beyond. The metallic clang of the door reverberated in the confined space, a stark reminder of the peril that pursued them relentlessly.

As they descended the stairs in urgent haste, fear nipping at their heels, disaster struck in an unforeseen moment of chaos. Yohan, his footing compromised by the urgency of their flight, stumbled. His feet tangled in the uneven descent, and with a jarring impact, he tumbled forward, his head colliding sharply with the unyielding metal wall.

The sound of the impact was chilling, echoing through the stairwell with a sickening thud. Hailey's heart clenched in dread as she watched Yohan crumple against the wall, momentarily stunned by the blow. Panic surged, a tide of helplessness threatening to engulf them all as they faced the dual threats of Minwoo's relentless pursuit and Yohan's sudden death.

Beep.. beep.. beep..

"Yohan, wait for us in the lift," Hailey commanded urgently, her voice edged with a desperation that brooked no argument.

Yohan's brow furrowed in confusion, concern etched deeply into his features as he turned to Hailey, seeking clarification. "Hailey Noona, wait. What's going on? Why are you—"

"No," Hailey cut him off sharply, her eyes flashing with a mix of fear and determination. "You are not supposed to ask questions! Just do what I say!"

There was a raw urgency in her voice that gave Yohan pause. He recognized the gravity of the situation reflected in Hailey's tense posture and troubled expression. Without further protest, he nodded reluctantly, trusting in Hailey's judgment despite the nagging uncertainty that gnawed at him.

As predicted, the consequences of Hailey's directive unfolded swiftly. Minwoo, denied the solace of their group and haunted by the virus's insidious influence, succumbed to its dark embrace. The transformation was swift and brutal, his humanity consumed by the ravenous hunger that now drove him.

The chase began with frenetic intensity, Minwoo's distorted form racing after them as they sought refuge in the lift. The sudden rush of bodies into the confined space caused it to lurch, the mechanism straining under the added weight. Yohan, standing alone in the lift, felt the abrupt shift as the metal box rose with alarming speed at one end.

Instinct kicked in as Yohan lunged forward, reaching desperately for the edge of the metal structure. His fingers grazed the cold steel briefly before slipping, the force of the elevator's ascent proving too much to overcome. With a gut-wrenching sense of helplessness, he plummeted towards the ground below.

The impact was brutal, knocking the wind from Yohan's lungs as he crashed onto the unforgiving earth.

Beep.. beep... Beep..

"Yohan, sit. In the lift. Sit in there," Hailey's voice held a mixture of urgency and command as she pushed Yohan gently towards the metal box. He hesitated for a moment, his gaze flickering with apprehension, but ultimately sighed and complied with her directive.

True to the pattern that had unfolded before, Minwoo, now a twisted shell of his former self under the virus's grip, pursued them relentlessly. His footsteps were frenzied, driven by an insatiable hunger that knew no bounds.

The group piled into the lift just in time. The sudden rush of relief was palpable, mingling with the acrid tang of fear that lingered in the air. This time, they descended safely, the lift carrying them downwards with a jolt that left their hearts racing.

Yet, in the rush to escape, Yohan's compliance with Hailey's instruction proved to be a double-edged sword. While the others sprang out of the lift as soon as it landed, Yohan had to lift himself up first from his crouched position. His delay, however brief, proved to be a fatal misstep.

Minwoo, in his frenzied pursuit, had anticipated their every move. From high above, he leapt with an inhuman grace, his descent swift and merciless. Yohan's eyes widened in horror as Minwoo's shadow engulfed him, a primal shriek tearing from his throat as he realized the danger too late.

Minwoo's arms outstretched like a grotesque embrace, his fingers curling with unnatural strength as they closed around Yohan's shoulders. The impact knocked Yohan off balance, sending him crashing to the ground. Before he could react, Minwoo's frenzied assault began, teeth sinking into flesh with savage hunger.

Yohan's screams pierced the air, a haunting cacophony of pain and terror that echoed through the stark corridors of the hospital. Hailey, frozen with horror, watched helplessly as Minwoo's monstrous form tore into Yohan, each bite a macabre testament to the merciless grip of the virus that now consumed him.

The others, torn between the instinct to flee and the compulsion to help their friend, hesitated at the threshold of the jeep. The scene unfolded with agonizing slowness, every second weighted with the crushing weight of regret and helplessness.

For Yohan, trapped in the grip of his assailant, time seemed to stretch infinitely. Each moment of agony blurred into the next, the sensation of teeth tearing into his flesh a grotesque symphony of pain and despair. His thoughts raced, a tumult of fragmented prayers and unfinished regrets as he fought against the inevitable tide of darkness closing in around him.

Above all else, Hailey's heart shattered as she bore witness to the tragic aftermath of her choices. In her quest to rewrite their fate, she had unwittingly steered them towards a new iteration of horror. As Minwoo's insatiable hunger drove him deeper into madness, the surroundings seemed to close in around her, trapping her in a nightmarish cycle from which there seemed to be no easy escape.

Beep.. beep.. beep..

"I am doing something wrong. Or he wouldn't keep dying like this," Hailey muttered to herself, her voice heavy with frustration and despair. She paced back and forth in the dimly lit corridor of her mind, grappling with the maddening puzzle that refused to yield answers.

"What is it? What is it that I am doing wrong?" she wondered aloud but to herself, her thoughts swirling in a whirlwind of confusion. Each time she thought she had found a way to alter their fate, Yohan's death echoed back at her like a cruel taunt. "I tried to save him from Minwoo. But it just isn't working."

Hailey paused, her brow furrowing as a realization dawned on her. "Come to think of it... I traveled back to the time when we were heading for the hospital, not when Minwoo pulled Yohan's leg," she mused, piecing together fragments of the fractured timeline. "But then that would mean that the fault is in this event and not the second one. But what is it? What is faulty?"

The hospital loomed ahead, a beacon of both hope and dread in her tumultuous journey. In-Ha's life and that of her unborn child hung in precarious balance, their fate intertwined with the chaos that now enveloped her.

"We are going to the hospital... should we not?" Hailey questioned aloud, the uncertainty in her voice belying the weight of the decision ahead. "But we won't be able to save In-Ha if we do that. Her or her baby."

Her mind raced through the myriad possibilities, searching desperately for the elusive key that would unlock their salvation. Every path she considered seemed fraught with peril, each decision leading her closer to the brink of disaster. Time, once a fluid canvas for change, now felt like a merciless adversary, taunting her with its unyielding grip on their shared fate.

"I'm missing a key somewhere..." Hailey's admission hung in the air, a stark acknowledgment of her own limitations in the face of overwhelming odds. She clenched her fists, willing herself to find clarity amidst the chaos that threatened to engulf them all.

In the distance, as she looked through the window, the hospital doors beckoned, a gateway to both salvation and potential doom. Behind her, the echoes of Yohan's death reverberated through the corridors of her mind, a haunting reminder of the stakes.