ECHOES OF RETURN: THE REUNION IN SHADOWS

The metallic groan of the heavy doors echoed through the underground base as Yon and Eugene pushed them open, their movements quick and deliberate. The dim, flickering blue light bathed the room in an eerie glow, accentuating the tension that seemed to grip the air. Yon’s eyes scanned the corridor outside, her heart thundering in her chest. The sight before her brought both relief and disbelief.

There they were—Charyeong, Jay, and Ji-Hoon. The three of them stood just beyond the threshold, hunched over, panting, their faces streaked with dirt and sweat. Their wide eyes carried the weight of near-death, but they were alive. Yon didn’t wait a second longer; she reached forward, grabbing Charyeong’s arm and pulling her inside. Jay and Ji-Hoon followed in hurried steps, and Yon slammed the door shut with a loud metallic clang.

Eugene, who had been moments away from rushing out to find them, sank to the floor, his back against the wall. His breath escaped in a heavy exhale as he tilted his head upward, glancing at the three figures now safe within the base. Relief washed over him, though it was tinged with exhaustion.

Jay stumbled a few steps forward, wiping sweat from his brow. “Gosh… we would have died out there…” he muttered between ragged breaths, his voice tinged with disbelief. The memory of snarling creatures and close calls still replayed vividly in his mind. His legs threatened to give out, and he leaned against the wall for support.

At the far end of the room, behind the rusted jeep that served as both a vehicle and a makeshift barricade, Minji had retreated. She pressed herself against the cold metal, her fingers trembling as they found their way to her mouth. She chewed anxiously on her nails, her wide eyes darting around the room. “We shouldn’t have let them in… we shouldn’t have let them in… we shouldn’t have let them in…” she mumbled to herself like a mantra, her voice quivering with fear and guilt.

The faint sound of her voice caught Minyoung’s attention. She glanced at Minji briefly, her lips pressing into a thin line, but chose not to address her. Instead, she hurried toward the three survivors.

“I… I’m sorry,” Minji finally said, her voice breaking the uneasy silence. The words were hesitant and soft, barely audible over the hum of the underground base’s generator. She glanced at the group from her corner, shame evident in her posture.

Jay, still catching his breath, waved a hand dismissively. “It’s fine,” he said with a tired grin. He didn’t seem to hold a grudge, and the simplicity of his forgiveness caught Minji off guard. She exhaled shakily, the knot in her chest loosening slightly.

“Sit down,” Minji gestured, her voice a little stronger now. The three didn’t need to be told twice. As if the command gave them permission to finally stop, they collapsed onto the cold, concrete floor, their weapons clattering beside them. Charyeong let out a deep sigh, leaning back against the wall, her head resting against the cool surface.

Minyoung disappeared briefly behind the jeep, reemerging moments later with a bottle of water. She knelt in front of the trio, holding it out. “Here,” she said softly. “You look like you could use this.” Jay took the bottle first, nodding in gratitude before passing it to Ji-Hoon, who then handed it to Charyeong.

From the other side of the room, Sae Joon Hyun, ever the dependable leader, stepped forward. His voice was calm but firm, a steady presence in the chaos. “I hope no one was hurt,” he said, his gaze sweeping over the three. “Are you guys alright?”

Jay nodded, his expression grateful. “Sure. Thanks, Hyeong,” he replied, his tone carrying genuine appreciation. For a moment, it felt like the storm had passed, and they could breathe again.

Sae Joon Hyun nodded in return, his posture relaxing slightly. “Rest for a while,” he said, his voice gentle yet commanding. “We’ll move in the evening.”

The three nodded in unison, too exhausted to argue. They shuffled to a corner of the room, where they curled up together, their bodies huddled close in search of comfort. The flickering blue lights overhead cast long shadows against the walls, the faint hum of the generator filling the silence as the group attempted to settle.

Yon leaned against the door, her arms crossed, watching the room with a quiet intensity. Eugene remained seated on the floor, his gaze lingering on the trio. Relief was etched across his features, but his fists remained clenched, as though he was still holding onto the residual anger and worry.

As the minutes passed, the air in the base grew heavy with an uneasy calm. The survivors each dealt with their thoughts in their own way. Some whispered quietly to themselves, others closed their eyes, hoping for even a brief moment of peace. The flickering lights continued their erratic dance, a silent reminder that their respite was temporary. The world outside still waited for them, as dangerous and unforgiving as ever. But for now, they were alive, and that had to be enough.

[Three hours later]

The room was tense, filled with the faint hum of the generator and the quiet rustling of preparations. Sae Joon Hyun stood at the center, his expression resolute as he addressed the group. His calm but firm voice carried authority, demanding attention without need for volume.

“You will all only travel at night,” he instructed, his eyes scanning the room to meet each person’s gaze. “And for not more than half an hour each day. We’ll have a minimum of one day and a maximum of three to find out all the information we can. Whether we get anything or not, we regroup here as soon as the time is up.”

The group nodded in unison, not a single word of protest rising. His leadership was unquestioned, and the gravity of their situation left no room for unnecessary debate.

Yuri moved with quiet efficiency, gathering supplies for the teams. She laid out the essentials with practiced care: three carefully portioned packs of food for each group, along with four bottles of water, flashlights, escape attire, first-aid kits, and other necessities. She slipped everything into two separate backpacks, zipping them shut with an air of finality before handing them to the teams.

Her gaze lingered for a moment as she adjusted the straps, her hands trembling slightly. It wasn’t fear—it was the weight of responsibility.

“Which team will leave first?” Eugene asked, his voice breaking the silence. There was a nervous edge to his tone, his eyes darting between the others.

Young stepped forward, his expression determined. “Shall we go first? It will take us longer,” he suggested.

Sae Joon Hyun considered his words, nodding firmly in agreement. “Alright. You’ll lead.”

Minyoung’s voice cut through the tension, soft but filled with genuine concern. “Good luck,” she said, her eyes settling on Young. For her, he seemed to need it the most. Young smiled politely in response, a small gesture of reassurance before stepping toward the waiting bus.

The team boarded quietly, each footstep echoing faintly in the vast space. Once inside, they bolted the doors and windows from within, a precaution that had become second nature.

Sae Joon Hyun turned to In-Ha, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Are you sure they can’t hear at night either?”

In-Ha nodded twice, his expression resolute. “Yes. I’m sure.”

The confidence in his words gave Sae Joon Hyun some measure of comfort, though the weight of the risk still pressed heavily on his shoulders.

Minji stepped forward, her fingers closing around the key. She inserted it into the ignition, turning it with a deliberate motion. The bus roared to life, its engine filling the room with a low rumble. For a moment, the sound felt deafening, a stark contrast to the quiet tension that had enveloped them moments ago.

Jaeyeon and Jeha moved quickly, their hands on the heavy metal doors. As the bus began to roll forward, they pushed the doors open just wide enough to allow it through. The vehicle slipped out into the night, the sound of its engine fading into the distance.

Without hesitation, they swung the doors shut again, the metallic clang echoing through the base. Silence returned, save for the faint hum of the generator and the collective breath of those left behind.

Now, all they could do was wait.

***

Meanwhile...

"Let's stop here," Young instructed, his hand firm on Minji’s shoulder.

She nodded, easing her foot onto the brakes. The bus came to a gentle halt, the rumble of the engine fading into the surrounding stillness. Jay reached into one of the supply bags, retrieving a water bottle. He unscrewed the cap cautiously, taking a few small sips before securing the lid tightly once again. The others watched in silence, the tension of the journey still hanging over them.

Charyeong rummaged through another bag, pulling out several neatly folded blankets. Without a word, she handed one to each of them. They accepted them gratefully, wrapping themselves against the cool night air. After sharing a small bar of chocolate between them, they settled into a quiet rhythm, preparing to sleep.

Minji, however, wasn’t as eager to rest. She sat curled up in her blanket, grumbling under her breath. "Ugh. Why am I the first one to patrol?" she muttered, her voice carrying a mix of frustration and fatigue.

From the other side of the bus, Ji Hoon waved at her, a faint grin on his face as he approached with a flashlight in hand. “Hey.”

“What?” Minji snapped, glaring at him.

“Isn’t it boring to patrol alone?” he asked, sitting down beside her.

“You’re next. Go sleep,” she shot back, pulling her blanket tighter around her shoulders.

Ji Hoon smirked. “So much for being helpful…”

“I heard that!”

“It was supposed to be that way,” he quipped, his grin widening.

Minji rolled her eyes. “Ugh… kids these days.”

“Sure,” Ji Hoon replied, his tone dripping with mock agreement.

“Gosh, I want some me time. Get lost,” she said, waving him off.

Instead of leaving, Ji Hoon leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. “How did you and Young meet?”

Minji glanced at him, startled by the sudden question. “What? Why do you care?”

“Need something to talk about,” he shrugged, his expression playful.

“So you’ve decided not to leave. Geez, thanks,” Minji muttered, shaking her head.

“Will you tell me, or how’s this gonna be?” Ji Hoon persisted.

Minji sighed, leaning back against the seat. “Fine. I met him in my early high school years,” she began, her voice softening slightly.

“Sheesh, cliché~” Ji Hoon teased.

“Shut up. Do you want to hear or not?” Minji shot back, her glare silencing him momentarily.

“Alright, alright. Go ahead.”

Minji hesitated for a moment before continuing, her gaze distant as she recalled the memory. “So that’s when we met. I fell in love immediately, but that guy was too nervous to even look at girls. Then, during our medical training, we tended to a patient together. I injected the wrong medication, and Young snapped at me so bad.”

She chuckled softly, shaking her head at the memory. “I still remember his face. Gosh, I was like, ‘Ah, this guy is not timid at all.’ He scolded me for half an hour straight.”

Ji Hoon listened intently, his flashlight resting idle in his hand.

“After that,” Minji continued, “we had all our special medical training sessions together. And, well, the more time you spend with someone, the more you get to know them. I didn’t even realize when he fell for me. Three months later, we proposed to each other while working on a sample dummy. It wasn’t planned or anything—just kind of… happened. We were both shocked but just continued our work. Not a very fancy proposal, huh?”

Ji Hoon chuckled, but his expression softened as she kept speaking.

“Afterward, we officially declared each other as partners,” Minji added, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “I even remember threatening him, saying, ‘If you break up with me, I’ll inject you with a hundred and eight drugs.’” She laughed bitterly, her voice trembling. “Damn… I don’t want to die... seriously...”

Her words faltered, and tears began to well in her eyes. Ji Hoon’s smile faded, replaced by an awkward concern. “Oh, uh… don’t cry…” he said, fumbling for the right words.

“Shut up,” Minji retorted, wiping at her eyes hastily. “This is so embarrassing. Crying in front of a high schooler… pathetic.”

“Whatever you say,” Ji Hoon replied with a small shrug. “But I bet you feel a bit lighter now.”

Minji blinked at him, surprised by his calm response. “I guess so,” she admitted grudgingly.

“Great,” Ji Hoon said, standing and stretching. “Go to sleep, then. It’s my turn now.”

Minji snorted, pulling her blanket tighter around her. “Hmph. Who’ll keep you company, then?”

Ji Hoon grinned down at her. “Wanna patrol with me?”

Minji rolled her eyes but stood up, grabbing the flashlight from his hand. “Uh-huh. You bet I do.”

Together, they stepped into the quiet night, their banter continuing as they kept watch over the bus and their sleeping companions.

***

[Back in the base]

The morning rays filtered gently through the country’s open landscape, casting soft golden light across the room. The air was crisp and cool, carrying the promise of a new day in this god forsaken world. The peaceful quiet was abruptly broken by Jeha, who was still groggy from sleep. He sat up with an irritated grunt. Then, he turned to the jeep’s metal doors and gave them a firm bang, his voice rising as he shouted, “Wake up! Everyone, wake up!” This was probably the most risky way to awaken someone in the world of zombies where sound was a sensitive source but it was the best option as well. If zombies were to come they would fend them off like they had so far and Jeha knew that very well.

One by one, the others slowly roused themselves, each of them yawning and stretching in their own way. Eunhye was the first to stir, her eyes still half-closed as she rubbed them lightly, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. She stretched her arms above her head, her hands reaching towards the ceiling in a lazy arc, then ruffled her hair, a disheveled mess from the night. Her movements were slow, almost deliberate, as she stood up and yawned again, her face still not fully awake. She blinked one eye open, squinting at the dim morning light that crept through the cracks in the room.

Minyoung, already up and alert, glanced around the room and addressed the group. “You guys are up next,” she announced, her voice calm but firm. Eunhye nodded in response, then turned to shake Yuri awake, who had managed to fall into a deep sleep despite the noise.

The process was slow but steady. Within three hours, everyone had managed to change into their necessary outfits and were sitting together in a quiet circle on the floor. The atmosphere felt tense, though no one spoke much. Time seemed to drag on, as though each minute was slower than the last. Some of them gazed aimlessly at the ceiling, lost in their own thoughts, while others fidgeted with their fingers, their minds elsewhere. There was nothing to do but wait.

Eunhye’s gaze flitted from one person to another, but no one seemed to have much to say. The silence of the room pressed in on them, thick and heavy, as they all tried to gather their energy. Hours passed by in this idle state, the minutes stretching into what felt like an eternity.