𝐇𝐀𝐄𝐖𝐎𝐍

🖇️

The fire slowly began to die down, and everyone started getting ready to sleep. Felix, Chan, and Seungmin set up tents while Lee Know and Jeongin made sure our perimeter was secure. Hyunjin and I took one last look around the campsite before sitting down side by side on a blanket under the stars.

I was wrapped in a warm jacket, but I still felt the chill of the night air. Hyunjin must've noticed because he scooted closer, draping one of his arms around my shoulders. "Cold, Shorty?"

I nodded, leaning into his warmth. "A little."

He rested his chin on top of my head, his hand gently rubbing my arm. "Don't worry. You're safe with me."

I smiled softly, my eyes fluttering closed as I relaxed into his side. It was moments like this that reminded me just how much Hyunjin meant to me. He had always been my safe place, the one I could rely on no matter what.

After a few minutes of comfortable silence, he nudged me gently. "Hey, Haewon."

"Yeah?"

He pulled something out from his jacket pocket and held it up in front of me. "Guess who I found hiding in my bag?"

My eyes widened as I recognized the second, and tiny plush duck he had won for me back at the amusement park. "Mini Ducky!"

Hyunjin chuckled, handing it to me. "Yep, seems like Mini Ducky wanted to come along for the adventure too."

I hugged the little plushie close to Adventure Ducky, feeling my heart swell with warmth. "Now they both have a friend."

"Just like us," Hyunjin said softly, his voice filled with affection. "We're always gonna have each other, no matter what."

I looked up at him, my heart fluttering at his words. "Always," I whispered back.

The stars twinkled above us, and for a moment, everything felt peaceful—like, despite the world being in chaos, as long as we had each other, we'd be okay.

As we settled down for the night, I curled up in my sleeping bag, Adventure Ducky and Mini Ducky tucked safely by my side. Seungmin was lying nearby, already half-asleep, while Jeongin snuggled into his own sleeping bag on the other side of the fire.

Just before I closed my eyes, Jeongin's sleepy voice drifted over. "Goodnight, Haewon."

"Goodnight, Innie," I whispered back, smiling to myself.

Hyunjin, lying just a few feet away, gave me a gentle nudge with his foot. "Sweet dreams, Shorty."

I giggled softly. "You too, Daffy."

With that, I closed my eyes, feeling safe and warm, surrounded by the people I cared about most in the world. No matter what came next, I knew we'd face it together.

The journey to Incheon had felt like the longest we'd ever been on. The endless roads, the distant groans of zombies that echoed in the night—it was all a haunting reminder of the danger that constantly lurked in the shadows. But through it all, we had hope. The thought of reaching the safe camp kept us moving, step after step, mile after mile.

We'd been walking for what felt like hours, the exhaustion settling into my bones. Every now and then, Hyunjin would glance back at me, concern etched across his face, but I'd force a smile and nod. I had to be strong, for them, for myself. We were so close now.

When we finally reached the outskirts of the camp, my heart raced with anticipation. In the distance, I could see the fence that surrounded it, tall and sturdy, just like Chan had described. But as we drew closer, something felt... off.

"Do you hear that?" Seungmin asked, his voice tight with unease.

I strained my ears, but all I could hear was the wind. There was no noise, no movement. It was silent—too silent.

My heart sank.

"Where is everyone?" Jeongin whispered, stepping closer to me as we approached the entrance. The gates were wide open, creaking slightly in the breeze, and I felt a shiver run down my spine.

Hyunjin stopped in his tracks, his body tense. "Something's wrong."

We pushed forward, our steps growing more cautious. As we passed through the gates, my stomach churned. There were no people, no guards. Just... emptiness. I could feel the fear creeping into my chest, but I tried to push it down. Maybe they were all inside, maybe they were—

And then I saw it.

Bodies.

Lifeless, scattered across the campgrounds like discarded toys. My breath hitched as I froze in place, my eyes widening in horror.

"No..." I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Jeongin grabbed my arm, pulling me back, but I couldn't tear my gaze away from the sight. These were supposed to be the survivors, the people who had made it. The camp we'd been looking for, the hope we'd been holding onto for so long—it was gone.

I couldn't breathe.

"They didn't make it..." Seungmin muttered, his voice hollow as he knelt down beside one of the bodies. "It looks like they were attacked. Recently."

Hyunjin stepped in front of me, blocking the view, but the image was already burned into my mind. "We need to leave. Now."

"But—" I started, my voice cracking. My legs felt weak beneath me.

"No, Hae," Hyunjin's voice was firm, but gentle. "It's not safe here."

I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes, the overwhelming sense of dread and despair crashing over me like a tidal wave. We'd come all this way, survived so much, and for what? There was nothing left.

"We have to go back," Chan said from behind us, his voice tight with urgency. "There's nothing we can do here."

I wanted to move, to run, but my feet were rooted to the spot. It felt like my heart was being ripped apart, the weight of everything finally catching up to me. All the fear, the loss, the uncertainty—it was too much.

Before I knew it, I was sinking to the ground, my knees hitting the dirt. Tears blurred my vision, and I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to hold everything together. But it was too much. I couldn't do it anymore.

"Hae..." Seungmin knelt beside me, his hand resting on my shoulder. "It's okay. You're okay."

"I... I can't... I thought... this was supposed to be the place," I whispered through my tears, my voice shaking.

Jeongin crouched down on my other side, his face full of worry. "We'll find another way. This isn't the end."

I shook my head, my whole body trembling. "But what if there isn't another way? What if this is it?"

Hyunjin was suddenly in front of me, his hands cupping my face as he knelt down to meet my gaze. His eyes were filled with a fierce determination, but there was a softness there too, something reassuring.

"Hey, look at me," he said gently, his thumbs brushing away my tears. "This isn't the end, okay? We're going to keep moving, and we're going to survive. Together."

I stared into his eyes, trying to steady my breathing. He always had this way of making me feel safe, like no matter what happened, he'd be there. Slowly, I nodded, even though my heart was still heavy with fear.

"We're not alone," Jeongin added quietly, squeezing my hand. "You've got all of us."

I wiped at my eyes, nodding again, but I still couldn't shake the feeling of despair that clung to me. The reality of the situation was sinking in, and it hurt more than I could ever put into words.

Seungmin gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "We'll figure this out, Hae. We always do."

I sniffled, trying to find my voice. "But what if—"

"We'll be okay," Hyunjin said firmly, cutting me off. "I promise."

He stood up and helped me to my feet, his hand never leaving mine as we started to walk back toward the gate. Jeongin stayed close on my other side, and I could feel Seungmin's steady presence just behind us.

As we passed by the camp's broken remnants, I felt my chest tighten again, but Hyunjin gave my hand a gentle squeeze, keeping me grounded.

When we made it back to the edge of the forest, Hyunjin stopped and rummaged through his backpack. I blinked through my tears, watching as he pulled out something soft and familiar. It was another plushie—this one a small, round duck with a little scarf around its neck.

"Daffy," he said with a soft smile, holding the plush out to me. "A new friend for Adventure Ducky. I thought you might need a little extra company."

I stared at the plushie, my heart swelling despite everything. Slowly, I reached out and took it, hugging it close to my chest. The simple gesture warmed me, a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there were still bright spots.

"Thank you," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion.

Hyunjin smiled and ruffled my hair gently. "Anytime, Shorty."

Jeongin grinned, leaning in to give Daffy a gentle poke. "Looks like Adventure Ducky has a new sidekick."

Seungmin chuckled from behind me. "We'll have a whole squad of plushie companions soon enough."

For the first time that day, I let out a soft laugh, the tension in my chest easing just a little. I wasn't sure what was going to happen next, but with my friends beside me—and now with Daffy in my arms—I knew we'd face it together.

The next day, we started making our way back. The journey was quiet at first, everyone lost in their own thoughts. But despite the heaviness that lingered in the air, the presence of my friends kept me grounded. Jeongin walked close beside me, his shoulder brushing mine every so often, while Seungmin would crack a joke here and there to lighten the mood. And Hyunjin... he was always close, his hand never straying too far from mine.

We stopped for a break in a clearing, the trees providing a canopy of shade. I sat down on a rock, hugging Daffy to my chest, and stared up at the sky. It was so peaceful up there, so different from the chaos that had taken over the world below.

Seungmin flopped down beside me, his long legs stretched out in front of him. "You okay?"

I nodded, though the sadness still clung to me. "Yeah, just... thinking."

He tilted his head, studying me for a moment. "You've been through a lot, Hae. More than most people could handle."

"I don't feel that strong," I admitted, my voice small.

Seungmin gave me a look, one that was both serious and soft. "You don't have to feel strong. You just have to keep going. And you've done that. We all have."

I glanced over at him, grateful for his steady presence. "Thanks, Minmin."

He smiled, nudging me with his shoulder. "Anytime."

Jeongin, who had been quietly listening nearby, chimed in with a grin. "Plus, you've got us to annoy you. No way you're getting rid of us now."

I laughed softly, and even though the sadness hadn't fully left me, I felt a little lighter. Maybe we hadn't found the safety we were hoping for, but we still had each other. And for now, that was enough.

As we packed up to continue on, Hyunjin came over and draped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me into a side hug. "You doing okay, Shorty?"

I nodded, leaning into him. "Yeah, I'm okay."

He smiled, his eyes soft as he looked down at me. "Good. Because we've got a long road ahead, and I need you to stick with me, alright?"

I grinned up at him, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. "Always."

With that, we set off again, the plushies tucked safely in my bag, and my friends by my side. We didn't know what was waiting for us, but whatever it was, I knew we'd face it together.

The sky turned a soft shade of pink as the sun began its slow descent. We'd been walking for hours, and though my body was tired, the company of my friends made it bearable. Hyunjin walked close beside me, as he always did, keeping a protective eye on me. But today, it wasn't just him.

Lee Know had been unusually quiet since we left the camp. I hadn't spoken to him much, but I could feel his gaze drift toward me more than once. There was something in his eyes—concern, maybe even guilt—that I didn't understand.

We stopped for a short break, and as the others scattered around to rest or check supplies, Lee Know came and sat beside me on a large fallen log.

"Hey," he said softly, his usual teasing tone replaced with something much gentler. "How are you holding up?"

I shrugged, hugging Daffy closer to my chest. "I don't know. I guess... I'm still processing it all."

He nodded, his expression thoughtful. "It was a tough thing to see. But we'll get through it. You've been through worse."

I glanced up at him, surprised by his words. "Have I?"

Lee Know smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "You've been stronger than you think, Hae. You don't give yourself enough credit." He paused for a moment, then added with a faint smirk, "Plus, if anything happens, you've still got me. I'm not letting you out of my sight."

I giggled softly, nudging him with my shoulder. "I know. You're always watching over us, aren't you, Mr. Serious?"

He chuckled, but his gaze softened as he looked at me. "Someone has to make sure you don't wander off into danger. And I kind of promised Hyunjin I'd keep an extra eye on you."

"Did he really say that?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"He didn't have to. We both know how much he cares about you," Lee Know said with a knowing smile.

I felt my face heat up, and I looked down at Daffy, feeling a bit flustered. "He's just being protective, like all of you."

Lee Know tilted his head, studying me for a moment before his playful smirk returned. "Right. Just protective."

I playfully swatted his arm, trying to hide my smile. "Shut up, Minho."

He laughed softly, the sound easing some of the tension I hadn't realized I was still carrying. He stood up, dusting off his pants, and stretched his arms above his head. "Come on, let's get going before Hyunjin starts worrying you've disappeared."

We rejoined the group, but the lingering warmth from our conversation stayed with me, and for the first time since we left the camp, I felt a bit lighter.

A little while later, as the sky darkened into twilight, we set up a small camp near an old, abandoned cabin. The boys were working together to gather wood for a fire, while Han busied himself with sorting out the remaining food supplies. I wandered over to him, Daffy still tucked under my arm.

"Need help?" I asked, crouching down beside him.

He looked up with a bright smile, always cheerful even in the bleakest moments. "Sure! You can help me figure out how to stretch these supplies for another day. I mean, I'm great at math, but another brain wouldn't hurt."

I laughed, sitting down beside him as we began counting out the cans of food. Han always had a way of making things feel lighter, even when everything around us seemed heavy. His energy was contagious, and I found myself smiling more than I had in hours.

"Remember when we all used to argue over who got the last slice of pizza?" Han grinned, opening a can of beans.

I groaned dramatically. "Don't remind me. I miss pizza."

"Same," he chuckled. "But hey, at least we have beans! And the memories of better food to keep us going."

We continued working in companionable silence for a while, the crackling of the fire the only sound filling the air. Han was unusually quiet though, and I could tell something was on his mind.

"What's up, Hannie?" I asked, nudging him gently. "You've been quiet today."

He looked at me, his usual playfulness dimmed. "I just... I don't like seeing you sad, Hae."

My heart squeezed at his words. Han was always the one to make me laugh, to keep the mood light. Knowing that he was worried about me made me realize just how deeply he cared.

I smiled softly, reaching over to pat his arm. "I'll be okay. It's just... hard, you know? But I'm really glad you're here."

His smile returned, this time a bit softer. "Of course I'm here. Where else would I be? You're like my sister, Hae. And I'll always be around to annoy you."

I laughed, feeling the warmth of his words settle over me. "I don't know what I'd do without you, Hannie."

He grinned, reaching over to give Daffy a little pat on the head. "And you've got this little guy to keep you company now too."

I nodded, hugging the plushie close. "Yeah. I've got all of you."

As the fire crackled brightly and we all gathered around, Hyunjin slid in beside me, his usual warmth radiating in the chill of the night air. He sat so close our shoulders brushed, and he leaned in, resting his chin on my shoulder.

"Tired, Shorty?" he asked, his voice soft in my ear.

"A little," I admitted, resting my head against his. It felt so natural, like we'd always been this close, this in sync.

Jeongin, who was sitting across from us, caught my gaze and smiled. He'd been quiet too, but his soft, comforting presence was always there, just like now.

"Want to take a nap?" Jeongin asked, raising an eyebrow. "I'll keep watch."

"I'm okay," I replied, stifling a yawn. "But maybe later."

Hyunjin chuckled, wrapping an arm around me. "We'll make sure you rest. You're always running around."

"Me?" I laughed, tilting my head to look up at him. "You're the one who's always watching me like a hawk."

"And for good reason," he smirked, his hand gently squeezing my shoulder. "Someone has to make sure you don't wander off."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't hide my smile. "You and Lee Know have been saying that a lot lately."

Hyunjin's grin widened. "Because it's true. You're too precious to lose."

I leaned into him, feeling safe and cared for in a way that only he could make me feel. As the night wore on, surrounded by my friends—by Jeongin's quiet support, Han's playful energy, and Hyunjin's steadfast presence—I realized that no matter how hard things got, I was never really alone.

And as we sat there under the stars, I couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope. No matter what was waiting for us, as long as we had each other, we'd be okay.