Chapter 99 - The Girl Wants to Be M*rdered

〈 Episode 99 〉 888. The Tale of the Zombie and the Girl (11). --- Was it the wrath of the heavens, something so fierce that a frail human dared not oppose it? Or was it a calamity brought about by humans themselves, forever doomed to repeat the same mistakes? April 4, 2018. On that day, when we were realizing the gentle arrival of spring at the sight of little flower buds slowly appearing on the cherry trees, despite shivering in the unexpected cold snap. Under the slightly warming weather and the sunlit streets, people's faces were imbued with joy and a subtle sense of liberation, while the gestures of merchants opening their shops seemed lighter than ever. And— "─I'll be back from the market, my princess! Is there anything you want? Or something you want to eat! Ah, how about the sweet and spicy chicken you liked last time?" "Hehe~ It's okay, mom! Just make sure you come back safely, alright? I'll be here waiting for you!" "....Your dad and I will do everything we can to come back as quickly as possible!" This was no exception for one family here. It seemed as though no misfortune could tear them apart, as they embraced each other firmly. Looking at their beautiful smiles, one wouldn't easily believe they once faced immense hardship, that their final relationship, supporting each other to the very end, nearly crumbled. Yet, like a masterpiece forged through hundreds and thousands of fiery trials and thunderous blows. As a gem polished and washed over several days to emerge with a brilliant glow. Swoosh— "Off you go~!" "Yeah, yeah! See you—Hee Ah!" With the birth of the long-awaited child, they were able to solve the problems that plagued them like a miracle. To that family, thus refined sharply and sturdily through fierce ordeals, there was nothing left to fear in the world. "Hehe." This is a story of devotion to my pride and precious treasure—my family. The tale of a small craftsman who vowed to use her worthless life to help a struggling, passionate family live beautifully and happily in a harsh world— Boom, boom! [‘Hee, Hee Ah? Can you hear me? Listen carefully to my words?!'］ ".....Mom?" But, there was one thing. If that little craftsman forgot. Thud, thud, thud! [‘Even without mom, you, our smart Hee Ah, can manage...right? Mom and dad… we loved you, we loved you so much─aaaahhh!!'］ "No.... No. Mom...! Mom──!!" That humans are beings who precariously live each day in the great gape of death’s maw. They are fragile beings who, with death's slight whim, must slowly meet their end within those tightly shut jaws, forgotten. Yes. ──Beep,──beep "Ah........" My world, already. My precious family, the garden of my pride, where I vowed to dedicate my life, promising them happiness. In the winds that suddenly blew, years of effort vanished in an instant, leaving not even the smallest seedling behind. Suddenly, as the call on the phone ended with the sound of a disconnect. So utterly fruitless. So terribly void. ──Beep,──beep,──beep. "Please...please....Mom...!" [‘.............'］ "No... No, you can't───!!" Everything was ripped away at the roots. A failure soaked in a brief peace, blind to reality. "......Ah." The consequence for this failure was a brutality far too severe for a momentary mistake. ** ─Step, step. "In an instant, everything disappeared....." I have failed. The contradiction where those who should have died remain, while those who should have lived perished. Unable to accept this warped order, I took steps toward the shadowy kitchen, where darkness lingered due to the absence of light. Step by step. My feet led me to the drawer where the kitchen utensils were stored. I was headed towards the small knife, used for peeling fruit skins. As I walked each step, the sound echoed with a lack of force, imprinting my inadequacies with each step, on the path to my goal. Eventually reaching the kitchen, I stretched out my hand to grasp the handle of the plastic knife that felt cool to the touch. ─Shing. ".........." The bright gleam that my parents, fearing its danger, never let me near. However, that bright gleam fell into my hands, betraying past memories that now seemed like falsehoods, incredibly easily. The fact that now, there was neither my mother to stop me from entering the kitchen, nor my loving father, nor anyone else. ".......Ha." This was the moment when the reality of the empty space settled in. Thud. I unsheathed the knife, gently examining its sharp edge under the kitchen's overhead light. The thought that occurred was, unsurprisingly, that it was not a great knife. Though sharp for now, it was merely a cheap paring knife sold at some neighborhood convenience store, quickly dulling after a few uses, incapable even of severing my own neck. Sure, expecting it to carve through tough muscle and hard bones when it was meant for peeling fruit like apples was absurd, but the disappointment lingered nonetheless. ".........." With proper use, perhaps it could go through about twenty to thirty people. The blade would start losing chunks hitting bones, and the sharp edge would gradually blunt cutting through tough muscles. After that, perhaps it would be wiser to consider using office scissors found somewhere. At the very least, those wouldn’t suddenly shatter into pieces. ─Shh. "..........." Yes. In the event that I am bitten by those creatures and can no longer end my life as a human— ─Then, I'll resort to the scissors. "...Scissors." It might not be the worst ending. What I'm about to do now is an action that anyone who knows "me" until this point would consider insane. It was a preposterous action far beyond what could be excused by my youth. But. ".....That's alright." Truthfully, none of these facts caused me any great concern. Because— "─It's the end anyway." Because, for me, there was no longer a reason to live. Having survived alone in a place where my flowers have withered, there's not a shred of worth in my life to pursue future happiness. A gardener who couldn't even protect her small garden loses her worth. Reasons to die were abundant to the point of overflowing. Reasons to live had long been trampled and obliterated. Now all I had left was to dedicate myself to avenging the grievances of the dead. In terms of cinema, it was like a flame that engulfs everything, drawing a close with a brilliant explosion consuming the protagonist, the villain, the supporting, and main characters—everyone in the film. Clutching my deceased family, shedding tears, and choosing to die—the fate of a remaining family. So. "Since it's truly the end for everyone." I firmly clenched the knife in my right hand, preparing to step outside where the forsaken corpses lurked. ['Damn─! Hwa Min, Yeon Ah! Don't look back and just run!!'］ ".....?" That was until I heard the voices. ─Tap, tap! ['What the heck, these things keep increasing!? Did they gather every one of them from around here!?'］ ['What now, Jung Eun?! The path we took is now completely blocked...!!'］ ['Damn....damn....!!'］ "──Ah?" Just as I was about to step outside, clutching the small knife, I heard a commotion from outside—a pulse of life. Frozen with the knife in hand, I approached the tightly closed front door, opened it as if spellbound to confirm the source of the noise. What I saw, with wide eyes, were three women armed and resisting fiercely in the midst of a sea of zombies. That was my first encounter with them. The beginning of a new story, coming to console me, kneeling and weeping bitterly before the flowerbed where the beloved blooms were all gone, and the rotten seeds quietly buried due to the unexpected catastrophe. Just as a typhoon passes and brings up the good nutrients trapped below, or as new life springs from the charred remains of a forest fire-fed by decaying trees— "My long life so far was, indeed─" ** "─For this very brief moment." Swoosh. I opened my eyes, which had been closed. ** ... ** After a difficult journey perforating through the procession of the dead, we finally emerged to the surface. The zombies that pursued us were tangled at the narrow, steep escalator steps, allowing us to narrowly escape a dangerous situation. However, the world that unfolded before us was not the peaceful, sunlit serene place we had hoped for in our hearts— "What is this." ["─■■■,■■■!!" "■■■,■■■....." "■■,■■....." "...■?■■■,■■!!" "■■,■■,■■■!" "■■■■■■!!" "■■■,■■■■!!" "■■,■?" "■■■■■■■!!" "■■,■■■■■■!!!"］ It was yet another hell. The hell on the other side was not heaven. The inside of the market was like an ever-turning labyrinth. Climbing the stairs, we arrived at the entrance, a vast hall replaced by transparent glass walls. Perhaps because the sun had slightly lowered with time, The space took in the bright sunlight without filter, brighter than expected and unlike the dark basement with not a hint of light, allowing us to see without needing a flashlight. Yet the once-welcoming bright sunlight was now akin to a poisoned chalice. The shelves, once filled with goods, had collapsed, resting precariously upon one another. And nestled among them, who knows what objects had been lurking until now. ".......Damn them..." "......Ah, ah..." We had to face the painful reality that the net cast to trap us was broader and more extensive than imagined, leaving no gaps. The horde of zombies surrounding the vast hall. Perhaps even more numerous than the zombies seen downstairs. Facing that unspeakable mass of violence, we felt the strength that surged in us a moment ago deflate like a lie. Why. Why did they seek to rob us of even the smallest hope that came our way? "........." Faced with an irrational adversary too daunting to even dream of confronting, we strangely felt no remorse or anger surface. There was only one feeling. The emptiness of everything having become void was all that remained. ["─■■■,■■■■....."］ The cries of zombies echoed through the vast hall. It felt like the laughter of those creatures mocking us who dared to dream of hope. ".....Oh? Hee Ah?" And at that moment. ─Tremble, tremble. "─Hwa Min, is that Hee Ah over there? Right?" ".....Hee Ah?" Yeon Yi's small murmur snapped me out of my thoughts. Hee Ah. Yes, there was Hee Ah. Hearing the long-sought name of the child I'd been searching for but couldn't find, I found myself raising my head, momentarily forgetting the bleakness of our current situation. Following the trembling gesture of Yeon Yi's finger pointing somewhere, I looked up to see a precarious scene—dangling from the narrow ledge outside the second-floor glass railing was a tiny, white doll teetering for balance. No. ─Whoosh "──Ah, it's the sisters." ""Hee Ah!?"" There was no doubt about it; it was Hee Ah. A child wearing a chick-yellow backpack, with a white string tied around her wrist. Though the flashlight was gone, the string was still there, connecting the railing to Hee Ah’s body as she hung on the outside. Perhaps, out of the need to evade zombies, she performed acrobatic stunts precariously in mid-air, clear and dangerous to see, confirming what we had been desperately searching for: Hee Ah. Could it have been to protect herself just in case? In one hand, Hee Ah held a sharp object that resembled a small shard of glass. Not a single zombie seemed to gather around her at the moment, suggesting she had thankfully avoided detection so far. Thank goodness. Truly, thank goodness. "....I almost had a heart attack, Hee Ah." I let out a sigh of relief. But— ["■■■,■■■.....!" "■■■■■!!"］ "......I'm going crazy." While the fact that Hee Ah was alive granted me a momentary reprieve, my face began to stiffen irrevocably as I contemplated the advancing horde of zombies. Now that we found the child, the biggest problem, the only goal left was to escape this place. However, in a situation where looking around revealed nothing but zombies, even that simple task seemed impossible. Even attempting to help Hee Ah escape, these persistent and malevolent creatures wouldn’t grant us that chance. "They’re coming up! Throw whatever you have!" "All we have are weapons and canned food!" "Throw some cans down the steps! If we save them any longer, it'll be useless!" At the staircase we climbed, the creatures crawled up the steep slope on all fours. Before us, an unprecedented number of zombies relentlessly closed in on just the three of us. Caught between a rock and a hard place, unable to move forward or retreat. Even as such thoughts raced through my mind, the creatures steadily closed the distance. ─Tick, tick. "....Damn." A curse lamenting the situation naturally escaped my lips. Despite my efforts to shield Hee Ah from such language, hoping to always display my best self to her. Living with Jung Eun, it seems I’ve inadvertently picked up some of her habits. Of all things to inherit, it had to be something like this. ".........." Gripping my weapon with resolve, I desperately steadied my wavering heart. Having reached this point, there was no option but to force our way through the horde and out of the market. I didn’t worry about the possibility of being bitten during the process. Because I had already vowed to do so the moment I resolved to bring Hee Ah here. ─Shake, shake. "......Damn, damn....!" Yet, despite my mind's resolve, my body was at its limit. My legs trembled as if they might collapse at any moment, and the weapon in my hand became unbearably heavy. Even Jung Eun, who was reignited with determination upon finding Hee Ah, was visibly struggling from exhaustion. In the end, we were just ordinary high school girls. For two months, having not taken proper nutrition or exercise, we could only manage this far, that was all. Carrying tens of kilograms on our backs, we had swung heavy rods tirelessly, perhaps already meeting our limits much earlier. ... Well. I wasn’t particularly afraid of death. Such feelings had long been left somewhere in the distant past, forgotten. After witnessing friends talking normally moments prior, coughing up blood and reaching out towards me, or familiar faces on the street getting bitten by zombies, we had become desensitized to the process of people dying. Watching them die, ignoring their pleas for help, maybe I believed I might meet the same end. Or perhaps, I hoped for it. Yet. Even for someone stubbornly resolved like me, there was still something to fear. ─Grip...! ".....Nonetheless, I have to try." If we die now, what will happen to Hee Ah, looking at us from up there? If we let go of hope, what will happen to the child who followed us to this market due to our poor judgment? Hee Ah, who rekindled new hope in us, who should have died long ago. I couldn't let that precious child die. So— Having vowed to spend my life ensuring that child survived— "Hee Ah?" ".........." I couldn't accept what I saw before my eyes. Thunk, the weapon fell. The rod I held until now collided with the marble floor, producing a loud noise. The high-pitched sound struck my ears, but even as zombies closed in, I couldn't bring myself to pick up the rod again. I felt Yeon Yi and Jung Eun, standing beside me, question my sudden action by calling my name, but even that failed to pull me back to reality. The only action I took was: ".....Could it be?" I simply stared blankly at where Hee Ah was. Somehow, Hee Ah was raising one hand high above her head. In her unblemished white hand was something familiar, an object I recognized immediately. A small, compact, rectangular white box that fit perfectly in her hand. On the front of the box, a small but clear number was illuminated. ­ 0:18 Gradually. ­ 0:17 Diminishing. ­ 0:16 A foreboding sequence of numbers. "Hee Ah?" No. I know that box. I know that object. Because. There's no way I wouldn't know it. "Why are you holding that, Hee Ah?" "Hwa Min!? What are you talking about? What did Hee Ah do!?" However, despite everything, the reason I couldn't accept the situation in front of me was simple. I couldn't understand why Hee Ah was holding onto that so tightly. Nor could I comprehend why the numbers on the screen were appearing, slowly decreasing, with my foolish mind. ­ 0:10 On those idle afternoons. Hee Ah would lead us to the living room with her hand, and we'd gather and sit around to play board games just like always. Although there were no prizes or benefits, the mix of joy and disappointment with each win and loss allowed us to forget our dire situation for a moment and cherish the happy times. When our anticipated turn arrived, we'd press the protruding button on that box and fall into deep thought. Figuring how to lead our team to victory. Or how to safely pass our turn. ­ 0:07 A time of 2 minutes given to each team. We deliberated. The time was usually too long to roll dice, so the numbers rarely depleted entirely. But occasionally, as decisions prolonged, and the numbers dwindled to none entirely── ─What happens again? If used outside, it might even summon all the nearby zombies. Those things have sharp ears, after all. Not that anyone would be leisurely playing a board game outside. Oh. ─Clap. "──No." "....What!? Hey....! Hey! Hwa Min, what are you doing!?" "We have to stop it!! We have to stop Hee Ah───!!! Damn it, Hee Ah!!! Throw it away, throw it nowwwww!!!!" "........." Tick, tick. Though no sound should be heard, my ears were filled with the ticking of a clock’s second hand turning. No. Once all the numbers disappeared, it would explode with a deafening sound—a bomb. That sound, it must be the bomb's fuse burning down. Yes. "............" Hee Ah, holding the timer that signaled the game’s turn, lifted the bomb high in one hand. Then, while clutching the shard of glass in the other hand between her lips, she began bringing one sharp end slowly toward her forearm that held the clock. And it was then I realized the intended use of the glass shard Hee Ah had been holding. Yeon Yi, zombies seem to react to what? They seem most responsive to sound, senior. They probably detect us with smell next. Their vision is like when they were human, or maybe only slightly worse. The shard wasn't for self-defense. It was meant to summon those creatures──── No. Hee Ah, you can't. You're a good child. You have to listen to your sister. Put that down. Put that dangerous thing down. ­ 0:03 "───────────" I lunged forward. I can’t remember precisely what I yelled at that moment. I only recall throwing off the backpack I held precious through all prior zombie onslaughts, running frantically towards where Hee Ah was hanging. ­ 0:01 But despite my best effort, I was too late. ­ 0:00 In the end, I was a fool, unable to accomplish anything. Beep, beep, beep─────, beep, beep, beep───────!! [""""""""─■■■,■■■■?""""""""］ "───Noooooooo!!!!!" A piercing electronic beep echoed through the spacious hall, reflecting off the walls. As one, the zombies that had been charging at us now turned their heads in unison toward a single point. Dozens, perhaps hundreds of eyes locked onto. At the center of those gazes. Hee Ah, with a glass shard thrust into her own arm, was bleeding crimson from her mouth, cut by the glass. "─Heehee." She smiled brightly at us. This was the 59th day since the zombie outbreak. It was the 41st day since we met Hee Ah. A story about the child who was our beacon of hope. A tale about Hee Ah, who was more precious to us than our own lives─── ** * * *