A game-changer

Under the cloak of darkness, Joon-ho and I approach the man's house with cautious steps, each movement calculated to avoid detection. The night is eerily silent, the only sound being the occasional whisper of the wind.

We enter the house through the back door, which is surprisingly unlocked. Inside, the air is thick with the stench of decay, a pungent reminder of the grim reality that awaits us. Our flashlights pierce the darkness, revealing a scene that is both heartbreaking and horrifying.

In a dimly lit room, we find the man we have been tracking. He is slumped against the wall, his face contorted in pain. Beside him, secured with ropes, is a young girl – his daughter, as we soon realise. Her eyes are vacant, her movements jerky and unnatural. It is unmistakably clear; she has turned into one of the infected.

The man's gaze meets ours, filled with a mix of despair and resignation. "I tried to save her," he rasps, his voice barely above a whisper. "But she... she bit me." His arm is bandaged, but the dark stain seeping through the fabric is an ominous sign. He is turning, slowly succumbing to the infection.

Joon-ho and I exchange a glance, the weight of the situation settling on us. Here is a man, driven by a father's love, who has clung to the hope of saving his daughter, only to become a victim of the very tragedy he sought to escape.

The infected girl strains against her bonds, her growls a chilling soundtrack to the tragic scene. The man's eyes fill with tears, watching his daughter with a mix of horror and sorrow.

"We can't leave them like this," I murmur to Joon-ho, my voice thick with emotion. 

Joon-ho nods, understanding the unspoken duty that falls upon us. We have come to eliminate a threat, but now we are also here to grant a tortured soul some semblance of peace.

I turn to the man, my voice gentle. "We can end her suffering... and yours. It's the kindest thing we can do now."

The man looks at us, a faint glimmer of gratitude in his eyes. "Please," he whispers, his voice breaking. "Please, take care of her. I can't... I can't do it myself."

With a heavy heart, I aim my silenced pistol at the infected girl, offering a silent apology for the cruel fate that has befallen her. A single shot, and her struggles cease. The room falls silent, save for the quiet sobs of the dying man.

Turning to him, I know that his request extends to himself as well. His eyes meet mine, a silent plea for a merciful end. Another shot rings out softly, and the man slumps over, finally free from the pain and guilt that has consumed him.

Joon-ho and I stand there for a moment, the gravity of what we have done weighing heavily on our souls. In a world ravaged by infection and loss, mercy takes on a different meaning. We have come to eliminate a threat, but in the end, we have also delivered a tragic form of salvation. With heavy hearts, we leave the house, the silent night bearing witness to the burdens we carry.

***

After the somber task is completed, Joon-ho and I begin to search the room, each of us moving with a heavy heart. The silence is palpable, broken only by the soft rustling of our movements. It is important to understand more about the man and any potential implications his actions might have had on our safety.

As we sift through the sparse belongings, it becomes clear that the man had a military background. Among the scattered personal effects, we find an identification tag and a few photographs in uniform, suggesting he had been a soldier before the pandemic turned the world upside down.

But the most significant discovery is tucked away in a corner of the room. Covered by a tattered cloth, we find a K2 assault rifle, a standard issue in the military. Alongside the rifle are several magazines, fully loaded with ammunition. It is evident that the man had taken it when he deserted, perhaps in a desperate attempt to protect himself and his daughter.

Joon-ho picks up the rifle, examining it closely. "This could be useful for us," he says, a note of pragmatism in his voice despite the grim atmosphere.

I nod in agreement. "Definitely. We need every advantage we can get. This rifle and the ammunition could be vital in defending our shelter."

We carefully gather the weapon and ammunition, ensuring we leave nothing else of importance behind. The discovery of the rifle is a small yet significant consolation in the midst of the tragedy we have just witnessed.

With the rifle securely in our possession, we make our way back to our shelter. The night is still and quiet, a stark contrast to the turmoil that churns within us. The events of the evening are a harsh reminder of the brutality of our new world, where survival often requires difficult decisions and where the lines between right and wrong are blurred by necessity.

As we make our way back to the shelter, the K2 rifle securely in our possession, a series of thoughts begin to cascade through my mind. In all my previous attempts to navigate and survive in this unforgiving post-pandemic world, never have I come across a weapon as potent and valuable as this. It is a game-changer, a significant upgrade from the makeshift weapons and limited firearms I had managed to scavenge before.

The heft of the rifle in my hands is not just a physical weight but also a symbolic one. It represents a new level of capability, a means to defend our shelter and ourselves more effectively. In a world where danger lurks around every corner, and the threat of the infected is ever-present, having a reliable firearm could mean the difference between life and death.

I reflect on the countless close calls and desperate situations I have found myself in before. Situations where having a weapon like this could have dramatically altered the outcome. It is a sobering thought, underscoring the brutality of our current existence.

Yet, there is also a sense of empowerment that comes with holding the K2. It provides a semblance of control in a world where so much is uncertain. With this rifle, we can fortify our shelter against threats, both human and infected, with a newfound confidence.

As Joon-ho and I walk in silence, the significance of our discovery lingers in my mind. This time, our chances of survival have markedly improved. But with this power comes responsibility. The rifle is not just a tool for protection but also a reminder of the choices and actions that might be required of us in the days to come. Choices that will undoubtedly shape our fate in this harsh, new world.