Chapter 16 : Sacrifice in the Shadows

The trio dashes through the labyrinthine sewers, making sharp turns to evade the infected. After a series of twists and turns, they gradually slow down, reassured by the absence of pursuing footsteps.

"I think we lost him" Ji-hoon says, the tension easing as they catch their breath.

"Yeah, for now. We can't stay here for long, though" Soo-Won replies, caution still lingering in her voice.

"Let's continue after a while" Ji-hoon suggests, acknowledging the need to stay on the move.

Taking a brief moment to rest, they find a temporary respite, aware that the infected could still be lurking nearby. After a minute of recuperation, they decide to press on, the urgency of their situation propelling them forward.

As the trio moves forward, the echoes of urgency gradually dissipate, and their steps become less hurried. The absence of the infected's pursuit brings a sense of relief, allowing them to transition from a sprint to a steady jog. With each step, they feel a growing assurance of safety, the once-present tension replaced by a newfound calm.

"We should meet up with the others at the rendezvous point since we lost the infected" Ji-hoon suggests, retrieving his phone from his pack. He turns it on to check their current position and check the way to their destination.

They all huddle together to check his phone and after taking a few minutes to map a way to the meeting point, Ji-hoon turns the phone back off as they continue on their way.

The trio continues their journey, following the directions Ji-hoon had mapped out. The dimly lit sewers, filled with the eerie silence of an abandoned city above, make their trek feel like a surreal experience. With each step, they draw closer to the rendezvous point.

As they walk, Soo-Won breaks the silence. "Do you think the others have reached the meeting point already?"

Ji-hoon ponders for a moment before responding, "It's hard to say, but let's hope they made it safely. We'll find out when we get there."

The atmosphere remains tense, uncertainty lingering in the air as they navigate the dark tunnels, wary of any potential threats that may arise. The reality of their situation weighs heavily on them, but they press forward, driven by the hope of reuniting with the rest of the group.

Meanwhile, with the rest of the group, they are startled by a sound that spreads from behind them. They all quickly turn to face Jae-ho who seemed to have a frustrated look on his face.

"Wow, how did this happen again?" Jae-ho mutters, glancing at the branch he inadvertently stepped on.

"It's you," So Mi asserts, stepping forward.

"Yeah, it's me. Why does this keep happening with you guys? I can't seem to sneak around you," Jae-ho grumbles, wearing a frustrated expression.

"How long have you been following us?" Mr Park inquires with suspicion in his voice.

"Oh, you must be one of those guys that were trapped inside the supermarket the other time. Nice to meet you; I'm Jae-ho." Jae-ho replies

"Yeah, thanks for saving our lives, but you haven't answered my question," Mr Park presses, suspicion evident on his face.

"Just now, long enough to see you guys get lucky against a special infected though. What are you guys doing here again?" Jae-ho responds, curious about their current situation.

"We were looking for you" Min-ji's the one to answer this time.

"Looking for me, for what??" Jae-ho asks

"We wanted to see if we could get any information from you about the situation of things before we moved on" Mr Park takes over the conversation with Jae-ho as he steps in front of the others.

"What kind of Information??" Jae-ho asks as he glances across the faces of everyone of them.

"So Mi said you had been surviving outside since the state of emergency was declared so I'm sure you have some information on the infected or other survivors" Mr Park clarifies

Jae-ho glances at the group, seemingly weighing their intentions. After a moment of silence, he nods and gestures for them to follow him.

"It hasn't been that long since the state of emergency was declared do it Isn't a lot but I have some information. Let's find a safer place to talk," Jae-ho suggests.

The group follows him through the quiet and eerie streets, eventually finding a relatively sheltered spot.

"What about the others??" So Mi asks Mr Park in a whisper as they follow after Jae-ho

"We'll meet them at the rendezvous point anyways so let's get some information first" Mr Park replies her

With the trio, they decide to take a rest after about 30 minutes of walking with no signs that the infected will find them. They find a relatively dry spot close to a vertical drop, the dim light from Ji-hoon's flashlight casting shadows on the damp walls.

They all settle down as they bring out some energy bars from their packs and begin eating them. They find themselves in an eerie silence with only the sound of the water flowing down the vertical drop and their mouths chewing to accompany the silence.

"I'll be right back, need to take care of something," Min-jae announces, getting up and strolling a short distance away. After finishing his business, he returns, his eyes widening as he catches a glimpse of something near Ji-hoon.

Without hesitation, he springs into action, swiftly closing the distance between himself and the approaching threat.

As Ji-hoon and Soo Won look on in surprise, Min-jae runs towards them.

"Watch out, behind you!" Min-jae shouts, alerting them to the danger.

Turning to face behind, they finally see the threat, but it's too late as a hand moves towards Ji-hoon's face. Min-jae delivers a forceful shove just in time, saving Ji-hoon and sending both the infected and himself hurtling into the vertical drop below.