Chapter 22: Trails of Doubt

"I don't like this," Mr. Park muttered quietly, his eyes fixed on Jae-ho's back.

Mrs. Kim nodded in agreement, her lips drawn into a thin line. "Something doesn't feel right. Why would he lead us away from the rendezvous point?"

As the group gathered in the dimly lit shelter the previous night, seeking respite from the dangers lurking outside, Mr. Park had seized the opportunity to discreetly check the map on his phone. His suspicions had been growing, fuelled by the nagging feeling that they were being led astray by Jae-ho's guidance. His fears were confirmed when he discovered that their current trajectory was veering farther and farther away from the rendezvous point.

Bringing his concerns to the group the next morning, away from Jae-ho's prying eyes, Mr. Park's revelation cast a shadow over their journey.

So Mi had been quick to come to Jae-ho's defense. "Maybe he's trying to avoid dangerous areas," she suggested, her tone measured. "We shouldn't be so quick to doubt him."

Her words struck a chord with the group, prompting nods of agreement from Mrs. Kim and Min-ji. Perhaps Mr Park's suspicions were unfounded, a product of his own paranoia and his cautious nature in a world fraught with danger.

"We'll see how it goes today," Min-ji had proposed, her voice cautious yet hopeful. "If Mr. Park's suspicions prove to be right, then we'll address the situation accordingly."

With a tentative agreement in place, the group had continued on their journey, hopeful that Mr Park suspicions had remained as just suspicions but now they weren't so sure.

Even So Mi, who had been supportive of Jae-ho from the start, couldn't ignore the growing sense of doubt creeping into her mind.

"I think we should confront him," she suggested, her voice tinged with concern. "We need to know what his true intentions are."

But confronting Jae-ho proved to be a challenge, as he continued to exude an air of confidence and assurance, deflecting their suspicions with ease.

"I assure you, we're heading in the right direction," Jae-ho insisted, though his words did little to assuage their concerns.

As they pressed on, however, the landscape began to shift, the surroundings growing increasingly unfamiliar. It became evident that they were not on the path to the rendezvous point, but rather being led astray by Jae-ho's deceptive guidance.

"What's going on, Jae-ho?" So Mi demanded, her voice laced with frustration. "Why aren't we getting any closer to our destination?"

Jae-ho's mask of confidence wavered, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his features.

"I... I thought it would be safer to take an alternative route," he stammered, his explanation sounding hollow in the face of their mounting distrust.

The group exchanged wary glances, the realization sinking in that Jae-ho's motives were far from transparent. With each step further from the rendezvous point, their suspicions deepened, casting a shadow over their once-unquestioning trust in their supposed leader.

Eventually deciding that they couldn't trust Jae-ho's guidance, the group stopped.

"We won't be needing guidance again, thank you for leading till now" Mr Park says stepping forward

Jae-ho's expression flickered with surprise and a hint of unease as Mr. Park's words hung in the air. The group's collective decision to part ways with their supposed leader marked a turning point in their journey, a moment fraught with uncertainty and tension.

"We appreciate everything you've done for us," Mrs. Kim added, her voice firm but tinged with regret. "But we need to trust our instincts from now on."

Jae-ho's facade of confidence faltered, replaced by a sense of vulnerability as he struggled to come to terms with their sudden rejection.

"But... but where will you go?" he asked, his voice tinged with desperation.

"We'll find our own way," So Mi replied, her tone resolute. "We can't afford to rely on someone whose intentions are unclear."

With that, the group made their decision final, breaking away from Jae-ho's guidance and setting out on their own path.

Jae-ho watched them walk away, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes, as if he wanted to say something but held back. Eventually, he turned around and continued on his path, his expression one of quiet resolve.

Alone once again, Jae-ho's thoughts churned with a mix of disappointment and determination. He knew he had lost their trust, but he couldn't afford to dwell on it now. There was still a long journey ahead, and he was determined to see it through, even if it meant walking it alone.

....

"Should we really have left him without finding out his intentions?" Min-ji questioned once they were out of sight of Jae-ho. "He might not have meant any harm towards us."

"He broke our trust anyway, and it's not like he denied leading us astray. There's no reason to trust him," Mr. Park replied firmly, his tone resolute.

Min-ji fell silent, her thoughts lingering on the conflicted feelings stirred by their departure from Jae-ho. Despite the group's decision to part ways, she couldn't shake the sense of sadness that enveloped her. Jae-ho had indeed helped them navigate through the dangers of this post-apocalyptic world, and while his intentions remained unclear, she couldn't deny the bond forged through their shared experiences.

As they continued on their journey, Min-ji couldn't help but cast a lingering glance back, her heart heavy with uncertainty for Jae-ho's fate. After all, he now had to navigate this messed up world on his own.

With Mr Park now leading them with the help of his map, the group moved along towards the rendezvous point, making sure to stay cautious in case of other survivors and infected.

.....

Ji-hoon and Soo Won also found themselves on the way to the camp now following behind Min-joon and Hye-jin making sure to avoid any encounter with the infected.

"Have you fought any of the infected before? " Ji-hoon whispered as he followed their lead.

Min-joon looked back at his face as and took a while before replying "Not personally, when we had joined the group, Seo-jun had led some people to take care of some infected but i've only watched and avoided them as best I can, this is actually our first scavenger hunt so we haven't been unlucky enough to be forced into a situation to fight any"

"Do you know how to kill them then" Ji-hoon asked again after hearing his reply.

Min-joon hesitated for a moment before responding, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "We've heard different methods from other survivors. Some say destroying the brain is the only sure-fire way, while others claim severing the spinal cord can also incapacitate them. Honestly, we're not entirely sure."

Ji-hoon nodded, absorbing the information, he had hoped to obtain more information about the infected but it seemed Min-joon and Hye-jin didn't know much. Maybe going to the camp to get more info wouldn't be bad then, there are most like more knowledgeable people there like Seo-jun, since he was the leader, he should have some more information.

They continued their journey after that navigating around infected and before long they got close to the camp.

"We're close now, we'll soon start meeting others" Min-joon informed them.

Ji-hoon and Soo Won realised that it was really close to the rendezvous point, there was really now way to get there without meeting people from the camp and they were right as they met the first group of people not long all equipped with some kind of makeshift weapon all pointed at them.

As they faced the group, Ji-hoon and Soo Won couldn't shake the feeling of apprehension. With makeshift weapons aimed at them, they understood the gravity of the situation. Their journey to the rendezvous point was about to take an unexpected turn, and the uncertainty ahead loomed like a shadow over their hopes for safety.