Chapter 7: Secrets in the silence

In the dead of night, Ji-hoon jolted awake to the chilling echo of a scream. The sound sliced through the tranquility, rousing every resident in the apartment from their slumber. A wave of dread washed over him as he instinctively reached for the baseball bat he had strategically placed next to his bed for emergencies.

Swiftly moving out the for and into the quiet corridors, he urged Min-jae to remain inside their unit, his concern deepening at the thought of Soo Won and So Mi left alone. As he ventured out into the dimly lit hallways, a surge of anxiety gripped him. He pondered the potential scenarios, he didn't think So Mi could have broken down the door of the room she was locked in even if she had transformed but he also knew that the existence of an intelligent infected individual was also not something he could have imagined.

It was possible for there to be an infected with super strength or maybe even another special ability after all, they still had almost zero understanding concerning the concept of the infected.

Approaching the door to So Mi's apartment, his mind raced with different possibilities. Eventually, getting to the door, he realized that the door locked. He hesitated on knocking for a moment, contemplating the implications of what the noise that would make in the corridor would mean for him if the scream had been from somewhere else. The rational part of him urged caution, but concern for So Mi and Soo won pushed him to knock.

The hollow sound of his knocks reverberated through the silent corridor. In that moment, Ji-hoon's senses heightened, attuned to any response from either from within or from the corridor. The seconds stretched into an agonizing wait, and he found himself grappling with the unknown. Was the scream really a result of So Mi transforming or had it come from another part to the apartment?

As the door remained closed, he slowly began to feel apprehensive. His mind began to race through various possibilities again, each more unsettling that the last. Taking a step back to calm himself, he scanned the hallway for any signs of movement or disturbance. The dim glow of the corridor seemed to amplify the eerie atmosphere, casting shadows that danced in the periphery of his vision.

As he stood there, he began to weigh his options, he could leave and hope that everything was okay and that Soo Won would open the door in the morning and be fine or he could continue knocking probably attracting the attention of everyone and everything that might be in the apartment.

Just as he was about to make a decision, a muffled voice reached him from the other side. It was Soo Won, asking for who was at the door.

"Who is it?" Soo Won's voice called out, tinged with a mix of anxiety and fear.

"It's me, Ji-hoon. Open the door," he replied, the tension in his voice echoing the unease that gripped him.

Soo Won's hesitant voice followed, asking for confirmation. "Ji-hoon?"

"Yes, it's really me. Open the door," Ji-hoon reassured.

After a moment's pause, the door creaked open, revealing Soo Won's tense expression. Ji-hoon entered cautiously, the dim light exposing the ordered state of the room. Everything seemed in place, an unexpected contrast to the disarray he had anticipated.

"Are you okay?" Ji-hoon asked, his gaze shifting between Soo Won and the undisturbed surroundings.

Soo Won nodded, her eyes reflecting a mixture of fear and relief. "I woke up to the sound of a scream and initially thought it was coming from So Mi, but she was fine and had also been woken up by the same scream. I was scared that something was wrong in the apartment, and suddenly heard a knock at the door. You can imagine how terrified I was."

Ji-hoon, sensing Soo Won's distress, felt a pang of guilt. "I'm sorry for scaring you. I was concerned about your safety, especially with So Mi being with you. I didn't think it through."

Soo Won, understanding his intentions, accepted the apology with a nod. "It's okay, Ji-hoon. I appreciate your concern."

As they stood there, a sudden realization dawned on Soo Won. "Wait, if you came here immediately, does that mean you didn't check on Min-ji?"

Ji-hoon's expression mirrored Soo Won's realization, and concern flashed across his face. Without wasting a moment, they both rushed out of the unit. With Ji-hoon leading the way, a bat in hand, and Soo Won following closely, holding a pan, they moved hurriedly but quietly towards Min-ji's unit.

As they reached the door, Soo Won knocked gently, adding a whispered reassurance that it was her. This precaution aimed to avoid a repeat of the earlier scare Ji-hoon inadvertently caused.

Not long after Soo Won identified herself, the door creaked open, and Min-ji's face cautiously peeked through. "Is it really you?" she asked, seeking confirmation. Soo Won replied in a hushed tone, confirming her identity, and Min-ji, satisfied, opened the door wider.

As they entered Min-ji's unit and confirmed that she was indeed unharmed, a wave of relief washed over them. However, this realization also underscored the presence of an unidentified threat within the apartment.

Understanding the gravity of the situation, they collectively decided that Min-ji should lock her unit door for the night and stay with Soo Won and So Mi in the relative safety of So Mi's unit.Min-ji, hastily gathering her bare necessities, followed Soo Won and Ji-hoon back to So Mi's unit.

Once they arrived, Ji-hoon also excuses himself to return to his own unit.

Meanwhile in a shadowed corner of the apartment building, a mysterious figure moved with eerie purpose. The dim light revealed a silhouette dragging a lifeless body, the rhythmic thuds echoing in the silence of the night. The figure navigated the hallways with a sinister determination, making its way towards the exit.

As it reached the building's entrance, the figure paused for a moment, as if surveying the surroundings. The dim glow of a distant streetlight briefly illuminated the scene, offering a glimpse of a face shrouded in darkness. The features remained obscured, adding an extra layer of mystery to the unfolding tableau.

With swift and calculated movements, the figure continued dragging the corpse outside, leaving behind an unsettling trail. The night air whispered of uncertainties, and the figure, cloaked in shadows, vanished into the obscurity of the surrounding darkness. The apartment building, now marked by an unspoken disturbance, held its secrets tight.