Chapter 23: Under Scrutiny: Trials and Tension

As Ji-hoon and Soo Won faced the group with their makeshift weapons, tension hung heavy in the air. They exchanged wary glances, unsure of what to expect from these strangers who had suddenly appeared before them. Each member of the group seemed alert, their eyes darting between Ji-hoon, Soo Won, and the familiar faces of Min-joon and Hye-jin.

The leader of the group, a rugged man with a stern expression, stepped forward after spotting Min-joon and Hye-jin. "Oh, it's you guys," he greeted, a hint of relief in his voice. He approached them, his gaze shifting to Ji-hoon and Soo Won. "How was your scavenging?" he inquired, nodding towards Min-joon and Hye-jin. "And who are these people?"

Min-joon exchanged a quick glance with Hye-jin before responding. "They're survivors we found along the way," he explained, gesturing towards Ji-hoon and Soo Won. "They were separated from their group facing and infected."

The leader regarded Ji-hoon and Soo Won with a scrutinizing gaze, assessing them carefully. "How do we know they're not infected?" he asked, his tone cautious.

Ji-hoon felt a surge of apprehension at the question, but he maintained his composure. "We're not infected," he replied firmly, meeting the leader's gaze head-on. "We've been on our own, avoiding infected and scavenging for supplies."

The leader nodded slowly, seeming to consider their words. After a moment, he turned back to the people behind him. "Escort them to the camp," he instructed two out of the five people "We'll need to verify their claims before we can trust them."

The two of them nodded in acknowledgment before motioning for Ji-hoon and Soo Won to follow them. As they began to make their way towards the camp, Ji-hoon realised there was no way they could avoid going to the camp before continuing to the rendezvous point.

Ji-hoon and Soo Won followed their escorts, feeling a mix of apprehension and curiosity about the camp and its inhabitants. As they walked, Ji-hoon couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled in the pit of his stomach since they encountered the group.

Arriving at the camp, they were greeted by curious glances from the other survivors. Ji-hoon and Soo Won noticed the makeshift shelters, the sense of community among the survivors, but Ji-hoon's mind remained clouded with doubt. He couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right about this place.

As they were led towards the centre of the camp, Ji-hoon glanced at Soo Won, silently conveying his concerns. She returned a reassuring smile, but Ji-hoon could see the worry in her eyes too. They both knew they were stepping into the unknown, and they needed to tread carefully.

They were led to a nearby building, where Ji-hoon and Soo Won noticed an array of medical supplies and a group of people who appeared to be medical practitioners. It was evident that the camp was well-organized.

One of the men leading them stepped forward and instructed them to wait while he went to speak to a woman working in the building. After a brief conversation, he gestured for Ji-hoon and Soo Won to come closer. The other man led them towards the woman.

"This is Eunji" the man introduced, "She's in charge of this makeshift medical centre and will oversee your verification process."

Eunji stepped forward and addressed Ji-hoon and Soo Won, noticing their tense demeanour. "You shouldn't worry" she reassured them, "We just need to ensure that you're not infected. As long as you're clear, everything will be fine."

Motioning for them to follow, Eunji called upon a group of others to join them as they made their way to the front of two rooms.

"I'll take care of your examination, while the gentleman behind me will attend to his" she explained facing Soo Won and pointing to one of the people who had joined them.

Soo Won glanced at Ji-hoon, sensing his hesitation. They were both wary of the entire camp, so she understood why splitting up made him uneasy.

"Don't worry" Soo Won whispered, giving him a reassuring hug "I'll be fine."

Soo Won followed Eunji and two other women into one of the rooms, leaving Ji-hoon staring after her as the door closed behind them.

"Let's go, we don't have all day," the man whom Eunji had pointed to instructed Ji-hoon, leading him and two other men into another room. Ji-hoon followed them into the nearly empty room, containing only a bed.

As Ji-hoon scanned the room for anything suspicious, the man directed him to strip. Initially hesitant at the thought of exposing himself to strangers and feeling vulnerable, Ji-hoon realized it was necessary for them to check for any bite marks hidden beneath his clothes. Besides, the wooden bats he and Soo Won had been carrying had been confiscated earlier by the rough-looking man, so stripping down wouldn't significantly impact his ability to defend himself.

Disrobing to his boxers, Ji-hoon was gently restrained by two of the men on the bed as the examination began. The man meticulously checked every part of his body, taking his time before eventually declaring him clear of any bite or scratch marks. With a nod of approval, the man instructed the others to release Ji-hoon.

"Well, it seems like you don't have any bite or scratch marks, so you're okay. You're in urgent need of a bath though," the man remarked as he removed his gloves. "You can get dressed and leave when you're ready. Your companion should be done by then as well," he added before exiting the room with the rest of the men.

Ji-hoon quickly dressed and exited the room, greeted by the sight of the two men who had guided them initially, but there was no sign of Soo Won yet. It seemed she hadn't completed her examination.

"Apparently, you're not infected," one of the men said with a smile as Ji-hoon emerged. "I'm sorry for the rough reception, but we have to act like this to survive. I'm sure you can understand," he added.

Ji-hoon nodded in agreement and faced the door to the other room, waiting for Soo Won.

"I'm glad you understand. I'm Sang-woo, and this is Tae-hyun. It's nice to meet you," the man introduced, extending his hand for a handshake.

Ji-hoon shook his hand, reciprocating the gesture. "I'm Ji-hoon," he replied.

There was no need to harbor hostility; Ji-hoon realized he was reliant on their camp for the time being. It would be foolish to act arrogantly when his and Soo Won's lives were in their hands.

Sang-woo seemed about to say something more, but the door opening interrupted him as Soo Won stepped out with Eunji, both of them smiling.

"It must have been difficult," Eunji said to Soo Won in response to their conversation.

Before Soo Won could reply, Eunji turned to Ji-hoon, asking if his examination had gone well. Soo Won smiled and nodded, confirming that she was alright.

"Your examination must have gone smoothly," Eunji commented to Ji-hoon, who nodded in response.

"Thank you for your time," Sang-woo interjected, addressing Eunji. "But we have to take them to the leader now."

"It's okay, it's my job after all," Eunji replied. "Soo Won, come visit me sometime. It was nice meeting you," she added, to which Soo Won nodded.

"Let's go then," Sang-woo said, leading them out of the building and toward the leader. Ji-hoon and Soo Won followed, their curiosity piqued about the man they had heard so much about.